Jan 07, 2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting

[B. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]

[00:00:11]

FATHER, WE THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF, UH, BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THERE, WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY THAT HAVE TAKEN THE, THE CHOICE TO SET ASIDE AND SACRIFICE THEIR TIME, FATHER TO SERVE AND THE CAPACITY OF, OF SUPERVISOR AND, AND THOSE THAT ARE HERE THAT SUPPORT THEM.

AND SO WE PRAY FOR THEM FOR, UH, FOR GREAT WISDOM.

WE PRAY FOR THEM TO HAVE THE DISCERNMENT AS THEY LOOK TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL, UH, HELP WARREN COUNTY TO, TO THRIVE AND TO GROW AND TO BE ALL THAT YOU HAVE ENVISIONED FOR THEM.

WE ASK, UH, AGAIN, JUST A SPECIAL BLESSING ON OUR TIME, YOUR WATCH, CARE AND SAFETY.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN OUT JUST WORKING HARD FOR THE LAST, UM, 48 HOURS, JUST MAKING IT, UM, SO THAT WE COULD BE HERE TONIGHT.

AND SO WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THEM AS WELL.

WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SUCH A GRAND PRIVILEGE TO LIVE IN SUCH A GRAND NATION AND UH, AND SUCH A GREAT STATE AND SUCH A GREAT COUNTY.

AND WE ASK, UH, AGAIN, YOUR BLESSING ON THIS BOARD THIS EVENING AND, UH, ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO PRESENT AND TO, UH, SPEAK INTO THE ISSUES THAT ARE THERE.

AND WE THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, REVEREND.

JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE, IE.

TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD.

THANK YOU.

FIRST ORDER

[C. Election of Officers: (Chair and Vice Chair)]

WE WILL SELECT A CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR THE 2025 YEAR.

FOR EACH OFFICE, I WILL TAKE NOMINATIONS AND BOARD MEMBERS WILL VOTE ON THE NOMINATIONS IN THE ORDER THEY ARE MADE UNTIL WE HAVE A MAJORITY VOTES.

NOMINATIONS.

DO NOT NEED A SECOND.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN.

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS MRS. COOK? YES.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, UM, MR. BUTLER FOR THE CHAIRMAN FOR 2025.

IS THERE A VOTE? MR. HENDERSON? UH, MRS. COOK? AYE.

DR.

JAMESON? AYE.

MRS. S AYE.

MR. BUTLER? AYE.

MR. STATEMENT? AYE.

THANK YOU.

I WILL NOW TAKE NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR.

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? MRS. COOK? YES.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE MR. STAN MEYER FOR OUR VICE CHAIR FOR 2025.

ROLL CALL.

MR. HENDERSON.

MRS. COOK? AYE.

JAMESON AYE.

MR. SCHOLARS? AYE.

MR. BUTLER? AYE.

MR. STAN? AYE.

NOMINATIONS BEING, ELECTIONS BEING COMPLETED, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

SO, UH, DR.

DALEY, AT THIS POINT, UH, THIS WILL BE JUST A, A LITTLE BIT OUT OF, UH, ORDER ON THE, UH, AGENDA BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS D AND THEN THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA IS E BUT I KNOW THAT, UH, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, I'D LIKE

[E. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]

AND, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? YES.

UH, CHAIR.

UM, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE

[00:05:01]

DELETE ITEMS D AND I 12 AND ADD ITEM J, CONSIDERATION OF REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE AND ADD ITEM K, RATIFICATION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

MRS. COOK? AYE.

DR.

JAMISON? AYE.

MR. CHAIRMAN? AYE.

MR. STAN MEYER.

AYE.

MRS. S OKAY.

SO THE NEXT

[F. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit) (Part 1 of 2)]

AND SEE THERE'S A, I DON'T HAVE THE SHEET.

UH, I DO NEED A, UH, UH, A SHEET THAT GOES OVER THE, THERE WE GO.

PERFECT.

OKAY.

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

BE CONSIDERED OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.

THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING, OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION OF THE PROCEEDING.

UH, 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 A VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE BOARD MEETING ROOM.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION MATERIALS USED AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION OF THE BOARD AT THE HEARING.

THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS BY ANYONE ON, ON ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROCEEDINGS.

ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE GUIDELINE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE BY THE CHAIRMAN.

AND FAILURE TO LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING WHEN ASKED TO DO SO IS IN VIOLATION OF WARREN COUNTY.

CODE 56 DASH FOUR, END CODE OF VIRGINIA 18 DASH TWO DASH FOUR 15 IS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF UP TO $2,500 AND A JAIL SENTENCE OF UP TO 12 MONTHS, EITHER OR BOTH.

SO, UH, MR. HENDERSON, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, SPEAKERS LINED UP? UH, YES, SIR.

FIRST UP IS JOHN JENKINS.

YEP.

GOOD EVENING.

JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.

UM, WANNA MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS ABOUT THE TAXES AND THE BUDGET.

UH, THIS IS, I REVIEWED A LOT OF INFORMATION OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO ON THE WARREN COUNTY WEBSITE, AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH, UH, IT'S 67% OF THE MONEY NEEDED FOR THE BUDGET COMES FROM REAL ESTATE TAXES.

UH, THAT'S WHY MY TAX, I GUESS, JUST CONTINUES TO RISE.

UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, THE AUDIT FOR THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN DONE UNTIL AFTER FEBRUARY, UH, PAST TWO YEARS.

SO BY THE TIME YOU GET THE BUDGET FOR 20 23, 20 24, YOU'LL BE LOOKING TO TRY TO WORK ON THE BUDGET FOR 25 26.

