Nov 19, 2024 Board of Supervisors Meeting

UH, IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMOVE YOUR HATS.

I'D APPRECIATE IT.

MY PLEDGE.

MY PLEDGE OF LEADING DUE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND DUE FATHER ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE.

ALL ALL, THANK YOU ALL.

CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND, UM, ADOPTION

[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]

OF THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT? YES, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE ADDITION OF AN ITEM L AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE AN ORDINANCE ABOLISHING THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD.

ANY OTHER ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE ADDITION, UM, THAT MR. BUTLER HAS ADDED? MADAM CHAIR.

I, I THINK THAT, UH, SUPERVISOR BUTLER'S MOTION DID THAT.

IT, IT MOVED TO APPROVE IT.

PART OF OUR MEETING AND I'M GOING TO READ THE PUBLIC CON SPEAKING, UM, CONDUCT LIKE I ALWAYS DO, BUT I DID WANNA ADD, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE HERE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT ARE SUCH THAT, UM, ARE CONTROVERSIAL AND RAISE A LOT OF PASSION.

WITH THE ADDITION.

SO THAT JUST NEEDS A SECOND, SECOND.

I SECOND IT ALL.

ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

ALRIGHT, WE'RE AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT

[D. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit)]

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR US ALL TO REMEMBER, TO REMEMBER WE HAVE CHILDREN WATCHING US AND WE'RE EXAMPLES FOR THEM.

AND I, YOU KNOW, WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THEIR THREE MINUTES.

UH, WE DO HAVE AN HOUR, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE, BUT EVERYONE WILL GET THEIR THREE MINUTES AND I'M GONNA KEEP IT TO A STRICT THREE MINUTES BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WANNA BE HEARD AND TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BE KIND IN YOUR DELIVERY.

I THINK WE CAN GET OUR POINTS ACROSS WITHOUT BEING UNKIND TO EACH OTHER.

UM, ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.

BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.

THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS.

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 BOARD MEETING ROOM.

AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION OR MATERIALS USED AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION.

IF THIS WERE A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, PLEASE REFRAIN FOR PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ANYONE IN THE PROCEEDINGS.

UM, AND I THINK, UH, WE CAN ALL GET THROUGH THIS AND SHARE OUR FEELINGS AND, UM, AND BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER.

SO, UM, I KNOW THREE MINUTES GOES PRETTY FAST AND I, YOU KNOW, DON'T LIKE TO BE DISRESPECTFUL AND CUT PEOPLE OFF, BUT WHEN THREE, WHEN THE BUZZER GOES OFF, YOU KNOW, TO HURRY THIS PROCEDURE UP SO EVERYBODY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

IF YOU WOULD CUT YOURSELF OFF AND THEN MOVE SO THE NEXT PERSON CAN COME UP SPEEDILY AND BE HEARD, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

SO, MR. HENDERSON, WHO'S FIRST TO SIGN UP? FIRST UP IS SUSAN BLOS AND ALL YOU, UM, SAY YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN, PLEASE UP TO THE PODIUM.

YES MA'AM.

AND YOU CAN PULL IT UP OR DOWN TO FIT YOUR HEIGHT.

MY NAME IS SUSAN BLOSS AND I'M FROM SHENANDOAH DISTRICT AND, UM, I WAS VERY CONCERNED WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE COVERAGE OF THE, UH, NOVEMBER 12TH

[00:05:01]

WORK SESSION.

SO I DID SOME MORE RESEARCH AND I LOOKED AT YOUR WORK SESSION.

SO I WATCHED THE VIDEO, I WATCHED IT ABOUT THREE TIMES, SO I FEEL LIKE I'M PRETTY INFORMED.

I'VE ALSO READ SOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND SO FORTH.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEMBERS.

IT'S A HECK OF A JOB, SO THANK YOU.

SECOND, I WANNA THANK THE LIBRARY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR WINNING THE AWARD.

I DON'T WANT TO TURN MY BACK TO YOU, BUT I WANT TO REALLY, UH, GIVE THEM KUDOS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT.

SO THAT LEADS ME TO MY FIRST POINT.

AND MY FIRST POINT IS WHY IS THIS WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD REALLY NEEDED, UM, IF THEY CAN EARN THE TOP AWARD? THEIR SERVICE, THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS EXEMPLARY.

THERE'S BEEN NO QUESTION THAT THEY'VE HAD ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR FUNDS.

THERE'S NO MALFEASANCE.

THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THE BUSINESS PROPERLY.

THEIR BOOKS ARE OPEN AND I KNOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM AT ANY TIME.

SO THINGS ARE WORKING WELL THERE.

UM, SOME PARTS OF THE VIDEO, I MUST SAY I WAS A SCIENCE TEACHER AND I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE ALWAYS COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES IN THE VIDEO, BUT, UH, I'LL LEAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'LL LEAVE THAT THERE.

BUT ONE THING THAT CAME UP TO ME MANY TIMES AS I WENT THROUGH THIS WAS THERE WAS SOME REALLY, UH, SERIOUSLY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, WHY WAS IT ONLY THE TWO OF YOU ON THE COMMITTEE? WHY WAS THE LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE? AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE ON NOVEMBER 12TH THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE PUT FORTH? AND I THINK THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO KNOW, AND THEN AFTERWARDS, THEY, AFTER THE NOVEMBER 12TH MEETING, UM, I UNDERSTAND, I KNOW IT BECAUSE I HAVE A COPY OF IT, AN EMAIL WAS SENT TO THE, UM, FRONT ROYAL CATHOLICS ABOUT IT.

SO I, I GUESS THAT WAS A COURTESY EXTENDED TO THEM, BUT THAT COURTESY WASN'T EXTENDED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD.

MY CONCERN HERE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN IS I PERSONALLY AM VERY AFRAID OF CENSORSHIP.

AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO YOUR QUE UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WERE ASKED, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR A SECOND 'CAUSE I WANT TO PULL TO THAT HERE.

WHEN YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HAVING THAT, UH, COMMITTEE, THAT THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY COMMITTEE, UH, DR.

JAMESON, YOU SAID THAT THE DELEGATION IS FULL AND I WONDERED WHAT DID THAT MEAN? AND YOU SAID IT WOULD COVER, THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS.

IT WAS FULL THAT IT WOULD COVER THE BUDGET, THE POLICIES, THE SERVICE LEVEL, AND THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY COVERED IT ALL.

IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THERE WAS ANY OVERSIGHT TO THAT AND THAT'S WHAT SCARES ME.

THERE'S NO OVERSIGHT TO THAT GROUP.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

WAS THAT THREE MINUTES? YES MA'AM.

OH, CAN I SEND A TWICE? THANK YOU.

NO MA'AM.

ONE TIME.

NEXT, MR. HENDERSON, NEXT UP IS CHERYL MARCELLA.

I AM CHERYL MARCELLA.

I'M IN HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE GROSS MISREPRESENTATION OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY STATISTICS SENT BY MR. JAMESON AND MS. COOK, UM, AND ALSO RECEIVED BY CATHOLIC CONSTITUENTS, ALTHOUGH THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT WHO SENT WHO, WHAT.

I'M A-C-P-A-A VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE FOR A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH 30 YEARS OF ACCOUNTING EXPERIENCE.

SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION UNDER THE IRS CODE 5 0 1 C3.

I HAVE A COPY OF THEIR NINE 90 TAX FORM FOR FY 23.

THE FORM FOR FY 2024 WAS DUE NOVEMBER 15TH AND NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

SAMUEL'S MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL COSTS WERE 23.99% FOR FY 2023 FOR AN ORGANIZATION UNDER 2 MILLION IN SIZE.

THIS IS A VERY FAVORABLE RATE.

THE, UM, THE 10 TO 15%, UH, CORPORATE RATE THAT JAMESON REFERENCES IN HIS DOCUMENT IS MISLEADING FOR, FOR A COMPANY, THE AVERAGE GNA RATE, WHICH IS GENERAL AND ADMITTED RATE OF EXPENSES ONLY FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY IS 20%.

IN ADDITION, COMPANIES SEPARATE THEIR MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL COSTS INTO SEVERAL POOLS, A FACILITIES POOL AND OVERHEAD POOL, AND A GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE POOL.

WHEN YOU ADD ALL THESE POOLS UP TOGETHER, THE RATE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 23.99 SAMUELS RATE.

SAMUELS DOESN'T HAVE MULTIPLE

[00:10:01]

POOLS, JUST ONE.

NOT TO MENTION THIS VARIANCE IN SIZE.

WE ARE NOT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES 1.4 MILLION TO 100 MILLION.

IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY, I'M ANALYZING THE FY 25, 24 AND 23 BUDGET AND I WILL HAVE DETAILS SOON.

THE COUNTY DIDN'T INCLUDE THE $7.7 MILLION RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

6 MILLION OF THAT WAS SLATED TO GO TO A BROADBAND PROJECT AND THE REST WAS TO GO TO, UH, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING FLOORING IN THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.

ONE THING I FIND INTERESTING THAT I DID FIND IN 2024 WAS A $1.4 MILLION PAYMENT FOR EDA LOAN PRINCIPAL AND EDA LOAN INTEREST.

WE THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY ARE TIRED OF SUPERVISORS WHO WANT TO FORCE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

DO MR. JAMESON, DO YOU HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? DOES ANYBODY ON THIS BOARD HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? UM, MY FINAL COMMENTS THAT THE SUPERVISOR'S UP FOR THANK YOU, MA'AM.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS JOHN NORMAN.

NOW THE CHAIR OF THIS BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1975 TOOK AN OATH.

SIR, IF YOU COULD SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR MY NAME IS JOHN NORMAN AND I AM THE FOURTH DISTRICT OF THANK YOU.

ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1975, I TOOK AN OATH TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS MY LONG HELD BELIEF THAT THE CONSTITUTION IS A DOCUMENT THAT LIVES AND BREATHES BASED ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND BREATHE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE COUNTY IS WORKING TO USURP THE CONSTITUTION BY CREATING AND DESTROYING A PUBLIC INSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 17 HUNDREDS.

IF WE LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AND WE GO BACK TO THE 1920S, THE 1930S IN EUROPE, SIMILAR ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE, OFFICIALS BEGAN TO CRITICIZE, BEGAN TO SEGMENT POPULATIONS.

WE KNOW WHERE THAT ENDED UP.

I'M SIMPLY ASKING ONE SIMPLE QUESTION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

DID YOU TAKE AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES? DID YOU SWEAR ON AN OATH TO THAT EFFECT? AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT OATH HOLDS YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE 900,000 PEOPLE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WARS TO DEFEND THE FREEDOMS OF THIS COUNTRY? THAT IS THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE FOR THIS, AND I JUST WANTED TO LOOK YOU IN THE EYE AND ASK YOU THAT QUESTION.

I REMAND THE REST OF MY TIME.

RYMAN SIMON STUDY THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT OUT? HOW MANY HOURS HAVE BEEN SPENT PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE? WE EXPECT TO SEE THE SAME REPORTS ON EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT USING TAXPAYER FUNDS.

NEXT UP IS DAVID HARRISON.

DAVID HARRISON FORD DISTRICT TO THE 53.

MAYBE CLEAN UP YOUR OWN HOUSE BEFORE YOU START DICTATING YOUR MORAL CONSCIENCE ON THE REST OF THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY.

MAYBE RESTORE SANITY WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

FIRST, THE CATHOLIC POPE IS A GLOBALIST SUPPORTER AND ABORTION SUPPORTER AND PROMOTES TRANSGENDERISM.

POPE FRANCIS SUPPORTS OPEN BORDERS GLOBALLY.

YET IN HIS HYPOCRISY, HE SITS IN A WALLED OFF GUARDED FORTRESS IN ROME AND ONE MUST BEG TO BE ALLOWED IN REMOVE POPE FRANCIS.

SINCE PEOPLE GENERALLY LIKE SOMEONE TO PRESENT A SOLUTION AS WELL AS A PROBLEM, HERE'S MY SOLUTION.

ARCHBISHOP CARLO MARIA VAO REPRESENTS THE TRUE VALUES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

HE IS OUTSPOKEN AND HAS BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED BY POPE FRANCIS FOR SCHISM.

APPARENTLY HE CORRECTLY ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE CHURCH BACK TO ITS PROPER WAYS.

ONCE YOU HAVE REMOVED POPE FRANCIS PLACE, ARCHBISHOP VIO AT THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH AS THE NEW POPE AND MRS. COOK.

I HAVE SENT EMAILS AND I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER TO THEM IF YOU GET A CHANCE, PLEASE.

UM, AND I ALSO, I'M CURIOUS, ONCE YOU'VE DECIDED TO FORM A LIBRARY BOARD, WHERE WILL THIS LIBRARY BOARD WORK? AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON A SHUTDOWN AND HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF A FUNCTIONING LIBRARY, HOW WILL YOU FUND THE NEW LIBRARY? IS IT A HUGE TAX INCREASE ON THE HORIZON FOR SHUTTING DOWN A PERFECTLY GOOD LIBRARY AND STARTING OVER FROM SCRATCH? SINCE YOU ARE ALL ABOUT FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, THIS PLAN SEEMS TO BE IN THE REALM OF STUPID DECISIONS AND TOTAL IRRESPONSIBILITY.

HOW MANY COUNTY DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THIS YEAR LONG

[00:15:01]

HOW ABOUT INVESTING THE COUNTY BUDGET FUNDS AND THE VIRGINIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL THAT WOULD PROVIDE A GUARANTEED RETURN INSTEAD OF LETTING FUNDS SIT WITH NO RETURNS POSSIBLE, 4.8% RETURN VERSUS 0% RETURN.

IF I DO CHEER RESPONSIBILITY, ANYONE? OR IS IT JUST A 56 PERSON HELMET FOR LEATHER OF SALT AT ALL COSTS ON BEATING THE LIBRARY INTO SUBMISSION? LAST I LOOKED, IT WAS STILL AMERICA AND I MIGHT NOT LIKE CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA ICE CREAM, BUT I DON'T GO ALL OUT TO GET IT WIPED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT.

DON'T LIKE THE BOOKS.

DON'T READ THEM.

OH YEAH.

I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THE BEER.

BARBECUE AND BABYSITTING.

LET'S PROMOTE DRINKING AND DRIVING WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE CAR.

Y'ALL ARE NOT THE PEOPLE.

I WANT TO BE MY MORAL COMPASS.

NO, NO BOOING OR PLEASE.

LET'S NEXT UP IS ROBERT JONES.

UM, MY NAME IS ROBERT JONES AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT AND A FORMER PASTOR OF GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.

I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 1982 AND I CAME AND TO BEGIN MY TIME AS PASTOR HERE AND I SERVED FOR 33 YEARS, UH, RETIRING IN 2015.

UH, I'M NOW ENJOYING RETIREMENT AND UH, STILL IN THIS COMMUNITY, STILL ENJOYING THIS COMMUNITY.

UM, BUT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

WE HAVE SEEN UPS AND DOWNS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE SEEN MANY CHANGES.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME IN.

