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[B. Citizen Appointment - Warren County Board of Supervisors - Fork District]
UH, TODAY IS, UH, TUESDAY THE 14TH OF OCTOBER.AND THIS IS A WORKING SESSION, BUT WE STARTED WITH, UH, A, A CLOSED SESSION AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE, UH, APPOINTMENT OF, UM, UH, MR. HUGH HENRY TO THE FORK DISTRICT.
AND, UH, SO, UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO AT THIS POINT IS JUST TAKE A, A, A BRIEF RECESS SO THAT, UH, THE, UH, COUNTY COURT CLERK CAN SWEAR MR. UH, HUGH HENRY IN MR. CHAIR, MR. CHAIR, YOU'LL, YOU'LL, YOU'LL NEED TO, UH, HAVE A MOTION MADE AND A AND A SECOND TO, TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT ITSELF.
SO, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT HUGH HENRY AS THE FORT DISTRICT, UM, SUPERVISOR.
AND DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
OKAY, NOW THAT I'VE GOT THE CART BEHIND THE HORSE INSTEAD OF IN FRONT OF THE HORSE, NOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND JUST TAKE A SHORT RECESS WHILE THE, THE COURT CLERK SWEARS, UH, MR. HENRY IN.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I HUGH HENRY DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGED AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGED ALL THE DUTIES, ALL THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME, INCUMBENT UPON ME AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF WARREN COUNTY, OF WARREN COUNTY, REPRESENTING THE FORK DISTRICT, REPRESENTING THE FORT DISTRICT TO COMPLETE THE UNEXPIRED TERM, TO COMPLETE THE UN EXPIRED TERM VACATED BY VICKY L COOK, VACATED BY VICKY L COOK, COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2025, COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2025, AND EXPIRING ON AND EXPIRING ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.
ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
SO, MR. HENRY, IF YOU'LL JOIN US ON THE DAIS.
OKAY, NEXT WE'VE GOT THE, UH, THANK YOU SIR, UH, APPOINTMENT FOR THE, UM, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND, UM, UM, I, I KNOW THAT WE HAD, WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS, UH, PRIOR, SO, UH, HUGH, IF YOU'LL MAKE THE, THE, THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT PAUL.
WELL, WELL, WHAT, WELL, ACTUALLY PAUL, WE CAN'T APPOINT HIM IF IT, OH, I FORGOT SOMETHING.
OH, UH, THIS IS MY OFFICIAL NOTICE TO RESIGN FROM THE FOURTH DISTRICT PLANNING COMMISSION PETITION.
UH, I ONLY TWO MEETINGS LEFT, BUT, UH, WILL BE REAPPOINTED.
SO THIS WILL BE MY RESIGNATION.
AND NOW IF YOU'LL FOLLOW WITH, NOW THAT I GOT THE PORTION OF THE COURT RIGHT ORDER.
[C. Citizen Appointment - Warren County Planning Commission - Fork District]
A MOTION TO APPOINT PAUL BARNHART, COURT DISTRICT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONER, I HAVE A SECOND.[D. Cancellation of Snow Removal Services Contract for Lake Front Royal Sanitary District]
WE'VE GOT, UH, CANCELLATION OF SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR LAKEFRONT ROYAL SANITARY DISTRICT.THE TRADE HAS CHANGED AND I CANNOT, UM, HAVE A CONTRACT WHERE THE COUNTY IS PAYING ME, UH, AND HOLD THIS POSITION.
AND, UH, I WAS WELL AWARE OF IT A MONTH AGO AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT THE FORD BLACK AND WHITE AND, UH, I, I DID KNOW IT BEFORE EXCEPT POINT AND I MOVE INFORMATION TO I'LL, I'LL UNDERSTAND.
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DO I HAVE A MOTION? I UNDERSTAND.DO YOU HAVE IT? THERE'S NOTHING ON HERE.
SO I'M GONNA WING THIS AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE RIGHT.
UM, DUE TO POLICY AND PROCEDURE, I, UM, MOTION THAT THE SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH LAKE FRONT ROYAL SANITARY DISTRICT BE CANCELED.
UM, THE CURRENT, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
[E. Discussion — Urban Agriculture Text Amendment (Roosters on R-1)]
THE, UH, SO NOW WE'LL, WE'LL BEGIN THE, THE WORK SESSION PORTION.UH, FIRST UP IS THE URBAN AGRICULTURAL TAX AMENDMENT ON ROOSTERS FOR R ONE.
COULD, COULD I MAKE A QUICK INTRODUCTION BEFORE THIS? YEAH.
UM, SO, UH, TODAY WE HAVE MS. MEGAN CODY, DID I GET YOUR NAME RIGHT THIS TIME? YES, SIR.
UH, PRESENTING, UH, SHE REACHED OUT, I THINK, TO A NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS, BUT I WAS THE FIRST TO REPLY.
AND SO WE, WE ENTERED INTO A CONVERSATION, UM, ABOUT POTENTIALLY MODIFYING THE, UH, ZONING ORDINANCE IN R ONE, UH, TO ALLOW POTENTIALLY UP TO ONE ROOSTER ON, UH, A PROPERTY OF UP TO, UH, A MINIMUM OF ONE ACRE.
UM, AND BASICALLY THIS WOULD MIRROR THE TOWN ORDINANCE.
UH, WE'VE SEEN A, A TREND RECENTLY OF, OF TRYING TO GET MORE ALIGNED WITH THE TOWN ON SOME URBAN AGRICULTURAL THINGS.
THE BEEKEEPING THING JUST HAPPENED, UM, AND IS STILL IN PROGRESS, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HAPPENING.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST, UH, MORE OF THAT TYPE OF THING.
AND, UH, UH, SHE'S, SHE'S BROUGHT A PETITION AS WELL THAT SHE MAY SPEAK ABOUT.
UM, BUT, UH, SO THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
OKAY, MR. HENRY, CONGRATULATIONS.
I'M, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT WE GOT THIS ALL RIGHT.
UM, THIS IS THE PRESENTATION I I MADE.
SO RESPONSIBLE ROOSTER OWNERSHIP, A PROPOSAL FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING FLEXIBILITY.
OUR PURPOSE IS THAT WE'RE HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THE CURRENT REGULATIONS AND TO REQUEST AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING REGULATION TO ALLOW RESPONSIBLE ROOSTER OWNERSHIP UNDER REASONABLE CONDITIONS.
RIGHT NOW, UM, ROOSTERS ARE PROHIBITED ON RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONING DISTRICTS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA SEEK TO REASONABLY, I'M SO SORRY.
WE'RE GONNA SEEK TO REASONABLY AMEND THE, IT'S, I, I'M SO SORRY.
NO, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO REASONABLY AMEND AND ALLOW ROOSTER OWNERSHIP IN RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONE, WHILE MAINTAINING COMMUNITY PEACE.
OUR GOAL, I'M SURE EVERYBODY HERE, IS TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN AGRICULTURE, NEIGHBORHOOD HARMONY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FREEDOM.
I HAVE QUITE A FEW REASONS FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
UM, I, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THIS, UH, FIRST PART, BALANCE REGULATION INSTEAD OF TOTAL PROHIBITION, A COMPLETE BAN IS OVERLY RESTRICTIVE.
UM, I, WHEN I STARTED GOING TO THIS AND LOOKING AT THE LAWS AND GETTING, UM, THE OPINIONS OF THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY, I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY THAT SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, AND THIS GOES FOR MULTIPLE TOPICS, BUT FOR THIS IN PARTICULAR, WHEN YOU OUTLAW ROOSTERS, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE ROOSTERS.
SO I THINK A TOTAL BAN IS A LITTLE BIT OVERLY RESTRICTIVE.
UM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, REGARDLESS OF THE LAW, PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK AROUND THAT.
UM, INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY BAN, UM, REASONABLE LIMITS, PROTECT NEIGHBORHOOD PEACE, WHILE STILL ALLOWING RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP, UM, SUPPORT FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE, ALLOWING ROOSTERS IS GONNA ENCOURAGE SMALL SCALE FARMING AND BACKYARD POULTRY.
UM, WHICH IS, UH, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANNA HAVE A HOMESTEADING, UH, OR WHO WANT TO HOMESTEAD
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OR HAVE A, A NATURAL LIFESTYLE.LEMME BRING UP, UM, I WILL ACTUALLY BACK UP A LITTLE BIT, UM, TO MY INTRODUCTION SAYING THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.
SO I WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE BEHALF OF THEM AND ON THE BEHALF OF THE 250 RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS CHANGE.
UM, AND I WANTED TO NOTE BY SAYING THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT TO, IT'S NOT ABOUT REMOVING STRUCTURE, BUT CREATING A FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS BOTH RESIDENTS AND RURAL TRADITIONS.
AND, UM, BACK TO THE, THIS SLIDE.
SO THIS IS GONNA ENCOURAGE SMALL SCALE FARMING AND BACKYARD POULTRY, WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO WANNA BE SELF-SUFFICIENT, UM, SELF-SUSTAINABLE, AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEPEN BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.
UM, UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT WITH THE PRICE OF LAND NOWADAYS AND OUR TAXES, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE SOMEONE COULD SAY LIKE, OH, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST, UM, UP AND MOVE TO A PLACE THAT'S GOT MORE LAND IF YOU WANT ROOSTERS OR IF YOU WANT LIVESTOCK, OR WHATEVER IT IS.
WELL, THE PRICE OF THINGS NOWADAYS, THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO HAVE, THAT'S NOT REALLY GONNA WORK.
UM, UM, YEAH, ANYWAYS, I'M SORRY.
UM, ANOTHER REASON WHY I WENT TO FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS FLOCK PROTECTION.
UH, ROOSTERS WILL RISK THEIR LIVES TO DEFEND THEIR FLOCK.
UM, AND EVEN WHEN YOU DO TRY TO KEEP THEM IN A CONTAINED AREA OR A RUN LIKE WE ARE, ARE SUPPOSED TO UNDER THE, UH, THE REGULATIONS, WE STILL HAVE AERIAL PREDATORS THAT CAN COME UP FROM ABOVE AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO TAKE DAMAGE.
UM, AND EVEN THEN, YES, SURE, ABSOLUTELY, YOU COULD PUT A COVER OVER TOP, UM, A TARP, A NET, WHATEVER YOU WANT.
UM, REGARDLESS OF THAT, A WILD ANIMAL WHO IS HUNGRY WILL DIG UNDER THE COOP OR UNDER THE RUN, OR EVEN TRY TO TEAR APART THE RUN TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE FAMILIES.
AND, AND LIKE I SAID, A WILD ANIMAL THAT IS STARVING IS GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO, TO GET A MEAL.
UM, AND SO I THINK, UH, ROOSTERS ARE A GREAT FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR PROTECTING YOUR FLOCK AGAINST CERTAIN PREDATORS.
WELL, ALL PREDATORS, UM, THEY HELP WITH THE FLOCK DYNAMICS.
ROOSTERS HELP MAINTAIN ORDER, REDUCE STRESS, AND MINIMIZE FIGHTING AMONG HINTS, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF YOU OWN CHICKENS OR NOT, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED A PECKING ORDER.
CHICKENS WILL NATURALLY ASSERT DOMINANCE, UM, AGAINST ONE ANOTHER TO HAVE A LITTLE TOTEM POLE OF AUTHORITY WITHIN THE FLOCK.
UM, WHETHER THOSE ARE HENS THAT YOU'VE HAD YOUR ENTIRE LIFETIME, THEY WILL DO THAT FOREVER.
WHETHER IT'S FOR FOOD OR THEIR FAVORITE NESTING BOX, WHATEVER IT IS, THEY'RE GOING TO TELL ONE ANOTHER, HEY, I'M TOP DOG, THIS IS MINE.
AND TO HELP REDUCE THAT, UM, A ROOSTER IS SUPPOSED TO HELP, UM, MAINTAIN THAT DYNAMIC.
ESPECIALLY TOO, IF YOU ARE ADDING NEW HINTS TO YOUR FLOCK, THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW THEM THE PECKING ORDER.
UM, SHOW 'EM HOW, HOW THINGS ARE DONE AROUND THERE, UH, MEAT PRODUCTION.
SO ONE OF THE VERY OBVIOUS REASONS SOMEBODY WILL WANT A ROOSTER, ASIDE FROM CLOCK FLOCK PROTECTION, IS TO BE SELF-SUSTAINABLE.
TO BE ABLE TO BREED THE CHICKENS THEMSELVES TO, YOU KNOW, STEP AWAY FROM THE FARM STORES, THE HATCHERIES, AND TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON THEMSELVES FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM YOUR CHICKENS, WHETHER THAT'S MEAT OR EGGS, OR MORE MEAT OR MORE EGGS.
YOU KNOW, A ROOSTER, OBVIOUSLY, YOU NEED A MALE AND A FEMALE IN ORDER TO PRODUCE OFF, TO PRODUCE OFFSPRING, AND THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UM, THIS ONE I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH, I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, IS TO ENCOURAGE, UH, HEALTHY BACKYARD BREEDING, UH, HEALTHY BREEDING.
BEING ABLE TO BREATHE FOR BREED FROM YOUR OWN BACKYARD IS HEALTHIER AND MORE HUMANE THAN BUYING FROM LOCAL FARM STORES OR HATCHERIES, ENSURING THEY'RE WELL MAINTAINED.
UM, NO STRIPPING, NO SHIPPING STRESS OR MORTALITY.
CHICKS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO EXTREME COLD HEAT, HUNGER, DEHYDRATION, TRAUMA AND STRESS FROM BEING MAILED, AND ELIMINATES THE RISK OF SHIPPING RELATED DEATHS, WHICH AFFECT THOUSANDS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHICKS PER YEAR.
UM, WHEN I MOVED HERE, I STARTED WORKING FOR A FARM STORE, AND I, I GREW UP ON A FARM.
AND SO I WAS LIKE, I'M GONNA WORK WITH THE CHICKS.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO, WORKING FOR A COMPANY.
AND JUST LIKE MOST COMPANIES, THEY'RE MORE FOR THE MONEY AND THE PROFIT THAN THEY ARE ACTUALLY CARING FOR THE ANIMALS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I ACTUALLY HAD TO LEAVE MY JOB BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY KEPT THOSE ANIMALS WERE ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.
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MY HEART.UM, ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED, I WANNA STRESS THE, UM, BACKYARD BREEDING AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THERE, WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY ANIMALS AND SUCH LIMITED HELP, ESPECIALLY IN FARM STORES AND HATCHERIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE KEPT IN CAN BE REALLY GROSS.
UM, AND GOING BACK TO THE, THE SHIPPING AND, UH, MORTALITY, EVEN IN THE WINTER, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, I TOLD MY BOSS ONE TIME WHEN WINTER WAS ROLLING AROUND, I SAID, HEY, AWESOME, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA, THE CHICK THING IS GONNA SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
AND HE LAUGHED AT ME AND HE WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? AND I'M LIKE, BUT IT'S WINTER.
AND HE'S LIKE, BUT PEOPLE BUY 'EM.
AND I'M LIKE, BUT YOU DO REALIZE, YOU KNOW, CHICKS NEED TO BE AROUND 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT TO BE COMFORTABLE TO BE ALIVE.
AND IT'S NOT 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN THE WINTER.
AND I, EVERY SINGLE, UH, IT WAS ONCE A WEEK, A SHIPMENT WOULD COME IN WITHOUT FAIL, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY YOU SOLD.
UM, AND AT LEAST ONE THIRD TO HALF OF THE CHICKS IN EVERY SINGLE BOX WERE DEAD.
UM, AND SAME THING WITH THE HEAT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE, THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO FOOD, NO ACCESS TO WATER, UM, AND, AND THEY STILL DIE.
UM, AND SO JUST THAT, ALONG WITH BEING THE STRESS OF MAIL BEING MAILED, THEY'RE BEING TOSSED AROUND.
IT'S LIGHT, IT'S DARK, IT'S NOISY, IT'S QUIET, YOU KNOW, AND IF STRESS CAN DO A LOT TO THE HUMAN BODY, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH IT IT CAN DO TO A, WHAT IT CAN DO TO A DAY OLD CHICK.
UM, AND LIKE IT SAYS, IT, IT, IT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHICKS DIE A YEAR.