SO HOW CAN YOU DO THAT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO REVIEW HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT FOR THE, FOR A YEAR PRIOR AND THEN FOR THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY IN? SO BY THE TIME YOU GET AROUND TO FORMALIZING A BUDGET AND APPROVING IT, YOU, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW THE SPENDING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHICH THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

BUT I MEAN, I, YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO AND I KNOW IT'S TOUGH.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO ACCOUNT FOR, UH, TYPICALLY ON THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR, UH, DEPARTMENTS WILL SPEND WHAT MONEY'S LEFT OVER JUST SO THEY CAN GET THE SAME AMOUNT OR MORE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

UH, THAT, THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

REC THE DOCUMENT STATED THAT THE BUDGET OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS HAS INCREASED 50.5%.

THAT'S A LOT.

IF YOU WERE MAKING $60,000 10 YEARS AGO AND YOU WERE NOW MAKING DOUBLE THAT YOU'D BE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE.

I DON'T THINK ANY FAMILY IN, UH, THE COUNTY'S BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

UH, WHILE RESEARCHING ALL THIS INFORMATION, THERE WAS A DOCUMENT ABOUT THE DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES, 19 PAGES.

19 PAGES OF NAMES OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT PAID HER TAXES, SOME THAT DATING BACK AS MUCH AS 2004, 20 YEARS.

SO I GOT TO LOOKING AT THAT AND I TOLD MYSELF, I SAID, JOHN, WHY ARE YOU PAYING YOUR TAXES? WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT MONEY AND YOUR WIFE GO ON A VACATION AND FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, AND PROBABLY BY THAT TIME, WE WON'T BE AROUND ANYWAY, SINCE YOU LET PEOPLE GO 20 YEARS WITHOUT SEIZING HER PROPERTY.

UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

I BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD PAY THEIR TAXES.

COUNTY CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT 'EM.

THE WAY THAT YOU

[00:10:01]

, HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

NEXT UP IS DAVID DOWNS, MR. CHAIRMAN DAVID, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS DAVID DOWNS, ONE 60 OLD BROWNTOWN ROAD, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.

AS 2025 BEGINS THE 1250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR, I WANT TO THANK THE WARREN COUNTY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR SUPPORTING THE RELOCATION OF THE WAR MEMORIAL IN FRONT OF THE, UM, COURTHOUSE, WHICH WAS DONATED BY THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

YOUR SUPPORT IS IS ALSO APPRECIATED IN THE ANNUAL RECOGNITION OF OUR COUNTY'S NAMESAKE, DR. JOSEPH WARREN.

IN JUNE THIS YEAR, THE COLONIAL JAMES WOOD, TWO CHAPTER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WILL DEDICATE A STONE BENCH TO PATRIOTS BURIED IN WARREN COUNTY, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES, UH, UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL THOMAS MARSHALL, WHO SERVED AS A MAJOR AT THE BATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE, VIRGINIA.

UH, ANOTHER FAMOUS HISTORICAL, UH, REVOLUTIONARY EVENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE, IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

UM, I, I, I KNEW, I BELIEVE IT WAS HIS GRANDFATHER, ELLIOT MARSHALL BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.

AS ONE OF OUR VERY ESTEEMED AND VERY RESPECTED CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES, A DEBT OF GRATITUDE IS ALSO OWED TO COUNTY PLANNING DIRECTOR MATT WILDING AND TOURISM MANAGER LESLIE BOWERY, FOR COORDINATING OUR COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION, UH, WITH THE VA TWO 50 TO SHOWCASE VIRGINIA'S KEY ROLE IN THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION AS THE MOST POPULATED AND INFLUENTIAL OF THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES.

VIRGINIA'S ROLE IN THE CREATION OF OUR COUNTRY WAS SECOND TO NONE.

WARREN COUNTY HAD THE LIKES OF CAPTAIN THOMAS BUCK FROM WATER LAKE, WHO MUSTERED BUCK'S MINUTEMEN OF THE EIGHTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN THE JUNE EVENT WITH THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

THE, THE AMERICAN, THE, UM, SONS OF LIBERTY, UH, THE SONS OF THE RELU, UH, AMERICAN REVOLUTION, UH, WARREN COUNTY, WHILE STILL A PART OF FREDERICK COUNTY UNTIL 1836 WAS REPRESENTED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON IN THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES BETWEEN 1758 AND 1765.

WITHOUT SUCH IANS LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, JAMES MADISON, GEORGE MASON, PATRICK HENRY PEYTON, RANDOLPH EDMUND, RANDOLPH GEORGE, WITH, WOULD WE EVEN HAVE THE GREAT EXPERIMENT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT THAT WE ENJOY TODAY? IT'S A RHETORICAL QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK WE WOULD SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ROYAL EXAMINER FOR INFORMING US OF THESE LOCAL AND STATE EVENTS.

MOST RECENTLY, THEY PUBLISHED THE, UM, 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FINN CASTLE RESOLUTION, WHICH COMES UP ON JANUARY THE 20TH.

AND, UM, MOST RECENTLY NOTING THE, UM, UH, UM, OTHER HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.

I WANNA THANK THE WARREN COUNTY HERITAGE SOCIETY IN SAMUELS LIBRARY FOR PRESERVING, ARCHIVING AND SHARING OUR LOCAL HISTORY FOR THE PUBLIC AND, AND PASSIONATE LOCAL HISTORY AND HISTORIANS LIKE LARRY JOHNSON, UH, THE LIBERTY MAN AND DALE COREY, FOR KEEPING HISTORY LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LAST THOUGHT, I HOPE IN THIS SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR, THE COMMON ANCESTRY THAT WE ALL SHARE WILL HELP BRING US TOGETHER AND FORGE A MORE PERFECT COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

NEXT UP IS SCOTT JENKINS.

UH, I DO, UH, I DO WANT TO SAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT I DO WANNA SAY, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TWO, THREE MINUTES OR LESS.

LESS.

OKAY.

SCOTT JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, UH, I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

UH, I WANNA RAISE AWARENESS, UH, TO A MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

IT'S THE FINAL PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE LATEST UPDATE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THAT DOCUMENT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

I ASK EACH OF YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR TO RAISE AWARENESS OF WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT.

WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT OUR COUNTY IS FACING? AND YOU'RE GONNA BE FACED WITH MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS ON, ON IMPORTANT TOPICS LIKE HOUSING, JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, COUNTY SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND

[00:15:01]

I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THAT AND A LOT OF NEED, UH, COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

YOU KNOW, WE ONLY SUCCEED WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, AND THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO READ THE DOCUMENT, LOOK THROUGH THAT, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE KEY COMPONENTS ARE, UH, AND HOW THEY FIT TOGETHER.

UM, ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL THINGS THAT RUNS THROUGH THE DOCUMENT IS THE NEEDS FOR SOLUTIONS TO MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER.

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE FOR HOUSING, FOR SCHOOLS, FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE NEED SOLUTIONS TO THOSE THINGS.

THEY'RE TOUGH DECISIONS, UH, AND NOT ALWAYS GOOD OPTIONS, BUT YOU ALL ARE IN A POSITION TO DRIVE THOSE DECISIONS, EVALUATE THE OPTIONS, UH, AND LEAD.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

USE THAT AS A WORKING DOCUMENT THROUGHOUT YOUR TERM AND CONTINUE TO PULL THE PUBLIC INTO IT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS NANCY SMITH.

NANCY SMITH, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT, AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY A BIT.

UM, I ATTENDED THE LAST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING WHERE YOU UNEXPECTEDLY VOTED TO TAKE OVER SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BY APPROVING THE FORMATION OF A WARREN AND COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.

THERE WERE 116 INDIVIDUALS WHO SPOKE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION 110 INDIVIDUALS SPOKE AGAINST THE CREATION OF THE LIBRARY BOARD, AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S 86% WHO OPPOSED THE FORMATION OF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, 86%.

I THOUGHTFULLY PREPARED MY COMMENTS.

I NAIVELY BELIEVED THAT YOU WOULD LISTEN TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS, THAT YOU WOULD WEIGH ALL THAT WAS SAID, AND THAT YOU WOULD TABLE THE VOTE SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A WISE AND CAREFUL DECISION THAT THAT WASN'T THE CASE.

IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT STAN MEYER, BUTLER, JAMESON, AND COOK HAD ALREADY MADE THEIR DECISION BEFORE THE MEETING, IF I WAS A BETTING PERSON, I'D SAY THAT THE THREE OF YOU COM COMMUNICATED WITH EACH OTHER ON WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY AND HOW YOU WERE GONNA VOTE DURING THE TIME FOR SUPERVISOR RESPONSES.

MR. STEINMEYER, I COULD SEE THE TYPED SHEET THAT YOU READ FROM THAT WAS PREPARED BEFORE YOU EVEN LISTENED.

AND MR. BUTLER, YOU, YOU SHARED, AT LEAST I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD TALKED TO YOUR, YOUR WIFE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND SAID THAT IT WAS, THERE WAS GONNA BE A LONG MEETING AND THAT, UM, SHE ASKED WHY YOU EXPLAINED.

AND SHE SAID, WELL, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S AN EASY DECISION.

THERE SHOULD BE A, A, A BOARD OF LIBRARY BOARD, MRS. COOK.

YOU ALSO READ FROM A PREPARED SCRIPT, MR. JAMESON, YOU HAD A OVER 30 MINUTE PREPARED POWERPOINT.

YOU CLEARLY HAD YOUR MIND MADE UP AFTER YOUR PREPARED SPEECHES, MS. COLOR PUT FORTH A MOTION TO TABLE THE VOTE.

NOT ONE OF YOU WOULD EVEN SECOND THE MOTION.

YOU WOULDN'T EVEN PERMIT A VOTE TO GO ON RECORD ABOUT TABLING THE VOTE.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TABLE IT? WE DESERVE AN EXPLANATION BY YOUR ACTIONS.

YOU'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T VALUE OR RESPECT PUB PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I FIND THAT VERY TROUBLING AND ALARMING.

I ALSO FIND IT FRUSTRATING AND UNACCEPTABLE THAT I'VE SENT SOME EMAILS TO MY SUPER SUPERVISOR, MR. STAN MEYER, AND I'VE NEVER GOTTEN A REPLY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE BUSY, BUT HAVEN'T MAYBE AN AUTOMATIC REPLY.

SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET PEOPLE TO HAVE PUBLIC OR WEIGH IN ON PUBLIC COMMENTS WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN CARE WHAT WE SAY.

UH, COUNSELOR, JUST WANTED TO, JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT FROM YOU THE, WE'VE GOT, UH, UH, CAN WE INTERRUPT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD RIGHT NOW FOR MR. CARTER? UH, THAT'S THE PREROGATIVE OF THE CHAIR.

OKAY.

[G. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney. (Part 1 of 2)]

THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S FINE.

OKAY.

MR. CARTER,

[00:20:09]

AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND MR. MEYER FOR YOUR TAKING YOUR NEW POSITIONS.

I HOPE AT THE END OF THE YEAR YOU'RE JUST AS HAPPY ABOUT IT.

, UH, I'M, I'M GONNA MAKE MINE BRIEF.

I, I SENT OUT, THERE'S A, A RATHER LENGTHY LIST OF THE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR REPORT.

AND I'M, I GONNA BORE YOU WITH READING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT BOARD ISSUES, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME UP SINCE THE, UH, HIGH KNOB LIGHTS HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONFUSION, UM, ABOUT WHAT THEY MEAN.

PEOPLE WHO THEY WERE PUT IN TO BE ACTIVATED.

ONLY WHEN SOMEONE IS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO HIGH KNOB AND PEOPLE, I THINK WERE USED TO SEEING THEM BLACK BLINK ALL THE TIME.

SO THEREFORE, WHEN THEY GO THROUGH IT, IT'S NOT BLINKING.

NOBODY'S MAKING THE LEFT HAND TURN.

IT'S NOT ACTIVATED.