UM, MY WIFE IS A TEACHER.

SHE HAS BEEN TEACHING, SHE TAUGHT AS A TEACHER, UM, HERE IN WARREN COUNTY FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

FIRST GRADE.

UM, MUCH OF HER WORK WAS INVOLVED WITH TEACHING CHILDREN TO READ AND WE ALL LIKED TO READ AND THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

UPS AND DOWNS.

ONE OF THE DOWNS THAT WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO.

SOME OF YOU REMEMBER, WE WENT THROUGH A PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL.

WE HAD BIG CONFLICT ABOUT THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND WE MET HERE IN THIS ROOM AND DID SOME SHARING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME WHO DIDN'T THINK WE NEEDED MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THOSE THAT KNEW THAT WITH ALL THE PEOPLE COMING IN, WE REALLY DID.

TIME HAS PASSED NOW WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE'RE DEALING WITH A PUBLIC LIBRARY PUBLIC FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE ENJOYED THIS LIBRARY WHEN IT WAS IN ITS FIRST STAGE WHEN IT WAS OVER ON, UM, OVER THERE AND, AND WAS MUCH SMALLER BEFORE IT GREW.

AND WE WERE ACTIVE THERE.

WE HAVE, SINCE IT'S THE NEW BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN MADE, UH, WE HAVE MADE MUCH USE OF IT.

UH, WE HAVE SEEN THE STAFF HARD AT WORK AND DOING A WONDERFUL JOB IN THOSE BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES.

THEY'VE NOT JUST BEEN LENDING OUT BOOKS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERING, UH, PRESENTATIONS IN THAT SPACE.

WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN SUPPORTING, UH, THE LIBRARY WITH OUR MONEY AND, UH, WE HAVE ATTENDED THE ANNUAL.

NEXT UP IS FRED ANDRE.

HI, UH, MY NAME IS FRED ANDREA.

I LIVE IN THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, IS MY BELIEF THAT IF YOU, THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPOINT A NEW LIBRARY BOARD, OUR HISTORIC LIBRARY THAT WE KNOW AND LOVE WILL CEASE TO EXIST.

PEOPLE SELDOM AGREE WITH OTHERS

[00:20:01]

ON BOOKS.

THEY LIKE THOSE THAT ARE GOOD, THOSE THAT ARE NOT SO GOOD.

BUT CURRENTLY IN OUR LIBRARY, THERE ARE BOOKS FOR ALL READERS.

THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE BOOK, DON'T READ IT AND DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN READ IT.

THAT'S EASY.

BUT DON'T TRY AND BAN BOOKS THAT SOME MAY NEED AND LOVE.

THANK YOU .

NEXT UP IS MARY RYAN.

I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T HEAR.

UH, NEXT UP IS MARY RYAN.

I AM MARY RYAN AND I LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.

JUST SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT, UH, SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.

I THINK THE CURRENT ORGANIZATION WORKS VERY WELL AND ITS BOARD EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

I THINK MY TAX DOLLARS ARE WELL SPENT HELPING SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION AND WANT TO SEE THAT CONTINUE TO CONTINUE FURTHER.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO INVEST OUR GOVERNMENT'S TIME AND MONEY IN CREATING A NEW SYSTEM FOR THE LIBRARY 'CAUSE IT'S PRESENT SYSTEM WORKS VERY WELL IN MY OPINION.

NEXT UP IS JANET BROWN.

JANET BROWN.

I THINK YOUR MIC IS THE QUIET ONE TONIGHT.

I, I AM JENNA BRO FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING HOW ANY OF YOU COULD THINK THAT A LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTED BY YOU TO REPLACE THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD IS A GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY WHEN SAMUELS WAS NAMED THE 2024 VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR.

BUT THEN I READ THAT MR. JAMESON SENT HIS PROPOSAL TO THE FRONT ROYAL CATHOLIC CIVIC EDUCATION GROUP FOR FEEDBACK AND ADVICE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT JAMESON IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF THIS MINORITY OF WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY THIS RELIGIOUS FACTION TO CONTROL AND LIMIT OPEN DISCUSSION AND FREE THOUGHT.

I URGE YOU TO STEP BACK AND CONSIDER YOUR MANDATE TO REPRESENT US ALL.

PLEASE REJECT THIS PROPOSAL.

THANK YOU, STEVE FOREMAN.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS.

STEVE FOREMAN FORK DISTRICT.

OUR COUNTY IS NAVIGATING ANOTHER CONTROVERSY CAUSED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THE BOARD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW FORMING A LIBRARY BOARD WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS.

TO QUOTE THE BOS EX EXPLANATION, WE HEARD A VERSION ABOUT THE MENT OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND THAT WAS EXPLAINED WHEN WE HEARD FROM ONE OF THE EX SUPERVISORS.

SO THE, THE STORY WAS, WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WHAT WE HAVE NOT HEARD IS HOW THIS INITIATIVE WOULD BENEFIT WARREN COUNTY SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND ITS AWARD-WINNING LEADERSHIP WAS VOTED LIBRARY OF THE YEAR IN, UM, IN VIRGINIA.

THEY'VE RECEIVED A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ORGANIZATION TO IMPROVE THEIR FACILITIES AND SERVICES.

OBVIOUSLY, LIBRARY IS PERFORMING ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS.

CAN THE BOARD EXPLAIN HOW THEIR INITIATIVE WILL IMPROVE THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND BENEFITS THAT SAMUELS PROVIDES? CAN THEY PLACE A PRICE ON THE VALUE THAT SAMUELS BRINGS TO OUR COUNTY? HOWEVER, THE BOARD DID CAUSE SAMUELS ROUGHLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SPEND ROUGHLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO RESPOND TO THE FUNDING CRISIS THAT THE BOARD CREATED IN 2023.

AND, AND ALSO FOR THE STAFF TIME NEEDED TO HANDLE SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR REVIEWS OF BOOKS, BOOKS THAT FOR THE MOST PART I BELIEVE WERE UNREAD BY THE PEOPLE WHO LODGED THE PROTEST.

THIS BOS FALL CRISIS APPEARS TO BE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AS THEY CANNOT CLEARLY TELL US HOW THEIR NEW INITIATIVE SERVES THE COUNTY'S BEST INTEREST.

THE BOARD WANTS TO LEGISLATE WHAT SHOULD BE

[00:25:01]

THE AGENDA ABOUT CONTROLLING BOOKS APPEARS TO BE ALIVE AND WELL.

THERE IS BIAS ABOUT HOW INDIVIDUALS SHOULD LIVE THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN YOGA WAS CONSIDERED SATANIC.

NOW NEARLY EVERY FITNESS CENTER IN THE COUNTRY OFFERS COURSES IN YOGAS AND MILLION IN YOGA AND MILLIONS TAKE PART IN THE HEALTH AND MENTAL BENEFITS THAT THIS PROVIDES.

MY POINT IS THAT SOMETIMES SOCIETY NEEDS TO RECONSIDER BIASES AND DOGMA AND MOVE BEYOND THEM.

THIS ISSUE TOUCHES ON OUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AS WELL AS THE PERSONAL FREEDOMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS OF THE OF WARREN COUNTY.

THIS IS A TACTIC IN THE LARGER MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN THAT CHALLENGES SCIENCE AND REASON AND ATTEMPTS TO CURTAIL OUR RIGHTS.

CONTRACTORS CHASE PROFITS.

NEXT UP IS LISA JENKINS.

I LISA JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WARREN COUNTY HAS A WONDERFUL LIBRARY AND NONE OF US REALLY WANT TO SEE IT CLOSED.

SAMUEL'S OFFERS AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF ALL FOR ALL AGES AND INTERESTS FOR ALL THEIR GOOD WORKS.

SAMUEL'S, THE LIBRARY BOARD CHAIR AND FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, ALL ONE VLA AWARDS LAST YEAR, A SMALL LIBRARY IN RURAL VIRGINIA DOESN'T WIN AWARDS BY BEING RUN BADLY.

SO IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT REPORT FROM JAMESON AND COOK SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS NOT BROKEN.

IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE FIXED.

YOU SAY YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COSTS OF SAMUEL'S.

IT'S ONLY 1% OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, BUT YOU SEEM TO BE SPENDING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME PICKING IT APART FROM ALL THE DATA THE LIBRARY GAVE YOU.

YOU CHERRY PICKED DATA THAT SUITED YOUR BIAS.

IF YOU HAD USED ALL THE DATA PROVIDED TO YOU, INCLUDING COSTS OF LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITIES SIMILAR SIZE TO SAMUEL'S, YOU WOULD SEE THAT SAMUEL'S IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH ITS PEERS IN VIRGINIA.

NOTE, IF YOU REDUCE THE COUNTY BUDGET FOR SAMUEL'S AT ALL, THE MATCHING STATE FUNDING WILL COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR.

SO PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

THAT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA.

YOU SEE, YOU NEED, YOU SAY YOU NEED TO CREATE A COUNTY BOARD LIBRARY BOARD BECAUSE THE COUNTY PROVIDES A BIG CHUNK.

IT'S ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE LIBRARY FUNDING.

YOU WANT MORE CONTROL AND THAT IS HOW YOUR OTHER LIBRARIES IN VIRGINIA ARE MANAGED.

NOT COMPLETELY TRUE.

THE SAMUELS LIBRARY PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS, UH, PRIVATE PUBLIC PREP PARTNERSHIP IS PRETTY NORMAL, HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES AND WORKS JUST FINE.

YOUR EXTRA BOARD WOULD JUST CREATE ANOTHER LAYER OF GOVERNMENT, AN IN INEFFICIENT WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

BESIDES YOU ALREADY CONTROL THE LIBRARY BUDGET, WHICH YOU HAVE TO APPROVE EACH YEAR.

NO CHANGE NEEDED THERE.

NOTE, IF THE COUNTY TAKES CONTROL, THE NONPROFIT STATUS OF THE LIBRARY AS 5 0 1 C3 DISAPPEARS.

AND SO WOULD MANY DONATIONS MADE BECAUSE THEY ARE TAX EXEMPT.

IT APPEARS THAT YOU INTEND IF YOU GET CONTROL TO CONTRACT OUT THE LIBRARY SERVICES.

IN MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION WHERE CONTRACTING OUT REALLY TURNED OUT TO BE CHEAPER OR BETTER.

THESE END UP OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY AND CONTRACTORS DON'T REALLY KNOW OUR COMMUNITY.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY OUTSOURCED THE VISITOR CENTER.

WHAT A MESS THAT WAS.

IN SHORT, I THINK YOUR IDEA FOR GREATER CONTROL OVER THE LIBRARY'S ILL CONCEIVED AND ILL FADED.

YOU SAY YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TEARING THIS LOCAL COMMUNITY APART, THEN DON'T LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE.

WITH REGARD TO SAMUELS, STOP BEING THE AGGRESSOR.

INSTEAD, TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS WE REALLY HAVE HERE.

POVERTY, HOUSING, LACK OF SUPPORT FOR SINGLE MOMS. OPIOIDS, A FAILING WATER SYSTEM, INADEQUATE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF.

LAST YEAR CHANGES WERE REQUESTED OF THE LIBRARY AND LIBRARY BOARD.

THEY LISTENED AND CHANGES WERE MADE.

YOU SHOULD WORK WITH THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD, ASK QUESTIONS, LISTEN TO THEIR ANSWERS AND USE ALL THEIR DATA.

THEY WANT THIS EXCELLENT LIBRARY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ALL OF WARREN COUNTY.

DON'T WE ALL? THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MADING CHAIRWOMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS SUSAN LEWIS.

I LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.

I'M A RETIRED TEACHER, 42 YEARS AS A READING SPECIALIST AND ENGLISH TEACHER AS PART OF ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.

I RECENTLY WROTE A SHORT ESSAY ABOUT HOW A SMALL VIRGINIA LIBRARY SHAPED MY SIBLINGS AND MYSELF.

GROWING

[00:30:01]

UP.

MY LIFE AS A BOOKWORM AT THIS LIBRARY STRONGLY INFLUENCED MY CAREER CHOICE.

MY CATHOLIC MOTHER NEVER CENSORED OUR READING CHOICES, BUT SHE ALWAYS MADE THE TIME WITH SEVEN KIDS TO DISCUSS WHAT WE WERE READING.

I FIND IT IRONIC THAT MANY OF THE FOLKS WITH THE DON'T TREAD ON ME LICENSE PLATES ARE THE SAME FOLKS WHO WANT TO CONTROL WHAT MY FAMILY AND I READ.

I LEARNED THE WORD HYPOCRISY FROM A BOOK.

BY THE WAY, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS HARMING THIS HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR YOUTH.

I KNOW THAT YOUR DECISIONS ARE BASED ON FACTS AND EVIDENCE.

IF YOU THINK A BOOK WILL MAKE A CHILD TRANS, THEN YOU MIGHT CONSIDER VISITING SAMUELS AND EDUCATING YOURSELF.

WHY NOT GO AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENTS ON EVERY BLOCK IN FRONT ROYAL THAT SELL TOBACCO, VAPE MARIJUANA PRODUCTS? WHY NOT GO AFTER THE STORES THAT SELL JUNK FOOD AND SODAS? WE HAVE AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT THESE PRODUCTS ARE HARMING OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

LIBRARIES ARE FUNDAMENTAL, A FUNDAMENTAL AND INTEGRAL PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

PLEASE LEAVE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU, UH, KELSEY LAWRENCE.

MY NAME IS KELSEY LAWRENCE AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU A STORY.

THE YEAR IS 2027 AND THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY IS CELEBRATING IT.

SECOND ANNIVERSARY, BUT IT'S NOT THE CELEBRATION WE HAD HOPED FOR.

SAMUEL SAMUEL'S LIBRARY HAD TO CLOSE.

THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDING WE FOUGHT SO HARD TO PRESERVE WAS SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

WE HAVE DEBTS.

YOU KNOW, IT INSTEAD BECAME A VAPE SHOP WITH A PIZZA RESTAURANT INSIDE.

YES, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT THAT'S JUST HOW THINGS GO IN FRONT.

ROYAL, THE NEW WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY, IT OPERATES OUT OF A RENOVATED COMMUNITY CENTER.

A FRACTION OF THE ORIGINAL COLLECTION MADE IT THROUGH THE TRANSITION, BUT EVEN THAT MOVE WAS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE THE VILLA AVENUE BUILDING, THANKFULLY COUNTY OWNED SINCE 2013, WAS STILL AVAILABLE.

THE REST OF THE COLLECTION, INCLUDING MANY BELOVED PICTURE BOOKS AND ITEMS FROM THE CLEANUP SAMUELS LIST, SIMPLY DIDN'T MAKE IT.

THE LIBRARY IS NOW OPEN MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NINE TO FIVE.

WHY? BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS OR DONATIONS TO KEEP IT RUNNING LONGER.

AFTER ALL, WHY WOULD PEOPLE DONATE TO A LIBRARY WHEN THEY ALREADY FEEL OVERTAXED AND WHO EVEN VISITS THE LIBRARY AFTER WORK ANYMORE? ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS TOLD US WE NEED TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.

