[B. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2023.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UM, BEGIN OUR SESSION WITH OPENING PRAYER WITH OUR, UH, REVEREND AND BOYETTE.
DO WE NEED TO READ IN JAY FIRST? YES.
BEFORE WE, UH, START OUR OPENING PRAYER, COULD YOU, UH, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHY YOU CANNOT ATTEND THAT YOU WILL BE, UH, PARTICIPATING VIA THE, UM, THE INTERNET? YES.
UH, I, I'M JAY BUCKER AND UH, I'M A FAMILY VACATION DOWN IN GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE WITH MY, MY FAMILY.
OKAY, SO WE'LL, UH, AGAIN, UM, SORRY PASTOR, WE'LL START WITH AN OPENING PRAYER.
BOARD MEMBERS, UM, THE PASTORS ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE HAVING GIVEN US THE PRIVILEGE TO PRAY AND OPENING THESE MEETINGS.
I WISH I HAD THIS MANY ON CHURCH, IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING.
LET'S GO TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN PRAYER.
DEAR GRACIOUS, HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU ARE A HEALER, OUR PROTECTOR AND OUR PROVIDER.
WE THANK YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS.
WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING TOGETHER THESE SERVANTS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION.
WE THANK YOU GOD FOR THESE CARING LEADERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME TO SERVE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND PLEASING TO YOU, THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR NATION.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO THEE IN PRAYER THIS EVENING ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR WISDOM.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS MEETING.
GIVE THOSE THAT CAME HERE TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY, THE KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, AND STRENGTH TO DO YOUR WILL.
GOD GIVE THEM THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY GOD INSTILL IN ALL OUR HEARTS A SPIRIT OF LOVE AND KINDNESS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AS THEY DISCUSS IMPORTANT ISSUES CONCERNING THE LIVELIHOOD OF ALL IN OUR COUNTRY, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NO, ALL PLEASE NO INTERRUPTIONS.
ERUPTIONS HELP ALL HERE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND ACT AND SPEAK WITH INTEGRITY AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH.
HEAVENLY FATHER, BRING YOUR PEOPLE TOGETHER UNDER ONE COMMON GOAL TO GUARD THE SECURITY AND WELLBEING OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY.
WE ASK THAT ALL DURING THIS MEETING.
EVERYTHING SAID AND DONE WILL REFLECT NOTHING BUT TRUTH AND JUSTICE.
GOD ALL HERE, LORD, KEEP EVERYONE FAITHFUL TO THE TASK THAT IS AT HAND, THOU HAS GIVEN THEM AND INSTILL IN ALL THEIR HEARTS THE SPIRIT OF PEACE AND LOVE THAT GOES BEYOND ALL UNDERSTANDING.
AS WE FOCUS ON THE GOOD YOU ARE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR LIVES.
HELP US TO UNITE TOGETHER, TO SAVE OUR NATION SO THAT WE MIGHT LEAVE OUR COUNTRY IN BETTER SHAPE FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
WITH THAT, I'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
WILL EVERYONE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? 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.
[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, UH, ADOPTING OUR AGENDA.IS THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS THAT ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON? UH, YES MA'AM.
I MOVE THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS A PRESENTED WITH THE ADDITION OF CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDED AGREEMENT REGARDING COUNTY SUPPORT OF AUTHORITY OPERATIONS IS ITEM L.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT
[ D. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit)]
ITEM OF OUR AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.[00:05:02]
SO I'M GONNA REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.IS OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO GIVE INPUT ON ANY RELEVANT ISSUE NOT SUBJECT TO A PUBLIC HEARING? IT'S NOT INTENDED AS A QUESTION OR ANSWER PERIOD.
THE PERIOD SHALL BE LIMITED TO 60 MINUTES WITH A MAX OF THREE MINUTES FOR ONE FOR ANY ONE SPEAKER.
UH, SPEAKERS MAY ONLY SPEAK ONCE AND WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SIGNED UP.
ADDITIONALLY, I DO BECAUSE OF THE, UM, HOW WELL ATTENDED THIS MEETING IS TODAY.
UM, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A LINE AT THE DOOR AND AT THE ENTRANCE RIGHT THERE.
I THINK, I THINK IT'S A GRAY, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
IF ANYONE PASSES THAT, THAT BOUNDARY OTHER THAN THE PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING WILL BE REMOVED FROM THIS, THIS MEETING.
SO I JUST WANNA LET FOLKS KNOW, IS THAT OKAY MR. HAM? IF THEY'RE DISRUPTIVE, IF THEY'RE DISRUPTED.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND START OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYBODY SIGN? FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP? UH, THE FIRST PERSON IS COLLEEN DELA FLAIR.
GOOD EVENING, WALT DOLORES, VICKY, CHERYL AND JAY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE AND WASN'T PLANNING ON IT TONIGHT, BUT I HAD SO MANY FRIENDS WHO WANTED TO BE HERE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK, SO I FELT I HAD TO REPRESENT THEM.
THIS DEBATE THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR TOWN IS ONE THAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS OUR GREAT NATION.
THE COMMON THEME IS THAT PARENTS ARE BEING PUSHED ASIDE.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ARE INTRODUCING MATURE AND CONTROVERSIAL THEMES TO OUR CHILDREN, AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO REMAIN SILENT.
THE BOOKS ON THE CLEANUP SAMUEL'S LIST CONTAIN CONTENT THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY PARENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR HOMES AND INTRODUCED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHILDREN'S PARENTS.
IT SHOULD NOT BE WIDELY AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN TO STUMBLE UPON.
PARENTS STARTED RAISING THESE CONCERNS ABOUT OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WE FILLED OUT FORMS, WROTE LETTERS, ATTENDED MEETINGS, AND WE'RE IGNORED.
THE MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR LIBRARY, YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS DON'T MATTER.
WE DECIDE WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE READY FOR AND WHEN.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THIS RESPONSE FROM SAMUELS AS IT IS A LIBRARY THAT I LOVE AND AM GRATEFUL FOR AND HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED.
IT SADDENS ME TO SAY IT, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.
THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AND LEADERSHIP OF SAMUELS LIBRARY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR TAX PAYING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IN PARTICULAR PARENTS TO HAVE A VOICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RESTRUCTURED SO THAT THE LIBRARY IS TRULY PUBLIC AND THEREFORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHO ARE ELECTED BY TAXPAYERS.
THAT WAY WE HAVE A SAY IN WHAT IS HAPPENING AT OUR PUBLICLY FUNDED LIBRARY, BUT I DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID OUT IN THE M O A THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE LIBRARY AND THEY REJECTED OUTRIGHT.
THIS M O A NEEDS TO BE ACCEPTED AND THE SEVEN NEW BOARD MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND DECISION.
THE NEXT PERSON NEXT UP IS STEVEN SVA.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A MATTER OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE THAT REVOLVES AROUND OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY AND THE INSTITUTION THAT PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN IT.
OUR LOCAL LIBRARY, SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INC.
IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUN BY AN UNELECTED BOARD OF DONORS, YET IT RECEIVES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TAXPAYER FUNDING, APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION EVERY YEAR.
THIS RAISES A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION, WHERE IS THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR TAXPAYER? NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE SUPPORT THE LIBRARY'S MISSION.
WE WANT THEM TO HAVE MORE FUNDING, MORE PROGRAMS, AND WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN ITS DUTY TO EDUCATE AND ENLIGHTEN THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL RESPECT THE CLEAR WILL OF OUR COMMUNITY IS BY MAKING THEM BEHOLDEN TO THAT WILL DEMOCRACY.
[00:10:02]
SORRY.DEMOCRACY IN THE BUREAUCRACY IS MORE THAN JUST A SLOGAN.
WHEN A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES PUBLIC FUNDING, IT MUST ALIGN WITH THE VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD CLAIMS THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
IF THIS IS INDEED TRUE, WHY DO THEY FEAR DEMOCRACY? WHY DO THEY FEAR HAVING A PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY? IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN ESSENCE, A FRINGE GROUP THAT SEEMS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MAJORITY.
WHAT'S MORE CONCERNING IS THE SOURCE OF THEIR FUNDING.
A GEORGE SOROS GROUP, NO LAUGHTER PLEASE.
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO QUESTION WHERE THEIR ALLEGIANCE TRULY LIES.
IS IT WITH OUR COMMUNITY OR IS IT WITH THE WITH EXTERNAL INTERESTS? AND NOW THE M O A THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR SUPERVISORS HAS SENT TO THE LIBRARY MUST BE ACCEPTED.
THIS M O A REPRESENTS A BALANCED AND FAIR AGREEMENT THAT ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS.
THE SEVEN APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUST BE IMMEDIATE.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE RECENT ELECTION WHERE OUR COUNTY WENT 72% IN FAVOR OF YOUNG KEN.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN AND IT IS CLEAR THAT PARENTS MATTER.
WE SHOULD ALL STAND BEHIND THE IDEA THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ACCESS IN THE LIBRARY.
IT'S RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES.
IN CONCLUSION, WE DO NOT WANT TO DEFUND THE LIBRARY.
WE WANT TO FLOURISH, EVOLVE, AND SERVE AS A TRUE REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S VALUES.
DEMOCRACY IN THE BUREAUCRACY IS NOT A THREAT.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LIBRARY TO BECOME MORE INCLUSIVE, RESPONSIVE, AND ULTIMATELY A STRONGER PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US WHO ARE SPEAKING TONIGHT, INCLUDING MYSELF.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AMERICANS ARE KNOWN FOR IS THE PRIDE THEY HAVE IN THEIR COUNTRY AND PRIMARILY IN HOW THEIR COUNTRY BEGAN THROUGH A FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE.
THROUGH THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, DEMOCRACY WAS ESTABLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY AND SINCE THEN, THIS RIGHT FOR THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE TO BE HEARD HAS CONTINUED TO BE FOUGHT FOR THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY.
I WAS HERE FOR THE JULY HEARING REGARDING PORNOGRAPHY FOR UM, ACCESSIBLE FOR CHILDREN IN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND I REMEMBER THE OPENING SPEECH GIVEN ABOUT THE MEN WHO DIED FIGHTING FOR THEIR COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
I WAS STRUCK BY THE SPEECH BECAUSE OF THE PATRIOTIC LOVE CLEARLY FELT BY BOTH THE SPEAKER AND THOSE LISTENING.
THE SPEECH RELAYED HOW MANY YOUNG MEN SUFFERED AND DIED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR COUNTRY AND FELLOW COUNTRYMEN AND HOW THAT IS A DEBT WHICH WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPAY.
HOWEVER, THE DUTY THEY FULFILLED A PROTECTING THEIR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN IS ONE THAT ALL OF US STILL HAVE TODAY AND OUR OBLIGATION TO FULFILL IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TODAY.
THAT DUTY MAY NOT REQUIRE TAKING UP ARMS AND FIGHTING IN A WAR, BUT IT STILL REQUIRES COURAGE AND FORTITUDE.
TODAY WE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, THE CHILDREN OF THE FRONT ROYAL COMMUNITY.
AND I'M ASKING FOR THE SAME RIGHT THAT COUNTLESS MEN'S HAVE SHED THEIR BLOOD FOR, WHICH IS FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
DECISIONS FOR SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS CURRENTLY DECIDED BY A SMALL AND SELECT NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO DONATE THEIR OWN PERSONAL MONEY AND MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE LIBRARY.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ALSO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT THOSE TAXPAYERS, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO USE THE LIBRARY DO NOT HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE LIBRARY IS RUN OR WHO IT IS RUN BY.
AMERICA HAS ALWAYS STOOD FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
WE SHARE THE SAME BELIEF THAT THE PEOPLE OF A COMMUNITY SHOULD DETERMINE THE LAWS AND DECISIONS FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
I'M ASKING THAT THE SAME PRINCIPLE BE APPLIED TO SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BY MAKING IT FULLY PUBLIC.
WE, AS THE PEOPLE OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA WANNA SAY AND HOW THE LIBRARY IS RUN, WHO RUNS IT AND WHAT BOOKS ENTER INTO IT.
THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY MAKING THE LIBRARY FULLY PUBLIC AND BY THE LIBRARY ACCEPTING THE M O A THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SENT THEM WITH NO REVISIONS.
THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, MY OWN NIECES AND NEPHEWS INCLUDED WHO FREQUENT THE LIBRARY THEIR PARENTS
[00:15:01]
WANNA SAY AND HOW THE LIBRARY IS RUN AND WHAT BOOKS ARE IN IT BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT BOOKS PLAY IN THE FORMATION OF A CHILD'S MIND AND IMAGINATION.WE WANT MORE FUNDING, MORE PROGRAMS, BUT WE WANT PUBLIC REPRESENTATION.