SO OUR, OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS, WE MEET WITH THEM, UH, TOMORROW AND WE'RE GONNA SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME WAY TO BETTER EXPLAIN THAT.

WE PUT TOGETHER A SMALL VIDEO AND PUT IT OUT ON OUR FACEBOOK FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THAT KIND OF DEMONSTRATES HOW IT WORKS AND, AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING'S GONNA TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL MESSAGING TO, TO CLEAR THAT UP.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CALLS FROM THE FOLKS THERE THAT, THAT ARE SOMEWHAT CONFUSED BY IT.

UH, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, SIR.

WOULD YES, SIR.

IT BE POSSIBLE TO PUT A SIGN UP THERE THAT SAYS ONLY BLINKS WHEN LEFT HAND JUROR IS BEING MADE? WELL, THAT'S WHAT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING IS GOING TO.

OKAY.

REVIEW TOMORROW.

WE MEET WITH THEM IN THE MORNING.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND THEN, UH, THE ONLY OTHER ITEM IS THAT, UH, WE HAD SCHEDULED TO START, UH, THE, UH, WILLIAM VINCENT RULE RUSTIC PROJECT ON THE SECOND.

I DON'T KNOW IF CONTRACTORS GOT MOVED IN.

OBVIOUSLY THE ICE AND THE SNOW HAS SET US BACK A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT AS SOON AS WE, THE WEATHER PERMITS WILL BE IN THERE ON THAT ONE, THAT'S THE ONLY ONE YOU HAVE SCHEDULED THIS YEAR.

OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT EITHER ANYONE HAS THAT THEY'D LIKE FOR ME TO GET SOME INFORMATION FOR OR, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN ON THE WILLIAM VINCENT ROAD? UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THOSE THAT, UM, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE OF INCREASED SPEEDS AND, UM, THOSE WHO WANT IT BECAUSE THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE, ARE NEEDED FOR, UM, VEHICULAR, YOU KNOW, DAMAGE AND JUST GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS.

IT'S A DIRT ROAD AND IT, UM, FULL OF POTHOLES.

AND ONE, UH, RESIDENT SAID YOU GUYS COME IN AND FIX 'EM AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO THEY'RE RIGHT BACK, WHICH WE ALL KNOW, YOU KNOW, POTHOLES ARE, THAT'S THEIR NATURE.

BUT JUST FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING, UM, THERE IS NO INTENT.

THE ROAD IS NOW A 35 MILE PER HOUR ROAD, AND THAT WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

THAT IS CORRECT.

UH, THE STATUTORY LIMITS ON GRAVEL ROADS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA SET BY THE LEGISLATION IS 35 MILES PER HOUR.

THE STATUTORY LIMITS SET ON, UH, UH, RURAL RUSTIC ROADS IS ALSO SET AT 35 MILES PER HOUR.

SO THE CURRENT, UM, AND I'VE, I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A SPEED SIGN, UH, THAT SAYS 35.

WE POST THAT AT, AT THE, UH, WHENEVER WE DO A RULE RUSTIC, WE POST ONE ON EACH END.

OKAY.

THAT SAYS 35 MILES PER HOUR.

OKAY.

UM, I'VE HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS TELL ME THE ROAD'S NOT POSTED, AND I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE SIGNS WERE PUT UP.

SO WE, WE CAN, WE DON'T POST THEM ON THE GRAVEL ROADS BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MANY, I'VE GOT 334 MILES OF IT IN, IN JUST MY FOUR COUNTIES.

OKAY.

SO EVEN IF THERE'S NOT POSTED, IT'S STILL 35.

IT'S STILL 35.

THAT'S STATUTORY.

AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE POSTED WITH A PHYSICAL SIGN UP THERE TO BE ENFORCED.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS MADE STATUTORY BY LEGISLATION.

OKAY.

AND TO CHANGE THAT LEGISLATORS, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU AS VDOT CAN, CAN DO? NO.

THAT'S SPECIFICALLY A, A LEGISLATIVE EFFORT.

YES, MA'AM.

OKAY.

MY OTHER QUESTION IS THE, UM, SMART SCALE MONEY THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON, UH, THREE 40 FROM THE CAVERNS UP TO ROCKY LANE SOMEWHERE IN THAT POSITION? YES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THOSE ARE GONNA START? I, I DO NOT HAVE THAT SCHEDULED, BUT I CAN GET IT AND EMAIL IT TO YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I WILL DO THAT.

AND FINALLY, I DO HAVE A BENTONVILLE SIGN, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM,

[00:25:01]

IT DID, BUT IT'S UP THERE.

I, I HOPE IT STAYS.

I, I KNOW PEOPLE TEND TO LIKE TO TAKE SIGNS WITH PARTICULAR NAMES.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THEM, BUT I GUESS SOMEBODY'S BEDROOM HAS A LOT OF SIGNS.

UH, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU GOT IT UP AND, UM, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE VDOT CREWS HAVE, HAVE DONE SINCE THE SNOW EVENT.

UM, GLAD WE DIDN'T GET 12 INCHES, BUT, UH, I, I AM TOO.

I'M, I'M GLAD THEY MISSED IT.

UH, THE MOST I'VE SEEN RECORDED IS EIGHT.

UH, BUT THE, UH, WHAT MAKES THIS SNOW SO BAD IS THAT, UH, THE TEMPERATURES.

OKAY.

WE, ESPECIALLY ON OUR SECONDARY ROADS, MANY OF OUR SECONDARY ROADS, IF IT'S GRAVEL OR IF IT IS RURAL RUSTIC, WE CANNOT APPLY SALT.

OKAY.

IT JUST MAKES THE ROAD COME APART.

SO THE BEST WE CAN DO IS GET AS MUCH OF THE LOOSE STUFF OFF AND THEN PUT STONE DOWN, UH, NUMBER NINES OR NUMBER EIGHT STONE DOWN, YOU KNOW, TO, TO TRY AND KEEP IT SO PEOPLE HAVE SOME TYPE OF TRACTION.

