[B. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America ]
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OKAY.GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 20TH, 2024 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
AND, UM, AT THIS TIME, PASTOR DESANTIS, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN PRAYER PLEASE, SIR? HEAVENLY FATHER, HOW WE DO INDEED PRAISE AND THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY OF LIFE YOU'VE GIVEN US.
AND FATHER, I PRAISE AND THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS YOU BESTOW UPON US, UNDESERVEDLY, FOR SURE.
THANK YOU FOR THE RECENT REIGN THAT HAS, UH, HELPED OUR DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
AND FATHER, I PRAISE AND THANK YOU AS WELL FOR AS YOUR WORD TELLS US GOVERNMENT THAT, UH, IS DESIGNED TO, UH, PROVIDE US WITH AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE, UH, LAW ABIDING CITIZENS CAN GO ABOUT THEIR, THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES WITHOUT FEAR, AND THAT THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW, UH, WILL BE, UH, REMOVED.
UM, THANK YOU FATHER FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AS IT RELATES TO AMBULANCE SERVICE, ET CETERA.
UH, WE ARE BLESSED AND FATHER, I PRAY FOR THE COUNCIL TONIGHT AS THEY WILL HEAR VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT, UH, NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS, BUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I PRAY THAT THEY WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, EVERYONE'S VIEW AND FATHER THAT THEY WILL SEEK TO DO THAT, WHICH IS JUST, AND WRIGHT AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE PRAISE FOR YOU.
IF EVERYONE WILL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE REPUBLIC STANDS, OR ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN LEVEL WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE.
I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER THE ADOPTION OF
[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions ]
THE AGENDA.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE ADJUSTMENT TO THE AGENDA AND REMOVE ITEM SEVEN FROM THE CONSENT AND MAKE THAT ITEM IN.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA? YES, MADAM CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, PROVIDE FOR, UH, VALLEY HEALTH TO, TO GIVE UP TO A FIVE MINUTE, UH, PRESENTATION.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA.
UM, AFTER WE'VE GOT TWO OTHER PRESENTATION, IS THERE, UM, A SECOND TO THE ADDITIONS TO, AND THE, UM, AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA.
I SECOND ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.
[D. Fire and Rescue - Staff Introduction]
AND WE'RE GONNA START OFF THE EVENING, UM, WITH PRESENTATION FROM FIRE AND RESCUE.CHIEF BONNO AND I, I DON'T WANNA GET HIS RANK WRONG.
UM, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW FIREMEN HERE AND I, I WANTED, UM, CHIEF MANZANA TO INTRODUCE THEM TO US TONIGHT.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UM, JUST WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, IN INTRODUCE THE NEW HIRES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE.
UM, THE NEW STAFF MEMBERS ARE HIRED TO SUPPORT THE, UH, BOARD INITIATIVE OF STAFFING, THE, UH, FIRE STATION FIVE, OR CDO SHORE STATION, SLATED TO TAKE EFFECT IN THE LATTER PART OF NOVEMBER, EXCUSE ME, OF SEPTEMBER.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE HARD WORK OF, UH, ZACHARY BURROW'S, BATTALION CHIEF, UH, CAPTAIN BRANDON OLIVER, AND LIEUTENANT, UH, ANDREW FELD HAUSER, UM, AND THEIR COORDINATION OF THE RECRUIT, RECRUIT CLASS NUMBER THREE.
UM, SO I WANNA WELCOME LEAD INSTRUCTOR, LIEUTENANT FELD HAUSER TO INTRODUCE THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
LADIES, GENTLEMEN, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU FIREFIGHTER EMT, CADEN BAKER, FIREFIGHTER, EMT, SEAN DE BLASSIO, FIREFIGHTER EMT, ANISA KHAN, FIREFIGHTER EMT, RYAN LOAS, FIREFIGHTER EMT, NOAH MEYERS, FIREFIGHTER EMT, CHRISTOPHER PENAL FIREFIGHTER EMT BRADY SPIKER FIREFIGHTER EMT, ANDREW WALKER, AND THEN FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC STEVEN WILLICKS.
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WELL, WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO WORK FOR WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE.WE APPRECIATE THAT AND HOPE YOU HAVE, UM, A LONG TENURE AND A SAFE TENURE.
WHILE YOU'RE THANK AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT.
I KNOW YOU GOT A BUSY SCHEDULE AND I APPRECIATE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHO'S OUT THERE PROTECTING THEM.
[E. Social Services - Children's Services Act (CSA) Director Introduction]
HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. MARS, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEW CSA COORDINATOR.
ON JULY 2ND, THE BOARD VOTED TO MOVE THE CSA OFFICE TO DSS, AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RECREATED THE FIRST CSA COORDINATOR.
UH, PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH OUR AGENCY AS OUR FOUR E COORDINATOR AND FEDERAL FOUR E PROGRAM.
THAT'S A MONEY PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU HER WORK HELPED US GO FROM A 45% ERROR RATE TO A 4% ERROR RATE.
UH, ALONG WITH THAT, SHE'S ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, AND JANELLE IS OUR VETERAN LIAISON TO OUR OFFICE.
SHE WORKS WITH, UH, VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY, HELPS, UH, DSS PLAN EVENTS FOR VETERANS AND TO GET THE WORD OUT FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES.
SO, UM, THIS IS JANELLE CLARK.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, WE APPRECIATE, UM, EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE COUNTY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND EVERYTHING YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
I KNOW THAT'S A THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
I'M NOT SURE WHO IS GOING TO SPEAK FROM YOUR GROUP.
I'LL GO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
I'M A WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT, AND I ALSO SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND THE ADMINISTRATOR AT WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS SOME MISINFORMATION FROM RECENT BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETINGS AND NEWS ARTICLES.
SO I MAY ASSURE OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS CITIZENS THAT THEY HAVE EXTRAORDINARY HEALTHCARE RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
FIRST, AS TO OUR CAPABILITIES, WARREN IS NOT A BANDAID STATION AS WAS DESCRIBED AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING AT AN INVESTMENT OF MORE THAN $100 MILLION AND AN EXPANDED FOOTPRINT OF 42% TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
WE ARE ONE OF THE STATE'S NEWEST AND MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED HOSPITALS.
WE OPERATE A 24 7 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT THAT CARES FOR 25,000 PATIENTS ANNUALLY.
THREE OPERATING ROOMS THAT PERFORM 1600 SURGERIES ANNUALLY, AND ONE CARDIAC CATH LAB THAT PERFORMS 500 CARDIAC PROCEDURE ANNUALLY.
WE MAINTAIN 36 INPATIENT BEDS, EACH EQUIPPED WITH HIGH DEFINITION CAMERAS AND VIDEO SCREENS, ALLOWING CONSULTATION WITH 28 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPECIALTY PHYSICIANS BEYOND THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE TO THE HOSPITAL.
PROPER VALLEY HEALTH ALSO INVESTED IN PHYSICIAN TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT THROUGH ITS SPONSORSHIP OF A THREE YEAR FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN RESIDENCY PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM IS BASED OUT OF WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND SERVES AS A PIPELINE FOR RECRUITING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
A FREQUENT CRITICISM DIRECTED TOWARDS WARREN MEMORIAL IS THE AVAILABILITY OF WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES.
THIS SEEMS GENERALLY TO REFER TO CHILDBIRTH, HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES ARE MUCH MORE THAN CHILDBIRTH.
IT INCLUDES SERVICES LIKE THE PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN WOMEN.
YOU ARE UNDOUBTEDLY AWARE THAT THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT PREMATURE DEATH IS THROUGH SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHIES, BUT WERE YOU AWARE THAT WARREN COUNTY IS AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE STATE FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS? VALLEY HEALTH HAS RECOGNIZED THIS AND CREATED ADDITIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY CAPACITY AT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES TO IMPROVE SCREENING RATES.
AS FOR THE ISSUE OF CHILDBIRTH, WHILE I WAS NOT HERE, WHEN THAT DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE MATERNITY SERVICES TO WINCHESTER,
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I CAN TELL YOU THAT STILL TODAY, VALLEY HEALTH PHILOSOPHY REMAINS THE SAME.WE WILL NOT SEEK TO PROVIDE ANY CARE THAT WE CANNOT DO SAFELY, AND THERE'S SIMPLY SOME SERVICES THAT ARE NOT SAFE IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, MATERNITY SERVICES IS ONE SUCH SERVICE.
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL SENTIMENT THAT VALLEY HEALTH IS NOT COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY'S HEALTH.
I, ALONG WITH THE 269 CREDENTIALED PHYSICIANS AND NEARLY 400 CLINICAL AND NONCLINICAL STAFF PROVIDING CARE, MANY OF WHOM I WOULD ADD LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY, BEG TO DIFFER.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, ORTHOPEDICS, CARDIOLOGY, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, GENERAL SURGERY, FAMILY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE, ENDOCRINOLOGY, EARS, NOSE, THROAT, AND AUDIOLOGY, GYNECOLOGY, PULMONOLOGY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WOUND CARE.
THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, BUT PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO THE WIDE BREADTH OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES PROVIDED LOCALLY.
WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE INDEPENDENT HEALTHCARE SAFETY ORGANIZATION, THE LEAPFROG GROUP, SEVEN CONSECUTIVE TIMES WITH THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF RECOGNITION, A SAFETY GRADE OF A.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE CHARTIST ORGANIZATION AS A TOP 100 COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO LEAD OUR AWARD-WINNING TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AT A HOSPITAL THAT HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 70 YEARS AND IS WELL POSITIONED TO CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK AND TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE, UH, WE CHOSE JENNIFER'S BEEN HERE, NOT, UH, QUITE AS LONG AS I HAVE.
I'VE BEEN IN THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY FOR 15 YEARS AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE HISTORY TO REFLECT ON IN OUR RELATIONSHIP AND SOME OF THE CRITICISMS, UH, CRITICISMS THAT, UH, WE, UH, WE HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME FEEDBACK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
I'M ONE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTS AT WINCHESTER, UM, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE RECENTLY IN A WORK SESSION REFERRING TO WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITALS, A BANDAID STATION AND REFERRING TO THE PEOPLE, UM, I GUESS THAT LEAD IT PERHAPS THAT WORK THERE, UM, AS FAT CATS AND JERKS.
UM, AS I SHARE THESE THOUGHTS WITH YOU, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW, UM, THAT THEY'VE HAD A VERY DEMORALIZING EFFECT ON OUR STAFF AND OUR PHYSICIANS.
UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS AND TO KNOW THAT THEIR COMMUNITY'S LEADERS THINK SO LITTLE OF THEM, UM, IS, UH, QUITE DISAPPOINTING, QUITE UPSETTING TO THEM.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER, UM, THE APPROPRIATENESS OF AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY FROM THIS BODY AND TO CONSIDER WHAT YOUR ROLE IS IN REMEDYING THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE, UM, INSPIRED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR HEALTHCARE.
SO AS I MENTIONED, THERE WAS A OPEN CO, UH, COMMENT MADE ABOUT FAT CATS AND JERKS, IN MY OPINION THAT IS BENEATH THE, UM, UH, AUGUSTA BODY, A, A A A GROUP OF PEOPLE ELECTED BY THEIR COMMUNITY TO SERVE AS LEADERS.
UM, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOBODY SAID, HEY, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT APPROPRIATE TO SAY, OR WHY DON'T WE INVITE THEM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT THEM.
UM, NO ONE IN THE VIDEO THAT I WATCHED OR THE TRANSCRIPT THAT I SAW SAID, NO, WE PROBABLY STEPPED OVER THE LINE THERE.
CHIEF, I THINK MAYBE YOU WERE MAD OR MADAM CHAIRWOMAN.
I THINK PERHAPS, UH, YOUR TEMPER GOT THE BETTER OF YOU.
JENNIFER DIDN'T MENTION GIVEN HER LIMITED TIME, THE FREE AND REDUCED COST CARE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ESSENTIAL AND PART OF OUR MISSION EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
THAT HOSPITAL PROVIDES $250,000 WORTH OF FREE OR REDUCED COST CARE TO CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND VISITORS.
UM, THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL AND IMPORTANT SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THE PATIENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING THAT CARE SAY TO THEMSELVES, HMM, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING THIS CARE TO ME ARE JERKS.