AND THAT MIGHT SOUND VERY LITTLE, AND A CHICK MAY NOT SOUND LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, BEST LIFE YOU WANT TO PROTECT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, ANIMALS DESERVE A, A GOOD LIFE.
AND I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UH, MORE CONTROL OVER BREEDING.
YOU CHOOSE WHICH HENS AND ROOSTERS ARE BRED POTENTIALLY IMPROVING GENETICS OR TRAITS LIKE TEMPERAMENT, SIZE, EGG PRODUCTION.
I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU JUST BREED WILLY-NILLY, YOU COULD SEE HEALTH PROBLEMS, UM, TEMPERAMENT SUCH AS, UM, AGGRESSIVE ROOSTERS, UM, AND THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT YOU, LIKE THE SIZE OF THE CHICKEN, IF YOU'RE BREEDING 'EM FOR MEAT PRODUCTION OR, UH, EGG PRODUCTION.
IF YOU'RE BREEDING 'EM FOR EGGS, OBVIOUSLY THE MORE EGGS YOU GET A URINE, THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FEED YOU YOU'RE BUYING.
UM, THE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS, YOU RAISE YOUR VERSE FROM START TO VI FINISH.
AVOIDING INDUSTRIAL PRACTICES, UM, HATCHERIES TREAT CHICKS MORE LIKE INVENTORY AND ANIMAL THAN ANIMALS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS VERY TRUE.
UM, LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN YOU'RE SHIPPING 'EM IN THE WINTER AND THERE'S NO INSULATION IN THE BOX, THERE'S NO FOOD, THERE'S NO WATER, AND HALF OF THEM ARE FROZEN, DEAD, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY, UH, THE MOST HUMANE THING.
UM, BIOSECURITY RISKS WHEN ORDERING SHAKES, YOU'RE RISKING INTRODUCING DISEASES FROM OUTSIDE HATCHERIES.
EVEN CERTIFIED HATCHERIES ARE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT DISEASE FREE.
UM, THE POINT I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER ABOUT HAVING SO MUCH WORK AND SUCH LITTLE HELP THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY BENEFIT YOUR OWN BACKYARD, BECAUSE I CAN MAINTAIN THE AMOUNT OF CHICKENS THAT I HAVE.
I CAN CHECK 'EM EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT MAKING SURE THEY GOT FOOD, WATER, THIS AND THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THESE HATCHERIES AND THESE FARM STORES HAVE SO MANY ANIMALS AND SUCH LITTLE HELP, THAT'S WHY THEY, THEY GO A WHILE WITHOUT FOOD.
THAT'S WHY THEY GO WITHOUT WATER.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND IN A TANK THAT'S SO THICK AND POOP THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE WET AND DISGUSTING.
UM, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF ALLOWING ROOSTERS, IT STRENGTHENS LOCAL AGRICULTURE ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE IN SMALL SCALE SUSTAINABLE FARMING, PROMOTING SELF RELIANCE, LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION, AND AGRICULTURAL LITERACY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, GIVEN WHAT I'VE STATED SO FAR, I THINK A LOT OF THAT TIES INTO THIS FIRST ONE RIGHT HERE.
UM, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO START BACKYARD FLOCKS TO BE, UM, SELF-SUFFICIENT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND, AND IT'LL, WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY WILL TIE INTO A COUPLE ONES COMING UP.
UM, JUST BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR OWN FOOD THAT YOU KNOW, IS WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING INTO IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EATING A REAL CHICKEN WITH, WITHOUT ALL THESE PRESERVATIVES AND CHEMICALS AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY THROW IN THE FOOD.
UM, AGRICULTURAL LITERACY, YOU CAN, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.
AND, UH, THAT'LL TIE INTO THE SEX.
PROMOTES EDUCATION AND YOUTH INVOLVEMENT.
FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS CAN USE BACKYARD FLOCKS AND INCLUDING ROOSTERS TO TEACH CHILDREN RESPONSIBILITY, BIOLOGY AND RESPECT FOR ANIMALS AND FOOD SOURCES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M ON SOCIAL MEDIA A LITTLE BIT AND SOME SILLY LITTLE VIDEOS POP UP.
UM, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, SOME CHILDREN WHO THINK THAT CHOCOLATE MILK COMES FROM BROWN COWS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE I KNOW WHO, YOU KNOW, WON'T EAT A WHITE EGG BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A WHITE EGG BEFORE,
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OR VICE VERSA, A BROWN EGG.AND I'M JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S, YOU NEED TO EAT TO LIVE FOR THE MOST PART.
SO UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK ROOSTERS ARE INVOLVED WITH THAT BECAUSE IT TEACHES, YOU KNOW, UM, IT TAKES A MALE AND A FEMALE IN ORDER TO PRODUCE OFFSPRING.
UM, IT TEACHES THEM THAT, UM, UH, IT JUST TEACHES THEM RESPONSIBILITY, CARING FOR THE ANIMAL, FEEDING 'EM, KNOWING THEM, KNOWING THAT IT'S AN EVERYDAY, UM, INVOLVEMENT.
UM, RESPECT FOR THE ANIMALS TO, YOU KNOW, UM, GIVE 'EM A GOOD LIFE.
AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YEAH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE JUST CHICKENS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE CHICKENS DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T DESERVE FRESH WATER.
UM, FOOD AND, AND A SHELTER, UH, GROW.
I, I'LL MAKE THIS POINT MANY TIMES WITH MY BACKGROUND GROWING UP, I, I GREW UP ON A FARM MY ENTIRE LIFE.
AND ONE THING MY DAD ALWAYS TAUGHT ME WHENEVER I WAS LAZY AND I DIDN'T WANNA CARE FROM THIS AND THAT, HE, HE WOULD LOOK AT ME AND HE WOULD SAY, EVERYTHING DESERVES FRESH WATER, AT LEAST, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE, JUST THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE.
SO TEACHING, UM, JUST TEACHING THESE KIDS THAT THERE, THERE IS WORK AND EFFORT AND TIME THAT GOES INTO PRODUCING FOOD AND FEEDING YOUR FAMILIES.
UM, IT BUILDS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
UH, NEIGHBORS WITH SHARED AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS OFTEN TRADE EGGS OR CHICKS OR WHATEVER ELSE.
UM, AND KNOWLEDGE FOSTERING A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
IT, WELL, MAYBE FROM THE BEGINNING, BUT RIGHT NOW IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT, BUT I, I'M A SHY PERSON.
UM, SO WHEN WE MOVED HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THERE'S STILL SOME NEIGHBORS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
I, I MEAN, I JUST NOW MET A COUPLE OF MY NEIGHBORS AND A LOT OF 'EM ARE SUPER COOL.
UM, BUT HERE, RECENTLY I HAD AN OVERLOAD OF EGGS, SO I WAS LIKE, HEY, DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TRADE ANY, LIKE, GARDEN VEGGIES OR WHATEVER WITH THESE EGGS, RIGHT? JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE.
AND I GO AND I MEET THIS LADY RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, AND SHE'S MY NEIGHBOR, AND SHE'S SUPER COOL, SUPER NICE, YOU KNOW, IT FELT GOOD KNOWING THAT I COULD TRADE HER FARM FRESH EGGS WHILE SHE COULD GIVE ME THESE AWESOME HOMEGROWN TOMATOES.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S HAD A WALMART TOMATO VERSUS A HOMEGROWN TOMATO, BUT THERE IS A COMPLETE DIFFERENCE AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.
BUT JUST THE FOSTERING CONNECTIONS, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING A ROOSTER, IT ALLOWS ME TO WHEN AND OTHERS TO PRODUCE MORE, MORE CHICKENS FOR MEAT OR FOR EGGS OR FOR WHATEVER.
AND IF I HADN'T HAVE AN ABUNDANCE, KNOWING THAT I CAN RELY ON MYSELF AND RELY ON HIM TO CONSTANTLY SUPPLY ME WITH THESE THINGS, I CAN SHARE MY ABUNDANCE WITH MY COMMUNITY.
UM, AND, AND FOR THE MOST PART, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT'S GOING IN THEIR FEED.
SO REAL FARM, FRESH EGGS, WHEN YOU BUY EGGS FROM THE GROCERY STORE, THEY'RE A MINIMUM TWO MONTHS OLD.
UM, THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS THEM TO BE TWO MONTHS OLD WHEN THEY, UH, HIT THE GROCERY STORES.
SO, LIKE I SAID, BEING ABLE TO RELY ON MY ROOSTER TO GIVE ME MORE CHICKENS, MORE EGGS, WHATEVER IT IS, AND I HAVE AN ABUNDANCE, MAKES ME HAPPY THAT I CAN SHARE THESE THINGS WITH MY NEIGHBORS OR TRADE THESE THINGS WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
AND IT JUST BUILDS VERY GOOD, UM, BONDS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
UM, ESPECIALLY IF TIMES GET TOUGH.
I CAN'T TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HERE, TAKE SOME EGGS, SAVE LOAF OF BREAD, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
JUST, YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN ABUNDANCE, REALLY.
UM, SO I, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UM, IN BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
IT PRESERVES RURAL CHARACTERS.
I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL RECENTLY THAT UNDER THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WARREN COUNTY IS LABELED RURAL AND RURAL, AND MOST PEOPLE'S MINDS IS THE COUNTRY.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE COUNTRY, THEY WANT TO SEE THE COUNTRY, THEY WANNA SMELL THE COUNTRY, THEY WANNA HEAR THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY PEOPLE MOVE PLACES IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING ROOSTERS IS SUCH, UM, A BEAUTIFUL THING, UM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WARREN COUNTY IS CONSIDERED THE COUNTRY.
UM, WHEN I WAS REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE ASKING, HEY, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? IF I START A PETITION, WHAT WOULD YOUR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS IF I, YOU KNOW, I, I TRIED TO MAKE THIS CHANGE, AND YOU WANNA KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME ROOSTERS ARE ALLOWED IN WARREN COUNTY? ROOS ARE, YEAH, THEY ARE.
OH, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, AND EVERY PERSON WAS LIKE, NO, YOU KNOW, WELL, SORRY, UNDER RESIDENTIAL ONE, UM, ZONING DISTRICTS.
SO LIKE, THAT'S, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WARREN COUNTY IS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, MY NEIGHBORS HAVE ROOSTERS.
NOBODY BELIEVED ME WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT ROOSTER COUNTIES, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU KNOW, REGARDING, UM, RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONES WERE PROHIBITED.
SO I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO RESERVE THE, TO PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER OF WARREN COUNTY, CONSIDERING IT IS LABELED A RURAL COUNTY, UM, OR QUOTE UNQUOTE, THE COUNTRY.
EMERGENCY RESILIENCE, LIKE I WAS BRINGING UP EARLIER WITH, UM, BEING ABLE TO TRADE WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS OR YOUR FRIENDS OR YOUR FAMILY, OR SHARING YOUR ABUNDANCE.
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POULTRY OWNERSHIP HELPS ENSURE RESIDENTS HAVE LOCAL, RENEWABLE FOOD SOURCES DURING SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS OR EMERGENCY EMERGENCIES LIKE COVID OR EGG SHORTAGES.UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE RELYING ON SOMEBODY ELSE TO FEED YOUR FAMILY, THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, AND THE FOOD THAT YOU PUT ON YOUR TABLE AT DINNER IS NOT ALWAYS PROMISED WHEN YOU'RE BUYING IT FROM THE GROCERY STORE.
SO I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT IF SOMETHING SMALL OR SERIOUS WAS TO HAPPEN TO WHERE SOME PEOPLE JUST COULD NOT GET AHOLD OF FOOD OR AFFORD FOOD, OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, I'M SURE, INCLUDING MYSELF, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR ABUNDANCE WITH OTHERS, WHETHER THAT'S EGGS, MEAT, UH, CHICKS, WHATEVER, HOMEGROWN VEGGIES, WHATEVER IT IS.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I THINK ROOSTERS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
AND SO IT CAN ALMOST PROMISE US AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF FOOD, ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCIES.
EMERGENCIES ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, NO, UM, ENCOURAGES RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP BY SETTING CLEAR OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES.
THE COUNTY CAN ENSURE ROOSTER OWNERSHIP REMAINS HUMANE AND BENEFICIAL TO BOTH PEOPLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, THE, WE WILL GET TO IT AT THE END, BUT I HAVE WROTE UP SOME GUIDELINES IF, I'M SURE YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
UM, I, UH, I WANNA FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN BOTH SIDES, PEOPLE THAT DO WANT REGISTERS, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S THINKING RIGHT NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE NOISE? UM, THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME GUIDELINES IN PLACE TO HELP ENSURE, UH, ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT ANNOYING OUR NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE I, I, OF COURSE, I WANT A ROOSTER, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
BUT I ALSO WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT OPPOSES THIS SO THAT I'M NOT GETTING A ROOSTER BECAUSE I WANT AN ALARM CLOCK, YOU KNOW? SO I'M GONNA MAKE, TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS, UM, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT THEY CROW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.
UM, I'M OBVIOUSLY GONNA TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS TO WHERE NOBODY'S BOTHERED.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU DO YOUR THING, I DO MY THING.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANNA BE RESPECTFUL.
UM, BUT WE WILL GET THAT TO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
ANOTHER THING I DIDN'T PUT ON HERE IS, I'VE NOTICED SINCE LIVING HERE THAT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF WARREN COUNTY, UH, WHICH IS THE ONE I FOLLOW THE MOST, I'M NOT SURE OF THE OTHER SHELTERS IN THE AREA.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE HAD ROOSTERS COME IN THERE NEEDING HOMES, UH, BECAUSE OF THE BAN.
AND THAT, UM, BECAUSE THE BAN IS KEEPING LOTS OF PEOPLE FROM OWNING ROOSTERS, LIKE I SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE OUTLAW THING, THEY'LL, THEY'LL THINK LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST WHATEVER.
I'LL JUST DO IT ANYWAYS UNTIL THEIR NEIGHBORS DON'T LIKE IT.
OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF, UH, THE ANIMAL.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL DUMP 'EM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
UM, YEAH, I, I SEE YOU'RE LOOKING CONFUSION, REALLY.
THEY'LL, EVEN A ROOSTER, THEY'LL JUST DUMP 'EM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OR WHEN THEY MOVE, THEY'LL JUST LEAVE 'EM TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
OR SOME PEOPLE HAVE A HEART AND THEY SEEK, UH, THEY GO TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF WARREN COUNTY IN ORDER TO HELP FIND A HOME.
I THINK IT WOULD BE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE IF WE DO ALLOW, UM, A ROOSTER OWNERSHIP, UM, ACROSS A VARIETY OF, UM, ZONE DISTRICTS, THIS WON'T BE SO MUCH OF AN ISSUE FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF WARREN COUNTY.
AND THEY CAN SPEND THEIR DONATION MONEY ON MORE IMPORTANT THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S SURGERIES FOR ANIMALS OR, UM, MEDICINES OR WHATEVER IT IS, VERSUS FOCUSING ON A ROOSTER.
UM, SO THIS SLIDE IS SEPARATING PERCEPTION FROM REALITY.
UM, SINCE BRINGING UP THIS TOPIC, I'VE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE, OH, WHAT ABOUT THIS? WHAT ABOUT THAT? WHAT ABOUT THIS? UM, AND A LOT OF IT IS MISCONCEPTION.
UM, AND SO THIS FIRST ONE, UH, ROOSTERS ARE AGGRESSIVE AND DANGEROUS.
WELL, AGGRESSION IS MOSTLY A RESULT OF POOR HANDLING OR OVERCROWDING, OR LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER, BREEDING.
IF YOU BREED AGGRESSIVE ROOSTERS, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET AN AGGRESSIVE ROOSTER.
UM, WHEN RAISED WITH REGULAR HUMAN INTERACTION AND ADEQUATE SPACE, ROOSTERS ARE GENERALLY CALM AND PROTECTIVE OF THEIR HENS, NOT VIOLENT.
IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE, UM, UH, WHAT'S THE WORD? THE MINORITY THAT, YOU KNOW, ROOSTERS ARE AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE LIKE AT STAGE, WHEN YOU HAVE REGULAR HUMAN ACTION, AND IN MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BEING AROUND THEM, THEY'RE SUPER SWEET.
THEY'RE LIKE GENTLE GIANTS, YOU KNOW? AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR HENS ARE THREATENED, THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA PROTECT THEM.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WITH GOOD HANDLING AND GOOD BREEDING, YOU KNOW, STER AREN'T AGGRESSIVE OR DANGEROUS.