WE CANNOT PUT CHEMICALS ON THEM.

ARE YOU USING MORE SAND THIS YEAR VERSUS, I'M SORRY, UH, AGGREGATE FOR THE ROAD? IT LOOKED LIKE THE TRUCK THAT I SAW HAD MORE SAND ON IT THIS YEAR.

HAVE YOU CHANGED FROM NO.

UHUH WE'RE STILL USING, UH, EIGHTS AND NINES, WHICH IS, UH, NINES IS A REALLY FINER, FINER STONE THAN AN EIGHT MM-HMM .

SO.

OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

YES, MA'AM.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CRUISE.

UH, GOOD WORK WITH PUSHING THE SNOW.

UM, PARTICULARLY IN, UH, SHADO SHORES ROAD AT ROLLISON, THERE'S THAT HILL AND CURVE THERE, HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL, INCLUDING FOR SURGERY AT 6:00 AM AND, AND YOUR CREWS UPON REQUEST HAD IT DONE BY LIKE FIVE 15 IN THE MORNING.

SO THANK YOU.

WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME.

YEAH, WE, UH, WE GOT THE CALL.

WE HAVE, UH, WE MOBILIZED AT A LEVEL FOUR, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, UH, 98% OF THE ALL THE RUBBER TIRED EQUIPMENT WE HAVE.

IF, IF SOMETHING COMES IN THAT'S HIGHER THAN THAT, WE GENERALLY GO TO TRACK STUFF.

AND OF COURSE WE DON'T WANNA PUT TRACKED ON THERE FOR THAT TYPE OF SNOW.

BUT WE HAD, UH, IN, IN MY FOUR COUNTIES, WE HAD OVER 500 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WORKING AT ONE TIME, AND A GOOD BIT OF IT WAS DEDICATED TO KEEPING, UH, OUR INTERSTATE AND OUR PRIMARY OPEN WHILE IT WAS SNOWING.

AND WE GOT IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, AND THEN THAT SECOND ROUND CAME THROUGH.

AND SO WE WERE, WE DIDN'T GET TO EVERY SECONDARY AS QUICK AS WE WANTED TO, BUT WE STILL MADE IT WELL WITHIN OUR BEST PRACTICES.

SO, AND WE'LL STILL BE OUT THERE.

IT'S FROZEN AND WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK AND, YOU KNOW, APPLY.

IF IT'S PAVEMENT, WE CAN APPLY CHEMICALS.

IF IT'S, IF IT'S REAL RUSTIC OR IF IT'S STONE, WE WILL HAVE TO APPLY JUST THE, UH, STONE DOWN.

WELL, WE, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

YOU, SIR.

UH,

[F. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit) (Part 2 of 2)]

JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS STILL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

SO YES, SIR.

I WASN'T ADDED TO YOUR AGENDA, SO I FIGURED THIS WAS THE EASIEST WAY TO KEEP YOU ALL ON TRACK AND RESPECT WHAT YOU DO.

UM, I DO HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT.

I'VE BEEN BATTLING PNEUMONIA, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GET THIS OUT, UM, ON HERE.

SO, UM, AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND HEARING ME OUT.

UM, I WANNA BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THIS BOARD COUNTY STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE AS WE NAVIGATE THE ACTIVE INVESTIGATION SURROUNDING THE DISCOVERY OF SUSPECTED EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL AND DEVICES LAST THURSDAY.

TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT, THIS CASE INITIALLY BEGAN AS A MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT INVESTIGATION.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING DURING THE EXECUTION OF A SEARCH WARRANT THAT A SUSPICIOUS ITEM WAS OBSERVED.

AT THAT POINT, ALL PROCESSING OF EVIDENCE WAS HALTED AND THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF AND FIRE MARSHAL WERE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED.

SUBSEQUENTLY, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES WERE CALLED IN TO PROVIDE THEIR EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY.

THIS INCIDENT HAS UNDERSTANDABLY DRAWN CONCERN AND EVEN CRITICISM FROM SOME INDIVIDUALS.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS THE TIME THEY NEED TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS NOT A PROCESS THAT CAN OR SHOULD BE RUSHED.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE CASE MUST

[00:30:01]

JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, I WAS HONORED BY THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY WHEN I WAS ELECTED AS SHERIFF.

THAT TRUST HAS EMPOWERED ME TO LEAD THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN PROVIDING THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES EVERY DAY.

OUR TRAINED AND CERTIFIED DEPUTIES RISE TO THE CHALLENGE HANDLING INCIDENTS RANGING FROM THE ROUTINE TO THE MOST CRITICAL WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION.

IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY I TAKE SERIOUSLY IN ONE.

I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY.

I STAND FIRMLY BEHIND MY STAFF AND ALL THE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME TO ASSIST US DURING THIS INCIDENT.

THE MEDIA RELEASE I ISSUED WAS CAREFULLY DRAFTED TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

WHILE IT MAY BE FRUSTRATING TO SOME, THESE INVESTIGATIONS REQUIRE CAREFUL COORDINATION, DETAILED ANALYSIS, AND TIME FACTORS, SUCH AS SECURING SEARCH WARRANTS, PROCESSING EVIDENCE, CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS AND WORKING WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES ARE ALL INTEGRAL PARTS OF THIS PROCESS.

THE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT OCCURRED SEVERAL COUNTIES AWAY, WHICH ADDS FURTHER COMPLEXITY AND TIME.

I RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT YOUR CRITICAL ROLE IN ESTABLISHING COUNTY POLICY AND ENSURING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, PUBLIC SAFETY FALLS UNDER MY PURVIEW AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WARREN COUNTY'S RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY.

I WANT US TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN OUR RESPECTIVE ROLES AND TRUST IN THE PROFESSIONALS TRAINED TO HANDLE THESE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.

MOVING FORWARD.

I ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP.