I DON'T THINK THEY THINK THAT AT ALL.
ADDITIONALLY, WE COLLABORATE WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT ADDRESSING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE COUNSELING PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH CPR TRAINING IN THE COMMUNITY, SAFE BABYSITTER CLASSES, AEDS IN YOUR SCHOOLS THAT WE
[00:15:01]
PAID FOR AEDS IN YOUR SCHOOLS BY KELTS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS SEEKING HEALTHCARE CAREERS SEED FUNDING TO YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THEY COULD BEGIN A HEALTH SCIENCES PROFESSIONS PROGRAM TO HELP HIRE ADDITIONAL AND SUPPLEMENT THE PAY FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH SCIENCES INSTRUCTORS.AGAIN, NONE OF THOSE AGENCIES SAID, THOSE GUYS ARE FAT CATS, LET'S NOT TAKE THEIR MONEY.
THERE WAS RECENT COMMENTS ABOUT WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BEING A BANDAID STATION.
I THINK BY CONTEXT THAT MEANS I GUESS THEY DON'T PROVIDE VERY GREAT CARE OR THEY DO THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT CAME UP IN THE PROCESS OF A DRUG BOX DISCUSSION.
I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT AND MAKE YOU KNOW, VERY CERTAIN THAT YOU HAVE ON THE RECORD AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE LONG PROVIDED MEDICATION TO AREA EMS AGENCIES.
THAT IS A LEGACY FUNCTION THAT DATES BACK TO WHEN MOST OF THE AGENCIES WERE VOLUNTEER AND DIDN'T CHARGE FOR SERVICE.
AND THAT WAS THE HOSPITAL'S WAY OF SUPPORTING THOSE VOLUNTEER AGENCIES.
UM, WHAT'S NOT TRUE IS THAT VALLEY HEALTH DOESN'T BILL THOSE PATIENTS.
WE DIDN'T ADMINISTER THE MEDICATION.
IT WASN'T DONE UNDER OUR LICENSE.
IT WASN'T DONE IN OUR HOSPITAL.
WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO BILL PATIENTS OR THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR THAT.
SO WE HAVE BEEN GIVING YOU THOSE MEDICATIONS FOR FREE FOR DECADES AND NOBODY'S EVER SAID, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
INSTEAD, YOU'VE MET ALONE IN A ROOM AND SAID, THEY'RE FAT CATS, THEY'RE JERKS.
IT IS MY INTENTION TO WORK WITH MR. DALEY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO DEVELOP A PRICING AGREEMENT.
WE'LL BEGIN SELLING THOSE TO YOU UNTIL SUCH TIME, NOVEMBER 27TH, I BELIEVE, IS WHEN YOU NEED TO, UH, RESOLVE HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO CERTAINLY NOT INTERRUPT CARE, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA CONTINUE TO PRO PROVIDE FREE, UH, MEDICATION.
YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW, BY THE WAY, THAT THE FREE MEDICATION WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING TO YOU IS GENERALLY PAID FOR BY MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES.
YOU, YOUR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE HAS BEEN BILLING INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR MEDICATIONS AND CARE THAT WE PROVIDED FOR FREE.
YOU'VE BEEN PROFITING OFF WHAT WE GIVE YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE DRUG BOX CHANGES WERE A CHOICE VALLEY HEALTH MADE AND THAT HOSPITALS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WERE HANDLING IT DIFFERENTLY.
EVERY HOSPITAL IN THE STATE IS HANDLING IT IN A SIMILAR MANNER.
WE WILL LEAVE YOU WITH STATEWIDE COMMUNICATION TONIGHT AND THE COMMUNICATION FROM ALL THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA HOSPITALS TO THEIR EMS AGENCIES.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE WE'RE ALL DOING IT THE SAME.
THIS WAS NOT A CHOICE, IT WAS NOT OPTIONAL.
UM, AND, UH, THAT CERTAINLY SEEMS CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT US.
LEMME SAY IN CLOSING AGAIN, CONSIDER THE DAMAGE THAT YOU'VE DONE TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.
AS JENNIFER SAID, ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED AND NEWEST HOSPITALS IN THE STATE, UH, WITH 269 PRACTICING PHYSICIANS AND 400 STAFF, THINK ABOUT THE DAMAGE THAT YOU DO WITH THEM AND REMEDY IT WITH A PUBLIC APOLOGY.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO REMAIN FOR YOUR DISCUSSION OF A RESOLUTION LATER? WHEN IS THAT GONNA BE ON THE, UH, FOR DISCUSSION? THAT'S AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY.
ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? UH, NOT AT THIS TIME FROM ME.
[F. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit)]
NEXT IS PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.AND THAT IS A 60 MINUTE TIME PERIOD.
ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.
THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING, OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION.
THROUGH A SHOW OF HANDS, THE CHAIRMAN MAY ASK FOR A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR COMMENTS MADE BY SPEAKERS.
PLACARDS, POSTERS, AND OTHER MEANS OF VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE BOARDROOM.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL USED AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION.
THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ANYONE AND ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP, SIR? UH, FIRST UP IS HOLLY.
AND IF YOU WOULD SAY YOUR NAME AND, UH, YOUR DISTRICT THAT YOU LIVE IN, MA'AM.
MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY AND LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
TODAY, I ADDRESS A CRITICAL ISSUE FACING OUR COMMUNITY, THE CHALLENGES SENIOR ADULTS TO THEIR FAMILIES AND
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CAREGIVERS FACE DAILY.OUR SENIORS ARE A RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION, GRAPPLING WITH A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES THAT DEMAND URGENT ATTENTION ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN WARREN COUNTY THAT ARE 55 AND OVER THAN WE DO IN THE BIRTH TO 17 AGE RANGE.
I DON'T MEAN TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM YOUTH AND THE IMPORTANT NEEDS THAT THEY NEED, BUT WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR GOALS AND TO INCLUDE OUR SENIORS.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SENIORS AS WELL AS FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS AND RENTERS, AND IS FORCING MORE OF THEM INTO PRECARIOUS LIVING SITUATIONS AND HOMELESSNESS.
AS A LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL, I SEE THIS STRUGGLE DAILY.
THE LACK OF ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES IS LEAVING THEM STRUGGLING WITH BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, MEDICATIONS, AND UTILITIES.
COUPLED WITH THIS IS THE DAUNTING TASK TO ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
IN ORDER TO SEE A SPECIALIST, WE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO WINCHESTER OR NOVA.
UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE WEALTHY WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET OR ABSOLUTE DESTITUTE WHERE THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID OR A WAIVER TO GET CARE.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO FALL INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN PRIVATE PAY, SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES OF FOUR TO $5,000 A MONTH JUST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING.
ONE LOCAL LONG-TERM NURSING HOME HAS A 90 PERSON WAITING LIST.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
PEOPLE JUST DON'T MAKE IT TO THAT DAY WHEN THEY CAN GET CARE.
AND THEN IT'S ALL COMPOUNDED BY CAREGIVER FATIGUE AND FRUSTRATION.
THE BURDEN OF CAREGIVING FOR CER.
SENIOR ADULTS MOST OFTEN FALL ON FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO TRYING TO WORK AND RAISE THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
MOST OF OUR SENIORS ARE UNDERSERVED AND CANNOT SURVIVE REASONABLY ON THEIR FIXED INCOME.
TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS ISOLATE SENIORS FROM NECESSARY SERVICES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION, COMPOUNDING THEIR SENSE OF EXCLUSION AND LONELINESS.
WITH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR POPULATION ONLY HAVING A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED.
EXASPERATING FINANCIAL STRAIN.
OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A COMMITTEE CALLED THE SENIOR ALLIANCE TEAM.
WE ARE A DEDICATED GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS WHO ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS, THEIR CAREGIVERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT.
I URGE THE BOARD TO PRIORITIZE INCENTIVE THAT ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
MY NAME IS BILL QUIRK AND I'M DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM.
UH, JENNIFER CULO AND CHRIS RUCKER.
AND DELORE SCARE AND I, WERE GONNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF VALLEY HEALTH, BUT GIVEN THE TIME YOU AFFORD US AT THE TOP OF THE MEETING, UH, WE'LL PASS ON THAT.
UH, THEN, SO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE JOHN JENKINS.
I LIVE, UH, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, LIKE I SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MPS APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE.
UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S HELPED ME OUT ALSO, BUT I AM AGAINST THE LOCATION OF THE FIRING RANGE IN BENTONVILLE.
UH, WE, WE'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE NOISE ISSUES AND VIOLATION OF THE COUNTY CODES, UH, STATE CODES AND FEDERAL CODES.
THERE ARE OTHER LOCATIONS AVAILABLE, WHICH WE BOUGHT OUT AT THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS.
UH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS NOT INVESTIGATED OR LOOKED AT ANY OF THESE OTHER ISSUES.
UH, SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE, UH, FRONT ROYAL POLICE OFFICERS TODAY.
THEY HAVE A SITE WHERE THEY CAN, THEY DO THE FIRING HERE IN TOWN.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAN'T USE THE SAME THING.
I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THEM GOING ALL THE WAY TO HARPES FERRY.
UH, HARS FERRY IS THE FURTHEST DISTANCE AWAY TO SHOOT.
THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE CLOSER.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TRYING TO EXAGGERATE ON THAT, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE IT LOOK BAD.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE INTENT IS.
ALL I KNOW IS WE DO NOT WANT IT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IF IT SHOULD GO THERE, UH, THAT SITE WILL BE MONITORED BY DEQ CONSTANTLY BECAUSE EVERY TIME THEY FIRE 59 RESIDENTS ARE GONNA GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL
[00:25:01]
DEQ AND COMPLAINTS.ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT COME TO MIND SINCE I'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO LOOK AT THIS, IS THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INITIALLY SELECTED THAT AREA BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY 59 RESIDENTS.
THE IMPACT THAT THE OTHER LOCATION WOULD, WOULD CREATE MORE HAVOC OR WHATEVER FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS THAT I WENT TO, TWO OF THEM, IT WAS MENTIONED.
WE PICKED THAT LOCATION BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY 59 RESIDENTS.
SO I, I, I STARTED LOOKING INTO THAT AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BASICALLY DISCRIMINATION.
YOU WANT TO SELECT THE 59 AND FOR AND TO US AND FORGET ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PLACE IT IN OUR LOCATION VERSUS OTHER LOCATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND MAYBE BETTER SUITED.
IT'S BASICALLY A VIOLATION OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE'LL FILE A CIVIL RIGHTS CLAIM JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO ALL BE BLACK TO FILE THAT.
YOU KNOW, LAWYERS WILL PICK UP ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
NO THREAT TO ABOUT SUING THE COUNTY OR ANYTHING ELSE.
COUNTY NEEDS A FACILITY, BUT THEY DON'T NEED IT WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO PLACE IT.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. HENDERSON? UH, NEXT UP IS DREW BAGLEY.
I'M DREW BAGLEY LIVE ON THE NORTH RIVER SIDE.
UM, WANNA GIVE SOME GENERAL INFORMATION OF DISTANCES OF ROUNDS THAT TRAVEL.
NINE MILLIMETERS, ONE AND A HALF MILES, 40 SMITH AND WESSON.
ABOUT 1500 YARDS, 45 ACPS, ABOUT 1800 YARDS.
UH, WE CAN MEASURE INSIDE THIS ROOM 67 FEET FROM PROPERTY LINE.
WHEN THEY CONDUCTED THE TEST, THEY WERE ABOUT A HUNDRED AND LET'S SAY 140 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.
IT WAS 119 DECIBELS WITH ONE RIFLE WITH THREE PISTOLS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 114 DECIBELS.
THAT'S FROM THAT DISTANCE THAT THEY TRAVELED, NOT THE 67 FEET PER POST.
I'VE LOOKED AT SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF WHAT THE COUNTY CAN DO AND WHAT THEY NEED.
THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE SCENARIOS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE INDIVIDUAL TOOK HIS OWN LIFE, BUT YET AGAIN, THE COUNTY CALLED ANOTHER COUNTY TO COME IN AND HELP THEM.
'CAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO, TO DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TRAINED OR A DRONE ON HAND.
SO THEY CALLED WINCHESTER AGAIN ON JUNE 3RD.
INDIVIDUAL TRAVELED 10 MILES, WHO HAPPENED TO END UP 300 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE.
FORTUNATELY, MY NEIGHBOR WAS A FORMER DEA AGENT AND HELD THEM THERE UNTIL ANOTHER JURISDICTION COME IN AND TAKE CONTROL.
THIS AREA PROPOSED IS FIVE ACRES OF A FIELD.
DOESN'T GIVE ANY FORESTED AREA TO CONDUCT TRAINING, SUCH AS DRONE TRAINING, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY NEEDS DOESN'T ALLOW FOR ANYTHING THAT IS PRESENTED ITSELF IN THE PAST MONTH.
THEY NEED INTERIOR TRAINING WHERE WE'RE NOT CALLING OUR JURISDICTIONS IN TO HELP IF WE'RE TRAINING INSIDE OF A BUILDING.
IF WE'RE TRAINING IN AN AREA WHERE WE CAN HELP WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, WHICH THEY CURRENTLY DO.
THEY DO MASS CASUALTY AT THE SCHOOLS.
THEY DO DEFENSIVE TACTICS AT A SCHOOL.
THEY NEED AN INTERIOR FACILITY THAT ALLOWS FOR SHOOTING AND SOMETHING THAT'S EVERYDAY SCENARIO.
SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP ROUND OUT A BETTER SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THEY ALSO PICKED THIS AREA BECAUSE THEY CAN BE IN IT FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS.
AS IT WAS SAID AT THE PLANNING, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TO PAY.
MY FAMILY IS GONNA HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DUE TO PROPERTY DEVALUE.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THE RISK OF LOSS OF LIFE INJURY TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE DECAL READINGS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE COUNTY ALLOWS.
HI, MY NAME IS MARTHA SADICK AND I HAVE A RESIDENCE IN NORTH, UH, RIVER DISTRICT WHERE I HAVE 35 ACRES ZONE THAT IS BOUNDED BY THE, UH, NORTH FORK OF THE SENATOR RIVER.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE REACHED OUT ON, ON THE
[00:30:01]
BOARD AND IN THE TOWN WITH THE DIFFICULTY THAT I'M HAVING WITH THE CITY OF WINCHESTER.MY LAND HAS A SUPPORT WALL TO THE WATER INTAKE DAM FOR THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, THE PERCY MILLER, UH, WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UH, IN TWO 17, I CONTACTED, UH, DON RIGGLEMAN ABOUT THIS FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EROSION AND THE SUPPORT WALLS WERE CRUMBLING.
UH, THEY DID, THEY DID, UM, ENGINEERING STUDIES.
THEY DID ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDIES ALONG, UM, RIGHT OF WAYS.
AND THEY SAID THAT THE PROJECT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER TO STABILIZE THE DAM.
AND THEY COMPLETED THEIR SIDE IN TWO SEVEN IN 2021.
EVERY TIME I ASKED THEM ABOUT MY SIDE.
UM, THEY SAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE $2 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT ANYMORE.
SO I'M KIND OF BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE TWO 17 ON MY OWN.
AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF EROSION ON MY SIDE OF ATLANTA.
I'VE PROBABLY LOST AT LEAST 40 FEET IN SOME SECTION ALONG THE RIVER BOTTOM BECAUSE THE EDGES OF THE DAM ARE CRUMBLING AND IS CAUSING TURBULENT FLOW.
UM, AS, AS THE WATER RISES AND IT CAUSES EROSION ON MY SIDE.
I'VE LOST TREES AND LAND AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ADJACENT TO ME THAT HAVE ALSO LOST LAND.
SO WHAT I'M HERE TO DO IS TO ASK THE BOARD IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF PRESSURE THAT YOU CAN PUT ON THE CITY OF WINCHESTER TO COMPLETE THIS WORK.
IF THERE'S ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU CAN COME UP WITH.
AND ALSO I'M ASKING, UM, IS THERE ANY, UM, WAY OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE ON LAND STABILIZATION ALONG THIS ZONE? BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S IMPACTED.
AND, UM, I'M ALSO HAPPY TO OFFER ANYBODY TO COME AND DO A SITE VISIT TO SEE THE EROSION I HAVE.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE ANYBODY COME AND HAVE A TOUR, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
UM, ALSO I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I AM A SENIOR EXPIRATION GEOPHYSICIST GEOLOGIST FROM, AND I JUST RETIRED FROM SHELL AND I'M STILL CONSULTING.
SO I DO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW LANDFORMS WORK AND HOW EROSION SHOULD HAPPEN.
MADAM CHAIR, THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IS I'M PROUD TO BE A WARREN COUNTY CITIZEN OF ALL MY LIFE.
AFTER SITTING IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, THE EMS DID THE WORK YOU GUYS DO.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY ALL THE TIME.
AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE THE, WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR THE COUNTY.
I LIVE IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I OWN THE LAND THAT'S JUST BEHIND THE, UH, THE SHOOTING RANGE THERE AT PROPOSED SHOOTING RANGE IN BENTONVILLE.
UH, ME AND MY FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A HOUSE, MAYBE A COUPLE HOUSES.
I HAVE, UH, KIDS AND, AND STEPCHILDREN AND GRANDKIDS.
AND, UH, I'M ONLY 67 FEET, 67 FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE BERM, 34 FEET TO TO MY FENCE LINE.
MY, MY SON HAD SPOKE ABOUT THE, UM, THE, THE NUMBERS BEING ONE 19, UH, WARREN COUNTY CITIZEN AGRICULTURE AREA.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AROUND 62, WHICH IS ALMOST DOUBLE.
SO YOU UNDERSTAND MY FEELINGS.
I, I, I SEE MY 5-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON OUT THERE PICKING UP ARROWHEADS, YOU KNOW, FROM HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO.
THE, UM, THERE'S A SPRINGHOUSE THERE THAT THEY'RE SAYING WAS BUILT AROUND 1820, THAT'S ONLY 10 FEET FROM THIS PROPOSED PROPERTY.
THAT'S FIVE ACRES, UH, FOR PROPOSED, UH, SHOOTING RANGE.
AND, AND YOU GUYS ARE MY NEIGHBORS.
IT'S Y'ALL'S CALL, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOU, YOU GUYS WOULDN'T WANT IT IN YOUR BACKYARD.
67 FEET LIVE BULLETS, LIVE ROUNDS SHOOTING AT YOU.
I CAN'T, THERE'LL BE DAYS WHERE I CAN'T WALK ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
THERE'LL BE DAYS WHERE MY, MY SON, MY, MY STEPCHILDREN, MY MY GRANDKIDS CAN'T WALK ACROSS THAT PROPERTY.
I KNOW YOU GUYS WILL MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
I IF, IF THERE'S ANY WAY I CAN HELP THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR, OR ANY ONE OF Y'ALL, LET ME KNOW.
MY, I'VE EMAILED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, SO
[00:35:01]
YOU HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS.I CAN ALSO GIVE YOU, I'LL, I'LL EMAIL YOU MY CELL PHONE NUMBER AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A PROUD WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
UH, MY NAME IS STEVE YOUNG AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THREE 15 SALEM AND AVENUE HERE IN TOWN.
UH, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, UH, JOHN CARROLL JENKINS COUNCIL.
UH, IN FRONT ROYAL, UH, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IS A CATHOLIC MEN'S FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION.
AND OUR PRINCIPAL CHARISMS ARE CHARITY, UNITY FRATERNITY AND PATRIOTISM.
UH, TONIGHT I'M JUMPING AHEAD OUT OF THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA TO SPEAK TO YOU, UH, CHARITY IN THE CHARITABLE WORKS THAT WE DO IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WE PROVIDE IN THE FRONT ROYAL COMMUNITY, UNITY AND OUR DEVOTION TO AND FAITHFULNESS TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FRATERNITY AND THE FELLOWSHIP WE ENJOY AND PATRIOTISM IN THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY AND HER DEFENSE.
UH, EVERY YEAR, THE KNIGHTS HAVE JOINED IN THE COMMUNITY ENDORSED CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ON THE GROUNDS OF THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE BY ERECTING OUR KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS BANNER.
THIS BANNER COMPLIMENTS THE NATIVITY SCENE ERECTED, ALSO ERECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY BY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND IT, AND IT ALSO, UH, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MESSAGES OF GOODWILL.
SO WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, UH, TO PETITION THE BOARD TO ONCE AGAIN ALLOW US TO DISPLAY THIS BANNER DURING THE UPCOMING CHRISTMAS SEASON, BEGINNING FRIDAY, THE FOLLOWING, UH, FOLLOWING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND ENDING ON OR AROUND MONDAY, JANUARY 6TH, WHICH IS THE PIECE OF THE EPIPHANY.
OR AS IT'S MORE SECULARLY KNOWN, 12TH NIGHT.
IT IS OUR HOPE AND TRUST THAT THE BOARD WILL CONCUR THAT OUR MESSAGE OF KEEP CHRIST AND CHRISTMAS WILL BE ONE THAT RESONATES WITH THE MAJORITY OF WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS AND AS A HAR HARBINGER OF A PEACEFUL AND JOYFUL SEASON FOR ALL.
ANYONE ELSE, MR. HENDERSON? UH, THAT'S ALL.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON
[G. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
TO REPORTS.MR. STAN MEYER, UH, NO REPORTS TONIGHT, MR. BUTLER? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, I REALLY ENJOYED, UH, GETTING TO SEE THE, UH, THE NEW FIRE EQUIPMENT THAT, UH, THAT, THAT THE, UM, UH, COUNTY, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE PICKED UP, UH, REALLY ENJOYED, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE CHIEF AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT, UH, UH, FIRE PERSONNEL SHOW US THE, UH, ALL THE INS AND OUTS.
AND, AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I, I THINK THAT THE, UH, THAT THE FIRE CHIEF HAS A, HAS A GREAT IDEA THERE AND THAT, UH, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE GET, HE WANTS TO STANDARDIZE IT SO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, TO REDUCE ANY TYPE OF, UM, OF, UM, COMPLEXITY.
BECAUSE, UH, WHEN A, UH, WHEN A FIREMAN, WHEN HE GETS ON ONE, UH, ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HERE, HE'S GETTING ON ALL THE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.
'CAUSE HE CAN FIND THE SAME THING AT THE SAME SPOT IN THE SAME AMOUNT.
AND THAT'S, UH, AND THEREFORE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO SEARCH AROUND WHEN, YOU KNOW, LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
SO, UH, I I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND, UH, I APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH, THE ONLY THING I WANNA SAY IS, UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET LA HEALTH KNOW THAT I WASN'T AT THE WORK SESSION LAST WEEK.
AND, UM, AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD WANNA SAY IS, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND THE OPINIONS THAT WERE EXPRESSED WOULD ARE NOT MY OPINIONS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON RECORD.
WELL, ON AUGUST 12TH, I MET WITH THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND THEN LEFT THAT MEETING AND WENT TO THE BROWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING.
UM, I WAS HERE WITH A FIRETRUCK DEMO AND I APPRECIATE, UM, THE STAFF BRINGING THAT.
WE EVEN GOT TO TAKE A RIDE IN IT.
UH, VERY NICE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD OF.
[00:40:01]
I ATTENDED THE NORTHERN SHAND VALLEY REGIONAL COMMISSION AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEETING, AND THEN A MEETING WITH SOUTH WARREN FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD ON AUGUST 17TH.I ATTENDED THE LIBRARY RETREAT AND, UM, SAW THE MEMORY, UH, THE MAKER SPACE MEMORY LAB.
THAT'S NOT OPEN YET, BUT, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE QUITE, UM, A NICE THING.
UM, IT'S A LOT OF NICE EQUIPMENT THERE THAT PEOPLE, ALL I COULD STAND THERE AND THINK ABOUT WAS, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF CHRISTMAS MAKING EQUIPMENT IN HERE.
UM, THEN AUGUST 20TH, TODAY, EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD THE CPMT MEETING WHERE WAS ABLE TO MEET, UM, MS. CLARK AND THEN WE'RE HERE.