UM, AS, AS A GENERAL WHOLE, UH, NUMBER TWO, ROOSTERS, CREATE ALL THAT ROOSTERS CROW ALL DAY AND NIGHT NONSTOP.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
AND TALKING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, UM, ROOSTERS PRIMARILY CROW AROUND SUNRISE DUE TO THEIR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM, SUNRISE, SUNSET, MAYBE.
[00:30:01]
UM, SAME AS IF WE DON'T SET AN ALARM CLOCK, AND MAYBE WE, WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND WE GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.AND THAT'S JUST HOW OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR BODY DOES THAT NATURALLY.
UM, THAT'S CALLED CIRCADIAN RHYTHM.
AND ROOSTERS WILL CROW EITHER IN THE MORNING OR AT, UH, SUNSET BECAUSE OF THAT.
IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST IN THEIR GENETICS.
UM, THEY MAY CODE OTHER TIMES IN RESPONSE TO NOISE OR LIGHT, UM, BUT THIS CAN BE MINIMIZED WITH DARK ENCLOSED COOPS.
ANOTHER REASON I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER ABOUT THE WHOLE BREWSTERS BEING ALLOWED IN TOWN.
I LIVE UP IN SKYLAND STATES UP ON THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF NOISE UNLESS IT'S THE NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, BUT LIKE IN TOWN, MAYBE YOU'VE GOT, UM, YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS OR, OR CAR MEETUPS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
I COULD DEFINITELY SEE IN THAT SENSE WHERE THE ROOSTER WOULD BE REACTING TO LOUD NOISES, MAYBE FEELING LIKE, UM, HIM OR HIS HE'S LIFE OR IN DANGER THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND.
UM, BUT ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING I, I LIVE UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, UM, THIS ABSOLUTELY, UH, IS A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO THE THIRD ONE, ROOSTERS MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS NOISY AND UNLIVABLE.
UM, THE FACT IS THAT ROOSTERS ARE COMPARABLE TO COMPARABLE TO MANY EVERYDAY NEIGHBORHOOD SOUNDS.
AND I'M GOING TO USE, UM, DECIBELS AS FOR MY EXAMPLES, UH, WHICH IS HOW YOU LEVEL, WHICH IS HOW YOU, UM, MEASURE, UH, NOISE.
ROOSTER CROWS ARE COMPARABLE TO MANY EVERYDAY NEIGHBORHOOD SOUNDS AROUND 80 TO A HUNDRED DECIBELS.
OH, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO A DOG BARKING.
AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDE, CHAINSAWS, LOG SPLITTERS, YOU KNOW, CARS, STUFF LIKE THAT.
UM, WITH NOISE DAMPENING COOPS THOUGH, AND CURFEWS, NOISE, NOISE CONCERNS ARE COMPLETELY MANAGEABLE.
UM, NUMBER FOUR, ROOSTERS SERVE NO REAL PURPOSE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
ROOSTERS PLAY KEY ROLES IN, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, FLOCK PROTECTION, NATURAL BREEDING, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.
THEY ALSO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION THROUGH HOME SETTING AND EDUCATION LIKE WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
UM, I WANNA MENTION THAT, LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, THAT I UNDERSTAND NOISE AND SPACE ARE REAL CONCERNS, WHICH IS WHY, UH, THIS PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE CLEAR LIMITS AND GUIDELINES.
ALL RIGHT? I'M SURE, AND I, I, I KNOW I KEEP SAYING THIS, BUT LIKE, I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S THINKING, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WHAT ABOUT THE NOISE, RIGHT? WELL, HERE'S SOME EVERYDAY SOUNDS ALREADY PRESENT IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS OR IN TOWN, UM, TRANSPORTATION SUCH AS CARS, TRUCKS, BUSES, MOTORCYCLES, TRAINS, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, ET CETERA.
UH, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE LIKE LAWNMOWERS, LEAF BLOWERS, WEED EATERS, CHAINSAWS, WOOD CHIPPERS, LOG SPLITTERS, BIG MACHINES FOR CLEANING BRUSH OR TAKING DOWN TREES, ET CETERA.
CONSTRUCTION, LIKE ROAD WORK, POWER TOOLS, HAMMERING AND RENOVATION EQUIPMENT, ET CETERA.
UH, PETS AND LIVESTOCK LIKE BARKING DOGS, HENS AND OUTDOOR CATS.
UM, AND YES, HENS DO MAKE NOISE, UM, ET CETERA.
AND OTHER THINGS LIKE YELLING, CHILDREN, ADULTS, SPEAKERS, PARTIES, GATHERINGS.
I MEAN, THERE'S JUST, I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT ALL THE NOISES THAT GO AROUND, UM, AROUND US EVERY DAY.
UM, EVEN REGARDLESS OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID EARLIER, NOT EVERYBODY RESPECTS EACH OTHER'S PRI, UM, A, UH, QUIETNESS.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE THIS CHART SHOWING YOU, UH, BEING ABLE TO COMPARE THE DECIBEL OF MANY EVERYDAY, UM, NOISES.
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TO READ EVERY SINGLE ONE, BUT, SO ONE THING I WANNA MENTION IS THE CHAINSAW WHERE I LIVE UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, UH, WE BURN OUR, WE HEAT OUR HOUSE WITH A, A WOOD BURNING STOVE.
LIKE MANY, MANY OTHER, ALMOST A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UM, ON THE MOUNTAIN DO, DO THAT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF TREES IN OUR AREA.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT IS YOU NEED TO SAW IT UP, YOU NEED TO CHOP IT UP, YOU GOTTA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR CHAINSAWS A LOT OF THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WHERE I LIVE.
UM, AND THAT'S NOT LIMITED TO WHERE I LIVE EITHER.
I, I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN TOWN OR IN OTHER AREAS THAT DO THE SAME THING.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE, IF YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE RELYING ON YOURSELF TO HEAT YOUR HOUSE DURING THE WINTER, UM, GOING OUT AND CUTTING WOOD IS NOT A A COUPLE HOUR THING.
ANY DAY YOU CAN GET OUT THERE TO DO IT.
UM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW A FISHING YOUR HOUSE IS AT BURNING WOOD, IF IT'S NOT TOO EFFICIENT, YOU'RE GONNA BE OUT THERE A LOT MORE OFTEN.
SO I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE HEARING CHAINSAWS, UM, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE LIVE, AND I'M SURE, LIKE I SAID, OTHER AREAS A LOT OFTEN ALONG WITH THE LOG SPLITTERS AS WELL.
[00:35:01]
UM, I APOLOGIZE.I, I'VE BEEN, UH, TOLD THAT WE NEED TO ASK YOU TO MOVE IT ALONG A LITTLE BIT, UH, SO WE CAN GET TO THE OTHER TOPICS TONIGHT.
UM, ALONG WITH THE, UH, HE'S EGG COAL, SO IF YOU SEE A ROOSTER'S CROW, IT'S GONNA BE 80 TO 90 DECIBELS.
A HE'S EGG COAL IS 70 TO 80, AND THEY MAKE THAT NOISE WHEN THEY LAY AN EGG TO TELL THE FLOCK THAT THEY'VE LAID AN EGG, SO THEY'RE NOT MUCH QUIETER THAN A ROOSTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY THINGS IS THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA ALLOW A HEN, YOU MIGHT AS WELL ALLOW A ROOSTER.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION REAL QUICK AT THE DECAL THING, ALL THOSE OTHER, UM, TOPICS THAT WERE ALL THOSE OTHER EXAMPLES THAT WERE MENTIONED ARE GONNA BE OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT A ROOSTER'S CROW IS VERY BRIEF AND INTERMITTENT, MEANING IT'S GONNA HAPPEN FOR LIKE TWO SECONDS, MAYBE TWO OR THREE TIMES IN A ROW, AND THEN HE'S PRETTY MUCH DONE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS.
UM, EXAMPLES FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND A SHENANDOAH COUNTY ALLOWS ROOSTER OWNERSHIP ON THESE ZONED DISTRICTS.
RURAL RESIDENTIAL, UH, CON CONSERVATION, RURAL RESIDENTIAL, AGRICULTURAL, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL R ONE, WHICH IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO AMEND.
I THINK THAT'S KIND OF CRAZY CONSIDERING IF WE ARE LOW DENSITY AND THEY EVEN ALLOW, UM, ROOSTERS A MEDIUM DENSITY, UM, THAT I, I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF CRAZY.
UM, ALONG WITH CLARK COUNTY, THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIMITED, BUT THEY DO ALLOW ROOSTER OWNERSHIP ON ALL ZONED DISTRICTS AS LONG AS THEY ARE MORE THAN TWO ACRES.
SO MAYBE WE COULD SET AN EXAMPLE AND BE MORE LIKE THEM.
UM, SO THIS IS THE FEEDBACK I GOT.
I WANTED TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE AND GET SOME OF WHAT THEY THOUGHT.
AND SINCE WE'RE LIMITED ON TIME, I WILL GET, I WILL POINT OUT THE GOOD ONES.
UM, RIGHT HERE, THE SECOND ONE, CONRAD SAYS, ROOSTERS INCREASED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN A RURAL AREA LIKE WARREN COUNTY.
WARREN COUNTY IS RURAL, ACCORDING TO THE USDA AND BUYING A HOME IN A USD, A RURAL DESIGNATED AREA, YOU WOULD EXPECT AND APPRECIATE THE OCCASIONAL ROOSTER CROW.
WE ARE NOT NORTHERN VIRGINIA WITH ALL THEIR RULES.
AND TO LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND NOT BE ALLOWED A ROOSTER, UM, A LOT OF ROOSTER IS DEMORALIZING TO FREEDOM LOVING COUNTRY FOLK.
UM, I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT HOW SHE FELT, AND JEN DOWN HERE, SECOND ONE TO THE BOTTOM, EVA SAID, YEAH, I DON'T CARE.
SHE'S LIKE, IT'S VERY REASONABLE TO OWN A ROOSTER AS LONG AS YOU HAVE PLANS AND PLACE TO CONTROL THE NOISE, BE RESPECTFUL.
WHICH OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY I WANT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANNA BE RESPECTFUL.
UM, WANDA DOWN HERE SAYS, ROOSTERS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE WELLBEING OF A FLOCK.
I BELIEVE ANYONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OWN A ROOSTER ON A PIECE OF LAND.
THEY SPEND THEIR LIFE TO FOUR, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT LAND, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND WARREN COUNTY, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO OWN A MAXIMUM OF FOUR DOGS ON A RESIDENTIAL ZONE PROPERTY THAT CREATE MORE WASTE AND MORE NOISE, BUT NOT ONE ROOSTER.
ANONYMOUS, OBVIOUSLY I DIDN'T ADD LAST NAMES OR, UM, OR, UM, ADDRESSES BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE PRIVACY IS PRETTY IMPORTANT.
UH, THIS PERSON SAYS, I LIVE IN TOWN LIMITS, AND THE LADY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM ME HAS A ROOSTER.
IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL, ACTUALLY.
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE COUNTRY WHEN I HEAR THAT THING.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS LADY IS UNDER THE RIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, STUFF SHE NEEDS TO DO TO ACTUALLY BE A LOUD ONE.
BUT REGARDLESS, IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF HER NEIGHBORS REALLY DON'T MIND.
UM, JUANITA DOWN HERE SAYS, I WOULDN'T MIND.
WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO MOW THEIR LAWN AT 7:00 AM ON MONDAYS.
NOW, THAT'S LOUD AND ANNOYING.
UM, WHAT, UH, AT THE VERY TOP HERE, I KNOW I'M BOUNCING AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, ANYWAYS, WHEN I HEAR ROOSTERS COMPLAIN ABOUT, WHEN I HEAR OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT ANNOYING NOISES, I THINK OF THE THUMPING BASE OF A CAR STEREO RATTLING MY WINDOWS, NOT A ROOSTER'S CROW, A ROOSTER'S CROW HAS NEVER RATTLED MY WINDOWS.
UM, AND THEN I GREW UP IN THE CITY SURROUNDED BY NOISE.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY COMPARED TO THAT ROOSTER, A ROOSTER'S CROW IS MORE LIKE COUNTRY CHARM THAN A NUISANCE.
UM, I OFTEN WONDER WHY FOLKS IN TOWN ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE HUGE DOGS THE SIZE OF LIVESTOCK THAT BARK ALL DAY AND HOURS OF THE NIGHT.
BUT NOT, ROOSTERS JUST SEEMS ODD TO ME, EVEN THOUGH WE DID CLARIFY EARLIER THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, ROOSTERS ARE ALLOWED.
UM, THIS DOWN HERE AT THE VERY BOTTOM, I REALLY LIKE, AND IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITES, JACK SAYS, THIS IS HOW FOOD SYSTEMS START IN BACKYARD WITH IMPERFECT NOISES AND REAL PEOPLE DOING THE WORK.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN FOOD FREEDOM COMMUNITY AND LETTING FOLKS LIVE A LITTLE, THEN YOU WOULD AGREE.
AND I LIKE THE WAY HE WORDED SAYING, THIS IS HOW FOOD SYSTEMS START, BECAUSE IT IS A ROOSTER FERTILIZES AN EGG, AND THAT CREATES MORE CHICKENS, MORE EGGS, MORE MEAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED.
HERE'S SOME OF THE GUIDELINES I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, SO THERE'S GONNA BE, WELL, SORRY, A MAXIMUM OF ONE ROOSTER PERMITTED ON
[00:40:01]
A RESIDENTIAL LOT THAT'S AT LEAST A, A MINIMUM OF ONE ACRE IN SIZE OR ADJACENT, UH, RESIDENTIAL LOTS OWN OCCUPIED BY THE SAME OWNER WITH AT LEAST ONE ACRE AND COMBINED SIZE, LIKE IN OUR CASE, WE OWN MULTIPLE LIGHTS LOTS, BUT IN COMBINED SIZE, WE'RE OVER AN ACRE.UM, A ROOSTER MUST BE HOUSED IN A NOISE DAMPENING COOP.
UM, LIKE MY COOP, THE WOOD IS LIKE, I MEAN, IT'S, UH, THE KIND OF PLYWOOD YOU USE LIKE FOR CONCRETE WHEN YOU'RE, UM, BUILDING HOUSES AND STUFF.
BUT ANYWAY, SAY MA'AM, COULD YOU WRAP THIS UP IN TWO MINUTES? YEAH.
A ROOSTER MUST BE HOUSED IN A NOISE DAMAGING COOP BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 PM AND 7:00 AM TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH WARREN COUNTY'S NOISE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPECTFUL.
ROOSTERS MUST BE COMBINED WITH WITHIN AN ENCLOSED AREA AND NOT ALLOWED TO ROAM BEYOND THE PROPERTY LINE AS CURRENT RULE STATE.
UM, AND COOP SETBACK RULES REMAIN AS CURRENT.
UM, I DO WANNA MENTION AGAIN THAT RESPONSIBLE ROOSTER OWNERSHIP POSES MINIMAL ISSUES.
UH, AND THEN HERE WE ARE AT THE END.
ME, THE PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO, WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TODAY, AND THE OVER 250 RESIDENTS THAT SIGNED THE PETITION WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY ASK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THE BOARD TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE CURRENT REGULATION TO ALLOW RESPONSIBLE ROOSTER OWNERSHIP ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES UNDER THE CLEAR GUIDELINES.
UM, I WANT US ALL TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE, PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND UPHOLD THE RURAL CHARACTER THAT MAKES WARREN COUNTY UNIQUE.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, CAN, CAN I JUST QUICKLY SUGGEST THAT, UM, WE TAKE HER PROPOSAL AND, UH, YOU'LL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE, UH, WITH THE ATTACHMENT THROUGH EMAIL, RIGHT? SO WE'LL HAVE A COPY OF THIS? ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH, WE COULD SEND IT TO, UM, TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THEY CAN WORK UP A SUITABLE TAX AMENDMENT, WHICH THEN CAN GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS OVER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A RECOMMENDATION AND BACK TO US FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION.
UH, IS EVERYBODY RIGHT WITH THAT AND SHOULD I MAKE THAT A MOTION? SURE.
SO I, I MOVE THAT WE DIRECT YOU CAN'T VOTE.
WE'RE IN THE WORK SESSION NOW.