SO WE HAVE A SAY IN THE CONTENTS OF THE LIBRARY AND ITS PROGRAMS. NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, IT'S TO ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS AJ LANCASTER AND I LIVE IN THE BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
I SHARE THE BELIEF WITH MANY OTHERS HERE THAT THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE PUBLICLY FUNDED AND AS SUCH SHOULD BEAR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE TAX PAYING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DO FREQUENT THE LIBRARY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIBRARY'S FUNDING INCREASED.
IN FACT, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR YOUR DILIGENT EFFORTS AND CONSIDERATION OF THE CONCERNS OF YOUR OF YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS.
MANY FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE LIBRARY ISSUE HAVE SENT IN GENUINE EMAILS TELLING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES AND THEIR STANCE ON WHAT IS GOING ON.
YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THESE EMAILS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
WHEN I CHOSE TO SETTLE IN THIS TOWN AND COUNTY, I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE MY FAMILY DUE TO THE VALUES AND THE COMMUNITY.
I STILL BELIEVE THIS, I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS POSITIVE PERCEPTION OF OUR RURAL TOWN, WHICH IS LARGELY CONSERVATIVE AND UPHOLDS CHRISTIAN VALUES.
ONE OF THESE VALUES IS TO TEACH CHILDREN RIGHT FROM WRONG TO EVEN TEACH THEM THAT THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG.
WHILE I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN YET, I HAVE FREQUENTED SAMUEL'S LIBRARY OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE READ MANY OF THEIR BOOKS AND FROM THE CHILDREN'S SECTION TO MY SEVERAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS, I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ENJOYED TAKING THEIR KIDS TO THE LIBRARY'S CHILDREN'S SECTION TO PICK OUT THEIR NEXT BAG FULL OF BOOKS.
MANY PARENTS SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS IT ONLY TAKES TWO CHILDREN TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEIR PARENT TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THEIR HAND AS THEY PROVE THE AISLES.
SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES HAVE THREE OR MORE CHILDREN.
I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF THE LIBRARY OF ALL PLACES IS SOMEWHERE WE CAN CONFIDENTLY ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THE MANY TITLES AND PICK OUT THE ONES THAT CATCH THEIR ATTENTION.
IF THERE ARE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS LAID IN THROUGHOUT THESE SHELVES, THEN THE EXISTENCE OF A CHILD ONLY LIBRARY CARD IS A NICE THOUGHT, BUT THERE'S LITTLE FRUIT AND PRACTICALITY.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND DELIBERATION, THE BOARD HAS OFFERED A NEW MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
ONE, WHICH ALLOWS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE BOARD THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACTUALLY ELECT TO HAVE A SAY IN WHO MAKES DECISIONS ON THESE MATTERS IN THE LIBRARY.
AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
IT IS ONLY ONE, IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MAKES SENSE AS LONG AS THESE BOOKS ARE STILL IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION.
IT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR UP TO NOW THAT THE VAL UP TILL NOW THAT THE VALUES OF THE PRIVATELY ELECTED BOARD OF TRUSTEES DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.
THAT WOULDN'T BE SO BAD IF THEY DID NOT TAKE, IF THEY NOT WANT THEIR LIBRARY TO BE PUBLIC.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, AS LONG AS WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING THIS LIBRARY, WE WOULD LIKE OUR REPRESENTATION IN OUR LIBRARY.
YOUR M O A MUST BE ACCEPTED IN NO REVISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS HEARING TODAY TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
MY NAME IS CAMPBELL SPRAWL AND ALTHOUGH I AM GRATEFUL, UH, TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL TODAY, I MUST SAY THAT I'M RATHER A BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE TO.
I GREW UP IN A TINY TOWN IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA WITH A VERY SMALL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SOME OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES FROM MY CHILDHOOD WERE SPENDING HOURS IN THAT LIBRARY.
MY SIBLINGS AND I LIVED CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE LIBRARY THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO RIDE OUR BIKES DOWN THERE UNSUPERVISED BY OUR PARENTS TO GO SELECT WHATEVER WE WANT TO WANTED TO READ.
BECAUSE OF THE PORNOGRAPHY THAT'S READILY AVAILABLE IN THE SAMUEL LIBRARY FOR CHILDREN, I CANNOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DO THE SAME THING IN THE FUTURE.
GROWING UP, MY FAMILY NOT ONLY CHECKED BOOKS OUT FROM THAT LIBRARY WHERE, WHERE WE, UH, WHERE WE LIVED, BUT WE DONATED BOOKS TO THE LIBRARY TO HELP GROW THE AVAILABLE SUPPLY AND WE REALLY BELIEVED IN HAVING A LIBRARY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY ADDRESS TO YOU IS NOT AT ALL IN OPPOSITION TO THE EXISTENCE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES, RATHER IN FAVOR OF THEIR PROPER USE AND THE PROTECTION OF THE CHILDREN IN
[00:20:01]
OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE THE CHILDREN'S MOST IMPRESSIONABLE PATRONS? THOSE MEMORIES THAT I HAVE FROM THAT TIME AS A CHILD IN THAT LIBRARY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HAPPY MEMORIES IF I HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE PORNOGRAPHY THAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE SAMUELS LIBRARY NOW.RATHER, THEY WOULD'VE BEEN MARRED BY JUST GREAT TRAUMA SHORTENING THE PERIOD OF INNOCENCE THAT I WAS GIVEN AS A CHILD THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE GIVEN AND THAT WOULD BE A GREAT SHAME.
THE SAMUEL LIBRARY IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUN BY A BOARD OF UNELECTED DONORS.
IT IS MASQUERADING AS A TRULY PUBLIC LIBRARY DESPITE BEING A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.
SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS PUBLICLY FUNDED AS HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED TO THE TUNE OF ROUGHLY A MILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR IN TAXPAYER FUNDS WITH NO REPRESENTATION OR ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC US ON WHO ON WHOM THEY'RE ALIVE FOR FUNDS.
THIS WOULD BE BAD ENOUGH ON ITS OWN WITHOUT SAMUELS DISTRIBUTING PORNOGRAPHY ON THEIR SHELVES.
SPECIFICALLY TARGETED IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN.
COULD I HAVE A PAUSE ON MY TIME PLEASE? WOULD YOU PLEASE REMOVE HER? I'M REMOVE MYSELF.
THAT'S MY VERY GOOD, GOOD ONE.
ANYWAYS, AS I WAS SAYING, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY THE MOST FRINGE IDEALS COULD SUPPORT.
PORT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY.
IF IT DID, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS BATTLE TO TAKE THIS LIBRARY PUBLIC.
I'M NOT A CATHOLIC, BUT I AM A CHRISTIAN AND I WOULD BE FAILING IN MY OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IF I DID NOT REMIND YOU OF THE WORDS OF OUR LORD WITH REFERENCE TO THE LAST JUDGMENT THAT FOR ONE WHO CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES TO SIN, THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM TO HAVE A MILLSTONE TIED AROUND HIS NECK AND DROWN IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.
EVERY ONE OF US HERE WILL FACE CHRIST ON HIS JUDGMENT SEAT ONE DAY AND WHETHER OR NOT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU DO YOUR JOB HERE AND MAKE THE LIBRARY BOARD EXCEPT THE M O A AS WRITTEN WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.
I WILL SAY IF HE'S DONE, MAY I FINISH MY REMARKS CONCERNING THE INTERRUPTION? NO, I'M SORRY.
I LIVE HERE IN THE FRONT ROYAL WITH MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, AND OUR FAMILY HAS CALLED THE FRONT ROYAL HOME FOR OVER THREE DECADES.
IT IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF FRONT, ROYAL, AND WARREN COUNTY NEED TO PUBLICLY STAND UP IN SUPPORT OF THE MOST INNOCENT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CHILDREN.
IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS THAT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW PORN TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR KIDS.
WE ARE HERE TO BRING THE CONCERNS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE PUBLIC FORUM AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF YOU, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR DEFENDING THE INTERESTS OF THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.
THE LIBRARY IN OUR TOWN IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION CALLED SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED.
THEY'RE RUN BY AN UNELECTED AND COMPLETELY UNACCOUNTABLE BOARD.
HOWEVER, AS SAID BEFORE, THIS ORGANIZATION COLLECTS ABOUT $1 MILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDING EVERY YEAR.
MONEY THAT MYSELF AND THOSE IN WARREN COUNTY HAVE WORKED HARD FOR AND EXPECT TO GO TOWARDS THINGS THAT WE SUPPORT AS A COMMUNITY.
WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT SUPPORT THE PRIVATE INSTITUTION KNOWN AS SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED, AS IT HAS PERSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT IT DOES NOT SUPPORT US.
THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
AS THIS ORGANIZATION COLLECTS OUR MONEY WITHOUT ANSWERING TO THE PEOPLE, THEY MUST ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY.
AND THIS LIBRARY MUST BE MADE PUBLIC.
WE WOULD LOVE TO FUND A LIBRARY THAT SUPPORTS THE VALUES OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE ARE IN FAVOR OF MORE FUNDING FOR A LIBRARY AND MORE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY VALUES AND TRULY CARES ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, NOT ONE THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCOUNTABLE AND PUTTING PORN WITH AN ARM'S REACH OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY.
THEY HAVE A DUTY TO THIS COUNTY AND THAT HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVELY NEGLECTED.
THERE ARE PORNOGRAPHIC BOOKS TARGETING MINORS, STREWN THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY IN MULTIPLE SECTIONS.
MINORS OF ALL AGES HAVE ACCESS TO THIS MATERIAL AND IT'S SCANDALOUS AND CANNOT BE TOLERATED.
THE GROUP THAT CALLS THEMSELF THE SSS CLAIM THAT THEY REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.
IF THIS IS TRUE, THEY SHOULD ALL BE IN FAVOR OF A VERY COMPLETELY PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT IS BEHOLDEN TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
BUT THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY WANT THAT, DO THEY? THEY FEAR THE DEMOCRACY OF WARREN COUNTY BECAUSE THEY'RE A FRIENDS GROUP THAT SUPPORTS PORN FOR CHILDREN.
QUIET, PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
[00:25:01]
THE PARENTS AND THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY AND WE DO NOT SUPPORT PORN FOR CHILDREN.AND WE DO NOT WANT ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS PORN FOR CHILDREN TO BE IN A POSITION OF POWER, ESPECIALLY POWER OVER WHAT OUR KIDS AT THE COUNTY GET TO READ IN THEIR LIBRARY.
WE, THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST PUBLICLY FUNDED PORN FOR KIDS.
WE ARE AGAINST THE SCANDALS THAT ARE PRESENT IN OUR TOWN AND COUNTY AND WE ARE AGAINST TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
THE M O A THE U OF THE BOARD HAS SUBMITTED TO THE LIBRARY MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE LIBRARY WITH NO REVISIONS AND THE NEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS ENACTED IMMEDIATELY.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR HAVING THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY AT HEART AND HAVING OUR CHILDREN IN MIND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HENDERSON.
UM, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING THE BOARD FOR PROVIDING THIS SESSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS SO THAT CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF CAN HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD.
I MOVE TO WARREN COUNTY IN ORDER TO BE IN AN AREA THAT BETTER ALIGNS WITH MY VALUES.
I SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT OUT A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS ONE WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE.
I HAVE FOUND A TRUE HOME HERE AMONGST PEOPLE WITH RURAL FAMILY VALUES WHO FOR THE MOST PART SHARE MY CONCERNS AND MY OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE FOUND TRUE AMERICA, WHICH IS SO WHOLLY DIFFERENT FROM THE DISCONNECTED ELITIST BUBBLE OF DC AND THE CORPORATE AND SPECIAL INTERESTS THERE THAT TURN THEIR NOSES UP AND LOOK DOWN ON GOOD, HONEST AMERICANS LIKE THOSE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I FIND IT IRONIC AND CONVENIENT THAT THESE SUPPOSED PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS ONLY CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY WHEN IT SERVES THEIR SUBVERSIVE AGENDA AND THEN TRY TO UNDERMINE THEIR BELOVED DEMOCRACY WHEN THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS AGAINST THEM.
GOING SO FAR AS TO BUST IN PEOPLE WITH NO ATTACHMENT OR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO SUBJUGATE PEOPLE TO THEIR OWN INTERESTS, WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO THE VALUES OF THIS RURAL COMMUNITY.
WARREN COUNTY VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR BOTH TRUMP AND JUKIN AND HAS A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY.
WE TAXPAYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION REGARDING HOW OUR MONEY IS USED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A DECEPTIVELY NAMED SO-CALLED PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY PUBLIC YET CONTAINS PUBLICLY FUNDED PORNOGRAPHY THAT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN.
SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED HAS A BOARD OF UNELECTED PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING THEM THE MONEY TO OPERATE.
