* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] OKAY. GOOD EVENING [A. Work Session ] EVERYONE. IF YOU WOULD, UM, TAKE A SEAT. THE FIRST PART OF OUR MEETING TODAY IS GOING TO BE A WORK SESSION ON, UH, SOME OF THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES, UH, PRESENTING THEIR BUDGET. AND THEN OUR REGULAR MEETING WILL START AT SIX O'CLOCK. YOU'RE WELCOME TO BE HERE AND LISTEN AND LEARN AS WE ARE. SO, UM, I'LL CALL THE WORK SESSION TO ORDER. AND FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS FRIENDS OF THE CHANDEL RIVER, AND I GAVE YOU THE HANDOUT, UM, ON YOUR SEATS HERE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KAREN ANDERSON, AND I'M THE LABORATORY AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE SUPPORT THAT IS BEING REQUESTED. THE FRIENDS OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER IS A NONPROFIT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND STEWARDING THE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS OF THE SHENANDOAH AND POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHEDS. OUR WORK SUPPORTS CLEAN WATER, RESILIENT ECO ECOSYSTEMS, PUBLIC RECREATION, AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE REGION'S NATURAL AND HISTORIC HERITAGE, SORRY. F WAS R JOINED TOGETHER PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIFIC STAFF WITH TRAINED VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. WE COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND OPENLY SHARE RELIABLE HIGH QUALITY DATA THROUGH PUBLIC PLATFORMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EQUIP EQUIPPING RESIDENTS, LOCAL LEADERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES AND DECISION MAKERS WITH THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO ADVANCE INFORMED SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP. CORNERSTONE OF F OS R'S WORK IS TRANSLATING SCIENTIFIC DATA TO TIMELY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION THAT THE PUBLIC CAN USE TO MAKE PUBLIC, UH, TO MAKE HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING DECISIONS IN RESPONSE TO GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT PATHOGEN EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED E COLI BACTERIA LEVELS IN THE SHENANDOAH RIVER. FOSR LAUNCHED, ITS NO, BEFORE YOU GO SUMMER, WEEKLY E COLI TESTING PROGRAM IN 2018. THE PROGRAM OPERATES ANNUALLY FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER AT 15 TO 20 PUBLIC RECREATIONAL SITES ALONG THE MAIN STEM NORTH FORK, SOUTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER SPANNING FOUR COUNTIES, CLARK PAGE, WARREN AND SHENANDOAH. WEEKLY WATER SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED IN F FOS R'S DEQ ACCREDITED LEVEL THREE LABORATORY, ENSURING REGULATORY AND SCIENTIFIC DEFENSIBLE DATA RESULTS ARE PUBLICLY REPORTED WITHIN 24 HOURS THROUGH FS R'S WEBSITE AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SUCH AS FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, PROVIDING TIMELY INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO MAKE INFORMED RECREATION DE DECISIONS. DATA ARE ALSO SUBMITTED ANNUALLY TO GEQ INCLUSION IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S, SORRY, TOO MANY PAPERCLIPS, , COMMONWEALTH'S INTEGRATED WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT REPORT THAT EVENTUALLY GOES TO THE EPA. THIS PROGRAM PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH. ELEVATED E COLI LEVELS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED, INCREASED RISK RISKS OF GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESS, SKIN INFECTIONS, PINK EYE AIR INFECTION, AND OTHER MORE SEVERE ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES. FOLLOWING THE 2019 REVISION OF VIRGINIA'S WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, WHICH ELIMINATED THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF ELEVATED E COLI LEVELS IN FRESH WATER STREAMS, FOSR STEPPED UP AND HAS BECOME THE SOLE CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE SOURCE OF THIS INFORMATION FOR MANY SHENANDOAH VALLEY COMMUNITIES. NOW, ONCE AGAIN, WITH THE RECENT RAW SEWAGE SPILL INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER, HAS BROUGHT AWARENESS AND CONCERN OF PEN POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO PATHOGENS AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS WHEN RECREATING OR EVEN COMING IN CONTACT [00:05:01] WITH OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS TODAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A RESIDENT THAT WAS PLANNING A TRIP IN LERAY. I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT WARREN COUNTY, BUT IT'S, AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RAW SEWAGE SPILL AND THAT IT MIGHT AFFECT WHERE THEY WERE GOING ON THE SOUTH FORK. SO NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT THE FLOW OF THE WATER IS AND HOW THEY CAN BE OR NOT BE EXPOSED. I FIND IT, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY ALWAYS INTERESTING ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FUNDS AWARDED BY THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT FOOR NO, BEFORE YOU GO SUMMER, WEEKLY E COLI TESTING PROGRAM AT THE FIVE ESTABLISHED MONITORING SITES HERE IN WARREN COUNTY. THIS FUNDING WILL HELP OFFSET COST OF WEEKLY, WEEKLY SAMPLE COLLECTION, LABORATORY ANALYSIS, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND QUALITY CONTROL DATA MANAGEMENT, AND TIMELY PUBLIC REPORTING OF THE RESULTS. THIS SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING CONSISTENT, RELIABLE SCIENCE-BASED WATER QUALITY MONITORING THROUGHOUT THE PEAK SUMMER RECREATION SEASON. WITHOUT ADEQUATE FUNDING, FSR WOULD BE FORCED TO REDUCE FREQUENCY OF TESTING, LIMITING PUBLIC ACCESS TO CRITICAL WATER QUALITY INFORMATION, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF UNRECOGNIZED EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL PATHOGENS CAN CONTINUED SUPPORT, ENSURES THAT RESIDENTS AND VI VISITORS CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT PROTECT HEALTH WHILE ENJOYING VALUED COMMUNITY RESOURCE. AS WAS MENTIONED, I GAVE YOU ALL SOME HANDOUTS RELATED TO, UM, THE MONITORING THAT WE'VE DONE. THIS HANDOUT SHOWS ALL OF THE, UH, SITES MONITORED DURING THE 2025 SEASON, AND THE RESULTS FOR EACH ONE, ALL OF THE SITES THAT START WITH FW ARE THE ONES LOCATED IN WARREN COUNTY. ONE OF THESE SITES IS ON THE MAIN STEM, AND THEN THE REST ARE ALL ON THE SOUTH FORK WITH ONE BEING ON MANASSAS RUN NEXT IN YOUR HANDOUT. I PLOTTED, UH, THE RESULTS IN GRAPH FORM FOR THIS, UH, FOR WARREN COUNTY'S, UH, RESULTS FOR 2025. I INCLUDED IN THIS GRAPH A DOTTED RED LINE THAT SHOWS THAT THE WATER QUALITY STANDARD OF 2 35 E COLI, UH, COLONY FORMING UNITS PER A HUNDRED MIL OF SAMPLE. AND THIS SHOWS THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT SOME OF THE SITES EXCEEDED THIS NUMBER AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES MANY OF THE SITES WERE BELOW THIS NUMBER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE, UH, FRANCIS GENOR RIVER IN ASSOCI IN COOPERATION WITH THE DOWNSTREAM PROJECT IS WE HAVE DEVELOPED QR CODES THAT UPDATE EVERY SINGLE WEEK WITH THE WATER QUALITY DATA. AND WE PROPOSE IF WARREN COUNTY IS AGREEABLE, THIS IS JUST A DRAFT SIGN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DRAFTED IN SUGGESTION, UM, BE POSTED AT ALL FIVE MONITORING SITES THAT WE DO OUR WATER QUALITY MONITORING AT. THE PERSON CAN USE THEIR PHONE TO USE THE QR CODE. THIS THE NEXT PAGE, WHICH I CANNOT TURN FOR SOME REASON, WHICH SHOW THE RESULT THAT THEY WOULD GET THIS WOULD BE UPDATED EACH WEEK. SO FOR SEPTEMBER, UM, 18TH IT WAS OVER 2,400. THEY CAN ALSO CLICK AND GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND THEY WOULD GET THE, UH, A MAP OF WHAT THE LOCATION ON, WITH THE LOCATION MARKED AND THEY GRAPH OF ALL OF THE, UH, THAT SITE'S DATA. I INCLUDED ONE MORE EXAMPLE JUST FOR YOUR EDIFICATION, AND THEN AGAIN, THIS IS FW 14. THIS IS THE FRONT ROYAL, UH, BOAT LANDING OFF OF LORE AVENUE. THEY WOULD GET THE COLI RESULT THE MOST CURRENT, AND IF THEY CLICKED ONE MORE TIME, THEY WERE TO AGAIN, GET A MAP WITH ALL WITH A AND THEN INCLUDING A GRAPH. ALL OF ALL THE DATA TO DATE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I ONCE A WEEK. ONCE A WEEK. ONCE A WEEK. MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER? YES, SIR. SO SO IF THEY CAME ALONG RIGHT AFTER YOU SAMPLE. [00:10:01] OKAY. SO, SO THERE'S A SAMPLING DATE AND THEN THEY WOULD SCAN IT AND THEN AS THAT, AS THAT, AS THE WEEK GOES BY, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT WOULD BE HAPPENING. BUT THEN YOU REFRESH IT A WEEK. CORRECT. OKAY. CORRECT. OKAY. THE, THE INFORMATION, IF IT'S ABOVE THE 2 35 WOULD BE RED. IF IT'S WITHIN 24 40, I'M SORRY, 48 HOURS AFTER THE TESTING, THE DATA POINT WOULD BECOME YELLOW. OKAY. INDICATING THAT IT'S NOT CURRENT. GOTCHA. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS A FEW DAYS AGO. AND, AND THEN IF IT'S GREEN BELOW THE 2, 3, 5, IT WOULD BE GREEN AND THEN 48 HOURS LATER IT WOULD BECOME YELLOW INDICATING AGAIN THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THAT 24 HOUR THRESHOLD AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL COME BACK AND CHECK . RIGHT, RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE OTHER BOARD? NO, THANK YOU AGAIN. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. AND NEXT, UM, BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES. GOOD EVENING. I'M JENNIFER LOCKE AND I'M THE MANAGING ATTORNEY OF THE WINCHESTER OFFICE OF BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WE DO, BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES IS A NONPROFIT AND WE PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES IN, I'M SORRY, IN CERTAIN CIVIL MATTERS TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY AREA. AND OUR MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED IN HARRISONBURG, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OFFICES IN WINCHESTER, LEXINGTON, AND ROANOKE. AND OUR WINCHESTER OFFICE IS THE OFFICE THAT SERVICES, UM, WARREN COUNTY AS WELL AS CLARK COUNTY, FREDERICK COUNTY, THE CITY OF WINCHESTER AND SHENANDOAH COUNTY. UM, AND IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME FOR A BIT, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A, A MOMENT NOW TO ENVISION AN OLDER WOMAN, MAYBE A SENIOR CITIZEN, A MOTHER, A GRANDMOTHER, A NEIGHBOR, MAYBE SHE LIVES ALONE. HER TRUSTY CAR THAT SHE HAS HAD FOR MANY YEARS IS NO LONGER SO TRUSTY AND SHE'S LOOKING TO PURCHASE A USED ONE. SHE'S ON HER COMPUTER ONE DAY AND SHE SEES ONE THAT SHE'S INTERESTED IN BEING SOLD THROUGH AN ONLINE DEALERSHIP. SHE'S ON A FIXED INCOME, BUT SHE'S MANAGED TO SAVE UP SOME MONEY UP IN, AT JUST OVER $5,500. IT'S IN HER PRICE RANGE. THE DOCUMENTS THAT SHE REVIEWED INDICATES THAT IT HAS PASSED IN INSPECTION. SO SHE GOES THROUGH WITH THE PURCHASE WHEN THE CAR IS DELIVERED. IT LOOKS LIKE SHE EXPECTS, BUT BEING A SAVVY WOMAN, SHE DECIDES THAT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, SHE WILL BRING IT TO A SERVICE STATION TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WHEN SHE DOES, SHE'S HORRIFIED TO HEAR THAT IT FAILED INSPECTION AS THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH. AND AS A RESULT, IT WAS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. SHE TAKES IT TO YET ANOTHER SERVICE STATION WITH OF COURSE THE SAME RESULT. SHE'S PANICKING NOW, ALTHOUGH SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T TRAVEL A LOT, SHE NEEDS THIS CAR TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND TO HER VARIOUS MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. SHE CONTACTS THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORMS THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REFUND HER MONEY. SHE CONTACTS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, BUT THEY CAN'T HELP HER. SO ONE OF HER FRIENDS THEN SUGGESTS THAT SHE CONTACTS BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES AND SHE'S RELIEVED TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WILL DO SOMETHING AND EVEN BETTER, THEY WON'T CHARGE HER FOR THEIR SERVICES. THE ATTORNEY ASSIGNED TO HER CASE IMMEDIATELY SENDS A LETTER TO THE DEALERSHIP, REVOKING HER ACCEPTANCE OF THE CAR, AND DEMANDING THE RETURN OF ALL THE MONEY THAT SHE PAID. AND WHEN THE LETTER IS IGNORED, THE ATTORNEY FILES A COMPLAINT IN CIRCUIT COURT ALLEGING VARIOUS CAUSES OF ACTION AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS THEN FORCED TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE BLUE RIDGE ATTORNEY IS ULTIMATELY ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A FAVORABLE SETTLEMENT WHEREIN THE CLIENT IS IMMEDIATELY REFUNDED HER MONIES AND RECEIVES ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR THE DAMAGES SHE HAS SUSTAINED. DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR THROUGH OUR OFFICE IN WINCHESTER BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES CLOSED 61 [00:15:01] CASES FOR WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS, MANY OF WHOM WERE VULNERABLE AND FACING EMERGENCIES AND IN DIRE NEED OF ASSISTANCE WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN JUST LIKE THAT CLIENT. AND THAT'S, UM, UP FROM LAST YEAR CHECKED OUR RECORDS AND IT WAS 49 CASES LAST YEAR UP TO 61 THIS YEAR. UH, THROUGH OUR SERVICES, WE WERE ABLE TO RECCO COVER OVER 4,000 IN LUMP SUM BENEFITS FOR OUR CLIENTS AND JUST SHY OF 2000 IN MONTHLY BENEFITS WHILE AVOIDING OVER $25,000 IN LIABILITIES BENEFITING A TOTAL OF 123 WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS. THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED INCLUDED ANYTHING FROM PROVIDING COUNSEL AND ADVICE TO MORE EXTENSIVE REPRESENTATION IN COURT OR PERHAPS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. IN THE CASES WE HANDLED, COVERED A BROAD RANGE OF AREAS, HOUSING, PUBLIC BENEFITS, CONSUMER RELATED ISSUES, FAMILY LAW RELATED ISSUES, INCLUDING ASSISTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DRAFTING WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN OUR SERVICE AREA. SINCE THE EARLY 1990S, BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES HAS REQUESTED