[F. Discussion - CY 2026 Board of Supervisors Meeting Schedule]
UM, DISCUSSION OF THE, UH, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING SCHEDULED.UM, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, MR. HENDERSON HERE HAS, UH, DRAFTED A, A GREAT, UH, UH, SCHEDULE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
AND MR. HENDERSON, DO YOU WANNA TEE THAT OFF? UH, ESSENTIALLY WHAT I DID WAS MIMIC WHAT'S BEEN DONE THIS YEAR.
UH, REGULAR MEETINGS AT SEVEN, WORK SESSIONS AT SIX ON THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD TUESDAYS OF THE YEAR.
AND I ALSO BLOCKED OUT JANUARY THROUGH APRIL FOR THE FOURTH TUESDAY TO HOLD BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
AND SO FAR, WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR A WEDNESDAY, WHICH IS, UM, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH, WHICH IS A REGULAR MEETING, AND THAT'S THE DAY AFTER THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
YOU KNOW, THE BOARD WANTED TO ATTEND THAT THIS YEAR, AND ALSO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AS NOVEMBER 3RD AND ELECTION DAY AND A STATE HOLIDAY.
UM, EVERYTHING ELSE IS ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL TO WHAT WAS DONE THIS YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS? SO, REGULAR MEETINGS ARE FIRST AND THIRD.
REGULAR MEETINGS ARE FIRST AND THIRD WORK SESSIONS ARE THE SECOND, AND THERE'S NO MEETINGS ON THE FOURTH TUESDAYS EXCEPT FOR JANUARY THROUGH APRIL, WHICH WILL HAVE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS AT 5:00 PM SO FOUR TUESDAYS.
IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, THEN WE'LL GO TO, YEP.
THIS WILL BE ON NEXT WEEK'S REGULAR MEETING FOR FINAL APPROVAL IF OKAY.
[G. Discussion - Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Calendar]
NEXT ONE IS THE, UH, FISCAL YEAR, UH, 26 27 BUDGET CALENDAR, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, I HAD ASKED, UH, THAT, THAT WE PLACE, UH, THIS, UH, ITEM ON THE AGENDA.AND WE HAVE, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT HERE AS WELL THIS EVENING TO HELP, UH, ANSWER QUESTIONS OR TO ADD, UH, ANY ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO THIS THAT SHE MAY, UM, UH, FIND AS WE, UH, GO ALONG WITH THIS DISCUSSION.
UM, BUT, UH, I HAD ASKED THAT THIS BE PUT ON THE AGENDA, UH, FOR THIS EVENING'S WORKSHOP TO, UH, BASICALLY TRY TO, UM, GET THE BOARD'S, UH, FEEDBACK RELATIVE TO, UH, THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
UH, I'M STILL TRYING TO WORK MY WAY
[00:45:01]
THROUGH THE, UH, DIFFERENCES HERE, UH, WITH REGARD TO WHAT I'VE SEEN, UH, DONE, UH, THAT BEING WITHIN PENNSYLVANIA.SO, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT HAS BEEN OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO ME AS I'VE BEEN FIGURING YOUR PROCESS OUT HERE LOCALLY.
UM, BUT, UH, WITHIN YOUR, UH, PACKET THIS EVENING, YOU'LL FIND, UH, A DRAFT, UH, OF DIRECTOR SCOTT'S, UH, MEMO, WHICH WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO, UH, ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS, UM, EXPLAINING THIS UPCOMING BUDGET, UH, PREPARATION, UH, PROCESS, UH, BUT ALSO A DRAFT, UH, BUDGET CALENDAR.
UM, YOU'LL NOTE THAT IT, UH, DIFFERS FROM LAST YEAR'S, AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE IT IN YOUR PACKET, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY COMPARE, UH, UM, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THAT, BUT IT DOES DIFFER FROM LAST YEAR'S, UH, BUDGET PREP CALENDAR, UM, IN A FEW WAYS.
UM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE THIS EVENING IS TO TRY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, UM, UH, ALLOW FOR THE, THE MOST OPTIMAL USE OF YOUR TIME WITH REGARD TO UNDERSTANDING THE BUDGET THAT'S PRESENTED TO YOU.
UM, MY PHILOSOPHY AS, UH, MY BUDGETING PHILOSOPHY AS YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND, UH, THROUGHOUT MY YEARS OF, OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT, UH, REALLY IS TO, UM, AS, UM, AS WARREN COUNTY CODE AND AS, UH, TYPICAL, UH, BEST PRACTICE, UH, SUGGEST WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY, UH, IS TO REALLY, UM, SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UH, INTERNALLY, UH, HEARING FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS AND RECEIVING THEIR PROPOSALS, UH, PUTTING THOSE VARIOUS PROPOSALS TOGETHER, UH, AND PRESENTING TO THE BOARD THE GOVERNING BODY, UH, THE, THE MOST APPROPRIATE, UH, SPENDING PLAN WITH REGARD TO ONGOING, UH, BOARD, UH, VISION TERM STRATEGIES AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY, UH, CURRENT AND LONG TERM NEEDS.
UH, AND SO, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MEETING WITH, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT AND I WILL ENSURE THAT, UM, YOU HAVE A BUDGET PROPOSAL, UH, PRESENTED TO YOU THAT, UH, KIND OF ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THAT, UH, INTO A SINGLE, UH, PROPOSAL.
UH, AND THEN, UH, MOVING FROM THERE, WE WILL, UH, OF COURSE HAVE, UH, THE APPROPRIATE, UH, PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS WITH REGARD TO ALLOWING DEPARTMENT HEADS TO COME IN, UH, AND, UH, AND MAKE, UM, UH, MAKE THEIR PITCH, IF YOU WILL, AND, AND, UH, AND GO THROUGH VARIOUS, UH, ITERATIONS WITH THE BOARD.
UM, ONE, UH, ONE PARTICULAR DIFFERENCE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CALENDAR AS WELL, UH, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH REGARD TO THE PARTNER AGENCIES.
UM, UH, I HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH DIRECTOR SCOTT, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
UH, AND, UH, I, I THINK LAST YEAR WE HAVE ONE, I'M JUST COUNTING THEM UP HERE, FIVE, UH, UH, FIVE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, IF YOU WILL, UH, WHEREIN PARTNER AGENCIES CAME TO THE BOARD TO MAKE THEIR PITCH.
UH, AND THAT RANGED ANYWHERE FROM WHAT, LIKE $2,000, MAYBE EVEN LESS, UM, TO, TO MORE SUBSTANTIAL, UH, PROPOSALS UP IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF, UH, WORTH OF PROPOSALS, JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT THE VARIOUS PARTNER AGENCY WAS LOOKING FOR.
UH, AND LOOKING AT, UH, MOVING FORWARD, UH, AND WE HAVEN'T YET, UH, KIND OF ESTABLISHED THIS IN POLICY, BUT I KIND OF JUST WANTED TO KIND OF BOUNCE THIS OFF THE, THE BOARD'S, UM, UH, UH, THOUGHT PROCESS, UM, IS ESTABLISHING MORE OF A, UH, OF A, UH, PARTNER AGENCY THRESHOLD.
UH, AND AGAIN, I'M JUST THROWING A NUMBER OUT THERE, BUT, BUT LET'S SAY WE ESTABLISH A THRESHOLD THAT, THAT $25,000, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, AND WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, PUT APPROPRIATE NOTICE OUT TO THOSE AGENCIES TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY PROPOSAL THAT IS LESS THAN $25,000, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY GIVE US YOUR PROPOSAL AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE ADOPT THAT WITHIN THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PRESENT TO THE BOARD.
BUT ANYTHING OVER THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE A, A PUBLIC HEARING ON WHEREIN YOU CAN COME IN AND, AND, AND MAKE YOUR PITCH PUBLICLY.
UM, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WHAT MY PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN, UH, THROUGH BUDGETING AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THROUGH THIS PROCESS HERE, UM, IS TO REALLY, UH, FOCUS THE BOARD'S ATTENTION ON VISION, OVERARCHING VISION AND STRATEGY, AND, AND LIMIT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
THE, UH, THE, UM, THIS IS MY WORD, UH, NOT DIRECTOR SCOTT'S, BUT THE DIVERSION INTO, UM, UH, MORE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONAL.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT WHY WE'RE SPENDING $5 ON PENCILS, UH,
[00:50:01]
AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE BOARD'S, UH, ATTENTION AND FOCUS, UM, DIRECTED AT, UH, THAT, THAT OVERARCHING AND LONG TERM STRATEGY AND VISION.UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET DOCUMENT IS, IS THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT THAT YOU, THAT YOU ADOPT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
UM, AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BUDGET SHOWS THE GOVERNING BODIES PRIORITIES, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE, WE ADOPT A BUDGET THAT, UH, THAT IS, UH, THAT ENCOMPASSES THAT.
UH, AND DIRECTOR SCOTT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO KIND OF FILL IN THERE OR ANY ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, BUT, UM, UH, THAT, THAT IS WHAT, UH, I HAVE TO PRESENT, UH, THIS EVENING, AND WE'D CERTAINLY BE OPEN TO, TO, UH, UH, ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS OR, UM, BRAINSTORMING THIS WITH, WITH THE BOARD AT THIS POINT.
DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THE BUDGET IN THE MEMO? NOT PAPER.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAY I LIKE PAPER WHO, WHOSE DIRECTOR? SCOTT.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS ALYSSA
I WILL SAY, LOOKING JUST AT THIS QUICKLY, THANK YOU ON HERE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WE ARE BEING SPENT ON REVIEWING THIS AND SO FORTH MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE.
IF I'VE GOT A VOTE FOR IT, I, I WANT TO KNOW MORE THAN WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE HAS GIVEN ME TIME TO DO.
UH, SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT FROM THE FY 25 BUDGET ADOPTION.
UM, SOME FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD FROM THE SUPERVISORS IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TALK MORE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND SO IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS THAT ARE HELD BETWEEN THE JOINT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE THE START OF THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR.
AND THEN IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, THERE'S TWO MORE WORK SESSIONS.
UM, SO THAT WILL BE MORE PUBLIC THAN THE OTHER TWO, UH, IN 2025.
UH, THIS DRAFT ALSO ANTICIPATES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING AN UPDATE ON OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES PROBABLY LATE, UH, MID TO LATE, UH, FEBRUARY, 2026.
AND THAT IT'S A POTENTIAL THAT THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA'S BUDGET COULD BE ADOPTED AS LATE AS, UH, JUNE, 2026 AS IT WAS IN, IN 25.
ANY AMENDMENTS THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADJUSTED TO THE BUDGET CAN HAPPEN AFTER JULY ONE.
AND ANY CHANGE TO THE BUDGET, MORE THAN 1% WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THE SCHEDULE TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE MUST BE AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS AFTER PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROPRIATION.
UH, JUNE IS A VERY BUSY MONTH FOR THE FINANCE STAFF BECAUSE THE AUDITORS ARRIVE FOR THE PRELIMINARY WORK.
AND SO CLOSING THE FISCAL YEAR IS A, IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US AT THAT TIME.
SO THAT IS WHY THE BUDGET ADOPTION IS PUSHED UP CLOSER TO THE BEGINNING OF APRIL.
UH, MARCH 24TH IS PROPOSED AS A SPECIAL MEETING ON THIS DRAFT CALENDAR.
IT IS NOT ON YOUR CALENDAR, UM, THAT YOU DISCUSSED IN THE EARLIER AMENDMENT, BECAUSE IF WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE TO THE CALENDAR, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLOSER TO THE END OF MARCH.
UM, AND SO WE CAN ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING AND CHANGE THAT.
UH, THIS, THIS BUDGET CALENDAR DOES NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, ANY OF THE, UM, DATES THAT MR. HENDERSON HAD ANNOUNCED EARLIER.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD THOSE, WE COULD CERTAINLY ADD THOSE.
UM, YEAH, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS TOO, UH, SUPERVISOR KOHL IS I, UM, JUST IF YOU'RE TAKING A LOOK, A AND, AND I, I, I KNOW YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR COMMENT WASN'T, UM, WITHIN THIS CONTEXT, BUT, BUT IT, IT MADE ME THINK AS WELL, UH, UH, MORE ON THAT POINT.
UH, IF YOU'RE TAKING A LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CALENDAR, UH, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YOU, YOU HAD, UH, SIX OR SEVEN, UH, PUBLIC WORK SESSIONS SCHEDULED, UM, TO DISCUSS QUOTE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.
AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED IN, IN MY, YOU KNOW, YEARS OF DOING THIS HAS BEEN THAT WHEN A BUDGET CALENDAR IS SET UP SUCH THAT THE, THE, THE BOARD HEARS FROM, OKAY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS EVENING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PUBLIC WORKS COME IN AND PUBLIC WORKS PRESENTS TO US THEIR, THEIR PROPOSAL.
THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD MAKES A REALLY COMPELLING ARGUMENT.
[00:55:01]
UH, AND WHAT YOU ARE, WHAT THE BOARD IS ONLY SEEING IS WHAT PUBLIC WORKS IS PRESENTING TO YOU THAT EVENING.UH, IT'S DONE SO IN A VACUUM, IF YOU WILL.
UM, AND WHAT MY PHILOSOPHY AND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED HERE, UH, THIS EVENING, UH, IS MORE OF A, UM, UH, AND LET ME JUST PULL UP THAT DATE.
UM, SO MY HOPE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ON, ON MARCH 3RD, UH, WE CAN PRESENT TO YOU, UM, YEAH, MARCH 3RD.
UH, WE CAN COME TO THE BOARD AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROPOSAL.
UH, AND THEN FROM THERE YOU HAVE THE PUBLICLY, UM, UH, SCHEDULED AND, UH, UM, ADVERTISED HEARINGS WHEREIN WE CAN START TO GET MORE INTO THE WEEDS.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT, UH, I'M LOOKING TO NOT DISCUSS, UH, THE OPERATIONAL CONCERNS OR THE WEEDS, BUT I WANNA GIVE TO THE BOARD A FULLY BAKED BUDGET, UH, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT EACH DEPARTMENTAL REQUEST MEANS TO THE BIGGER PICTURE.
AGAIN, IF YOU JUST HAVE IT COMING AND PRESENT TO YOU ONE EVENING WHAT THEIR REQUEST IS, YOU ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT WITHOUT THE FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE, TO THE BOTTOM LINE.
UH, AND I'VE SEEN WHERE, UH, IT, IT REALLY CREATES AN UNFAIR, UM, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ARRANGEMENT FOR THE GOVERNING BODY TO HAVE TO MAKE THESE JUDGMENT CALLS FROM MEETING TO MEETING WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE LAST DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CAME TO PRESENT TO YOU, UM, WITHOUT SEEING THAT FULLY FULLER PICTURE.
UH, AND SO THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET THAT FULLER PICTURE TO THE BOARD QUICKER.
UH, AND SO THEN, THEN WE CAN, THEN WE CAN START TO DISCUSS THE PARTICULARS FROM, FROM THAT POINT ON, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THAT, THAT, I DON'T SAY THAT THAT'S NOT A FAIR PROCESS, BUT WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THESE DATES, UM, WE ARE HAVING TWO JOINT MEETINGS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THEN ON MARCH 3RD, WHICH IS A REGULAR MEETING, THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO IF THAT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST TIME THAT I SEE THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN A WAY, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO, TO DISCUSS IT, BECAUSE THE MEETING TO REVIEW IT WITH INDIVIDUAL, UH, BOARD MEMBERS IS NOT UNTIL MARCH 4TH THROUGH THE SIXTH.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE HERE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THEN ON THE 10TH, YOU'RE HAVING A WORK SESSION, I ASSUME THAT'S WITH US.
UM, AND THEN AUTHORIZATION ON THE 17TH IN ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING, IT JUST QUICK IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.
I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO GET THESE THINGS DONE IN A TIMELINE.
UH, ONE OF MY OTHER CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, IS THE AUDIT GONNA BE DONE? ARE WE GONNA HAVE THAT INFORMATION? AND I, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY FOR ME, AT LEAST EVEN THE YEAR THAT I WAS RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE, I SAT THROUGH EVERY BUDGET MEETING AND, UM, SO UNDER TWO DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATORS, AND WE MET WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL AND HEARD THEM.
SO IT'S LIKE TRYING TO TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICK HERE, WHICH I'M NOT AVERSE TO TRYING TO LEARN NEW THINGS, BUT I JUST, I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS, UM, A LOT CRUNCHED INTO A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME.