LET US STAND UNITED IN OUR SHARED GOAL OF KEEPING WARREN COUNTY SAFE AND SUPPORTING THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO PROTECTING AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

FINALLY, I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION.

WHILE I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS TO DIRECT THEM TO MY OFFICE, I WANNA CLARIFY THAT AS SHERIFF, I AM NOT OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO EVERY INQUIRY.

THIS IS NOT OUT OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT RATHER DUE TO THE NECESSITY OF PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF INVESTIGATIONS, SAFEGUARDING SENSITIVE INFORMATION, AND ADHERING TO LEGAL STANDARDS, MY PRIORITY REMAINS THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THIS COMMUNITY IN ENSURING THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SHERIFF KLEIN.

UH, NEXT UP IS BETHANY O'NEILL.

HELLO, BETHANY O'NEILL.

I'M IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.

I'M A SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDHOLDER, AND OF COURSE, I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT'S, UH, MY SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY.

I REALLY SHOULD BE AT HOME LOGGING, READING HOURS RIGHT NOW FOR THE WINTER READING PROGRAM THROUGH SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

BUT I WANTED TO EXPRESS HOW BUMMED I AM THAT AFTER THE HOURS LONG MEETING WHEN YOU VOTED TO CREATE A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, I FEEL LIKE YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS IT SEEMED YOU HAD MADE UP YOUR MIND BEFORE THE 100 PLUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.

I AGREE WITH NANCY WHO SPOKE EARLIER.

HOW CAN WE FEEL CONFIDENT OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENT IF IT'S SO BLATANTLY EVIDENT WHAT YOUR AGENDA IS? THANK YOU.

UH, NO OTHER SPEAKERS, SIR.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UH, SO, UH, REPORTS FROM, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, MS. COOK.

OH, THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE A A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT THE, UM, THE INCIDENT AT EASTMAN PARK ON THURSDAY EVENING.

EVENING.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE, UM, SHERIFF KLEIN HAD COME UP AND, AND MAKE HER COMMENT, UM, HER COMMENTS, I SHOULD SAY.

AND I JUST WANT TO LET MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED ME AND EMAILED ME WITH QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, AS MS. KLEIN HAS POINTED OUT THAT I HAVE, I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, ABOUT, UM, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THESE TYPE OF EVENTS WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE INVESTIGATIONS TO OUR, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.

I THINK THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON, ON THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS VERSUS, UM, OUR, UM, COUNTY OFFICIALS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN, IN INFORMING SOME, INFORMING OUR COMMUNITY OF THINGS THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN.

SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT TO MY CONSTITUENT.

I HAVE SENT QUESTIONS TO SHERIFF KLEIN THAT SHE HAS RESPONDED THAT SHE WILL GET BACK TO ME ON 'EM.

UM, AND I DO HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS THAT

[00:35:01]

UH, I, I'M, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS, I DON'T WANNA MAKE AN ASSUMPTION HERE WITH THE BOARD, UH, HOW WE DO THIS, BUT WHEN I GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US KNOW THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M SENDING AND ALL OF US GET THE RIGHT RESPONSES AT THE SAME TIME.

SO, UM, IF WE CAN TALK LATER HOW WE CAN PUT A PROCESS TOGETHER AND HOW TO DO THIS SO WE CAN ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE, AND WE ALL ARE KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THAT SHERIFF KLEIN REALIZES THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN OUT THERE AND, AND, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TRY TO MINIMIZE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, DR.

JAMISON.

I HAVE NO REPORT, MR. UH, STAN MEYER.

AND JUST A COUPLE THINGS.

UM, FIRST, UH, I MAKE AN EFFORT TO READ EVERY EMAIL AND LISTEN TO EVERY VOICEMAIL.

UM, I DON'T ALWAYS REPLY.

I'VE REPLIED TO SOME PEOPLE ABOUT THE LIBRARY ON, ON BOTH SIDES.

UM, I APOLOGIZE, UH, TO MISS, UH, NANCY SMITH FOR NOT REPLYING TO YOUR PERSONALLY.

UM, THAT WAS AN OVERSIGHT.

UM, I'LL WATCH OUT FOR FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE FROM YOU.

UM, ALTHOUGH IN LINE WITH WHAT THE SHERIFF SAID, REGARD HER, HER DUTIES, UM, WE CAN'T ALWAYS, AND SHOULDN'T ALWAYS BE EXPECTED TO REPLY TO EVERY SINGLE CORRESPONDENCE.

IT, IT JUST DEPENDS.

AND, AND FRANKLY, THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN A SMALL SLICE OF MY ATTENTION, UH, IN THE PAST QUARTER.

UM, SO MOVING ON TO ANOTHER COMMENT, UH, JUST THE, THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I WOULD ECHO THAT THE, THE HEARING TOMORROW IS IMPORTANT, WHICH, UH, MR. JENKINS SAID IN PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, AND I WOULD ASSURE HIM THAT, UH, MYSELF AND, AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED ALREADY ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN A VACUUM, UH, WITHOUT OUR ATTENTION, UM, MEETING MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, PRIVATELY AND AS A GROUP.

UM, AND, UH, DEFINITELY PUTTING INPUT INTO THAT PLAN, UH, PARTICULARLY ON WATER.

IT'S ONE THING THAT I BROUGHT UP, UM, AS, AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS THAT CONSTITUENTS HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED ON THAT.

UM, AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S IT.

THAT'S, UH, UH, YEAH.

ONE OTHER THING REGARDING THE, UM, THE CONTROLLED, UH, DETONATION AND, AND THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THAT.

UM, I GOT SOME CONSTITUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

UH, I, I WAITED TILL THERE WAS A PRESS RELEASE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS PUBLIC PUBLICLY SHAREABLE INFORMATION.

BUT AS SOON AS I SAW THAT PRESS RELEASE, I ANSWERED SOME QUESTIONS.

UM, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SYSTEM TO GET EVERYBODY THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THAT SAID, I, I DO WANT TO, UH, COMMEND SHERIFF KLEIN.