THERE'S NO COMMUNITY CENTER ANYMORE AND OTHER CASUALTY OF THE LIBRARY'S RELOCATION.

FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS COMPETE FOR ONE SINGLE MEETING ROOM.

HOMESCHOOLERS AND PARENTING GROUPS STAGGER THEIR EVENTS BECAUSE THE SCHEDULE IS PERPETUALLY FULL.

THE LOSS IS PALPABLE FOR THOSE WHO RELIED ON THE LIBRARY FOR WARMTH, KNOWLEDGE, AND COMMUNITY.

BUT THOSE WHO DIDN'T, LIFE GOES ON LARGELY UNAFFECTED.

HERE'S THE THING, THIS WASN'T INEVITABLE.

IT WAS A CHOICE.

A DELIBERATE DECISION MADE BY THIS BOARD, DRIVEN BY BAD DATA AND PERSONAL AGENDAS.

SUPERVISOR JAMESON MANIPULATING MEMBERS TO FIT YOUR NARRATIVE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN LYING, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR POSITION.

FACTS DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS OR BASELESS CLAIMS THAT THE LIBRARY IS PUSHING A SEXUAL AGENDA.

LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

THE COUNTY DIDN'T FUND 90% OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BUDGET IN 2024.

IT, THE ACTUAL NUMBER WAS 47.6% FOR A COUNTY OF 40,000 RESIDENTS.

THAT'S $31 PER PERSON PER YEAR.

$31 FOR EVERYTHING.

SAMUEL'S LIBRARY OFFERS, BOOKS, PROGRAMS, QUIET SPACES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.

IT'S A SMALL INVESTMENT FOR A PRICELESS RETURN.

YOU CAN INSIST YOU'RE NOT CLOSING THE LIBRARY, BUT YOUR ACTIONS WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING IT STANDS FOR.

SAMUEL'S IS MORE THAN BOOKS.

IT'S THE LIBRARIANS WHO POUR THEIR HEARTS INTO THE WORK.

IT'S SUMMER READING PROGRAMS, WINTER ESSAY CONTESTS, AND BABY YOGA STORY TIME WITH MS. PATTY BEFORE HER RETIREMENT.

IT'S THE HOT READS SHELF, THE PEACE, THE BEAUTY, AND THE SENSE OF BELONGING IT BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS COUNTY AND IT'S WORTH EVERY CENT OF YOUR INVESTMENT AND MINE.

IF YOU TAKE OVER THIS LIBRARY, IT WON'T JUST MEAN LAWSUITS AND BOOKMANS.

IT WILL MEAN THE LOSS OF SOMETHING WE CAN NEVER REPLACE.

THE PEOPLE WHO RUN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY ARE WHAT MAKE IT EXCEPTIONAL.

A PLACE WHERE ALL VOICES ARE HEARD.

YOU CAN'T DO IT BETTER AND YOU CAN'T DO IT CHEAPER.

SO STOP WASTING EVERYONE'S TIME ON THIS.

AS FOR REPRESENTATION, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? YOU ALREADY HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THIS BOARD.

YOU WANT MORE POWER TO PUSH BOOK BANS AND PERSONAL AGENDAS, BUT THE LIBRARY'S DONE EVERYTHING YOU ASKED OF IT.

THEY PASSED EVERY AUDIT AND YOU ALREADY CONTROL THE FUNDING.

WHY DO YOU NEED MORE? THANK YOU.

JULIETA HERNANDEZ.

[00:35:09]

HELLO, MY NAME IS JUTA HERNANDEZ.

I LIVE IN HAPPY CREEK COUNTY.

I USED TO LIVE IN VIRGINIA A. LONG TIME AGO AND I JUST MOVED BACK.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR.

SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN AN ICEBERG OF MY LIFE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

WHEN I WAS A HOMESCHOOLED PRETEEN, I LOVE THE IDEA OF SHARING MY CREATIVITY WITH OTHER KIDS MY AGE THAT I MET THERE WHO SHOWED ME NEW INTERESTS TOO.

UM, I DID NOT REALIZE UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE OF THAT ICEBERG WAS GARNERING LIFELONG CONNECTIONS FOR ADULTS WHO GREW UP AND ALWAYS LIVED TRUE TO THEIR PASSION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I MET AT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANOTHER ICEBERG IS I READ THE SAMMY KEYS BOOK SERIES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE COVER WAS REALLY COOL, BUT UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE, IT WAS THE FIRST BOOK SERIES I EVER FINISHED ABOUT A MAIN PROTAGONIST WHO WASN'T PERFECT IN A VERY IMPERFECT WORLD.

I RELATED TO HER A LOT.

I RECEIVED ON ANOTHER ICEBERG.

I RECEIVED DIRECTION HELP AND PATIENCE FROM EVERY SINGLE ADULT AT THE LIBRARY.

UNDERNEATH THAT SURFACE OF THAT ICEBERG IS HOW I LEARNED TO GROW UP TO BE AN ADULT TRIMMED WITH PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND COURAGE BECAUSE OF THEM.

I'M PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY AND COUNTY WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SPEND MY SUMMERS AS A 12-YEAR-OLD IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, RESOURCEFUL LIBRARY I'VE EVER KNOWN.

WHAT I HAD TO MOVE AWAY FROM VIRGINIA.

NO LIBRARY WAS THE SAME OR AS INVITING BRIGHT EXPERIENCE.

MY DAD TRIED TO FIND MANY.

WE LIVED IN MANY OTHER IN TEXAS WHERE THE FUNDING WASN'T REALLY THAT GREAT AND IT REALLY MAKES YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE.

I'M 26 NOW AND ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS IN THIS TOWN REMAINS.

THE LIBRARY.

MAKES ME GLAD TO MOVE BACK.

IT'S VASTLY IMPROVED OVER JUST THE LAST 14 YEARS WITH A LOT OF THE SAME WONDERFUL STAFF AND A LOT OF LEGACIES WENT FROM A LOT OF THE STAFF THAT USED TO BE THERE AND A LOT OF COOL NEW IDEAS FROM THE NEW STAFF.

UM, I WOULD NOT HAVE, AND IN THIS IMPERFECT WORLD, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO GROW UP, TO LEARN TO BE KIND AND HAVE A HEALTHY FULL IMAGINATION.

IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SPIRIT OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD STAY HOW IT IS BECAUSE IT HAD IT ITSELF.

IT ITSELF, EXCUSE ME, HAS BARELY TOUCHED THE SURFACE.

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT'S UNDER THERE.

LOOK AT THEM.

GO.

THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU JOHN LUNDBERG TIME.

ARE Y'ALL CLOSE TIMER? EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME.

THE TIMER STARTS WHEN HE STARTS SPEAKING.

HE, HE WILL GET THREE MINUTES.

NO ONE ELSE BROUGHT ANYTHING UP.

LIBRARY FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS, BUT THEY HAVE ONLY ONE OUT OF 16 SEATS IN THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, IF YOU WILL GIVE IT TO MR. HENDERSON FROM THIS POINT ON, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

MY NAME IS JOHN LUNDBERG.

I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.

MY PURPOSE HERE THIS EVENING IS TO STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ESTABLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.

A LIBRARY BOARD WILL ENSURE THE TAXPAYERS OF WARREN COUNTY, WHICH PROVIDE 83% OF THE FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL LIBRARY ARE REPRESENTED IN HOW THE 83% IS SPENT.

THERE IS NO MECHANISM IN PLACE AT THE PRESENT TIME THAT ALLOWS LOCAL TAXPAYERS TO DO THIS.

LOCAL TAXPAYERS ARE BEING TAXED WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

THIS HAS TO STOP.

A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

IT WILL GIVE TAXPAYERS A VOICE AT THE TABLE SOLVING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS EXISTING AT THE LIBRARY.

HOW CAN A PRIVATE ASSOCIATION THAT OPERATES A LIBRARY, A LIBRARY OBJECT TO GIVING TAXPAYERS A VOICE AT HOW TAXPAYER MONEY IS BEING SPENT? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

IT'S NOT SOUND GOVERNANCE.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY HAVE MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR IN PAST ELECTIONS THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE TAXED BY GOVERNMENT UNLESS THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THAT GOVERNMENT ELECTED THROUGH REP REPRESENTATIVES WHO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR INTERESTS.

I HAVE READ CLOSELY THE SUPERB 35 PAGE REPORT PREPARED BY SUPERVISOR RICH JAMESON ENTITLED 2023 LIBRARY DEBRIEF AND RESEARCH AND PRESENTED AT YOUR NOVEMBER 12TH WORKING SESSION.

I TRUST ALL 16 MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAVE REST THE REPORT.

IF ANY HAVE NOT.

THEY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED FOLLOWING OUR TWO KEY POINTS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE ON IN THE REPORT AND SHOULD CATCH THE EYE OF EVERY TAXPAYER IN THE COUNTY.

ONE POINT NUMBER ONE 83% OF

[00:40:01]

IN OTHER WORDS, TAXPAYERS ARE PROVIDING VIRTUALLY ALL THE MONEY FOR THE LIBRARY, BUT A PRIVATE ASSOCIATION IS DETERMINING HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IN A HURRY.

POINT NUMBER TWO, FOR 13 CONSECUTIVE YEARS FROM 2006 THROUGH 2018, PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL LIBRARY ROSE EVERY YEAR BY AN AVERAGE OF ALMOST 10%.

THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTY'S POPULATION WAS GROWING AT LESS THAN 1% A YEAR AND INFLATION WAS ONLY AVERAGING 2%.

I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF YOU AS TO WHY THIS HUGE INCREASE IN PUBLIC FUNDING AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY OCCURRED.

AND ALL OF YOU SAID YOU DID NOT KNOW.

A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WILL QUICKLY GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION TOO.

IN CLOSING, WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS IN SO MANY WORDS ARE DEMANDING.

THEY BE REPRESENTED AT A BO ON A BOARD THAT DETERMINES HOW CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS OF THEIR TAX MONEY IS BEING SPENT AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY.

CREATING A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WILL ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.

JEAN KILBY.

NO SIR NOT UNTIL YOU START SPEAKING.

HELLO, MY NAME'S STEVIE HUBBARD, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.

GENE KILBY FROM THE SANDOR DISTRICT, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT SAMUEL LIBRARY'S CONTINUED MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE CURRENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

SAMUEL'S LI LIBRARY HAS PROVIDED INVALUABLE RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO THE ENTIRE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF WARREN COUNTY.

THIS UNIQUE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS PRODUCED AWARDS LIBRARY OF THE YEAR FOR 2024.

THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF SAMUELS RECEIVE AN AWARD, UM, EVEN THE TRUSTEE OF THE YEAR.

THESE RECOGNITIONS HIGHLIGHT THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION OF THE LIBRARY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS.

THESE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY RECOGNIZES A PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN I GO TO THE LIBRARY, I'M MET WITH A CHEERFUL AND INVITING ATMOSPHERE.

I SEE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL RESOURCES THAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER.

I SEE MEETINGS BEING HELD, A CROSS SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY, PERFORMING DIFFERENT TASKS SUCH AS READING QUIETLY YOUNG AND OVER.

I SEE YOUNG PEOPLE BEING TUTORED, GETTING THEIR HOMEWORK DONE.

I TRULY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION OF THE LIBRARY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE CURRENT BOARD OR THE PROCESS UTILIZED TO SELECT A BOARD.

WHILE MR. JAMESON'S REPORT APPEARS TO BE WELL DONE, IT, IT LACKS SUFFICIENT DATA AND CONTENT TO WARRANT A RUSH DECISION.

THIS REPORT LEAVES THE COMMUNITY WITH MANY QUESTIONS.

WILL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPOINTED BOARD OF TRUSTEES BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVERSE MAKEUP OF THIS COMMUNITY? WHAT WILL BE THE QUALIFICATIONS CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS OR PERSPECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS? HOW WILL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AFFECT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY? WILL A STRUCTURAL CHANGE PRODUCE SAVINGS WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES OR WILL IT ULTIMATELY COST THE TAXPAYERS MORE? IS THERE AN ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH BEING A MEMBER OF THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD? WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD? DOES THE COUNTY OWN THE EXISTING BOOKS COLLECTION? DO THE BOOK COLLECTION EQUIPMENT? THANK YOU, SIR.

NEXT UP IS STEVIE HUBBARD.

[00:45:06]

UM, I COULD COME UP HERE AND TRY TO APPEAL TO YOUR HUMANITY AND SHARE WITH YOU THAT SINCE THESE BIGOTED ATTACKS STARTED AGAINST AN L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY THAT SUICIDE RATES AMONG THESE CHILDREN HAVE JUMPED FROM 13% TO 20.

BUT I KNOW THAT WON'T MOVE YOU.

I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU GUYS ARE EXERCISING BY EVEN ENTERTAINING THIS IDEA.

IT'S 1% OF OUR BUDGET.

AND ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO, MAYBE SIX, I SAT IN THE BACK OF THIS ROOM WHILE MR. DALEY PASSIONATELY EXPLAINED TO YOU ABOUT YOUR MALFEASANCE OF LEAVING OUR FUNDS IN THE MIDDLEBURG BANK.

HE DIDN'T USE THAT TERM I DID.

BUT, UM, BUT, UH, WHEN YOU COULD HAVE IT AT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL AT 4.8100000000000005%, AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YOU HAVE NOT MADE THAT MOVE YET.

AND ON THAT DAY WHEN HE WAS DISCUSSING HOW MUCH IT COST OUR COUNTY, GUESS HOW MUCH IT WAS? IT WAS ALMOST A MILLION AND SOME CHANGE THAT WOULD MAKE THIS FUNDING OF THIS LIBRARY FREE.

SO YOU'RE SO CONCERNED WITH OUR DOLLARS, BUT YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB.

YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB.

YOU WOULD RATHER SPEND OUR TIME, WASTE OUR RESOURCES TO GO AFTER CHILDREN FOR SHAME.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS, IF YOU DO SUCCEED, WHICH YOU PROBABLY WILL BECAUSE THERE'S ENOUGH OF YOU UP THERE, YOU WILL BE SUED OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL.

AND YOU CAN FIND CA STATE CASES IN VIRGINIA WHERE PEOPLE TRIED TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AND THEY LOST MONEY AND YOU'LL LOSE MONEY PUTTING LAWYERS UP THERE TO EVEN DEFEND IT.

AND YOU'LL BE WASTING OUR MONEY LIKE YOU DO ALL THE TIME.

WE HAVE SO MANY SERVICES THAT WE ARE LACKING IN THIS COUNTY THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION.

AND YOU WOULD RATHER FOCUS YOUR TIME AND ENERGY ON A LIBRARY THAT'S BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL, WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.

WHAT TINY LITTLE DINK OF A TOWN LIKE OURS GETS A STATEWIDE AWARD WE DID BECAUSE THAT'S HOW GOOD AND STRONG OUR LIBRARY IS.