UH, UNDERSTOOD, MA'AM, I, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT FEEDBACK AND, UM, THAT WE, WE, UM, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE, WE'RE WE, WE WANTED THIS ON THE WORKSHOP AGENDA TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND, AND TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS WE START TO GET INTO THIS SEASON.
I, I, IF IT'S A MATTER OF, UM, UH, TAKING A LOOK AT THAT CALENDAR, ADDING MORE MEETINGS, MAYBE CERTAINLY EVEN EARLIER ON, UM, THAT, UH, WE, WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, MAKE THAT, THAT TWEAK AND GET THIS, UH, UH, UH, A, AN UPDATED CALENDAR OUT TO YOU.
UM, I REALLY WANTED TO, TO GET THE BOARD'S KIND OF INITIAL FEEDBACK ON THE, THAT OVERARCHING STRATEGY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, RATHER THAN, UM, UH, SPENDING MORE TIME, MORE A MORE PROTRACTED TIME DISCUSSING WITH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH PUBLIC SESSIONS ON THEIR SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS, IF WE CAN STILL HAVE, WE'LL ADD MORE MEETINGS AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY GIVE THE BOARD, UH, MORE TIME TO, TO DIG IN TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT FOCUSING LESS ON THE SPECIFIC, UM, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET.
AGAIN, IF WE CAN GET THAT ATTENTION BACK ON THE OVERARCHING BOTTOM LINE FROM MEETING TO MEETING.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT MY, WHAT MY PROPOSAL IS HERE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
AND I KIND OF JUST WANTED TO GET THE BOARD'S, UM,
[01:00:01]
UH, YOU KNOW, UH, EARLY FEEDBACK ON, ON THAT.UH, STRATEGY IS THE, ARE THE MARCH 4TH THROUGH SIX 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER REVIEWS WITH BUDGET AND STAFF.
ARE THOSE WHAT ARE SET IN HERE AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT, IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, AND I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A WHOLE, IT'S THE WHOLE WORK DAY.
SO PRESUMABLY ALL THE SUPERVISORS WOULD BE ABLE TO CIRCULATE AROUND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S SORT OF LIKE OFFICE HOURS, I THINK, RIGHT? CORRECT.
WE SORT OF DID THIS THIS PAST YEAR, UM, BUT IT WAS, UH, YEAH, IT WAS MAYBE NOT AS MUCH OF A, OF AN OPPORTUNITY ACTUALLY, SO, YEAH.
UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT HAD THAT IDEA TO, TO PUT THAT ONTO THE, TO THE CALENDAR.
UM, UH, NOTING, NOTING MAYBE SOME OF THE CONCERN THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE WITH REGARD TO NOT GETTING THOSE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS, UH, IN THE EVENING, UH, THROUGH THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
WE STILL WANTED TO GIVE THE TIME FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM, OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS, HEY, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE SPENDING, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE ON PENCILS THIS YEAR? YOU KNOW, IT IT, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR LEVEL OF INTEREST IS IN THE BUDGET, UM, WE WANT TO CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROPOSAL IS TAILORED TO WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO, UM, KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
UH, OFFICE HOURS, IF YOU WILL.
NO, IT, WELL, AS MEETING INDIVIDUALLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A BURDEN BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE ONE DAY THAT WEEK FOR EACH OF US, WHICH IF WE ALL MET TOGETHER, WE COLLABORATIVELY HEAR THE SAME THING, AND THEN CAN DISCUSS AMONGST OURSELVES AT THE SAME TIME WHERE, AND YOU TAKE UP ONE DAY VERSUS FIVE.
JUST MY PERSPECTIVE ON THAT, I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO SAY IT, I THINK AS A STAFF MEMBER, I'D ALMOST GET TIRED OF SAYING THE SAME THING TO FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
BUT I, I, MY MY FEELING IS THAT HAVING EVERY DEPARTMENT COME INTO THIS AMBO AND MAKE A A 15 TO 30 MINUTE PRESENTATION IS NOT ACTUALLY A DISCUSSION.
IT'S JUST A, IT'S JUST A KIND OF A DATA DUMP.
AND, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S, I THINK THERE'S LIMITED, UM, COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY THERE.
AND OFTENTIMES WE GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, WE'RE FEELING LIKE MAYBE WE'RE PUTTING PRESSURE ON A DEPARTMENT HEAD INSTEAD OF HAVING A REAL DIALOGUE.
AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY CAN WITHSTAND A LITTLE PRESSURE, BUT I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY ISN'T, ISN'T AS HIGH A QUALITY, AND I'M ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN THE IDEA THAT WE CAN, ONCE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BASELINE IS, THAT WE CAN GO, WE CAN GO TO INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AND ASK QUESTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT.
UM, I ALSO WAS MADE AWARE THAT NO OTHER COUNTY DOES IT THIS WAY, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT COME IN EVERY WEEK AND, AND GIVE LINE BY LINE, UM, BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
UM, SO WE'RE OUTTA THE ORDINARY IN THAT CASE.
AND IN MY, IN MY VIEW, IT'S, IT'S OF LIMITED VALUE.
AND I THINK MORE INTERACTION, UH, IF WE CAN GET INTO THE SCHEDULE ACTUALLY WOULD BE, I WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT IT.
MAYBE IF WE COULD GET LIKE, UH, THE CLEAR GOV, UM, REPORTS WITH THE LINE ITEMS AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE PRIOR YEARS FOR COMPARISON, GET THAT, UH, OR A PAPER COPY FOR THOSE WHO PREFER THAT, UM, MIGHT HELP, UM, WHEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS AVAILABLE WITH THE FULL CONTEXT.
AND THEN WE COULD, UM, WE COULD HAVE OUR QUESTIONS READY, UH, AND MAYBE BRING IN THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, NOT NECESSARILY TO, TO RUN THROUGH EVERYTHING LINE BY LINE, BUT TO TAKE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
UH, ONCE WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE NUMBERS, THAT THAT MIGHT HELP.
I'M ALSO MINDFUL THAT WE'LL HAVE, UH, TWO NEW SUPERVISORS ON THE BOARD.
UM, AND JUST THINKING BACK WHEN I WAS NEW ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, THE BUDGET PROCESS DID TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN IT TOOK LAST YEAR.
UH, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE EXPLAINING THAT WENT INTO IT FOR, UM, UH, FOR THE NEW ONES.
SO, UH, I WANT TO BE FAIR AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T RUSH, RUSH IT ALONG FOR HUGH AND, AND FOR YOUR, UH, FUTURE COLLEAGUE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, SO, AND OUR FUTURE COLLEAGUE AS WELL.
IT DOES SAY ON HERE IN THE MEMO THAT ALL OPERATING CAPITAL REVENUE AND REQUESTS WILL BE PROCESSED THROUGH CLEAR GOV.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXPECTATION FOR THIS YEAR.
WELL, I, I DON'T WORK WITH CLEAR GOV, SO I'D LIKE IT PAPER, PLEASE.
I, AS THE NEW GUY WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT, UH, HAVING
[01:05:01]
A BUDGET OVERVIEW, I, I DID COME IN AND SET AT THESE, UH, MEETINGS IN JANUARY.DALEY HAD RECOMMENDED THAT, AND I'M CERTAINLY GLAD THAT I DID, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE WHOLE BENEFIT OF SITTING IN THE SEAT.
BUT THE, UH, THE IDEA OF HAVING A COMPLETE BUDGET OVERVIEW, LIKE YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, YOU TALKED TO THE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, UH, WOULD KIND OF, UH, HELP ME SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE GOING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY, THERE'S SO MANY LITTLE THINGS AND IT'S LIKE, WHERE DOES THAT FIT IN? WHERE DOES THAT FIT IN? SO, UH, HAVING AN OVERVIEW BEFORE WE START INTO THOSE INDIVIDUAL THINGS WOULD DEFINITELY BE A BENEFIT TO ME.
SO I, I THINK THAT PART'S A GOOD IDEA.
I THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, MR. HENRY.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IN ADDITION TO GETTING THE OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET FIRST AND THEN BEING ABLE TO KIND OF MEET WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HEAD ABOUT ANY CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH THEIR DEPARTMENT BUDGET, WHEN WE HOLD THE TAX RATE, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE BUDGET IS AT THE CURRENT TAX RATE, PROPOSED, THREE DIFFERENT, FOUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS WITH THE BUDGET.
AND ALSO SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED IN PREVIOUS BUDGET CYCLES IS GET A LIST OF PRIORITIZED EXPENDITURES THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY FIT INTO THE BUDGET INITIALLY, BUT IF YOU CHANGE THE TAX RATE, THIS IS WHAT ISN'T ALLOWED EXPENDITURE TO BE INCLUDED.
IT GIVES YOU, UM, SOME AHEAD OF TIME PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT DIRECTION YOU GOTTA GO IN, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC, WHICH IS THE, UH, GO TO THE CLOSED SESSION TOPIC.
DO Y'ALL MIND IF WE SWITCH THE ORDER ON THIS? WE GO TO THE CLOSED SECTION SESSION TOPIC, NO OBJECTIONS HERE.
WHAT IS THE CLOSED SECTION TOPIC? I DIDN'T SEE IT.
I, I, SO BEFORE, BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTION ORDINANCE SITE, WELL HOLD HO HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
ARE, ARE WE GOOD? YEAH, WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO.
YEAH, I HAVE NO, I HAVE NO, UH, ALRIGHT.
I'M TOO NEW TO BE MAKING THOSE KIND OF CALLS.
[I. Discussion - Closed Session topic process and determination]
CLOSED SESSION TOPICS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE WELL WATER.SO BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTION ORDINANCE TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL MATTER THAT DIRECTLY RELATES TO HOW WE HANDLE LEGAL ADVICE ON PROPOSED ORDINANCES.
UH, THIS WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR LESS, AND IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT AWARE, THIS BOARD HAS DECLINED TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TWICE THIS YEAR, ONCE ON AUGUST 19TH, AND AGAIN ON OCTOBER 7TH.
IN BOTH CASES, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REQUESTED A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PROPOSED COUNTY ORDINANCES.
TODAY I WANT TO EXPLAIN FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WHY THOSE CLOSED SESSION REQUESTS WERE PROBLEMATIC UNDER VIRGINIA FOIA.
PRIOR TO TONIGHT, I'VE ALREADY MADE MY REASONING CLEAR TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THE FULL BOARD IN WRITING.
NOW I'M PRESENTING MY REASONING TO THE PUBLIC WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ENSURING THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS HOW CLOSED MEETINGS COME ABOUT AND WHAT THE VIRGINIA STATUTE SAYS ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE PERMISSIBLE.
IN SO DOING, I'M ALSO INTENDING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE DE DELIBERATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC ORDINANCES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES ARE CONDUCTED IN PUBLIC ACCEPTING ONLY VERY CLEAR CUT CASES THAT MEET THE FOIA CLOSED MEETING REQUIREMENTS.
LET ME START WITH WHAT VIRGINIA LAW ACTUALLY SAYS.
THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
ALL MEETINGS OF PUBLIC BODIES SHALL BE OPEN.
THE PURPOSE OF FOIA STATED RIGHT IN THE STATUTE IS TO ENSURE THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH HAVE READY ACCESS TO MEETINGS WHERE THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE'S CONDUCTED.
THIS ISN'T JUST NICE LANGUAGE, IT'S THE LAWFUL FUNDAMENTAL, IT'S THE LAW IS FUNDAMENTAL PRESUMPTION.
CLOSED SESSIONS ARE THE EXCEPTION, NOT THE RULE.
AND ANY EXEMPTION FROM PUBLIC ACCESS MUST BE NARROWLY CONSTRUED.
AND THE BURDEN IS ALWAYS ON THOSE SEEKING CLOSURE TO PROVE THAT STRICT STATUTORY REQUIREMENT ARE MET.
SO THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK IS NOT, CAN WE FIND A REASON TO CLOSE THE MEETING? BUT DOES THIS SPECIFIC MATTER CLEARLY MEET ONE OH FOIAS VERY NARROW EXCEPTIONS.
VIRGINIA LAW PERMITS CLOSED SESSIONS FOR TWO TYPES OF LEGAL CONSULTATION.
[01:10:01]
FIRST IS FOR PROBABLE LITIGATION, BUT THIS TERM HAS A VERY SPECIFIC MEANING.THE STATUTE DEFINES IT AS LITIGATION THAT HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY THREATENED OR LITIGATION THAT THE PUBLIC BODY OR ITS LEGAL COUNSEL HAS A REASONABLE BASIS TO BELIEVE WILL BE COMMENCED BY OR AGAINST A KNOWN PARTY.
NOTICE THE KEY WORDS SPECIFICALLY THREATENED AND KNOWN PARTY.
THE FOIA COUNSEL HAS CLARIFIED THIS FURTHER.
YOU NEED ACTUAL FACTS ESTABLISHING A CONCRETE AND CURRENT LIKELIHOOD OF LITIGATION.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE RECEIVING A DEMAND LETTER FROM AN ATTORNEY BEING NOTIFIED OF IMMINENT LEGAL ACTION BY AN IDENTIFIED PARTY, OR BEING INFORMED OF SPECIFIC REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS.
THESE MUST BE SPECIFIC, DOCUMENTED AND LINKED TO KNOWN PARTIES.
THIS IS A HIGH BAR AND IT'S INTENTIONALLY HIGH TO PREVENT ABUSE OF CLOSED SESSIONS.
NOW LET ME BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROBABLE LITIGATION 'CAUSE THIS IS WHERE CONFUSION OFTEN ARISES.
GENERALIZED CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES.
BROAD RISK WARNINGS ABOUT REGULATORY EXPOSURE, NOT ENOUGH HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS INVOLVING UNNAMED PARTIES, NOT SUFFICIENT ABSTRACT POSSIBILITIES THAT POLY THIS POLICY DECISIONS MIGHT SOMEDAY BE CHALLENGED, DOESN'T MEET THE STANDARD.
POLICY MATTERS WITH POTENTIAL LEGAL APPLICA IMPLICATIONS.
DO NOT QUALIFY FOR CLOSURE UNDER PROBABLE LITIGATION EXEMPTION.
IF WE FOLLOWED THE LOGIC THAT THIS MIGHT LEAD TO LITIGATION SOMEDAY, WE COULD CLOSE VIRTUALLY EVERY MEETING.
'CAUSE ALMOST ANY GOVERNMENTAL DECISION MIGHT EVENTUALLY BE CHALLENGED.
THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT FOIA PROHIBITS.
YOU NEED A SPECIFIC THREAT FROM A KNOWN PARTY, NOT SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
THE SECOND EXEMPTION IS FOR QUOTE SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS, END QUOTE.
AND THIS TERM IS ALSO DEFINED MUCH MORE NARROWLY THAN IT MIGHT SOUND.
THE FOIA COUNSEL HAS EMPHASIZED THAT SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS MUST INVOLVE ACTUAL LEGAL QUESTIONS REQUIRING COUNSEL'S ADVICE, NOT DEBATE ABOUT POLICY, NOT DISCUSSION OF FUTURE RISKS, NOT BROAD LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AND NOT MATTERS THAT MAY EVENTUALLY HAVE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.
HERE'S THE KEY PRINCIPLE, AND I'M QUOTING DIRECTLY FROM FOIA COUNSEL ADVISORY OPINION 0 3 13.
THE LEGAL MATTERS EXEMPTION WOULD NOT ALLOW A CLOSED MEETING TO BE HELD TO DISCUSS GENERAL POLICY OR OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY EVENTUALLY HAVE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.
THIS MEANS THAT STATUTORY INTERPRETATION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES IS GENERAL POLICY DISCUSSION, NOT SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTER.
IT'S THE FOUNDATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS AND MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.
LET ME SHOW YOU A CONCRETE EXAMPLE.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL CLOSED SESSION MOTION FROM OCTOBER 7TH REGARDING TONIGHT'S GROUNDWATER ORDINANCE PRESENTATION.
THE EXACT WORDING IS I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ENTER INTO A CLOSED MEETING UNDER SECTION 2.2 DASH 37 A EIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REGARDING REQUIRING SUCH ADVICE.
THE SUBJECT MATTER IS LAWS RELATING TO WELL WATER.
NOW, LET'S ANALYZE THIS AGAINST FO'S REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS EXEMPTION.