UM, AND MS. SADICK, IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR ADDRESS, UM, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UM, OR YOU CAN GO ON AND, AND SEND ME AN EMAIL.
UM, ALL MY INFORMATION IS ON THERE.
UM, I'D BE INTERESTED IN COMING OUT TO SEE YOUR ISSUE OUT THERE.
UM, AND AS FAR AS MY COMMENTS LAST WEEK WITH VALLEY HEALTH, MAYBE I COULD HAVE PICKED SOME BETTER WORDAGE AS I WAS A LITTLE UPSET, TO SAY THE LEAST.
I USED TO WORK, UH, I'M A NURSE, THEN I GRADUATED FROM NURSING SCHOOL AND STARTED WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL.
IT WASN'T VALLEY HEALTH AND MATERNITY WAS, UH, FEAST OR FAMINE, BUT IT WAS THERE.
UM, YOU MIGHT GO WEEKS WITHOUT, AND THAT STAFF WAS PULLED OUT TO WORK ON THE OTHER FLOORS BECAUSE AS THEN IS NOW YOU NEVER HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, UH, TO, SO THEY WERE REUTILIZED.
AND, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE, AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS, HAS SAID THAT'S A SERVICE THAT'S LACKING.
AND I HEAR MS. GOLA SAY THAT, UM, THEY WANNA PROVIDE SAFE SERVICES.
WELL, I THINK IT'S MUCH SAFER TO HAVE A BABY IN A HOSPITAL THAN IN THE BACK OF A RESCUE SQUAD TRYING TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL IN WINCHESTER.
AND I THINK IF WE, THERE IS ENOUGH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
AND YOU KNOW, I WAS WRITING DOWN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID, 36 BEDS AND THAT YOU DO, UM, CARDIAC CATHS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE AN INTENSIVE CARE.
SO THERE AGAIN, IF I HAVE A CARDIAC CATH HERE AND SOMETHING GOES WRONG, I'VE GOTTA GET SHIPPED TO WINCHESTER, WHICH IS ANOTHER UNSAFE THING IN MY, IN MY ESTIMATION.
I COULD HAVE USED BETTER WORDAGE, BUT I STILL STAND BY THE FACT THAT I THINK YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING THE SERVICES, THE COMMUNITY WISHES THAT YOU WERE.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT CAN BE REMEDIED.
'CAUSE YOU DID BUILD A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
WASN'T GIVEN CREDIT FOR SAYING THAT YOU DID BUILD, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
SOME OF THE VIEWS LOOKING OUT, UH, HAVE TO BE VERY COMFORTING TO THE PATIENTS THERE.
'CAUSE UM, I'VE BEEN IN HOSPITAL ROOMS WHERE YOU LOOK OUT AND YOU SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF A WALL FROM THE OTHER WING.
I THINK, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO THERE'S WHERE I'LL STAND ON THAT.
UH, MR. SMITH IS HERE FROM VDOT IF WE WANTED TO YES, I'M GONNA, I'VE GOT YOU ON THERE.
DO YOU WANNA DEFER TO HIM FOR RIGHT NOW? I WAS GONNA DEFER TO FIRST, UH, YES.
I'M SORRY I HAVE YOU WRITTEN DOWN, BUT YOU'RE THE END OF MY LIST AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M THE ASSISTANT RESIDENT ENGINEER AT THE EDINBURGH RESIDENCY FOR VDOT.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO START OUT AND I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ON OUR RECENT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES.
UM, WE'VE COMPLETED OUR SECOND ROUND OF MOWING ON OUR PRIMARIES, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO BACK INTO OUR SECONDARIES AGAIN.
AND, AND THAT'S CONTINUAL PROCESS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN MAKING ASPHALT REPAIRS ON SEVERAL OF THE ROUTES, INCLUDING ROUTE THREE 40 SOUTH.
UM, WE'RE ALSO PERFORM SKIN PATCHING ON ROUTES IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR'S PAVEMENT SCHEDULE.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO GRADE ROADS AND DITCHES AND CLEAN UP STORM DEBRIS FROM TROPICAL STORM DEBBIE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON THE MAINTENANCE SIDE.
UM, SOME OTHER ITEMS OF BOARD INTEREST.
UM, THE ROUTE THREE 40 SOUTH ASPHALT PAVING.
UM, NEXT SUMMER IT'S SCHEDULED TO PAVE FROM THE PAGE COUNTY LINE TO ROUTE 6 74 LAMBTON CHURCH ROAD.
AND THEN THE SUMMER AFTER THAT, WHICH WILL BE SUMMER OF 2026, WE'LL PICK UP FROM LAMBTON CHURCH AND CARRY THAT ALL THE WAY INTO THE FRONT ROYAL CITY
[00:45:01]
LIMITS.SO THAT'LL BE A MILL AND TWO INCH OVERLAY OF HOT MIX ASPHALT ON THAT.
UM, I THINK SO THAT'LL MAKE IT LIKE IN THREE YEARS, THEN WE'VE DONE 1212 MILE SECTION OF THAT.
ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, THAT IS GONNA BE A, WELL, WELL, DURING THE PROCESS IT WON'T BE SO WELCOME, BUT IT'S, ONCE IT'S DONE, YEAH, THAT ROAD HAS GOTTEN IN SUCH BAD SHAPE, IT WILL BE APPRECIATED.
WE RECENTLY INSTALLED SOME WATCH FOR TURNING VEHICLE SIGNS, UH, TO ALERT, ALERT MOTORIST.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH VEHICLES TURNING THERE.
UH, ROUTE 55 AND HIGH KNOB, THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW PREEMPTIVE WARNING LIGHT AT HIGH KNOB, UM, ON 55 FOR CARS TURNING INTO HIGH KNOB HAS STARTED THIS WEEK, AND THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT MONTH.
SO THAT'LL ALERT MOTORISTS IF A CAR STOPPED WAITING TO TURN, TURN LEFT IN.
UM, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE ON, UH, ROUTE 6 31 WILLIAM VINCENT ROAD.
WE'VE STARTED, WE'VE COMPLETED THE TREE TRIMMING ON THAT PROJECT AND WE PLAN ON DOING THE, UH, CULVERT INSTALLATION THIS WINTER, TRYING TO ADVANCE, UM, THE RURAL RUSTIC PROJECT SCHEDULE ON THAT.
SO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT.
UH, SO SOME OTHER UPCOMING STUDIES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS, UH, RIVERMONT DRIVE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE INSTALLING NEW WARNING SIGNS AND, UM, DOING SOME SPEED LIMIT CHANGES.
THEY'RE COMING, UM, ROUTE SIX 11 LONG MEADOW ROAD.
WE'RE WAITING ON THE COMPLETION OF THE, UH, SPEED STUDY FOR THAT.
WE'RE GONNA BE POSTING THAT AT 45, THIS PLAN.
AND, UH, ROUTE SIX 30 THOMPSON HOLLOW, OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STILL WORKING ON THAT SIGNAGE AND PAVEMENT MARKING PLAN TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUES OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE PARKING ON THE ROAD.
THE SMART SCALE PROJECT THAT WE WERE AWARDED FOR SIX 19 TO ROCKY LANE, DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION WHEN THEY'RE GONNA START ANY OF THAT SIX 19 TO ROCKY LANE? WAS THAT, UH, THE MOST RECENT ROUND? THAT WAS AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE 55, UM OH, OKAY.
YEAH, SO I DO, UH, LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND IT HERE.
AS FAR AS LIKE WHEN THAT'S SCHEDULED TO COME, UH, I JUST HADN'T HEARD, I KNOW IT, IT, WE GOT THE SMART SCALE APPROVAL, BUT I DIDN'T, I'D NEVER HEARD WHEN THAT MIGHT PROCESS START.
YEAH, SO FORGIVE ME HERE, I'M TRYING TO FIND IT.
SO THERE, YEAH, SO IT WAS AROUND 3 20 20.
UM, IT, IT HAS A CURRENT ADVERTISED DATE OF AUGUST, 2025.
SO IT'D BE ANOTHER, IT'D BE A YEAR OUT FOR THAT.
AND THEN DOWN THE ROAD OUT THERE AT, AT HIGH KNOB, UH, WHERE WE'LL GET ULTIMATELY THE LEFT TURN LANE AND THE RIGHT TURN LANE THAT'S SCHEDULED TO GO TO ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID, UM, IN MARCH OF 2027.
UM, SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST STEP TO GET THAT FLASHER UP OUT THERE.
AND THEN THERE'LL BE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
UM, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE, THE, UH, LEFT AND RIGHT TURN LANE.
AND ANOTHER, UM, QUESTION THAT I HAVE FETCH IT ROAD OFF OF, UM, BROWNTOWN, IT'S A, IT'S A DIRT ROAD AND THE HOUSES ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE ROAD.
SOME ONE HOUSE YOU CAN LITERALLY STEP OUT AND YOU'VE GOT LIKE THREE STEPS AND YOU'RE IN THE ROAD.
AND IT'S 35 BECAUSE IT'S A, YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR LOWEST SPEED LIMIT FOR MOST OF THOSE TYPES OF ROAD.
UM, SPEED IS AN ISSUE THERE WITH SOME OF THE, UM, HOUSES.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GET THAT LOOKED AT TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY OF LOWERING THAT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO IT'S A DEAD END ROAD.
IT GOES UP INTO AND WHAT WAS THE STREET NAME? FETCH IT.
YEAH, IT'S OFF OF, UH, BROWNTOWN ROAD.
WELL IT'S, YEAH, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOKING THERE, IT'S GOING OFF OF THE LOOP ON THE BROWNTOWN SIDE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I'VE ASKED, UM, THE, THE SIGN COMING INTO BENTONVILLE THAT TELLS YOU YOU'RE COMING INTO THE VILLAGE OF BENTONVILLE.
IT'S BEEN DOWN NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I'VE ASKED ED ABOUT IT AND HE KEEPS SAYING, I, I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT WAS PUT UP.
WELL, DEFINITELY THE LANDOWNER THAT LIVES THERE.
UM, AND I SEE IT TOO WHEN I GO DOWN THE ROAD, BUT HE REMINDS ME OF IT THAT IT'S STILL NOT THERE.
UNLESS SOMEBODY'S ALREADY STOLEN IT.
AS SOON AS IT WENT UP, IT'S, IT'S NOT THERE.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY THING FOR THE ROADS OR SECTIONS? UM, YEAH, MATT, THANKS
[00:50:01]
FOR BEING HERE.I I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE, THE, UH, ROCKLAND ROAD DETOUR, UH, THING.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN GETTING MESSAGES FROM CONSTITUENTS AND I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THIS MEETING TO, TO, I THINK, CLARIFY SOME THINGS, UM, RATHER THAN ASK YOU TO RECITE THINGS.
I JUST GOT, UH, DAVID ATWOOD'S EMAIL.
SO, SO ON THE 12TH OF JULY, I INITIATED A, SOME, SOME QUESTIONS BASED ON, ON, UH, ON SOME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT A CONSTITUENT HAD SENT ME, AND SOME, SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT, UH, THE PLAN NOT BEING, THE SAFETY PLAN BEING VIOLATED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND OF COURSE, I HAVE NO WAY, I HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW THIS.
SO I REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT SAYING, IS ANYBODY MONITORING TO SEE IF THE, IF THE CONTRACTOR IS FAITHFULLY EXECUTING THE, THE PLAN? UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ, UH, FOR, FOR THE SAKE OF, OF PUBLIC INFORMATION.
UH, DAVID ATWOOD'S, UH, EMAIL, UH, HE SAID THAT AS OF JULY 10TH, WE HAVE ENTERED PHASE THREE OF THE PLANS, WHICH INCLUDES THE FINAL PHASE OF THE DETOUR.
VIRGINIA HILLS CHURCH AND FISHNET BOULEVARD TRAFFIC CAN NO LONGER BE ACCESSED BY ROUTE 5 22.
USERS WILL NEED TO FOLLOW THE DETOUR.
THE EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD HAS BEEN REMOVED.
THAT WAS ONLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE ACCESS DURING PHASE TWO WHEN A TRAIN COULD BLOCK RESPONDERS FROM COMING FROM THE WEST.
HOWEVER, THE NEW VIRGINIA HILLS ENTRANCE AND NEW FISHNET CONNECTION ARE BOTH NOW OPEN FOR TRAFFIC FROM THE EAST.