YOU HAVE A DUTY TO REPRESENT EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER IN THIS COUNTY.

AND THAT INCLUDES L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE.

THEY PAY TAXES TOO.

AND SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS, SET THEM ASIDE, AND DO THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO BECAUSE I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS WILL NOT END WELL FOR OUR COUNTY OR YOU, ESPECIALLY YOU, YOUR TERMS ALMOST UP.

YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND I'M LET'S, LET'S MAINTAIN IT FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES OR SO, PLEASE.

NE NEXT UP IS NANCY SMITH.

MY NAME IS NANCY SMITH AND I'M IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.

I'M A MOTHER OF THREE, GRANDMOTHER OF SIX, BEEN MARRIED 47 YEARS, AND A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER OF 30 YEARS.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE CREATION OF A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.

I'M GOING TO READ YOU, UM, A NOVEMBER 11TH EMAIL CRAFTED BY RICH JAMESON THAT WENT OUT NOT TO NORTH RIVER CONSTITUENTS, NOT TO LIBRARY CARD HOLDERS, NOT TO WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS, BUT AS HE STATED IN HIS EMAIL TO FRONT ROYAL CATHOLICS.

AND IT IS FROM BOS MEMBER RICH JAMESON.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE THAT IS DEVELOPED IN THIS REPORT AND THAT YOU FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO OTHERS.

I BELIEVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELL SUPPORTED BY THE CONTENTS OF THE REPORT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

THIS REPORT IS A FINAL REPORT, SO IT CANNOT BE CHANGED AS A BOS REPORT, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FEEDBACK ABOUT ANY WEAKNESSES OR AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

AND I CAN RELEASE REVISIONS IF NEEDED OR BENEFICIAL.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS REPORT WILL BECOME THE PRINCIPAL FOUNDATION FOR PROMOTING HEALTHY CHANGES, HIS OPINION AMONG THE COMMUNITY IN WARREN COUNTY THAT IS NOT SATISFIED

[00:50:01]

WITH THE STATUS QUO SITUATION WITH THE SAMUELS LIBRARY STATUS QUO.

I'M PURPOSELY PAUSING HERE BECAUSE OF MR. JAMISON'S CHOICE OF WORDS.

STATUS QUO.

JUST THIS YEAR, SAM SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WAS NAMED VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT INCLUDED LOWN COUNTY, FAIRFAX COUNTY AND RICHMOND STATUS QUO.

JUST THIS YEAR, SAMUEL'S LIBRARY RECEIVED A $500,000 MELLON GRANT.

I'LL CONTINUE WITH THE REST OF THE HIS EMAIL.

IT WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT SAMUELS AND THEIR AVID SUPPORTERS WILL VERY SHORTLY BE BUSY GENERATING A NEW NARRATIVE TO OPPOSE A CREATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AND WILL LIKELY BE APPEARING IN BS BOS MEETINGS TO REACT.

I HOPE THAT YOU STAY INFORMED AND FURTHERMORE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE UPCOMING PUBLIC DEBATE, PERHAPS BY SPEAKING AT BOS MEETINGS, PERHAPS BY WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, PERHAPS AS A PARTICIPANT IN SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU HAVE IT PRESENT THERE.

REGARDS, RICH.

AND AGAIN, THIS WAS SENT OUT TO FRONT ROYAL CATHOLICS.

UM, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AMONG ELECTED OFFICIALS? CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WERE NO MEETINGS OR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

NO.

THIS REPORT WAS JUST PUT TOGETHER WITHOUT EVEN TRYING TO MEET WITH THEM.

THERE WERE NO MEETINGS OR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LIBRARY STAFF IN COMPARISON.

THERE WERE VISITS AND MEETINGS WITH THE LEY LIBRARY IN WINCHESTER.

AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO NOT MOVE THIS FORWARD, TO NOT CREATE A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.

THERE HAS NO INDICATIONS OF MISSPENT FUNDS OR IRRESPONSIBILITY.

THANK YOU, RAY.

HOW GOOD EVENING.

TO LEARN HOW TO READ AND DON'T ENJOY OTHER THINGS.

MY NAME IS RE HOWORTH.

I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.

I WANNA ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE FELT COMFORTABLE BEING HERE FULL TIME, UH, INSTEAD OF COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH TO DC IS THAT WE HAD BOTH A WONDERFUL DOG PARK, LOVELY, UH, COMMUNITY, AND A UH, MARVELOUS LIBRARY.

WE WERE SPOILED USERS OF THE ARLINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY FOR MANY YEARS.

I AM ASTONISHED THAT WITH SO MANY PRESSING ISSUES FACING THIS COMMUNITY AND YOU, THAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON TRYING TO CONTROL BOOKS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

WE HAVE A LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT IT TAKES THE MANAGEMENT AND CARE OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND ALL CITIZENS THAT IT SERVES VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY'VE WON AWARDS.

YOU'VE HEARD MANY TIMES HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS AND HOW WHAT AN WIDE ARRAY OF USERS USE IT.

I INCLUDE MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND IN THAT NUMBER.

PLEASE DO NOT, DO NOT ALLOW A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINT THAT DOES NOT CONFORM WITH ACTUAL REALITY.

WE HAVE MANY KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO REALLY BENEFIT FROM A LIBRARY, INCLUDING KIDS WHO ARE SOMETIMES BULLIED BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFERENT.

THAT LIBRARY IS THEIR SAFE PLACE.

THAT LIBRARY IS UTILIZED BY PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS, AND THEY GET IT.

THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL REFERENCE LIBRARY.

THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL LENDING PROGRAM.

IT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF KIDS WITH DIFFERING ABILITIES AND THEIR CAPACITY TO COMPREHEND LITERATURE.

THERE ARE COMIC BOOKS FOR KIDS WHO NEED

[00:55:01]

PLEASE HELP.

UH, NEXT IS JARED HILL.

HI, UH, I AM JARED HILL.

UH, THEY CALL ME PARSON BROWN.

AND I AM FROM BENTONVILLE.

UH, MADAM CHAIR, THIS BOARD IS A DISGRACE.

UM, BUT IT DIDN'T START TODAY.

AND SINCE I WAS YOUNG, I'VE WATCHED THE RELENTLESS EFFORTS OF A FACTION OF RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS, INTENT ON TAKING CONTROL OF OUR VALLEY.

I SAW Y'ALL COMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN SOME OF YOU DECIDED TO MAKE THE LIBRARY YOUR CENTER OF YOUR AGENDA.

AND MR. JAMON, WHILE I BARELY RECOGNIZE YOU ON THE SCALE OF THINGS, YOU'RE JUST THE NEXT GUY RIDING A WAVE LAID BY THOSE BEFORE YOU, A LOUD FISH IN A POND THAT NEVER NEEDED YOUR NOISE.

SO I'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS CONFRONTATION MY ENTIRE LIFE.

YOU COMPLAINED LAST TIME I WAS HERE ABOUT THE MEDIA AND THE NARRATIVE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR LIBRARY HAS MADE HEADLINES BECAUSE THE CULT-LIKE MOVEMENT THAT YOU SUBSCRIBE TO IS INDEED APPALLING.

SO, UH, YOU HAVE SEIZED JUST ENOUGH POWER TO FEEL STRONG, BUT YOU ARE MISGUIDED AND FRANKLY PATHETIC BECAUSE THIS ISN'T ABOUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT CONTROL, CONTROL OVER WHAT WE READ, WHAT WE LEARN, AND HOW WE LIVE.

THAT'S NOT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

THAT'S FASCISM AS A MATTER OF FACT.

AND I'M JUST HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL NEVER OWN THE NARRATIVE.

YOU MAY TAKE THE LIBRARY, YOU MAY EVEN CONTROL THE BOOKS, BUT YOU WILL NEVER CONTROL THE STORY OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

SO DO YOUR WORST 'CAUSE YOU'VE EARNED IT.

NO APPLAUSE, PLEASE.

NEXT, MR. HENDERSON.

JULIE GEORGE.

HI, MY NAME'S JULIE GEORGE AND I'M IN THE NORTH DISH.

AND I'VE ALSO BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE LIBRARY FOR OVER A YEAR, WHICH I LOVE.

AND IT HAS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY COMING HERE.

IT JUST SEEMS TO BE ONE SIDED.

WHAT DOES THE LIBRARY MEAN? SO MANY BOOKS.

SO MANY BOOKS.

THERE'S A LIBRARY OFF RAILS OR IS IT NOT? ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL, IF YOU DON'T WANT CERTAIN BOOKS, YOU COULD OPEN YOUR OWN CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE.

HAS THE LIBRARY BROKEN ANY LAWS? NO.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY EMBEZZLEMENT OR STOLEN ANY MONEY? NO.

ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE PANEL UP HERE AND OTHERS ARE CONNECTED TO THE CATHOLIC GROUP TO BAN BOOKS? I MEAN, YOU SET UP THE MEETING MR. JAMESON AT THE SAMUELS CLEAN UP SAMUELS ON MAY 13TH, 2023, TITLED BEER BABYSITTING AND CONTEST FOR THE MOST PEOPLE WHO COULD FILL OUT THE FORMS ON THE BOOKS TO BAN AND WIN A BOTTLE OF WINE AND BEER.

WHAT BRIBES ARE YOU ALL RECEIVING? BECAUSE I FIND IT DISGUSTING AND UNETHICAL.

THERE'S A LIBRARY IN OPPONENT, MADDOX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WHERE A BOARD OF SUPERVISOR HAD TO REINSTATE A MEMBER OF THE LIBRARY BOARD BECAUSE HE VOTED BASED ON HIS OWN BELIEFS AND ON THE LAW OF VIRGINIA, HIS NAME IS ALFRED JONES.

HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD NOT VOTED WITHOUT DUE DILIGENCE IF HE ALL ALL EXAMINED YOUR INTENTIONS OR BELIEFS.

HE DOESN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE LIBRARY PUT ON A DISPLAY CALLED PRIDE THEME BOOK DISPLAY IN A CHILD SECTION.

HE REALIZED THERE IS A PROCESS FOR BOOK REMOVALS.

LET'S FACE IT, WE WILL NOT ALL

[01:00:01]

AGREE ON EVERYTHING.

IT'S ABOUT COMPROMISE.

WHEN YOU GO AFTER BOOKS ON LBGQ AND KIDS, YOU'RE SAYING THEY DON'T MATTER.

WE WILL NOT LOVE YOU.

THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT THEY DO.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHRISTIAN BELIEFS SAY IT'S AGAINST THEIR BELIEFS, FINE.

THEY DON'T AGREE.

BUT QUEER RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS TOO.

THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES THAT BOOKS BE LOOKED AT AS A WHOLE BOOK, NOT JUST THE FEW PAGES.

THE FREEDOM TO READ IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

IT'S OUR VITAL.

THERE'S NO WAY TO MAKE A CHOICE WITHOUT HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF READING.

WE STARTED AT 7 0 5, SO IT'S ABOUT 8 0 1.

I THINK WE ME LOOK EIGHT O'CLOCK.

SO WE'VE GOT FIVE MINUTES.

NEXT UP IS TOM HAWORTH.

HI, I AM TOM HOWORTH.

I'M FROM HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.

IF YOU WOULD PULL THE MIC UP.

I, UH, REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

OUR CELTICS ARE PLAYING THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS AND IT'S A BIG GAME AND I'D RATHER BE HOME WATCHING A GAME.

BUT I FELT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COME.

UM, WE'VE HAVE OWNED OUR HOUSE HERE SINCE 2004.

AS LONG AS WE'VE OWNED THE HOUSE UNTIL I RETIRED.

I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FATHER MCKENNA CENTER IN THE BASEMENT OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WASHINGTON DC AND I SERVED ON THE PARISH COUNCIL OF TWO CATHOLIC PARISHES.

I'D LIKE TO THINK I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND I KNOW THAT HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS DOMINATED BY A ULTRA TRADITIONALIST, UH, VERSION OF CATHOLICISM THAT IS, UH, IN NO WAY IN STEP WITH ALL CATHOLICS.

NOW WE SAID THAT ALL I SAID CATHOLICS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MR. JAMESON.

I OBJECT.

I DIDN'T RECEIVE ONE.

AND I'M A CATHOLIC.

I GUESS I'M NOT IN WITH THE IN CROWD.

UM, WHEN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION, ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKE THEIR CUES FROM A RELIGION AND, AND A RELIGION THAT'S INTENT ON IMPOSING THEIR VIEWS ON OTHER PEOPLE, THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

THAT IS CALLED THEOCRACY.

SO FOR THOSE IN OUR COUNTRY WHO PICK UP THE NEWS FROM WARREN COUNTY, IF YOU WANNA SEE WHAT THEOCRACY LOOKS LIKE, LOOK AT HERE.

'CAUSE THIS IS IT.

THIS IS THEOCRACY.

YOU KNOW, I I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS DISAGREE.

DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ME AND THAT'S FINE.

I WAS REALLY SAD TO READ, UH, AN ARTICLE IN THAT ROYAL EXAMINER WHERE THE AUTHOR OF A LETTER SAID THAT THEY DECLINED TO GIVE THEIR REAL NAME FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

THAT'S REALLY SAD IN A COMMUNITY THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE SO AFRAID TO EXPRESS THEIR POINT OF VIEW, THAT THEY WOULD BE SOMEHOW PUNISHED FOR IT, THAT THEY WOULDN'T.

HOW DO YOU, HOW CAN WE LIVE HOW WE HAVE A LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY WITH DIALOGUE ON THAT BASIS? MY OBSERVATION FROM BEING HERE THESE YEARS IS THAT WARREN COUNTY WANTS THE WALL ITSELF OFF FROM THE REST OF THE STATE.

I SEE IT IN, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSIONS.

DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION 'CAUSE THEY'RE INFLUENCED BY PEOPLE IN FREDERICKSBURG, CHARLOTTESVILLE, PORTSMOUTH, ALL THOSE PLACES.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THOSE PEOPLE 'CAUSE THEY'RE SOMEHOW TAINTED AND ALL THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY GET DIFFERENT VIEWS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WE WANT ONLY OUR VIEW TO, TO PROCEED.

SO WE GO OUT AND FIND SOMEBODY THAT EXPRESSES OUR VIEW.

THIS LEADS TO AN ISOLATED COMMUNITY.

UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO LEAVE.

I HAVE 8 0 4, SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA CUT IT OFF AT THAT.

'CAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN DO MUCH WITH A MOMENT.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR ATTENDANCE AND YOUR, YOUR ABSOLUTELY WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE AGENDA.

AND AT THIS POINT, UM, WE ARE AT REPORTS.

MRS. COOK,

[01:05:02]

ALL RIGHT.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANNA STAY.

IF EVERYONE WOULD SETTLE BACK DOWN THAT PLANS TO STAY, I'D LIKE TO GET STARTED WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.

BACK TO BOARD REPORTS.

[E. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]

MRS. COOK.

VERY WELL.

UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND START WITH, UH, WE HAD OUR FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE, UM, LAST WEEK.

