[00:00:03]
AND TODAY[B. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
IS TUESDAY, UH, SEPTEMBER THE 16TH.AND, UH, WE'RE READY TO BEGIN BEFORE I HAVE, UH, AND PASTOR HAROLD BROWN IS PASTOR HAROLD BROWN HERE.
BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH PASTOR HAROLD BROWN, I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO, UM, UH, A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR, UM, THE, THE PASSING OF, UM, UM, I'M HAVING A BRAIN LOCK RIGHT NOW.
CHAR CHARLIE KIRK, YOU MAY NOT HAVE NO, YOU MAY NOT HAVE AGREED WITH HIS POLITICS.
BUT HIS APPROACH, WHICH WAS DIALOGUE, AND IT WAS NOT, HE NEVER DID ANY FOR THE SHOOTING VICTIMS. WHAT ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS IN MINNESOTA? WHAT ABOUT MY MINNESOTA? SO THE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE MOUNT VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
IT'S ONCE AGAIN, WE COME IN YOUR PRESENT.
FIRST OF ALL, TO SAY THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TOGETHER THIS EVENING TO BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THIS COUNTY.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS COMMITTEE AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE, THAT ALL THAT WILL BE SAID AND DONE WILL BE A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU WATCHED OVER US UP UNTIL THIS EARLY POINT IN TIME.
WE THANK YOU FOR BLESSING OUR CHILDREN AS THEY GO TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND OUR TEACHERS AND WATCHING OVER THEM AS WELL.
BUT WE JUST ASK THAT ALL THAT WILL, WOULD GO ON HERE TONIGHT, THAT IT WILL BE IN DECENCY IN ORDER.
NO ONE WILL BE UPSET OR NO ONE WILL BE OVER-CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAPPEN.
BUT WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE GIVE YOU THE HONOR, THE GLORY AND PRAISE IN JESUS' NAME.
SO WE'VE GOT A, UH, A SLIGHT TECHNICAL HOLDUP 'CAUSE SUPERVISOR, UM, STAN MEYER IS, UH, HE'S OUT ON PERSONAL BUSINESS, BUT HE IS ON, UH, UH, REMOTE.
AND AS SOON AS WE GET HIM UP ON THE SCREEN HERE, UM, HE WILL, UH, STATE WHERE HE IS AT AND YOU KNOW WHY HE IS THERE.
SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME FOR JUST A, JUST A MINUTE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I, I CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, I CAN STILL STATE, I GUESS, WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'M IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA FOR PERSONAL BUSINESS.
AND, AND MR. CHAIRMAN, THE, THE RULE IS THAT HE HAS TO BE HEARD.
HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SEEN, SO, OKAY.
SO JUST AS LONG AS WE CAN HEAR YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR, OUR MEETING.
SO THE, UM, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AMERICA, WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA IS THERE, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, UH, WENDELL WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR DELETE FROM THE AGENDA? UH, WE HAVE, I BELIEVE THREE, I'M COUNTING THEM HERE.THREE OR FOUR CAN GET THEM TO SEPARATE ADDITIONS.
ONE BEING, UH, ITEM N ONE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES, ROUTE LLC AND M 17, APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF SUPERVISOR REPRESENTATIVE
[00:05:01]
TO THE RSW JAIL BOARD.M 18 HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, FOR YEAR 2026, TRAFFIC SERVICES, M 19 HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, FOR YEAR 2026, ALCOHOL.
ANY OTHERS? SO, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOTION THAT WE ADD THOSE ITEMS TO THE PRESENT AGENDA.
[D. Presentation - Superintendent David Martin update on Warren County Public Schools]
WE'VE GOT, UH, A, UH, PRESENTATION BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.SO THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ARE STANDING OVATIONS, WHICH, UM, THE WARREN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, FFA CHAPTER HAS MADE HISTORY BY EARNING THE NATIONAL CHAPTER AWARD FOR GOLD RATING WITH THREE STARS.
THIS IS THE HIGHEST HONOR A CHAPTER CAN RECEIVE FROM THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN WARREN COUNTY'S HISTORY THAT ANY FFA CHAPTER HAS ACHIEVED THIS DISTINCTION.
AND THEY WILL BE, UM, RECOGNIZED AT OUR MEETING TOMORROW.
UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, THERE ARE THERE OTHER FFA THINGS COMING FORWARD BECAUSE OUR FFA CHAPTERS ARE EXPANDING AND OUR AG CHAPTERS ARE EXPANDING, AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE CHICKENS AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
SO WE'RE KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AND DEVELOPING THAT PROGRAM.
UH, THE NEXT STANDING OVATION I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS SRO, DEPUTY BROWN, AS YOU KNOW, UM, WE PUT AN SRO AT THE, UM, ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL THIS YEAR, AND LO AND BEHOLD, UM, DEPUTY BROWN NOTICED THAT ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WAS RIDING HIS BICYCLE TO SCHOOL WITH NO SEAT AND A BENT BACK RIM.
THE NEXT WEEK, OFFICER BROWN BOUGHT HIM A BICYCLE SO HE COULD RIDE TO SCHOOL, SO HE GETS A STANDING OVATION.
UM, AND NOW, UM, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'LL SEE CLIPPED TO YOUR, UH, UPPER LEFT HAND PAPERCLIP.
THIS IS AN ATHLETIC PASS NORTHWEST DISTRICT TO ALL OF OUR ATHLETIC GAMES.
YOU ARE A PARTNER WITH US IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE WANT YOU TO COME SEE THESE KIDS PERFORM ON ANY ATHLETIC FIELD, UH, BOTH HOME AND AWAY.
SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US.
AND THE LAST STANDING OVATION IS, UM, FOR MY FRIEND DR.
ED DALEY, WHO'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, BEING A ACTING SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, UM, HE WAS EXTREMELY WELCOMING.
UH, WE DID A LOT OF HEART-TO-HEART TALKS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT WITH BRAD AS WELL.
SO I HAVE RECEIVED, UM, AND THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED THE GEOTECHNICAL REPORT, UH, AND THAT'S GONNA BE OFFICIALLY SHARED TOMORROW NIGHT AT OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
AND TONIGHT I WILL, OR TOMORROW NIGHT, I WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO THEM THAT WE REPAIR THE COURTS FOR THE UPCOMING TENNIS SEASON.
NOW, THIS IS A REPAIR, SO OUR TENNIS, UM, ATHLETES CAN HAVE A SEASON, WHICH WILL START IN FEBRUARY.
UM, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY AFTER READING THIS REPORT THAT WE COULD DO THE NECESSARY LONG-TERM THINGS IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE READY IN FEBRUARY.
BUT I, I'VE COPIED SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT.
UM, THESE ARE THE MAIN FIVE THINGS THAT THE, UH, REPORT TALKED
[00:10:01]
ABOUT.ONE IS, UM, THERE'S SOIL CONSOLIDATION DUE TO IMPROPER COMPACTION, UH, HEAVE AND SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH SOIL MOISTURE, UH, IMPROPER AND INSUFFICIENT COMPACTION OF THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT ITSELF WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED.
UH, THERE'S POOR SURFACE DRAIN, UH, POOR SURFACE DRAINAGE, UH, DIRECTING WATER BENEATH THE COURT AND THEN COMPROMISING, UH, THE FOUNDATION OF THOSE COURTS AS WELL.
AND THERE IS ASPHALT DETERIORATION DUE TO AGE.
I ANTICIPATE THAT, UM, FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET AND OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN, UH, WE WILL HAVE A LONG-TERM FIX OUT OUTLINED IN THAT PLAN.
UM, SO UNTIL THE BOARD TAKES ACTION ON THAT, I WANTED THE BOARD WANTED YOU TO KNOW, UM, AND I REALLY CAN'T RELEASE THE REPORT TO YOU UNTIL MY BOARD SEES IT.
SO I OTHERWISE YOU WOULD'VE HAD IT TONIGHT.
I WILL BE SURE THAT BRAD HAS A COPY, UH, AFTER TOMORROW NIGHT.
UM, SO YOU'LL HAVE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
LET'S TALK ROOFS FOR JUST A MINUTE.
SO IN YOUR PACKET, WE HAD A ROOF CAPITAL SUMMARY DONE IN MARCH, AND THIS WAS DONE BY THE GARLAND COMPANY.
AND THIS IS A SUMMARY AS YOU LOOK AT THIS.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN OUR ROOFS.
SOME HAVE MEMBRANES, SOME HAVE ASPHALT, SOME HAVE BOTH.
UM, BUT OUR TWO PRIORITY ROOFS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ARE HILDER J BARBER AND SKYLINE MIDDLE.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THESE, UM, IT'S, YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE.
WHAT BOTH OF OUR, SOME OF OUR, EXCUSE ME, HAVE BOTH THE MEMBRANE AND SOME HAVE ASPHALT.
SO THE PRICES ARE SEPARATED ON HERE.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T NEGATE WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO THE ROOFS.
UM, MAINLY ALL OF OUR ROOFS ARE LEAKING AND WE HAVE POTS AND PANS ON RAINY DAYS.
UM, I LOVE RAIN AND I WISH WE WERE GETTING SOME, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
UH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA COMPROMISE THE, THE ROOF SITUATIONS, BUT I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION, UM, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE AN OVERALL PLAN IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
I DON'T WANNA, UH, BELAY THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN, BUT THIS, THE ROOF SITUATION, UM, WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR US.
AND WHEN THAT, UH, FINDS ITS WAY INTO ABILITY, THEN WE HAVE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
SO, UM, THIS IS GONNA COME FORWARD WITH SOME URGENCY.
SO THE OTHER SURPRISE YOU HAVE TONIGHT IS THE DOCUMENT, WHICH IS A COPY OF OUR APPROVED 25 26 BUDGET.
THIS IS A LINE BY LINE, UH, DEPICTION OF OUR BUDGET.
UM, I ANTICIPATE THIS WILL BE UP ON OUR WEBSITE VERY SOON SO THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW ALL THE LINES OF OUR BUDGET.
UM, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
UM, WE WANNA MAKE THIS AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
UH, NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE WILL TAKE, FOR ME, WE WILL TAKE A VERY DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT SHAPE TO IT, UH, AS YOU SEE THAT ONLINE.
BUT IT'LL ALSO COMPARE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WHAT THE INCREASES DECREASES ARE, AND SO ON.
BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS ASKED, RICH, WE HAVE 11 UNFILLED POSITIONS.
CAN I TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE LAST YEAR, THIS TIME I'M TOLD WE HAD QUITE A LOT MORE.
SO WE HAVE 11 UNFILLED POSITIONS.
AND YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH ALL THAT MONEY ON 11 UNFILLED POSITIONS? WELL, IF THEY'RE UNFILLED, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO PUT SUBS IN THERE.
SO WE ARE PAYING THOSE PEOPLE A SUBSTITUTE RATE.
UM, 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE SUBS TO, TO WORK WITH THE KIDS.
SO AS PROMISED, I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TAKE A BUS TOUR ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER THE NINTH.
I THINK WE STARTED ABOUT NINE O'CLOCK.
UM, MY INTENT WILL BE TO, UH, TAKE YOU TO BLUE RIDGE TECH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH, AND PROBABLY END UP HAVING LUNCH, UH, UM, AT A HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:15:01]
DON'T WORRY, WE WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ALL THE STUDENTS, JUST TEASING.UM, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE ONE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO POINT OUT OUR CHALLENGES IN THESE BUILDINGS, BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
I WANT TO TAKE YOU INTO CLASSROOMS. WE'LL PROBABLY SPLIT YOU UP SO WE DON'T OVERWHELM THE CLASS.
UM, THEY WILL KNOW THAT YOU'RE COMING, BUT THEY MAY NOT KNOW, OR THE TEACHERS WON'T KNOW WHICH ROOMS YOU'RE GONNA GO IN.
UM, BECAUSE WE JUST WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE YOUR PICTURE TAKEN.
THERE'LL HAVE TO BE A BADGE THAT SAYS YOU'RE A VISITOR.
UM, SO EVERYBODY WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE, UM, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR EVERY VISITOR.
UM, IT'S PART OF OUR SAFETY PROTOCOL.
AND THE LAST ITEM THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS THE PROPOSED, UH, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR.
AND AS YOU WILL NOTE, UM, I'M HOPING THAT THE A JOINT WORK SESSION WILL BE BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ON NOVEMBER THE 13TH AND DECEMBER THE EIGHTH.