BASED ON THE QUESTIONS PROVIDED, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE CONSTITUENTS SIMPLY NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE SINGLE DETOUR ROUTE.
BOTH CHURCHES AND THE PARK ARE ACCESSIBLE VIA THE DETOUR.
ALL OF THE ACCESS PROVIDED MATCHES THE PLANS AND IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT HAD HAD WAS DISCUSSED AT THE, PARDON OUR DUST MEETING.
A MESSAGE BOARD WAS PUT INTO PLACE SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRAFFIC SWITCH, LETTING THE USERS KNOW WHEN THE CLOSURE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
I WILL SAY THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS ILLEGALLY GOING AROUND THE BARRICADES TO DRIVE THROUGH THE PROJECT VIA THE EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD.
NOW THAT UNAPPROVED MOVEMENT ISN'T AVAILABLE.
UM, SO THAT I THINK IS SOME CLARIFICATION FOR ANYBODY WHO'S, WHO'S HEARING, UM, THIS AND DOESN'T KNOW, UH, WHAT THE, THE PLAN WAS OR DOESN'T KNOW THAT THAT PATHWAY WASN'T EVER PLANNED OR PROMISED TO BE THERE THROUGHOUT ALL PHASES OF, OF THE PROJECT.
UM, I ALSO ASKED, UH, OR RATHER, SHERIFF KLEIN REPLIED TO ME SAYING THAT, UH, SHE HAD SENT SOMEONE OUT, AND I'M PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FIND THAT RIGHT NOW TO READ, BUT ESSENTIALLY, UH, THEY DID INSPECT THAT AND VERIFY THAT THAT WHAT WAS EXPECTED WAS IN PLACE.
UM, SO IN, IN MY COMMENT AND, AND ASKING A, A PRETTY LONG LIST OF PEOPLE IF, YOU KNOW, IF THE COUNTY CAN ROUTINELY MONITOR THIS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, THE, THE COMMENT WAS, I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO KNOW, UH, WHETHER IT'S BEING FAITHFULLY EXECUTED OR NOT EXECUTED.
UM, MR. ATWOOD'S EMAIL, I THINK EXPLAINS THAT.
NOW, ONE A FOLLOW ON QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS IF WE, IF, AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I SHOULD KNOW, BUT DO, DOES THE COUNTY PERHAPS HAVE A WEBPAGE OR SOMETHING DEDICATED THAT COULD CONVEY THAT PLAN OR WHAT THOSE PHASES ARE AND WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AVAILABLE IN WHAT PHASE? UM, SO THAT MAYBE MY CONSTITUENTS AREN'T, ARE, CAN BE, UH, FULLY INFORMED OF WHAT BY PHASE IS EXPECTED TO BE THERE.
AND SECONDLY, THAT I DON'T KEEP EMAILING VDOT AND ED AND, AND MIKE BARRY AND EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE, ARE WE DOING THIS BECAUSE THE CONCERN IS GENUINE AND REAL, THAT THEY, THEY GET BLOCKED BY THE TRAIN, THE WORLD OF WATER BRIDGE IS CLOSED AND THEN THE, THEY PERCEIVE THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO GET OUT.
SO I DO RESPECT THEIR, THEIR DESIRE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME ABOUT IT.
UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE IN TURN.
SO PERHAPS THAT'S NOT A QUESTION FOR MR. UH, FOR, FOR MATT SMITH.
UH, I DON'T KNOW, BUT, BUT LET'S JUST KEEP WORKING TO COMMUNICATE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE ARE OR NOT.
UM, AND SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE TO ME, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN SEE THAT THAT GETS UP.
YEAH, I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I, I, I TRIED TO GET UP TO SPEED ON THAT.
TODAY WE ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSING THE, THE MORGANS FORD BRIDGE, UM, DURING THE DAY FROM NINE TO TWO TO REMOVE DEBRIS THAT'S ACCUMULATED FROM THE STORM.
UM, SO THAT IS A UNIQUE SITUATION, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE IF WE HAD ANOTHER STORM THAT COULD BE EVEN WORSE.
SO WE, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO.
[00:55:01]
WE'RE HOPING TO GET, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.WE INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT WORK WOULD BE WRAPPED UP BY THURSDAY, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING NOW, IT MAY SPILL INTO NEXT WEEK, BUT WE WE'RE NOT STARTING TILL NINE AND WE HAVE THE CLOSURE REMOVED AT TWO.
UM, THERE IS A CRANE THERE, SO IF WE HAD TO GET IT OUTTA THE WAY WE CAN, BUT IT TAKES ABOUT 25 MINUTES TO DO THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION TOO, THERE IS A WAY TO GET THROUGH THE PROJECT.
IT'S JUST NOT A PUBLIC ROUTE RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU CAN GO FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS ASHBY STATION TO THE NORTH THAT CAN BE A WAY OUT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, FAIRGROUNDS ROAD IS ON OUR 5 1 1, UM, SYSTEM.
SO YOU CAN CHECK THE VIDEO AND SEE IF, IF A TRAIN IS, IS SITTING THERE BLOCKING THAT ROAD.
AND MY PRINCIPAL REASON WE'RE INCLUDING, UH, CHIEF BONNO AND, AND SHERIFF KLEIN ON EMAIL CHAIN WERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET IN AND OUT.
UH, UH, MAYBE A RESIDENT WAS CUTTING THROUGH THINKING THAT WAS THEIR EMERGENCY THROUGHOUT FIRE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I HAD HEARD.
WHILE IT WAS KIND OF SET UP, SOME OTHER PEOPLE WERE JUST USING IT TO KIND OF
SO, AND THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW THAT BY THE EMAILS THEY'RE SENDING ME.
BUT I DON'T EVER WANNA ASSUME.
BUT THAT, THAT, THAT'S BEEN REMOVED NOW.
PEOPLE NEED TO ACCESS THE DETOUR, WHICH IS SIGNED.
UM, I DID HEAR TODAY MAYBE THAT WHEN PEOPLE USE LIKE GOOGLE OR WAIT GOOGLE MAP OR WAYS THAT IT MAY GET THINGS CONFUSED AND THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE, BUT IF YOU'RE PHYSICALLY DRIVING IT AND FOLLOWING THE SIGNS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO THE CHURCH OR TO THE PARK.
UM, AND I'LL SEND THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AND ED ABOUT THOMPSON HOLLOW.
HE CALLED, UM, AND VERY NICE MAN AND THINKS THAT WE CAN WORK THIS OUT TO EVERYBODY'S ADVANTAGE.
ALRIGHT, SO I'LL SEND THAT TO YOU TOMORROW.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR MR. SMITH? IJI WANTED TO JUST FIRST OFF THANK DR.
JAMESON FOR TAKING UP THAT TOPIC BECAUSE IT AFFECTS A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN I'LL TALK TO YOU AND ED SEPARATELY, BUT I WAS, I WAS REACHED OUT TO BY, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, DISTRIBUTION CENTERS OUT THERE ON FAIRGROUNDS ROAD AND THEY'RE ALREADY CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE SPEEDING, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A DEAD END RIGHT NOW,
BUT THEY, THEY'RE WORRIED ONCE THE FLYOVER IS END THAT IT'S GONNA BECOME LIKE A SUPER HIGHWAY.
UH, AND SO WE'RE JUST THINKING AHEAD OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.
AND SPEED BUMPS THEY, THEY WANTED ARE OBVIOUSLY A NON-STARTER ON A, ON A ROAD OF THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, BUT MAYBE LIKE A, A SIGN WITH THE, THE CAMERA THAT TELLS YOU YOU SPEED AND WHETHER YOU'RE SPEEDING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, AND I THINK PROBABLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE ROAD GETS OPEN, MONITOR THAT AND EVALUATE THAT AND KIND OF LOOK AT SOME SCENARIOS OF, OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY DOING.
CAN, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE, YOU SAID THAT THERE IS A, UH, IT'S A NEW SYSTEM THAT'S GOING UP, GOING UP OVER AT HIGH KNOB.
DOES THIS SENSE WHEN THERE'S A CAR STOPPED OR STATIONARY THERE? YEAH, I, YEAH, MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT IT'S, YEAH, IT'S GONNA SENSE WHEN A VEHICLE IS STOPPED ON 55 AND WAITING TO TURN IN, IT WILL SEND AN ADVANCE WARNING THAT LIGHTS UP, A SIGN UP AHEAD TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A CAR STOPPED.
SO THEY'RE NOT COMING UP, YOU KNOW, ON A, ON A CAR THAT'S SITTING STILL.
SO THEY'RE, SO DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR BACK THAT'S GONNA BE? BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I OFTEN DRIVE ON THAT ROAD AND, AND SOMETIMES THOSE CARS CAN BE BACKED UP, YOU KNOW, 10 OR 11 CARS.
I, I, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT TODAY, THEY SAID A THOUSAND FEET, BUT I, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT TO VERIFY THAT.
BUT, UM, I HEARD 'EM RUN, TALKING ABOUT RUN, THEY HAD TO RUN, LIKE HE SAID, A THOUSAND FEET OF CABLE OR SOMETHING.
SO IT COULD, I'M GUESSING ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW IF SPECIFICALLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ON THE, UH, AGENDAS.
I WANT TO, UH, COMMEND, UH, MR. DAN LENTZ, WHO IS COMPLETING HIS TOUR OF DUTY OF ALMOST 38 YEARS AS DIRECTOR OF RECREATION.
FIRST FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND THEN FOR THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY.
AND I'M PLEASED TO APPOINT, UH, JANE MEADOWS AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR AND I WILL BE APPOINTING A PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION SEPTEMBER.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE SELECTION PROCESS.
[01:00:03]
MR. HAM.I NOTICED THAT ITEM M FIVE, WHICH IS THE EQUITABLE SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING, UM, UH, FUNDS OBTAINED THROUGH COOPERATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT I'M SURE SHERIFF KLEIN WILL ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS TO LATER IN THE PACKET.
IT ONLY HAS TWO PAGES IN IT AND THERE'S ACTUALLY FIVE PAGES.
THE MISSING PAGES ARE A SIGNATURE PAGE AND VARIOUS FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING THAT WE COMPLY WITH FOIA AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, ET CETERA.
SO, BUT YOUR COMPUTER PACKET, IT DOESN'T HAVE EVERYTHING IN IT.
SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT TO YOU AND, AND I HAVE REVIEWED IT AND IT'S HERE.
AND NO ISSUES FROM YOUR REVIEW ON THAT? NO.
[H. Appropriations and Transfers ]
ON WITH THE AGENDA.UM, APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS.
ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
[I. Approval of Accounts ]
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? YEAH, I HAVE A FEW.SO, UM, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL, UM, FROM, UM, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR LAST NIGHT, MS. SCOTT, AND THE, THERE WERE FOUR REPORTS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE EMAIL.
ARE THOSE TO REPLACE WHAT WAS POSTED ON THIS AGENDA OR ARE THEY ONE OF THE SAME? 'CAUSE I SEE DIFFERENT NUMBERS IN DIFFERENT FORMATS.
YES, THEY ARE TO REPLACE THE ONES ON THE AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN POSTED.
YES, BECAUSE THE WAY I LOOKED AT IT, IT WE, YOU BROKE IT OUT TO FOUR REPORTS RATHER THAN TWO.
SO WE HAD A FISCAL YEAR 24 EXPENDITURE.
AND THEN WE DID, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, ALSO THE, UM, WHAT I'M CALLING VARIANCE REPORTS OF THE EXPLANATIONS OF THE, UM, THE PERCENT COMPLETES, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND I, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR STAFF GOING AHEAD AND PUTTING DOLLAR VALUES WHERE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE AND THAT REALLY HELPS ME TO GET A BETTER, A CONFIDENCE LEVEL ON, ON THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED BECAUSE AS I HAD SAID, UM, THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING UP, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD IS GONNA BE MAKING SOME DECISIONS AND, UM, RAISING TAXES AND, UM, I REALLY RELY ON THE, UM, ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT SAID.