AND WE'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, MS. CALLERS, YOU WERE ABLE TO, UM, PARTICIPATE 'CAUSE YOU HAD ANOTHER MEETING.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE, UH, WE DID ADDRESS YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS ON YOUR EMAIL AND WE'RE PRIORITIZING IT.

AND, UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS GO AHEAD AND COME UP WITH, UM, SOME SOLUTIONS AND THEN COME AS A WORKING SESSION AND PRESENT 'EM.

I APPRECIATE IT.

IF THAT, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, SO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.

UH, THE SECOND, UM, ITEM IS THAT, UM, WE, WE, UH, HAVE WORKED ON THE WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE FISCAL POLICY AND IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

UM, THANK YOU JASON FOR THAT.

AND, UM, RIGHT NOW THE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS REVIEWING THE, THE COMMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE FISCAL POLICY.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING.

I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE NOISY OUT THERE.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL LEAVE.

BUT OPEN MEETINGS HAVE TO HAVE OPEN DOORS.

I KNOW.

HOPEFULLY, UM, NO, AS LONG AS ONE'S OPEN, WE'RE GOOD.

RESPONSIBILITY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SEPARATION OF POWER BETWEEN THE BOARD BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE TREASURER.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

THAT'S OKAY.

SO ANYWAY, UH, JUST MY POINT IS THAT, UM, THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED THE COMMENTS OF THE ATTORNEY COMMENTS TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE FISCAL POLICY.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE GETTING THAT POLICY TO THE, THE BOARD AT A WORKING SESSION.

YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE, UM, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

AND THE LAST THING THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL BE ADDRESSING IS DEVELOPING THE NEW WARREN COUNTY, SAN SANITARY DISTRICT FISCAL POLICY.

WE KIND OF HAVE ONE IN DRAFT RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, WE, WE HAVE INVITED MR. SANDMEYER TO COME TO OUR COMMITTEE.

'CAUSE UM, I KNOW HE HAD SOME COMMENTS SO THAT, UM, HOPEFULLY, UH, ALL THAT WILL COME OUT NEXT, NEXT MONTH, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD STUFF.

UM, THE ONLY COMMENT, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS, UH, ALL THE THING, WHAT WE HEARD THIS EVENING WAS, UM, THE POINT OF THE BUDGET, UH, THAT WE ARE HAVING, IT'S, IT'S OUR DISCUSSION THAT DR.

DALEY HAD ABOUT THE INVESTMENT FUNDS.

AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT TO THE COMMITTEE THAT

[01:10:01]

SO, UM, FOR US TO MAKE THAT CHANGE, TO HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IS THAT WE GOTTA, YOU KNOW, UH, WORK WITH THE, THE TREASURER.

SHE HAS THE POWER TO, TO MAKE THOSE TYPE OF DECISIONS.

AND AS FAR AS THE STATEMENT OF US TO, TO DO, DO OUR JOB, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE ARE, AND WE ARE FOCUSING ON, AND OF COURSE THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA THAT I KNOW WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT LATER ON.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT THERE IS A SEPARATION OF POWER ON, ON THAT.

AND WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO, TO ACCOMMODATE THESE INVESTMENTS TO GET A BETTER RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENTS SO WE CAN KEEP TAXES DOWN AND BE ABLE TO FUND EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, BUDGET.

SO, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU, MR. BUTLER.

UH, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

SO THE, UM, I'M TOO ON THE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND WAS WORKING WITH, UH, MS. COOK.

AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT, UH, SHE'S DOING SOME, SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS THERE.

UM, JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UH, UH, FU UH, FLORIST HAD THEIR OPENING.

I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE ACTUAL RIBBON CUTTING, BUT I WAS THERE THAT, UH, THAT MORNING.

AND, UH, IT WAS VERY, UH, A VERY EXCITING TIME.

AND I SAW MADAM CHAIR THERE.

AND THE LAST THING WAS, UH, UM, JUST WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THE, UH, AIRPORT UP IN WINCHESTER, WHICH IS, UH, IT'S, WE'RE PART OF THEIR SYSTEM.

THEY ARE GETTING READY TO, TO HAVE A GRAND OPENING FOR THEIR NEW TERMINAL UP THERE.

UH, I TOOK MY GRANDSON AND I AND WE WALKED THROUGH IT AND, AND VERY IMPRESSED.

AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE AIRPORT BOARD HERE HAD, UH, HAD MENTIONED WAS A POSSIBILITY OF IN THE FUTURE, PUTTING SOME TYPE OF A, UH, EATING FACILITY, MAYBE A SMALL RESTAURANT OR, YOU KNOW, A SELF-SERVE, UH, OVER AT THE, UH, UH, FRONT ROYAL AIRPORT.

UM, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE A, UH, LITTLE BIT OF A DRAW FOR TO, TO GET PEOPLE TO COME IN, BUY CHEAP FUEL, GET SOMETHING TO EAT, UH, VISIT THE AREA, AND, UH, JUST ENJOY WARREN COUNTY.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU MR. STA MEYER.

UH, LET'S SEE.

FIRST OF ALL, UM, TO SUPERVISOR COOK, UH, I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TO THE FISCAL, UH, COMMITTEE.

AND, UM, JUST RECENTLY I'VE GOTTEN CONSIDERABLE, UH, CONSTITUENT INPUT ABOUT SANITARY DISTRICTS.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, IN INVITING ME, YOU'RE AWARE I HAVE TWO OF THE LARGER SANITARY DISTRICTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.

UM, SO, UH, I HAVE A LOT TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THAT MEETING, BUT I'D LIKE TO WORK ON THAT AND TRY TO GET YOU A SUMMARY, UH, IN ADVANCE, UH, SO YOU KNOW, WHAT'S COMING WELL, THE INVITATION'S NOT JUST FOR ONE TIME.

SO .

OKAY, GREAT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU BE PART OF THE COMMITTEE WHEN WE DISCUSS AND TRY TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

AND THEN TO, TO, UM, UH, TO THE CLERK OF THE BOARD.

I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY NEED TO ADVERTISE THAT MEETING SINCE WE'LL HAVE THREE SUPERVISORS THERE.

THAT BOARD IS, IS BASICALLY WORKING ON THEIR ROAD PRIORITIES NOW, AND STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.

UM, UH, LET'S SEE, RECENTLY, UM, UH, WHAT WAS IT LAST WEEK ON THE 13TH TO THE, UH, THE NIGHT AFTER OUR JOINT WORK SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, I WENT, UH, TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE, ON THE, UH, TRAINING RANGE AS WELL.

UM, AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO HEAR MORE, MORE, UH, CITIZEN INPUT ON THAT.

UM, AND DID GET, UH, CONSIDERABLE INPUT, UH, FROM SOME OF MY OWN CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, UH, THE, THE CORRIDOR UP NORTH.

SO, UM, UH, I'LL BE TAKING SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK TO YOU AS WELL.

UM, LET'S SEE.

UH, WENT ON FRIDAY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH TO THE DATA CENTER LUNCH AND LEARN, UM, WHICH THE EDA, UH, HAD PUT ON.

AND, UM, I JUST WANNA PUT OUT THERE, I'M, I'VE GOT A PRETTY WELL KNOWN POSITION ABOUT DATA CENTERS.

UM, THIS DOESN'T INDICATE THAT I'M CHANGING MY POSITION, BUT I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OR ALL SIDES OF ANY ISSUE.

UM, I'VE, I'VE ALSO GOT A LOT OF FAMILIARITY WITH DATA CENTERS DUE TO MY PRIVATE SECTOR CAREER.

UH, I DID LEARN A COUPLE THINGS THOUGH.

UM, SO IT WAS, UH, TIME WELL SPENT.

UM, LET'S SEE.

UM, ALSO THAT SAME DAY ON THE 14TH, UH, WE HAD THE SECOND, UH, UH, MEETING OF THE SAN SHADO FARMS SANITARY DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOARD, UM, AND, UH, UH, COVERED A NUMBER OF TOPICS IN INCLUDING JUST DEBRIEFING ON, UH, THE COMPLETION OF OLD OAK FOUR AND FIVE.

UM, AND, UH, AS THAT,

[01:15:01]

UM, AND LET'S SEE, UH, THOSE ARE THE MAIN ISSUES.

I'VE, I'VE DEALT WITH OTHER CONSTITUENT ISSUES ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS, EVERYTHING FROM HUNTING TO INCARCERATION TO, UH, TAX BURDENS, UH, TO FIRE AND RESCUE TOPICS.

UM, OH, AND, UH, ON FRIDAY THE EIGHTH, I CONDUCTED A, UH, A SITE VISIT IN RELATION TO THE, UH, CAMPGROUND HEARING OR CAMPGROUND DECISION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.

SO THAT'S IT.

IT RIGHT SO THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH IT.

UM, FOR MY REPORT, NOVEMBER 7TH, I HAVE FIRE AND RESCUE HAD THEIR RETIREMENT AND PROMOTION CEREMONY.

UM, THAT WAS, UH, A VERY, UM, GOOD EVENING AND, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATING THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN US MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THEN THOSE WHO ARE CONTINUING AND WERE PROMOTED TO, UM, HIGHER RANK.

AND THEN WE RECOGNIZED THE NEW, UM, RECRUITS THAT WE RECENTLY WERE ABLE TO HIRE.

UM, SO ASSISTANT CHIEF MANCO, YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB THAT EVENING.

IT WAS A, IT WAS A VERY NICE CEREMONY.

UM, NOVEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 12TH, I WENT TO THE VACO CONFERENCE AND, UH, LISTENED TO SEVERAL VERY GOOD, UM, PRESENTATIONS, ONE ON BROADBAND AND, UM, A COUPLE OF OTHERS.

AND AS SOON AS THEY, EACH OF THE BREAKOUTS WERE VIDEOED, AND, UM, I WAS ASSURED THAT ALL OF THOSE WOULD BE SENT.

AND AS SOON AS I GET THEM, I'LL SHARE THEM OUT BECAUSE IT WAS, UM, THE ONES I WENT TO I THOUGHT WERE REALLY GOOD.

AND, UM, LET'S SEE, NOVEMBER 9TH BACKING UP A DAY I WENT TO, UH, THE POINT OF WOODS, POA MEETING AT THE LIBRARY.

AND, UM, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN, THAT'S IN MY SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD THAT THEY HAVE MET AND INVITED ME.

AND IT WAS A, A REALLY GOOD MEETING EARLIER THAT DAY.

I TOOK MY GRANDSON, LIAM, AND WE WENT OUT TO, UM, SHELLY COOK'S FALL FESTIVAL.

HE HAD NEVER HAD HIS FACE PAINTED TO THAT DAY.

HE'S 12 YEARS OLD, I CAN'T IMAGINE.

BUT HE HADN'T.

AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHO ENJOYED IT MORE, ME OR HIM, BUT IT WAS A VERY GOOD EVENT.

I'M GLAD.

UM, WE GOT TO ENJOY IT TOGETHER.

NOVEMBER 13TH.

THE REASON I MISSED THE, UM, MRS. COOK'S COMMITTEE WAS, UM, DR.

JAMESON AND I MET WITH, WE HAVE A JOINT SCHOOL, UH, COUNTY BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND WE MET TO DISCUSS A NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS BEING, UM, PUT BEFORE THE TOWN IN BEHIND THE SCHOOL IN ROYAL KING.

AND, UM, SO WE WERE THERE AT THAT MEETING.

THAT'S WHY I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO YOURS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH WAS, UH, I WAS GLAD TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT AS WELL.

NOVEMBER 14TH, WE HAD COUNTY BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING AND, UM, DISCUSSING THE WOES OF HVAC AND, UH, HOW THEY'RE ALL FALLING APART AT THE SAME TIME AND THE EXPENSE OF THEM.

UM, THAT EVENING, I WENT TO THE HISTORICAL DINNER, UM, OUT AT THE FRONT RURAL GOLF CLUB, AND THAT WAS A, A REALLY NICE EVENING TO, UM, SEE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY UP ON CHESTER STREET.

UH, JOE PETTY IS NOW THERE AS THEIR DIRECTOR, AND HE'S TRYING TO, TO BRING IT UP AS A PHOENIX, UH, AND BRING IT BACK TO LIFE.

AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE SOME FREE TIME AND YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT KIND OF THING, I THINK HE WOULD WELCOME VOLUNTEERS.

HE'S GOT A LOT OF THINGS HE'D LIKE TO DO, AND VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THAT.

UM, NOVEMBER 15TH, I WENT OUT TO THE AREA ON SIX 19 FOR THE PROPOSED CAMPGROUND AND WAS GIVEN THE TOUR, UM, THERE.

NOVEMBER 16TH, I WENT TO FU SALES RE REOPENING, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, UM, YOU REALLY NEED TO GO.

SHE'S GOT A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS, AND SHE DOES A LOT OF, UM, CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO BY SUPPORTING HER, SHE SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY.

SO IF YOU COULD DO THAT, I'M SURE SHE WOULD'VE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S A YOUNG COUPLE, UM, UH, BROTHER, SISTER, AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY RALLY AROUND PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

UH, NOVEMBER 18TH, UH, WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE BUILDING JOINT BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND THIS TIME WE BROUGHT IN THE TOWN TO, UM, AND THE, WE'VE MET TWICE NOW WITH THE TOWN THE SECOND TIME WE MET AND HAD THE DEVELOPER THERE.

SO WE'RE ALL WORKING, UM, TOGETHER ON THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO IS IN THE BEST BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED THE HOUSING, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO

[01:20:01]

'CAUSE THAT'S, UM, IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING LITTLE SITUATION WITH TRAFFIC AND SO FORTH.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT THE BEST IT CAN BE.

TODAY, I WAS INVITED TO, UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON.

AND, UH, THAT WAS, I REALLY ENJOYED THAT TIME OF FELLOWSHIP THERE.

AND THEN I FINISHED OFF FROM TWO TO FOUR, THE CPM TEAM MEETING THAT DEALS WITH, UM, GETTING SERVICES TO THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED, UM, EXTRA HELP.

AND THEN WE GOT INTO THIS MEETING.

SO IT'S BEEN A, A LONG DAY, BUT THAT'S MY REPORT FOR TODAY.

AND DR.

JAMESON, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

I WROTE SIX PUBLISHED LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, IT'S YOUR LONG STORY.

UM, FRIDAY THE EIGHTH, I MET WITH MR. WENDLING, MRS. WALL, AND MR. LEN TO DISCUSS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO FOCUS ON WITH HIM IS FINDING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR, UH, DEVELOPING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S THAT, THERE IS A KNOWN, UH, HOUSING CRUNCH HERE.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE.

SO, UM, WE EXPLORED, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT, THAT HOPEFULLY WILL SHOW UP IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, IN TERMS OF THAT.

AND THEY, THEY WERE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED, UM, ALSO DID THE CAMPGROUND VISIT TO INSPECT THAT AND SEE WHAT THAT SITUATION LOOKED LIKE.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE, THE FIRE AND RESCUE AWARDS AND THE RETIREMENT CEREMONY.

I WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

UH, THERE'S THE, THERE WAS THE JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY, UH, VERY GOOD IDEA AND SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO MORE OF AS THIS, THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UH, UNFOLDS OR MAYBE FOLDS INTO, UM, COMPLETION.

THE MAIN, THE MAIN TAKEAWAY I HAVE FROM THAT, AND FROM A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO RUSH IT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE NEXT MONTH, TWO MONTHS FROM NOW, WHATEVER.

IT'S, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, RIGHT.

IT'S A LONG TERM PROCESS.

SO, UM, I ADVOCATE FOR MORE OF THOSE.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE JOINT MEETINGS.

MY, UM, MY COMMENTS TO MY OWN, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE OR, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT I WOULD LIKE THE, THE PROCESS TO PRIMARILY UNFOLD WHERE I THINK IT BELONGS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

UM, NOT GET THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITHOUT, WITHOUT BEING SUBSTANTIALLY VETTED, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SITUATION AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHERE WE'RE ESSENTIALLY BEING ASKED BY STILL UNSATISFIED CONSTITUENTS TO OVERTURN OR ADD TO, OR REMOVE THINGS FROM.

UH, THAT, UH, ALSO JOINED, UH, MRS. KOHLER'S ON THE JOINT BOARD SUPERVISORS TOWN AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

UH, THAT WAS A VERY GOOD IDEA.

I THINK WHOEVER'S IDEA IT WAS, UM, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK OVER THE HORIZON, THAT THESE, THESE PROJECTS OFTENTIMES GO THROUGH VARIOUS PHASES IN EACH PHASE, SORT OF SEEMS LIKE IT'S A RATCHET.

SO IF IT GETS THROUGH ONE PHASE, THEN IT JUST SEEMS TO, UM, I MAY NOT BE SAYING THIS RIGHT, BUT SORT OF TAKE ON AN AIR OF INEVITABILITY OF GOING THROUGH THE NEXT PHASE.

UH, IF WE SEE THE COMMUNITY SEES AND WE'RE, WE ARE HEARING FROM THEM, UH, POTENTIAL TRAFFIC SITUATIONS, UM, I DON'T KNOW, ROAD SITUATIONS, IMPACT TO THE PARK, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, WHICH A DEVELOPER REALLY WOULD AND COULD BENEFIT FROM, KNOWING THESE MIGHT BE BOMBS THAT ARE OVER THE HORIZON, THEY CAN'T SEE WHILE THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH A LOW A, A PROCESS, ONE STEP AT A TIME TO GET THEIR ZONING DONE, THEIR SITE PLAN, AND SO ON.

SO I THINK THAT WAS USEFUL.

I ALSO ATTENDED THE DATA CENTER PRESENTATION.

UH, AGAIN, I, I JUST THINK I'LL TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT I CAN ABOUT IT.

I DON'T HAVE A, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, COMMITMENT TO THAT AT ALL.

UM, I HAVE, I HAVE A, A CERTAIN SKEPTICISM ABOUT IT.

AND, AND THAT SEEMS TO REFLECT MOST OF THE, UH, CONSTITUENTS I HAVE THAT I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TONIGHT.

UM, I, I WANNA MAKE AN OBSERVATION THAT ABOUT TONIGHT'S, TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE SPOKEN AGAINST FORMING THE COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD TONIGHT, AND ALMOST ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE EMAILED ME TO OPPOSE IT.

VERY FEW HAVE ADDRESSED THE ACTUAL CONTENT OF, OF THE COMMITTEE REPORT THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST WEEK.

INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF OPPOSING COMMENTS THAT HAVE LARGELY FOCUSED ON MY PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS, MY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, AND MY POLITICAL LEANINGS, UH, THIS ILLUSTRATES TWO PROBLEMS, TWO FUNDAMENTALLY LOGICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST, IF EVERY CLAIM ABOUT MY PERSONAL BELIEFS WERE TRUE, IT WOULDN'T INVALIDATE A SINGLE PIECE OF DATA IN THAT REPORT.

THE FINANCIAL NUMBERS EITHER

[01:25:01]

ADD UP OR THEY DON'T.

THE EVENT TIMELINE IS EITHER ACCURATE OR IT ISN'T.

THE GOVERNANCE COMPARISONS ARE EITHER VALID OR THEY'RE NOT.

THESE FACTS EXIST INDEPENDENTLY IF WHO PRESENTS THEM.

SECOND, BY CHOOSING TO ATTACK THE MESSENGER AND THE MOTIVATION, RATHER THAN EXAMINE THE MESSAGE, OPPONENTS HAVE ACTUALLY REINFORCED THE REPORT'S CREDIBILITY.

WHEN FACED WITH DOCUMENTED INFORMATION THAT CHALLENGES THEIR POSITION, THEY'VE OPTED TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT ENTIRELY.

IF YOU WANT TO EFFECTIVELY OPPOSE THIS POLICY PROPOSAL, I SUGGEST YOU ADDRESS ITS ACTUAL CONTENT PRIOR TO END.

DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING SHOW WHERE THE FINANCIAL DATA IS WRONG.

POINT OUT ERRORS IN THE EVENT TIMELINE, CHALLENGE THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PUBLIC FUNDING AND PUBLIC GOVERNANCE ARE MISALIGNED.

THE REPORT IS AN ARTIFACT THAT EITHER STANDS OR FALLS ON ITS OWN MERITS.

THIS IS, THAT'S THE REASON FOR PRODUCING THE REPORT.

SUPERVISORS CAN EVALUATE THE DATA AS FACTUAL OR NOT, AND THEY CAN ASSESS IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOW RATIONALLY FROM THE DATA AND EVENTS DESCRIBED, OR THEY DO NOT ADD HOMININ ATTACKS, GENERATE EMOTIONAL REACTIONS, BUT THEY DON'T CHANGE FACTS.

THEY DON'T ALTER NUMBERS, THEY DON'T INVALIDATE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE, AND THEY, I DON'T THINK THEY SERVE THOSE OPPOSED TO CREATING A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.

NOW I WANNA ADDRESS THE FAKE NEWS THAT HAS APPEARED IN BOTH THE ROYAL EXAMINER AND THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY.

THESE PUBLICATIONS MADE SPECIFIC CLAIMS ABOUT MY DISTRIBUTION OF THE LIBRARY GOVERNANCE REPORT THAT ARE DEMONSTRABLY FALSE.

THEY PUBLISH THESE CLAIMS WITHOUT VERIFICATION, AND WHEN DIRECTLY ASKED FOR THEIR SOURCES COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY.

I HAVE FORMALLY DEMANDED RETRACTIONS AND CORRECTIONS FROM BOTH PUBLICATIONS FOR THESE FALSE STATEMENTS.

THEIR INABILITY TO SUBSTANTIATE THEIR CLAIMS, COUPLED WITH THEIR RELUCTANCE TO ISSUE PROPER CORRECTIONS, SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT'S PARTICULARLY DISTURBING IS HOW MANY CITIZENS HAVE COME HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS BASED ON THOSE FABRICATED STORIES.

PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THEIR SPEAKING TIME ATTACKING ME OVER SOMETHING THAT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE.

THIS IS EXACTLY HOW FAKE NEWS DAMAGES PUBLIC DISCOURSE THAT CREATES ARTIFICIAL CONTROVERSIES THAT DISTRACT FROM REAL ISSUES.

PLEASE, THESE FALSE STATEMENTS HAVE SPAWNED UGLY SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS AND EMAILS CONTAINING ANTI-CATHOLIC INNUENDO.

THIS IS THE RESULT OF NEGLIGENT JOURNALISM REPORTERS WHO CHOOSE SENSATIONALISM OVER SUBSTANCE, WHO OPTED TO INFLAME, RATHER THAN INFORM, INSTEAD OF EXAMINING A DETAILED POLICY REPORT, THEY MANUFACTURED A RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY.

WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU WAIT A MINUTE.

AUTHOR HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT.

COME ON, WE GAVE YOU YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

NOW, PLEASE.

LET'S BE RESPECTFUL.

THE AUTHORS HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO WHAT SHOULD BE A POLICY DEBATE BY FABRICATING A RELIGIOUS ANGLE, THEY'VE DELIBERATELY STEERED THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM GOVERNANCE AND BACK TOWARD EMOTIONAL BOOK BANNING CONTROVERSIES.

YET IRONICALLY, IT WAS THAT VERY CONTROVERSY THAT EXPOSED THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM.

WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN PUBLIC FUNDING AND PUBLIC GOVERNANCE.

THESE UNVERIFIED CLAIMS, RATHER THAN EXAMINING THE REPORT SUBSTANCE AS TROUBLING, INSTEAD OF ANALYZING THE DETAILED GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION, PROVIDED THESE OUTLETS CHOSE TO CREATE FALSE NARRATIVES THAT THEY KNEW WOULD TRIGGER EMOTIONAL RESPONSES AND DERAIL SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION.

THIS TYPE OF REPORTING DOES A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT DIVERTS PUBLIC ATTENTION FROM SUB AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION TO MANUFACTURE CONTROVERSY.

IT REPLACES FACTUAL ANALYSIS WITH INNUENDO.

AND MOST CONCERNINGLY APPEARS DESIGNED TO DISCREDIT LEGITIMATE PO LEGITIMATE GOVERNANCE QUESTIONS BY ATTACKING THE MESSENGER RATHER THAN THE MESSAGE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THE ACTUAL REPORT RATHER THAN RELY ON THESE MISCHARACTERIZATIONS THE FACTS, DATA AND ANALYSIS, STAND INDEPENDENT OF THESE FALSE NARRATIVES AND HOW THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED, WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR DON'T.

FINALLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL MISCONCEPTION ABOUT ELECTED OFFICE.

AMONG MANY PEOPLE THAT I'VE HEARD FROM BEING ELECTED DOES NOT REQUIRE SURRENDERING MY RIGHTS OF ASSOCIATION OR ABANDONING MY PERSONAL BELIEFS.

IT DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE TO STOP COMMUNICATING WITH FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES ABOUT POLICIES I FAVOR OR STOP ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE IN THE PROCESS.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WORKS PRECISELY BECAUSE VOTERS CAN CHOOSE CANDIDATES BASED ON CLEARLY STATED PRINCIPLES AND POSITIONS.

I CAMPAIGNED OPENLY AS A REPUBLICAN.

I MADE NO SECRET OF MY FISCAL AND SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE VIEWS, AND I WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT MY ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN BOTH CHURCH AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.

[01:30:02]

I WROTE SIX PUB, UH, PUBLISHED LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN PUBLIC FUNDING AND PRIVATE GOVERNANCE OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, AS WELL AS WHAT I CALLED ABSTRACTION AND DISTRACTION THAT WAS GOING ON TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVES.

AND LAST YEAR'S CONTROVERSY.

I CAN'T KNOW WHAT PARTICULAR REASON, AND THAT ANY PARTICULAR VOTED VOTER VOTED FOR ME.

BUT IN THE AGGREGATE, THEY ELECTED ME.

THE SUGGESTION THAT I MUST NOW ABANDON MY POSITIONS BECAUSE I REPRESENT ALL CONSTITUENTS, REVEALS A PROFOUND MISUNDERSTANDING OF HOW REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNANCE WORKS.

GOVERNANCE, MY OBLIGATION IS TO CONSISTENT TO CONSTITUENTS, IS TO GOVERN CONSISTENTLY WITH THE PRINCIPLES I OPENLY CAMPAIGNED ON, NOT TO ABANDON THEM AFTER ELECTION.

I SERVE ALL CONSTITUENTS BY MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY, PRODUCING DETAILED ANALYSIS THAT STANDS OR FALLS ON ITS OWN MERITS, IRRESPECTIVE OF MY PERSONAL VIEWS AND MOTIVATIONS, AND ENCOURAGING BROAD PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND POLICY DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT SOME ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO, FABRICATING FALSE NARRATIVES ABOUT SELECTIVE COMMUNICATION ONLY TO CATHOLICS, AND SUGGESTING THAT MAINTAINING CONSISTENT POLICY POSITIONS SOMEHOW BETRAYS THE PUBLIC TRUST.

THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY UNDERMINES REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY ARGUING THAT THE ELECTION TO OFFICE SHOULD ERASE A REPRESENTATIVE'S PRINCIPLES RATHER THAN WORK FOR THEM.

THE REAL OBLIGATION OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS TO STAND FIRMLY BY THE POSITIONS THEY CAMPAIGNED ON, SUPPORT THOSE POSITIONS WITH FACTUAL ANALYSIS, ENCOURAGE BROAD PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ISSUES AND MAINTAIN CONSISTENT PRINCIPLES.

WHAT'S NOT REQUIRED.

AND WHAT I WON'T DO IS ABANDON CLEARLY STATED POSITIONS AFTER ELECTION, CEASE COMMUNICATING WITH PERSONAL NETWORKS.

STOP ENCOURAGING CIVIC PARTICIPATION, AND WE'LL PRETEND THAT REPRESENTING ALL MEANS NO PRINCIPLES.

NOBODY CAN REPRESENT ANYTHING IF THEY REPRESENT EVERYBODY.

THAT SHOULD BE SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S NOT ONLY PROPER, BUT ESSENTIAL FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COMMUNICATE THEIR POLICY POSITIONS CLEARLY AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'VE DONE BY SHARING MY REPORT AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO READ IT AND DISTRIBUTE IT WIDELY.

DR.

DALEY.

CURRENTLY ATTORNEY MR. HAM, I HAVE NO REPORT.

MA MA MA'AM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR DR.

DALEY.

DR.

DALEY, MRS. COOK HAS A QUESTION, PLEASE.

ONE QUESTION.

UM, SO WHERE ARE WE ON THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE RECRUITER FOR THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION POSITION, DO YOU BELIEVE? TO TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES, MA'AM.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THERE ARE FIVE OF YOU UP THERE AND THE FIVE OF YOU DECIDE HOW YOU'RE PROCEEDING AS A GROUP.

WELL, THE LAST STATUS THAT I HAD AN EMAIL IS THAT THERE WERE FIVE CANDIDATES THAT WERE SENT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DO AN EVA EVALUATION AS PART OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.

AM I, AM I WRONG? AM I UNDERSTANDING? THAT'S CORRECT.

WE ALL GOT THE MATERIALS TO LOOK AT.

NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME SAYING THEY'RE READY TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THOSE.

SO I'M ASSUMING EVERYBODY IS STILL GOING OVER THEM.

SO, WELL, I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

I WENT THROUGH, UM, ALL OF THE CANDIDATES AND DID MY EVALUATION AND GOT IT BACK TO, YOU KNOW, BY THE DEADLINE, WHICH WAS LAST WEEK.

SO ARE WE, ARE WE ON SCHEDULE OR NOT? NO, I WAS NOT AWARE OF A DEADLINE.

IT WAS THE 14TH.

WELL, I DON'T THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T MEET THAT DEADLINE.