HIDING BEHIND THE ARGUMENT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS A COP OUT.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DOESN'T GIVE ONE THE LICENSE TO WALK AROUND NAKED IN PUBLIC.
AND PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT SORTS OF BOOKS ARE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE TO THEIR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S THEIR MONEY THAT'S BEING USED TO BUY THEM.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING THAT THE LIBRARY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE KEEPING IT FINANCED.
MAKE THE LIBRARY A TRULY PUBLIC ENTITY CONSIDERING THEY'RE ALREADY RECEIVING A MILLION DOLLARS OF PUBLIC FUNDS PER YEAR, BUT THEN HIDE BEHIND BEING A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WHEN PEOPLE RAISE ISSUES ABOUT HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST LIBRARIES AS THE OPPOSITION WANTS TO FRAME IT AND DISTORT THE ISSUE.
IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT OUTSIDE SPECIAL INTERESTS TRYING TO INSERT THEMSELVES AND IMPOSE THEIR OWN WILL ON THE COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, THE, LIKE THE COMMUNITY ELECTED INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALREADY PEACEFULLY PROPOSED THE SOLUTION, SENDING AN M O A TO THE PRIVATE LIBRARY WITH THE COMMUNITY'S DEMANDS.
THIS M O A THAT YOU THE BOARD HAVE SUBMITTED MUST BE ACCEPTED WITH NO REVISIONS.
THIS REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED ON THE IDEAL THAT EVEN THE MOST REMOTE AND HUMBLE PERSON SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND GOVERNANCE.
AND WE DON'T NEED CORPORATELY FUNDED OUTSIDERS COMING IN AND TRYING TO UPEND OUR WAY OF LIFE AND PUSHING OUT OUR VOICES WHILE CLAIMING THAT A SELECT FEW UNELECTED INDIVIDUALS SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP, MA'AM.
AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU MR. HENDERSON.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JOSHUA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY IN THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT WITH MY WIFE, OUR TWO SONS AND OUR DAUGHTER.
THE ISSUE AT HAND IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO US AS TAXPAYERS, AS INVOLVED MEMBERS OF FRONT ROYAL, BUT ESPECIALLY AS A FAMILY THAT USES THE SAMUELS LIBRARY REGULARLY TO THE POINT WHERE MY CHILDREN AND MY WIFE MOST WEEKS ARE THERE MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, GENUINELY PROBABLY TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK.
WHY THE ISSUE AT HAND HAS EVEN BECOME A POINT OF CONFLICT IS FRANKLY SHOCKING 'CAUSE IT IS AS SIMPLE AS RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE BOOKS INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN, WHICH WE AS PARENTS HAVE ASKED TO BE REMOVED.
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THIS IS A PUBLICLY FUNDED PRIVATE LIBRARY, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY SIMPLE ISSUE TO RESOLVE AND WHY ANYONE WOULD TAKE UMBRAGE WITH THOSE OF US, LIKE MY WIFE AND I, WHO DO NOT WANT OUR FOUR YEAR OLD EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT IN A SO-CALLED FAMILY FRIENDLY LIBRARY.WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR DESIRES TO PROTECT THEIR INNOCENCE FOR THEM TO NOT BE UNNECESSARILY EXPOSED TO SEXUAL CONTENT, ESPECIALLY AT THE AGES OF FOUR AND FIVE IN PROACTIVE RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO WOULD SAY THAT THE PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT FOR CHILDREN IS IN A CONTAINED AREA.
IT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE AND THE MATERIAL IS STREWN THROUGHOUT THE SECTIONS AS HAS BEEN STATED, UH, FOR MINORS OF VARIOUS AGES.
THIS IS AS IF YOU PUT ON SOME CHILD'S CHANNEL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN H B O CAME ON UNEXPECTEDLY.
THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW THIS ISSUE HAS BLOWN UP.
REALLY MAKES ME WONDER WHO IS BEHIND THE GROUP THAT CALLS THEMSELVES THE SSS AND WHY THEY WOULD BE PUSHING AGAINST THE REQUEST TO REMOVE ALL OF THIS OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT.
AND I, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD BE PUSHING BACK SO HARD.
UM, BUT ANYONE WHO GETS OFFENDED BY PARENTS SIMPLY NOT WANTING THEIR KIDS TO BE EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR PRESENTS SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT AND DEEP DEEPER ISSUES THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, AT THE SAME TIME, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN POINTED OUT, IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THE OTHER SIDE IN THIS ISSUE REALLY WANTS THIS TO ACTUALLY BE DEMOCRATICALLY HANDLED BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING THAT IT JUST BE DEMOCRATICALLY HANDLED.
OUR LIBRARY, AS HAS BEEN STATED, IS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION CALLED SAMUELS INC.
IT'S RUN BY AN UNELECTED BOARD OF WEALTHY DONORS TAKING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
THE MONEY COMES FROM CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY LIKE ME.
WE ARE HERE, WE ARE NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE.
IT IS COMPLETELY FAIR AND LEGITIMATE FOR THOSE OF US PAYING OUR TAXES AND PARTICIPATING THROUGH OUR LIVES AND THROUGH OUR CHILDREN IN WARREN COUNTY TO REQUEST FAIR REPRESENTATION AND TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN IN SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.
THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION AND REPRESENTATION REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY, MY DESIRES FOR THE LIBRARY TO EXIST AND FOR MY FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE BENEFITING FROM THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LOCAL LIBRARY.
UM, THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTARY ABOUT HOW THIS IS SOME CATHOLIC MOVEMENT.
I'M ANOTHER PROTESTANT IN TOWN WHO COMPLETELY FINDS THIS PROBLEMATIC AND FRUSTRATING.
I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT SOME FRINGE THING.
UM, THERE'S FOLKS HERE WITH SHIRTS THAT SAY, ONE NATION, MANY BELIEFS.
THERE ARE MANY BELIEFS IN OUR TOWN AND MOST OF OUR TOWN DOES NOT WANT OUR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO THIS.
SO I WOULD THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HUMBLY ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS.
YOUR TIME'S UP, MR. HENDERSON.
THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
BEFORE CONTINUING, I FEEL THERE ARE SOME TERMS THAT NEED TO BE DEFINED SINCE THE OPPOSITION SEEMS CONFUSED ABOUT THEM.
THE FIRST TERM IS PORNOGRAPHY.
PORNOGRAPHY IS PRINTED OR VISUAL MATERIAL CONTAINING THE EXPLICIT DESCRIPTION OR DISPLAY OF SEXUAL ORGANS OR ACTIVITY INTENDED TO STIMULATE EROTIC OR RATHER THAN AESTHETIC OR EMOTIONAL FEELINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN ONE OF THESE BOOKS, GENDER QUEER, YOU CAN FIND A MINOR PERFORMING SEX ACTS ON AN ELDER, AND THAT IS ALL PICTURED.
THE NEXT TERM IS SEXUAL ABUSE.
SEXUAL ABUSE IS BEHAVIOR OR A SEXUAL ACT FORCED UPON A MAN OR WOMAN OR CHILD WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.
AT THIS POINT, I FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO NOTE A MINOR CANNOT CONSENT.
NOW, I'D LIKE YOU TO IMAGINE THE SCENARIO.
ONE NIGHT A MAN GOES TO A POPULAR PLAYGROUND AND PUTS UP PICTURES OF SUPERHEROES, FAMOUS ATHLETES AND OTHER IMAGES CHILDREN WOULD ENJOY.
HOWEVER, SCATTERED AMONG THESE PICTURES, HE ALSO PUTS OUT SEVERAL PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES.
THE NEXT MORNING CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO THE PORN AND THE MAN WHO POSTED IT IS ARRESTED.
NOW THE MAN SAYS, IN COURT, THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE MADE SURE THE PICTURES WERE AGE APPROPRIATE.
DO YOU THINK THAT THAT ARGUMENT WOULD STAND IN COURT? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THE PLAYGROUND, LIKE THE LIBRARY, IS A PLACE WHERE PARENTS GO TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE IT IS A PLACE OF PUBLIC TRUST.
BY PUTTING PORN UP AT THAT PLAYGROUND, THAT MAN HAS DESTROYED THE PUBLIC TRUST.
JUST AS THE LIBRARY HAS DESTROYED OUR TRUST BY ALLOWING THE BOARD TO PUT PORNOGRAPHY INTO THE CHILDREN AND MINOR SECTIONS OF THAT LIBRARY, ULTIMATELY THAT MAN WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY OF SOME LEVEL OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF A MINOR OR MINORS BECAUSE AGAIN, A CHILD CANNOT CONSENT.
I HOPE THAT GOING THROUGH THIS SCENARIO, WE CAN ALL AGREE EXPOSING KIDS TO GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT EVEN IF MIXED WITH NON-SEXUAL MATERIAL IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
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IN CONCLUSION, THESE BOOKS ARE PORN.ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHERWISE IS EITHER LYING OR OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY AS ESTABLISHED IN THAT SCENARIO, DISTRIBUTING PORN TO MINORS IS ILLEGAL.
A FEW PEOPLE HERE AFFILIATED WITH THE SSSS AGENDA SUPPORT THESE BOOKS AND WANT TO KEEP THEM ON THE SHELVES AND ADD MORE TO THEM.
NOT IN FRONT ROYAL, NOT IN OUR TOWN.
OKAY, NOW, IF WE, THE PEOPLE ARE FUNDING THE LIBRARY, WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THE BOOKS THAT ARE ALLOWED IN SAMUEL'S NEEDS TO BE TRULY PUBLIC.
THE M O A THAT YOU, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SENT TO THE LIBRARY MUST BE ACCEPTED WITH NO CHANGES AND IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, AND THESE BOOKS DO NOT REFLECT WARREN COUNTY VALUES.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ACTIONS THUS FAR.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG FOR TRUTH AND KNOW THAT WE ARE BEHIND YOU.
HI, UM, MY NAME, IT'S MEGAN MARRAZZO.
I LIVE OVER IN THE FORK DISTRICT AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY.
IT IS THE NATURAL DESIRE OF MAN TO SHAPE THE WORLD AROUND HIM, TO GUIDE AND LEAD THOSE UNDER HIS CARE TOWARDS A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
IT IS THE CORE AND SUMMIT OF HIS DUTY TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY.
THE COMMUNITY THEN IS BEHOLDEN TO THE COMMON GOOD AND WHAT THAT THEN IS MEAN MEANS FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
THE VALUES THAT WE HOLD HERE IN THIS COUNTY HAVE BEEN CLEAR FOR GENERATIONS.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING HERE ASKING FOR THESE THINGS TO BE RECONSIDERED AND THESE VALUES TO BE ENCOURAGED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE GONNA BE, THAT ARE PRESENT, THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR CHILDREN, ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THEN ASKING FOR THIS LIBRARY TO BE MADE TRULY PUBLIC.
THE MONEY THAT WE GIVE AS TAXPAYERS, WE ARE HAPPY TO DO BECAUSE WARREN COUNTY SHARES OUR VALUES.
THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AND, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE HAVE PROTECTED WHAT WE, WE DESIRED.
THE LIBRARY, HOWEVER, AS IT STANDS, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IS NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANY OF THESE VALUES.
THEY ARE PART OF A PRIVATE GROUP WITH THEIR OWN PRIVATE INTERESTS AND PRIVATE DONORSHIP MONEY, BUT, BUT STILL TAKING MONEY FROM US.
THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
AND YOU, THE BOARD HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED A SOLUTION TO THEM, A SOLUTION WHICH I WOULD THINK EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM WOULD AGREE WITH, BECAUSE IT MAKES IT SO THAT THEY ALL HAVE EQUAL VOICES.
BUT NO, THEY WANNA KEEP IT CLOSED.
THEY WANNA MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN WHAT IS PROVIDED AT THIS LIBRARY, WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO.
AND THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE THEN BETWEEN THAT AND LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, TURNING ON A CHILD'S TELEVISION AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN GAME OF THRONES IS ON.
IT'S THE SAME IDEA, DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK.
THE M O A THAT WAS SUBMITTED MUST BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT ANY CHANGES WHATSOEVER.
AND THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE LIBRARY IMMEDIATELY.
THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT ARE, THAT WE CAN QUIBBLE ABOUT OR SAY TAKE LONG TIMES.
DEBATING THE CHILDREN ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED NOW.
THE FAMILIES ARE THE ONES WHO WILL BE AFFECTED IN THE FUTURE.
AND IT IS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE TODAY WHO ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE THIS FIGHT POSSIBLE ARE THE ONES WHO CARE, THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE.
WE CANNOT LET OUTSIDE INTERESTS AFFECTED BY DC AND OTHER AREAS OUTSIDE OF WARREN COUNTY MAKING DECISIONS FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF US HERE.