AND THEN THE LAST THING OF FISCAL YEAR 24, UM, WE WENT UP 8% IN THE EXPENDITURE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO NOW WE'VE ONLY SHOW 80% COMPLETE, BUT IT, BUT WITH YOUR VARIANCE REPORT, I CAN, I CAN SEE WHERE THE, DO YOU KNOW, ADDING UP THE DOLLAR VALUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, AND I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION YEARS AGO,
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE FUEL REPORT AND THE PC REPORT, IS THAT PART OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE CHECK REGISTER REPORT? IT IS, IT IS PART OF THAT, YEAH.
IT'S THE CHECK REGISTER IS TO PAY THE INVOICES TO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, THE FUEL COMPANIES.
IT EVEN INCLUDES THE SAM ANDERSON INVOICES AND IT IT DOES, IT DOES, YEAH.
THE P CARDS ARE BROKEN OUT SO YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY SEE THE, THE TRANSACTIONS ON THE CREDIT CARDS.
SO FOR THE SAKE, FOR ME ANYWAY, THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY REPORT THAT I'D FOCUS ON TO SEE THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THAT.
SO, UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, UM, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN POST THESE NEW REPORTS TO THE PUBLIC? YES.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC RECORD AND, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE.
YES, YOU CAN POST THEM, JUST REPOST THEM SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT I'M GONNA BE APPROVING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? OH, I'M SORRY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
[01:05:01]
CALL.MADAM CHAIR, STILL NO POLICY ON P CARDS? SO I'M ANU
[J. Approval of Minutes - August 6th 2024]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES.ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
[K. Lease with Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, Inc.]
BUSINESS LEASE WITH THE SHENANDOAH AREA AGENCY ON AGING.UH, MS. MEADOWS, ARE YOU TAKING THAT? GOOD EVENING.
UM, LAST WEEK WE HAD A WORK SESSION TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE NUANCES OF THE LEASE, UM, IN ORDER TO FOLLOW UP FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK'S PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, SO TONIGHT WE ARE JUST REQUESTING THAT YOU ACTUALLY VOTE ON, UM, THE APPROVAL OF THE LEASE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. MEADOWS AT THIS POINT? ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE FOR THE DESIGNATED AREA OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMPLEX WITH THE SHENANDOAH AREA AGING.
IE SENIOR CENTER, BEGINNING THE DATE OF THE FINAL SIGNATURES AND CONTINUING, IF NOT OTHERWISE TERMINATED OR EXTENDED FOR ONE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR.
AND MS. MEADOWS, ARE THEY CLOSED TO BEING ABLE TO MOVE IN? FINAL SESSIONS ARE BASICALLY, THANK YOU.
SO MA'AM, JUST WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, UH, THIS IS ON THE 15TH STREET COMPLEX AND THE 15TH STREET COMPLEX.
IT IS LEASED BY THE COUNTY FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD WHO OWNS THE FACILITY.
[L. Ordinance to add to the Warren County Code Article XXIV in Chapter 160 to impose a Cigarette Tax. - Sherry Sours, Commissioner of the Revenue, Alisa Scott, Finance Director ]
ITEM L ORDINANCE TO ADD TO THE WARREN COUNTY CODE ARTICLE 24 TO END CHAPTER ONE 60 TO IMPOSE A CIGARETTE TAX.MS. SAUERS AND MS. SCOTT, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THE CIGARETTE TAX PUBLIC HEARING WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THE REQUEST FROM THE BOARD AT THE TIME WAS TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE REVENUE THAT WE COULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE FROM THIS NEW ORDINANCE.
SO WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND YOU ALSO HAVE RECEIVED FROM OTHER LOCAL CAL LOCALITIES WHAT THEIR EXPECTED REVENUE IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE INCREASE FIRST IN ORDER TO DIVERSIFY THE TAXES.
SO THE BURDEN IS NOT COMPLETELY ON THE PROPERTY TAX AND THE REAL ESTATE TAX.
DOES EVERYBODY HAVE THE BENCHMARK SPREADSHEET? OKAY.
TWO POSSIBLE EXPENDITURES WHERE THIS IS NECESSARY.
CANCER PREVENTION WITH A FIRE AND RESCUE CAPITAL.
JUST AS A REFRESHER, THIS IS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT TAKES THE EXHAUST OUT OF EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEM THAT TAKES THE EXHAUST OUT OF THE BAYS AND ALSO THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS REQUIRED TO SEPARATE THE ZONES WITHIN THE FIRE STATION.
AND ALSO THE FARM RESCUE PHARMACY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LAST WEEK AS WELL.
THOSE TWO EX EXPENSES, UM, ARE NOT CONSIDERED RECURRING.
THE 200,000 IS A UPFRONT COST FOR THE FINE RESCUE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND THAT IS A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED AND UNBUDGETED COST.
SO THIS NEW CIGARETTE TAX IS A TAX LEVIED AND COLLECTED BY SELLERS AND DEALERS OF PACKAGED CIGARETTES.
IT'S IMPOSED TO THE PURCHASE OF STAMPS.
THERE'S NATIONALLY 700 LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITH AN ESTIMATED 340 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE.
THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE FROM THE NEW CIGARETTE TAX IN WARREN COUNTY.
THE POPULATION OF 40,000 AVERAGE PACK
[01:10:01]
PER RESIDENT.32, THE TAX RATE 40 CENTS WITH AN ESTIMATE REVENUE OF $524,524 AND 80 CENTS.
SO, SO EVEN THOSE LITTLE, UH, THREE MONTH OLD KIDS WERE SMOKING THESE, THIS WAS A, UH, UH, ESTIMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY VACO, THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
THEIR, UH, CIGARETTE TEXT TOOLKIT RECOMMENDATION.
IS THAT, DO THEY COME ALONG AND JUST SAY, NO MATTER WHAT COUNTY YOU ARE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT, IT'S 32.14.
IT'S A SAFE AND PRETTY LOW RATE TO PROVIDE BECAUSE EVERY COUNTY IS DIFFERENT.
COUNTY HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE SOCIOECONOMIC, UM, CLASSIFICATIONS.
NOW, IS THAT, SO SIR, THE, UM, THE STATE HAS HAS A TOTAL VOLUME OF SALES, NUMBER OF CIGARETTES DIVIDED BY THE POPULATION.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY CAME UP WITH 32, UH, 0.14 PER RESIDENT PER YEAR.
SO IT'S AN AVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
AND WITH THAT AND THE BENCHMARKS FROM OTHER LOCALITIES NEAR, UH, OUR POPULATION AND THEN GEOGRAPHICALLY, UH, NEAR US, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS FROM EACH OF THE COUNTIES ON THIS LIST? HAVE THEY IMPOSED ATTACKS? AND THOSE ARE ACCURATE NUMBERS IS, YES, MA'AM.
MM-HMM,
AND THE, UH, IS THERE ANY DATA ON THAT? SAY LIKE THE, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE, I I THINK IT WAS LIKE THE, THE 15 THROUGH THE 30-YEAR-OLD, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
DO, DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON THAT? THERE COULD BE SOME DATA ON THAT.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO ASSIGN SMOKING.
SEEMS, UH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SPECIFIC DATA, BUT IT VERY MUCH GOES ACROSS ALL AGE BRACKETS AND FOR THAT MATTER INCOME.
UH, IT'S NOT A UNIQUE SPECIFIC CLASS OR ANYTHING SIR CATEGORY.
SO IT'S BASICALLY THE 32.14
AND I THINK THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THIS LAST SPRING AND LOOKING AT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF ANY POTENTIAL, UM, REAL ESTATE OR PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IF WE HAD, IF WE HAD ENACTED THIS A YEAR AGO, WE COULD HAVE TAKEN ONE PENNY OFF THE REAL ESTATE THAT YOU ENACTED LAST SPRING.
AND THAT'S MORE WHAT THIS IS INTENDED TO DO.
85% OF THE COUNTY'S LOCAL REVENUE COMES FROM PERSONAL PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE.
SO IT'S ALL ON THE PROPERTY TAX.
THAT'S THE BIG SOURCE THAT THE STATE LEAVES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO DIVERSIFY THAT, TO REDUCE THAT EMPHASIS JUST ON REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IS WHAT WE WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT.
SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO REDUCE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I PREFER TO DO, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE, UH, REAL ESTATE TAX, YOU KNOW, UH, IT DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY AFFECTS FOLKS.
BUT I THINK THAT THE, UH, UH, THAT THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX DIRECTLY AFFECTS JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, UN UNLESS YOU'RE MM-HMM.
EXCEPT THE, UM, RENTERS ARE ALL PAYING INDIRECTLY, SIR.
BUT THE DIRECT TAX PAYMENT IS MORE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
[01:15:05]
I'LL JUST, UM, MAKE A COMMENT.UM, I, I DID FIND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA THAT SLICES IT.
UH, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS A REPORT IN 2020 CALLED, UH, TOBACCO DISPARITIES IN VIRGINIA.
AND IT DOES KIND OF SEGMENT IT BY WHICH SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE SMOKERS.
AND, UH, IT'S SOME OF THE ONES WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE PREVIOUS SESSION, UM, TYPICALLY MORE, UH, POORER, FOR EXAMPLE.
UH, AND, UH, THERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER, UM, CATEGORIES.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WELL, THE ONLY THING, MY OPINION ON THIS RIGHT NOW, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEMOGRAPHICS OR, UH, THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF THIS IS ABOUT REVENUE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'M JUST BECOME VERY SENSITIVE.
THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR HERE, LEARNING ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY DOES BUDGETS.
AND RIGHT NOW, I, I JUST DON'T FEEL I HAVE ALL THE DATA TO DETERMINE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE INCREASED REVENUE.
UM, RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, FROM THE REPORTS THAT I JUST APPROVED FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 REVENUE WAS OVER, I THINK IT WAS 2.5 MILLION.
AND OF COURSE WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT GONNA KNOW THAT
UNTIL THE AUDIT IS DONE AND ET CETERA.
UM, SO WHAT THE, WHAT WE'RE TERMING IS THE, THE WHAT, WHAT IS THE THIRD, THE SOFT OUTCOME OR WHATEVER HERE IT'S BEING CALLED.
BUT, UM, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, I HAD HAVE A BETTER CONFIDENCE IF I WOULD SEE THE FISCAL YEAR 24 EXPENDITURES TO BE 90% RATHER THAN SHOWING 80%.
I MEAN, I'VE ALWAYS, FROM DAY ONE HAS ALWAYS TOLD ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, WHEN I LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURES VERSUS THE BUDGET, I ALWAYS GIVE A PLUS OR MINUS 10%.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 80% OF, UM, COMMITMENTS, I'LL SAY FOR A LACK OF ABIL BETTER WORD.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I READ YOUR VARIANCE REPORTS.
'CAUSE I, I JUST DON'T FEEL I HAVE THE DATA TO PUT THE BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I, I WOULD PUT A MOTION TO, UM, TABLE THIS UNTIL OUR, THE REPORTS COME UP TO 90% AND THEN I CAN SEE IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE A GOOD FEEL OF, OF REALLY OUR POSITION KNOWING THAT IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, AND CONCRETE.
BUT I JUST HAVE A BETTER, A BETTER FEEL OF IF WE WE NEED THE MONEY OR NOT.
AND, AND ALL I HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I, I HEAR EVERYBODY.
I SEE EVERYTHING, BUT I, I'M JUST AT THE POINT NOW THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IF I'M GOING TO PUT A BURDEN ON OUR TAXPAYERS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS IN THE LOW INCOME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT MY DECISION IS, IS THAT WE REALLY DO NEED THE REVENUE.
SO THAT'S MY, MY 2 CENTS MADAM CHAIR BEFORE SOMEBODY SECONDS THAT I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF THROW SOMETHING IN THERE.
AND THAT'S, THAT I DON'T SEE THIS AS RAISING TAXES BECAUSE WHAT I WANT TO DO IS SHIFT TAXES FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER SO THAT WE'RE GOING FROM PERSONAL PROPERTY TO THIS CIGARETTE TAX.
'CAUSE PERSONAL PROPERTY, PEOPLE NEED CARS.
YOU KNOW, THEY NEED CARS TO GO TO THE STORE, THEY NEED CARS TO GET TO WORK.
UH, THEY NEED CARS FOR, FOR WHATEVER.