FIRST, WHAT IS THE ACTUAL LEGAL QUESTION REQUIRING COUNSEL'S ADVICE? THE MOTION DOESN'T SAY IT JUST IDENTIFIES A GENERAL TOPIC.
SECOND, THIS IS STATUTORY INTERPRETATION OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
EXACTLY THE TYPE OF GENERAL POLICY DISCUSSION THAT FOIA COUNSEL SAYS CANNOT BE CLOSED UNDER THIS EXEMPTION.
STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ABOUT WHAT AUTHORITY THE COUNTY HAS TO REGULATE WELL, WATER IS FOUNDATIONAL LEGAL F FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC POLICY MUST BE DISCUSSED OPENLY, NOT IN CLOSED SESSION.
SO WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO TAKE TWO ACTIONS.
FIRST, DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN STATUTORY ANALYSIS OF THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
THIS ANALYSIS SHOULD INCLUDE THE COUNTY'S REGULATORY AUTHORITY UNDER VIRGINIA STATUTES.
ANY DYLAN'S RULE OR PREEMPTION CONCERNS, ANALYSIS OF THE CASES THAT HAVE BEEN CITED AS CREATING LITIGATION RISK, ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES AND THEIR LIKELIHOOD AND ALTERNATIVE REGULATORY APPROACHES.
IF THEY EXIST, THIS ANALYSIS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE INFORMED DELIBERATION AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[01:15:01]
SECOND, A LONG-TERM REFORM WITHIN 30 DAYS, ADOPT A POLICY THAT ESTABLISHES CLEAR STANDARDS FOR WHEN CLOSED SESSIONS ARE APPROPRIATE AND ENSURES THAT LEGAL WRITTEN ANALYSIS IS THE DEFAULT METHOD FOR PROVIDING LEGAL GUIDANCE ON POLICY MATTERS.THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY DESERVE FULL TRANSPARENCY AND HOW THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES MAKE DECISIONS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL, IT'S ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL PROCESS AND FOIA COMPLIANCE.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT.
NO, I THINK THAT THIS IS, UH, THIS IS PRETTY CLEAR.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE, BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE ALLUDING TO IS THAT, THAT THE FACT THAT, UH, UM, SOMETIMES WHEN THE LEGAL COUNSEL, UH, RECOMMENDS THAT WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, IT'S THAT HE'S, HE'S GOT REASONS FOR IT, BUT THEY, THEY REALLY DON'T MEET THE, THE LETTER OF THE LAW.
LIKE YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALLUDING TO, UM, THE, THE, THE BOTTOM LINE, I GUESS IS THAT THIS BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MM-HMM
DETERMINING WHETHER THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
SO IF, IF IT'S, WE CAN'T SAY, WELL, OUR, OUR ATTORNEY SAID THAT WE SHOULD, WE COULD, WE SHOULD DO IT NOW.
SO THE REASON FOR HAVING THIS STATED PUBLICLY IS 'CAUSE I'VE, I HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND TO THIS BOARD MM-HMM
AND I THINK I JUST NEED IT'S TIME TO, TO, TO BE A PUBLIC WITH IT.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, JUST A COUPLE IF I MAY.
OH, I WOULD AGREE FROM SITTING OUT THERE, SOMETIMES I THINK IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THERE IS TOO MANY CLOSED SESSIONS.
MAYBE IT'S JUST ME BEING NOSY WHEN I WAS SITTING OUT HERE WASN'T I HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON.
BUT, OH, THE ONLY THING I'D BE CAUTIOUS OF IS IF YOU GET LEGAL ADVICE IN WE WERE TO SAY SOMETHING TO, OR THERE'D BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE PUT INTO JEOPARDY.
UH, I I, I'M VERY OPEN AND HONEST.
I, I'D FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING THE RISK.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IF LEGAL RECOMMENDS TO GO BACK THERE AND WE SAY, HEY, WE, WE DON'T THINK WE NEED TO, AND IT DOES COST SOME LITIGATION LATER, WE'LL HAVE TO OWN UP TO THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, BUT IT, I I, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE TIMES I WAS LIKE, MAN, DID THEY REALLY NEED TO GO TO CLOSED SESSION FOR THAT? UM, 'CAUSE I, I HAVE NO, I DON'T WANNA GET MYSELF OR THE COUNTY IN ANY TROUBLE, BUT I I, ANYTHING I'D SAY BACK THERE, I PROBABLY VERY COMFORTABLE SAYING OUT HERE TOO.
SO, UH, I WOULD DEFINITELY, UH, BE WILLING TO EXAMINE THAT.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD REWRITE A CODE IF THERE'S A STATE CODE.
WELL, WE'RE NOT REWRITING ANY CODE.
WE'RE, I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT WE HAVE A, WE'VE COME UP WITH A POLICY THAT, WELL, AS LONG AS THE POLICY DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH STATE CODE.
NO, OF COURSE, WE'D HAVE TO ASK LEGAL
BUT, WELL, THE OTHER THING IS THAT, THAT WE'RE ALL, WE ALL HAVE TO READ THE FOIA STATUTE AND AGREE TO IT.
SO WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.
SO, UM, AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, RESEARCHING IT AND, WELL, I'M NOT A LAWYER AND I DON'T LIKE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION AND IF WE DON'T HAVE TO, BUT I RESPECT THE FACT THAT, UM, MR. HAM'S JOB IS TO ABIDE BY THE LAW, TO INTERPRET THE LAW TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY.
AND I THINK HE DOES A GOOD JOB OF THAT.
HE DOESN'T JUST ARBITRARILY, UH, FLY OFF THE CUFF.
HE DOES A LOT OF RESEARCH TO KNOW, UM, AND JUSTIFY WHEN WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
UM, AND WHENEVER WE CAN DISCUSS SOMETHING WITHOUT GOING TO CLOSED SESSION, UH, THAT'S MY PREFERRED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA COST THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY MORE MONEY FOR LEGAL SUITS, JUST BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW MORE THAN A LAWYER.
UM, SO A LOT OF THESE CODES ARE FOR INTERPRETATION, AND I DON'T, I AM NOT A LAWYER, SO I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO MAKE THAT INTERPRETATION.
UM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE, UM, COGNITIVE OF THE UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES OF THINKING THAT WE KNOW BETTER THAN OUR LEGAL ADVICE.
UM, AND I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH LEGAL, UM, BECAUSE JUST DISCUSSING SOMETHING I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO STEER YOU FROM MAKING MISTAKES THAT CAN COME BACK TO BE A PROBLEM.
[01:20:01]
THERE'S NO DOUBT, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THEIR FUNCTION IS.BUT IT DOESN'T ABSOLVE THIS BOARD OF BEING THE DETERMINING, UH, AGENCY OF WHETHER WE GO INTO CLOSE SESSION.
AND THE, THE, THE STATUTE IS EX NOT EX, IT'S NOT LONG.
THE, THE, UH, THE CLAUSES ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND THERE ARE FOIA COUNSEL OPINIONS REGARDING THEM.
SO I'M JUST SAYING IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT THOSE SAY.
UM, AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT I STILL SAY, I KNOW I AM NOT GONNA SAY I KNOW BETTER THAN A LAWYER WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE THAT MR. HAM HAS AN ARGUE WITH HIM THAT HE'S WRONG.
AND I'M RIGHT WHEN I KNOW THAT MY INTERPRETATION OF ALL THIS MAY BE NOT CORRECT.
SO, UM, IF I CHOOSE NOT TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE I DISAGREE WITH HIM, I CAN SIT RIGHT HERE.
BUT I WOULD RATHER GO IN THERE, UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S TRYING TO SAY, AND THEN IF I DISAGREE AND I WANNA COME OUT HERE AND MAKE PUBLIC MY DISAGREEMENT, THAT'S ON ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO DO THAT.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ARBITRARILY PUT THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY TO DEFEND SOMETHING THAT I WAS WRONG ON BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL REP REPERCUSSIONS OF IT EITHER.
NOBODY SHOULD DO ANYTHING ARBITRARILY THAT BACKGROUND.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S, LET'S, OH, JUST ONE MORE POINT TOO, THAT, THAT, UH, UH, AS I SAID, I, I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ATTENTION AND THIS BOARD'S ATTENTION.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT DISCUSSION IS, HAS NOT BEEN LACKING.
WELL THEN I WOULD SAY BEFORE, I'M COMFORTABLE TO VOTE ON THIS, I WOULD LIKE SECOND OPINIONS, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO BRING THE FOIA CANCEL REPRESENTATIVE HERE TO EXPLAIN THAT.
[H. Discussion - Proposal for Industrial Well Water Prohibition Ordinance]
TO THE NEXT ONE.WHAT I'M PRESENTING TO YOU IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ORDINANCE I'VE WORKED ON AS YOUR SUPERVISOR.
IT BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RESOURCE.
OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON WATER.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT AN ABSTRACT OR REGULATORY THEORY.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS WILL HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER FROM THEIR WELLS 10, 20, OR 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE LEARN FROM DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, OR WHETHER WE REPEAT THEIR MISTAKES AND FACE THE SAME CONSEQUENCES THEY'RE NOW, NOW DEALING WITH.
TONIGHT, I'LL SHOW YOU THE EVIDENCE, THE REAL IMPACTS ON REAL FAMILIES WITH DOCUMENTED PATTERNS IN VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES AND WHY WARREN COUNTY NEEDS TO ACT NOW WHILE WE STILL CAN.
LET'S START WITH WHERE WARREN COUNTY STANDS RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE WE EVEN TALK ABOUT INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE.
ON JULY 15TH, 2024, FRONT ROW WAS FORCED TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION ORDERS.
THE SOUTH COURT, SOUTH FORK OF SHENANDOAH RIVER HAD DROPPED BELOW THE LEVELS, LEGALLY PERMITTED FOR MUNICIPAL WITHDRAWAL.
RESIDENTS FACED A THOUSAND DOLLARS FINES FOR VIOLATIONS.
THEN IN SEPTEMBER, 2025, WARREN COUNTY WAS PLACED UNDER DROUGHT WATCH ADVISORY.
THE USDA DECLARED US A NATURAL DISASTER AREA DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
HERE'S WHAT MAKES THIS CRITICAL.
MOST WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS DEPEND ON PRIVATE WELLS.
UNLIKE URBAN AREAS WITH MULTIPLE WATER SOURCES AND SOPHISTICATED DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, WE HAVE LIMITED ALTERNATIVES.
OUR GROUNDWATER IS ALREADY STRESSED FROM NATURAL CONDITIONS ALONE BEFORE ANY INDUSTRIAL FACILITY EVER PUMPS A GALLON.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT INDUSTRIAL WATER CONSUMPTION ACTUALLY MEANS.
BECAUSE THE SCALE IS NOT COMPARABLE TO ANYTHING MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
A TYPICAL HOUSEHOLD USES 80 TO 100 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USED TO THINKING ABOUT WHEN WE DRINK.
A SMALL INDUSTRIAL FACILITY USES 50 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS A DAY.
A LARGE DATA CENTER, AND THESE ARE THE NUMBERS FROM INDUSTRY SOURCES, USES ANYWHERE FROM 360,000 TO 5 MILLION GALLONS A DAY, DEPENDING ON THEIR SIZE AND COOLING REQUIREMENTS.
VIRGINIA TECH RESEARCHERS PUT IT BLUNTLY.
[01:25:01]
FACILITIES CONSUME AS MUCH WATER AS A SMALL FA CITY.A SINGLE LARGE FACILITY CAN CONSUME MORE WATER THAN A THOUSAND HOMES COMBINED.
MOST OF THAT WATER IS CONSUMPTIVE.
IT'S LOST TO EVAPORATION AND COOLING SYSTEMS. IT NEVER RETURNS TO THE AQUIFER.
THIS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGES THE WATER EQUATION IN ANY COMMUNITY.
NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT BEVERLY AND JEFF MORRIS.
THEY'RE REAL, A REAL FAMILY IN NEWTON COUNTY, GEORGIA.
AND THEIR STORY IS DOCUMENTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES IN JULY, 2025.
THE MOORES FAMILY LIVES ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM META'S $750 MILLION DATA CENTER.
AFTER META'S CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 2018, THEIR WELLS WENT DRY.
THEY SPENT 5,000 ON IMMEDIATE REPAIRS AND NOW FACE SPENDING $25,000 TO DRILL A NEW WELL.
BEVERLY MORRIS DESCRIBED THEIR WATER AS BROWN, LIKE IT CAME FROM A CREEK.
HERE'S WHAT MAKES THIS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT.
THREE NEIGHBORING FAMILIES REPORTED SIMILAR WELL PROBLEMS. THIS ISN'T ONE COINCIDENTAL WELL FAILURE, IT'S THIS PATTERN OF IMPACTS WITHIN A THOUSAND FOOT RADIUS OF A FACILITY.
IT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN REAL TO REAL FAMILIES.
WHEN INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES CONSUME MASSIVE QUANTITIES OF GROUNDWATER NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE MORRIS FAMILY CAN'T UNDO WHAT HAPPENS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY IRREVERSIBILITY.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE.
IN VIRGINIA AND COUNTIES JUST NORTH OF US.
IN LOUDOUN COUNTY DATA CENTER WATER CONSUMPTION INCREASED BY 250%.
BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023, THEY CONSUMED 900 MILLION GALLONS.
IN 2023 ALONE ACROSS NORTHERN VIRGINIA, TOTAL DATA CENTER CONSUMPTION REACHED 2 BILLION GALLONS, A 63% INCREASE.
SINCE 2019, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT WELLS GOING DRY.
VIRGINIA TECH RESEARCHERS NOW CLASSIFY NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS EXPERIENCING HIGH WATER STRESS.
AND HERE'S THE PROJECTION THAT SHOULD CONCERN EVERYONE.
DATA CENTERS COULD CONSUME 33% OF THE POTOMAC RIVER BASINS AVAILABLE WATER BY 2050.
ONCE INDUSTRIAL WATER CONSUMPTION STARTS IN A REGION, IT DOESN'T STAY MODEST.
THAT'S WHY PROACTIVE PROTECTION MATTERS.
THIS SLIDE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IN THIS ENTIRE PRESENTATION.
SO I WANT YOU TO REALLY HEAR THIS.
LOUDOUN COUNTY RECENTLY COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE GROUNDWATER STUDY.
THEIR FINDINGS, GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSENED OVER RECENT DECADES, WELLS SPRINGS AND PONDS HAVE DRIED UP AND THEY DESCRIBE IT AS A SILENT SHIFT OF AN INVISIBLE FINITE RESOURCE.
AND HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
ONCE AQUIFERS ARE DEPLETED, RESTORATION IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THE MORRIS FAMILY IN GEORGIA CANNOT REVERSE THEIR WELL FAILURES.
LOUDOUN COUNTY CANNOT RESTORE THEIR DEPLETED AQUIFER.
WHEN GROUNDWATER'S GONE, IT'S GONE.
PROPERTY OWNERS BEAR ALL THE COSTS, TENS TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR NEW WELLS, WATER SYSTEMS AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
AND THEY HAVE LITTLE LEGAL RECOURSE AGAINST WELL-FUNDED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPERS.
ONCE WE WALK THROUGH IT, WE CANNOT WALK BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE MUST ACT NOW BEFORE INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE ARRIVES.
VIRGINIA'S OWN INSTITUTIONS HAVE RECOGNIZED THIS THREAT AT EVERY LEVEL.
THE 2024 JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT AND REVIEW COMMISSION.
JARC REPORT EXPLICITLY RECOMMENDS THAT VIRGINIA EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REQUIRE WATER USE ESTIMATES FOR PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
THAT'S OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S OWN RESEARCH ARM.
THAT CURRENT PROJECT PROTECTIONS ARE INADEQUATE.
VIRGINIA TECH RESEARCHERS HAVE WARNED THAT DATA CENTERS THREATEN REGIONAL WATER SECURITY AND THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO WATER SUPPLY DISRUPTION.
THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT, TO ADOPT STRICTER WATER PROTECTION MEASURES THAN STATE REQUIREMENTS.
DOZENS OF BILLS WERE INTRODUCED IN THE 20 24, 20 25 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ADDRESSING INDUSTRIAL WATER IMPACTS.