UM, AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UH, MY NAME IS SLOAN CASEY, AND I AM, I LIVE IN THE, UH, HEAVY CREEK DISTRICT, UM, HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
MY HUSBAND AND I MET AND FELL IN LOVE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
WE HAD TO MOVE BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN FOR A FEW YEARS DURING COVID IN ORDER TO FIND WORK.
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THE FAMILIAR SURROUNDING OF HIS CHILDHOOD HOME ON THE COAST, WE CHOSE TO MOVE BACK HERE TO THIS SPECIFIC COUNTY, TO THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY FOR OUR SON AND FOR ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WARREN COUNTY PROVIDES FOR US.WE'VE ALREADY BEEN LOVING THE TODDLER STORY TIME ON WEDNESDAYS AT THE LIBRARY.
WE LOVE FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY.
I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO LET HIM INTO THE LIBRARY WHERE HE SHOULD ONLY BE EXPOSED TO AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS, FEELING SCARED THAT HE COULD COME ACROSS PUBLICLY FUNDED PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL IN THESE AREAS MEANT FOR MINORS.
I WANT HIM INTRODUCED TO THESE TOPICS AT HOME, NOT OUT OF CONTEXT, UNEXPECTEDLY ON A LIBRARY SHELF.
PARENTS MATTER, OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE HOW WE PARENT MATTERS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT CLEANUP, SAMUELS WANTING TO DEFUND THE LIBRARY, BUT THIS IS FALSE.
WE WANT MORE FUNDING, MORE PROGRAMS. WE DON'T WANNA SEE THEM CLOSE THE DOORS.
WE DON'T WANT THAT CLOSED OFF TO OUR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THOSE THINGS SAFELY.
CURRENTLY, THE LIBRARY IS RUN BY AN UNELECTED BOARD OF WEALTHY DONORS.
AND AS HAS BEEN STATED, THEY THEY STILL TAKE $1 MILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDING, BUT ARE NOT HELD RESPONS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.
I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THE NAME DISPLAYED ON THE LIBRARY WEBSITE, SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS IN FACT A LIE.
WHAT WE WANT IS CLEAR, IT'S BEEN STATED MULTIPLE TIMES.
WE WANT THE LIBRARY TO GO FROM A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION CALLED SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED TO A FULLY PUBLIC ENTITY BEHOLDEN TO THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENTS THAT YOU, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS SENT MUST BE ACCEPTED WITH NO RE NO REVISIONS.
IF PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE ME WHO DON'T WANT, UM, KIDS, WANT THEIR KIDS POTENTIALLY SUBJECTED TO PORN WHO WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE RUN, IF WE ARE TRULY THE MINORITY, WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH A FULLY PUBLIC LIBRARY? A LIBRARY BEHOLDEN TO THE COMMUNITY, NO TAXATION WITHOUT RE REPRESENTATION.
WE'VE SAID IT MULTIPLE TIMES, IT'S, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THE NEXT PERSON NEXT UP IS MARIA O'BRIEN.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M MARIA O'BRIEN, A 25 YEAR RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS ON THE LIBRARY ISSUES.
MOST NOTABLY THE M O A BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE LIBRARY.
THE M O A FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY AS THEY REQUESTED THE MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FROM OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS WHO ELECTED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE LIBRARY UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS, IS LOSING TRUST WITH THE TAXPAYERS WHO FUND ITS OPERATIONS.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE M O A AS YOU SENT IT OVER, AS IT IS WRITTEN FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IS ACCEPTED BY THE LIBRARY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING FROM OUR TAX MONIES.
ULTIMATELY, I WANT THE LIBRARY TO RECEIVE FULL FUNDING EVERY QUARTER.
I KNOW AND GREATLY APPRECIATE THE GOOD OF THE LIBRARY.
I THINK THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOOK ISSUE THAT STARTED THIS DISCUSSION WANTS A FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC LIBRARY OPEN TO ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THE LIBRARY'S RIDICULOUS REQUEST FOR A CONTRACTUAL PROMISE OF BUDGET INCREASES EVERY YEAR THROUGH 2029 IF ADDITIONAL TAX FUNDING IS NEEDED.
NOT ONLY DO THEY NEED TO ACCEPT THE TAXPAYER'S M O A, BUT ALL BUDGET INCREASES SHOULD BE AS NEEDED AND AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.
WE CAN'T COMMIT NOW TO FUTURE TAX INCREASES, ESPECIALLY IN A RECESSION OR TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY DEMANDING.
THE M O A WHILE STILL NOT ACCEPTING THE ONE FROM YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR M O A WOULD GIVE WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS FURTHER REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY.
THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
THIS IS A FOUNDING TENANT OF OUR VERY NATION AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHOULD HAVE THE B O SS, UM, APPRO APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES ON THEIR BOARD.
AND THAT'S A FURTHER REPRESENTATION.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REFERRED TO THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE SEND OVER.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE VALUE THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE PROVIDING TO THE LIBRARY IS EVEN GREATER THAN THAT BECAUSE THEY RENT THE LIBRARY BUILDING FOR A DOLLAR FROM THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE RENTING THE LAND FOR A DOLLAR FROM THE, UM, SCHOOL BOARD.
SO THE ACTUAL VALUE FROM TAXPAYERS IS GREATER THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE RENTING BACK THE OLD LIBRARY BUILDING AT A COST OF A QUARTER MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF THE CONTRACT.
[00:45:01]
UM, FUNDING HERE OF THE LIBRARY IS, IS QUITE SOMETHING.UM, AND, AND SO WE NEED TRANSPARENCY FOR THAT.
TRUE PUBLIC BODIES HAVE VERY CLEAR LAWS ON TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT WHEN YOU HAVE THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE NOW, THAT'S WHERE THINGS CAN GET MUDDY.
AND WE ALL REMEMBER ABOUT THE E D A THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TRIAL'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, UM, WITH THAT MASSIVE E D A SCANDAL, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP COULD SKIRT THESE LAWS AND MONEY, MONEY WENT MISSING OR UNACCOUNTED FOR.
UM, IN FACT, MAYBE THAT'S WHY SOMEONE'S HAPPY TO SEE PEOPLE FIGHTING OVER BOOKS BACK AND FORTH.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON HERE? WHY ISN'T THE MONEY TRANSPARENT TO THE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE FUNDING IT? UM, THIS TAXPAYER, M O A SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.
I'M SORRY, THREE MINUTES BY THE LIBRARY.
I'M A PROPERTY OWNER OF WARREN COUNTY.
I URGE YOU TO IMPLEMENT THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AS YOU THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE WRITTEN IT.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE SAMUELS LIBRARY REJECTED, UM, YOUR MEMORANDUM AGREEMENT.
I HAVE SIX ADULT CHILDREN WHO ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE 20 YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN WHO LIVE HERE WHO GO TO SCHOOL IN FRONT ROYAL AND WHO I HAVE TAKEN FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, MY CHILDREN, AND NOW MY GRANDCHILDREN TO THIS LIBRARY.
I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND I'M SPEAKING THIS EVENING BECAUSE WE NEED, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS A TRULY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
OVER THE YEARS, MANY, MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.
UM, AND AS YOU KNOW, FAR MORE THAN A, A MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SET ASIDE ONE FORM OR ANOTHER FOR THE LIBRARY THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT THESE FUNDS CURRENTLY ARE ON THE, UNDER THE CONTROL OF AN UNELECTED GROUP WHO ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THE LIBRARY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP THAT CALL THEMSELVES THE SSSS HAVE ASSERTED THAT ONLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN LIBRARY SCIENCE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PICK THE BOOKS THAT WILL BE BOUGHT WITH TAXPAYER MONIES.
THIS IS AN ELITIST AND EVEN A RACIST ATTITUDE.
ACCORDING TO US CENSUS FIGURES, UM, ONLY ABOUT 22% OF WARREN COUNTY HAS EVEN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, A SMALL SMALLER NUMBER, HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE, AND A MINUSCULE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY HAVE A MASTER'S OF LIBRARY SCIENCE DEGREE.
UM, AND THAT'S OF COURSE WHAT THE SSSS GROUP IS SAYING, UM, IS NEEDED BEFORE ONE CAN EVEN HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT BOOKS THE REST OF US HAVE TO PAY FOR.
AND SADLY, AFRICAN AMERICANS, ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICAL ATLAS IN VIRGINIA, RECEIVE DEGREES FROM COLLEGES AT LESS THAN HALF THE RATE OF WHITES.
SO THEY ARE ALREADY DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTATIVE IN THIS TEENY TINY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED QUALIFIED TO DECIDE HOW OUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS SPENT ON THE LIBRARY.
SO THIS ELITIST ATTITUDE IS DISENFRANCHISING ALMOST EVERY MEMBER OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THIS IS WHY THE LIBRARY IS LOSING SUPPORT AND TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.
ALMOST EVERY PARENT IS TOLD, YOU HAVE NO VOICE HERE.
UM, IT'S A SMALL UNELECTED GROUP THAT IS MAKING THE DECISIONS.
THEY ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO VOTERS AND TO TAXPAYERS.
I LIVE, UH, IN THE, UH, NORTH FORK DISTRICT MIDDLETOWN.
UM, I WANNA AFFIRM MY FULL SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING PEOPLE HAVE SAID HERE SO FAR AS PROTECTING CHILDREN IN OUR, IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
IN MY VIEW, IT'S A LOT BIGGER THAN THAT.
UH, IT INCLUDES THAT AS WELL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE WE HAD A COMMON UNDERSTANDING AMONG MOST ALMOST ALL FOLKS OF WHAT WAS RIGHT AND WHAT WAS WRONG.
AND OVER THE LAST MANY DECADES, THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DISTORT THAT, TO CHANGE THE MEANING OF WORDS.
SO THAT, UH, NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WHEN
[00:50:01]
WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN THAT PORNOGRAPHY IS BEING FUNDED BY A PUBLIC INSTITUTION, A SUPPOSEDLY PUBLIC INSTITUTION, WE ARE HATERS.UM, THAT'S A, A RIDICULOUS AND DIALECTICAL MANIPULATION OF, OF THIS DISCUSSION.
SO THAT IT'S HARD TO EVEN HAVE A COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU HAD, UH, SAY AN EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER, UH, GOOD LOOKING YOUNG WOMAN WHO CAME IN TO TEACH TO CHILDREN ENGLISH IN HER BIKINI, CHANCES ARE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM OF THAT SCHOOL WOULD SAY, THAT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE, YOU GOTTA GO.
WELL, IF, IF, IF THE ADULTS IN THAT ROOM, THE, THE, THE, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT SCHOOL DIDN'T DO THAT, THEN THEIR SUPERIORS WOULD DO THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE APPEALING TO YOU.
YOU ARE THE SUPERIORS, YOU'RE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, AND WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU TO BE ABLE TO BRING THINGS BACK TO WHERE WE'RE NOT FUNDING THINGS MATERIAL THAT IS GROTESQUELY INAPPROPRIATE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE BOOKS THERE THAT INCLUDE A, A, A YOUNG GIRL BEING FORCIBLY RAPED BY HER A HER STEPFATHER IN A RATHER EXPLICIT FASHION.
AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE IN, IN OUR LIBRARIES.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
MY NAME IS KELSEY LAWRENCE AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
IF YOU TELL A LIE BIG ENOUGH AND KEEP REPEATING IT, PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO BELIEVE IT.
IT'S THE FIRST LAW OF PROPAGANDA CREATED BY JOSEPH MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA FOR HITLER'S THIRD REICH.
WE'VE SEEN IN THIS SUMMER'S HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF WARREN COUNTY BY 93 FAR RIGHT RADICAL EXTREMISTS ON A MONO MANAL MANIACAL MISSION TO DEFUND SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THEY TOLD YOU IT WAS A POLITICAL ISSUE.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
THEY TOLD YOU IT WAS A POLITICAL ISSUE TO KEEP YOU FROM SPEAKING OUT.
THEY TOLD YOU IT WAS A POLITICAL ISSUE TO BUY YOUR SILENCE.
THE LIES THIS RIGHT WING FACTION TELL US ARE AS NUMEROUS AS THEY ARE.
FIRST CUSS WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE THE MAJORITY OF LIBRARY CARDHOLDERS AND VOTERS IN WARREN COUNTY, BUT NEARLY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAS TIES TO FAR RIGHT.
33% OF THE COUNTY IDENTIFIES AS RELIGIOUS.
JOHN'S OWN PASTOR HAS CLAIMED THESE PEOPLE REPRESENT 1.5% OF ST.
THEY REPRESENT LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT OF WARREN COUNTY'S TOTAL POPULATION.
SECOND CUSS CLAIMS. THEY DON'T WANT THEIR COUNTY TAXES PAYING FOR BOOKS.