I'VE SMOKED FOR 13, I SMOKED FOR 13 YEARS, AND I'VE, I WILL OCCASIONALLY SMOKE A CIGAR AND CHEW CIGARS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S A CHOICE.
AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SMOKE AND THEN THEY CAN PAY THE TAX, THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE RAISING TAXES, WE'RE JUST SHIFTING THE TAX BURDEN OVER.
WELL, FOR, UH, MY, EVEN IF WE WERE CONSIDERING RAISING, UM, REAL ESTATE OR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AT THIS POINT, MY POSITION WOULD STILL STAND.
AS A, AS A 15 YEAR SMOKER, SIR, I WOULD REMIND YOU THE BOARD THAT NEXT SPRING, YOU HAVE THE PROPERTY REASSESSMENT AGAIN, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THAT.
AND THAT SOME PROPERTIES GO UP MORE THAN OTHERS.
AND SO YOU GET, THE BOARD IS FACED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A DISCREPANCY IN HOW MUCH VARIOUS, UH, PROPERTIES INCREASE.
EXAMPLE BEING LAST TIME THERE WERE PROP NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WENT UP 50 AND 60% COMPARED TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH SAW A DROP
[01:20:01]
IN THOSE VALUATIONS.AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE AS MUCH VARIATION THIS TIME 'CAUSE IT'S ONLY TWO YEARS, BUT YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE A VARIATION OF THAT, LIKE 30%.
AND WHEN YOU ADJUST THE RATE, SOME PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET MUCH HIGHER INCREASES THAN OTHERS.
AND ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO DIVERSIFY AND DEFLECT THAT MM-HMM,
SO THIS MOTION HERE ARE, ARE WE, ARE WE JUST APPROVING THE ORDINANCE OR ARE WE APPROVING THE ORDINANCE? AND IN, IN THE INCREASE YOU'RE PROVING THE ORDINANCE TO IMPOSE THE CIGARETTE TAX EFFECTIVE IN JANUARY.
UM, I FIND MYSELF PRETTY CONFLICTED HERE.
UM, I HAVE, THERE'S SOME FINANCIAL RELATED ISSUES AND I HAVE SOME OTHER NON-FINANCIAL RELATED ISSUES.
UM, I GUESS I'LL ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL FIRST.
I, I THINK THAT I HAVE A FAIRLY LOW, I DON'T HAVE A, A I AND I, I HAVEN'T READ ANY COMPLICATED REPORT OR ANALYSIS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T, I'M NOT INCLINED TO PUT A LOT OF FAITH IN THAT NUMBER.
UM, AND I CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT DOING THE ANALYSIS IF IT'S AVAILABLE, BUT THAT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A, A ARGUMENT FOR TABLING.
UM, BUT ASIDE FROM, FROM THE FINANCIAL I HAVE, I DO, I DO BELIEVE, UH, THAT THE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A REGRESSIVE TAX AND, AND THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE ISSUE OF ADDICTION C COMES INTO MY MIND.
AND, UH, I, I THINK THERE'S A NON ELASTICITY IN PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR IN REGARDS TO, TO ADDICTION.
AND THAT MEANS THAT I LOWER INCOME PEOPLE'S WILL, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T SMOKE AND I NEVER HAVE.
AND I, I THINK IT'S A POOR CHOICE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, UH, PEOPLE GET INTO, INTO ADDICTIONS AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA, THEY CAN'T, I DON'T WANT, SAY THEY CAN'T, BUT BEHAVIOR DOESN'T CHANGE.
SO THE, THE PRICE CAN GO UP $4 A PACK, AND THEY'RE STILL GONNA DO IT.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE EVEN MORE OF THE LITTLE INCOME THAT THEY HAVE.
UM, AND, AND THE CONFLICT THAT I HAVE IS THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO ADMONISH THEM AND, AND SAY, DON'T DO THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE TAX, JUST DON'T BUY THE CIGARETTES.
BUT I UNDERSTAND A PERSONAL LEVEL THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH ADDICTION.
AND, AND, UH, I, I JUST AM STRUGGLING WITH THE IDEA THAT THERE'S A TARGET OF, OF A FAIRLY, UH, NARROW, WELL, A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT'S TILTS LOW INCOME.
UM, AND, AND, AND THE THEORY OF OF, OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE I CAME FROM IN TEXAS, THEY, THEY CALL SYNTAX.
UM, THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE NOT TO DO SOMETHING BY CHARGING 'EM MORE TAX WHEN THEY DO IT.
AND, UH, SO THEORETICALLY WE SHOULD ULTIMATELY GET ZERO INCOME FROM THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SEE THE TAX AND SAY, WELL, I'M NOT GONNA BUY THE CIGARETTES.
UM, BUT THEY WILL AND, AND, UH, OR THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND WHEN THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, MAYBE THEY'LL GO TO, UH, SOMEWHERE ELSE AND BUY OTHER STUFF TOO, AND, AND EAT OUT WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING OR, OR WHATEVER.
UM, I'M NOT PRESENTING A VERY ARTICULATE, UH, UH, UH, POINT OF VIEW, BUT I'M JUST KIND OF GUSHING OUT WHAT, WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.
UM, SO I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TABLED.
I'M, I'M, UH, AND AGAIN, I'M SORRY.
THE, THE NEED FOR THE MONEY IS UNDOUBTEDLY THERE.
AND, UH, BUT I, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS MEANS OF THIS METHOD OF, OF RAISING IT.
SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL LET THIS DISCUSSION CONTINUE ON, BUT I'M NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF TABLING IT AGAIN.
UM, I, IF, IF THERE'S A MOTION, IF IF THERE'S A, A CONCURRENCE HERE AT THIS DESK, THEN I'LL GO, I'LL, I'M READY TO VOTE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU, YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT NUMBER.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MS. SCOTT, FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ASKED YOU LAST TIME FOR A NUMBER AND YOU HAD A RANGE LAST TIME, AND NOW YOU HAVE A NUMBER AND IT'S BASED ON INFORMATION FROM VACO AND THIS STUDY OF, OF 10 OTHER COUNTIES.
[01:25:01]
THAT'S, THAT'S NOW WE HAVE DATA.SO I THINK IT IS HELPFUL AND I APPRECIATE IT.
UM, HOWEVER, LOOKING AT THE DATA, I, I QUICKLY GOOGLED THE POPULATION OF ALL THE COUNTIES AND SO ON HERE.
WE'RE WRITING BETWEEN SHENANDOAH AND ORANGE COUNTIES.
I THINK THEY'RE, SHAND IS LIKE 45,000.
ORANGE IS LIKE 38 5, AND WE'RE 40, 40 1042, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK, IF YOU TAKE THE REVENUE DIVIDED BY POPULATION, THERE'S, IT'S HUGELY DIFFERENT.
LIKE SHAND IS AT ABOUT $4 A PERSON OR $4 PER CAPITA.
BUT THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE TOWNS UP AND DOWN THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY, ALL BUT ONE OF THEM HAVE THE TAX.
SO SHENANDOAH COUNTY ONLY THINKS THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE TAX FROM THE TOWN.
STRASBERG, WOODSTOCK, MOUNT JACKSON.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY ARE, THEY'RE LAGGING OTHERWISE, JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS VERSUS ORANGE.
BUT, UH, THAT, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SO DIFFERENT.
SO, BUT, BUT I, I DID TAKE THE OVERALL AVERAGE AND IT'S, IT'S AROUND FOR ALL THE COUNTIES COMBINED, LIKE, UH, 10 80 PER CAPA, WHICH WOULD PUT US LIKE FOUR 50.
SO I THINK THAT'S NOT TOO FAR OFF THE NUMBER, BUT I THINK MAYBE WE'LL BE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THAT.
BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S IN THE BALLPARK.
IT DIDN'T MEAN ANY DISRESPECT FOR, FOR WORK THAT YOU HAD DONE ON THIS.
AND OF COURSE I WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK, SO, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, I HAVEN'T, NO, I DON'T LIKE IMPOSING ANY MORE TAXES THAN WE HAVE TO.
BUT I, I LOOK AT THIS AS A, AS A CHOICE.
AND I JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK, UH, WHEN I WAS CHECKING OUT A FOOD LION, I WENT TO THE SERVICE DESK AND THE CIGARETTE CASE WAS THERE.
I THINK THE CHEAPEST CARTON, AND I DON'T KNOW, ONE CIGARETTE FROM THE OTHER, 'CAUSE I DON'T SMOKE, UM, WAS LIKE $67 AND THEN THEY WERE UP TO 80 SOME DOLLARS FOR A CARTON.
AND I THOUGHT, MY GOLLY, UM, I'M, I'M TOO CHEAP FOR THAT.
EVEN IF I WANTED TO SMOKE
UM, SO, SO I'M, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THAT, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PAY $4 A PACK, WHICH COMES OUT TO BE ABOUT 50 CENTS A CIGARETTE, WHAT'S ANOTHER, WHAT, 2 CENTS PER CIGARETTE? MY GOSH.
SO, AND DO LOOK AT THE OTHER TAXES THAT IF WE COULD LOWER THE OTHER TAXES.
SO IT, BUT IT IS, UM, I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT OF ADDICTION AS WELL.
UM, MY FATHER SMOKED SINCE FROM THE TIME HE, I THINK HE WAS 70 WHEN HE PASSED AWAY FROM LUNG CANCER.
AND HE TOLD ME HE HAD BEEN SMOKING SINCE HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I SEE BOTH SIDES OF IT AND IT'S, AND IT'S DIFFICULT.
SO, UM, SO WHERE, WHERE'S THE MOTION HERE? YES, SIR.
UM, SUPERVISOR COOK MADE A MOTION TO TABLE IT.
THERE'S PROBABLY SOLICIT A SECOND IF THERE IS A SECOND.
IS THERE A SECOND TO MS. COOK'S MOTION? I'LL TABLE IT TILL AFTER THE AUDIT.
TABLE TILL WHEN OR I MEAN, I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE.
BUT YEAH, I THINK THE SOFT AUDIT, I THINK THAT THE EMAIL WAS, UH, NOVEMBER.
THE AUDITORS ARE GOING TO COME BACK IN NOVEMBER.
SO BY THAT TIME WE WOULD HAVE A SOFT CLOSE.
BUT BEFORE THAT TIME, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT FIRM NUMBERS FOR 24.
RIGHT? 'CAUSE OF THE, UH, DSS TRANSFER.
AND THE SCHOOLS TRANSFER, RIGHT? THOSE ARE REGULAR MONTHLY TRANSFERS.
UM, I'M ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE WHAT SPECIFICALLY THOSE NUMBERS ARE EACH MONTH.
SO I CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER ACCURATE RIGHT.
BECAUSE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE REPORTS THAT THE, THE NUMBERS THAT I'M LOOKING UP HAVE HAS INCREASED BY 8%.
AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAD LIKE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT 90%.
AND THEN, THEN I'D HAVE A BETTER CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO PROCEED WITH THIS OR NOT.
SO DO YOU WANT, DO WE I'D LIKE TO DATE MADAM? YES SIR.
WOULD YOU MIND IF I JUST CHIMED IN BRIEFLY THE REASON WHY, WHY YOU'RE SEEING THIS TONIGHT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TAX THAT WILL BE IMPOSED JANUARY 1ST, IS THAT THIS IS, WE WANTED COUNTY STAFF TO HAVE THE ORDINANCE PASSED BECAUSE BASICALLY IT IMPOSES A DUTY ON THE SELLERS OF CIGARETTES TO GO AND BUY STAMPS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO
[01:30:01]
THROUGH THE PROCESS, ET CETERA.SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TAKE WHATEVER ACTION YOU WANT TO TAKE TONIGHT, BUT IF, IF YOU DO TABLE IT TILL NOVEMBER, OR FOR EXAMPLE, PROBABLY IT WOULD BE BEST NOT TO IMPOSE THE TAX IN JANUARY.
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA WANNA ALLOW SOME TIME FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS IS FOR US TO GET THE WORD OUT.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEING PRESENTED TO YOU KIND OF SO EARLY.
SO AGAIN, YOU CAN TABLE IF YOU LIKE, BUT IF YOU TABLE IT TO NOVEMBER, YOU PROBABLY ARE, ARE GONNA DECIDE NOT TO.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU DIDN'T DECIDE TO THEN IMPOSE IT, UH, NECESSARILY IN JANUARY.