THIS ISN'T A FRINGE CONCERN, IT'S A MAINSTREAM RECOGNITION ACROSS VIRGINIA THAT THE THREAT IS REAL AND GROWING.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ORDINANCE ACTUALLY DO? THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE, IT PROHIBITS NEW INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES FROM USING GROUNDWATER WELLS.
IT EXPLICITLY PROTECTS RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL WATER USES.
THOSE ARE COMPLETELY EXEMPTED.
YOUR WELL, YOUR FARM'S WELL ARE NOT AFFECTED.
IT ALLOWS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT USING MUNICIPAL WATER CONNECTIONS.
WE'RE NOT SAYING NO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
[01:30:01]
SUSTAINABLE WATER SOURCES.IT GRANDFATHERS EXISTING BUSINESSES WITH CONDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS.
SO CURRENT OPERATIONS AREN'T DISRUPTED.
WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES IS PREVENT CONFLICTS BEFORE THEY OCCUR.
IT'S PROACTIVE PROTECTION, NOT REACTIVE CRISIS MANAGEMENT.
AND IT MAINTAINS WARREN COUNTY'S ROLE CHARACTER WHILE STILL ALLOWING APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT, JUST DEVELOPMENT THAT DOESN'T THREATEN OUR GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES.
THIS IS TARGETED REASONABLE PROTECTION OF A SPECIFIC RESOURCE FROM A SPECIFIC DOCUMENT OF THREAT.
UH, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT DO.
'CAUSE I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE ATTEMPTS TO MISCHARACTERIZE IT.
IT DOES NOT BAN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES CAN STILL LOCATE HERE AS THEY HAVE USING FRONT WALL WATER.
THEY JUST NEED TO USE MUNICIPAL WATER OR OTHER NON GROUND WATER SOURCES.
IT DOES NOT AFFECT RESIDENTIAL WELLS.
YOUR PRIVATE WELLS EXPLICITLY EXEMPTED.
IT DOES NOT AFFECT AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.
FARM WELLS ARE EXPLICITLY EXEMPTED.
IT DOES NOT IMPACT EXISTING BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE GRANDFATHERED WITH CONDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS.
AND IT DOES NOT PREVENT ECONOMIC GROWTH.
IT CHANNELS GROWTH TOWARD WATER SOURCES THAT CAN SUSTAIN IT WITHOUT THREATENING COMMUNITY WATER SECURITY.
THIS IS NOT AN ANTI-DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
IT'S A PRO COMMUNITY, PRO SUSTAINABILITY ORDINANCE THAT SAYS A RESIDENCE.
I WANNA BRIEFLY ADDRESS THE LEGAL FOUNDATION BECAUSE I EXPECT YOU'LL HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT DYLAN RULE AND WHETHER WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE NOT ONE BUT MULTIPLE EXPRESS GRANTS OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY.
VIRGINIA CODE 1 52 1200 GIVES COUNTIES EXPRESS AUTHORITY TO ADOPT MEASURES FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF RESIDENTS.
PROTECTING GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES DIRECTLY SERVES ALL THREE PURPOSES.
THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT DOES NOT PREEMPT LOCAL AUTHORITY.
VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 62.1 DASH 44 15 SUBSECTION FIVE EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZES LOCALITIES TO ESTABLISH MORE RESTRICTIVE WATER PROTECTION STANDARDS THAN STATE REQUIREMENTS.
THIS ISN'T A LEE CREATIVE LEGAL INTERPRETATION.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE EXPRESSED STATUTORY GRANTS.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIFICALLY INTENDED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE THIS AUTHORITY.
AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE VIRGINIA COUNTY PRECEDENTS SUCCESSFULLY EXERCISING IT.
AND SPEAKING OF PRECEDENTS, LET ME SHOW YOU THAT OTHER VIRGINIA COUNTIES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTED THEIR GROUNDWATER.
AKAMAK AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAVE HAD COMPREHENSIVE GROUNDWATER PROTECTION ORDINANCES IN PLACE FOR OVER A DECADE.
THEY RESTRICT HIGH VOLUME WITHDRAWALS, REQUIRE HYDROGEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS AND SET LIMITS WELL BELOW INDUSTRIAL NEEDS.
THE VIRGINIA DEQ HAS WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM FOR 10 YEARS WITHOUT CHALLENGING THESE ORDINANCES.
CITY COUNTY HAS A WATER PROTECTION ORDINANCE REQUIRING SPECIAL PERMITS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ABOVE CONSERVATIVE THRESHOLDS.
OTHER VIRGINIA COUNTIES ARE PROTECTING THEIR GROUNDWATER, THE WARREN COUNTY CAN TOO.
SO THERE ARE TWO PATHS AVAILABLE TO WARREN COUNTY.
WE WAIT UNTIL INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AFFECT RESIDENTIAL WELLS.
PROPERTY OWNERS SPEND FIVE TO 25,000 OR MORE PER HOUSEHOLD.
LEGAL BATTLES HAPPEN AFTER DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE.
AND REMEMBER, GROUNDWATER DEPLETION IS IRREVERSIBLE.
THE PROACTIVE APPROACH, WE PREVENT CONFLICTS BEFORE THEY OCCUR.
WE PROTECT EXISTING RESIDENTS WATER SECURITY.
WE MAINTAIN COMMUNITY CONTROL OVER CENTRAL RESOURCES WE LEARNED FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES' EXPERIENCES.
INSTEAD OF REPEATING THEM, THERE ARE TWO CHOICES.
WE CAN BE GEORGIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA DEALING WITH WELL FAILURES AND ACCELERATING CONSUMPTION AFTER THE FACT.
OR WE CAN BE MACK COUNTY, PENN, PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY, PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES BEFORE DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE COMPRISES, COMPROMISES THEM.
THE REACTIVE PATH SERVES INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
THE PROACTIVE PATH SERVES WARREN COUNTY INTERESTS.
LET ME ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUESTION DIRECTLY 'CAUSE I KNOW IT WILL COME UP.
TRULY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE.
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES THAT ENDANGER RESIDENTS WATER SUPPLY DON'T SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY SERVE THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES BODY BOTTOM LINE, BUT THEY DON'T SERVE US.
[01:35:01]
ATTRACTIVENESS TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES DEPENDS ON OUR NATURAL BEAUTY, RURAL CHARACTER, AND EXISTING WATER RESOURCES.THOSE ARE ECONOMIC ASSETS WORTH PROTECTING, NOT COMPROMISING, BUT REVENUE THAT COMPROMISES ESSENTIAL RESOURCES SERVES GOVERNMENT BUDGETS, NOT CITIZENS.
WHEN WE SACRIFICE OUR RESIDENTS WATER SECURITY FOR INDUSTRIAL TAX REVENUE, WE FUNDAMENTALLY LOST SIGHT OF WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO ACHIEVE.
DEVELOPMENT THAT THREATENS OUR WATER SUPPLY IS NOT DEVELOPMENT THAT SERVES JUAN COUNTY.
SO LET ME SUMMARIZE WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE EVIDENCE I'VE PRESENTED.
WARREN COUNTY'S GROUNDWATER IS ALREADY STRESSED.
WE'VE HAD DROUGHT IES TWO YEARS RUNNING.
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES CONSUME MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER.
REAL FAMILIES HAVE LOST THEIR WELLS NEAR INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S CONSUMPTION IS ACCELERATING RAPIDLY.
250% INCREASE IN JUST FOUR YEARS.
IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, GROUNDWATER DEPLETION IS REVERSIBLE.
WE HAVE CLEAR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ACT MULTIPLE EXPRESS STATUTORY GRANTS.
OTHER VIRGINIA COUNTIES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTED THEIR WATER PRECEDENTS EXIST AND PROACTIVE PROTECTION IS BOTH PRUDENT AND NECESSARY.
WAITING UNTIL WELLS FAIL IS TOO LATE.
ALL THE EVIDENCE, ALL OF IT POINTS TO THE NEED FOR THIS ORDINANCE.
WARREN COUNTY'S GROUNDWATER IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT IT NOTHING ELSE WORKS.
WE CAN PROTECT IT PROACTIVELY OR WE CAN WAIT AND REACT TO DEPLETION THAT CANNOT BE REVERSED.
WE CAN LEARN FROM GEORGIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, OR WE CAN REPEAT THEIR MISTAKES AND WATCH OUR RESIDENTS SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WELL REPLACEMENTS.
WE CAN MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER OUR CENTRAL RESOURCES OR WE CAN SURRENDER THAT CONTROL TO INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES WHOSE INTERESTS DON'T ALIGN WITH OURS.
THIS ORDINANCE PROTECTS WHAT MAKES WARREN COUNTY WORTH LIVING IN.
PROTECTS THE RESOURCE THAT MAKES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, OUR HOMES OR FARMS OR BUSINESSES IN OUR FUTURE.
THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER TO ACT THE EVIDENCE FOR ACTION IS OVERWHELMING.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE ACT IN TIME BEFORE INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE ARRIVES, BEFORE WELLS START FAILING AND BEFORE THE DAMAGE BECOMES IRREVERSIBLE.
PROTECTING WARREN COUNTY'S GROUNDWATER IS PROTECTING WARREN COUNTY'S FUTURE.
IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN? OH, IN FAIRNESS, I HAVEN'T LIKE READ THIS WHOLE ORDINANCE TWO OR THREE TIMES AND REALLY STUDIED ON IT, BUT I I GLANCED THROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TODAY AND I, I READ THROUGH SOME OF IT.
IT'S, IT'S A FEW LITTLE ERRORS IN IT.
UM, IT DOES SAY SOMETHING ABOUT USING BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE SUCH ORDINANCE IF IT HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUILDING INSPECTION DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR WELL OR SEPTIC.
OH, DAVE, DID YOU GET AN EMAIL FROM DAVID? NO.
I, I, YEAH, I SAW HIS, HIS MEMO.
OH, I HADN'T, I HADN'T READ THAT.
SO, AND THEN, UH, JUST READING THAT LIKE THE, UH, LET'S SEE HERE.
CONDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES, AN EXISTING INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS USING WELL WATER OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE MAY APPLY FOR A CONDITIONAL EXEMPTION SUBMITTAL WRITTEN APPLICATION TO THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDING OFFICIALS WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ORDINANCE EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND THEN, UH, HERE'S THE, THE APPLICANT MUST INCLUDE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS DOCUMENTATION, LAWFUL OPERATIONS PRIOR TO ORDINANCE, EFFECTIVE DATE, CURRENT DAILY, MONTHLY WATER USAGE VOLUMES, LOCATION SPECIFICATIONS OF ALL WELLS CURRENTLY USED.
IDENTIFY ALL NEIGHBORING WELLS WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET.
HYDROLOGICAL STUDY DEMONSTRATING NO ADVERSE FACT ON NEIGHBORING WELLS.
WRITTEN COMMITMENT TO COMPLY WITH, UH, MONITORING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND PAYMENT OF 25 APPLICATION FEE TO COVER REVIEW COSTS.
OH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS LEGAL OR NOT, BUT YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU CAN'T DO IT ON JUST BY USING THE WORD INDUSTRIAL.
IF YOU WANNA WRITE SOME KIND OF ORDINANCE TO LIMIT HIGH VOLUME WELLS SUCH AS DATA CENTERS OR MAYBE SOME, UH, I DON'T KNOW, MILK MANUFACTURING PLANT, SOMETHING THAT WOULD USE A LOT OF WATER.
YOU OBVIOUSLY WOULDN'T WANNA PUMP THAT OUTTA THE AQUIFER.
BUT, UH, TAKE A LITTLE SMALL BUSINESS THAT'S IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
IT'S GOT 15 EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE USING THE WATER FOR RESTROOMS. UH, HYDROLOGICAL STUDY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT COST.
OH, THE OTHER THING TOO, IF THEY'VE HAD THAT, YOU KNOW, BEEN USING THAT WELL AND HAVEN'T BEEN CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS, AND THEN WE IMPLEMENT, OF COURSE LEGAL'S NOT HERE, BUT IF WE IMPLEMENT SOME KIND OF THING WHERE THEY GOTTA PAY A
[01:40:01]
FEE AND DO ALL THIS STUFF TO USE A WELL THAT THEY ALREADY GOT, I WOULD PERSONALLY SUE AND I THINK I'D WIN.UM, SO I THINK I, I'M FINE WITH SOME KIND OF EXEMPTION.
YOU KNOW, WE PASS ACCIDENTALLY, SOMEHOW SOME KIND OF HUGE WATER USER GETS THROUGH OUR BUYRIGHT INDUSTRIAL CODE.
UM, THAT WOULD NOT BE DATA CENTER 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT A BUYRIGHT LIST.
YOU KNOW, IT'D HAVE TO BE A, YOU KNOW, A BUYRIGHT USE IN THE INDUSTRIAL.
AND I DON'T HAVE THAT LIST IN FRONT OF ME.
SO IT'S A LOT OF STUDY AND RESEARCH HERE TO BE DONE.
ALL BUT, YOU KNOW, WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION, UH, SMALL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
THE OTHER THING YOU GOT IS TWO, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF DROUGHTS.
AND I, I REMEMBER THIS ONE AREN'T JUST FROM MR. FOX WHEN HE WAS ON THE BOARD AND WE HAD A BAD, ANOTHER BAD, UH, TWO OR THREE YEAR DROUGHT.
THERE'S A SURFACE WATER DROUGHT AND THERE'S A HYDRAULIC DROUGHT.
UH, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU CAN BE IN A LONG TERM DROUGHT IN THE AQUIFER LEVEL DROP.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU, LAST TIME WE HAD A BUNCH OF DRY WELLS.
THEY DID A STUDY AND IT LOOKED LIKE A SHOTGUN SPLATTER ON THE MAP.
AND THEY, IT WAS OLDER, SHALLOW WELLS OF COURSE, WERE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO A DROUGHT ALL.
BUT IF YOU, UH, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T, WELL, I DON'T WANNA NAME BUSINESSES.
UH, BUT, BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOME SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND, AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER THING TOO, FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, I KNOW THIS FROM MY YEARS IN, UH, SEPTIC BUSINESS, I HAVE TO DO, UH, 16 CLASS HOURS, UH, EVERY TWO YEARS TO MAINTAIN MY LICENSE.
THE, UH, THERE IS SOME STUDIES GOING ON THE AQUIFERS AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY DROPPING.
THEY, THEY, UH, SOME OF IT HAS TO OBVIOUSLY BE FROM USE.
SOME OF IT COULD JUST BE 'CAUSE THE WORLD'S CHANGING.
UM, BUT IF YOU'RE IN A HYDRAULIC DROUGHT, YOU DON'T WANT GROUNDWATER.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN A SURFACE WATER DROUGHT, YOU DON'T WANNA PULL OUTTA THE RIVER.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE GOT A FEW AND, AND YOU NEVER WANNA PULL THERE AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH.
YOU WILL NEVER WANNA PULL HIGH VOLUME WATER OUTTA THE AQUIFER.
BUT FOR A SMALL INDUSTRIAL USE, OH, YOU KNOW, WELL IT WAS THE, UH, THE OTHER NUMBER THAT WAS A LITTLE, IT SAID LIKE 80 TO A HUNDRED GALLONS FOR AN AVERAGE HOUSE.
TYPICAL THREE BEDROOM SEPTICS RATED 450 GALLONS A DAY.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT RAISED THE AVERAGE USE OF 80% OF FOUR 50 GALLONS, WHICH IS 300 SOME CHANGE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
BUT FOR, OH, A BATHROOM OPERATION OR LIKE AN EVENT CENTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING LAUNDRY, KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, SHOWER, YOU'RE JUST USING THE RESTROOM, WASHING YOUR HANDS.
THEY USUALLY ALLOW ABOUT FIVE GALLONS A PERSON FOR EVERY FOUR HOURS OF SHIFT WORK.
UH, SO YOU COULD HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES PULLING OFF A WELL WATER JUST FOR USING RESTROOMS. THE OTHER THING TOO IS WHEN YOU DO ON SITE, WHEN YOU PULL WATER OUTTA THE GROUND AND YOU PUT IT BACK IN A SEPTIC SYSTEM, A LITTLE PERCENTAGE OF THAT WATER GOES BACK INTO THE AQUIFER TO WHEREAS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, UH, WOULD BE, UH, LIKE YOU HAD MENTIONED, A DATA CENTER WHERE YOU PULL WATER OUTTA THE GROUND AND IT GOES TO SOMETHING WHERE IT'S EVAPORATED IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
BUT, UM, SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING SOME KIND OF REGULATION ON EXTREMELY HIGH VOLUME WELLS.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS TOO, THAT I KNOW FROM THE SEPTIC SIDE, BUT WE DON'T SEE TOO MUCH ON THE WELL SIDE, EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS UNDER THE SAME REGULATION.