IT WILL BE MY HOPE THAT BEFORE I LEAVE THAT WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET.
NOW, WHEN I SAY BUDGET, IT'S GOING TO BE A PARTIAL BUDGET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA KNOW ALL OF THE STATE REVENUES BY THAT TIME.
WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, UM, BUT WE WON'T HAVE THE SENATE'S BUDGET.
BUT ONCE WE HAVE THOSE, THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT WILL THEN, IF THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE, UH, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE WORKED OUT WHERE THE REDUCTIONS NEED TO BE.
BUT WE, I JUST WANNA HAVE THAT PLAN SO THE NEW PERSON CAN REALLY START, UM, AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND AS I SAID LAST MONTH, THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY TO YOU WHEN I MAKE THESE PRESENTATIONS IS, HAVE YOU HEARD ANY GOOD RUMORS ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM LATELY? 'CAUSE I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.
REALLY, WE'VE KEPT EVERYTHING UNDER WRAPS FROM YOU, HUH? HMM.
UM, I WILL JUST TELL YOU, UH, IN TERMS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, 'CAUSE I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.
UH, TOMORROW NIGHT, THE IN THE SEARCH FIRM OF MCPHERSON JACOBSON WILL BE MEETING WITH THE BOARD AND GIVING THEM RESULTS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS INPUT AND THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT THEY HAD.
AND THEN ON THE 24TH, UM, THEY HAVE SCHEDULED A CLOSED SESSION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS APPLICATIONS.
[E. Public Comment Period for Items on the Agenda (30-Minute Time Limit)]
IS THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SHALL BE LIMITED TO 60 MINUTES DIVIDED INTO TWO 30 MINUTE SEGMENTS.
THE FIRST 30 MINUTE PERIOD IS LIMITED TO COMMENTS PERTAINING TO ITEMS WHICH ARE ON THE MEETING AGENDA NOT ADDRESSED IN PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THE SECOND 30 MINUTE PERIOD IS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES FOR ANY ONE SPEAKER.
SPEAKERS MAY ONLY SPEAK ONCE PER MEETING AND MAY NOT SPEAK DURING BOTH COMMENT PERIODS.
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 WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE BOARD MEETING ROOM.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION OR MATERIALS USED AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION OF THE BOARD AT THE HEARING.
THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS BY ANYONE OR ANY, UH, ON ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROCEEDINGS.
ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE BY THE CHAIRMAN.
FAILURE TO LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING WHEN ASKED TO DO SO IS IN VIOLATION OF WARREN COUNTY CODE 56 DASH FOUR VIRGINIA CODE 18.2 DASH 4 4 15.
AND IT'S SUBJECT TO A FINE OF UP TO $2,500 IN A JAIL SENTENCE OF UP TO 12 MONTHS OR BOTH.
FINALLY, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE IN YOUR COMMENTS.
YOUNG CHILDREN MAY BE VIEWING THIS SESSION EITHER IN PERSON OR LATER ONLINE, AND PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY HAVE LESS TENDENCY TO TAKE YOUR COMMENTS SERIOUSLY IF INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE IS USED.
THANK YOU FOR CO YOUR COOPERATION.
AND DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? UH, YES SIR.
[00:20:18]
HELLO, LOUIS MOTON, NORTH RIVER.UM, FIRST OFF, THERE ARE TWO AGENDAS FLOATING OUT IN THE AUDIENCE AND NEITHER OF THEM GO PAST 16.
UM, SO IT'S QUITE INTERESTING WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT UP THERE.
UM, SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, THE, UH, DOC DR.
JAMESON COMING TO THIS, UH, FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING AND ACTUALLY PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA THAT I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, I THOUGHT MR. MEYER WOULD BE THERE WITH THIS ECONOMICS DEGREE, BUT I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD ON ON THAT BOARD AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE STILL MISSING MINUTES FROM MAY AND JUNE AND WE DON'T HAVE THE UPDATED AGENDA THAT WAS, UH, CHANGED DURING THAT MEETING AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE AUDIO RECORDINGS ARE AVAILABLE.
I I SAW LIKE A RECORDING DEVICE ON THE TABLE EVERY TIME THAT I GO.
I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THAT ON SNA IT AND JUST WATCH THE VIDEOS AND NOT HAVE TO COME IN.
UM, IT'S LIKE THE TOWN CAN DO IT WITH ALL THEIR COMMITTEES.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T DO THE SAME.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, I, I DID SEE THE CEILING STILL FALLING APART, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE SENIOR CENTER FLOORING.
UH, I VOLUNTEER MANY DIFFERENT PLACES AND THE SENIOR CENTER, THEY WERE VERY DISHEARTENED COMING IN THERE WHEN, UH, THEY COULDN'T COME INTO THEIR BUILDING AT FIRST.
AND NOW THEIR FLOORING HAS HAD AN ISSUE FOR MONTHS NOW.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU OWN THE BUILDING.
THERE'S SOME KIND OF ISSUE WITH WHO'S RESPONSIBLE.
ALL I KNOW IS OUR SENIORS DON'T LIKE IT.
ANY HI, UM, KATHLEEN MANCINI, UH, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
I WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR 12 YEARS.
I LEARNED THAT WHEN YOU ACT PETTY, VINDICTIVE, DIVISIVE, AND DISHONEST, YOU ARE NOT ACTING ACCORDING TO CHRISTIANITY.
AND JESUS CHRIST SAID, GIVE UNTO CAESAR, WHAT IS CAESAR'S? GIVE UNTO GOD.
YOU SHOULD GIVE UNTO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S BUT GIVEN UNTO THE LIBRARY, THE MONEY FROM TAXES THAT WE IN THIS COUNTY PAY TO SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY, TO DO ANYTHING ELSE IS DISHONEST, DIVISIVE, AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
THAT IS NOT WHAT CHRISTIANITY LOOKS LIKE.
THAT IS WHAT PETTY SELF-INTEREST LOOKS LIKE.
AND NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE OUR HARD EARNED TAXPAYER MONEY FROM THE LIBRARY AND GIVE IT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTY ARE STILL PAYING OFF THE LAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? EMBEZZLEMENT, YOU SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF YOURSELVES FOR CARRYING ON THE HISTORY OF THAT CORRUPTION IN OUR COUNTY.
SINCE THIS COUNTY HAS DEFUNDED OUR LIBRARY AND DEFUNDED SHENANDOAH FARMS, I WOULD LIKE A REFUND ON MY TAXES.
IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE MONEY ON WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SPEND IT ON, IT SHOULD GO BACK INTO MY POCKET, NOT YOURS.
STOP BEING DISHONEST, DIVISIVE AND IRRESPONSIBLE FROM THE LIBRARY OR REFUND OUR TAXES.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUP, SIR.
[M. Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAS WONDERING, I HAVE, UM, SOME REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK THAT CAN GIVE US MORE, UH, DETAILS ON ONE OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED THEM TO PRESENT NOW OR WAIT AND, UH, I'LL PULL THAT ITEM OFF.THAT'S THE LAND ACQUISITION, LAND ACQUISITION ON IT'S ITEM NINE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[00:25:01]
GONNA BE STARTING OUR, UM, UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS IN ABOUT, UM, WHAT IS IT, TWO MINUTES? YEAH.NO, WELL GO AHEAD MS. MELOW, IF YOU WANNA APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.
IF YOU CAN, UH, AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE OR ANYTHING, BUT IF YOU CAN MAKE IT AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.
'CAUSE WE'D LIKE TO START PUBLIC HEARINGS AS CLOSE TO SEVEN 30 AS POSSIBLE.
I CAME HERE MORE PREPARED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON, UM, THE PROPERTY.
I'LL START TO SAY MY NAME IS ELIZABETH MAZEL AND I'M THE GOOD NEIGHBORS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK TRUST.
THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK TRUST IS A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT, AND WE SUPPORT THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
WE'RE A FRIENDS GROUP AND MANY PARKS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAVE FRIENDS GROUPS THAT SUPPORT THEM IN THIS WAY.
UM, SO WE SUPPORT THEM WITH TRAILS, ACCESS FOR CHILDREN, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE, WHATEVER THE PARK REQUESTS, WE WORK WITH THEM TO, UM, MAKE THOSE PROJECTS HAPPEN.
AND MY ROLE IS LOOKING OUTSIDE OF THE PARK BOUNDARY TO, TO HELP FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES AND THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
UM, AND I ALSO WORK ON, UH, THINKING ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION ALONG THE PARK BOUNDARY.
SO I'M HERE TO TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT WE CALL THE BALDWIN TRACT HERE IN WARREN COUNTY THAT IS, UH, LOCATED IN BROWNTOWN.
AND THAT PARCEL IS 233 ACRES THAT IS JUST SOUTH OF POST OFFICE ROAD.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WROTE DOWN POST OFFICE ROAD.
UM, AND IT, IT IS THE CLOSEST, UH, 9 1 1 ADDRESS IS 28 98 BROWNTOWN ROAD.
UM, OR I'M SORRY, IT'S SOUTH IS SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ROAD.
UM, SO THIS PARCEL WAS, UM, THE TRUST ACQUIRED IT FROM THE WILDLIFE CENTER OF VIRGINIA IN 2021.
AND THAT PARCEL WAS DONATED TO THE WILDLIFE CENTER PRIOR, UM, IN A BEQUEST, UM, FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S FAMILY.
UM, AND SO WE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY AS PART OF THE, UM, THE DUPONT WAYNESBORO, SOUTH RIVER, SOUTH FORK NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION FUNDING.
UH, THAT WAS THE FUNDS USED TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY FROM THE WILDLIFE CENTER OF VIRGINIA WITH THE INTENTION OF DONATING IT TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
UM, WE ARE DONATING THE PROPERTY TO THE PARK.
WE ARE NOT SELLING IT BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS AROUND THE PARK'S ABILITY TO USE FEDERAL FUNDING TO ACQUIRE LAND.
UM, SO WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE, UM, WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO TRANSFERRING THAT PROPERTY TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK AND, UM, THERE IS A SECRETARIAL ORDER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR THAT REQUIRES A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WARREN COUNTY AND ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS, UM, LENT THEIR SUPPORT.
AND SO WE ARE HERE TODAY, UM, JOHN MAHONEY AT SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK REACHED OUT TO, UM, THIS BOARD, UH, OF SUPERVISORS TO REQUEST THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT.
AND, AND THAT IS WHAT IS ON THE CASSETTE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
IS YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DONATION TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER FOR, FOR YOU ALL?
NO, YOU CLEARED IT UP, UH, VERY WELL FOR ME ON SATURDAY AT THE SPECIAL, SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO DO THAT HERE AGAIN.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE ON, UH, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO AN EVENT THAT WE'RE HAVING ON OCTOBER 29TH THAT THE BROWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, AND IT, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A LOW KEY CONSERVATION MEET AND GREET SO YOU CAN MEET LOCAL CONSERVATION PARTNERS AND BROWNTOWN NEIGHBORS AND, UM, JUST A ANOTHER WAY TO ENGAGE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SO OCTOBER 29TH, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
OKAY, SO WE'LL BEGIN OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS
[I. Public Hearing - CUP2025-07-01 - Short-Term Tourist Rental - 116 Mossy Rock Lane - A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 116 Mossy Rock Lane and is identified on tax map 24B, block 120, as lot 615. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Shenandoah Magisterial District.]
AND FIRST IS THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, SHORT TERM RENTAL ON ONE 16 MOSSY ROCK LANE.MR. CHAIR IS REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT-TERM FOREST RENTAL FOR THE PROPERTY PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
THE OWNER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR SHORT-TERM LODGING.
UH, THE PROPERTY WILL BE MANAGED BY A NEIGHBOR MORGAN HARRIS, WHO RESIDES APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AWAY.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT ONE 16 MOSSY ROCK LANE IS AND IS IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 24 B
[00:30:01]
BLOCK ONE 20 AS LOT 6 1 15 IN THE SHENANDOAH MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT.THE OWNER APPLIED FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM TAURUS RENTAL IN OCTOBER OF 2023, BUT THE APPLICATION WAS DENIED IN FEBRUARY OF 2024 BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY INTENDS ON INSTALLING NOISE ALERT DEVICES TO HELP CONTROL NOISE LEVELS.
THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT, UH, OPERATION PERMIT APPROVING A MAXIMUM OF EIGHT OCCUPANTS FOR THE FOUR BEDROOM DWELLING.
THE APPLICANT WILL APPLY FOR A CHANGE OF USE BUILDING PERMIT AS PART OF THE POST-APPROVAL PROCESS TO ENSURE THE DWELLING MEETS THE CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR FRYER PROTECTION SYSTEMS. A REQUEST FOR COMMENTS WAS SUBMITTED TO THE BLUE MOUNTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION WHO STATED THEY HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO THIS APPLICATION.
THE DWELLING MEETS THE SETBACK REQUIREMENT TO ADJACENT SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS.
THE CLOSEST BEING 230 FEET TO THE SOUTH PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO APPROVE THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
NUMBER TWO, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE SYSTEM CAPACITY IS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT PER WARREN COUNTY CODE 180 DASH 56.4 B.
THE CERTIFICATE OF ZONING SHALL ONLY BE ISSUED WITH APPROVED HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECORDS.
NUMBER THREE, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE WELL WATER TESTED ANNUALLY FOR E COLI AND COLIFORM BACTERIA, AND A COPY OF THOSE RESULTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND LAST, NUMBER FOUR, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM SERVICED EVERY FIVE YEARS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND A COPY OF THE SERVICE INVOICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED AND THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US, WOULD THE APPLICANTS LIKE TO SPEAK? PARDON? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? I'M OKAY.
WHY WAS THE, UH, WHY WAS THE ORIGINAL TURN DOWN? I WAS NOT HERE FOR IT, BUT I DO BELIEVE HE WAS OPERATING THE SHORT TERM TAURUS RENTAL WITHOUT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, THERE WERE CONCERNS FOR THE NOISE LEVELS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD, UM, FROM THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, BUT AS I STATED, THE APPLICANT IS INSTALLING, UH, NOISE LEVEL DETECTORS.
HE'S MET WITH THE POA TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
UM, AND HE HAS ADDRESSED THE LETTER OF CONCERN, WHICH SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, HE'S WELL AWARE OF THE PARKING CONSTRAINTS, SO HE WILL MAKE SURE THAT PARKING IS IN THE APPROPRIATE PARKING SPACES, UM, IN THE DRIVEWAY THAT ARE DESIGNATED FOR HIS HIS RENTAL.
SO DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE, FROM THE BOARD? JOHN? NO QUESTIONS FROM ME.
DO I HAVE ANY, UH, UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR, OR, OR ANYTHING FROM THE, UH, AUDIENCE? I HAVE ONE SIGN UP.
JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I OPPOSE ALL OF THE, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL APPLICATIONS.
I THINK ALL THESE PROPERTIES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO REVIEW TONIGHT ARE, ARE ZONED R ONE, THAT'S RESIDENTIAL ONE.
UH, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO MAKE A COMMERCIAL RENTAL ESTABLISHMENT IN A COMMERCIAL, IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IF YOU APPROVE THESE APPLICATIONS, ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE THE ZONING FOR THAT PROPERTY OR IS IT GOING TO REMAIN R ONE? UM, I, I THINK THAT THE SHORT TERM FIRST RENTALS, UH, CREATE A, UH, DISPLACEMENT FOR, UH, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MOVE INTO THE AREA.
UH, THEY CREATE A LOSS OF COMMUNITY, CHARACTER AND CULTURAL IDENTITY.
UH, BASICALLY FEWER HOMES FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO MOVE IN.
AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS INCREASE TAX REVENUE ANYMORE THAN FULL-TIME FAMILIES THAT WOULD LIVE IN THESE HOUSES WOULD.
SO THERE'S ALSO NO ONE TO REALLY MONITOR WHAT GOES ON AT THESE PROPERTIES.
UH, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE COME UP AND THEY'VE GOT, THEY LIVE CLOSE BY AND THEY SAY THEY'VE GOTTA MONITOR THE PROPERTY.
UH, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE FOUR PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE OR IF THEY HAVE 10 PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE.
UH, SOME OF THESE PLACES DURING, UH, IN THE PAST WITH THE, UH, DROUGHT, WITH THE WATER RESTRICTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, HOUSE IS SET UP FOR FOUR PEOPLE.
YOU GOT 10 PEOPLE MOVING IN THERE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE USING MORE WATER THAN THAT'S ACTUALLY NEEDED FOR THAT PROPERTY AND POSSIBLY TAKEN AWAY FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEXT DOOR.
UH, AND ONCE THESE THINGS ARE APPROVED AND THEY BECOME WHAT I'M STILL CONSIDER A COMMERCIAL, UH, RENTAL PROPERTY, DO THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE HANDICAP RULES? ARE ALL THESE PROPERTIES ACCESSIBLE TO THE HANDICAP? UM, ANY
[00:35:01]
CONSIDERATION FOR THAT? THE OTHER THING IS THAT IF YOU'VE LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A LONG TIME AND, AND THIS PERSON SELLS THEIR PROPERTY, SOMEONE BUYS IT UP, CONVERTS IT INTO A SHORT TIME CHOICE RENTAL, NEXT YEAR YOU WANNA PUT YOUR HOUSE ON THE MARKET AND YOU WANT TO SELL.WHEN THE PEOPLE COME IN TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WELL, THAT'S A SHORT TIME CHOICE RENTAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WANNA LIVE NEXT TO THAT.
THAT'S GOING TO DEVALUE YOUR PROPERTY AND MAKE IT A LOT HARDER TO SELL LONG-TERM EFFECTS.
THERE ARE FOUR APPLICANTS TONIGHT.
I DON'T WANT TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK THREE MORE TIMES.
SO BASICALLY IT GOES ALL FULL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGN UP SIR.
WOULD ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25 20 25 0 7 0 1 FOR SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT'S RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF.
[J. Public Hearing - CUP2025-07-03 - Short-Term Tourist Rental - 588 High Top Road - A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 588 High Top Road and is identified on tax map 23C, section 2, block 2, as lot 297. The property is zoned Residential-One (R1) and is located in the Shenandoah Magisterial District.]
NEXT IS, UM, SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL 5 88 HIGH TOP ROAD.THE APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT-TERM TOURIST RENTAL FOR THE PROPERTY THEY RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR SHORT-TERM LODGING TO OFFER PEACEFUL RETREAT TO VISITORS OF WARREN COUNTY WHILE BOOSTING THE COUNTY'S TOURISM ECONOMY.
THE APPLICANT WILL MANAGE THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A LOCAL CLEANER, TAMMY, WITH CLEANING YOUR CHAOS.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 5 88 HIGH TOP ROAD AND IS IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 23 C SECTION TWO BLOCK TWO AS LOT 297.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED RESIDENTIAL ONE AND IS LOCATED IN THE SHENANDOAH MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT.
NO PREVIOUS CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FOR LAND USES IN THE RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONING DISTRICT.
THE DWELLING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 2025 AND THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF ANY ACTIVE ZONING VIOLATIONS FOR THIS PROPERTY.
THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPERATION PERMIT APPROVING A MAXIMUM OF TWO OCCUPANTS FOR THE ONE BEDROOM DWELLING.
A REQUEST FOR COMMENTS WAS SUBMITTED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF SHENANDOAH FARMS WHO STATED THEY HAVE NO OBJECTIONS.
HOWEVER, ADVISE THE OWNERS TO ADVERTISE THE NECESSITY.
UH, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER.
THE DWELLING ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY MEETS THE 100 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT FROM ALL NEIGHBORING DWELLINGS.
THE NEAREST BEING 194 FEET TO THE EAST PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THE PREVIOUS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED AND THE APPLICANTS WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS EVENING.
BUT I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE, UH, FROM THE BOARD.
WHERE IS THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PERSON? UM, THE, IT'S THE LOCAL CLEANER.
TAMMY CLEANING YOUR CHAOS? I'M NOT SURE.
I KNOW SHE'S IN WARREN COUNTY, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HER EXACT ADDRESS.
BUT SHE IS WITHIN WARREN COUNTY.
SO, SO THEY, THEY ACT AS BOTH CLEANING IT AND MANAGING IT? YES SIR.
YEAH, THEY CAN BE THERE AS AN IMMEDIATE CONTACT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, A SITUATION WITH A CAR PARKED IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, IN THE EVENT THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN'T GET THERE QUICKER, UM, SHE CAN BE THERE IMMEDIATELY.
JOHN, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOPE.
SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN ON, ON THIS MATTER.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? NO.
WOULD ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? YES MA'AM.
HI, KATHLEEN MANCINI, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
UM, I WANTED TO REITERATE SOMETHING THAT THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN HAD SAID IN THAT WHEN I HAD AN AIRBNB 50 FEET FROM MY HOUSE, THE PEOPLE WERE THERE ON THE DECK IN THE HOT TUB 24 7 THURSDAY THROUGH
[00:40:01]
SUNDAY.THEY WERE NOT GOING OUT TO RESTAURANTS, WINERIES, UM, TAKE, YOU KNOW, UM, SUPPORTING ANY OF OUR LOCAL INDUSTRIES WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE BEFORE DID THEY DID THEIR BANKING HERE, THEY WENT TO CHURCH HERE, THEY, UM, WENT TO THE POST OFFICE, BOUGHT THEIR GROCERIES, UH, WHATEVER HERE.
SO THEY SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A BRAND NEW DWELLING.
UM, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT I ALWAYS HEAR FOR TOR SHORT-TERM TOR RENTALS IS THAT THE HOUSES ARE BEING BOUGHT AND FIXED UP.
AND SO THAT'S A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS CONSTRUCTED TO BE A SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING UP FOR APPROVAL FOR SHORT-TERM TOURIST RENTALS.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT MAYBE YOU CONSIDER DOING A MORATORIUM ON SHORT-TERM TOURIST RENTALS FOR BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION DURING WHATEVER TIME WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE, I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT WE DO HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE.
SO WHY ARE BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION BEING OFFERED AND ADVERTISED AS SHORT TERM FOREST RENTALS WHEN THEY COULD GO TO HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHEN THEY REALLY ARE NOT BENEFITING OUR COMMUNITY LIKE SOMEBODY LIVING THERE WOULD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED ON THIS MATTER.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2025 DASH OH SEVEN DASH OH THREE FOR SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF.
[K. Public Hearing - CUP2025-07-04 - Short-Term Tourist Rental - 241 Old Oak Ln - A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 241 Old Oak Lane and is identified on tax map 15E, section 2, block 2, as lot 630. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Shenandoah Farms - Mountain Lake subdivision in the Shenandoah Magisterial District - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator]
IS PUBLIC HEARING FOR, UH, SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL 2 41 OAK OLD OAK LANE, MS. WALL, THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY MINE.OH, THAT, UH, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL FOR THE PROPERTY HE PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2025.
THE OWNER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR SHORT TERM LODGING FOR TOURISTS AND VISITORS OF THE WARREN COUNTY AREA.
THE APPLICANTS WILL SERVE AS THE PRIMARY PROPERTY MANAGERS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A LOCAL POINT OF CONTACT THAT STATE.
THIS IS IN THE SHENANDOAH FARMS SUBDIVISION MOUNTAIN LAKE SECTION.
UM, AND WE DID RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF SHENANDOAH FARMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS INDICATING THEY HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPERTY, UH, BEING USED AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL, BUT ADVICE THAT OWNERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE AS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BEING NECESSARY TO REACH THE DESTINATION.
UH, THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPERATION PERMIT APPROVING A MAXIMUM OF TWO OCCUPANTS FOR THE TWO BEDROOM DWELLING AND, UH, THE DWELLING DOES MEET THE 100 FOOT SETBACK FROM ALL NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS WITH THE NEAREST RESIDENCE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 160 FEET TO THE NORTH.
UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID MOVE THIS FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF, UH, APPROVAL AFTER THEIR PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
CONDITION NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE SYSTEM CAPACITY AS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT PER WARREN COUNTY CODE SUBSECTION 180 DASH 56.4 B.
THE CERTIFICATE OF ZONING SHALL ONLY BE ISSUED WITH APPROVED HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECORDS.
NUMBER THREE, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE WELL WATER TESTED ANNUALLY, FREE COLI AND COLIFORM BACTERIA AND A COPY OF THE RESULTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
AND NUMBER FOUR, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM SERVICED EVERY FIVE YEARS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND A COPY OF THE SERVICE INVOICE SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED.