UM, I HAVE TALKED TO HER PRIVATELY ABOUT THIS, AND I, I THINK SHE'S, UH, DOING A GREAT JOB.

IT'S A, IT'S A TRICKY SITUATION.

SO THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU, MS. SCHOLARS.

THANK YOU.

UM, TOURISM COMMITTEE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, JUST A VERY INFORMAL MEETING TO BASICALLY PLAN OUR NEXT MEETING AND TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND, UM, DISCUSS OUR INDIVIDUAL EXPERTISE AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THAT IN THE FUTURE.

ON JANUARY 2ND, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE RECOVERY COURT'S FIRST GRADUATION.

UM, TWO INDIVIDUALS GRADUATED AFTER, I THINK IT WAS 15 MONTHS OF 15 OR 16 MONTHS OF, UH, VERY INTENSE PROGRAM FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.

AND, UM, THEY ACCOMPLISHED THAT AND HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALLY 400 AND SO MANY DAYS FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL OF SOBRIETY AND 500 AND SOME FOR THE OTHER.

SO, UM, VERY HEARTWARMING, UM, TO SEE PEOPLE IN A PROGRAM THAT HAS WORKED FOR THEM.

AND THEY'VE GOT QUITE A FEW OTHERS IN THE PROGRAM IN DIFFERENT STAGES.

I THINK IT'S FIVE DIFFERENT STAGES THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

UM, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROGRAM.

SO I CONGRATULATE THEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING MANY MORE OF THESE.

UM, JUDGE FUNK, UH, DID A REALLY NICE JOB OF, UM, OVERSEEING THAT GRADUATION AND, UH, VERY PROUD MOMENT FOR THE FAMILIES THAT OF THESE, UM, TWO INDIVIDUALS.

SO, AND OTHER THAN THAT BEING SICK OVER THE HOLIDAYS, I MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THAT I HAD PLANNED ON GOING, UH, COUNTY WISE.

BUT, UM, UH, DID GO TO A COUPLE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS BREAKFASTS WITH SANTAS COMPANY TWO, COMPANY FIVE.

[00:40:01]

AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE BREAKFAST, SO IF THEY HAVE MEALS, ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO SUPPORT THEM, BUT THEY, THEY PROVIDE A NICE MEAL AS WELL.

OTHERWISE, I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, FOR THE JOB THAT THEY'VE DONE GETTING US THROUGH THE SNOWSTORM.

THAT'S, UH, ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO DO THAT.

FIRE AND RESCUE AS WELL.

I KNOW FIRE AND RESCUE HAS BEEN QUITE BUSY BETWEEN REX ON 66 AND THE TRAINS.

UM, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING COUPLE OF DAYS TO SAY THE LEAST AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

AND, UM, AS FAR AS THE INCIDENT, UM, I RESPECT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I TRUST OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I KNOW WE ARE ALL INQUISITIVE AND WE WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

UM, BUT I NEVER WANNA TAINT, UM, AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION BY DEMANDING TOO MUCH INFORMATION BEFORE WE NEED THE INFORMATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT WE NEED TO, TO BE PATIENT AND, UM, THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THE NUMBER ONE THING IS IT WAS, IT WAS HANDLED WITHOUT ANYONE BEING INJURED.

AND THAT IS NUMBER ONE FOR ME, IS INDIVIDUAL SAFETY, NOT ONLY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE AND WE ALL NEED TO PRACTICE IT A LITTLE BIT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU MS. CALLERS.

UM, UH, COUNSELOR, I JUST WANTED TO CHECK WITH YOU ON SOMETHING.

I DON'T THINK THAT I PROPERLY CLOSED THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

I DIDN'T ASK IF THERE WAS ANYBODY IN THE, IN THE, UH, AUDIENCE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK.

UM, SO WELL, I THINK YOU CAN DO THAT NOW.

OKAY.

UH, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS WHO'S NOT SIGNED UP? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED, AND I WILL, UH,

[G. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney (Part 2 of 2)]

UH, WE, UH, I ATTENDED A, UM, UH, A, UM, A FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

THIS IS, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF, OF DECEMBER.

AND THE, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT MS. COOK, SHE'S THE, UH, HEAD OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

SHE'S, UH, SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB ON THAT.

UH, ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT SHERIFF, SHERIFF KLEIN'S JOB IS, IT'S, IT'S A PRETTY TOUGH JOB AND I THINK SHE'S DOING A, A GREAT JOB AT IT, AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE TIME, THE EFFORT THAT SHE PUTS INTO IT.

SO THE, UH, AND I ALSO WANTED TO, TO COMMENT THAT, UH, UH, I DO APPRECIATE THE, UH, UH, THE HARD WORK THAT THE, UH, UH, UH, ROADS, YOU KNOW, THE, THAT THE, UM, UH, FOLKS, UH, TAKE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ROADS ARE SAFE AND CLEAR.

SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

DR.

DALEY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

LET ME CONGRATULATE YOU AND MR. STEINMEYER ON YOUR ELECTIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR.

AND I WANT TO THANK MRS. CALLERS FOR ALL HER WORK THIS PAST YEAR.

UM, YOU EACH HAVE IN YOUR PACKETS, YOU HAVE AN INVITATION FROM THE FRONT ROYAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR A DINNER NEXT SATURDAY.

UM, WE WILL BE POSTING THIS SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND, UH, LAST YEAR, MRS. COLORS, AND I MISSED THIS INVITATION AND DIDN'T GET IT TO YOU, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK AT YOUR PACKET AND SEE IT TONIGHT SO THAT YOU HAVE IT.

UM, SECOND, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHERIFF KLEIN IN THE INCIDENT LAST WEEK, I WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MRS. COLORS CAN REMEMBER WHEN I'VE HAD TO POINT OUT THAT THIS HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THIS HAND IS DOING.