YOU MIGHT WANNA PROVIDE YOUR CONSTITUENTS WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO, TO GET UP TO SPEED ON THAT.
WHAT IF WE SAY WE WANNA REVISIT THIS IN? WELL, OKAY.
WELL, SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE TIMELINE.
IF WE DO, IF WE DO DECIDE IN NOVEMBER TO INCREASE TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE, THEN THAT'S NOT GONNA GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO, OR THE, THE, THE STAFF AND THE FOLKS TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WELL, YES, AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TABLE THIS GENERALLY OR YOU CAN TABLE IT TO A, A DATE CERTAIN.
SO YOU, YOU HAVE ANY OPTION THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE.
AND I, I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT YOUR, I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR MOTION MRS. COOK WAS JUST TO TABLE IT.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS TO TABLE IT TO A SPECIFIC DATE.
UM, AND I THINK WE'RE SORT OF TALKING ABOUT DOING THAT NOW WITHOUT REALLY BEING SURE OF TO WHAT THAT DATE MIGHT BE.
SO SO YOU MOVED TO TABLE IT? I JUST MOVED TO TABLE IT UNTIL I, FOR I WAS SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
EVERYONE HAS THEIR REASONS, YOU KNOW WHY, BUT I'M TABLING IT BECAUSE I, I WANNA WAIT TO LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS WHEN WE'RE AT 90% SECOND MR. STAN MEYER.
SO THAT MOTION, NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER MOTION.
SO NOW YOU, NOW YOU'VE, YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU WANNA IMPOSE THIS OR NOT.
I MOVE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DENY THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE NEW ARTICLE 24 WITHIN CHAPTER ONE 60 OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE TO IMPOSE A CIGARETTE TAX.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND ROLL CALL.
NO, NO MEANS I, I'M, I'M NOT YOU VOTED TO DENY.
HE, HE, HE, SO YOU'RE VOTING NOT TO DENY.
I HAD TO THINK ABOUT THIS TOO.
THAT MOTION FEELS, I THINK WE NEED ANOTHER MOTION NOW FOR THE CLARITY OF OUR RECORD, BECAUSE, UH, A, A VOTE TO TO NOT PASS IT THAT FAILED.
YOU ACTUALLY STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY ACTION.
SO MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THE, THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A NEW ARTICLE 24 WITHIN CHAPTER ONE 60 OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE TO IMPOSE A CIGARETTE TAX
IS THERE A SECOND? I CAN SECOND CORRECT.
SO, UM, I WOULD SAY TO WHAT WOULD YOUR SUGGESTION BE? EVERYTHING IS FAILED TO TABLE.
WELL, NO, THE, THE, THE, THE ORDINANCE IS DONE.
AND YOU KNOW, THERES MOVE ONE, THE CONSENT, THE NEXT ITEM? YES.
[M. Consent Agenda]
CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION? YEAH.
IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO MADAM CHAIR FOR THE, UH, FOR THE ON BEHALF OF UH, VALLEY HEALTH? I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO, TO PULL THE, UH, IT'S ALREADY PULLED.
OH, IT'S ALREADY PULLED? YES, SIR.
HEARING NO OTHER ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
[01:35:01]
CALL.[N. Additional New Business ]
AND RESOLUTION REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL MATERNITY AND WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND SERVICES FOR WARREN COUNTY.AND I THINK YOU'VE ALL HAD, UM, THE CHOICE TO LOOK AT THAT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION UNTIL YESTERDAY.
AND IN READING IT IN UNDER, IN WHAT MY INTERPRETATION OF IT IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD IS WANTING TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE, WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED MORE, UH, ADDITIONAL MATERNITY AND WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND SER UM, AND PROVIDE US AND SERVICES FOR WARREN COUNTY.
AND, UM, I JUST, SO, UM, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, YOU KNOW, OR I WAS CAMPAIGNING IN, IN FORT DISTRICT, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS THAT HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AND THEY SHARED THEIR STORIES AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, SO IN READING THE, THE RESOLUTION AND, AND THE FINAL, THE FINAL PARAGRAPH WHERE IT SAYS NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF WARREN COUNTY VIRGINIA ENCOURAGES HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE AND MATERNITY SERVICES IN WARREN COUNTY IS SOMETHING THAT I DO SUPPORT AS MAKING A STANCE AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, BUT WE HAVE, I I'M ON, AGAIN, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE COME TO ME AND SAY, WHY, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED? YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE A SEPARATE ENTITY.
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I, UM, THAT YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL AND WHATEVER YOUR REASONS ARE, BUT YOU KNOW, UM, IT, IT, THIS IS JUST WHY I AM, I'M SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION AND ONLY BECAUSE OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND, UM, SHOWING THEM THAT I, I HAVE LISTENED AND I DO RECOGNIZE AND I SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH THEM.
IT HAS NOTHING TO, IN MY OPINION, THAT VALLEY HEALTH IS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST EXPRESSING MY, MY, MY FEELINGS ABOUT IT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY REASON OF APPROVING THIS RESO UM, THIS RESOLUTION.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, MY WIFE AND I GOT INVOLVED IN, IN THIS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN THE, UH, IT'S EITHER FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WHEN, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY STARTED TAKING A LOOK AT, UH, YOU KNOW, MOVING THE HOSPITAL AND THEY SHUT DOWN THAT, WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE, UH, UM, THE, THE BIRTHING SERVICES OVER IN, IN, UH, FRONT ROYAL.
AND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, BACK THEN WE, WE BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE FACT THAT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, VALLEY HEALTH IS NOT GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY ON THIS.
WHAT IT IS, IS THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE IN A POSITION BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO FEW BIRTHS, UH, IN THE HOSPITAL THAT, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S PROBABLY BETWEEN 700 AND A THOUSAND IN THE COUNTY EVERY YEAR, BUT A GOOD POINT, BUT ABOUT, UH, ANYWHERE FROM A HALF TO, TO TWO THIRDS OF THOSE ARE DONE BY EITHER MIDWIVES OR, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE HOUSE OR WHATEVER.
SO IT'S ABOUT 300 BIRTHS, I, I BELIEVE, IN THE HOSPITAL.
SO THE, UH, SO IT COMES DOWN TO A FACT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, WITH THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE WITHIN THE, THE FACILITY, UH, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AT THE LEVEL THAT THAT, THAT THEY KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED.
AND, UH, AND I I, YOU KNOW, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, VALLEY HEALTH IS, THEY'RE KIND OF BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, AND, AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO, TO SAY YES, UH, THAT, UH, THAT I ENDORSE THIS, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT THERE'S, THAT, THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY THAT THAT COMMUNITY AND VALLEY HEALTH CAN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT HAVING BIRTHING SERVICES HERE AVAILABLE.
UH, THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, I'M GETTING SOME QUIZZICAL LOOKS FROM THE, FROM THE FOLKS OUT THERE LIKE, WHAT IN THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF, IF YOU USE YOUR IMAGINATION, IF YOU, IF YOU JUST KINDA REACH OUT AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
[01:40:01]
ANYONE ELSE.I'LL JUST SAY THAT WE NEED, WE NEED THE BIRTHING OPTION HERE.
UM, THIS TOWN AND THIS COUNTY IS GROWING.
YOUNG COUPLES, YOUNG FAMILIES ARE MOVING HERE, UH, OUT IN PUBLIC.
YOU'LL SEE PREGNANT WOMEN ALL THE TIME.
AND IF, AND IF TWO THIRDS OF THEM ARE GOING TO MIDWIVES, I THINK IT PARTLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO.
AND, AND MAYBE THE COST AT THE HOSPITAL IS HIGHER THAN, THAN THEY CAN AFFORD.
UH, BUT, UM, IF THERE HAS TO BE A WAY, AT LEAST TO HAVE A SMALL BIRTHING CENTER IN WARREN COUNTY, DR.
UM, I'LL NOTE THAT THE RESOLUTION, IF I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE I'VE READ IT SEVERAL TIMES, NEVER MENTIONS VALLEY HEALTH.
WHAT IT'S INDICATING IS THAT, UM, THERE'S A RESOLUTION INVITING, REQUESTING ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR MATERNITY CARE IN ORANGE COUNTY.
SO IT'S, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT BE VIABLE FOR, FOR VALLEY HEALTH TO DO.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT THE, THE MESSAGE IS THAT WE ARE READY TO EASE AND FACILITATE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT WILL PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IF, IF THEY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA POINT THAT OUT.
I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UH, UM, I'M SORRY, BUT I, I CAN'T REMEMBER, UM, YOUR LAST NAME.
JENNY ELLA MENTIONED MANY, UH, GREAT THINGS THAT THE HOSPITAL DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IT, BUT, BUT, UM, IT'S, IT'S, WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS, UM, IS FOCUSING, AND I DON'T NEED TO DISAGREE THAT THE WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PROVIDES MANY GOOD THINGS TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, BUT IT DOESN'T PROVIDE MATERNITY CARE SERVICES, WHICH ARE BADLY NEEDED.
SO, SO THIS, THIS RESOLUTION DOESN'T DENIGRATE VALLEY HEALTH.
THIS, THIS RESOLUTION ENCOURAGES SERVICE PROVIDERS TO THE TWO, GET INTO THE MATERNITY AND, AND, UH, WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE, UH, AROUND MATERNITY SERVICES.
SO, UM, I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I, I, IT'S, IT'S A MATTER OF FOCUS.
UM, WARREN MEMORIAL AND VALLEY HEALTH CAN BE PROVIDING WONDERFUL, AN ARRAY OF WONDERFUL SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE COUNTY VERY WELL.
UH, BUT THERE CAN ALSO BE, UH, A, A SPOT WHETHER THEY'RE NOT.
AND, UM, THESE, THESE FACTS, WHICH I'M ASSUME THEY ARE FACTS, MARCH OF DIMES, UM, DESIGNATING SHENANDOAH VALLEY IS A MATERNITY DESERT MARCH OF DIMES.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WAS THAT MARCH OF DIMES? YEAH, THAT WAS MARCH OF DIMES, WELDON COOPER.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO THESE ARE JUST, THESE ARE JUST, I, I THINK JUST FACTS AND, AND, UH, IT'S OKAY FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE FACTS AND INVITE MORE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT EVEN WOULD IMPACT VALLEY HEALTH.
'CAUSE IF IT'S NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO DO IT, THEN WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WHO CAN DO IT IS ABLE TO.
AND THAT, THAT'S MY MOTIVATION BEHIND THE, THE RESOLUTION.
UM, AND I THINK WE, WE HAVE HAD SOME IN THE PAST GOOD PROVIDERS HERE.
UM, I KNOW I WORKED FOR FAMILY PRACTICE AND, UM, THAT WAS A BOOMING BUSINESS FOR DELIVERING BABIES BACK WHEN I, UH, WORKED THERE.
AND, UM, I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD STILL BE, IT'S A GOOD GROUP.
BUT THE NEED, UM, MY GRANDSON, MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON WAS BORN ON JULY 4TH, AND I WORRIED THE WHOLE TIME, ARE THEY GONNA GET TO MANASSAS OR IS HE GONNA BE DELIVERING A BABY ON THE ROADSIDE? UM, SO IT'S, AND I THINK THAT'S, IT PUTS AN EXTRA BURDEN ON OUR FIRE AND RESCUE AS WELL TO, I MEAN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY GET A CALL AND THEY WOULDN'T MAKE IT TO WARREN MEMORIAL IF HE HAD THE SERVICES.
BUT THAT EXTRA MILEAGE TO GO TO WINCHESTER, UM, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL BIRTHS THAT THESE GUYS HAVE, HAVE, UM, DELIVERED AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR DOING THAT.
UM, BUT IT IS A SERVICE THAT I THINK IS NEEDED.
AND, UM, SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, IT'S ON OUR AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
[01:45:03]
DID BOARD SUPERVISORS ADOPT THE WOMAN'S HEALTHCARE? OH, SORRY.I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPT THE WOMAN'S HEALTHCARE RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS? HEARING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO A MOVED SECOND.
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE TRIP.