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED, I BELIEVE I SAW THE APP.
SO HE'S HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US.
WOULD THE PROPERTY OWNER LIKE TO COME UP AND, AND, UH, SPEAK? ANY QUESTION? OKAY.
DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE,
[00:45:01]
UH, FROM THE BOARD? I, NO.SO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS MATTER IS NOW OPEN.
DO I HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? NO, SIR.
WOULD ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 20 25 0 7 0 4 FOR A SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF.
DO I HAVE A SECOND ROLL CALL MRS. COLORS? NO.
[L. Public Hearing - CUP2025-07-05 - Short-Term Tourist Rental - 208 River Oak Drive - A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 208 River Oak Drive and is identified on tax map 35B, section 2, as lot C. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the South River Magisterial District. - Kelly Wahl , Planner ]
UH, PUBLIC HEARING FOR SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL 2 0 8 RIVER OAK DRIVE.THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT-TERM TAURUS RENTAL ON BEHALF OF HIS MOTHER FOR THE PROPERTY SHE PURCHASED IN 2016.
DUE TO UNFORESEEN FAMILIAL NEEDS, THE OWNER'S NOT ABLE TO SPEND MUCH OF HER TIME AT THIS PROPERTY AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL.
UM, WHILE THEY ARE NOT USING IT PERSONALLY BY THEIR FAMILY, THE PROPERTY MANAGER, UH, WILL BE SUSANNA DIAZ JIMENEZ, WHO LIVES HERE LOCALLY.
THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 2 0 8 RIVER OAK DRIVE AND IS IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 35 B.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED AGRICULTURAL AND IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTH RIVER MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS.
UM, THE DWELLING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 2003 AND THERE ARE NO ZONING VIOLATIONS ON RECORD FOR THIS PROPERTY.
THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPERATION PERMIT APPROVING A MAXIMUM OF SIX OCCUPANTS FOR THE THREE BEDROOM DWELLING.
A REQUEST FOR COMMENTS WAS SUBMITTED TO THE RIVER OAK PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, BUT NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED.
THE DWELLING MEETS THE SETBACK REQUIREMENT TO ADJACENT SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS.
THE CLOSEST BEING 220 FEET TO THE WEST.
STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOLLOWING ARE RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS BE ADDED SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO APPROVE IT.
NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL WARN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
NUMBER TWO, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE SYSTEM CAPACITY IS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT FOR WARREN COUNTY CODE SECTION 180 DASH 56.4 B.
THE CERTIFICATE OF ZONING SHALL ONLY BE ISSUED WITH APPROVED HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECORDS.
NUMBER THREE, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE WELL WATER TESTED ANNUALLY FOR E COLI AND COLIFORM BACTERIA AND A COPY OF THOSE RESULTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
AND NUMBER FOUR, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM SERVICED EVERY FIVE YEARS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND A COPY OF THE SURFACE INVOICE IS TO BE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? OH, HE IS HERE.
WOULD WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO GET UP AND, AND UH, SPEAK? UM, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? JOHN? NONE.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS, UH, THIS MATTER IS NOW OPEN.
DO I HAVE ANY, UH, ANYONE SIGNED UP? NO, SIR.
WOULD ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
DO I HAVE A, UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2025 DASH OH SEVEN DASH OH FIVE FOR SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF.
SO NEXT ON THE AGENDA, I JUST WANTED TO GET BACK TO THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND WANTED TO ASK IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
[00:50:02]
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA IS NOW CLOSED.[F. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
GOT, UM, REPORTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS AND, UH, JOHN, UH, THANK YOU.UM, I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A GROUP OF, UH, RESIDENTS IN THE ROCKLAND, UH, AREA ON, UM, CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT, UH, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY SPEEDING ON THE ROADS.
UH, SO WE HELD A MEETING, UH, RECENTLY, UH, WITH REPRESENTATION FROM BOTH VDOT AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND, UH, OUT OF THAT MEETING, SOME CONCRETE STEPS ARE COMING SOON, WHICH WILL BE INCLUDING A SPEED LIMIT STUDY, UH, STEPPED UP ENFORCEMENT AND ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, UH, A LITTER CLEANUP REQUEST CAME OUTTA THAT MEETING.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK, UH, THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED, UH, CHIEF DEPUTY JASON WINTER OF THE WARREN WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, WHO, UH, REPRESENTED WHILE THE, UH, SHERIFF HERSELF WAS AT QUANTICO.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK ED CARTER FROM VDOT AND, UH, RUSS GILKESON FROM RSW FOR ORCHESTRATING LITTER CLEANUP ON FAIRGROUND ROAD BETWEEN BOW DRIVE AND MILL DALE.
UM, SO THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG OUTTA THAT MEETING, WHICH WAS GOOD.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE, PARDON ME, AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK.
UM, AND, UH, CHAIRMAN, I DON'T WANNA STEAL YOUR THUNDER.
I KNOW THAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TOPIC, SO I'M, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE ANY DETAILS ON THAT.
UM, UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO THANK, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR WORK.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF ROAD WORK IN SHENANDOAH FARMS, UH, AND JUST, UH, YESTERDAY THEY FINISHED UP, UH, REPLACING THE CULVERTS AND, UH, ADDING A CONCRETE LAYER OVER TOP OF THEM.
IT LOOKS GREAT AND THERE'S A LOT MORE THROUGHPUT CAPACITY NOW FOR WATER DURING, UH, HEAVY RAINS, UH, WHICH SHOULD, UH, LEAD TO NO LONGER, UH, HAVING ANY WASHOUTS IN THAT AREA.
UM, SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK, UM, THAT'S IT.
OKAY, ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, I ATTENDED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, THERE WERE THREE SUPERVISORS THERE, SO I DID NOT PARTICIPATE.
I JUST LISTENED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING AND I LEARNED A LOT THAT DAY OF, UM, ITS INCEPTION AND, UH, MISSION AND SO FORTH.
SO I HOPE TO ATTEND SOME MORE OF THOSE.
I ALSO ATTENDED, I CAME IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES, I THINK I CAUGHT THE BOARD REPORTS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, THE MEETING, THE FINANCE MEETING RAN A LITTLE BIT LONGER, SO I DIDN'T GET, UH, TOO MUCH, BUT ALWAYS ENJOY GOING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS.
ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, I ATTENDED THE NINE 11 CEREMONY AT THE GAZEBO THAT MORNING.
UM, A NICE TURNOUT, UH, FOR A SOLEMN EVENT.
AND, UM, THEN I CAME DOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND, UM, ATTENDED THE STAFF MEETING WHERE OUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR, UM, WAS GREETED BY DEPARTMENT HEADS, WAS GLAD TO ATTEND THAT.
UH, LATER THAT DAY WE HAD A BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING AND TO ADDRESS, UM, I THINK YOU LEFT, UH, LOUISE QUESTION ON THE SENIOR CENTER FLOOR.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE FLOOR WASN'T PUT DOWN CORRECTLY AND, UM, THE COMPANY IS GOING TO MAKE THAT RIGHT.
IT'S IN THE WORKS TO HAVE THEM COME IN, TAKE IT UP AND REDO IT AND DO IT RIGHT THE SECOND TIME.
UM, AND THEN THAT EVENING I PARTICIPATED IN, UM, IT'S BEEN A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT, UM, BRIAN FOLEY, OUR EMERGENCY, UH, DEPUTY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER.
I, I THINK WE'VE GONE TO THREE, I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THREE OF THEM RIGHT OFF THE, UM, BUT I KNOW IT WAS SNOW.
THIS ONE WAS ON FLOODING AND, UM, THERE, THERE ARE A SERIES THAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER ASSOCIATION PUTS ON AND UM, I THINK THERE WERE PROBABLY 20 OR SO OF US.
SO THERE, UM, THEY ANNOUNCED THEM.
IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN GOING THERE, IT'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION COMES OUT OF IT AND IT MAKES YOU A SKY WORN WATCHER.
YOU GET A NUMBER AND YOU CAN, UM, WHEN THERE'S FLOODING EVENTS, STORM EVENTS, UM, SNOW, YOU CAN BE ONE OF THEIR SPOTTERS SO THAT THEY CAN GET A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN, IN AND AROUND THE DIFFERENT AREAS.
UM, SEPTEMBER 13TH, I WENT OUT TO
[00:55:01]
THE FAIRGROUNDS BECAUSE THE PICKLE STOCK FESTIVAL WAS GOING ON.HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT WAS, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PICKLES INVOLVED.
IT WAS A REALLY, IT WAS A FREE EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT A GROUP OF PEOPLE PUT ON.
THERE WERE A LOT OF VENDORS THERE, PICKLE VENDORS, BUT CRAFTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY HAD DIFFERENT AREAS SET UP WITH, UH, KIDS EVENTS, SMALL CHILDREN, EVENT AREA, LARGER, UH, TEENAGE UH, KIDS, AN AREA FOR THEM.
THEY HAD A DJ, IT WAS A REALLY NICE EVENT THERE.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT WAS THEIR SECOND ONE.
THEY PLAN ON MAKING THOSE AN ANNUAL EVENT.
SO WHEN YOU SEE PICKLE STOCK, I THOUGHT IT WAS PICKLEBALL, HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT'S VERY POPULAR.
BUT THIS WAS ACTUAL, YOU COULD BUY PICKLES, ALL KINDS OF PICKLES THAT DAY.
THEN I LEFT THERE AND I WENT TO FAMILY PHARMACY, WHICH FAMILY PHARMACY HAS BEEN IN WARREN COUNTY AND FRONT ROYAL SINCE, UH, LATE SEVENTIES, BUT IT HAS BEEN SOLD IN, UM, NEW OWNERS AND THEY HAD A RIBBON CUTTING.
AND MS. JANE MOORE HAS BEEN AN EMPLOYEE THERE AND A STAPLE AND THAT SHE MAKES THAT BUSINESS HAS BEEN THERE SINCE, I THINK SHE TOLD ME 1978 AND SHE'S STILL THERE.
UM, AT, UM, I LEFT THE POWELL, THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAVE.
WE HAD OUR FIRST OPEN GYM EVENT, WHICH WAS ALSO A FREE EVENT FOR KIDS.
YOU COULD TAKE YOUR KIDS, DROP 'EM OFF FOR FROM ONE TO THREE.
AND, UH, WE HAD DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THERE.
I DIDN'T GET TO STAY LONG, BUT IT WAS A GOOD TURNOUT.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK KRISTA BEAM, WHO'S OUR COORDINATOR FOR THAT PROGRAM, AND, UM, DEPUTY SKA, DEPUTY DOMINGUEZ AND OUR DISPATCHER ALYSSA RADCLIFFE FOR GOING, BEING THERE AND, UM, HELP ORGANIZE THE, UH, KIDS AND PLAYING THE BALL AND GETTING, THEY WERE OUT THERE LIKE A BUNCH OF KIDS WITH THEM.
THEN I WENT TO THE SHENANDOAH SOCIAL WHERE I, UM, MET OUR SPEAKER TONIGHT AND HEARD ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE PARK SERVICE, AND I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL TO GO TO THAT.
UM, I, I GREW UP IN BROWNTOWN AND I COULD NOT FOR LIFE ME FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT UNTIL WE GOT TOGETHER, SO WAS VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT ON, UM, THIS SATURDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK AT THE WARREN COUNTY, THE OLD LIBRARY ON V AVENUE, THAT THE ARC OF WARREN IS HAVING THEIR NAVIGATING THE MAZE TRAINING.
UM, THAT IS FOR ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED, BUT ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE, UM, A CHILD OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY OR A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS A, UM, SPECIAL NEEDS PERSON, THIS IS HELPING YOU NAVIGATE TO GET THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.
UM, ALSO WANNA SAY THAT KAYLEE RICHARDSON, AND I MEANT TO BRING HER BOOK WHO USED TO BE ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.
SHE IS A HOMESTEADER HERE, A VERY ACCOMPLISHED HOMESTEADER WHO HAS WRITTEN A BOOK.
SHE DOES A LOT OF HERBAL THINGS.
AND, UM, SO SHE'S GONNA HAVE A BOOK SIGNING AT THE FARMER'S MARKET THAT'S ON MAIN STREET ON SUNDAYS ON SEPTEMBER 28TH.
SO I WANTED TO PUT A PLUG OUT FOR HER.