THEY DON'T LIKE LUCKY FOR THEM.
THEY CLAIM THIS CLAIM TOO IS BASED ON A LIE.
COUNTY FUNDS ARE NOT USED TO PURCHASE LIBRARY BOOKS, STATE FUNDS AND ENDOWMENTS ARE USED FOR THAT.
THIRD, THEY WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IS A GOVERNING BODY OF SOME KIND, WHICH ISSUES MARCHING ORDERS FOR US LIBRARIES.
IT IS JUST A NONPROFIT, A WORKER'S ORGANIZATION WITH 50,000 MEMBERS, MAINLY LIBRARIANS.
BUT MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION.
IT EXISTS TO PROTECT EQUITY OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION, WHICH IS WHAT THEY OPPOSE SO FIERCELY.
FINALLY, THEY CLAIM THEY WANT TO PROTECT KIDS.
BUT WE'VE HEARD HORROR STORIES IN THIS ROOM ABOUT CHILDREN WHO'VE TAKEN THEIR OWN LIVES IN PART DUE TO HATEFUL MESSAGING OF THIS GROUP.
19 WOMEN AT CHRISTIANDOM COLLEGE CLAIMED IN 2018 THAT THEIR ASSAULT BETWEEN 1998 AND 2018 WERE IGNORED AND THEIR ABUSERS MORE THAN ONCE HOUSED BY CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE PROFESSORS.
JUST THIS WEEK, ONE OF THE MEMBERS IN TEXAS WAS FORCED TO CONTACT LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND OPEN A POLICE INVESTIGATION WHEN HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD AUTISTIC SON WAS STALKED BY CLEANUP SAMUEL'S SUPPORTERS AND HIS PHOTOS WEARING A DRESS BECAUSE HE LIKES TO TWIRL SPREAD ALL OVER THE INTERNET IN THIS TOWN, MOCKING HIS CLOTHING AND HIS AUTISM, THEY SEEK TO CLOSE THE LIBRARY UPON WHICH 20,000 PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, INCLUDING LOW INCOME CHILDREN, RELY ON FOR INTERNET AND OTHER SERVICES, WHOSE CHILDREN ARE THEY PROTECTING? NOT WARREN COUNTIES, NOT YOURS.
WE WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE DOWN OUR LIBRARY WITHOUT A FIGHT.
WE WILL NOT LET YOU TEAR DOWN OUR DEMOCRACY WITHOUT A FIGHT.
IN THE WORDS OF WINSTON CHURCHILL, A GUY WHO KNEW A THING OR TWO ABOUT FIGHTING FASCISTS.
[00:55:01]
HUBBARD.I'M FROM FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
UM, THIS HAS CREATED A LOT OF STRIPE AND DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO END THIS AND YOU'VE CHOSEN NOT TO.
UM, I HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR THE CLEANUP SAMUEL'S CREW.
UM, PORNOGRAPHY AND LIBRARIES IS ILLEGAL.
IT IS A LAW THAT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.
AND IF THEY HAVE PORN PORNOGRAPHY IN THE LIBRARY, THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR EVIDENCE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HAVE THE LIBRARIAN ARRESTED.
BUT THEY WON'T DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PORNOGRAPHY IN THE LIBRARY.
THEY SAY THEY REPRESENT THE MAJORITY, BUT THIS HAS ONLY BEEN UP A WEEK.
THIS IS 2000 OF YOUR CONFIRMED WARREN COUNTY CONSTITUENTS.
OKAY, MA'AM? OKAY, MA'AM, THAT WE GET YOUR POINT.
SO, BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE YOU IN.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM HERE.
THESE ARE THE APATHETIC PEOPLE THAT DON'T VOTE AS MUCH.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HOLLIS THARP USED TO TELL ME, STEVIE HONEY, IT ONLY TAKES 400 VOTES TO SWING AN ELECTION.
AND I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
THAT HALF OF A PERCENT IS NOT IT.
YOU SAID TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
WHAT ABOUT MY REPRESENTATION IN THE LIBRARY? WHAT ABOUT WHAT I WANT MY CHILDREN TO READ? WHAT ABOUT THE 4% L G B T Q MEMBERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU REPRESENT THAT ONLY GET 1% OF THE BOOKS? ARE THEY NOT BEING REPRESENTED FAIRLY WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS? I MEAN, THE FIGHT IS RIDICULOUS AND THESE PEOPLE ARE DISINGENUOUS.
WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY, THIS GENTLEMAN WITH THE BLONDE HAIR LIED STRAIGHTED TO DEPUTY CLATTER BUCK'S FACE WITHOUT AN OUNCE OF REMORSE WITH SLOAN.
CAME TO OUR MEETING AND PRETENDED THAT SHE WAS A SUPPORTER.
THESE ARE HOW THESE PEOPLE BEHAVE.
WHAT KIND OF RELIGION IS TEACHING THEM TO ACT THAT WAY? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR CHILDREN DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT? MINE WOULD GET SPANKED.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING HERE, BUT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT TO FUND OUR LIBRARY.
AND, AND MIGHT I ADD THESE ARE REPUBLICANS AND MIGHT I ADD THAT THERE'S REPUBLICANS WILLING TO DO WRITING CAMPAIGNS AS WE SPEAK TO DEFEND THIS LIBRARY AND TO STOP THIS BIGOTRY? IF YOU TAKE THIS LIBRARY PUBLIC AND YOU TRY TO REMOVE THOSE L G B T Q BOOKS, IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
YOU, YOU WILL BE SUED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND YOU WILL BE PLAYING WITH OUR MONEY ONCE AGAIN.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR THEIR BIGOTRY? HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TAKES THE TIME AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK.
HELLO, UH, CAMERON HUBBARD FROM ROYAL.
UM, I'VE COME HERE EVERY TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS.
UM, SO TODAY I'M GONNA TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
UM, DOLORES, I KNOW YOUR SON, UM, AND I KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR SON.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR SON HAD PUBLISHED A BOOK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY TRUE TO HIS LIFE AND EVERYTHING, AND SOME SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T AGREE CAME AND THEY SLANDERED YOUR SON.
THEY SAID AWFUL THINGS TO YOUR SON.
HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? YOU WOULD WANNA PROTECT YOUR SON, VICKY, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THAT WAS YOU? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE PARENTS AS WELL.
THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, SO I'M NOT GONNA READ THAT 'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THAT.
I'M COMING TO YOU FROM MY HEART.
THEY SAY THIS IS CONSERVATIVE AND THIS IS LIBERAL.
IT DOES, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MY BELIEFS AND WHO I VOTE FOR.
THIS IS US, YOU KNOW, AND WE KEEP WE KEEP PUTTING THESE PEOPLE THROUGH THESE THINGS.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN YOUR AUDIENCE CRYING AND YOU DON'T DEFEND THEM.
YOU LET THEM SIT THERE AND BELITTLE THEM AND WHO DEFENDS THEM BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE ELECTED YOU TO DO.
AND WHILE I KNOW YOU PERSONALLY, MY FAMILY KNOWS YOU PERSONALLY, AND I'M DISAPPOINTED,
[01:00:01]
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS WHO PROTECTS US BECAUSE YOU DON'T.AND MR. BUTLER, I HOPE YOU'RE AWAKE RIGHT NOW TO HEAR THIS.
IT IS NOT FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND GO HOME AND THAT THESE PARENTS HAVE TO GO HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN AND TELL THEM IT IS OKAY TO BE YOU.
NO ONE IS TELLING THEM THAT IT IS NOT OKAY TO BE YOU.
WE'RE NOT GOING AND BANNING BOOKS THAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
I HAVEN'T ASKED TO BAN THE BIBLE.
NO ONE HERE HAS BECAUSE WE DO NOT STAND FOR THAT.
AND THAT IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ALLOWING.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M SAD THAT I HAVE TO BE OUT OF CHARACTER LIKE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ME.
BUT IT IS DISHEARTENING EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE COME HERE TODAY, EVERY TIME THAT WE COME HERE AND WE SIT HERE AND WE PLEAD AND WE BEG AND WE BEG FOR YOU TO BELIEVE US AND YOU DEFEND US.
I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BECAUSE IT'LL BE YOUR FACES THAT ALL THOSE SIGNATURES REMEMBER WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE.
AND I HOPE THAT IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE COMPASSION IN YOUR HEART, THAT YOU'LL FIND COMPASSION FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU STILL WANNA BE ON THIS CHAIR.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT WITH MY HUSBAND AND FAMILY.
UM, I HAVE JUST DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF YOU A COPY OF A STATEMENT WHICH I WILL NOW READ.
THE STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY 42 CATHOLIC PARENTS WHO LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY.
DEAR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE AS CATHOLIC PARENTS CONCERNED FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENTIRE WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY, URGE YOU TO RELEASE ALL THE FUNDING DESIGNATED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE CLOSURE OF THE LIBRARY, EVEN IF ONLY TEMPORARY, WOULD DEPRIVE THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY OF A RESOURCE THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR FLOURISHING AS A COMMUNITY.
WHILE WE CAN UNDERSTAND MANY OF THE CONCERNS VOICED BY SOME OF OUR FELLOW WARREN COUNTY CATHOLICS REGARDING THE CURATION OF THE LIBRARY COLLECTION, WE BELIEVE THAT THE LIBRARY IS TAKING APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
WE WISH TO EXPRESS OUR ESTEEM AND GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE LIBRARIANS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE VALUE THE WORK TO THEY DO TO MAKE THIS VITAL SERVICE AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY.
WE URGE YOU ALL TO ALLOW THE LIBRARY TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
NAOMI EGGER, FRONT ROYAL QUOTING FROM CHLOE COLE.
ANOTHER WAY TO PUT THAT WOULD BE I USED TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG BODY AND THE ADULTS IN MY LIFE AFFIRMED MY BELIEF AND CAUSED ME LIFELONG IRREVERSIBLE HARM.
I SPEAK AS A VICTIM OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST MEDICAL SCANDALS IN THE HISTORY OF THE U S A I SPEAK IN THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO BRING THE SCANDAL TO AN END AND ENSURE THAT OTHER CHILDREN DON'T GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH AT THE AGE OF 12.
I WAS WELL INTO AN EARLY PUBERTY AND WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING TO MY BODY.
WHEN I TOLD MY PARENTS THAT I FELT LIKE A BOY IN RETROSPECT, ALL I MEANT WAS THAT I HATED PUBERTY, THAT I WANTED THIS NEWFOUND SEXUAL ATTENTION TO GO AWAY.
THAT I LOOKED UP TO MY BROTHERS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I DID TO MY SISTERS.
MY PARENTS FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED TO GET HELP FROM MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
WE ALL BECAME VICTIMS OF SO-CALLED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.
I WAS FAST TRACKED ONTO PUBERTY BLOCKERS, THE RESULTING MENOPAUSAL, LIKE HOT FLASHES MADE, FOCUSING ON SCHOOL IMPOSSIBLE.
I STILL GET JOINT PAINS AND WEIRD POPS IN MY BACK, BUT THEY WERE FAR WORSE.
WHEN I WAS ON THE BLOCKERS WHEN I WAS 13, I HAD MY FIRST TESTOSTERONE INJECTION.
IT'S CAUSED PERMANENT CHANGES TO MY BODY.
MY VOICE WILL FOREVER BE DEEPER.
MY JAWLINE SHARPER, MY NOSE LONGER.
[01:05:01]
MY BONE STRUCTURE PERMANENTLY MASCULINIZED MY ATOMS APPLE MORE PROMINENT.I HAD A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY AT 15.
THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY STILL DEVELOPING BODY.
I HAD A HUGE PART OF MY FUTURE WOMANHOOD TAKEN FROM ME.
I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BREASTFEED.
I STILL STRUGGLE WITH SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION.
I HAVE MASSIVE SCARS ACROSS MY CHEST AND THE SKIN GRAFTS THAT THEY USED ON MY NIPPLES ARE WEEPING FLUID TODAY.
EVERYTHING THAT I WENT THROUGH DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS MY UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
MY DOCTORS THOUGHT THAT ALL MY PROBLEMS WOULD GO AWAY AS SOON AS I WAS SURGICALLY TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING THAT VAGUELY RESEMBLED A BOY.
THE DRUGS AND SURGERIES CHANGED MY BODY, BUT THEY DID NOT AND COULD NOT CHANGE THE BASIC REALITY THAT I AM AND FOREVER WILL BE A FEMALE.
I WAS A HAPPY CHILD WHO STRUGGLED BECAUSE SHE WAS DIFFERENT.
AT 16, AFTER MY SURGERY, I DID BECOME SUICIDAL.