ANYTHING OVER A THOUSAND GALLONS A DAY IN SEPTIC OH, HAS TO GO TO RICHMOND, HAS TO GO THROUGH DEQ.
SO I'M ASSUMING THE WELLS ARE THE SAME WAY.
BUT, OH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS ON COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL WELLS OR, OR WELLS OVER A CERTAIN GALLONS OF USAGE.
'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A CODE IN THERE, BUT WE JUST FOR RESIDENT, WE DON'T SEE, YOU DON'T SEE MANY OF 'EM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A VERY COMMON THING.
UM, I KNOW ABOUT THE SEPTICS 'CAUSE I DID, UH, A FEW EVENT CENTERS, UH, BID IT ON A CHURCH, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IT WASN'T, UH, WASN'T THAT THEY WERE GONNA USE THAT WATER EVERY DAY.
SO, UH, BUT ANYTIME IT BREAKS A THOUSAND GALLONS A DAY, IT'S NO LONGER RESIDENTIAL.
IT'S COMMERCIAL LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN'T REVIEW IT.
BIG PACKET ENGINEER, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ENGINEERED, REQUIRES TREATMENT.
DEQ RICHMOND, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE, WHOLE SHOOTING MATCH.
SO I WOULD, UH, BEFORE MOVING FORWARD, UM, I DO HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT WAYS SOME OF THAT'S, UH, WRITTEN AND HOW IT COULD IMPACT SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
UH, SO I I, BEFORE WE'D MOVE FORWARD, I, I'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME REAL SERIOUS STUDY ON THAT.
I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, DEFINITIONS ARE KEY IN THE ORDINANCE.
SO THERE'S A DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A DEFINITION FOR WHAT INDUSTRIAL CONSUMPTION IS NOT SIMPLY BEING IN AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE ALL FAIR COMMENTS.
QUESTION, HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MCKAY SPRINGS? I HAVE NO IDEA.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA BEFORE WE PASS IT.
IF, IF MCKAY SPRINGS, IF, IF AN INDUSTRIAL OPERATION SET UP TO DRILL A WELL THERE, THEN IT WOULD AFFECT THEM.
[01:45:02]
SO OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HOW DOES IT AFFECT MCKAY SPRINGS? WELL, WE ALL KNOW THE TOWN HAS THAT, AND THAT'S A, A FUTURE WATER SOURCE IF NEEDED.IT DOESN'T, IT, THIS DOESN'T PROHIBIT ANYTHING OTHER THAN INDUSTRIAL SCALE, INDUSTRIAL OPERATION.
A PUMPING STATION THERE IS THAT GONNA FALL? THAT WOULD DEFINITION OF INDUSTRIAL WOULD BE A MUNICIPAL USE.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE CLEAR IN THIS.
WELL, THE, IT'S MADE, IT'S MADE CLEAR BY DEFINITION IN THE ORDINANCE.
AND IF ANY, TO ANY EXTENT THAT THE DEFINITIONS ARE INADEQUATE OR, UH, UH, NOT OKAY FLESHED ENOUGH, THEN THEY, THEN THOSE DEFINITIONS NEED TO BE EDITED IN MADE.
SO IT'S A MUNICIPAL WATER SOURCE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S OWNED BY THE TOWN.
AND IF THEY'VE COME TO A POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO USE THAT FOR THE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR, HOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE WELL DEFINED.
IS IT THAT THEY CANNOT USE IT FOR THE INDUSTRY OUT THERE? THE, THE ORDINANCE IS INTENDED TO NOT ALLOW GROUNDWATER TO BE USED FOR HEAVY INDUSTRY.
AND I, I WANNA PROTECT THE WATER.
I'VE BEEN ON, WELL, MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I'VE NEVER, UM, BEEN ON MUNICIPAL WATER.
UM, AND LIVING ON THE RIVER RIGHT NOW, IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER ANKLE DEEP.
I SEE IT DROP EVERY DAY A LITTLE OVER WHAT ANKLE DEEP? WHAT ANKLE? UM, SOME DUCK HUNTERS WERE OUT THERE YESTERDAY AND PROBABLY REALLY DIDN'T NEED THE WAITERS THEY HAD ON, UM, NEEDY BOOTS WOULD'VE BEEN FINE.
BUT, SO I AM DEFINITELY ONE TO CONSIDER.
BUT I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THE, UM, INFORMATION ON THE GEORGIA DATA CENTER, WHICH I AM TOTALLY AGAINST DATA CENTER.
BUT IN FAIRNESS, I, I DID READ THAT ARTICLE AND YES, THE WELLS HAD AN ISSUE, BUT THAT DATA CENTER DIDN'T DIG ANY WELLS.
SO IT WASN'T FROM DIGGING WELLS.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FROM THE CONSTRUCTION, THE, THE EARTH MOVEMENT, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT THEIR WELLS WERE NOT, UM, DAMAGED BECAUSE OF INDUSTRIAL WELL USE THERE.
SO THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED ON THAT ONE.
'CAUSE I DID READ THE ARTICLE ON THAT.
AND, UM, AND AS FAR AS DROUGHT HERE, I'VE, WE GOT A LOT OF RAIN IN JUNE AND JULY, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE COME OUT OF THAT DROUGHT DECLARATION BECAUSE IT ALL RAN OFF.
IT CAME SO HARD AND FAST, IT DIDN'T SOAK IN.
UM, WE HAD TO DO SOME ROAD FIXING.
AND, UM, MY HUSBAND DUG DOWN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR FEET TO DIG A DITCH SO THAT IT WOULDN'T WASH THE ROAD OUT AGAIN.
AND IT WAS POWDER DRY, AND THAT WAS AFTER ALMOST 20 INCHES OF RAIN IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.
SO I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO BE DOING AT LEAST SOME VOLUNTARY WATER RESTRICTIONS, BUT WE GO BY DEQ REGULATIONS AND THEY MONITOR, AND THE TOWN HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ADHERING TO THEIR, UM, ADVICE ON VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY WATER.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
I'M, I'M JUST A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT, BUT, UM, I'M, I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT, THAT IT IS GOT SOME ISSUES IN IT THAT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THERE'S POTENTIAL TO, TO WORK ON THIS, UM, TIGHTEN UP DEFINITIONS, POTENTIALLY LOOSEN UP THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND OF COURSE, MUNICIPAL NEEDS TO BE DEFINED AS YOU MENTIONED.
UM, BUT I THINK THE, UH, AND MAYBE THERE WERE LITTLE, UH, LITTLE THINGS THAT, THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, PICKED APART.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DATA CENTER WAS IN GEORGIA OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF DROUGHTS.
BUT I, I THINK THE OVERALL NEED FOR THIS IS, IS, UH, SOMEWHAT COMPELLING.
UM, AND, UH, YEAH, I'M ON WELL WATER.
UH, I'VE BEEN BLESSED THAT OUR WELL HAS BEEN GOOD THE WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.
BUT, UH, I, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE'S WHO, WHOSE HAVE GONE, UH, DRY AND THEY'VE HAD TO DIG A DEEPER, WELL, EVEN DURING OUR RECENT DROUGHT ACTIVITY TO SAY NOTHING OF, OF PUTTING NEW STRESSES ON THE AQUIFERS.
UM, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UH, THE CARS THROUGH THE LIMESTONE TOPOGRAPHY IN CERTAIN PLACES AND THE, UH, SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CERTAIN AREAS TO SINK HOLES WHEN THE WATER TABLE GOES DOWN.
UM, UH, THAT, THAT IS NATURE'S WAY, BUT I PREFER WE DON'T ACCELERATE IT.
UM, SO I, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS, UH, MAYBE
[01:50:02]
GO THROUGH SOME FINE TUNING, BUT, UH, UH, DEFINITELY I THINK THE NEED IS IMPORTANT, UM, AND TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S SENSITIVE TO EXISTING BUSINESS OWNERS.UH, I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. HENRY SAID.
IF YOU'VE GOT A SMALL INDUSTRIAL SHOP THAT BASICALLY IS USING THE WATER FOR TOILETS ONLY, THEY MIGHT NEED, YOU KNOW, AN EASIER EXEMPTION PROCESS AND NOT HAVE TO DO A HYDROLOGICAL STUDY.
UM, I'M, I'M ALSO WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, UM, IF SOMEONE GETS THE EXEMPTION, DOES THAT STAY WITH THE, THE BUSINESS OR DOES THAT STAY ON THE PROPERTY? I'M ASSUMING IT WOULD STAY WITH THE BUSINESS, UH, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, IF THEY, THEY FOLD OR GO BANKRUPT AND SOMEONE ELSE ENDS UP IN THAT BUILDING, UH, A COUPLE YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE TO REJUSTIFY WHAT THEY WANT.
UM, OR, OR WOULD THAT JUST BE THE GRANDFATHERING WOULD BE GONE AT THAT POINT? I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.
I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION, UH, FROM A PLAN AND EXPERIENCE THAT, UH, I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE IDEA THAT AT SOME POINT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO GO IN THE WATER BUSINESS.
UM, OTHER COUNTIES HAVE, UH, UM, HAVE, YOU KNOW, UTILIZED THOSE OLD QUARRIES AND STUFF FOR RESERVOIRS.
UM, MCKAY SPRING WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION.
UM, ACTUALLY DURING MY DOOR KNOCK CAMPAIGN, I MET A, A MANAGER FROM, UH, FREDERICK COUNTY THAT DOES WATER SYSTEM.
AND WE WERE HAVING, UH, HE WAS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
UH, HE WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE.
I ASKED HIM IF WE EVER GOT INTO IT, WE'D BE A CONSULTANT IF, UH, EVER GOT THAT FOR YOU.
TOLD ME I COULD CALL AND ASKED HIM QUESTIONS.
BUT THE, UH, ONCE THE TOWN REACHES ITS HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AT SOME POINT, UH, THE RIVER IS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED TO ME, UH, NOT BY THAT GUY, BUT UH, ANOTHER GENTLEMAN THAT I MET IS THERE'S ALWAYS THE POTENTIAL THAT THE RIVER COULD BE CONTAMINATED.
YOU KNOW, A RAIL CAR FROM A TRAIN DUMP SOME WEIRD CHEMICAL IN THE RIVER, AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE RUINED FOR A YEAR.
SO, UH, AT SOME POINT THE COUNTY OUGHT TO DO SOME REDUNDANCY.
TYPICALLY, UH, TALKING TO THIS GUY SOMETIMES IS HARD WATER.
AND HE INDICATED TO, UH, IT'S VERY HARD ON A COMMERCIAL LEVEL TO TREAT HARDNESS AND WATER.
HE SAID THE BEST WAY IS TO DILUTE IT WITH SOME WATER THAT'S NOT SO HARD.
SO MAYBE AT SOME POINT, MAYBE PART OF MCKAY SPRING, MAYBE IT'S NOT HARD.
AND, AND IT'S A CHANCE TO, TO, HE SAID, YOU GOTTA TEST.
HE SAID, EVERY QUARRY, EVERY LIMESTONE VEIN IS, IS DIFFERENT.
BUT OH, MAYBE YOU TEST THE WATER AT THE QUARRIES AND THEY GOT THREE, FOUR DIFFERENT PITS OUT THERE THAT THEY'RE ABANDONED.
AND, AND THE WATER MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN EVERY ONE, BUT, OH, I JUST KNOW WHEN THE TOWN FINALLY, UH, MAXES OUT AT THEIR, UH, HIGH DEVELOPMENT STATUS, STATUS OR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL ZONES WILL BE HELD HOSTAGE.
'CAUSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO GET THE WATER FROM THE TOWN.
AND THEN IF WE, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN EITHER PARTNER OR DO SOMETHING ON OUR OWN.
AND EVEN IF IT'S JUST A REDUNDANT SOURCE, SO WHEN THE, THE WATER IS LOW IN THE RIVER, YOU KNOW, THEN MAYBE WE CAN USE SOME QUARRY WATER TO OFFSET, OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN SUPPLY AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE TOWN RUNNING OUTTA WATER.
AND THEN IF ONE SYSTEM'S IN, IN JEOPARDY OR, OR IN STRAIN, YOU KNOW, HAVING, HAVING TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER SOURCES, UH, WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT BETTER.
AND I, I'VE, UH, TRIED TO GET IT INTO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAST TIME WE WERE ON A PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT, UH, MAYBE IT'S, YOU KNOW, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR NOT.
AND IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AS WATER.
I, I DO THINK IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT, THAT WE JUST PASSED, UH, SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO, WE, WE DID LOOK AT, UM, I THINK WE ADDED IN LOOKING INTO QUARRY WATER, UH, UH, BASICALLY JUST A PROPOSAL THAT IT, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
UM, IT'S A SMALL, I WANTED SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
DOUG AND I GOT SOMETHING ABOUT YOU AND ME, BOTH
UM, BUT I, I REMEMBER WHEN, UH, TOM ESELMAN WAS, WAS PROMOTING THE CORY IDEA DURING THE MERRILL CAMPAIGN, AND, AND HE HAD SOME RESEARCH BEHIND IT, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT EVENTUALLY THAT IS GROUNDWATER THAT CAME UP.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU USE IT, OR YOU'RE GOING TO AGAIN, BE DRAINING ANOTHER WATER SOURCE THAT'S FEEDING THAT.
AND I YOU'RE, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
I I THINK PART OF THE IDEA MIGHT BE, UH, NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE GROUNDWATER THAT COMES UP, BUT YOU CAN SORT OF TOP IT UP DURING TIMES OF PLENTY MM-HMM
TO HAVE A RESERVE FOR SCAR SCARCITY TIMES.
SO NO, WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, UH, STORAGE AS A BUFFER IS, IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE BEING CONSIDERED.
IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT IN AN EITHER THIS OR THAT KIND OF MODE.
AND, AND, UH, SO MORE THAN A, A SOURCE OF WATER, THE QUARRY'S A MORE OF A BUFFER OF WATER, WHICH CAN BIG STORAGE.
[01:55:01]
BIG HOLE.THE RAILROAD RUNS RIGHT ALONG, UM, THE RIVER.
I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET TO SEE IT VERY MUCH.
THE TREES ARE, BUT, BUT IT RUNS RIGHT ALONG THE RIVER.
SO IF THEY WERE TO DERAIL WITH ANYTHING CAUSTIC ABOVE THAT WATER INTAKE, UM, THE TOWN COULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.
AND THAT, THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN WEST VIRGINIA, I THINK NOT THAT LONG AFTER EAST PALESTINE, EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT DERAILMENTS AND ONE HAPPENED.
IT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE NEW RIVER.
I'M NOT SURE WHICH RIVER IT WAS.
UH, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A REAL THREAT AS WELL.
I WANT TO, UH, REVISIT, UH, THE QUESTION YOU ASKED ABOUT MCKAY SPRINGS, BECAUSE IT, IT, THERE ACTUALLY IS NOT AN NO INTENTION NOR ABILITY, UH, TO AFFECT ANY EXISTING, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE WAY THIS I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER WAS THAT WHETHER IT'S INDUSTRIAL, WHETHER IT'S, UH, THE TOWN, ANYBODY WHO ALREADY HAS RIGHTS, DOESN'T HAVE IT, DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING AFFECTED ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS.
WELL, BUT IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T MAKE THINGS VERY, UM, EXPLICIT AND UNDERSTANDABLE, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE ROAD IS IT COULD BE, OH, THAT'S NOT, NOPE, WE DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT WAY.
AND I, I JUST WOULD RATHER HAVE IT VERY CLEAR CUT AND UNDERSTOOD INSTEAD OF DANCING AROUND IT AND THEN LATER SAYING, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEANT AND HAVE ISSUES.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
I DON'T THINK ANY ORDINANCE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE ANY KIND OF VAGUENESS TO IT.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TOO THAT THIS, THE FEEDBACK, UH, THAT SUPERVISORS HAVE ABOUT THIS GETS, UH, DOCUMENTED AND STARTS FUNNELING IN SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE THINGS.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ADJOURNMENT.