ALSO, FFA, THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE A GREENHOUSE THERE AND THEY'RE SELLING MOMS FROM 3 45 TO SIX THIS THURSDAY THE 18TH, AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY THE 19TH.
SO IF YOU WANNA GET SOME FALL MUMS AND SUPPORT THE FFA, THERE'S WHERE YOU NEED TO BE THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ALL OF OUR FEMALE DEPUTIES AND POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE SEPTEMBER 12TH WAS NATIONAL POLICE WOMAN DAY AND FOR WARREN COUNTY, THAT WOULD INCLUDE SHERIFF KLEIN, DEPUTY JASMINE WEAVER, DEPUTY HALEY SKA, AND I'M PROBABLY SAYING HER NAME WRONG.
UH, MASTER DEPUTY CINDY BURKE, INVESTIGATOR LAURA PHILLIPS, DEPUTY COLLETTE HENRY, UH, SERGEANT KRISTEN ICK, DEPUTY DEBORAH CHURCH AND DEPUTY LINDSEY KNOWLES.
AND ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE HAVE CANINE OFFICER MEADOWS AND SHE HAS A FEMALE CANINE PARTNER, MARLEY.
AND THEN WE HAVE OFFICER GIBSON AND OFFICER DUVAL.
SO APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
UM, SEPTEMBER, UH, SEPTEMBER 10TH, I ATTENDED THE FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE AS, UH, WELL, UM, UH, MS. COOK HAS, IS NO LONGER WITH US, SO I'LL BE TAKING A POSITION ON THAT COMMITTEE, UH, WHICH WAS IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
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I RECEIVED A, A, AN UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THAT AUDIT.UH, EVERYONE I THINK IS AWARE THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS OF, UM, ATTEMPTS TO HIT THAT DATE, AND I'M STILL WORKING ON IT.
IT IS A FACT THAT THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN, UH, BROUGHT IN AND CONTRACTED.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY SOME REASONABLE CHANCE OF, OF, UH, GETTING THIS DONE BY DECEMBER 15TH.
AT THIS POINT, UM, I WILL BE MEETING WITH, UH, MS. SCOTT AND MR. GAL FRIDAY, UH, TO DISCUSS THAT, UH, THE MONITORING OF THAT PROJECT.
NOW, UM, I'M GONNA USE THE REST OF MY TIME, UH, TONIGHT TO REPORT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY, UH, HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT, I WANNA SHOW YOU WHAT I BELIEVE GOOD GOVERNANCE LOOKS LIKE.
CONTRAST IT WITH WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE CONFLICTS WITH SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, AND DEMONSTRATE WHY THE COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS ARE BEST SERVED THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, NOT EMOTIONAL RHETORIC AND PERSONAL ATTACKS.
WHAT ARE THE TWO PRIMARY WATCHWORDS IN PUBLIC GOVERNANCE? TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THESE AREN'T JUST BUZZWORDS, THEY'RE THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS MUST OPERATE.
THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY ARE DEPENDENT ON TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, CITIZENS CANNOT EVALUATE WHETHER THEY'RE GOVERNMENT IS SERVING THEM WELL.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE, TO DEBATE IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO GOVERNANCE IS KEY TO OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
BUT THERE'S A CRUCIAL QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES.
DO WE DEBATE OR DO WE DEBATE EFFECTIVELY? THE QUALITY OF OUR DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE DETERMINES THE QUALITY OF OUR GOVERNANCE.
THESE PRINCIPLES LEAD US TO FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BEGETS GOOD GOVERNMENT.
LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THIS MEANS THROUGH FRAMEWORK I CALL BEGET BEHAVIOR CONSISTENT WITH PUBLIC INTERESTS, ALIGNED WITH PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, GOVERNANCE THROUGH OVERSIGHT BY TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION.
WHEN PUBLIC FUNDS ARE INVOLVED, THERE MUST BE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, EFFICIENCY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS AND SERVICE DELIVERY.
CITIZENS DESERVE VALUE FOR THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
TRANSPARENCY THROUGH ACCESS TO INFORMATION, DEMOCRACY REQUIRES INFORMED CITIZENS WITH THESE ELEMENTS.
WHEN THESE ELEMENTS ARE PRESENT, GOOD GOVERNMENT NATURALLY FOLLOWS.
WHEN THEY'RE ABSENT, WE GET EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR LIBRARY CONTROVERSY, BUT ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT A PROCESS TO ENSURE IT.
GOOD GOVERNANCE WORKS ACTUALLY IN PRACTICE.
I CALL THIS TRANSPARENT, SEE, TRANSPARENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT, A SIX STEP PROCESS THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT ENSURES DECISIONS ARE MADE ON EVIDENCE RATHER THAN EMOTION.
FACTS RATHER THAN RHETORIC AND THOROUGH ANALYSIS RATHER THAN POLITICAL CONVENIENCE.
CRITICALLY, THIS PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT.
ALL CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION.
ALL STAKEHOLDERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE AND DISAGREE WITH THE FINDINGS.
AND REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WORKS TO DETERMINE WHETHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ENACTED OR NOT.
WHEN THE PROCESS IS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT, THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE HOW THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPOND TO THE DATA AND EVALUATE THEIR ARGUMENTS.
NOW LET ME SHOW YOU HOW THIS PROCESS WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
IN OUR LIBRARY SITUATION, STEP ONE OF THE TRANSPARENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT IS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM.
HERE'S WHAT BOTH THE 2023 AND 2024 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZED.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS STATUTORY OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLICLY FUNDED LIBRARY SERVICES.
IN 2023, THE CHILDREN'S BOOK CONTROVERSY EXPOSED AND INADEQUATE OVERSIGHT MECHANISM, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD ONLY ONE TOKEN SEAT ON A 15 MEMBER SAMUEL'S BOARD AND HAD TO USE THE BLUNT TOOL OF FUNDING CONTINGENCY.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSED BETTER OVERSIGHT BY ADDING FOUR SUPERVISOR APPOINTEE TRUSTEES, STILL LESS THAN A THIRD OF TOTAL TRUSTEES, NOT A MAJORITY SAMUEL'S RESPONSE, FLAT REJECTION.
AN ORGANIZATION SEEKING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER FUNDS REJECTED EVEN ONE THIRD TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION AND HIRED A $50,000 RICHMOND PR FIRM TO MALIGN THE BOARD AS BOOK BANNERS AND LIBRARY DE FUNDERS, AND THEN PRESSURED THEM TO CONSENT TO AN MOA WITH NO MORE THAN ONE TRUSTEE.
AS A TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION, THE PROBLEM WAS CLEAR OVERSIGHT BY CONTINGENCY FUNDING IS INEFFECTIVE AND DISRUPTIVE.
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PROPER PROCESS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.HERE'S HOW WE APPLY TRANSPARENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT TO THE LIBRARY SITUATION.
WE RECOGNIZED THE OVERSIGHT PROBLEM.
WE INFORMED OURSELVES BY DOCUMENTING 2023 EVENTS AND GATHERING SAMUEL'S FINANCIAL DATA AND COMPARATIVE LIBRARY DATA.
WE RESEARCHED WARREN COUNTY'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT, OTHER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEMS, BEST PRACTICES, AND VIRGINIA LAW.
WE RECOMMENDED ALIGN TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT WITH TAXPAYER FUNDING THROUGH A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.
THEN WE EXPECTED STEP FIVE DEBATE ON THE MERITS.
NOTICE THAT RED X, THAT'S WHERE THE PROCESS BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY.
INSTEAD OF SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE, WE GOT SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.
THE PROCESS THAT HAD PROCEEDED THROUGH THE FIRST FOUR STEPS WAS DERAILED AND THE MOST CRUCIAL POINT WHEN DEMOCRATIC DISCOURSE AND DEBATE SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? INSTEAD OF DEBATE ON THE MERITS INSTEAD OF DEBATE, WE GOT TWO DELIBERATE TACTICS TACTIC.
ONE, CONFLATE SAMUEL'S LEADERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY MAKE IT APPEAR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS ATTACKING THE LIBRARY.
RATHER THAN SEEKING EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT, OBSCURE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN LEADERSHIP DECISIONS AND THE INSTITUTION.
DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY INTO LIBRARY LOVERS AND EASY TO CHOOSE SIDE WITH NO CONTEXT OR BACKGROUND VERSUS LIBRARY DESTROYERS, SOMETHING NOBODY WOULD WANT TO DO.
TACTIC TWO, ATTACK THE MESSENGER ED HAM ATTACKS ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAJORITY.
INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING OVERSIGHT ISSUES, IDENTITY POLITICS, DIVISIONS, BOOK BANNER RHETORIC, ANTI LGBT RHETORIC, CHRISTIAN VERSUS UNBELIEVER, WARREN COUNTY NATIVE VERSUS S WARREN COUNTY IMMIGRANT CATHOLIC VERSUS EVERYONE ELSE.
IT HAS BEEN A CASE STUDY AND PROJECTION ACCUSED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SOWING DIVISION WHILE IN FACT CREATING IT REFUSED TO ENGAGE WITH LIBRARY REPORT SUBSTANCE ON GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL EFFICIENCY.
LET ME SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT THIS MISDIRECTION LOOKED LIKE.
HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY QUESTIONED VERSUS WHAT THEY CLAIMED WE ATTACKED.
WE QUESTIONED ACCOUNTABLE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS, AND FOIA COMPLIANCE.
THESE ARE LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES, BUT THEY CLAIMED WE ATTACKED THE LIBRARY, THE COMMUNITY INSTITUTION, LIBRARY SERVICES, BOOKS AND PROGRAMS. THIS IS CLASSIC MISDIRECTION.
THEY ENLARGED THE OBJECT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOCUS FROM THEIR DECISION MAKING TO THE BELOVED INSTITUTION, MAKING THEMSELVES INVISIBLE WHILE PUTTING THE LIBRARY IN FRONT AS A SHIELD.
ONLY DECISION MAKERS HAVE REFUSED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS IS A TIME TESTED POLITICAL MANIPULATION TACTIC.
HERE'S HOW THE MANIPULATION WORKS.
CREATE AN INNOCENT VICTIM, THE LIBRARY, COMMUNITY SERVICES, BOOKS, PROGRAMS, THE BELOVED INSTITUTION WITH NO AGENCY OR RESPONSIBILITY.
THEN CREATE EVIL VILLAINS ORDER SUPERVISORS, MAJORITY BOOK BANNERS WHO WANT TO DESTROY THE LIBRARY MOTIVATED BY A PERSONAL AGENDA ATTACKING AN INNOCENT INSTITUTION.
BUT THERE IS NO VICTIM AND NO VILLAIN HERE.
ONLY DECISION MAKERS AT SAMUELS WHO REFUSED THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OVERSIGHT FOR PUBLICLY FUNDED SERVICES.
THE LIBRARY BUILDING ISN'T MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
THE BOOKS AREN'T REFUSING FOR YOUR REQUESTS.
THE PROGRAMS AREN'T CLAIMING IMMUNITY FROM OVERSIGHT.
THESE ARE CHOICES MADE BY SAMUEL'S LEADERSHIP WHO WANT TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY OF HIDING BEHIND THE INSTITUTION.
NOW LET ME SHOW YOU THE SPECIFIC ISSUES THEY REFUSE TO DEBATE.
HERE ARE THE BEHAVIOR, BEHAVIOR ISSUES THAT WERE NEVER ADDRESSED IN SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE.
SAMUEL SPENT OVER $50,000 ON A PR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE 2023 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHEN THEY COULD HAVE SIMPLY WORKED CONSTRUCTIVELY ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCEPTED A HANDFUL OF SUPERVISOR TAXPAYER REPRESENTATIVES TO THEIR TRUSTEE BOARD.
THIS YEAR, THEY SUED THE COUNTY TO BLOCK A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FORMATION COSTING TA TAXPAYERS OVER $8,000, THEN WITHDREW WITH PREJUDICE.
THEY CLAIMED PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS CONTRARY TO CHARITABLE TRUST DOCTRINE ASSETS FUNDED BY DECADES OF TAXPAYER INVESTMENT.
THEY REFUSED A COMPETITIVE PROCE COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESSES WHEN OTHER OFF PROVIDERS OFFERED SERVICES.