I NEEDED TO BE IN THERAPY TO HELP ME WORK THROUGH MY ISSUES, NOT AFFIRM MY DELUSION, THAT BY TRANSFORMING INTO A BOY, IT WOULD SOLVE ALL MY PROBLEMS. WE NEED TO STOP TELLING 12 YEAR OLDS THAT THEY WERE BORN WRONG.
WE NEED TO STOP TELLING CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE WHAT KIND OF PUBERTY THEY WILL GO THROUGH, JUST AS THEY CAN CHOOSE WHAT CLOTHES TO WEAR OR WHAT MUSIC TO LISTEN TO.
PUBERTY IS A RITE OF PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD, NOT A DISEASE TO BE MITIGATED.
MY CHILDHOOD WAS RUINED ALONG WITH THOUSANDS.
ENOUGH CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THIS BARBARIC PSEUDOSCIENCE.
PLEASE LET ME BE YOUR FINAL WARNING.
WITH THAT PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD IS, IS OVER.
DO WE WANNA HAVE A BREAK? THE BOARD? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A BREAK? ALRIGHT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A BREAK? OKAY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
[E. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
TO SAY THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME CONS, CONSTITUENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, LATELY ABOUT, UH, SOME ISSUES IN THE, IN THE COUNTY.AND, UH, JUST LIKE THE, UH, THE BOARD IS, WE ARE, UH, WORKING TO GET THESE, UH, UH, WORKED OUT.
AUGUST 19TH, UM, COMPANY TWO, RIVERMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE VOLUNTEERS PUT ON A FUNDRAISER DINNER, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE TONIGHT.
AND I WAS A VERY NICE DINNER AND I APPRECIATE THE HELP WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO, UM, HAD A LITTLE DYSFUNCTION WITH HER HAPPY MEAL.
BUT, UM, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO, UM, SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEERS AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING SO HARD TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR COMPANY.
UM, ALSO AUGUST 23RD, UM, WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE HAD A PROMOTION CEREMONY.
AND I WANTED, I DON'T HAVE THE LIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE PROMOTED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I ESPECIALLY WANNA MAKE NOTE OF, UM, THE FIRST FEMALE LIEUTENANT TO BE A LIEUTENANT IN WARREN COUNTY'S FIRE AND RESCUE.
AND THAT WOULD BE CASSIE COMER.
UM, I JUST, I, I'M IN AWE OF THE WOMEN WHO TAKE ON THAT JOB AS FIREFIGHTERS AND, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY FIREFIGHTING.
'CAUSE YOU GUYS CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT AROUND WITH EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO GO INTO THE, THE FIRES.
AND, UM, SO I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU.
BUT, UH, WANNA CONGRATULATE HER ON BREAKING THAT, UM, BOUNDARY OF BEING THE FIRST FEMALE THERE.
AUGUST 31ST, THE COALITION HAD AN OVERDR AWARENESS, UH, VIGIL.
AND, UM, I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
IT WAS, UM, WE HAD SOME SPEAKERS THERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT GOING THROUGH THEIR ADDICTION.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULD GET UP AND TELL THEIR STORY THE WAY THEY DID, BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT.
UM, AND WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, EVERYONE THAT'S GOING THROUGH THAT.
FAMILIES AND THE PERSON WITH THE ADDICTION, THE COALITION'S.
ALSO HAVING A FUNDRAISER, WHICH I VOLUNTEERED FOR, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN I VOLUNTEERED TO HAVE SOMETHING THROWN AT ME THAT THAT MEANT I HAD TO DO THE FUNDRAISING.
I, I JUST FIGURED PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT AND PAY TO THROW SOMETHING AT ME.
BUT, UH, FOR ANYONE, I NEED TO GET THAT LINK UP.
[01:10:01]
I FEEL LIKE SINCE I IRK SO MANY PEOPLE WITH MY CONSTANT QUESTIONS, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS OUT ON ME AND COME THROW SOMETHING AT ME AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE COALITION AT THE SAME TIME.UM, ALSO I WANNA MENTION CAROL TOBIN'S RETIREMENT.
I DID NOT MAKE IT TO HER CEREMONY, WHICH I DEEPLY REGRET.
I'VE KNOWN CAROL SINCE, UM, I WAS A FIFTH GRADER IN SCHOOL.
SHE WAS THE SECRETARY THE FIRST YEAR I CAME FROM BROWNTOWN SCHOOL TO, TO, UH, WHAT WAS THEN THE 15TH STREET ELEMENTARY.
AND SHE HAS SERVED THIS COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
DALEY, DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY 41.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, EVEN BEFORE THAT, SHE IS, SHE IS LEAVING.
UM, I'M SURE HER PREDECESSOR WILL DO A GOOD JOB, BUT THAT WOMAN DID SUCH AN EXEMPLARY JOB AND, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD THE ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION AND SHE DID HER JOB, JOB WITH DUE DILIGENCE.
AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HER, WISH HER WELL IN HER RETIREMENT.
UM, GOT A LOT OF EMAILS OVER A LOT OF EMAILS AND CALLS, AND I DID MY BEST TO TRY TO ANSWER AS MANY AS I POSSIBLY COULD.
SO I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE FOR ANY THAT I MISSED.
UM, IT WASN'T BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER YOU.
I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE RATE THEY WERE COMING AT ME.
SO, UM, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
AND THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA SAY ON THE LIBRARY IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL COME TO AN AGREEMENT SOON.
I THINK WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING, A LIBRARY THAT ALL OF US CAN USE WITH CONFIDENCE AND, UM, THAT YOUR TA, YOU KNOW, YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WISELY.
UM, SO AS I SAT HERE AND LISTENED TO EVERYBODY AND I, WE'VE GOTTEN HUNDREDS OF EMAILS, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY, UM, IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, 300 MAYBE.
UM, AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS THE SAME THING.
UM, EVERYBODY APPRECIATES AND LOVES OUR LIBRARY.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO PROTECT KIDS.
EVERYBODY, UH, THAT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT THEME THROUGH ANY EITHER SIDE.
SO I JUST WANNA REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE, WE ARE A COMMUNITY.
WE ARE NEIGHBORS, AND WE NEED TO TREAT EACH OTHER THAT WAY.
AND WE NEED TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS, BUT WE ARE GONNA WORK THROUGH THIS.
WE, WE WILL WORK THROUGH THIS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE BETTER FOR IT.
UM, AND THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY THING I WANNA SAY, OTHER THAN CAROL TOBIN WHO, UM, WAS
AND SO I HOPE THAT SHE GETS TO ENJOY THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF HER RETIREMENT, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE TO HER.
BUT, UM, THANK YOU CAROL TOBIN, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS COUNTY.
YOU WILL BE HARD SHOES TO FILL.
IT'S GONNA BE VERY HARD TO FOLLOW UP ON EITHER ONE OF THOSE 'CAUSE YOU KIND OF HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO REPORT OTHER THAN, UM, I'VE GOTTEN, UM, SOME HALFWAY DECENT DOCTOR NEWS.
UM, MRS. TOBIN I MISSED BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE AREA COMPLETELY.
AND, UH, THE LIBRARY, I BELIEVE EVERY ONE OF US IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO SUPPORT IT IN WHATEVER FORM IT COMES OUT TO BE.
UM, CHANGE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND WE'RE CHANGING SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN THE SAME FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES, GET THE BEST CONTRACT THAT WE CAN AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME WE WILL DO THAT BECAUSE THIS BOARD IS A GOOD BOARD.
AND, UH, WE WILL, WE WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO, TO GET THAT LIBRARY BACK ON TRACK.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DEFUND IT.
WE ARE NOT, UH, WE WANT TO FUND IT.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO FUND IT.
[01:15:01]
WELL, I WANNA, UM, PIGGYBACK EVERYONE'S COMMENT ABOUT CAROL TOBIN.UM, UH, WE WERE, UH, SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND MYSELF DID ATTEND HER FAREWELL, UM, EVENT.
IT WAS VERY NICELY DONE, SO SHE WILL BE MISSED.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I I, I WANNA ALSO COMMENT ABOUT THE, THE LIBRARY.
UM, JUST FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COUNTY LIBRARY M O A SAID AND WHAT THE LIBRARY M O A SAID, AND I JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW WHO'S WATCHING IS THAT THOSE, BOTH THOSE MOAS ARE OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.
THE, UH, COUNTY'S M OAS IS ON OUR WEBSITE AND THE LIBRARY'S M O A IS ON THEIR WEBSITE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW IT'S OUT THERE.
LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO NEGOTIATE THE MOAS PROVISIONS, AND WE WILL HAVE A REVISED DRAFT TO BE SENT TO THE LIBRARY BY THIS THURSDAY.
SO, UM, ONCE THE, UM, M O A IS RECEIVED BY THE LIBRARY, WE WILL PUBLISH THE, UM, AMENDED, UM, M O A.
I JUST GOT A, UH, A TEXT, A STAFF MEMBER WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS FUNDRAISER AND HOW IT WORKS.
DO THEY TAKE CREDIT CARDS?
I, IF I DIDN'T, COULDN'T STAND THE HEAT, I WOULDN'T GET IN THE KITCHEN.
I DON'T LIKE ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY, BUT IT'S FOR A GOOD COST AND, YOU KNOW, SO.
SO ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, I DO BELIEVE, OKAY, JUST, JUST CHECKING, JUST FIND OUT.
NO, NO, BRING YOUR POCKETBOOK, OPEN IT UP AND THROW SOMETHING AT ME.
UM, REFERRING TO THE AGENDA, MA'AM, YOUR ITEMS G FIVE AND SIX ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE WOULD SCHEDULE FOR THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE MONTH, SINCE THERE ARE ONLY TWO, UH, WE WONDERED IF THE BOARD MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER SCHEDULING THESE FOR OCTOBER 3RD, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT WOULD BE ON THAT, THAT FOURTH TUESDAY.
AND THIS COULD FIT INTO YOUR REGULAR MEETING ON THE THIRD.
AND THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECT OBJECTIONS, WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION NOW.
WELL, WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO THE AGENDA, BEG PARDON? WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO THE AGENDA, MA'AM.
SECOND, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT THE BOARD, UM, HAS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS THE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST PARTS OF THIS IS ENCLOSED IN THIS OPTIMA HEALTH, WHICH YOU MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT THE PROGRAMS ARE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT 'EM, EITHER JANE MEADOWS OR KAY LIDAR, IF YOU WANTED TO GIVE THEM A CALL OR AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING, UH, WE'LL BE GLAD TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.
BUT WE WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT IT IS.
THIS IS PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY ROLLING OUT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
OH, IF I, IF I MAY, I KNOW WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE, UM, OUR BACKUP MATERIAL, WE DID HAVE A REPORT FROM VDOT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THAT'S THERE.
[ F. Approval of Minutes - 7.25.2023 Public Hearing ]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA, IS THERE APPROVAL OF OUR MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 25TH, 2023? AND IF THERE'S ANY REVISIONS OR ANY REVISIONS TO THIS DOCUMENT, DO WE, I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT IT AS PRESENTED.WE WENT ON TO THE NEXT ITEM OF OUR AGENDA AS OUR CONSENT
[G. Consent Agenda]
AGENDA AND, UM, IS THERE ANY ITEMS THAT WE WANNA REMOVE FOR DISCUSSION OTHER THAN THE, THE THREE CHANGE THE DATES CHANGING THE DATES OF, UM, ITEM FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN[01:20:01]
TO MOVE OUT TO OUR OCTOBER? JUST FIVE AND SIX, MA'AM.FIVE AND SIX, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED, UH, WITH NUMBER FIVE AND NUMBER SIX BEING MOVED TO OCTOBER 3RD.
[ H. Resolution - Warren County Disaster Relief - Corey Childs]
NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS A RESOLUTION FOR THE WARREN COUNTY DISASTER RELIEF.UM, I DON'T KNOW IF COREY CHARLES IS HERE OR NOT.
BRIAN IS HERE FROM FIRE AND RESCUE, MA'AM.
SO, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, SO MR. COREY CHILDS REACHED OUT, REACHED OUT TO ME, UM, TO DISCUSS BRINGING TO YOU A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE WARREN COUNTY AN AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AREA.
UH, AND THROUGH THAT HE WOULD ASK THAT YOU ASK, UH, DR.
DALEY, UH, TO SEND A LETTER OR TO NOTIFY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
UH, THAT WE HAVE DECLARED THAT, UM, AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AREA, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY GO THROUGH ME THROUGH TO THE STATE.
AND WHAT THAT WILL DO IS IT WILL ALLOW, UH, THE FARMERS OF WARRING COUNTY IF IT IS APPROVED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE, UH, AND FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE RAINFALL DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER, UH, THE GROWING SEASON HAS BEEN EXTREMELY LOW ACROSS MOST OF WARREN COUNTY, IF NOT ALL OF WARREN COUNTY.