SO, UM, AND THE ONLY REASON I BRING THIS UP RIGHT, IS BECAUSE WE HAD THIS TIMELINE AND WE SAID THAT WE WERE GONNA INTERVIEW AND GET THINGS SELECTED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

SO I, THAT'S WHY.

SO WE ALL NEED TO PUT THAT ON OUR PRIORITY LIST AND, AND, UM, I WILL REACH OUT TO MS. HENRY TOMORROW TO HAVE HER SEND THAT INFORMATION BACK OUT 'CAUSE I TOO MISS THAT.

SO, SO WILL STAFF GO AHEAD AND RESEND THE EMAIL OUT TO THE UH, SURE.

TO THE BOARD AGAIN? THAT'D BE FINE.

AND THEN I GUESS WE NEED TO ADJUST THE TIMELINE.

THAT WOULD BE FINE.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL GET THE EMAIL TOMORROW.

APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS.

I WILL REACH OUT TO MS. HENRY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, UNLESS MS. MEADOWS BEATS ME TO IT.

IT SO,

[F. Appropriations and Transfers]

[01:35:01]

UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS EXCE, UM, PRESENTED? I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE POINT THOUGH, UNDER THE APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS, UM, DURING OUR FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WE HAD THE SCHOOL BOARD TO COME AND, UM, PRESENT THEIR TRANSFER.

AND I DON'T, I THINK IT WAS LAST, UH, LAST MONTH WE HAD, WE, AS THE BOARD HAD SAID THAT WE WERE CLOSING THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BOOKS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSFER FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT WAS FOR THAT YEAR, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE KNEW THAT WAS COMING DOWN THE PIPE.

AND SO I JUST WANNA POINT THAT OUT IS THAT, UM, WE, UH, THAT THIS IS NOT GOING AGAINST WHAT WE HAD MENTIONED LAST MONTH AS FAR AS CLOSING THE BOOKS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL.

MR. HENDERSON.

OH, IS THERE A MOTION? SORRY, I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF.

SO MOVED.

MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

MADAM CHAIR, I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE MY COMPUTER WITH CIVIC PLUS DIED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO REVIEW ANY OF THIS.

[G. Approval of Accounts]

APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS? ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE? HEARING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? MADAM CHAIR? SO MOVED.

OH, THERE'S PLENTY HERE IF YOU NEED, I THANK YOU.

I I CARRY A BOX ANYMORE.

THE ALLERGIES ARE KILLING ME.

MOTION ON THE ACCOUNTS.

[H. Approval of Minutes - 11.06.2024]

APPROVAL OF, UM, THE MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024 MEETING? ANY CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS, ADDITIONS? HEARING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

MR. STAN MEYER.

AYE.

MR. BUTLER? AYE.

MADAM CHAIR TO ABSTAIN.

[I. CUP2024-09-03 - SouthFork RiverSide Campground, LLC - Campground - The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit for a campground and a river sports outfitter business for rental of canoeing, kayaking, boating and fishing equipment as an accessory use located at 204 Russ Johnson Rd. off Rivermont Drive. The property is identified on tax map 28 as parcel 17 and zoned Agricultural (A). It is located in the Wayland subdivision and in the Fork Magisterial District. The property is approximately 142.09 acres. - Matt Wendling, Planning Director]

BUSINESS, THE CUP 2024 DASH OH NINE DASH OH THREE, THE SOUTH FORK RIVERSIDE CAMPGROUND, LLC, UM, MR. WINDLEY? YES.

THE APPLICANT HAD REQUESTED AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION MADE A DECISION, THEY HAD REQUESTED THAT A 75 FOOT SETBACK TO, UH, AN ACCESS ROAD BE GRANTED AND A HUNDRED FOOT SETBACK VERSUS THE 150 FOOT SETBACK TO THE CAMP, UH, SITES BE GRANTED.

MADAM CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, AT THE OCTOBER 9TH, 2024 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED ON A THREE TO, UH, ZERO VOTE TO MOVE THE FOLLOWING FOUR WITH RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE, UH, CONDITIONS.

UM, I'VE READ THE CONDITIONS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE RECORD AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND I WILL JUST, UH, NOTE THE AMENDMENT, UH, CHANGES.

UM, THEY REQUIRE REQUESTED ON, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14, THAT CAMP, UH, CAMP SITE SHALL BE SET BACK 150 FEET FROM THE WEST PROPERTY LINE AND AN EVERGREEN BUFFER SHALL BE PLANTED IN THE NON WOODED AREA NEAR THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY WITH A SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE BUFFER TO BE INCLUDED ON THE SITE PLAN AND IS SUBJECT, UH, AND SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING STAFF.

AND THEN NUMBER 15, UH, THEY MOVED IT FORWARD WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT THE CAMPGROUND SHALL BE LIMITED TO 14 DAYS FOR THE LENGTH OF STAY BY THE GUEST.

UH, PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

STAFF, UH, DELETED, UH, ITEM NUMBER 13, UH, FOR THE REASON THAT, UM, A BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT AND WAS APPROVED BY MYSELF, THE SUBDIVISION ADMINISTRATOR, TO DEC TO DECREASE THE TOTAL ACREAGE OF THE PROPERTY IN WHICH THE CAMPGROUND WOULD BE LOCATED.

IT BASICALLY NULLIFIED THE NEED OF THE CONDITION, UH, RELATING TO FUTURE SUBDIVISION OF THE PROPERTY AND A REQUIREMENT TO MODIFY THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

UH, AT THE NOVEMBER 6TH BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD TABLED THIS ITEM UNTIL TODAY IN ORDER FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE SITE IN PERSON AND ACCESS THE CAMPGROUND, UM, IN AN AREA LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE SUNSET VILLAGE SUBDIVISION AND DWELLINGS IN THAT COMMUNITY TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SETBACKS AS RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION VERSUS THOSE REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT RELATING TO CONDITION 14.

UH,

[01:40:01]

UM, THE BOARD ALSO WANTED SOME TIME AT THAT MEETING TO DELIBERATE ON THE REQUEST TO CHANGE CONDITION 15 FROM 14 DAY LENGTH OF STAY TO A 30 DAY MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STAY BY CAMPGROUND GUESTS, WHICH WAS ANOTHER REQUEST MADE BY THE APPLICANT AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, DECISION TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

UH, IN THE, IN AN EMAIL TO THE APPLICANT'S LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE DATED NOVEMBER 4TH, OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM, UH, LIT SITE, MR. BOWMAN SUBMITTED AN EMAIL RELATING TO AGRITOURISM, UM, WHICH WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME UP, UM, BY THE APPLICANT AND, UH, HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

UM, OUR REPRESENT OR MR. BOWMAN STATED IN, IN PART, UH, PARAPHRASE, WITHOUT ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION INFORMATION, I'M NOT ABLE TO OPINE ON WHETHER THE PROPERTY IS A FARM OR A RANCH SUCH AS AN ACTIVITY ON THE PROPERTY COULD BE CONSIDERED AS AGRITOURISM.

MANY OF THE USES DESCRIBED IN YOUR LETTER ARE ANTICIPATED OR INTENDED AND DO NOT PRESENTLY EXIST.

HOWEVER, EVEN IF THE PROPERTY WAS USED FOR AS A FARM OR RANCH, THE OPINION OF STAFF AFTER CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL IS THAT THE PROPOSED CAMPGROUND IS A USE THAT WOULD HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SUCH THAT THE COUNTY HAS IS AUTHORIZED BY VIRGINIA CODE TO REQUIRE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

UH, HE ALSO NOTE THAT THE VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2280 8.6 DOES NOT STATE THE COUNTY IMPOSITION OF THE CONDITION IS LIMITED TO ISSUES OF HEALTH, SAFETY OR GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC.

THE VIRGINIA CODE MERELY STATES THAT REGULATIONS MUST BE REASONABLE IN ANY EVENT.

IT IS, IN MY OPINION, IS THAT A SETBACK CAN SERVE TO PROTECT HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC FROM THE PROPOSED USE.

AND I DEFER THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECISION AS TO WHETHER A SETBACK IS APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE IN, IN THIS INSTANCE.

UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING, UH, WAS HELD AT THE BOARD LEVEL AT THE LAST MEETING.

UM, AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, IT WAS TABLED FOR THOSE REASONS I'VE RECENTLY MENTIONED.

I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE THIS EVENING.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE APPLICANT, I BELIEVE HE IS, HE'S OKAY.

UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE, OR A COUPLE QUESTIONS I HAVE, UM, VDOT REPORT.

NOW, WHEN I SAW THE PAPERWORK, IT'S, IT KEPT REFERENCING RUSH JOHNSON ROAD, WHICH MR. WHALEN SHOWED ME.

THAT'S NOT WHERE IT'S GONNA COME OFF OF.

IT'S GONNA COME OFF OF ANOTHER ENTRANCE.

BUT HAS VDOT WEIGHED IN ON THAT SITE IN THE IMPACT IT'S GONNA HAVE ON SIX 19? YES.

THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED, UH, COMMENTS FOR THAT ACCESS EASEMENT TO A PROPERTY THAT WAS SUBDIVIDED, THAT WAS AT, UH, AT ONE POINT IN TIME WAS GONNA BE A SUBSTATION FOR RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.

IT, IT CURRENTLY IS STILL OWNED BY RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, BUT WE DID SEND THEM COMMENTS, UH, REQUESTS FOR THIS APPLICATION, THE CAMPGROUND, AND THEY WERE FINE WITH THE SITE DISTANCE.

THERE ARE JUST SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE, UH, ENTRANCE ITSELF.

THEY'LL HAVE TO MEET FOR AS A COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE WITH, UH, UM, RVS AND CAMPERS COMING IN.

SO THEY ARE, UH, APPROVED WITH THOSE, UH, COMMENTS.

AND THEY WOULD HAVE, IS HANOCK ELECTRIC GONNA ALLOW THAT USE? I DIDN'T SPEAK THE RAPID ELECTRIC.

THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE.

THEY ACTUALLY AT, AT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THEY, UH, MAY, THEY'VE ABANDONED THEIR PLANS FOR THE SUBSTATION AND THEY MAY, UH, PUT THE, UH, UH, PARCEL UP FOR, UH, SALE AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

SO THEY DID NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T END THE IMPACT THAT THEN THAT ROAD'S GONNA HAVE TO BE MOVED TO A LESS ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THAT TRAFFIC BLEND ON SIX 19.

THE, UM, THE ONLY OTHER ENTRANCE IS OFF OF RUSH JOHNSON AND THAT ENTRANCE NOW ACTUALLY ACCESSES THE AREA THAT THEY BOUNDARY ADJUSTED.

SO THAT WOULD ACCESS, UM, ANY SUBDIVISIONS FOR SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS THAT MIGHT BE, UH, DONE IN THE FUTURE.

SO, OKAY.

[01:45:01]

FIX YOUR MIC.

THEY, THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.

I THINK I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

IS THIS BETTER? OKAY.

SORRY.

YOU'RE GOOD.

UM, MY OTHER, MY OTHER CONCERN WAS THAT SETBACK, UM, AND I KNOW A HUNDRED FEET IS ARE STANDARD, BUT THAT ONE HOUSE IS SO DARN CLOSE THERE THAT, THAT, AND MR. WHALE AND I HAD THAT CONVERSATION OF WHICH CAME FIRST AND, YOU KNOW, BUILDING A HOUSE UP AGAINST A TOTALLY EMPTY FIELD IS DIFFERENT THAN IF THE CAMPGROUND WAS THERE FIRST.

AND I'D SAY, YEP, THEY, THEY MADE A CHOICE OF PUTTING THE HOUSE THERE.

THEY GOTTA LIVE WITH THE SAME THING.

YOU BUILD A HOUSE NEXT TO THE RAILROAD AND THEN YOU WANNA COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SOUND OF THE TRAIN.

YOU KNOW, I, UM, BUT THAT, THAT LOWERING THAT DOES 'CAUSE THEIR BACK PORCH IS RIGHT THERE LOOKING.

UM, SO THAT, THAT WAS A CONCERN OF MINE.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DID APPRECIATE BEING TAKEN OUT IN MR. WAYLON'S TIME TO SHOW ME.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY OUT THERE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

I KNOW MADAM CHAIR WHEN, UH, WHAT I MENTIONED TO MR. WAYLON ABOUT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE CLOSEST OF THE HOUSE, HE, HE ASSURED ME THAT HE WAS GONNA PUT THOSE, AND I FORGET WHAT THE NAME OF THE, OF THE, THE TREES ARE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S, YEAH, THE, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY ACTUALLY.

UM, BECAUSE I SEE IT SAYS HERE, UM, YOU CAN, UH, OR THE, THE APPLICANT WILL PLANT EVERGREEN TREES TO PROVIDE SCREENING TO BE APPROVED BY STAFF, UH, DURING THE SITE PLAN PHASE.

AND I KNOW HE'S MENTIONED THE, UH, THE GREEN GIANTS, UM, S YOUR GREEN GIANT THAT ARE ARVID.

SO I'M, I'M WONDERING ABOUT, UH, THE, THE PHRASING HERE IS, IS TO PLANT, BUT IS THERE, DO YOU HAVE A, UM, ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT THEY ACTUALLY WILL BE NURTURED AND WILL GROW AND, AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PLANT 'EM THE RIGHT WAY? UH, LIKE MAYBE LIKE EIGHT FOOT ON CENTER AND ROWS STAGGERED BY FOUR FEET, OR YOU COULD PLANT 'EM JUST HAPHAZARDLY AND THEY'LL DIE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT THAT THAT SCREEN HAPPENS THE RIGHT WAY.

SURE.

WE WOULD, UH, REVIEW THE SITE PLAN MM-HMM.

, UH, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT AS PART OF THAT.

AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING, UH, STAFF WOULD LOOK AT.

WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY, IT COULD ADEQUATELY MEET THE SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.

UH, AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY, UH, REQUIRE THE TREES TO BE A CERTAIN HEIGHT YEAH.

AT, AT TIME OF PLANTING.

UM, UH, AS FAR AS THE HEALTH OF THE TREES, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S AN INVESTMENT BY THE APPLICANT.

AND HE WOULD WANT TO SEE THOSE TREES HEALTHY.

UH, HE MAY EVEN WANT TO GET A CONTRACT.

A LOT OF TIMES LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS WILL OFFER A YEAR OF CONTRACT TO MAINTAIN THOSE TREES.

UM, AND THEN OF COURSE WE WOULD PERIODICALLY REVIEW THE CUP AND, UH, VERIFY THAT THOSE WERE FINE AND THAT THE, THE SITE WAS COMPLIANT WITH THE SITE PLAN.

IF IT IS APPROVED.

WHAT ABOUT, UM, THAT'S A FLOOD ZONE.

SO WHAT IS THE REPLACEMENT IF RIVER GETS UP, WHICH WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THE RIVER UP A LITTLE BIT, NOT IN HIS FIELD, BUT, UM, REPLACEMENT WITH, YOU KNOW, FLOODING AND FLOODING WOULD WASH THEM OUT OR, UM, THAT KIND OF THING.