THEN INVITED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BACK TO NEGOTIATION WHILE THAT PROCUREMENT PROCESS WAS STILL
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ACTIVE.THESE ARE SERIOUS GOVERNANCE AND ETHICAL CONCERNS THAT DESERVE SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE.
INSTEAD, WE GOT DESTROY THE LIBRARY RHETORIC.
LOOK AT THIS VISUAL PRESENTATION OF THE GOVERNANCE MISALIGNMENT.
94% PUBLIC FUNDING WITH 6% TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION.
SAMUELS HAS NEVER ATTEMPTED TO JUSTIFY THIS INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE REPRESENTATION.
THEY REJECTED REASONABLE TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION OVERSIGHT MEASURES FROM THE 2023 BOARD SUPERVISORS AND REJECTED PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OVERSIGHT FROM THIS BOARD IN 2025.
THIS CHART SHOWS THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM, MASSIVE PUBLIC INVESTMENT WITH MINIMAL PUBLIC CONTROL.
THE FUNDING PIE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY TAXPAYER BLUE.
WHILE THE GOVERNANCE PIE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY PRIVATE ORANGE, THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF HOW PUBLIC SERVICES SHOULD OPERATE.
YET IT HAS NEVER BEEN DEBATED OR JUSTIFIED.
THE EFFICIENCY PROBLEMS ARE EQUALLY CONCERNING ON TRANS.
HERE ARE THE EFFICIENCY ISSUES THEY AVOIDED DEBATING.
PER CAPITA STAFF COSTS ARE 58% HIGHER THAN NEIGHBORING LIBRARIES.
DIRECTOR COSTS ARE THREE AND A HALF TIMES PER CAPITA, VERSUS THE LARGER HANDLING REGIONAL THAT SERVES 147,000 PEOPLE WITH A DIRECTOR AND AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, SAMUEL SERVES 42,000 WITH TWO DIRECTORS.
THEY NEVER JUSTIFIED THESE HIGHER COSTS IN PUBLIC DEBATE.
THIS CHART SHOWS SAMUEL SPENDING OVER $20 PER CAP ON STAFF WHILE EFFICIENT LIBRARIES IN THE REGION SPEND 12 TO 13.
THAT'S A 57 TO 59% PREMIUM THAT TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION OR DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THIS PROVIDES PROPORTIONAL VALUE.
THE TRANSPARENCY VALUES, PERHAPS MOST TROUBLING ON TRANSPARENCY.
SAMUELS INVITED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ASK FOR ANY INFORMATION, THEN REJECTED A BOSS FOIA REQUEST ON A NARROW INTERPRETATION OF THE FOIA STATUTE, AND PUT A $10,000 PRICE TAG ON THE BASIC INFORMATION.
THEY CONDUCT CURATED TRANSPARENCY, PUBLIC Q AND A SESSIONS, BUT REFUSE FOR A DELIVERY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT THEY EXPECT TO FUND THEM.
KEY TRANSPARENCY QUESTIONS THEY REFUSE TO ANSWER ACCOUNT RECORDS FOR SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO PRIVATE SAMUEL'S ACCOUNTS OVER THREE YEARS.
THE COUNTY HAS NO RECORDS ACCOUNTING FOR THE $1.25 MILLION GAP BETWEEN THE $5 MILLION CONSTRUCTION BID AND THE $250,000 IN AUTHORIZED ARCHITECT FEES AND ACTUAL COSTS, DOCUMENTATION OF COVID PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM FUNDS.
WHY DID THEY ASK? WHY DID THEY TAKE $138,700 IN FEDERAL JOB SAVING FUNDS WHEN THE COUNTY FULLY FUNDED THEM THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC? GIVEN ALL THESE ISSUES, WHAT'S THE REAL FINANCIAL PICTURE? SAMUELS IS A WELL-FUNDED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
THEY'VE RAISED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FUND BASED ON PROMOTING THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM COUNTY OVERSIGHT.
AND THEY HAVE AN ENDOWMENT OWE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND HAVE PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AS A PRIVATE LIBRARY.
SAMUEL'S HAS ACHIEVED HALF OF WHAT IT WANTS, COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, THEY AND THEIR ADVOCATES STILL DEMAND PUBLIC FUNDING, HOWEVER, NOT, WILL NOT ACCEPT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY THAT THE BOSS IS REQUESTING.
THE 2023 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OFFERED REASONABLE TERMS TO INCREASE TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT, AND SAMUELS REJECTED THEM.
THE 2025 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INSTITUTED A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FOR TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT, AND SAMUELS REJECTED THAT TOO.
THEIR LEADERS MADE THESE DECISIONS.
THEY BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES, WHICH BRINGS US TO SUPERVISOR KOHLER'S EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS. ACCORDING TO SUPERVISOR KOHLER'S, SHE ALONE ON THIS BOARD HAS THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY IN MIND.
HER QUOTES, THEY CARE NOT WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, ONLY WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR PERSONAL AGENDA.
YOU CAN SPEND MONEY SO FREELY JUST TO DESTROY THE LIBRARY, TO FULFILL THE, DESTROY THE LIBRARY MISSION, YOUR SUPERVISORS, TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY TO MEET THE CRITERIA OF YOUR PERSONAL DESIRES.
BUT HERE'S WHAT ONE OF HER CONSTITUENTS SAID TO MRS. CALLERS IN AN EMAIL THAT CAME TO ALL SUPERVISORS.
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I THOUGHT YOU WERE ON BOARD WITH BETTER FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT FOR TAXPAYERS TO KNOW HOW AND WHERE THEIR MONEY WAS BEING SPENT.I GUESS THAT WAS JUST FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS EXCEPT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULDN'T GET THE CHANCE, UH, CHANCE AFTER CHANCE TO CONSTANTLY PLANT THEIR BOOTS IN THE GROUND AND PUSH BACK AGAINST TAXPAYERS, THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT FUND THE LIBRARY FOR ALL CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY.
YOU HAVE LEFT PEOPLE LIKE ME IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT WITHOUT REPRESENTATION FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT RACE, RELIGION, BELIEF, AND GENDER IS, NOR DO I CARE ABOUT THE SEXUAL PREFERENCES.
I WANT THE LIBRARY TO SERVE ALL PEOPLE, EVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE HARD QUESTIONS.
FOR THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SPENDING THIS CONSISTENT WANTS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING, FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANSWERS TO HARD QUESTIONS.
THE CONTRAST COULDN'T BE CLEARER.
THE INTEREST OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS SERVED BY GOOD GOVERNANCE, NOT EMOTIONAL RHETORIC.
OUR GOOD GOVERNANCE APPROACH USES TRANSPARENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT, EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS, SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE ON POLICY MERITS, AND FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE EMOTIONAL RHETORIC APPROACH USES PERSONAL ATTACKS AND CHARACTER ASSASSINATION, DESTROY THE LIBRARY, INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE, IDENTITY POLITICS THAT DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY AND AVOID THE SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE.
WHAT SUPERVISOR KOHLER'S OFFERS IS EMOTIONAL RHETORIC ABOUT DESTRUCTION AND PERSONAL AGENDA WITH NO DEBATE OF ANY SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE.
WARREN COUNTY DESERVES LEADERS WHO FOLLOW A TRANSPARENT PROCESSES, ENGAGE WITH EVIDENCE AND FOCUS ON RESULTS, NOT RHETORIC, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY BET THE GOVERNMENT.
THIS BRINGS US TO THE FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE.
THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS A MICROCOSM OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN WARREN COUNTY.
A RELATIVELY SMALL DOLLAR CONCERN, BUT A VERY SUBSTANTIAL QUESTION IN HOW WE GOVERN.
WE ARE STILL TRYING TO LEAVE BEHIND A LEADERSHIP ERA CHARACTERIZED BY DECISIONS MADE ON DEEP HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH A TIGHT-KNIT GROUP.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE STILL WITH US TODAY, WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS.
YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU'VE SEEN, THE TRANSPARENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES RAISED, THE EVASION TACTICS USED, THE INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC OR DEBATE BELONGED.
AND THE CHOICE BETWEEN ORGANIZED PROCESS AND EMOTIONAL RHETORIC IS A BASIS FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNING.
ASK YOURSELF, DO YOU WANT LEADERS WHO FOLLOW EVIDENCE AND WITHSTAND THE PRESSURE OF SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYING OR LEADERS WHO RELY ON EMOTIONAL RHETORIC? THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WILL ALWAYS BE SERVED BY OPEN AND LOGICAL PROCESSES.
ANYTHING ELSE? Q? SO THE UH, IS, I'LL KEEP MY REPORT SHORT.
UH, I ATTENDED THE, UH, FINANCE MEETING LAST WE, UH, LAST WEDNESDAY.
AND, UH, GOT A GOOD READ ON WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS THE, UH, UM, THE AUDIT GOES.
UM, I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY BECAUSE I HAD AN AIRPORT MEETING TO GO TO AT, UM, UH, AND, UH, LET ME TELL YOU, THINGS ARE REALLY MOVING ALONG AT THE AIRPORT.
UH, UH, MIKE BERRY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AS BEING THE SUPERINTENDENT OUT THERE, AS BEING THE MANAGER.
AND, UH, UH, JAKE HAS, UM, YOU KNOW, HE'S THE, UH, UH, HE TAKES CARE OF THE GROUNDS OUT THERE.
THEN, UM, THE, UH, FOLLOWING THURSDAY, I WENT, UH, UH, I WENT UP TO WINCHESTER TO THE, UH, REGIONAL AIRPORT, UH, MEETING BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THAT SYSTEM.
AND, UH, UH, AND I ANNOUNCED THEM, LIKE I'M ANNOUNCING TO YOU ABOUT THE, UH, UH, WE'RE HAVING A, IT'S CALLED A SCARE PORT ON, UH, ON, UH, THURSDAY, OCTOBER THAT, OR RATHER OCTOBER THE 25TH.
I'M NOT SURE WHICH DAY THAT IS.
I THINK IT'S SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 25TH.
AND THAT'S IN, IN, UH, PREPARATION FOR, UM, UH, FOR THE UPCOMING HALLOWEEN.
BUT IT'S CALLED THE SCARE PORT.
AND, UH, INVITE YOU ALL TO COME OUT, UH,
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FROM NINE TO THREE.SO THAT'S MY, UM, THAT'S MY REPORT.
AND, UH, MR. SHAW, UH, YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, MEMBERS OF THE, THE WARREN COUNTY, UH, COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I WON'T CONSUME MUCH OF YOUR BUSY EVENING, BUT I DO WANNA JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF INTRODUCE MYSELF.
UM, OF COURSE, THE BOARD MEMBERS KNOW ME, UH, NOW TO, UH, TO SOME, UH, DEGREE, UH, AND, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN, UH, AT LEAST ONE OR TWO ARTICLES, UH, KIND OF ANNOUNCING MY, UH, ARRIVAL AS WELL AS A PRESS RELEASE IN SOME OTHER, UM, UH, KIND OF PUBLIC, UH, INTRODUCTION OF WHO I AM.
BUT, BUT JUST QUICKLY, UM, I, I AM, UH, A NORTHERNER.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.
I STARTED LAST, UH, THURSDAY ON, ON SEPTEMBER 11TH.
UM, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BRIEF, UH, SUMMARY OF, OF MY BACKGROUND.
I, I STARTED IN THIS BUSINESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, THE BUSINESS IN WHICH, UH, KIND OF EXCITES ME AND, AND, AND BRINGS OUT A REAL LOVE FOR ME.
UH, AT THE AGE OF 18, WHEN I BECAME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN MY HOMETOWN OF FRACKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, SCHUELL COUNTY, UH, HAD THE REAL PLEASURE OF SERVING TWO TERMS THERE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
WE DID NOT HAVE A, A PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL MANAGER.
UH, SO, UH, ELECTED BOROUGH COUNSELORS SERVED REALLY IN THE CAPACITY THROUGH A STRONG COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, UM, AS YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATORS, IF YOU WILL.
UH, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE, UH, UH, CHAIR OF THE SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS, UH, SERVING ON THE, UH, PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.
SO AT AGE 18, WHILE MOST OF MY BUDDIES WERE OUT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING A GOOD TIME OR, OR HANGING OUT AT THE MALL ON A FRIDAY NIGHT OR SOMETHING, I WAS, UH, TAKING PART IN HIRING AND FIRING OF PERSONNEL.
UH, I WAS, UH, NEGOTIATING UNION CONTRACTS.