SO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, UH, WHICH MONITORS AND EVALUATES THE HYDRAULIC, HYDRAULIC AND WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS AND EVALUATES DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE FROM THE VIRGINIA DROUGHT ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE PLAN, UH, THIS VIRGINIA DROUGHT MONITORING TASK FORCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, FOR A DROUGHT STAGE DECLARATION.
THEY LAST MET IN OF OCTOBER 24TH, AND THEY ISSUED A DROUGHT WARNING ADVISORY FOR THE WHOLE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, UH, EVALUATION REGION.
WHAT THEY DO IS THEY LOOK AT FOUR KEY AREAS, THE PARTIC PRECIPITATION, THE GROUNDWATER LEVELS, STREAM FLOW LEVELS, AND RESERVOIR LEVELS FOR THE SHENANDOAH AREA.
UH, THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE PARTICI PRECIPITATION AS NORMAL.
NOW THAT IS NOT JUST FOR THE SUMMERTIME THAT GOES THROUGH FROM SPRING THROUGH WINTER, FALL, AND SUMMER.
AND IN THAT AREA, WE'RE IN THE WARNING LEVEL, OR EXCUSE ME, WE'RE IN THE NORMAL LEVEL.
SO THE GROUNDWATER RIGHT NOW IS SHOWING IN THE EMERGENCY STAGE, UH, IT IS VERY LOW.
ALSO, THE STREAM FLOW LEVEL IS ALSO EXTREMELY LOW, AND THAT IS IN THE EMERGENCY AREA AS WELL.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY RESERVOIRS IN THIS AREA, BUT THAT IS IN THE WATCH PHASE.
AS YOU CAN TELL BY JUST LOOKING AT THE RIVERS, UH, AND THE CREEKS, THEY'RE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY LOW.
SO THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORKING THROUGH WITH THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS AND PARTNER WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, UH, INCLUDING FARM SERVICE AGENCY, HAS COMPLETED DISASTER ASSESSMENT FOR WARREN COUNTY.
UH, THAT DISASTER ASSESSMENT HAS SHOWN THE LACK OF RAINFALL.
RAINFALL HAS CAUSED YIELD LOSSES OF 45% FOR HAY, 30% LOSS FOR CORN, 25% LOSS FOR SOYBEAN, AND A 35% LOSS FOR PASTURE GRAZING DATES AND YIELD LOSSES WILL CONTINUE TO ESCALATE, UH, UNLESS THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL SOON, UH, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING EVEN IN THE FORECAST UNTIL THURSDAY.
SOME OF THE FARMERS NOW ARE ALSO USING SOME OF THEIR WINTER, UH, HAY TO FEED THEIR ANIMALS NOW.
UM, SO THIS COMBINING EFFECT OF HAY AND YIELD LOSS AND PASTURE GRAZING DAYS, UH, IS RESULTING IN SEVERE SHORTAGE OF HAY IN THE AREA.
UM, THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, GROUNDWATER DATA SHOWS THAT GROUNDWATER LEVELS ARE EXTREMELY LOW AND THE REPORTS OF SOME WELLS UNDERPERFORMING IN THE AREA.
UH, THE STREAM FLOWS RIGHT NOW ARE IN THE 25TH PERCENTILE OF THE HISTORIC HISTORIC NORMAL VALUES.
UM, AND THE FLOWS ARE OBSERVED BELOW THE FIFTH PERCENTILE IN
[01:25:01]
THE SHEOR REGION.GROUNDWATER LEVELS ARE CURRENTLY BELOW THE FIFTH PERCENTILE IN THE SHEOR REGION.
UM, SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DECLARE WARREN COUNTY AN AGRICULTURAL DISASTER AREA THAT WOULD GO TO THE GOVERNOR FOR APPROVAL.
UH, I HONESTLY, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE THRESHOLD OF THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET BEFORE THE GOVERNOR WILL APPROVE IT.
BUT ONCE THE STATE, UH, BREACHES THAT THRESHOLD, IT WOULD BE SENT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR A NATURAL OR A, A NATIONAL DECLARATION.
UH, AND THEN THAT OPENS UP THE GROUNDS FOR LOW INTEREST LOANS FOR, UM, LIVESTOCK REPLENISHMENT THROUGH LIKE HAY AND LOSS OF VALUE.
AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, REALLY QUESTIONS.
I, YOU KNOW, DRIVING AROUND, UH, I'VE BEEN TO LURAY, CHANDLE COUNTY, FREDERICK COUNTY, HAVEN'T BEEN TO CLARK COUNTY, BUT I WOULD SAY THOSE NUMBERS ARE CONSERVATIVE ON THE DAMAGE TO THE CROPS.
UH, I WOULD SAY HAY CROPS ARE MUCH MORE, IF SOMEONE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A FIRST GOOD CUTTING OF HAY, I DON'T THINK THEY GOT A SECOND.
AND JUST LOOKING AT PASTURE, MOST OF THE PASTURE I'VE SEEN, IT'S, UH, IT'S PRETTY MUCH DIRT.
SO IT'S, IT'S, WE GO INTO ANOTHER DRY WINTER.
IT'S NEXT YEAR IS GONNA BE PRETTY BAD TO START OFF WITH, WITH THE FARMERS.
SO, UM, I I DEFINITELY THE RIVER, I LIVE ON THE RIVER, I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS LOW.
I TOOK PICTURES YESTERDAY AND THE ALGAE IS GROWING HALFWAY ACROSS THE RIVER.
SO, UM, YEAH, WE'RE IN, WE'RE IN BAD TIMES.
SO IF YOU'RE READY FOR A MOTION, I WOULD MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE WARREN COUNTY DISASTER RELIEF RESOLUTION TO MAKE A FORMAL REQUEST OF THE STATE F SS A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT WARREN COUNTY BE DECLARED AN AGRICULTURE DISASTER AREA, AND THAT ANY AND ALL APPROPRIATE STATE AND FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF AND ASSISTANT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FARMERS IN WARREN COUNTY.
I READ THAT THIS IS JUST A MODERATE DROUGHT AND I'M THINKING IF THIS IS MODERATE, WHAT THE HECK TO SEVERELY
AND I, I THINK PEOPLE NEED, I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THE TOWN WATER'S ON MANDATORY WATER, UM, RESTRICTIONS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE OUT IN THE COUNTY ON A WELL DOES NOT MEAN YOUR WELL CAN'T GO DRY.
AND SO BEING CONSERVATIVE AT HOME, I, I FIND MYSELF WAITING TILL THE SINK'S FULL OF DISHES.
NOW I DON'T HAVE A DISHWASHER.
AND, UM, I USED TO TRY TO KEEP ON TOP OF THAT AND WASH AFTER EACH MEAL, BUT EVERY TIME I TURN THAT FAUCET ON, I WONDER HOW LONG IT'S GONNA BE RUNNING FOR ME.
SO I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ON A WELL DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T GO DRY.
[ I. Rivermont Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. - Financial Agreement - Community Leasing Partners - Division of Community National Bank - Gerry Maiatico - Gerry Maiatico]
IS RIVERMONT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IS A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT, COMMUNITY LEASING PARTNERS DIVISION OF THE COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK.GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND COUNTY STAFF.
AS ALWAYS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
UH, THE RIVERMONT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROACHED FIRE AND RESCUE, UH, WITH REGARDS TO ASSISTING THEM IN, UH, FINDING A FUNDING AGREEMENT THROUGH, UH, THE COMMUNITY LEASING PARTNERS, A DIVISION OF COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK.
THIS IS A FINANCING FIRM THAT THE COUNTY IS FAMILIAR WITH AS WE USE THAT FIRM TO SECURE FINANCING ON MULTIPLE, UH, PIECES OF OUR APPARATUS IN THE PAST.
UH, SO WITH THAT AS A VOLUNTEER INSTITUTION SEEKING FUNDING THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, THIS PARTNERSHIP REQUIRES, UM, A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE LOCALITY IN WHICH THEY PROVIDE THE SERVICE AS WELL AS A PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE, UM, TO BE PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF WAS, UH, TO UTILIZE THE COUNTY'S PLATFORM TO ACHIEVE THAT, UH, PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENT.
AS WELL AS, UM, WE WORKED WITH MR. HAM'S OFFICE IN SECURING THE VERBIAGE, UH, FOR THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE COUNTY.
ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
[01:30:01]
THIS HERE, THE MOTION BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO APPROVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO, UM, ADVERTISE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FURTHER DRAFT THE LETTER FOR YOUR ALL'S REVIEW.UH, UPON CONCLUSION OF THAT PUBLIC HEARING TO AUTHORIZE, UH, THE COUNTY TO SUBMIT THAT LETTER OF AGREEMENT.
UM, ALL OF THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
UH, I AM HERE AS WELL AS CHIEF BONNO AND OR THE LEADERSHIP OF RIVERMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? 23RD? NO.
SO THE
NO OBJECT OBJECTIONS WITH THIS? NO.
SO JUST, JUST TO FOR CLARIFICATION, WHEN YOU SAY PARTNERSHIP, SO THIS, UH, 429,000, SO WE'RE JUST USING A, A, A BANK SERVICE OF THE COUNTY TO HELP FINANCE THIS.
SO THE ONLY THING THE COUNTY'S DOING IS VERIFYING THAT RIVERMONT IS REALLY IN GOOD STANDINGS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT THAT FIRETRUCK WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE FIREFIGHTING SERVICES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER, SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE RIVERMONT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC.
TO SEEK FINANCING IN THE AMOUNT OF 429,000 INC.
$687 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A FIRE TRUCK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY LEASING PARTNERS AS WELL AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE I R S SECTION 1 47 F APPROVAL AND WRITTEN AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
[ J. Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification - Caitlin Jordan - Caitlin Jordan, Senior Assistant County Attorney]
NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE EQUITABLE SHARING AGREEMENT AND CERTIFICATION.UH, CURRENTLY THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARTICIPATES IN A PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY ASSET FORFEITURE PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS, UM, THE, UH, FEDERAL AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WHEN THEY CARRY OUT A WARRANT ARREST PROPERTY AS SEIZED.
THE SUPPORTING LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE SUCH AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN THEN ACTUALLY RECEIVE SOME OF THAT C'S PROPERTY.
UM, THEY CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPLIANT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CERTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT SIGNED AND THEY HAVE ASKED DR.
DALEY AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE CERTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT.
UM, SO THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED BE BEFORE YOU BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE HIM AS SIGNING THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.
UM, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT THE GUIDELINES DOES REQUIRE THAT THIS, UM, THE GOVERNING BODY, NOT ESSENTIALLY YOU CAN'T RE YOU CAN'T, UM, YOU CAN'T, UM, SORRY, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.
YOU CAN'T RESTRICT THOSE FUNDS.
THOSE FUNDS, ONCE THEY RECEIVE BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, HAS TO BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THAT OFFICE.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RECEIVES A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FORFEITED FUNDS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN'T THEN TURN AROUND AND CUT THEIR BUDGET BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UM, THE GUIDELINES WERE PROVIDED TO YOU IN THE PACKET.
IT'S MAINLY FROM A BUDGETARY, UM, POINT, UM, PERCEPTION THAT THE GUIDELINES APPLY TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
DALEY COULD SIGN IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
IS, IS THIS A DOCUMENT THAT'S LIKE A YEARLY? IT IS AN ANNUAL.
I JUST DIDN'T REMEMBER SEEING THIS BEFORE, SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS, UM, ANNUAL OR IF THIS WAS SOMETHING NEW WHEN YOU AND I UNDERSTAND IF IT COMES IN THAT IT'S, WE APPROPRIATE THAT AMOUNT OUT AND THAT WE WOULD NOT CUT THAT AMOUNT FROM THE BUDGET.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY DIRECT INPUT OR WHEN THEY WANNA SPEND IT ON SOMETHING, DO THEY COME AND SAY, OKAY, WE'VE GOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WE WANNA TAKE 50 TO BUY THIS OR THAT? DO WE HAVE OVERSIGHT OF OR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY SPEND IT ON?
[01:35:01]
WHEN THEY UM, WHEN THEY WANT TO USE THE MONEY FOR A PROJECT, THEY NEED THE BOARD TO APPROPRIATE THAT TO AN EXPENDITURE LINE ITEM SO THAT THEY CAN THEN DO THE PURCHASE.IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE E EQUITABLE SHARING AGREEMENT AND CERTIFICATION AS PRESENTED.
[K. Rail Trail Letter of Support - Joe Petty - Joe Petty, Director of Economic Development]
RAIL TRAIL LETTER OF SUPPORT.UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT THROUGH ALL THESE MEETINGS.
I GET TO TALK ABOUT THE RAIL TRAIL AT SOME POINT.
UM, SO THIS LETTER IS TO AGAIN REAFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR THE RAIL TRAIL.