AND LAST THURSDAY, LATE THE EVENING ABOUT CLOSING TIME, UM, I GOT A CALL FROM CHIEF PANZANO THAT AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD INTERCEPTED A VEHICLE AND THAT THAT VEHICLE WAS LEAVING THE COUNTY AT THE TIME, AND THAT IT WAS A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT.

UM, I DID NOT THINK ANY MORE OF IT ABOUT, SO THIS HAND WAS OVER HERE AND WENT ON ABOUT THE JANUARY 2ND BUSINESSES OF THE DAY.

AND, UH, ABOUT, UH, NINE O'CLOCK I GOT A CALL FROM JANE MINNOWS SAYING THAT THERE

[00:45:01]

I INTERPRETED THAT OVER HERE AGAIN, THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS PREPARING A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

SO I DID NOT THINK TO CALL YOU UNTIL THAT CAME OUT FRIDAY MORNING.

UM, I LEARNED THAT PEOPLE HAD, PEOPLE HAD HEARD THIS AND THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ET CETERA, AND THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD POSTED THIS RELEASE.

THE SHERIFF AND THE PROSECUTION OF THIS CASE, THE INVESTIGATIONS, THAT'S A SEPARATE MATTER.

THAT'S A MATTER AS A STATE OFFICER, THEIR OFFICE CONDUCTS IT.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

THE BOARD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

BUT THIS HAND SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT YOU KNEW IT.

AND THAT'S MY FAULT.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CALLING YOU THURSDAY NIGHT TO SAY, HEY, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING.

I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, BUT I, I DID KNOW CHIEF DID TELL ME THAT THEY HAD INTERCEPTED THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE WORKING WITH FEDERAL.

AND I THOUGHT IN MY NAIVETY THAT THE FEDERAL PEOPLE WERE HANDLING THE DISPOSITION AND THAT WE WERE, THEY WERE IN CHARGE IN ESSENCE OF IT, AND THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING.

SO THAT'S MY FAILURE FOR NOT CONTACTING YOU THERE.

UM, CHANGING SUBJECTS, IT'S BEEN A BUSY PAST MONTH AND LOTS OF THINGS GOING AROUND.

AND WE'VE HAD ONE DAY WEEKS, TWO DAY WEEKS, ONE DAY OFF, TWO DAYS OFF, WEEKENDS IN BETWEEN, ET CETERA.

SO IT'S BEEN KIND OF CONFUSING FOR THE LAST FOUR WEEKS, IF YOU WILL.

SO AT THE DECEMBER 10TH MEETING, UM, OUR IT CON DEPARTMENT CONTACTED SWAGGART SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT THE RECORDING WINDOW WAS EXTENDED UNTIL 5:00 AM TO HAVE THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THE FOLLOWING DAY.

SWAGGART NOTIFIED IT THAT THEY HAD NOT CAPTURED ALL OF THE FOOTAGE.

THEY WERE MISSING ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

THEIR SYSTEM HAD GONE DOWN ABOUT NINE 15.

SO IT WAS ABLE TO USE OUR BACKUP SYSTEM AND RECOVER MOST OF THIS, THAT THAT WAS LOST MISSING FROM SWAGGART EXCEPT ABOUT 40 MINUTES.

SO WE WERE STILL MISSING 40 MINUTES AND WE UPLOADED THAT TO SWAGGERT.

WE ALSO PUBLISHED A NOTICE THAT THIS 40 MINUTES WAS LOST AND THAT SWAGGART HAD MISSED THE FOUR HOURS.

THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, WHICH WE'RE NOW UP TO DECEMBER 16TH IS WHERE WE ARE.

IT LEARNED THAT THE LIBRARY HAD THE COMPLETE MEETING FOOTAGE AND MR. JONES REACHED OUT TO THE LIBRARY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

I SAW EMAILS TO THE LIBRARY TRYING TO OBTAIN THE FOOTAGE.

AND IT TURNED OUT THE WOMAN WHO HAD THAT WAS ON VACATION THAT WEEK WE'RE IN THE CHRISTMAS WEEK CARE.

SO WE KEPT WORKING THAT, BUT WE COULDN'T GET THE LINK.

ON DECEMBER THE 23RD, WHICH WAS THE FOLLOWING MONDAY OF CHRISTMAS WEEK, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE ROYAL EXAMINER HAD THAT MISSING FOOTAGE AND WE CONTACT THEM AND WE'RE NOW INTO THE 24TH.

SO WE'RE IN THE CHRISTMAS LAPSE IN THERE, AND THEY GOT IT TO US ON THE 27TH.

WE LOST A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE, BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND THE DAY AFTER IN THERE.

AND WE, THEN OUR STAFF WAS ABLE TO

[00:50:01]

'CAUSE THAT THEN WENT, WE GOT IT ON FRIDAY, AND ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY WE GOT IT TO SWAGGART.

THEY THEN HAD TO DOWNLOAD IT, WHICH, OR UPLOAD IT, WHICH APPARENTLY TAKES ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 30 HOURS.

AND THEY DID THAT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT IT ALL OF IT UP ONLINE, BUT IT DIDN'T GET THERE UNTIL THE FIFTH.

SO WE, WE WERE TRYING TO GET THAT, BUT WE HAD A NUMBER OF DELAYS IN THAT.

THAT'S OUR FALL FOR KEEPING AFTER IT.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF, UH, EMERGENCIES COME UP AND PEOPLE WERE UNAVAILABLE AND THOSE THINGS ALL PLAYED INTO IT.

BUT WE DO HAVE IT ALL NOW AND WE APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION FROM THE LIBRARY AND FROM, UH, THE ROYAL EXAMINER AND HELPING US GET THIS BLESS COMPLETE.

IS THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, UH, ANY, I MEAN, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SWAGGART, IF THEIR, IF THEIR SYSTEM WENT DOWN, UH, ARE WE GETTING RE ANY REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THAT OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT WAS, THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOUR, UH, IT COMMITTEE.