IS IT, DO YOU PLANT IT ONCE AND IF IT DOESN'T GROW, WE'RE DONE OR? WELL, WE IS, AGAIN, IT'S PART OF SITE PLAN AND IF THEREFORE WAS A FLOOD EVENT THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED THE LANDSCAPING, UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

UM, THE, THE TREES WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE NFIP FEMA.

THEY COVER STRUCTURES AND, AND HOUSES.

SO, UM, IT WOULD BE ON, ON THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS DIME TO, TO DO THAT.

UM, SO WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT.

UH, TYPICALLY DEPENDING UPON, UH, YOU HAVE 'EM PLANTED, UH, YOU STAGGER 'EM, TYPICALLY YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME AREA WHERE THAT WATER CAN FLOW THROUGH OR UNDER.

UM, BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD BE THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER AND THE, THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

NO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IT WASN'T ONE AND DONE AND I MET THE REQUIREMENTS WITH IF THEY DON'T GROW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT ON HIM OR IF THEY GET WASHED OUT, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, SOMETHING TO HELP KEEP THAT COOPERATIVE FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR RELATIONSHIP THERE.

AT TIMES.

WE WILL ALSO, UH, RECOMMEND OTHER EVERGREEN TYPES SO YOU DON'T CREATE A MONOCULTURE OF TREES WHERE IF ONE'S AFFECTED BY DISEASE, THE OTHERS TEND TO, AND, AND THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH LELAND CYPRUS.

BUT, UM, UM, WE'LL REVIEW THAT AS PART OF THE, THE SITE PLAN AND, AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IF WE FEEL THAT'S NECESSARY.

WAS THE, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE, THE, THE REASONING BEHIND THAT? BECAUSE I KIND OF GOT THE, THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT WAS JUST A, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOMEBODY JUST SAID, WELL, LET'S JUST MAKE IT 150 INSTEAD OF A HUNDRED.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? YEAH, I, I WAS JUST KIND OF CURIOUS AND, UH, AND I TALKED TO THE, UH, APPLICANT ABOUT THIS, UH, THE, UH, ON THE CONDITION OF THE, THE 150 FOOT VERSUS THE A HUNDRED FOOT.

WHAT

[01:50:01]

UM, I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER WHAT SPECIFIC REASON WE HAD FOR THAT.

I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE SCREENING REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN VARIOUS ZONING DISTRICTS.

SO YOUR, YOUR SUN, UH, SET VILLAGE IS A R ONE ZONING DISTRICT, AND THIS IS AGRICULTURAL.

SO WE PROBABLY, THAT'S WHAT WE CAME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THOSE SCREENING REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTIVE AND INACTIVE BUFFERING.

UM, AGAIN, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY CONSERVATIVE, UH, AMOUNT WHEN WE, WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER.

SO, UM, THE APPLICANT HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT INITIALLY, BUT I GUESS THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THEY WANTED TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE SPACE FOR THE CAMP CAMPSITES AND THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPRESSED TO ME AFTER THE FIRST MEETING.

SO YEAH, THAT WAS ONE OF MY THOUGHTS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, I DID LOOK AT THE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE FOR CAMPGROUNDS, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OF A SETBACK OF 150 FROM A GIVEN PROPERTY LINE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IS THERE SOMETHING OUT IN AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THIS? NO, I MEAN, I, I DON'T BELIEVE FOR CAMP BROWNS, I KNOW FOR MOBILE HOME PARKS, WE DO HAVE A SETBACK REQUIREMENT FOR 150 FEET OR A HUNDRED FEET.

UH, I THINK IT'S A HUNDRED FEET, A HUNDRED FEET, SO, YEAH.

SO I MEAN, YOU, I AM, I AM KIND OF A STANDARD STANDARDIZED, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY, I GUESS.

UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW, IN THE PROPERTY ITSELF TO THE, I GUESS NORTH IT'S PRIMARILY FORESTED AREA, SO IT'S A NATURAL BUFFERING YEAH.

AREA.

SO, YEAH.

YEAH, I WAS OUT THERE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT I, IT WAS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, ARBITRARILY JUST SAYING, WELL, WE, WE THINK UN REFUTE WOULD BE BEST, BUT IF THERE'S, I I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE, ALL THE OTHER CAMPGROUNDS THAT WE HAVE OUT HERE HAD THESE TYPE OF RESTRICTIONS ON IT EITHER, YOU KNOW, SO ANYWAY, THAT, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT COMMENT UP.

ITEM EIGHT IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE THE ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER SEVEN FOR THE FORMATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUESTS OF SOUTH FORK RIVERSIDE CAMPGROUND LLC, WITH CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO DELETE CONDITION NUMBER 13 ON CONDITION 14, TO DECREASE THE SETBACK FROM WEST PROPERTY LINE OF 150 FEET TO A HUNDRED FEET TO CAMPSITES, AND 75 FEET TO THE CAMPGROUND ROAD.

AND CONDITION 15 TO LIMIT THE STAY OF GAS BY FOUR 14 DAYS TO 30 DAYS MAXIMUM.

THE CHOICE OF ALL, OH, THAT'S JUST A NOTE TO MY PERIOD.

[J. Consent Agenda]

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM EIGHT FOR DISCUSSION.

ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? HEARING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM EIGHT? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

[J.8. Authorization to Advertise - Ordinance Adding Chapter 7 for the formation of a Warren County Library Board - Richard Jamieson , Board of Supervisors - North River District , Victoria Cook, Board of Supervisors - Fork District ]

THE REASON I'M PULLING THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT THE, THE WORK DR.

JAMON AND MRS. COOK HAVE DONE ON THIS ITEM.

UM, I'VE, I ALWAYS THINK THAT IT IS OKAY FOR MEMBERS OF ANY ORGANIZATION TO HAVE, UM, DISCUSSION AND TO AGREE TO DISAGREE.

THAT'S HOW YOU

[01:55:01]

LOOK AT DIFFERENT AVENUES OF THOUGHT AND YOU DON'T STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND KEEP GOING DOWN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S ON THE COLLATERALS AND DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THINGS.

AND, UM, I'VE, I JUST CAN'T GET ON BOARD WITH THIS.

I'VE, I THINK FROM, I, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER THE LIBRARY WHEN IT WAS ON CHESTER STREET.

I GREW UP HERE AND I, I REMEMBER THAT MY GRANNY USED TO TAKE ME TO IT AND THAT I REMEMBER WHEN MY CHILDREN, UM, I WENT TO V AVENUE AND TOOK THEM THERE.

AND, UM, GROWING UP IN BROWNTOWN, WE EVEN HAD A LITTLE LIBRARY THAT WAS AN EXTENSION AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE.

AND I USED TO, UM, SUMMERS AND WEEKENDS, UM, WORK THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THE TOWN LIBRARY ALL THE TIME.

SO IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THAT.

AND MY MOM AND COLONEL, PERA'S WIFE, BETTY PERNA AND SOME OTHER MOMS IN THE NEIGHBOR IN THE VILLAGE KNEW THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING WE NEEDED.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT WENT BY THE BAY WAYSIDE, BUT, UM, I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

SO, UM, WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE SMALL AND I STARTED TAKING 'EM TO V AVENUE, I THOUGHT, WELL, GEE WAS YOU CAN RENT VIDEOS.

I WAS LIKE, I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU COULD GET RID VIDEOS INSTEAD OF JUST BOOKS.

UM, HOW IT HAD EVOLVED.

AND, UM, HONESTLY, UNTIL I GOT ON THIS BOARD, I JUST HAVE TO BE HONEST, I HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE NEW LIBRARY BECAUSE MY TIME WAS DEDICATED TO, UM, TAKING CARE OF THE ELDERLY FAMILY, TAKING CARE OF MY KIDS, UM, HELPING MY HUSBAND ON THE FARM.

WE TOOK THAT OVER AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO TO THE LIBRARY.

AND I GOT ON THIS BOARD AND THE VERY FIRST BUDGET MEETING THAT THE LIBRARY STAFF CAME IN AND THEY PRESENTED ALL THIS STUFF AND I THOUGHT, THEY HAVE LOST THEIR MIND WITH ALL THESE REQUESTS.

THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS.

AND WE WHITTLED IT DOWN WITH THEM.

THEY DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THEY WANTED AND IT, BUT IT WAS A PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

UM, AFTER GETTING ON THE BOARD, WHICH I SIT ON THE BOARD AS A REPRESENTATION NOW I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND I SEE ALL THE PROGRAMS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME MEETINGS THERE.

THE POA MEETING I HAD, WE'VE HAD SOME JOINT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THERE WITH THIS BUILDING COMMITTEE.

THAT WHOLE SUN AREAS FULL OF KIDS THAT ARE SITTING THERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TUTORING THAT THEY ARE OFFERING.

I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT TO ME WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA AT THEIR HOME.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO FILLING OUT FORMS, GETTING THINGS NOTARIZED, THAT'S WHERE THEY GO.

UM, OTHERWISE, AND THEN THEY'RE ON A FIXED BUDGET.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE GETTING THERE.

AND I, I WANT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT OF EVERYTHING.

I 100% SUPPORT THAT FROM ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD ON EVERYTHING.

I THINK THAT IS ONE THING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON, THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT TO THE MOST EFFICIENT AND TRANSPARENT WAY THAT, THAT WE CAN.

UM, I HATE RAISING TAXES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FIRE AND RESCUE, UM, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COST, WE CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND, AND PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER AND NOT BE PAID WELL FOR IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT'S GOT A JOB THAT DOESN'T EXPECT TO GET A RAISE EVERY NOW AND THEN.

UM, AND FOR UNFORTUNATELY IN GOVERNMENT THAT COMES OUT OF THE PAY, PAY, UM, POCKETS OF THE TAXPAYERS AND EQUIPMENT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT, AND I, I JUST CAN'T GET ON BOARD WITH THIS IS, IS I KNOW IT COST A LOT TO RUN A LIBRARY, BUT WITH WHAT THEY'RE GIVING US, I JUST DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN DO IT CHEAPER.

AND I JUST, I CAN'T BE A PART OF TEARING UP THIS COMMUNITY BY PUTTING, DOING THIS.

I JUST, I CAN'T.

UM, I THINK THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

UM, I FELT BETTER.

I WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH THE LIBRARY AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN I MET WITH THEM, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THEM.

I, THEY DUG IN A LITTLE BIT AND I FELT THEY SHOULD HAVE COMPROMISED A LITTLE SOONER, BUT THEY DID.

AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE MET MY EXPECTATIONS ON THOSE COMPROMISES AND I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM A LITTLE MORE BEFORE GOING

[02:00:01]

TO THIS EXTENT.

AND THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL FEELING ON THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT.

I COULDN'T VOTE FOR THIS CONSENT AGENDA AND THAT BE A PART OF THIS.

SO THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT.

I RESPECT EVERYBODY.

HERE'S VOTE WHICHEVER WAY YOU DO IT, BUT FOR ME, I JUST, I CAN'T VOTE TO THE AFFIRMATIVE OF THIS.

SO I WELCOME ANY OF YOUR THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT AND THEN I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION.

SO, UH, UH, MADAM CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE, UH, THAT THIS MOTION IS TO, UH, AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, FOR THE, UH, UH, FOR THIS MM-HMM.

SO I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUTHORIZE THE ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER SEVEN LIBRARY BOARD OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

[K. Resolution - Establishment of the Warren County Finance Board - ]

MOVING ON TO ITEM K.

UH, IT'S A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY FINANCE BOARD.

IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE? I, I'M SORRY.

NO.

NEW BUSINESS, UM, THAT WAS ADDED IN ITS AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING.

IF I CAN JUST SAY ONE THING ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS, THIS IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY FINANCE BOARD, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TODAY ABOUT, UM, WORKING WITH THE TREASURER AND REVIEWING OUR INVESTMENTS AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENTS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

YEAH, SORRY FOR I WOULD ADD ONTO THAT 'CAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND SOME EMAILS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH RECENTLY.

WHEN I KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL, WE HAVE THIS BIG DEBT TO PAY DOWN AND I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY WE SPEND A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO REDUCE OUR DEBT.

UM, AND IT HAPPENS A LOT IN CLOSED SESSION.

UH, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE AN OPEN SESSION, YOU CAN GO LOOK AT THE WORK SESSION FROM FEBRUARY 29TH.

MM-HMM.

AND SEE US TALK WITH, UH, AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT FOR A GOOD HALF AN HOUR ABOUT, UH, TRYING TO GET A BETTER INTEREST RATE TO REFINANCE SOME OF THE LOANS.

AND, UH, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I THINK WE'VE PAID OFF A GOOD AMOUNT OF DEBT.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

LIKE, LIKE $30 MILLION OR SO, SO, YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO, SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS BOARD IS AS THEY'RE BRINGING BOTH POWERS TOGETHER.

SO IS THERE A MOTION I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPT THE, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A COUNTY FINANCE BOARD? YES.

THE RIGHT ONE SECOND.

[L. Additional New Business]

UH, MR. BUTLER, I THINK YOU'VE GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND READING THAT.

I, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE FOR ADVERTISING AND ORDINANCE ABOLISHING THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD.

DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

I WAS GONNA SAY ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

MR. SCOTT, AYE, UH, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL OBJECTION? I'M SORRY.

DO YOU WANT, UH, MR. HAM TO GIVE A LITTLE EXPLANATION OF THOSE TWO ITEMS SO THAT IT'S CLEAR? I WAS GONNA SAY IF HE FEELS COMFORTABLE, I KNOW I WAS GONNA, SO WE, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT INVESTMENT OF COUNTY FUNDS AND THOSE ARE, I CAN SAY ANYTHING I WANT NOW.

I'M NOT JASON HAM ANYMORE.

SO, UM, UM, I'LL GET IT.

THE DISCUSSION OF, OF, UH, INVESTMENT OF COUNTY FUNDS AND THE, UH, VIRGINIA CODE PROVIDES THAT THIS BOARD CAN CONSTITUTE A WARREN COUNTY FINANCE BOARD, WHICH IT HAS DONE.

IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT, UH, IF THE BOARD ESTABLISHES ONE AND THEN ABOLISHES ONE, THAT THE POWERS OF THE FINANCE BOARD INSTEAD OF BEING IN IN THREE INDIVIDUALS, UH, CONTROL ARE IN THE CONTROL OF THE ENTIRE BOARD.

AND GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF INVESTMENT OF COUNTY FUNDS, THE, THE, I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD ULTIMATELY WILL DECIDE IN DECEMBER TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, ABOLISH THE FINANCE BOARD THAT WAS JUST CREATED SO THAT THEN THE BOARD WILL HAVE THE POWERS OF THAT FINANCE BOARD.

AND THOSE POWERS ARE LARGELY, UM, THE RIGHT TO GET, UH, REPORTS FROM

[02:05:01]

THE TREASURER ON, ON THE BALANCES OF THE COUNTY ACCOUNTS EVERY MONTH.

AND, UH, THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THAT, UH, FUNDS BE INVESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN STANDARDS.

THANK YOU SIR.