THE BOARD APPROVED RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT IN 2021, UH, ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF CONVERTING AN ABANDONED RAIL INTO THE CHANDLE RAIL TRAIL, 49 MILES FROM BROADWAY, VIRGINIA TO FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
AND WE WOULD BE THE NORTHERN TERMINUS.
SO AS WE CONTINUE THIS PROCESS AND TO SHOW THAT SUPPORT, UM, THE C T B IS MEETING HERE SOON.
COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD.
AND THIS LETTER IS TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT NOT JUST ITS RECREATIONAL BENEFITS, UM, AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS, BUT IT IS A TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR.
IT ALSO SPURS ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE LOCALITIES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.
AND THIS TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WARREN COUNTY HAS DONE IN THE PAST FOR, UM, PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THEN ALSO WHAT THE RAIL TRAIL CAN BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY TO CONNECT IT FROM A MULTIMODAL STANDPOINT.
OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER WEEK WE MET AT AFT TECHS TO TALK ABOUT A POTENTIAL TRAIL THERE THAT CONNECTS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT THAT CAN ALSO CONNECT, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS TO THIS TRAIL.
NOW THE TRAIL ALSO WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MILES, UM, IS ABOUT 400 HOMES THROUGHOUT THAT AREA ON STRASSBURG ROAD.
SO THIS CAN PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION ACCESS FOR THOSE, FOR ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO PEOPLE'S PLACE OF WORK, TO SCHOOL, TO NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES.
AND AS PART OF OUR DRAFT BIKE AND PED PLAN AND NOW THE STAR STUDY THAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN GUARD HILL AND OUR LARGE COMMERCIAL CENTER THERE AT CRUNCHER CLUB ROAD, HOW DO WE CONNECT, YOU KNOW, THAT LARGE COMMERCIAL CENTER TO SAY THE RAIL TRAIL OR TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO MAKE IT SURE, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE YOU'VE TRAVELED TO GO UP THERE TO ONE OF THE RE RETAIL OR DINING OPTIONS AND YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE WALKING ON THE SHOULDER IF WE CAN.
UH, THIS RAIL TRAIL JUST ADDS EXTRA EMPHASIS TO ADD TRANSPORTATION ASSETS FOR PEOPLE TO WALK AND BIKE SAFELY TO OUR GREAT AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO THIS IS AGAIN, TO GO TO THE C T B THAT TALK ABOUT THAT THE COUNTY STILL SUPPORTS THE RAIL TRAIL.
UM, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT SUPPORT IN HOPES THAT THERE'S SOME MORE MOVEMENT ON GETTING THIS DONE.
AND THAT ALSO THAT THE RAIL TRAIL WILL HELP US BUILD ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONNECTS JUST TO THIS.
SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST, AGAIN, RECREATIONAL ACCESS.
AND WE ALS ALSO KNOW THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT ARE ALSO DEFINED AT THE END OF THE, THE LETTER AS WELL THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE STAND TO BENEFIT FROM BEING A NORTHERN TERMINUS.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE A TRAIL HEAD TRULY, AND PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE VALLEY, THE REGION OR THE VIRGINIA WILL BE COMING TO FRONT ROYAL TO GET ON THIS TRAIL.
SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL AS THIS CAN ALSO PROVIDE BETTER ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR US TOO.
SO, UM, THE DRAFT LETTER IS IN HERE, THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.
THERE IS A, YOU KNOW, CONCEPTUAL KIND OF IDEA THAT COULD SHOW THESE POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S NOTHING APPROVED BY THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY THERE, BUT THESE ARE JUST CONNECTING SOME OF OUR DESTINATIONS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PARKS AND OTHER AMENITIES.
AND THEN ALSO I THINK THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL MAP IS IN THERE THAT THEY HAD FROM 2015 AND THE AF TEX TRAIL CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FROM 2017, WHICH WE LIKELY BE CHANGING A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT'S ALSO IN YOUR PACKET.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
[01:40:01]
THOSE.BUT AGAIN, THIS LETTER IS, UM, AGAIN, AHEAD OF THE C T B BOARD, WHICH IS MEETING IN A FEW WEEKS, UM, JUST TO REAFFIRM OUR SUPPORT BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT IT AS A TRANSPORTATION ASSET.
SO JOE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE BUDGETARY ALLOCATION WAS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES BUDGET? 'CAUSE THEY WERE WAITING FOR THAT.
YEAH, SO I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
UM, WAS IT WHAT THEY EXPECTED? IT WAS LESS THAN EXPECTED AND IT ALSO WAS TO, UH, MULTIPLE TRAIL PLANS.
SOME ROANOKE, I THINK NORTHERN NECK, MAYBE ONE OUTSIDE OF RICHMOND.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE TRAILS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.
BUT AGAIN, IT, YOU KNOW, IT IS 50 MILES.
UM, AND IF I REMEMBER FROM THE ORIGINAL BUDGET, IT WAS, UH, REDUCED.
BUT I I, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK OFF THE, YOU KNOW, CUFF WITHOUT KNOWING THIS, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO GET THE WHOLE BOARD EXACTLY WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE.
THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WERE EXPECTING IT.
THEY ALERTED ME THAT THEY WERE EXPECTING MM-HMM.
WHAT, WHAT THAT ACTUAL NUMBER HAPPENED TO BE.
I WILL MAKE SURE I SHARE THAT WITH THE ENTIRE BOARD TOMORROW.
ANYBODY WHO NEEDS THAT, JUST LET ME KNOW.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY A NUMBER AND IT BE COMPLETELY WRONG.
I KNOW WHEN I WENT TO, UM, THE C T V BOARD, WHEN WAS THAT EIGHT MAY, UM, THERE WERE A LOT OF SPEAKERS THAT GOT UP THAT WANTED IT RAIL AND TRAIL MM-HMM.
I, UM, OR SO WITH THE WAY THIS IS WORDED IS THIS SHOWING VDOT AND THE C T V BOARD THAT, UM, WHEN THEY GO LOOKING AT THIS, THAT X NUMBER OF PEOPLE WANT IT TO REMAIN TRAIL VERSUS RAIL TRAIL.
SO THIS, THIS IS STILL SPECIFIC TO THE RAIL TRAIL.
THIS IS, WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING FOR RAIL WITH TRAIL.
UM, WE ARE WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT WE, UM, AS A, WE ARE A STAKEHOLDER IN A GROUP OF, FOR THE SHENANDOAH RAIL TRAIL, THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OUT THERE ADVOCATING FOR RAILS WITH TRAILS MM-HMM.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE PART OF THE COLLECTIVE GROUP FOR THE SHENANDOAH RAIL TRAIL.
I WAS WONDERING IF THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, UM MM-HMM.
I'M TRYING TO VISUALIZE HOW, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE CORRIDOR, UH, YOU KNOW, IS GONNA, BECAUSE I KNOW THE BIKES WORRY ME BECAUSE PEOPLE, THEY'RE HITTING CARS RIGHT AND LEFT AROUND HERE, UM, AND TRYING TO KEEP THEIR EYE ON A BIKE.
SO I'M, I'M ALL FOR, I THINK THIS TRAIL GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE, UM, TO TO BIKE SAFELY, UM, AND TO BRING IN THE TOURISM AS WELL.
AND I KNOW WHEN IT WAS BEFORE US BEFORE TO DESIGNATE ROADS THAT WE DID NOT AGREE WITH BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THIS WILL MITIGATE THAT.
UM, BUT I'M, I'M STILL, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT MAP 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO VISUALIZE HOW IT'S GONNA HELP GOING OUT TOWARDS WALMART AND THAT KIND OF THING.
YEAH, A FEW MONTHS AGO WE TALKED ABOUT US BIKE TWO 11.
IT WAS TWO 11 THAT WOULD GO FROM FRONT ROYAL TO STRASSBURG AND, AND THAT WAS BROUGHT UP.
I MEAN, STRASSBURG ROAD IS A BUSY ROAD.
UM, IT'S NARROW AND SINCE THEY PUT THE ADVISORY SHOULDERS ON WITH THE RUMBLE STRIPS, IT NOW, YOU KNOW, REALLY FORCES PEOPLE INTO THE ROAD AS A USER.
AND SO YOU HAVE A BUSY ROAD, BUT IT'S THE ONLY ROAD MM-HMM.
SO WITH SOMETHING LIKE THE RAIL TRAIL, IT TAKES PEOPLE OFF OF THAT BUSY ROAD, PUTS THEM INTO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING WITH THIS TOO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S OPEN EVERY DAY, RAINING OR SHINE FOR ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A FACILITY THAT HAS A LOCKING KEY THAT ONLY SPECIFIC USERS CAN GO TO.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO THIS ALL THE TIME AND AT ANY AGE AND THEN YOU CAN GO TO DIFFERENT LOCALITIES AND CHECK THEM OUT AND WALK AROUND.
AND, UM, I THINK IT JUST PROVIDES A, A VERY GOOD VALUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND LIKE YOU SAID, FOR TOURISM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR GENERATION.
SO I THINK IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU SOME CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD CONNECT THIS FACILITY TO THAT CORRIDOR UP THERE, UM, AND TAKING PEOPLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND IN A SAFE SPACE OFF, OFF OF THE, THE ROAD TRAFFIC.
I ACTUALLY HAVE SEEN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS
[01:45:01]
WOULD HAVE FOR THE ENTIRE VALLEY.SO THE 48 MILES THE FIRST YEAR WOULD BE $30 MILLION.
AND THAT WOULD HELP THESE SMALLER COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE, LIKE THERE'S ONE WHO SAID THEY MIGHT GET THEIR FIRST HOTEL EVER.
AND RE AND RESTAURANTS AND ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PLACES.
YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND SAID TO ME THAT WE ARE THE ONLY LOCATION WITH A BEAUTIFUL RIVER THAT DOESN'T HAVE A RESTAURANT ON THE RIVER.
EVERYWHERE YOU GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IF THEY HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL RIVER, THEY HAVE A RESTAURANT THAT OVERLOOKS THE RIVER AND THERE ISN'T ONE.
SO MAYBE THIS WILL SPUR ON THOSE KINDS OF ECONOMIC INTEREST.
HYMAN WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE HEALTH BENEFITS, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES THAT WE ARE USING FOR EXERCISE AND THINGS WE MAKE ALSO BETTER CHOICES OF, OF WHAT WE DO AFTER THAT.
SO I THINK IT ALSO HAS THOSE IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND GREATER WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE HEALTH BENEFITS AND MUCH HEALTHIER THAN BEING ON UM, STRASSBURG ROAD OR THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU, UH, CATT LET MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THOSE TRYING.
MAYBE MY WIFE WILL HAVE LESS ANXIETY WHEN I'M OUT BIKING.
SO, ANYTHING ELSE? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOPE.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE PROPOSED SUPPORT LETTER REGARDING THE SHENANDOAH RAIL TRAIL TO BE SENT TO VIRGINIA DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO THE NEXT ITEM IS THE, THAT WE'VE ADDED TO THE AGENDA IS THE E D A AGREEMENT, UM, FOR THE E D A AGREEMENT AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WARREN.
I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T READ MY WRITING.
UM, SO ON AUGUST 15TH, YOU, UM, APPROVED AN M O U THAT WAS ALMOST IDENTICAL.
UM, THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS BACK FROM THE E D A TO SECTION FIVE.
I HIGHLIGHT 'EM IN THE COVER SHEET THERE.
UM, IT ADDED A SEGMENT TO THE SENTENCE THAT BASICALLY THAT THE AUTHORITY WOULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE ADVANCED NOTICE BEFORE THERE WERE ANY, UM, COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY THIRD PARTIES.
YOU KNOW, BASICALLY JUST, UH, I GUESS PROTECTS THEM FROM US DOING SOMETHING WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THEN CHARGING THEM FOR IT AFTER THE FACT.
AND, UM, THEY HAD I THINK ANOTHER COMMENT.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE KEPT THAT SEGMENT IN INTACT.
THE EXECUTED M O U IS IN THERE.
IT'S BEEN SIGNED BY THE CHAIR AND THE SECRETARY AND THAT THAT WAS THE ONLY AMENDMENT.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF MR. HAM HAD ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.
SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UM, AGREEMENT? NOPE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, DO WE HAVE A MOTION USING THIS MOTION ON THE FRONT PAGE? NO, IT'S, IT'S HERE.
YEAH, THE COVER SHEET RIGHT THERE.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE AGREEMENT REGARDING COUNTY SUPPORT OF AUTHORITY OF AUTHORITY OPERATIONS.
I FURTHER MOVE THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE CHAIR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MADAM CHAIR? AYE MRS. SCHOLARS? AYE.
[L. Additional New Business]
ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS.ANYBODY ON THE BOARD HAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD WITH NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN OUR MEETING? SO MOVED.