UH, AND SO IT REALLY GAVE ME A REALLY GOOD INSIGHT FROM A VERY EARLY AGE ON, UH, SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME NOW A LIFELONG PASSION OF MINE.
UH, LITERALLY MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE HAS BEEN SERVED, UH, IN PUBLIC SERVICE SERVING, UH, IN, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, I, I DID HAVE THE FORTUNE IN PENNSYLVANIA AS WELL, UM, UH, TO SERVE, UH, IN THE CAPACITY OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UM, IT'S SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO VIRGINIA IN THE WAY WE HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS THERE, WE CALL THEM MONROE OFFICERS.
UM, AND, UH, IN THAT CAPACITY, I SERVED, UH, IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, UH, AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND SO I HAVE, I THINK, WHAT IS A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT, UH, LOCALLY MUNICIPALLY, UH, BUT ALSO AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND, AND, AND STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
UM, I THEN SERVED A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES AS, AS MUNICIPAL MANAGER FROM, UH, EASTERN TO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, FROM SMALLEST BEING 2300, UH, IN POPULATION TO MOST RECENTLY, UH, LOWER PACKS IN TOWNSHIP, UH, WHICH, UH, IS A POPULATION OF AROUND 53,000, UM, WITH A SQUARE MILEAGE OF ABOUT 28.
UH, SO HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, WHAT WE HAVE, 43 SOME THOUSAND, UH, ISH, UH, IN, IN, UH, 200 SQUARE MILES, 200 SOME SQUARE MILES THERE.
WE HAD 53,000 IN ABOUT 28 SQUARE MILES.
SO A LITTLE DIFFERENT, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, IN TERMS OF ITS DENSITY.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, UM, UH, HAVE A PRETTY DECENT, UH, VARIETY OF BACKGROUND WITHIN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
A JUST TO GIVE YOU A, A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO SINCE I'VE ARRIVED ON THE 11TH.
UM, IT'S BEEN A VERY, UH, BUSY NUMBER OF DAYS.
UM, MY INTENT HERE, UH, UH, KIND OF JUST LANDING, IF YOU WILL, HAS BEEN TO ATTEMPT TO GET A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF, OF, OF YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU USE THE TERM FIRE HOSE? THAT WOULD BE A VERY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION.
AND ACTUALLY, IN FACT, THIS MORNING, I SPENT MOST OF MY DAY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, GETTING A FIRSTHAND GLIMPSE OF THE FIRE HOSE BEING USED.
SO I THINK IT WAS A RATHER INTERESTING METAPHORICAL, UH, COMPARISON TO WHAT I'VE BEEN UP AGAINST THE PAST NUMBER OF DAYS.
BUT, UM, I'VE REALLY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO, UH, KIND OF USE THESE FIRST FEW WEEKS TO GET A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF YOUR GOVERNMENT.
UM, I HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY KIND OF, UH, MEET WITH EACH OF YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND NOW, UH, I WILL BE GETTING THERE, BUT EACH OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS TO KIND OF GET A OVERVIEW OF, UH, OF OUR FACILITIES, MEET SOME STAFF, UH, GET A SENSE OF REALLY WHAT EACH DEPARTMENT DOES DAY TO DAY.
UM, AND THEN AT SOME POINT VERY QUICKLY HERE THEREAFTER, UH, I HOPE TO, UH, UH, SET UP, UM,
[01:25:01]
REALLY SOME FORMALIZED TIME WITH EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO KIND OF GET INTO SPECIFICS, UH, REALLY GET INTO THE WEEDS, UH, AS TO, UH, WHAT THEIR DEPARTMENTS DO, UH, WHAT, UH, ARE PRESSING NEEDS, UM, UH, WAYS IN WHICH THE COUNTY, UH, YOU KNOW, COULD TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, BETTER ALIGNING, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, DAY-TO-DAY FUNCTION WITH BOARD, UH, VISION AND, AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.ONE OF MY, UH, OTHER PROJECTS HERE JUST COMING ON BOARD, UH, WITH THE COUNTY IS GOING TO, AND I, I SPOKE ABOUT THIS DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS A BIT, BUT, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OFTEN, UH, DONE.
AND I'M, I'M, UH, SAD TO SEE HE LEFT, UH, THIS EVENING SO QUICKLY.
BUT, UM, UH, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD, I'M SURE, UH, AGREE WITH THIS.
UM, SOMETHING THAT'S DONE IN THE EDUCATION WORLD OFTEN, UM, FOR INCOMING ADMINISTRATORS IS, UH, WHAT THEY CALL THE CREATION OF AN ENTRY PLAN, UH, WHICH IS REALLY, UH, A, A FANCY WAY OF SAYING, UM, A KIND OF A FORMALIZED SWOT ANALYSIS.
UM, AND THAT, UH, WILL REALLY TAKE ME TO A PLACE OF SITTING DOWN AGAIN WITH EACH OF THESE, UM, INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ASK REALLY KIND OF FORMALIZED QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATOR, UH, I WANT TO KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE.
WHERE ARE THE BODIES BURIED? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE LANDMINES? UM, TELL ME, REALLY GIVE ME A, A, AN UN UH, UNBIASED, UH, AND KIND OF UNFILTERED SENSE OF WHAT EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THINK OF, UH, OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UH, AND THEN ALSO, UM, MEETING WITH A NUMBER OF, UH, EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, UM, TO ASK THE SAME SORTS OF QUESTIONS.
UM, AND I WANT TO, UH, WE'LL BE, UH, I HAVE STAFF KIND OF WORKING ON A LIST.
I'LL BE WORKING WITH THE, THE SUPERVISORS TO, TO GIVE ME, UH, NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF, UH, OF KIND OF THOSE KEY EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING, YOU KNOW, BIG ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS, UH, EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS, UM, YOU KNOW, BIG DEVELOPERS, ANY, ANYONE THAT REALLY, UH, ANYONE OR ANY FIRM THAT REALLY HAS SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON, UH, WARREN COUNTY.
UM, AND, UH, THEN FROM THERE, UH, I WILL, UH, QUICKLY WORK TO PUT TOGETHER A, A REPORT BASED ON THOSE INTERVIEWS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH MY, UH, EARLY ASSESSMENT, UH, EARLY KIND OF FEEDBACK AND, AND, AND ALSO WORK TO PUT TOGETHER SOME SHORT AND LONG-TERM GOALS, UM, THAT I WILL PRESENT TO THE BOARD AND, AND, UH, KIND OF USE AS A, AS AN EARLY TEMPLATE FOR WHAT IT IS I WILL BE DOING AND, AND KIND OF, UH, NAVIGATING, UH, IN MY FIRST FEW MONTHS HERE.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OUTTA THE OFFICE AS MUCH OF AS POSSIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE SPENT MORE THAN A, A SOLID 30 MINUTES IN THE OFFICE, UH, SINCE, SINCE, UH, THE 11TH.
SO I HOPE TO, UH, CONTINUE THAT PACE OF GETTING OUT AND MEETING, MEETING FOLKS AND LISTENING TO FOLKS.
AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY, VERY, VERY SHORTLY, I'LL GET TO MEET, UH, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR, OR WANT THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO COME IN AND CHAT, PLEASE DO.
UH, MY DOOR WILL BE OPEN, MY EMAIL IS OPEN, PHONE IS OPEN.
PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MEETING WITH, WITH EACH OF YOU, UH, HOPEFULLY VERY SHORTLY.
SO, THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
COUNSELOR, UH, MY ONLY COMMENT IS A WELCOME TO MR. HAW.
[G. Appropriations and Transfers]
IS THE, UH, APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS.DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS OR TRANSFERS? NO, SIR.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION THEN MOVE TO ACCEPT THE APPROPRIATIONS TRANSFERS AS PRESENTED? I HAVE A SECOND.
[H. Approval of Accounts]
THE, UH, APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS.DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[01:30:07]
I WILL MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THE FUEL.I LOOKED AT, UM, WENT DOWN THE FUEL AND I NOTICED IT'S DIFFERENT VEHICLES.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S AT THE SAME STORE GETTING MID GRADE.
UM, YOU MAY WANNA CHECK AND MAKE SURE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I TALKED, UM, BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO BETH COOLEY WITH THE STATE WHO HAS THE SAME SYSTEM, UM, THAT SHE SAID SOMETIMES THE COMPUTERS AT THE GAS PUMPS WILL MAKE A MISTAKE AND YOU'RE GETTING REGULAR GLASS GAS AND IT WILL SAY THAT IT'S MID GRADE OR PREMIUM.
SO, UM, IT WASN'T THE SAME VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS THE SAME STATION.
SO THEY MAY WANNA START LOOKING AT THE, UH, RECEIPT AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT IT, WHAT IT SAYS ONE PLACE MATCHES UP THE OTHER.
'CAUSE I DID NOTICE, I THINK, UH, AT LEAST THREE OF THOSE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE APPROVAL ACCOUNTS AS PRESENTED? YOU HAVE A SECOND, SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MR. STAN MEYER AYE MRS. COLORS? NO.
[M. Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT, UH, THAT Y'ALL WANNA PULL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? JOHN? NO.
I WAS GONNA PULL NUMBER NINE, BUT SINCE WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT DISCUSSION, I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO PULL THAT.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SECOND.
[N. Additional New Business]
ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS? UH, YES SIR.YOU HAVE THE FOUR ITEMS THAT WE HAVE PUT ON ACTUALLY SUPERVISOR COLORS.
THREE OF THOSE ITEMS WERE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
YEAH, SO IT'S REALLY JUST THE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH BRUTE LLC.
AND IS THAT THAT MR. LENS? NO, IT'S NOT.
WHEN YOU CAME OVER TO YOUR DESK, I THOUGHT, OH, YOU'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
DID, DID YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT?
THIS, UH, IS A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH BRUTE LLC.
THEY'RE A CONTRACTOR THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM SERVICES AT THE SITE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOX HANGERS AT THE AIRPORT.
SO THIS WAS AN IFB, IT WAS SOLICITED, UM, BY I BELIEVE TALBERT AND BRIGHT.
INITIALLY, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RESPONSES.
WE HAD TWO CONTRACTORS ATTEND THE PRE-BID MEETING AND BRUTE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO SUBMITTED A BID.
UH, BUT THEY ARE A RESPONSIBLE OFFER, UH, AND THIS IS A REASONABLE COST.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CHERYL? NO, I'M FINE.
I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS PART OF THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE GRANT, THE OVERALL GRANT AND THAT, UH, THE AIRPORT IS GOING TO TAKE A, UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S A LOAN FROM THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE, THE LOCAL PART OF THAT GRANT.
[01:35:01]
AND, UH, IT'S ABOUT ABOUT $115,000 THAT WE EXPECT TO PAY BACK IN A, IN A TWO TO THREE YEAR PERIOD.BECAUSE ONCE THESE BOX HANGERS ARE BUILT, WE'RE EXPECTING A, UH, A REVENUE OF BETWEEN THREE AND $4,000 A MONTH FROM THESE THAT WILL EASILY COVER THE COST OF THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO PAY THAT BACK IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THEN THOSE, THOSE WILL BE A, A GOOD SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE, UH, FOR THE COUNTY OUT AT THE, UH, UH, OUT AT THE AIRPORT.
AND, UH, LITTLE BY LITTLE, UM, MIKE BERRY IS, HE'S DOING GREAT THINGS OUT THERE.
SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S, IT'S REALLY GOOD.
SO, UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH BRUTE LLCI FURTHER MOVE THE BOARD, AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
SO NEXT, UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NEW ADDITIONAL BUSINESS? IF NOT, UH, THEN THE, UH, WE'LL ROLL, WE'LL ROLL ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR GENERAL COMMENTS.
I AM SAMANTHA GOOD FROM SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
SO, UM, I DON'T GET AS MUCH TIME AS SUPERVISOR JAMESON, SO I CAN'T REFUTE ALL OF HIS LIES THAT HE KEEPS SPEWING.
I'M JUST GONNA FOCUS ON THE TOP ONES THAT I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TONIGHT.
SO TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATION, VERY HYPOCRITICAL OF YOU, CONSIDERING YOU AND THE OTHER THREE, UH, BOARD MAJORITY EXCLUDED SUPERVISOR COLORS FROM MANY, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT INVOLVED THE BO OS, WHICH EXCLUDED A FIFTH OF THIS WHOLE COUNTY.
UM, AND AS FAR AS REPRESENTATION, AGAIN, THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD THAT YOU ELECTED FULL OF BOOK BANNERS AND YES, THEY ARE, UM, ONLY REPRESENTED THREE DISTRICTS.
SO HOW IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF A POPULATION? BUT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHICH HAS MULTIPLE MEMBERS FROM EVERY DISTRICT, ONLY REPRESENTS 6% OF OUR POPULATION.
THAT'S A TWISTING OF STATISTICS.
AND I THINK YOU DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO CHECK INTO YOUR NUMBERS.
'CAUSE YOU JUST KEEP REPEATING THE SAME LIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, AND AS FAR AS, LET'S LET'S CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATION WITH YOUR BOOK BANNING LIBRARY BOARD.
UM, ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS JUST MADE A BIG DONATION TO SCOTT TURN MEYER, UM, WHICH I FIND INTERESTING.
'CAUSE IN THE, UM, TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, YOU'VE BEEN FORWARDING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EMAILS TO SCOTT MEYER.
SO I FIND THAT INTERESTING THAT YOU'RE SO INTERESTED IN TRANSPARENCY, BUT YOU'RE INCLUDING PEOPLE NOT ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EMAILS.
AND YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT HE HAS ANY KIND OF BACKGROUND IN, UH, WHAT YOU INCLUDED HIM ON BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE LIE.
UM, AND LET'S SEE, WITH REGARD TO TRANSPARENCY, THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU, VOYA, YOU SHOULD HAVE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM, IS THAT THIS COUNTY SHOULD HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS AND YOU CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEM.
THOSE DOCUMENTS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE VOYA, JUST LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR AUDIT DONE.
BUT SAMUEL'S AUDIT FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS, THEY'RE ALL AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE.
IN ADDITION, ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT SAMUEL'S, YOU COULD HAVE LEARNED AT THE Q AND A FORUMS THAT THEY'VE HAD REPEATEDLY.
THERE'S ONE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 PM MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO AND ACTUALLY GET SOME INFORMATION.
'CAUSE I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONTACT WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN A YEAR AND A HALF.
SO HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU WHEN YOU DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH THEM? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
AND THEN THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY HAVE COME OUT AND SPOKEN.
SO HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE? YOU ONLY QUOTED ONE A THOUSAND CAME OUT AND VOTED IN THE PRIMARY.
OVER A HUNDRED CAME OUT AND SPOKE.
SO HOW MANY IS IT? EARLY VOTING STARTS THIS FRIDAY AND WE WILL SHOW YOU AGAIN THAT YOU ARE THE VILLAIN.
THERE IS ONE, AND IT'S YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONE ATTACKING THE LIBRARY AS YOU HAVE SINCE YOUR FIRST EMAIL AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU ARE FULL OF CRAP AND I AM TIRED OF IT.
[01:40:02]
OR NOT.UM, IF STEVEN SHAW ISN'T HERE, JOHN JENKINS IS NEXT.
JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, THIS EVENING, THE BOARD HERE HAS, UH, VOTED ON NINE DIFFERENT SEPARATE ITEMS. UM, ALL WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FORK DISTRICT.
TO ME THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AT LAST WEEK'S WORK SESSION, MRS. CULL HAS PROPOSED THAT MR. HENRY, WHO HAD WON THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND IS CURRENTLY RUNNING UNOPPOSED, BE ALLOWED TO FEEL THAT THEY CAN POSITION THAT APPROACH WOULD PREVENT A LOT OF, UH, PROBLEMS, UH, IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHEN A, WHEN ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER IS GONNA COME INTO PLAY AND WE'VE GOT A NEW, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR THREE AND A HALF WEEKS, UH, THAT THAT WOULD, I THINK THAT WOULD ELIMINATE IT.
UH, UH, IT WAS PROPOSED DURING THAT MEETING THAT THE APPOINTEE SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR PERSPECTIVE OR MINDSET AS TO MRS. COOK WHO RESIGNED.
APPOINTING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND A WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY MAKES MORE SENSE THAN BRINGING IN A CLONE OF MRS. COOK WHOSE ONLY DESIRE WAS, I'LL SKIP THAT PART.
IF THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN, IS THERE AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN THE MAJORITY AND CONTINUE WITH THE CURRENT TREND IN WARREN COUNTY? UH, IS THIS A REASON FOR NOT APPOINTING MR. HENRY? THE CITIZENS OF, FOR THE FORK DISTRICT WILL SOON BE RECEIVING THEIR TAX BILLS AND YET THEY HAVE NO REPRESENTATION IN WARREN COUNTY.
SHOULD THEY PAY THEIR TAXES? DOES IT MAKE SENSE? NO REPRESENTATION.
WHY PAY THE TAXES? I READ ONCE SOMEPLACE HERE THAT COMMUNISTS HAVE HISTORICALLY ACHIEVED GOVERNMENT CONTROL BY PLACING SUPPORTIVE INDIVIDUALS INTO POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION.
I KIND OF BELIEVE THAT THIS, HOWEVER, IS A DEMOCRACY.
CONDUCT YOURSELF IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND ALLOW MR. HENRY TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF THE FORK DISTRICT.
THEY HAVE NO SAY YOU VOTED FIVE, NINE TIMES.
NO ONE FROM THE FORK DISTRICT IS ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING.
A COUPLE OTHER THINGS UNRELATED.
THE AUDIT, THAT AUDIT CONTINUES TO BE INCOMPLETE, NEVER GONNA BE FINISHED.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT, HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE.
UH, THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING ARE NOT ON THIS AGENDA, WHICH THEY SHOULD BE.
AND THE LAST THING, UH, THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD, WE DON'T NEED THEM.
THEY'RE MORE OF A LIABILITY BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED AS PUBLIC SERVANTS OR PUBLIC APPOINTEES OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE TAKEN OUT LIABILITY INSURANCE ON THEM.
IF THEY HAVE ANY TYPE OF INCIDENT THAT CAN CREATE A LIABILITY.
SIR, WELCOME TO WARREN COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE FROM PENNSYLVANIA, I MYSELF WAS BORN SOUTH OF MASON DIXON LINE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGN UP, SIR.
WOULD ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO, TO SPEAK? UH, MA'AM, DID YOU SPEAK DURING THE FIRST PERIOD? OKAY.
YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ONCE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BUT THE, UH, NO, YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ONCE DURING THE COMMENT.
YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ONCE DURING THE, AND I, I ANNOUNCED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION THOUGH? UM, THERE WAS A, UM, MISUNDERSTANDING.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH WAS CORRECT? WHAT HIS WAS? CORRECT.
WELL, COUNSELOR SPECIFICALLY, NO E EXCUSE ME MA'AM.
CA, COUNSELOR, WELL, WE DON'T NORMALLY DO BACK AND FORTH, BUT THAT ITEM, THE ITEM TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THAT WERE ORIGINALLY BUDGETED FOR THE LIBRARY, UM, TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I THINK THE SCHOOLS WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, MA'AM.
MA'AM, MA'AM? UH, I'LL MORE THAN,
[01:45:01]
I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS AFTER THE MEETING.YOU DID TRANSFER THE FUNDS, MA'AM, I, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? I GOING ONCE, UH, GOOD EVENING.
UH, JIM BARNES FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING, UM, PRESENTATION THAT YOU, UH, THAT YOU PUT UP THERE, MR. JAMERSON.
UM, I'VE, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY A NUMBER OF TIMES OR QUESTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS AND WHAT THE WILL OF THE COUNTY IS AND WHAT THE WILL OF THE CI CITIZENRY IS.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU PICKED, PICKED UP ONE EMAIL THAT, THAT MS. COLOR RECEIVED, UH, THAT, THAT ALIGNS WITH YOUR SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.
I'M NOT DENYING THAT THERE ARE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT CITIZENS WHO AGREE WITH YOU.
I'M NOT DENYING THAT THERE ARE SOUTH RIVER DI THAT THERE ARE, UH, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT CITIZENS THAT AGREE WITH YOU OR HAPPY CREEK CITIZENS THAT AGREE WITH YOU.
I, I'M NOT, NOBODY'S, NOBODY'S CLAIMING THAT 100% OF THE COUNTY IS OPPOSED TO YOUR OP TO, TO YOUR ACTIONS.
UH, I THINK IT, IT DOESN'T TAKE A VERY IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE, AT, AT, AT THE HISTORY OF THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS TO UNDERSTAND AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY DISAGREES WITH YOU.
I WENT BACK AND I LOOKED AT THE VIDEO FROM, UH, THE DECEMBER 10TH MEETING OF LAST YEAR WHERE THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED.
I MIGHT HAVE MISSED A COUPLE, BUT I, I REVIEWED ALL SPEAK.
I REVIEWED ALL THE, THE SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE AT THAT MEETING.
I CAME UP WITH A TOTAL NUMBER OF 113 OF THOSE 113 97 WERE OPPOSED TO THE CREATION OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.
UH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF 85% TO JUST UNDER 15% SINCE THEN AT EVERY BORDER SUPERVISOR'S MEETING WHERE ANYONE HAS GOTTEN UP AND SPOKEN FOR OR AGAINST THE LIBRARY OR FOR OR AGAINST YOUR ACTIONS TOWARD THE LIBRARY, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITIES HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO YOUR ACTIONS IN THE PRELIMINARY, IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN JUNE.
OVERWHELMINGLY, CANDIDATES WHO ARE OPPOSED TO YOUR ACTIONS WERE, UH, WERE RE RECEIVED THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHARACTERIZE THOSE NUMBERS ANY OTHER WAY THAN A GENERAL, A GENERAL RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT THE CITIZENS OPPOSE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
OKAY? YOU CAN SPIN IT ANY WAY YOU WANT.
YOU CAN WRITE, YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO YOUR LITTLE, UH, PRESENTATIONS AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL YOUR CHARTS AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL YOUR GRAPHS.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE NUMBERS.
WE DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, AND WE ARE GOING TO OPPOSE YOU AT EVERY TURN.
SO YOU CAN EITHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OR YOU CAN NOT.
WHAT, UH, GEORGE KLEIN FORK DISTRICT, UM, MR. JAMESON, I JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR REASONING FOR THROWING THE GAS ON THE FIRE TONIGHT.
I I I HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU WOULD GO THROUGH ALL THAT AGAIN.
WHEN YOU'VE EXPLAINED IT THROUGH THE LAST YEAR, YOU'RE JUST THROWING MORE GAS ON A FIRE THAT WE DON'T NEED.
AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT'S PART OF YOUR ARROGANCE.
UM, YOU, YOU LIVE IN A, YOU LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT YOU DON'T LIVE IN OURS.
I MEAN, I JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT IT, IT'S REALLY SAD THAT YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LITTLE GROUP, BUT YOU, THERE'S, YOU DO NOT FOLLOW OUR COMMUNITY.
IT JUST HAS BLOW MY MIND TONIGHT THAT YOU PUT THAT WHOLE PRO PROGRAM TOGETHER FOR WHAT? IT'S, IT'S S**T WE ALREADY KNOW.
[01:50:01]
BUT YOU JUST REENACT, REIGNITED A FIRE THAT WAS, HAD ALREADY STARTED TO DIE DOWN.DID YOU? IS THAT JUST NOT ENOUGH SATISFACTION THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN AND YOU GOTTA KEEP IT FORWARD IN FRONT OF US? UM, AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT PPP MONEY AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THE COUNTY DIDN'T TAKE PPP MONEY.
IT'S A, IT WAS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
THE GOVERNMENT MADE IT AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE THE BIG DEAL ABOUT TAKING IT.
TO ME, THAT'S JUST BEING SMART.
UM, AND WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO USE IT FOR, THAT'S FINE.
AND I'M SURE THE COUNTY, UH, IF THEY DID TAKE IT, WHICH I CAN'T HONESTLY ANSWER, BUT IF THEY DID AND THEY'RE ALREADY BUDGETED, WHAT DID YOU USE THAT MONEY FOR? WHERE DID IT GO? IT'S JUST TRANSPARENCY.
BUT I JUST REALLY WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.
I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY THAT YOU REIGNITED A FIRE THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE LIT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE? PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
SO DO I HAVE, UH, NEXT IS, UH, IS ADJOURNMENT? YES.
DO I HAVE A, UH, A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.