FUNDING FROM THE LOCALITIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA BASED ON A, A SIMPLE FUNDING FORMULA OF A DOLLAR PER PERSON UNDER THE POVERTY THRESHOLD WITHIN THAT LOCALITY BASED ON THE, ON THE LATEST CENSUS DATA. AND AT THE TIME WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS FORMULA, AGAIN BACK IN THE EARLY NINETIES, UH, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR OUR SERVICES, YOUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME HAD TO FALL UNDER 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE. IN THE INTERVENING 36 YEARS, WE'VE SINCE EXPANDED OUR ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINE IN THE POPULATION WE SERVE. SO NOW THE RESIDENTS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOMES BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE ARE NOW, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR OUR SERVICES. SO LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE ADOPTED THAT MODIFIED VERSION OF OUR FUNDING FORMULA, THUS LEADING TO OUR REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FROM PREVIOUS APPROVED AMOUNTS. SO BLUE RIDGE'S LONG-TERM FUNDING STRATEGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN BROAD BASED AND PRETTY BALANCED SO THAT NO SINGLE FUNDING SOURCE IS ASKED TO CARRY MORE THAN A SHARE OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN. UH, WE SEEK AND WE RECEIVE FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND ALSO THROUGH GRANTS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS, UNITED WAYS. AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S LONG BEEN OUR BELIEF THAT IF EVERY LOCALITY IN OUR SERVICE AREA WOULD CONTRIBUTE JUST A DOLLAR FOR EVERY LOW INCOME PERSON LIVING IN IT. ACCORDING TO THE, UM, MOST RECENT CENSUS CENSUS DATA, WHICH CAME OUT IN 2021, THIS VERY MODEST CONTRIBUTION WOULD HELP US CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO BASED ON THIS FORMULA, BLUE RIDGE IS SEEKING AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF $10,364 FROM WARREN COUNTY, AND THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO HELP DEFRAY OUR COST IN PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY. BELIEVE 80% OF OUR FUNDING GOES DIRECTLY TO PAY THE SALARIES OF OUR ATTORNEYS AND SUPPORT STAFF. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS IN YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR REQUEST, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. QUESTIONS. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU. YOU, THANK YOU FOR HEARING FROM ME TONIGHT. THANK YOU. AND NEXT UP IS BLUE RIDGE OPPORTUNITIES . I THINK WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK TO BACK FOR YEARS. UM, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATHY AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLUE RIDGE OPPORTUNITIES, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE SOME NEW FACES AND SOME OLD FACES. AND, UH, HAPPY TO KIND OF BRING YOU GUYS UP TO SPEED TO WHERE WE, WE ARE AT. UM, I SUBMITTED A COPIOUS QUANTITY OF INFORMATION FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK OUT, LOOK AT, UM, WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF. UM, BUT WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING OVER THE LAST, UH, 18 MONTHS, UM, OR SO HERE IN THE COUNTY. UH, WE ARE, FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH BLUE RIDGE OPPORTUNITIES, WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES HERE. UM, SO WE ARE A MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY PROGRAM FROM EIGHT TO FOUR. ALL OF OUR FOLKS COME IN AND WE PROVIDE THAT DAY THAT YOU AND I LIKE TO HAVE ALSO. WE GET COFFEE, WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE COME BACK AND WE HAVE LUNCH AND WE LEARN SOME [00:20:01] SKILLS AND, UM, THEN WE HEAD BACK OUT AND GO BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AGAIN. UM, A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS AT BRO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT US. UM, SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HOURS, WHICH IS A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, I WAS CALCULATING TODAY 'CAUSE I JUST WAS CURIOUS. IT'S LIKE WE HAVE A BENCHMARK OF MEETING 85% OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HOURS, WHICH IS 47 PER PERSON, PER MONTH, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE BUNCH OF STATISTICS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT IN LAST YEAR, IN 2025, WE MET 75% OF OUR HOURS. UM, AND THAT IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF 16,920 HOURS THAT OUR FRIENDS WERE ABLE TO BE IN AND ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EITHER VOLUNTEER SERVICES OR EXPLORING MUSEUMS OR, UM, VISITING ALL OF THE COMMERCE AND, UH, STUFF LIKE THAT HERE IN FRONT ROYAL, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH PLAY FAVORITES. WE HAVE A, UM, A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT, UH, IN, IN THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL AREA BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, OUR FRIENDS DON'T DRIVE. SO IT'S EASY FOR US TO GET TO OUR, OUR, UH, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND IN DOWNTOWN. UM, SO WE HAVE FUN AND IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD FOR US AND MY FRIENDS. I'M COME, I'M ONE MONTH SHY OF MY 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH BLUE RIDGE AND HAVE SEEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE, IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE, UM, ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND BRINGING, UH, POSITIVITY AND CREATING INCLUSION WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE THAT 20 YEARS AGO HERE. SO THAT PART IS VERY EXCITING. UM, WE JUST ON JANUARY 5TH OPENED UP OUR SECOND LOCATION BECAUSE WE OUTGREW WATER STREET, AND IF ANYBODY, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO WATER STREET, YOU SHOULD BE AN OLD MOOSE BUILDING. EONS AND EONS AND EONS AGO. UM, I THINK HALF THE COUNTIES DANCED ON THAT FLOOR AT ONE POINT IN TIME OR ANOTHER. AND, UM, WE JUST, THE NEED IS SO GREAT. WE RAN OUT OF SPACE. SO WE OPENED A NEW LOCATION THAT'S GONNA SERVE ABOUT 20, 20, 20 OF OUR FRIENDS RIGHT NOW. I'VE GOT FOUR STAFF THERE, UM, PROBABLY FIVE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. UH, JUSTIN'S JANUARY. WE'VE BROUGHT IN TWO NEW INDIVIDUALS INTO SERVICE. I'VE HIRED A STAFF. UM, I'VE GOT ANOTHER STAFF THAT IS GONNA BE HIRED IN APRIL. UM, AND WE'VE GOT SEVEN PEOPLE THAT WERE JUGGLING ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO BRING IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE, YOU KNOW, STAFF IN ORDER TO GET THERE, KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMMON SENSE. BUT, SO IT, IT, OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF OUR, THE FRIENDS THAT ARE ON THE WAITING LIST BACK INTO, INTO THE PROGRAM. WE DIDN'T SIT STILL LONG. UM, BUILDING A PROGRAM IS NOT THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO THAT BETWEEN LICENSING AND ALL THE REGULATIONS AND, UH, IT'S BEEN A, BEEN A GREAT TIME. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE PIECES. UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE STILL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND DO FOR WARREN COUNTY IS WE, UH, PACKAGE ALL THE CANDY THAT SANTA CLAUS TAKES AROUND CHRISTMAS EVE. THAT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS THAT WE DO. UM, WE DO A LOT OF THAT KIND OF THING FOR THE OTHER AREA NONPROFITS. WE DO SHREDDING FOR OTHER NONPROFITS. UM, WITH ST. LUKE'S AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS, WE ALSO WILL, UH, WE CLEAN FOR HABITAT IN THE CHAMBER AND IT'S LIKE WE, WE TRY TO STAY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED WITH, UM, THE OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE AREA AS, AS WE, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO BE HELPFUL. SO, UM, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BE ONE OF MY, EXCUSE ME, UH, WAS THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY VOLUNTEER AND DO FOR THE COMMUNITY? SO YOU ANSWERED MINE. YEAH, I MEAN, WE JUST WON THE CHAMBERS, UH, NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR ALSO. SO THAT WAS REALLY A SUPER, UH, EXCITING MOMENT. SO YOU MENTIONED, AND I MEAN, MISSED IT, I KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF VOTING WITH THE SECOND LOCATION. WHERE'S THE SECOND LOCATION? IT'S, IT IS IN THE BUSINESS PARK. UM, OKAY. AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO AL BREEDS, UH, WHERE THE THRIFT STORE USED TO BE, RIGHT? THE SPCA THRIFT STORE WAS, WE TOOK OVER THAT SPACE AND BUILT THAT OUT, DUMPED A BUNCH OF MONEY IN IT, AND WE'RE THERE EVERY DAY NOW AND THEN, I KNOW PRIOR TO THAT, AND EVEN NOW, I THINK YOU SAID YOU'VE GOT A WAITING LIST, YOU'VE YES. MORE NEEDS AND THERE ARE MM-HMM . PEOPLE. UM, I MEAN WE CURRENTLY [00:25:01] HAVE TWO. WE JUST TOOK TWO EMERGENCY PLACEMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ABANDONED, WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS AS ADULTS THAT WE'RE KEEPING THEM. AGAIN, LOOKING THROUGH THE MATERIAL AND BEING FAMILIAR WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST, YOU ALSO PROVIDE, I THINK AT ONE POINT DIDN'T THEY USED TO DO SOMETHING FOR DUPONT? WE DID YEARS. RIGHT. COVID KIND OF CHANGED A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT I MEAN, WE'RE STILL GREAT FRIENDS. DUPONT DOES OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE DON'T DO ANY PAID WORK FOR RIGHT. THOSE FOLKS ANYMORE. 'CAUSE THE OTHER THING TOO IS I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, UM, THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE GOT HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDICAID. AND I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT, DOES YOUR, YOUR FUNDING COME FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDS? YES. WE ARE FUNDED PRIMARILY FROM THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE UNDER A MEDICAID WAIVER. SO IT'S MEDICAID, BUT IT'S NOT MEDICAID AS GENERAL MEDICAID. UM, IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC WINDOW OF MEDICAID THAT INDIVIDUALS WAIT YEARS IN ORDER TO GET THAT WAIVER IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SERVICES. BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW SOME OF THE STUFF GOING ON AT THE FED LEVEL OR WHATEVER, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THIS AND THAT. IT'S IFFY. IT'S IFFY. OH, YOU DON'T KNOW. YEAH. BUT YOU'RE KEEPING TABS ON IT OBVIOUSLY. WELL, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, UM, THE STATE OF VIRGINIA HAS ALREADY SECURED MONEY THROUGH THE END OF THIS BIENNIUM, SO WE ARE NOT RISK AT RISK FOR CUTS UNTIL, NOT THIS COMING JULY, BUT THE FOLLOWING JULY, SO. OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? VOLUNTEER HELP? UM, GOOD OPPORTUNITY. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND IT'S BEING TELEVISED, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. ABSOLUTELY. UM, WE LOVE HAVING, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, COME IN AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT A TALENT, WE CERTAINLY CAN, UH, EMBRACE THAT TALENT AND, UH, WE HAVE A PARTY ALL THE TIME. WE PARTY A LOT. SO IF THERE'S A HOLIDAY, WE'RE HAVING A PARTY. SO WE NEED ENTERTAINMENT, WE NEED ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. FOR THAT. IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE A BUDDY AND PLAY A GAME OF UNO WITH ONE OF OUR FRIENDS AND, AND HELP JUST CONVERSE AND JUST BE A BUDDY, UH, YOU KNOW, LET ME KNOW. WE DO THAT QUITE FREQUENTLY. UH, WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY IN NOW THAT IS HANGING OUT FOR A LITTLE, A LITTLE BIT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, LEARN, LEARN OUR FRIENDS. SO WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERISM AND CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. ALL WE, WE PUT COPIOUS QUANTITIES OF PICTURES ON FACEBOOK, AND THAT IS FOR OUR FAMILIES. THEY KIND OF PLAY WHERE'S WALDO, YOU KNOW, ON, UM, OUR FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT GIVES A REALLY GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY AND THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE MAKE IN OTHERS. I THINK TOO, IF YOU WOULD MENTION TO THOSE, UM, THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAREGIVER MM-HMM . TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, GO TO THE DOCTOR AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE WITH YOU AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE WELL TAKEN CARE OF. ABSOLUTELY. UM, CAREGIVER BURNOUT IS A HUGE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. UM, AS I WAS SAYING, WE HAVE TWO EMERGENCY CASES THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD DO IN ORDER TO GET THEM IN WITHIN 48 HOURS, WHICH IS, UH, JUMPING THROUGH A LOT OF HOOPS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. UM, SO THAT THE EMERGENCY CARE PROVIDER THAT THEY'VE ENDED UP WITH CAN GO BACK TO WORK, YOU KNOW, UM, AND DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. UH, THOSE SITUATIONS ARE GENERALLY SAD. WE USUALLY SEE ONE A YEAR IN THE LAST 90 DAYS I'VE SEEN THREE, WHICH IS REALLY KINDA SCARY FOR THIS AREA. BUT, UM, AND THAT COMES TO CAREGIVER BURNOUT. UM, THEY DON'T HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO JUST BREATHE AND TAKE A BREAK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE, WE TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES. SO, UM, HALF OF MY FRIENDS LIVE AT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS AND THE OTHER HALF DO LIVE IN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. UM, SO WE TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO . AND LAST ON OUR LIST, WHICH WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE AHEAD, UM, IS ACCESS INDEPENDENCE. GREAT. HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS LYNN WILEY AND, UM, I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ACCESS INDEPENDENCE. UM, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHARLES HARBAUGH, [00:30:01] COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, SO HE ASKED ME TO COME PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I'M A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY IN THE FORK DISTRICT, . UM, WE ARE, UM, LOCATED IN WINCHESTER CITY AND WE SERVE, UM, OUR CATCHMENT AREA IS PAIGE, UM, WARREN, FREDERICK CLARK, UM, AND SHENANDOAH, UM, AS WELL AS WINCHESTER CITY. UM, WE SEEK FUNDING FROM ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, UM, TO TRY AND SUPPORT, UH, THE INDEPENDENT LIVING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. NOW WE'RE A NONPROFIT. WE ARE, UM, FUNDED PARTIALLY, UH, BY DARS, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. UM, BUT A LOT OF OUR FUNDING, BECAUSE WE SERVE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS, A LOT OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM PRIVATE DONORS AS WELL AS THE COUNTIES THAT, UM, WE SERVE. SO, UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT WARREN, UM, THIS PAST YEAR WE SERVED APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED CLIENTS IN WARREN COUNTY OUT OF, UM, ALMOST 700 IN OUR TOTAL. AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE WANNA INCREASE THE, UM, INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF OUR SERVICES. SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S REALLY, UM, IMPORTANT TO US. WE ALSO MANAGED, UM, ABOUT 11, UM, UH, CLIENTS' MONEY. SO WE ALSO DO THAT, THAT'S A SERVICE WHERE WE MANAGE THEIR MONEY IF, IF NECESSARY. UM, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND, UM, WE'RE PROVIDED TO WARREN COUNTY THIS YEAR, UH, ARE THINGS SUCH AS, UM, RAMP PROJECTS, BUILDING RAMPS FOR INDIVIDUALS, UM, HANDRAILS AND GRAB BARS AND THINGS SUCH AS INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING. UM, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER, UM, THINGS OUR STAFF IS, UM, UH, WELL-EQUIPPED IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER WHO, UM, IS INVOLVED WITH THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S AVAILABLE. UM, ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO, UM, PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FREE OF CHARGE, UM, WHEELCHAIRS, CANES, WALKERS, KNEE SCOOTERS, BEDSIDE COMMODES, AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT. SO, UM, WE, UH, PROVIDE THAT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CALL US UP AND JUST SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, I NEED A WALKER. AND WE WILL HAVE THEM OR THEIR CARETAKER COME IN AND, UM, AND, AND GET ONE. IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS, WHICH I REALLY LIKE. THEY FILL OUT ONE FORM, THEY DON'T HAVE TO FILL OUT, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, FORMS. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY ACCESSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY. UM, ACCESS INDEPENDENCE PROVIDED OVER $45,000 IN ASSISTANCE, UM, TO CLIENTS. AND THAT PARTICULARLY INVOLVES OUR MEDICAL, UM, EQUIPMENT THAT WE LOAN OUT. UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I KNEW HOW WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS HERE ABOUT, UM, AI. WE, UM, WE PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF OUTREACH EVENTS AND ONE OF THEM IS COMING UP THE VALLEY HEALTH COMMUNITY WELLNESS FESTIVAL AT APPLE BLOSSOM MALL. UM, BUT WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH VALLEY HEALTH. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ARC OF WARREN COUNTY. UM, AND WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE WE PROVIDE, UM, PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES, WHICH WE CALL PRE ETS. UM, AND SOME OF, ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS TRANSITIONING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL INTO ADULTHOOD IS GETTING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO WE REALLY, UM, WE REALLY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT ALL OUR, UM, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIGH SCHOOL, LIKE, UM, WE PUT OUR BROCHURES AS WELL IN DOCTOR'S OFFICES FOR CLINICS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THE, UM, THE MAIN, UM, MISSION IS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, UM, AS INDEPENDENTLY AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. AND SO WE, UM, ARE ASKING WARREN COUNTY FOR, UM, A CONTRIBUTION AND WE REALLY, UM, ARE VERY EXCITED AT THE, AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WARREN. UH, A LOT OF TIMES WE WILL, WE WILL HAVE WINCHESTER CITY AND FREDERICK AND, UM, SHENANDOAH, BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO KNOW THAT WE'VE INCREASED OUR WORK HERE IN WARREN. DO YOU [00:35:01] HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? NO. ONLY THING I WOULD SAY, I APPRECIATE IT. WHAT, WHAT YOU DO, AND THAT GOES WITH ALL THE NON-PROFITS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT. UH, YOU ALL PICK UP THE SLACK FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT OR MAY FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND IF IT WASN'T FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DO AND THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, IT PROBABLY WOULD FALL BACK ON SOCIAL SERVICES, WHICH THEN IN EFFECT WOULD COST US EVEN MORE MONEY. RIGHT. SO I DO APPRECIATE THE THINGS YOU DO. YEAH, EXACTLY. THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THESE, UM, THE EQUIPMENT OR THE NECESSARY SERVICES, AND SO WE JUST STEP RIGHT IN THERE AND, AND DO IT. AND WELL, I DON'T, BUT OUR STAFF DOES AND THEY ARE PARTICULARLY WONDERFUL AT IT AND I REALLY AM VERY PROUD TO BE ON THEIR BOARD. DO YOU TAKE DONATIONS? LIKE IF PEOPLE HAVE, WE DO WHEELCHAIRS AND THINGS THAT THEY NO LONGER NEED, THEY CAN DONATE THEM TO YOU? MM-HMM. WE DO. UM, WE, UM, WE DO AND WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE WHERE WE KEEP IT. UM, SO WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE DONATIONS AND CLEAN THE MOP BAND AND GET THEM PREPARED AND READY FOR, FOR INDIVIDUALS. UM, YEAH, WE TAKE, UM, MONEY AS WELL. DOESN'T HURT TO SAY THAT. DONATIONS OF MONEY TOO. WE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, UM, A NICE, UH, A NICE GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO, WHO DONATE REGULARLY, SO IT'S VERY NICE. OKAY. MM-HMM . WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES THE WORK SESSION. SO THE REGULAR MEETING, WE'LL START AT SIX, SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK HERE. OKAY. GOOD. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. OKAY. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. GOOD TO SEE SO MANY FACES HERE IN THE ROOM. AND, UM, SO I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND I'M GONNA SAY, PASTOR ERIC, BECAUSE I AM AFRAID I'M GONNA MESS YOUR LAST NAME UP. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND, UM, START US OFF WITH A PRAYER, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT. WELL, LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE ARE HONORED TO COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR HELP. SURE. SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WE NEED. AND SO I PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD DO WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO. GIVE US THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE, GOD, OUR HEARTS AND OUR SPEECH THAT YOU RECEIVE, HONOR AND GLORY BY THE THINGS THAT WE DO. WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED, UH, FOLKS TO GOVERN OVER US. AND I PRAY, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD DO WHAT YOU DO. AND THAT IS TO GIVE THAT WISDOM. AND I PRAY, FATHER, YOU WOULD GUIDE THIS MEETING AND MAY IT BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT OFFERS HOPE TO, UH, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY. AND I PRAY, FATHER, WE BE HEARD CLEARLY AND THAT WE WOULD GOVERN. WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR LOVING US, FOR YOUR GOODNESS TO US IN THE PAST, WHICH GIVES US HOPE FOR THE GOODNESS YOU'LL SHOW US IN THE FUTURE. WE SURE LOVE YOU, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. THANK YOU. SO CALL THE MEETING TO [C. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America] ORDER IF EVERYONE WILL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE LEGATES TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ADOPTION OF [D. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions] THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? MADAM CHAIR, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMESON AYE. MR. HENRY AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STAN MEYER? AYE. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE EVERYONE AWARE, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 24TH TO CONTINUE OUR BUDGET PROCESS, AND I BELIEVE MR. HENDERSON, WE'RE STARTING AT FIVE. CORRECT. OKAY. SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND SET THROUGH SOME MORE BUDGET PROCESS. UM, AT THIS TIME [E. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit) ] WE WILL GO INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND I JUST WANT TO READ YOU, UM, THE PUBLIC CONDUCT. UM, ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF [00:40:01] SUPERVISORS AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE. BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS. THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE VIEWING OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS. THROUGH A SHOW OF HANDS, THE CHAIRMAN MAY ASK FOR A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR COMMENTS MADE BY SPEAKERS, PLACARDS, POSTERS, AND OTHER MEANS OF VISUAL DISPLAY OF COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. BUT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL IF, UH, PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD. THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS BY ANYONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS. AND ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THESE COULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE. SO, MR. HENDERSON, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE LIST. WHO'S FIRST? UH, FIRST UP WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER PINGLE AND YOU JUST SAY YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRIS PAGLE WITH THE LOCAL FARMERS ASSOCIATION, 35 88. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT. BEFORE I GO INTO THE DETAILS ABOUT AN ISSUE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY WITHOUT A QUESTION, THIS IS THE BEST JOB WORKING IN WARREN COUNTY AS A FIREMAN I'VE EVER HAD. I WORKED FOR SOME OF THE BEST BOSSES, UM, YOU COULD ASK FOR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO OPERATE A PROPER MANPOWER, THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU AS THE BOARD TO SUPPORT MY CHIEF AND WHAT HE'S REQUESTING IS DEEPLY NEEDED. AND I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY. FOR MANY YEARS, UH, THE FIREMAN IN WARREN COUNTY HAS WORKED WITH MINIMAL STAFFING. THEY'VE LEARNED TO ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE. WE STRETCH EVERY PERSON ON A DAILY TO ENSURE THAT WARREN COUNTY'S PROTECTED. THAT'S WHAT WE DO AND WE PUT A LOT OF PRIDE INTO IT. HOWEVER, WE'VE REACHED A POINT THAT SIMPLY MAKING IT WORK'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORE. THIS COUNTY INVESTED A SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES AND MONEY INTO A STAFFING STUDY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT PERSONNEL IS WHAT WE NEED. UH, IT'S NOT FOR, UH, IT'S NOT FOR LUXURY. IT'S NOT AS A LONG-TERM GOAL AS NEEDED. RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE MOMENT WE DECIDE WHETHER, UH, WHETHER WE'RE GONNA BE PROACTIVE OR REACTIVE. UH, HOPE IT'S PROACTIVE IF WE FAIL TO ADDRESS STAFFING. NOW, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF A TRAGEDY IS GONNA OCCUR, IT'S WHEN DELAYING THE RESPONSE TIMES. TIRED CREWS, INSUFFICIENT MANPOWER, CARRY REAL CONSEQUENCES, AND THOSE CONSEQUENCES CAN DEFINITELY CAUSE LIVES. I SINCERELY HOPE IT'S NEVER ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS OR CERTAINLY ONE OF OUR BROTHERS OR SISTERS IN THE BACK OR EVEN ME, BUT HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW. PLEASE. WE NEED THESE POSITIONS WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT. THE DATA SUPPORTS IT, THE CALL VOLUME SUPPORTS IT. THE REALITY ON THE GROUND DEFINITELY SUPPORTS IT. I UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITIES ALL OF YOU CARRY. BUDGETS ARE TIGHT, DECISIONS ARE DIFFICULT. UH, FOR YEARS WE HAVE FOUND WAYS TO DO MORE WITH LESS. NOW WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PRIORITIZE, BE CREATIVE, AND FIND A WAY TO FUND THE NECESSARY POSITIONS THAT WE NEED. THE DIFFERENCE IS WHEN WE LACK MANPOWER AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LIVES ARE AT STAKE TONIGHT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO BE PROACTIVE, GET THE POSITIONS THAT WE NEED. PLEASE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO WARREN COUNTY. NEXT UP IS JOHN JENKINS , JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UH, I, I SOME COMMENTS TONIGHT, MOSTLY IT PERTAINS TO LIKE TAXES. YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN MY TAXES. UH, THE AUDITS AND STUFF ARE BEING DELAYED AND THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA ABOUT POSSIBLY, UH, DISSOLVING THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY, UH, FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE. UH, I, I SORT OF THINK THAT THAT MAYBE SHOULD STAY IN PLACE. UH, MAYBE THAT'S FOR A VOTE, I GUESS LATER ON IN THE, IN THE MEETING. UH, I HAVE IN THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS REVIEWED THESE, UH, PCARD REPORTS IN THEIR, THIS PAST. UH, FOR, FOR THIS MEETING HERE, THERE'S PROBABLY, UH, 15 OR 20 ITEMS THAT I JUST LOOK AT AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT. AND THEN WHEN I COME IN TODAY, I QUESTION SOMEONE ABOUT THE, [00:45:01] UH, THE MONEY FOR PARTIES FOR FOOD. THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY ON THERE FOR FOOD AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE EMPLOYEES DO NOT DESERVE THAT. I'VE JUST QUESTIONED TAXPAYER DOLLARS BUYING AND PAYING FOR IT. UH, YOU KNOW, I PAID MY TAXES. IT'S FOR THE SERVICES. UM, SO I DON'T WANNA GO DOWN THROUGH THIS WHOLE LIST, BUT THE ONE ITEM ON HERE THAT REALLY GOT ME WAS HOT DOGS. $5 AND 43 CENTS. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A, A ONE POUND PACK OF SIX OR EIGHT HOT DOGS OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHY WOULD I BE, WHY WOULD TAXPAYERS WANT TO PAY FOR THAT? UH, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS ON HERE. MAYBE THIS IS FROM PARTS AND REC ABOUT THE NORTH, NORTH POLE LIGHTS AND THEN BUYING GENERATORS TO RUN THE NORTH POLE LIGHTS. SO I'M ASSUMING THEY WERE PLACED SOMEWHERE WHERE THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY. I JUST HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF ISSUES ABOUT IT, AND I DON'T WANNA BOTHER THE, UH, THE, THE PEOPLE DOWN THE HALL TO TRY TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING, BUT I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, UH, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SPENT IN LEGAL FEES WITH A LIBRARY ISSUE, AND THERE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PAYING FOR OUTSIDE HELP TO GET THIS BUDGET, UH, AUDIT COMPLETE. AND THERE'S STILL NO NEWS ABOUT WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETE AND WHY THERE HAS BEEN A DELAY. AND THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY AGGRAVATES ME IS, UH, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WAS PAID TO THE RESIGNING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR BASICALLY SIX MONTHS OF HIS SALARY. UH, THE AVERAGE FAMILY IN WARRENTON COUNTY PROBABLY MAKES 80,002 PEOPLE WORKING. THAT'S WORK TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. HE GETS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO NOTHING FOR SIX MONTHS. SO I GOT, I TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND I LOOK, I SAY, WELL, I GUESS THAT'S PART OF THAT GOLDEN PARACHUTE TYPE THING THAT I TRIED TO READ ABOUT WHEN I TOOK A BUSINESS CLASS. SO THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS IF THIS COMES UP AGAIN, GIVE HIM A GOLDEN PARACHUTE. LET HIM GET ON A PLANE AND TELL HIM JUMP OUT AND SEE IF IT WORKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. JENKINS. NEXT UP IS LOUIS MOTEN. I LIVE LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. UM, I DON'T REALLY HAVE TOO MUCH FOR THIS COMMENT PERIOD OTHER THAN, UM, I HAVE A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO SHED LIGHT ON THINGS. UM, I HAVE NOTICED THAT OUR MINUTES AND AGENDAS ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME AVAILABLE END YEAR OF 2022. SO WHATEVER THE BOARD DID AT THAT TIME TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO US. I, I'VE TALKED TO ZACH AND HE MENTIONED THAT WE USED TO HAVE PAPER AGENDAS AND HE'D HAVE STACKS. I'VE SEEN THEM SCANNED OR LIKE 800 PAGES SOMETIMES. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE COUNTY HAS STARTED BRINGING US INTO THE MODERN AGE, UM, FOIA I GOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FOIA SYSTEM AND IT'S, IT'S GREAT. I CAN ACTUALLY SEARCH FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S FOIAS NOW WITH WHAT THEY HAVE SEARCHED FOR, OR I CAN LINK, I CAN SHOW PEOPLE WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT. SO THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF TRANSPARENCY THAT I'M STARTING TO SEE FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT, UM, I CAN SEE THE PROGRESS THAT OUR COUNTY IS MAKING. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANKS FOR, UH, I, I BELIEVE SOME OF YOU AROUND AT THAT TIME, SOME OF YOU WERE NOT, BUT IT'S STILL, THE COUNTY IS MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY AND I, I, I LOVE THAT FACT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT OF HOW THAT HELPS ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS GEORGE LEWIS. GOOD EVENING. UH, GEORGIA LEWIS FORT DISTRICT. UH, I AM A RETIRED CAREER FIREFIGHTER, UH, WITH OVER 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE BETWEEN VOLUNTEER AND CAREER. AND SO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ESPECIALLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CHESTER GAP. WHEN I CAME HERE FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY AND WENT TO WORK FOR WARREN COUNTY, THE BIGGEST CULTURE SHOCK WAS GOING FROM A FIREHOUSE THAT HAD HAD EIGHT MEMBERS TO A FIREHOUSE THAT HAS TWO. SO WHEN WE RUN A CALL, THAT FIREHOUSE IS EMPTY, AT LEAST IN FAIRFAX WHERE I WAS, IF YOU HAD AN AMBULANCE CALL, YOU STILL HAD SIX PEOPLE BACK TO THE FIREHOUSE TO RUN THE TANKER AND RUN THE AMBULANCE. THERE IS A VERY BAD, [00:50:01] BIG PROBLEM HERE IN WARREN COUNTY WITH MANPOWER. IT'S AGAINST NFPA STANDARDS. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. TYPICALLY IN THE BIGGER DEPARTMENTS, YOU HAVE A WORKING FIRE, YOU GO INSIDE WITH ALL THAT HEAT OVER A HUNDRED POUNDS OF GEAR AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES YOU'RE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY WIPED OUT IN THE BIGGER DEPARTMENTS YOU COME OUT, RELIEF CREW GOES IN, NOT HERE, YOU COME OUT, YOU GET ANOTHER BOTTLE AND YOU GO BACK IN. IT'S VERY UNSAFE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. EVERYONE'S WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT CHESTER GAP. NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE. OKAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SINCE THE FUNDING ENDED STATION ONE HAS BEEN PUT ON AUTOMATIC DISPATCH TO GO INTO CHESTER GAP AND MANY TIMES STATION ONE IS IN CHESTER GAP. BEFORE CHESTER GAP AND PLACES THEM IN SERVICE. CHESTER GAP IS ALREADY GETTING $40,000 A YEAR FOR THEIR AUTO RESPONSE INTO WARREN COUNTY. PLUS THEY'RE ALSO GETTING MONEY FROM RAPPA COUNTY. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DOUBLE DIP LIKE THAT AND GET MONEY FROM BOTH COUNTIES. WHERE MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT WOULD BE IN WARREN COUNTY TO INCREASE THE OVERALL MANPOWER IN WARREN COUNTY. YOU CAN INCREASE MONEY TO CHESTER GAP, WHICH IS GONNA HELP THAT SMALL POCKET, OR YOU CAN HELP THE ENTIRE COUNTY BY INCREASING MANPOWER. CHERYL, GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT IT. IF WE RUN A WORKING FIRE IN TOWN, MOST LIKELY STATION THREE IS GONNA COME IN AND FILL. WE ONLY HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT LEAVES THAT FIREHOUSE EMPTY. AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S AREAS IN BENTONVILLE AND BROWNTOWN COMING FROM TOWN. IT MAY TAKE US 20 TO 30 MINUTES TO GET THERE. SO IF WE HAD FOUR PEOPLE AT EACH OF THESE FIREHOUSES, IF WE HAD TO TAKE A FIRE TRUCK OR AN AMBULANCE AND FILL STATION ONE, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TWO PEOPLE BACK AT THE FIREHOUSE TO RUN CALLS IN YOUR DISTRICT. SO THINK IS IT GONNA BENEFIT A SMALL POCKET OF PEOPLE OR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. ALSO, CHESTER GAP HAS FRONT ROYAL RIGHT THERE. SO IF THEY WANT TO CALL, IF THEY'RE OUT ON CALL FRONT, ROYAL IS RIGHT THERE MINUTES AWAY. IF WE WANT TO CALL OUT THERE AT SOUTH WARREN, IT MAY BE 15, 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE NEXT ARRIVING COMPANY COMES IN. SO YOU GONNA BENEFIT A SMALL POCKET OR YOU WANT TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND FOR YOUR SERVICE ALL THOSE YEARS. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JEFF STONER IN JEFF STONER SOUTH RIVER. UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE OUR EMS SERVICE IN CHESTER GAP BECAUSE YEAR, UH, YEARS AGO, CHIEF BROWN PUT TOGETHER A AGREEMENT BETWEEN RAPPAHANNOCK AND WARREN COUNTY TO FUND EMS SERVICES. 'CAUSE THEY WERE OUT OF VOLUNTEERS. NO ONE WOULD STEP UP TO HELP. AND NOW WITH THE LAST BOARD, THEY STEPPED OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT LEAVING RAPPAHANNOCK TO HOLD THE BAG TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 200,000. MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE 20 YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS VERY COMFORTING IS KNOWING THAT THAT FIRE AND EMS SERVICE WAS RIGHT THERE TO HELP US. WE'VE HAD THEM TO OUR HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES, AND EACH TIME IT WAS LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES THEY SHOWED UP. AND NOW IF THEY'RE MISSING, IF THEY'RE GONNA, IF RAPPAHANNOCK TAKES THEM BACK TO FLINT HILL, OUR EEMS RESPONSE TIME IS GOING TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BUDGET, WITH THE FIREHOUSES AND EVERYTHING, BUT TAKING AWAY EMS REALLY HURTS OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M ASKING THIS BOARD TO PLEASE GO TO RAPID HANOCK, PAY A FAIR SHARE OF WHAT THE SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING US AND HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS HELP YOUR CONSTITUENTS NOT LIVE IN FEAR OF, AM I GOING TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH FOR AN AMBULANCE TO GET HERE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS KATHLEEN MANCINI. HI THERE. KATHLEEN MANCINI SHENANDOAH DISTRICT. UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, REQUEST TO HAVE AN ITEM PUT ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT, UM, A BUILDING PERMIT CANNOT BE ISSUED UNLESS THERE'S PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE SUCH AS ROADS AND WATER. AND I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OF THE SUPERVISORS INDIVIDUALLY. I WANTED TO THANK Y'ALL FOR, [00:55:01] FOR LISTENING TO ME AND, AND HOPEFULLY SUPPORTING ME ON GETTING THAT DONE. UM, I HAVE OUR ROAD, HIGH TOP ROAD IS HAVING AN ISSUE AND THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS IT. PLUS I KNOW THERE'S OTHER SITUATIONS IN THE COUNTY THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL, AND THIS ORDINANCE COULD, UM, ADDRESS THAT AS WELL. UM, I'M NOT AGAINST BUILDING, I'M JUST AGAINST NOT PLANNING WELL BEFORE YOU BUILD. I'M AN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER, SO I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING AND TO ISSUE A BUILDING PERMIT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE IS CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR THE HOMEOWNERS, FOR THE COUNTY AND EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED. AND IT REALLY, YOU NEED TO PUT THE PLANNING IN BEFORE YOU ISSUE THE BUR THE, THE BUILDING PERMIT. AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD, THEN THEY HAVE TO, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY PUT ROADS IN, HOW THEY HAVE WATER. AND IF THEY CAN'T DO THAT, THEY SHOULDN'T BUILD A HOUSE BECAUSE THE HOMEOWNER THAT BUYS IT ISN'T GONNA HAVE THE RESOURCES AND PROBABLY THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO DO THAT IF THE BUILDER WASN'T ABLE TO DO IT. SO IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE INITIAL PLANNING STAGES AND THAT'S WHERE IT, THE ISSUES NEED TO GET ADDRESSED, NOT AFTER SOMETHING HAS BEEN BUILT AND A PROBLEM OCCURS. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS AT THE SAME TIME AN ISSUE THAT'S COMING UP LATER ABOUT CHANGING THE SETBACK ON THE FRONT, FRONT PROPERTY LINES. UM, I THINK THAT THAT AGAIN IS A LACK OF PLANNING. UM, I KNOW ON OUR ROAD THEY'RE PLANNING TO PUT SO MANY HOUSES ON THAT ROAD AND IT'S A BASICALLY A SINGLE LANE GRAVEL ROAD. IT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE EXPANDED IF YOU WANT TO PUT ALL OF THOSE ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL HOUSES. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SETBACKS IN PLACE TO BEGIN WITH, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT ROAD. SO YOU'RE REALLY SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THE PLANNING UP FRONT. AND SO I THINK TO JUST SAY, OH, WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSES, BUT NOT LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEFORE GETTING BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED, IT'S, IT'S JUST GONNA CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR EVERYBODY DOWN THE ROAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT UP IS MELODY HOEK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MELODY HOEK FROM THE FORK DISTRICT. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT GRATITUDE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU. AND ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR PLACING BOTH ORDINANCE SEVEN AND THE AMENDMENT TO REALLOCATE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY IN FISCAL YEAR 26 ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY. IT IS RIGHT AND INDEED THE DESIRE OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS THAT WE RETURN TO A TIME WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS PARTNERS. SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS MORE THAN A PLACE THAT LENDS BOOKS OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS GROWN INTO A VIBRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CREATIVE PROGRAMMING. ITS SERVICES AND SPACES WORK IN HARMONY WITH COUNTY AGENCIES AND IT HAS BECOME A TRUE COMMUNITY HUB WITH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMING AND GOING ON ANY GIVEN DAY. AS SUPERVISORS, YOU'RE ENTRUSTED WITH ADDRESSING A WIDE RANGE OF COMPLEX CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITY. IN CONTRAST, WE HAVE ONE CLEAR AND FOCUSED MISSION TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY. AND WE DO SO WITH DEDICATION, EFFICIENCY, AND PRIDE, AND WE DO IT WELL. FEBRUARY HAPPENS TO BE NATIONAL LOVE YOUR LIBRARY MONTH. OUR CURRENT FUNDRAISING THEME IS LOVE LETTERS STITCHED TOGETHER A QUILT MADE OF SMALL NOTES FROM PATRONS EXPRESSING WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THE LIBRARY. I INVITE YOU TO COME INTO THE LIBRARY AND SEE ALL THESE NOTES. IT'S A FITTING THEME. THE LIBRARY ITSELF HAS BEEN STITCHED TOGETHER WITH THE THREADS OF OUR ANCESTORS SINCE 1799. IT GREW THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, CIVIC LEADERS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE YOURSELF, [01:00:02] THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY. THE RESULT IS THE GEM WE HAVE TODAY. A BEAUTIFUL SPACE ON REISER ROAD STAFFED BY DEDICATED PEOPLE, PROFESSIONALS WHO GREET EVERY PERSON WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS WITH A SMILE AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVE. THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN CHALLENGING. YET THE OVERWHELMING TAKEAWAY IS THIS. OUR RESIDENTS WERE REMINDED OF THEIR DEEP CONNECTION TO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THEY STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP ENSURE ITS LONG-TERM SURVIVAL. THEIR COMMITMENT IS OUR COMMITMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, THIS LEVEL OF EMERGENCY FUNDRAISING IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RESTORING A STABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND RETURNING TO CONSISTENT COUNTY FUNDING SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JASON RUFFNER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JASON RUFFNER, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. FOLLOWING UP ON MY EMAIL OF LAST WEEK TO ALL OF YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO REPLIED. MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN LAKEFRONT ROYAL. WE EXPECT TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME. UH, IT'S 2.3 MILES AND FIVE MINUTES DOWNHILL FOR EMS TO GET TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM CHESTER GAP. THE STATION HERE IN TOWN AS MUCH AS WE NEED THEM TO. THE STATION HERE IN TOWN IS TWICE AS FAR AWAY. AND IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE, IT WILL TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO GET TO US. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMS EMERGENCY, ALL WE'RE ASKING IS TO PLEASE RETURN THE SITUATION TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE LAST OCTOBER. CHESTER GAP FIRE AND RESCUE HAS SAVED LIVES IN WARREN COUNTY SINCE 1960S. THEY PROTECT MORE THAN 16 SQUARE MILES OF OUR COUNTY AND MORE THAN 2000 WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS. MOST OF THEIR CALLS WHEN THEY GO ON A CALL, MOST OF THE TIME IT IS TO WARREN COUNTY. MANY OF THOSE CALLS PASSED RIGHT BY MY HOUSE. THE PROXIMITY OF CHESTER GAP STATION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO OUR PART OF WARREN COUNTY IS SUCH A COMFORT AND A BLESSING WHEN THE TIME COMES, WHEN THE TIME COMES, THAT WE, MY WIFE AND I, OR MY ELDERLY FATHER, IF HE'S VISITING OR ANY OF MY OLD LOVELY NEIGHBORS, WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT WE NEED LIFESAVING EMS SERVICES. FIVE MINUTES VERSUS 10 MINUTES IS A CRITICAL DIFFERENCE. SO PLEASE, I'M ASKING YOU, COME TO THE TABLE WITH HAN COUNTY AND CONTINUE OUR COUNTY'S SUPPORT FOR CHESTER GAP'S. IRREPLACEABLE EMS SERVICES. I DON'T WISH TO BE OVERLY DRAMATIC. I WISH TO BE FACT BASED, NOT EMOTION BASED, BUT IT REALLY COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS CAMDEN WHITAKER THREE, I THINK YOU SAID HE COULD DO IT IN THREE. MY NAME IS CAMERON WHITAKER. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL 35 88 GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF WARREN COUNTY PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS TO DISCUSS THE STAFFING AND NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. YOU HAVE RECENTLY BEEN PRESENTED WITH A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY EVALUATING STAFFING WITHIN THE WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SYSTEM. THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO STAFF OUR STATIONS EVERY DAY AND THOSE WHO ARE BEHIND ME TONIGHT ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO TAKE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THAT STUDY AND TURN IT INTO MEANINGFUL ACTION. SUPPORTING SAFE STAFFING STANDARDS BY INCREASING PERSONNEL TO MEET THE NEEDS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN THAT STUDY SHOULD REMAIN THE PRIMARY FOCUS AS WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TOWARDS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BENCHMARKS SUCH AS NFPA 1710 AND NFPA 1720. IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT OUR STAFFING PLAN REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SYSTEM, NOT JUST ONE SPECIFIC AREA. THE DATA IN OUR STUDY REPRESENTS THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. OUR RESPONSE MODELS CALL VOLUME AND COMMUNITY RISKS DEMAND A COMPREHENSIVE REPO APPROACH TO STAFFING THAT ENSURES SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED COUNTYWIDE. WE DO NOT WANNA SEE POLITICS OR PERSONAL OPINION OUTWEIGH THE DATA AND DOCUMENTED FACTS. THIS STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED, COMPLETED, AND PAID FOR TO PROVIDE AN OBJECTIVE ROADMAP AND WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS BE TREATED AS SUCH. REGARDING THE STAFFING [01:05:01] CHESTER GAP, THE UNION WILL NOT SUPPORT A WARREN COUNTY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT PAYS CONTRACT EMPLOYEES FROM AN OUTSIDE AGENCY HIGHER THAN OUR OWN EMPLOYEES. OUR MEMBERS COME TO WORK EVERY DAY KNOWING THAT HIGHER WAGES AND OPENS OPEN POSITIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY AVAILABLE IN NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, YET THEY CHOOSE TO REMAIN HERE AND SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY. THEY PROVIDE A COMBINED FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE MODULE, WHICH DIFFERS FROM JUST AN EM S ONLY MODEL, AND THEY DO SO WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION DESPITE THE COMPENSATION DISPARITIES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED IN A COMPREHENSIVE STAFFING STUDY THAT OUTLINES A CLEAR PLAN SUPPORTED BY DATA AND OPERATIONAL REALITIES. THE MEMBERS OF THIS DEPARTMENT PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY EVERY SINGLE DAY. SUPPORTING THE STAFFING MODEL PRESENTED IN THAT STUDY WILL ENSURE PROPER COVERAGE, OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, AND AND GREAT SERVICES, SORRY, AND SERVICES DELIVERY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU'VE GRANTED ME THIS EVENING. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVE ON BEHALF OF THE ME OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL. THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO, TO THE COUNTY. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. NEXT UP IS LISA JENKINS. WHAT WAS IT? OKAY. HI, I'M LISA DRAKE. LISA JENKINS FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. I'M HERE TO OFFER AN INVITATION. UM, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING A SCOTTISH KALEY AT THE LIBRARY ON MARCH 6TH FROM SIX TO EIGHT 30. THE MUSIC IS GONNA BE PROVIDED BY AN AWARD-WINNING, UM, FIDDLER AND VOCALIST. UM, SEAN IS ALSO A COMPOSER. THERE'S ANOTHER VOCALIST THAT'S ALSO AWARD-WINNING. GONNA, THERE'S GONNA BE A HARPIST AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DANCE TO SCOTTISH MUSIC, THERE WILL BE A CALLER WHO WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING. AND IF YOU JUST WANNA SIT ON THE EDGES AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, THAT'S GREAT. TICKETS ARE $50. YOU CAN GET A DEAL IF YOU BUY FIVE. UM, AND YOU'LL GET IT FOR THE PRICE OF FOUR. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL COME, YOU CAN GET YOUR TICKETS AT THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SCOTT JENKINS. SCOTT JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CHESTER GAP EMS. UH, I SHARE THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE LACK OF AN FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY. UH, IF THERE'S NOT A RESOLUTION TO THAT VERY SOON, UH, RAPPAHANNOCK HAS INDICATED THEY'RE GONNA PULL THEIR EMS BACK TO FLINT HILL AND THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE SERVICES THAT THE PEOPLE ON REMOUNT ROAD CHESTER GAP AND LAKEFRONT ROYAL, UH, ARE CURRENTLY, UH, EXPERIENCING WITH CHESTER GAP FIRE AND RESCUE. UM, WE HO WE HOST OVER 2000 PEOPLE A YEAR AT MOUNTAIN HOME BED AND BREAKFAST ON REMOUNT ROAD RIGHT ACROSS FROM LAKEFRONT ROYAL. SO IN ADDITION TO THE 2000 COUNTY RESIDENTS, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE UP THERE, THERE ON A DAILY BASIS. UH, IN ADDITION, THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL GOES THROUGH THAT AREA. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HIKERS THAT COME THROUGH AND THERE ARE CASES WHERE FIRE AND RESCUE ARE NEEDED FOR PEOPLE INJURED ON THE TRAIL. WE'VE HAD CHESTER GAP EMS AT OUR LOCATION AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. THEY WERE THERE WITHIN MINUTES. UH, AS PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SAID IT COULD BE AN ISSUE OF LIFE OR DEATH. SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY, RESTORE A FUNDING MODEL THAT IS EQUITABLE, UH, FOR BOTH COUNTIES, UH, BEFORE, UH, WE LOSE THAT SERVICE AND REITERATE THAT 60% OF THEIR CALLS ARE TO WARREN COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUPS. MA'AM. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL. ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? [01:10:03] HOW Y'ALL DOING? UH, TOWARDS KLEIN FOURTH DISTRICT? UM, I COME JUST TO SPEAK BRIEFLY. UM, I HOPE I CAN WALK OUTTA HERE AFTER I GET DONE. BUT, UM, I ACTUALLY DO SUPPORT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I SUPPORT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. UM, ACTUALLY I HAVE TO SORT SUPPORT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I HAVE NO CHOICE. BUT UM, UM, WHILE I REC I DO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO KEEP IN FRONT OF YOU THAT, UM, THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE RECEIVED FLAT FUNDING, NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AT ALL. AND, UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED BASICALLY WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES THAT THIS COUNTY TO, TO SUPPLY. AND, UM, I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. UM, WHY I KNOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID A EXTENSIVE STUDY. I PROMISE YOU, YOU CAN WALK THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS AND DON'T NEED NO STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE. UM, IN FACT, I THINK YOU ALL DODGED A LOT OF THE RING BARRELS THE OTHER DAY AT THE, AT THE, UH, JOINT STAFF MEETING. BUT, UM, AND THEN, UM, WE DO HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING TOMORROW NIGHT, UH, TO REVIEW THE BUDGET. AND I, I ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO COME LISTEN TO WHAT THE REAL NEEDS ARE AND WHY WE NEED THEM. UM, AND THEN THE, UH, JUST AS A REMINDER THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE SCHOOLS HERE ARE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THIS COUNTY, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS. UH, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TONIGHT AND THANK YOU'ALL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? LAST CALL. ALL RIGHTY. THAT IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING [F.1. CUP2024-12-02 – Rural Resort Center - (0) Rivermont Drive (TM #27--------19) - A request for a conditional use permit for a Rural Resort Center. The properties are located at 137 Lee Burke Road and 0 Rivermont Drive and are identified on tax map 27 as lots 19 and 21. The properties are zoned Agricultural (A) and are located in the Fork Magisterial District. - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator] IS CUP 2024 DASH 12 DASH OH TWO, THE ROYAL RESORT CENTER, UM, ZERO RIVERMONT DRIVE TAX MAP NUMBER 27 THROUGH 19. IT'S A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A RURAL, RURAL RESORT CENTER. THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 1 37 LIEBERT ROAD AND ZERO RIVERMONT DRIVE, AND ARE IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 27 AS LOTS 19 AND 21. THE PROPERTIES ARE ZONED AGRICULTURAL AND LOCATED IN THE FORK MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT IN MR. LINZ. THIS IS YOURS. UH, BEFORE YOU START MR. LINZEL, I I NEED TO, UH, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE DONE WORK ON THIS PROPERTY BEFORE AND I MAY DO WORK AGAIN. SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ABSTAIN FROM ANY, UH, ANY DISCUSSION OR VOTE. THANK YOU, SIR. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THAT DESCRIPTION IS NOT A FIELD THAT CAN BE EDITED. UH, AND SINCE THAT TIME, LOT 21 WAS TAKEN OFF. SO IT IS JUST FOR LOT 19. OKAY, THIS IS BEING REQUESTED FOR. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR RURAL RESORT CENTER. THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH THE RURAL RESORT CENTER ON HER PROPERTY ADJACENT TO HER VINEYARD, FARM WINERY, AND RURAL EVENTS FACILITY TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL LODGING UNITS IN THE FUTURE. AS HER PROPERTIES ARE DEVELOPED. THE ADJACENT PROPERTY LOT 21 IS CURRENTLY APPROVED FOR UP TO 20 LODGING UNITS UNDER THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ISSUED FOR A RURAL EVENTS FACILITY FOR THE PROPERTY IN 2020. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY LOT 19 CURRENTLY INCLUDES THE TASTING ROOM FACILITY FOR HER FARM WINERY. UM, SINCE WE DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF THESE, I'LL JUST REMIND YOU OF THE DEFINITION OF A RURAL RESORT CENTER. IT IS A FACILITY LOCATED ON A PARCEL OF LAND 15 ACRES OR A GREATER IN SIZE, UTILIZED FOR HOSPITALITY AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING TEMPORARY LODGING, MEALS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PICNICKING, BOATING, FISHING, SWIMMING, HIKING, PLAYGROUNDS, INDOOR GAMES, OUTDOOR GAMES, AND OTHER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES. THE FACILITY AND LODGING UNIT ACCOMMODATION SHALL COMPLY WITH THE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 180 DASH 55.4 OF THIS CHAPTER, CHAPTER 180. UH, COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FOR THIS APPLICATION FROM VO CONFIRMING ADJACENT LOT 21 HAS AN ADEQUATE COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE OFF OF LEE BURKE ROAD FOR THE INTENDED RURAL RESORT CENTER USE. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO ONLY USE THIS ENTRANCE AND A CONDITION IS RECOMMENDED TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE RURAL RESORT CENTER FROM MARTIN ROAD AND FROM RIVERMONT DRIVE, UNLESS APPROVED FOR A SECOND COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE OFF OF RIVERMONT DRIVE. UH, DUE TO THE PROPOSED PHASE APPROACH OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE LODGING UNITS IN THE RANGE OF POTENTIAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM DESIGNS AND CONDITIONS ON USAGE FROM [01:15:01] THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN OVERALL MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY FOR THE PROPERTY OF 300, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY CONDITION PLACED ON THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ISSUED FOR THE PROPERTY IN 2020. FOR THE RURAL EVENTS FACILITY. UH, BASED ON THE ACREAGE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, IF THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS APPROVED, THE RURAL RESORT CENTER COULD POTENTIALLY BE DEVELOPED WITH UP TO 25 LODGING UNITS. AND, UH, SINCE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU'VE SEEN THIS, I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH THE HISTORY. UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8TH, 2025. UH, IT WAS FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL, UM, AND THE BOARD DID AUTHORIZE ADVERTISEMENT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 21ST, 2025. THE APPLICANT THEN REQUESTED TO PLACE THE APPLICATION ON HOLD PRIOR TO THE HOLDING, PRIOR TO HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND, UM, AT THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOW REQUESTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE REVISION, ELIMINATING LOT 21 FROM THE ORIGINAL REQUEST AND IT'S JUST FOR LOT 19. UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID MOVE THIS FORWARD WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS. CONDITION NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS, AND VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. NUMBER TWO, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TOTAL OCCUPANTS FOR THE RURAL RESORT CENTER SHALL NOT EXCEED 300 PEOPLE AND THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ANY OCCUPANCY LIMITATION DETERMINED BY, BY THE VIRGINIA UNIFORM STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL BUILDING AND WITH ANY OCCUPANCY LIMITATION DETERMINED BY THE WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ON SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM NUMBER THREE, THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT A FINAL ILLUSTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN SHOWING SCHEMATIC DETAILS ON PROPOSED BUILDING LOCATIONS, SETBACKS FROM BUILDINGS TO NEAREST PROPERTY LINES, RESTROOM FACILITY LOCATIONS, INGRESS, EGRESS, INTERNAL ACCESS ROADS, OUTDOOR LIGHTING, PARKING AREAS, LANDSCAPING SCREENING AND SIGNAGE TO PLANNING STAFF PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF BUILDING AND ZONING PERMITS. PLANNING STAFF SHALL CONDUCT A SITE VISIT TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH ALL SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS AND OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ZONING. NUMBER FOUR, THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE PROPERTIES FOR THE RURAL RESORT CENTER SHALL BE THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE OFF OF LEVER ROAD. ACCESS TO MARTIN ROAD SHALL BE FOR PRIVATE USE ONLY, AND A SECONDARY ACCESS OFF OF RIVERMONT DRIVE SHALL ONLY BE PERMITTED UPON COMPLETION OF A COMMERCIAL ENTRANCE APPROVED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. NUMBER FIVE, ANY BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE RURAL RESORT CENTER SHALL BE COHESIVE IN APPEARANCE WITH THE AGRICULTURAL RURAL NATURE OF THE SURROUNDING AREA AND WITH THE EXISTING BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTIES. NUMBER SIX, THE PROPERTY SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE WARREN COUNTY NOISE ORDINANCE UNDER WARREN COUNTY COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 1 23. NUMBER SEVEN, LODGING UNITS SHALL NOT BE USED FOR PERMANENT LIVING QUARTERS. RENTAL CONTRACTS SHALL NOT EXCEED 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN DURATION. NUMBER EIGHT, CAMPING AND USE OF MAJOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES BY RESORT GAS FOR CAMPING ON THE PROPERTY SHALL BE PROHIBITED UNLESS THE PROPERTY IS APPROVED FOR A SEPARATE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A CAMPGROUND. AND NUMBER NINE, THE APPLICANT SHALL MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REPORTING AND COLLECTION REMITTANCE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 19, UH, TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX OF CHAPTER ONE 60 OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE. THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED, ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE. YES, I SEE MS. SHELLEY, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US. THANK YOU. OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. LENS. SO YOU, YOU NOTED THAT THE DESCRIPTION WAS LOCKED IN, UH, IT'S ONLY LOT 19 NOW. UH, SO THE DESCRIPTION IS OUTDATED, BUT THE MAPS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET, THOSE ARE UP TO DATE WITH THE CORRECT PROPERTY LINES, RIGHT? YES. AND UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T CHARGE MY LAPTOP, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE, I HAD GOTTEN AN UPDATED LOCATION MAP. YES. I GOT AN UPDATED LOCATION MAP, UPDATED MY STAFF REPORT, AND SHE SUBMITTED AN UPDATED APPLICATION STATEMENT. JUSTIFICATION. OKAY. YEAH, IT'S JUST FOR LOT 19, UH, NOT THE ADJACENT LOT 21. OKAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS ONE? NO, MA'AM. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON, UH, THIS ITEM? SECOND CALL? WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. ANY COMMENTS? DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 0 2 4 [01:20:01] DASH 12 DASH ZERO TWO FOR A RURAL RESORT CENTER WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF. SECOND. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE THE VOTE THAT ROLL? CALL MR. HENDERSON. MR. STEINMEYER? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY ABSTAIN. DR. JAMISON AYE. MOTION PASSES. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS Z [F.2. Z2025-09-01 - Zoning Text Amendments for Backyard Beekeeping - An ordinance to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code (zoning ordinance) to amend the district regulations for the Residential-One (R-1) zoning district to add "backyard beekeeping" as an accessory use permitted by right and to add supplementary regulations for "backyard beekeeping". - Kelly Wahl, Planner] 2025 DASH OH NINE DASH OH ONE ZONING TAX AMENDMENT FOR BACKYARD BEEKEEPING. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 180 OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE ZONING ORDINANCE ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE DISTRICT REGULATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL ONE R ONE ZONING DISTRICT TO ADD BACKYARD BEEKEEPING AS AN ACCESSORY USE PERMITTED BY WRIGHT AND TO ADD SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR BACKYARD BEEKEEPING MS. WALL. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. ATTACHED YOU'LL FIND A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO ENACT SUBSECTION 180 DASH 22 C SEVEN TO MAKE BACKYARD B BEEKEEPING PERMISSIBLE BY RIGHT AS AN ACCESSORY USE IN THE RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONING DISTRICT AND TO ENACT SECTION 180 DASH 35.3 TO ADD SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR BACKYARD BEEKEEPING. THESE TEXT AMENDMENTS WERE REQUESTED BY AN APPLICANT WHO WISHES TO PURSUE THIS LAND USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PRINCIPAL DWELLING FOR HIS PROPERTY ZONED RESIDENTIAL. ONE. THE PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS INCLUDE A STATEMENT OF INTENT, A REQUIREMENT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF HONEYBEES AND BEEHIVE CONSTRUCTION IN MAINTENANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 3.2, CHAPTER 44 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, A ZONING PERMIT REQUIREMENT TO BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY. AND CERTAIN PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, THE PROPOSED PERMIT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE A LIMIT OF NO MORE THAN TWO BEEHIVES PER ONE QUARTER ACRE WITH A MAXIMUM OF SIX BEEHIVES PER ONE ACRE LOT OR NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF BEEHIVES. IF ALL BEEHIVES ARE PLACED AT LEAST 200 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES, BEEHIVES SHALL BE LOCATED IN THE SIDE OR REAR YARDS ONLY, AND SHALL BE LOCATED A MINIMUM OF 10 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES. A RESTRICTION ON THE ONSITE CELL OF GOODS OR SERVICES RELATING TO THE HONEYBEES A FLYAWAY BARRIER REQUIREMENT FOR BEEHIVES THAT ARE LESS THAN 40 FEET FROM A PROPERTY LINE THAT IS NO LESS THAN SIX FEET IN HEIGHT AND IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE BEEHIVE AND THE PROPERTY LINE, OR ELEVATE THE HIVE ENTRANCE NO LESS THAN SIX FEET ABOVE THE PROPERTY LINE AND SHOULD BE OF SUFFICIENT DENSITY LENGTH AND HEIGHT. THE PROPOSED LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF BEEHIVES AND SETBACK BARRIER REQUIREMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR THE KEEPING OF HONEYBEES RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE UNDER TWO VA C FIVE DASH 319 DASH THREE. A COPY OF THIS CODE HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET UNDER THIS ITEM. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2026. THE PLANNING COMMISSION FORWARDED THE PRO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO. THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. WALL AT THIS POINT? YOU HAVE THE LOOK OF YOUR THINKING OF ONE. WELL, NO, THE ONLY THING I WAS GONNA SAY THAT I, I LOOKED AT THIS AND I HAD CONCERNS AT FIRST BECAUSE I THINK I MISREAD IT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IT LIMITED TO ONLY SIX BS AND I THOUGHT, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH SIX BS? BUT THEN I WENT BACK AND READ IT AND IT'S SIX B HIGH, SO WE'RE COOL. OKAY. IS THE APPLICANT HERE? AND IF SO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? AND I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS. SO, UM, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS ONE? UH, YES MA'AM. LEWIS MOTON. GOOD EVENING. LOUIS BOTON FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. I JUST WANT TO ADD MY SUPPORT FOR ALLOWING, UH, RESPONSIBLE BACKYARD BEEKEEPING WITH, UH, RESIDENTS IN R ONE. UH, UM, THE MAIN THING I, I HAVE WITH THIS, I, I LOVE THAT BY RIGHT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH HOOPS, GET PERMITS AND ALL THAT STUFF. THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE 200 FOOT SETBACK ALLOWS FOR AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF BEEHIVES. AND I'M THINKING FOR A RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONE, YOU DON'T WANT LIKE A HUNDRED COLONIES BEING IN, IN AN APIARY THERE. UM, I THINK ONCE YOU GET TO LIKE 20 PLUS, YOU'RE GETTING INTO SMALL SCALE COMMERCIALIZATION AS A SIDE BUSINESS. AND I THINK MAYBE WE, WE SHOULD PROBABLY LIMIT TO LIKE MAYBE 12 TO 18 HIGHS FOR THE SERIOUS HOBBYISTS. AND LIKE, IF THEY WANT TO GO PROFESSIONAL, GET A PROPERTY THAT'S MORE IN LINE FOR [01:25:01] THAT ZONING. BUT THIS IS, I I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE BEEHIVES ARE COMING HERE. IT'S, IT'S GONNA ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS. AND I KNOW A FEW OF YOU LOVE THE AGRITOURISM SIDE OF THINGS. THIS ISN'T REALLY THAT, BUT IT REALLY HELPS WITH THAT FOR THEM TO GO TO PLACES TO SELL HONEY. THEY CAN'T SELL THERE BUT THEY CAN GO TO OTHER PLACES FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THAT'S ALL FOR SIGNUPS MA'AM. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? YES MA'AM. HI THERE. UM, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO COULD DIE FROM GETTING A BEE STING AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK IF YOU'VE, UM, CONSIDERED THAT AND HOW YOU WOULD, UM, DEAL WITH THAT SITUATION IF THERE'S A, UM, RESIDENCE THAT HAS THAT CONDITION. THANKS. ANYONE ELSE? YES SIR. JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UH, I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T READ ALL THE LITERATURE ON THIS, BUT UH, I THINK YOU STATED, UH, THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED ON A QUARTER ACRE BUT NEEDED TO BE 200 FEET OFF THE PROPERTY LINE. SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, UH, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE HOUSES ARE THAT CLOSE AND ARE CHILDREN PLAYING BESIDE OF THAT AND THE DOG COMES OVER AND KNOCKS THE BEEHIVE OVER AND THE BEES SWARM AROUND AND SING THE CHILD? HOW, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU GET, HOW, HOW DOES THAT, HOW WOULD THAT BE ALLOWED? UH, THE BEES, THE BEES ARE NOT LIKE REGULAR PETS. THEY'RE GONNA GO WHEREVER THEY WANT AND WHOEVER'S CLOSEST BY THEY WILL STING YOU. AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND HAD HIVES IN WINCHESTER ON A FIVE OR SIX ACRE LOT AND THEY HAD A FENCE WITH, UH, ELECTRIC, UH, ELECTRIC WIRE AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. BUT OCCASIONALLY AN ANIMAL WOULD GET IN THERE AND KNOCK THE HIVES OVER WHILE THE CHILDREN WERE OUT IN THE YARD. AND IT, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. UH, YOU GET STUNG 25, 30 TIMES, UH, IT'S A PROBLEM. SO I WOULD BE OPPOSED TO IT. I WOULDN'T WANT 'EM OPPOSED TO MY HOUSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYTHING WANNA ELSE? LAST CALL? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. I, I DID HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT. YES. OH, A PERSON HAS BES REACHED OUT TO ME. OH, THEY HAD, THEIR LOT IS OVER AN ACRE, BUT THE, UH, THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE HOUSE LOCATION OF THE LOT, IT'S LIKE THE HOUSE IS ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK. THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY BACKYARD ALL, SO THE HIVES ARE IN THE FRONT ALL, BUT I WAS GOING TO SEE IF WE WOULD CONSIDER FOR LOTS AN ACRE OR MORE, UH, IF IT COULD GO IN THE FRONT IF IT, UH, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE DISTANCE OFF THE PROPERTY LINE, THEY'D HAVE THE BARRIER. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T, IF YOU'RE 40 FOOT OFF THE PROPERTY LINE, YOU DON'T NEED THE BARRIER. UH, AND THE BARRIER'S A GOOD IDEA. THEY'VE GOT A BARRIER, THEY'VE GOT A FENCE ALL THE WAY AROUND IT, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT BECAUSE, UH, OH, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBOR'S, DOGS RUN INTO IT OR OH, THE UPS GUY'S NOT PAYING ATTENTION WHEN HE'S THE ONE HE, YOU KNOW, IS WALKING THROUGH THE YARD AND, AND UPSETS THE BEES. WHERE IF IT'S, AS LONG AS IT'S BARRIERED OH AND HE'S MEETING THE OTHER SETBACK RULES, I THINK HE'D PROBABLY BE OKAY ON THAT LOT AFTER LOOKING AT IT. 'CAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY PLACE HE'S GOT. UH, BUT I'D BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANY OTHER IDEAS TO, TO ADDRESS THE UM, COULD YOU GO OVER THE BARRIER THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT BEFORE? 'CAUSE THERE IS, THAT IS IN THERE, CORRECT? YES. SO WE STATED THAT, UM, ALL BEEHIVES THAT ARE LESS THAN 40 FEET FROM A PROPERTY LINE BEHIND A BARRIER THAT IS NO LESS THAN SIX FEET IN HEIGHT AND IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE BEEHIVE AND THE PROPERTY LINE, OR TO ELEVATE THE HIVE ENTRANCE, NO LESS THAN SIX FEET ABOVE THE PROPERTY LINE. AND THEN THEY NEED TO BE OF SUFFICIENT DENSITY LENGTH AND HEIGHT TO ESTABLISH BEEF FLYAWAYS SIX FEET OR HIGHER ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. SURE. I HAVE A QUESTION. I HAD A QUESTION. UM, THE ONE GENTLEMAN SPOKE, HE SAID IT WAS QUARTER ACRE LOTS. IT'S A ACRE LOT, ISN'T IT? SO IT'S, UH, TWO BEEHIVES FOR A QUARTER ACRE. OKAY. OKAY. UM, LOTS LARGER THAN A QUARTER, BUT LESS THAN HALF AN ACRE SHALL HAVE NO MORE THAN FOUR. OKAY. LOTS HALF AN ACRE, BUT LESS THAN ONE [01:30:01] ACRE CAN HAVE SIX AND THEN ONE ACRE OR LARGER CAN HAVE, UM, NO MORE THAN SIX. BUT IF ALL BEEHIVES ARE PLACED AT LEAST 200 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES, THERE WOULD BE NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF BEEHIVES. OKAY. MY BAD. SO I'M MADAM CHAIR, I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE. IT SAYS THEY SHALL BE LOCATED ON THE SIDE OR REAR YARD ONLY. SO IT SAYS BACKYARD BEEKEEPING, BUT IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS 'EM ON THE SIDE YARD. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT IF THAT'S RELEVANT TO YOUR QUESTION. WELL, I GOT, I GOT SOMEBODY THAT HAS NO BACKYARD AND THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A SIDE, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, IS LOCKED, THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE A SIDE YARD EITHER, THEN THEY, YEAH, SO THEY'RE IN THE FRONT. SO I WAS TRYING TO, ON AN ACRE MORE, I WAS TRYING TO ALLOW IT IN THE FRONT FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA LIKE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE THING THAT, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY ACCESSORY STRUCTURE'S NOT ALLOWED IN FRONT OF THE FRONT LINE OF THE HOUSE. BUT WE HAVE A, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE MECHANISM IS, BUT IF YOUR HOUSE IS ALL THE WAY AGAINST THE REAR PROPERTY LINE AND YOU CAN'T GET IT ON THE SIDE OR, OR IT'S A STEEP CLIFF OR SOME OTHER LIMITING FACTOR, THERE'S A WAY TO ALLOW IT IN THE FRONT. SO I WAS HOPING THAT, UH, OH, I MEAN IF IT, IF, YOU KNOW, IF EVERYBODY ELSE FEELS IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD, I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT, BUT IT WAS A, I'VE WENT AND LOOKED AT IT AND IT LOOKS FINE. AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE LONG BEFORE THIS ORDINANCE WAS THERE AND THEY, THEY'VE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS. YOU KNOW, THEY DID THE, BEFORE ANY OF THIS WAS REQUIRED, THEY ALREADY HAD TO BURY, THEY'RE VERY, UH, VERY VESTED IN, IN THIS HOBBY. UH, AND THEY SEEM TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF IT. SO CURRENTLY IF WE PASS THIS, UH, THEY'LL BE OUTTA COMPLIANCE BECAUSE THEIR HIVE IS TECHNICALLY IN FRONT OF THE FRONT LINE OF THE HOUSE. UH, THEY'RE CLOSE TO THE 40 OFF THE PROPERTY LINES, BUT MAYBE NOT, BUT ALL I WAS JUST THINKING IF IT WAS IN FRONT OF THE FRONT LINE AND THE HOUSE, REGARDLESS OF HOW FAR YOU ARE OFF THE PROPERTY LINE, THAT YOU JUST DO THE BARRIER ANYWAY FOR A COMPROMISE FOR A DOUBLE SAFETY. I, BUT IF IT'S, IF IT'S NOT APPLICABLE TO THE REST OF THE BOARD, BOARD, I, I UNDERSTAND. DO, DO YOU KNOW MR. HENRY IF THEY'RE ZONED R ONE OR IF THERE'S YES, THEY'RE DEFINITELY, THEY ARE ZONED R ONE. OKAY. YEAH. UH, IT WOULD BE AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE, A BEEHIVE. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE OTHER PARTS OF THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR IT. UM, THIS WAS KIND OF JUST TO TUCK IT IN WITH THE EXISTING STRUCTURE OF THE ORDINANCE AND THEY WOULD NEED A VARIANCE FOR SOMETHING TO BE, UH, WITHOUT CHANGING THAT OVERALL RULE ON ACCESSORY BUILDINGS NOT BEING ALLOWED IN THE FRONT YARD. COULD, COULD THEY GO THROUGH A VARIANCE PROCESS? CERTAINLY THERE, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BY RIGHT IN THE CODE. AS LONG AS THERE'S A MECHANISM TO WHERE WHEN IT MAKES SENSE, IT'S OKAY. YEAH, YEAH. THEY COULD GET, THEY COULD GET A VARIANCE TO BOTH. OKAY. WELL I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT A VARIANCE. SO, UH, WHAT, WHAT'S THE FEE ON A VARIANCE IF THEY WANTED TO COME IN FOR A VARIANCE? IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS. UH, IT'S A LOT BUT IT IS JUST A $25 FEE FOR THE BEEKEEPING PERMIT. IT . RIGHT. BUT IT WOULD ADD A THOUSAND DOLLARS. 'CAUSE YOU GOTTA DO, I GUESS IT COST US IN THE ADVERTISING AND UH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STUFF THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO, TO DO THE VARIANCE. I MEAN THAT'S, AT LEAST THAT'S A MECHANISM. I MEAN IF THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BUT FOR A HOBBY, UH, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. BUT AT AT LEAST, UH, THERE IS SOME MECHANISM IN PLACE. I GUESS YOU SAID THAT IF THIS WERE TO PASS THEN THEY WOULD BE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, BUT WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW? ARE THEY, IS THERE NO RULE RIGHT NOW ON ONE ACRE THAT WOULD PUT THEM OUT OF COMPLIANCE? RIGHT NOW? UH, SOMEONE TECH, TECHNICALLY THEY WOULD, THEY'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE RIGHT NOW. OKAY. BECAUSE BACKER BE KEEPING IS NOT ALLOWED OR BEE KEEPING IN GENERAL IS NOT ALLOWED IN R ONE. ALRIGHT. THAT YEAH. YEAH, THEY'RE IN R ONE SO TECHNICALLY THEY'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE, BUT, OH, THESE PEOPLE HELP, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF GOOD STEWARDS TO KIND OF EDUCATE. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BEES, SO, UH, THEY WERE IN MY DISTRICT, SO I REACHED OUT TO 'EM AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BEE CLUB AND THEY'RE VERY INVOLVED WITH THE OTHER BEEKEEPERS AND THEY SEEMED TO BE GREAT STEWARDS OF THE BEEKEEPING PROCESS. AND THEN, UM, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COME TONIGHT, BUT THEY HAD CALLED ME AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PASS THIS, THIS WELL , BUT IT, UH, WE ACTUALLY STILL WON'T BE IN COMPLIANCE. UH, SO I, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GOTTA DO A VARIANCE, IF THAT'S THE ONLY MECHANISM, BUT, UH, THERE LOTS DEFINITELY OVER AN ACRE, UH, YOU KNOW, A QUARTER ACRE'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE ON LOTS, EVERY ONE ACRE WE COULD ALLOW 'EM IN FRONT OF THE FRONT LINE IF THEY DID THE BARRIER REGARDLESS, EVEN IF THEY WERE LESS THAN THE 40 FEET. 'CAUSE THE BARRIER'S NOT REQUIRED IF YOU'VE WORN 40 FEET OFF THE PROPERTY LINE. UM, BUT IF IT, I THOUGHT MAYBE IF IT WAS IN THE FRONT LINE, WE JUST DID THE BARRIER ANYWAY AND THEY DID DO THE BARRIER BEFORE IT WAS, I MEAN, THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT. SO I'M STILL TRYING TO, TO VISUALIZE THIS BARRIER. IS THAT WHAT IT SAYS A FLYWAY? IS THAT TO ELEVATE IT SO THE BEES ARE UP BUT NOT A STRUCTURE AROUND THEM TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING TIPPED OVER? YOU COULD DO EITHER. AND THAT, I MEAN, IF IT'S NOT, I THINK THAT'S GOT SOME VALUE TO PUT IN HERE BECAUSE AS THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, KIDS, THEIR CURIOSITY, THROWING A BALL OR WHATEVER, UM, PLUS TO KEEP [01:35:01] THE WILD ANIMALS OUT, LET'S, LET'S FACE IT, THE RACCOONS, THE BEARS, WHATEVER, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA COME MESS WITH THEM. UM, MOST PEOPLE PUT ELECTRIC OR SOMETHING UP AROUND 'EM JUST TO KEEP THOSE ANIMALS OUT. UM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY WELL DEFINED IN HERE. WHAT THAT STRUCTURE WOULD, WOULD BE LIKE TO, TO NOT ONLY PROTECT THE BEES FROM BEING KNOCKED OVER, BUT IN ESSENCE THAT WOULD PROTECT WHOEVER'S OUT IN THE YARD. UM, YOU, YOU AND, AND I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT'S ALLERGIC TO, TO BEES, SO, UM, DOESN'T STOP ME FROM I'M A COUNTRY GIRL, BUT, UM, I DO, I DO THINK IT HAS VALUE TO, TO PUT A LITTLE MORE LANGUAGE IN SOME WITH YOUR QUESTION AND SO FORTH. UM, IS THIS, DO WE FEEL THIS IS READY OR DOES IT NEED A LITTLE TWEAKING? I HAVE A QUE QUESTION AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ADDRESSED OR NOT, BUT AGAIN, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR COVER PAGE AND IT SAYS TWO BEEHIVES FOR ONE ACRE, QUARTER ACRE WITH A MAXIMUM OF SIX BEEHIVES PER ONE ACRE. OR NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF BEEHIVES, IF THEY'RE ALL BEEHIVES REPLACED AT LEAST 200 FEET. SO IN THEORY, IF THEY'VE GOT 18, THEY'RE WITHIN, THEY GOT IT OFF 200 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, THEY'RE OKAY IF WE PASS THIS, IS THAT RIGHT? YES. OKAY. BUT BUT, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY, I DON'T CARE IF YOU, IF IT'S AN R ONE, NO MATTER HOW BIG THE LOT IS, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY IN FRONT OF THE FRONT LINE OF THE HOUSE. RIGHT. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY'D HAVE TO MOVE THEM OR, OR DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY WOULD STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY MAYBE BE CHEAPER THAN $2,000. WELL THE PROBLEM IS THE HOUSE IS SO CLOSE TO THE BACK PROPERTY LINE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S LIKE MINIMAL SETBACK. THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A BACKYARD AT ALL IS WHY THEY ENDED UP IN THE FRONT ANYWAY. THAT THAT WAS THE, YOU KNOW, YOU GET IN SOME OF THESE SUBDIVISION LOTS IF THEY'RE STEEP OR YOU KNOW, WITH THE SEPTIC RULES AND STUFF. SOMETIMES I THINK THE SEPTIC ENDED UP IN THE FRONT YARD ON THIS ONE AND THEN THE WELL ENDED UP IN THE OTHER QUARTER. SO THE HOUSE GOT SHOVED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK. SO THERE IS, THERE ISN'T ANY BACKYARD REALLY ALL, I MEAN THEY'D HAVE TO PUT 'EM RIGHT AGAINST THE HOUSE AND THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT EITHER, OBVIOUSLY. SO THAT, THAT WAS THE TRICK TO THIS ONE. IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE LOTS. IT'S NOT EVERY LOT BUT THIS ONE, JUST THE WAY IT WORKED OUT WITH THE NEIGHBOR'S. WELL AND THE NEIGHBOR'S SEPTIC, WHEN THIS LOT WAS DEVELOPED, THE HOUSE GOT SHOVED PRETTY CLOSE TO THE MINIMAL SETBACK TO THE REAR PROPERTY LINE. AND THEN IF THEY DID THE HIVE IN THERE, I MEAN IT WOULD BE, I GUESS THEY COULD GET THE 10 OFF IT. I MEAN ANYTHING WOULD BE SLAMMED AGAINST THE HOUSE SO THEY, THEY WOULDN'T WANT IT THERE. UH, IT LOOKS FINE. I MEAN IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE IT FITS, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T, IT'S GOT A FENCE ALL THE WAY AROUND IT. I, BUT, UH, THERE'S NO ROOM FOR THAT IN THE CODE UNLESS THEY COME IN FOR THE VARIANCE. BUT IF THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET IT THROUGH, WE CAN TRY THE VARIANCE FOR A WHILE AND THEN WE CAN ALWAYS AMEND LATER IF WE WANNA MOVE THIS FORWARD. NOW I THINK SOMEBODY IS SOMEBODY IS THERE, IS CUSTOMER WAITING ON THIS OR, UH, YES SIR. AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID TOSS IT AROUND FOR A FEW MONTHS. WE HAD TO GET 'EM TO GRANT AN EXTENSION FOR THEIR TIMEFRAME. SO IT'S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS. I THINK SOMEONE IS WAITING ON THE ORDINANCE. UH, HOW MUCH, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT? A COUPLE PEOPLE. GO AHEAD. IT WAS APPLICANT DRIVEN. WE HAD AN APPLICANT COME IN REQUESTING THE TEXT AMENDMENT. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW, I THINK I, I TEND TO GO AHEAD AND UH, ADOPT THIS AS WRITTEN AND THEN SEE WHAT ELSE. I MEAN I DON'T WANNA TAKE THIS BACK AND REDO THE WHOLE THING, BUT GO AHEAD AND ADOPT WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN, AND I KNOW Y'ALL GOT PLENTY OF SPARE TIME, YOU CAN UH, YOU CAN LOOK, TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT MAYBE. BUT THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD THINK. LET'S GET THIS. YEAH, SOMEBODY CAN USE THIS TODAY AND I THINK IT'S FAIR. RIGHT, RIGHT. IT'S JUST THAT ODD LOT THAT THAT BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON IT? OKAY. I'M NOT SURE. I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN 'CAUSE I DIDN'T DO MY, UH, LINE OUT HERE. SO IS THERE A MOTION MADAM CHAIR FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, AND GENERAL WELFARE AND ARE GOOD ZONING PRACTICES. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. SECOND ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMESON AYE. MR. HENRY AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STANIER AYE. AND CUP 2025 [F.3. CUP2025-12-02 - Short-Term Tourist Rental - 3151 Freezeland Road - A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 3151 Freezeland Road and is identified on tax map 23E, double circle 1, as lot 10B. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Shenandoah Magisterial District. - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator] DASH 12 DASH TWO SHORT TERM TAURUS RENTAL 3 31 51 FRIESLAND ROAD, UH, REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM TAURUS RENTAL. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 31 51 FRIESLAND ROAD AND IS IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 23 [01:40:01] E DOUBLE CIRCLE ONE AS LOT 10 B. THE PROPERTY IS ZONED RESIDENTIAL ONE AND IS LOCATED IN THE SHENANDOAH MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT. MR. LEN? THANK YOU. THE APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT-TERM TOURIST RENTAL FOR THE PROPERTY THEY PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2021. THE OWNERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR SHORT-TERM LODGING FOR TOURISTS AND VISITORS OF THE WARREN COUNTY AREA. WHEN NOT USING THE PROPERTY AS AN ESCAPE FROM THE HUSTLES AND BUSTLE OF WASHINGTON DC THE APPLICANTS WILL SERVE AS THE PRIMARY PROPERTY MANAGER WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGER AND A LOCAL CLEANER AND HANDYMAN. UH, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE, UH, KENNY WOODS SUBDIVISION WHERE THERE IS NO HOA OR POA THAT GOVERNS IT. UM, IT IS RIGHT ON THE COUNTY LINE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE FOX MEADOW, UH, VINEYARDS. UH, THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPERATION PERMIT APPROVES A MAXIMUM OF SIX OCCUPANTS FOR THE THREE BEDROOM DWELLING. UH, STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE SUBMITTED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE LOCAL POINT OF CONTACT DOES LIVE WITHIN THE REQUIRED 30 MILE DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY. AND THE DWELLING ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY MEETS THE MINIMUM SEPARATION REQUIRED FROM NEIGHBORING RESIDENCES WITH THE CLOSEST DWELLING LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 110 FEET TO THE WEST. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM LAST MONTH AND MOVED IT FORWARD TO THE BOARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL. IT WAS UNANIMOUS, UH, WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. CONDITION NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. NUMBER TWO, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE SYSTEM CAPACITY AS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT PER WARREN COUNTY CODE SUBSECTION 180 DASH 56.4 B. THE CERTIFICATE OF ZONING SHALL ONLY BE ISSUED WITH APPROVED HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECORDS. NUMBER THREE, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE WELL WATER TESTED ANNUALLY FREE CALIFORNIA BACTERIA AND A COPY OF THE RESULTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. AND NUMBER FOUR, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM SERVICED EVERY FIVE YEARS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND A COPY OF THE SERVICE INVOICE SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED. ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THERE IS TOO MANY FACES IN THE CROWD FOR ME TO KNOW IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING, BUT YEP, WE GOT A WAVE. SO LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? UH, NO. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? IF NOT, MR. ANDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS? YES MA'AM. JOHN JENKINS. JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UH, ONCE AGAIN I'M, UH, STATE MY POSITION ON THESE SHORT TERM PRINCIPAL. I'M OPPOSED TO 'EM. UM, I DON'T THINK THEY BELONG IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. I CONSIDER 'EM TO BE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. UH, I DO KNOW THAT, UH, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASE IN RENTS. UM, AND THEY ALSO, UH, BY HAVING THESE SHORT TERM RENTALS, THERE'S NO, UH, PROPERTIES FOR FULL-TIME RENT FOR, FOR INDIVIDUALS. UH, THERE'S A LOSS OF COMMUNITY AND, UH, CULTURAL IDENTITY AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEAR THESE, UH, PROPERTIES, UH, HAVE EXPERIENCED HEIGHTENED, UH, STRESS ANXIETY DUE TO THE PEOPLE COMING IN EVERY WEEKEND AT DIFFERENT TIMES NOT KNOWING WHO THEY ARE. IF WHEN YOU LIVE IN A COMMUNITY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE THERE 24 7, UH, YOU GET ALONG MUCH BETTER, YOU FEEL SAFER, UH, THERE IS NO SECURITY ON THESE HOUSES. LIKE WHEN YOU CHECK INTO A HOTEL, THERE ARE CAMERAS, THEY TAKE YOUR ID. THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRACK THE PEOPLE THAT GO INTO THESE HOTELS. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT FOR THESE PROPERTIES. UM, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE, THE BUSINESSES ARE NOT CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. YOU KNOW, I'VE TOLD THAT I'VE HEARD THAT A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES. HOWEVER, WARREN COUNTY DOES REQUIRE A LICENSE TO, FOR, TO OPERATE, JUST WALK DOWN THE HALL, YOU HAVE TO GET A LICENSE TO DO THAT. AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES IN VIRGINIA CAN BE DEFINED AS AN ENTITY SUCH AS CORPORATIONS, LLCS, OR A PARTNERSHIP ESTABLISHED TO GENERATE PROFIT BY PROVIDING GOODS OR SERVICES. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THESE THINGS DO. THEY'RE GENERALLY LOCATED IN AREA ZONE, INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, NOT RESIDENTIAL. R ONE. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY IS OWNED. R ONE, RESIDENTIAL R ONE, NOT A BUSINESS AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MR. HENDERSON? THAT'S ALL FOR SIGN UP. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? ANYONE ELSE? SURE. I [01:45:06] MY NAME'S AARON GOLDSTEIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. EXCUSE ME. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS COMMENTS. UH, I'M ONE OF THE OWNERS AND, UH, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A DETAILED PLAN. UH, WE PROVIDE OUR PARTNERS, UH, REVENUE OR EMPLOYMENT. UM, INTERESTING COMMENT ABOUT THE CULTURE. THAT'S, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS. AND WE HAVE THE HOUSE, UH, DECORATED TO CELEBRATE THE, UH, COMMUNITY AROUND HERE, EXCUSE ME. AND, UH, WE BRING IN REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS AS WELL. WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS WHO WE'VE ALL DISCUSSED THIS WITH, UH, AT LENGTH. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. THANK YOU. OKAY, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? LAST CALL. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS? TAKE A MOTION. YES SIR. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2025 DASH 12 DASH OH TWO FOR SHORT-TERM TER RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON. MR. STANIER? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAMESON AYE. ALRIGHT. CUP [F.4. CUP2025-12-03 - Building Service Establishment - 0 Strasburg Road (TM #10L--2-----2) - A request for a conditional use permit for a building service establishment. The property is located at (0) Strasburg Road and is identified on tax map 10L, section 2, as lot 2. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the North River Magisterial District. - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator] 2025 DASH 12 DASH OH THREE. BUILDING SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT ZERO STRASBURG ROAD TAX MAP NUMBER 10 L UH DASH TWO DASH TWO A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR BUILDING A SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ZERO STRASSBURG ROAD IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP 10 L. SECTION TWO IS LOT TWO AND THE PROPERTY IS ZONED AGRICULTURAL AND LOCATED IN THE NORTH RIVER MAGISTERIAL. MR. LANCE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR BUILDING SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE PROPERTY PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2024. THE APPLICANT, THE PRESIDENT OF A RESIDENTIAL TELECOMMUNICATION INSTALLATION COMPANY, MULTI-TECH LLC, WOULD LIKE TO USE THE PROPERTY AS A MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT STORAGE AND STAGING AREA FOR HIS BUSINESS FOR WHEN HE HAS BUSINESS, UH, IN THE AREA. BUSINESS HAS A PRINCIPLE BASE OF OPERATIONS IN MANASSAS, BUT THE APPLICANT INDICATED THEY FREQUENTLY HAVE WORKED IN STRASSBURG AREA AND LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING IN THE WARREN COUNTY AREA. IN THE FUTURE IF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS APPROVED, THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO INSTALL A SOLID FENCE ALONG THE REAR OF THE STORAGE AREA TO CONNECT THE EXISTING FENCE ALONG THE THE SIDE PROPERTY LINES. HE HAS AGREED TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING TREE LINE ALONG S STRASSBURG ROAD AS A BUFFER AND SCREENING FROM THE ROADWAY. UM, I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OF THESE SO FAR, SO I'LL REMIND YOU OF THE DEFINITION. A BUILDING SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT IS A FACILITY PROVIDING SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL OR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES SUCH AS EXTERMINATOR, PLUMBER, DECORATOR, ELECTRICIAN, HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING, OR OTHER APPLIANCE SERVICE RELATED EQUIPMENT, STORAGE, STAGING AND REPAIRS. THIS USE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 180 DASH 36.1 OF THIS CHAPTER. UM, THIS DID COME ABOUT FROM, UH, A NOTICE OF VIOLATION. IT WAS ISSUED FOR A PROHIBITED CONTRACTOR STORAGE YARD, UH, IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THAT WAS THE TIMEFRAME WE WERE WORKING ON THIS ORDINANCE, UM, WITH MR. BRAMBLE. AND, UM, ONCE THAT PASSED UPON REVIEW OF THE INTENDED LAND USE WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INTENDED USE MEETS THE DEFINITION OF THE BUILDING SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT, WHICH IS NOW PERMISSIBLE BY, BY A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE APPLICANT HAS SINCE SUBMITTED THE NECESSARY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2026. UH, IT WAS FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL AND IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. THERE WERE SEVERAL PROPERTY OWNERS OF OF THE CEDAR RIDGE ESTATE SUBDIVISION WHO SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REQUEST. DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS STATED THAT FOR THE MORE INDUSTRIAL LAND USE IS PERMISSIBLE IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT, THE LOCATION OF THE USE NEEDS TO BE IDEAL TO NOT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ON NEIGHBORING AGRICULTURALLY ZONED PROPERTIES AND THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE PROPOSED LOCATION WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE INTENDED LAND USE. UM, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. CONDITION NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS, WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES, WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE AGENCY REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. NUMBER TWO, USE OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY SHALL BE LIMITED TO STORAGE ONLY UNLESS THE STOR STRUCTURE IS APPROVED FOR A CHANGE OF USE IN OCCUPANCY THROUGH WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS. [01:50:01] NUMBER THREE, IF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY IS TO BE USED FOR THE BUILDING SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ONSITE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY AS DETERMINED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ISSUED FOR THE BUILDING OR THE OPERATION PERMIT ISSUED FOR THE ONSITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, WHICHEVER IS LESSER. NUMBER FOUR, ONSITE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RETAIL SALES SHALL BE PROHIBITED. NUMBER FIVE, THE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT AN ILLUSTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN INCLUDING SCHEMATIC DETAILS ON INGRESS, EGRESS BUILDING LOCATIONS, OFF STREET PARKING, STORAGE, STAGING AREAS WITH SETBACK DISTANCE, THE PROPERTY LINES LABELED SCREENING, LANDSCAPING, OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE PLANNING. STAFF SHALL REVIEW AND APPROVE THE ILLUSTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ZONING. NUMBER SIX, AREAS USED FOR OUTDOOR STORAGE OR STAGING OF EQUIPMENT SHALL BE FULLY SCREENED FROM VIEW AND SHALL BE SET BACK A MINIMUM OF 25 FEET FROM ALL ADJACENT PROPERTY LINES. NUMBER SEVEN, THE APPLICANT SHALL INSTALL A SOLID FENCE ALONG THE REAR OF THE STORAGE AREA PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF ZONING. NUMBER EIGHT, THE APPLICANT SHALL MAINTAIN THE EXISTING TREE LINE ALONG STRASSBURG ROAD AS A BUFFER AND SCREENING FROM THE ROADWAY. AND NUMBER NINE, THE HOURS OF OPERATION SHALL BE BETWEEN 7:00 AM AND 6:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER'S NOTIFIED, AND AGAIN, I CAN'T TELL IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. PUBLIC HEARING'S NOW OPEN, UH, IF THE APPLICANT'S HERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS POINT FOR MR. LYNN? OKAY, MR. HENDERSON, IS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS? UH, YES MA'AM. FIRST UP IS FRANK WALSH. UH, HI, MY NAME IS FRANK WALSH. I'M FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. I LIVE, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO THE PROPERTY AT 73 CEDAR CROSSING LANE AND WE'VE BEEN RESIDENCE OF WARREN COUNTY SINCE 2023. UH, RECENTLY ACTIVITY HAS BEEN OBSERVED AND MORE VEHICLES INCLUDING A VEHICLE LAST NIGHT THAT HAS BEEN, THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT ONTO THE PROPERTY SINCE THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING LAST MONTH. VISIBILITY FROM OUR HOUSE, OUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, OR DRIVING ON CEDAR LANE. UM, THE LOT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED. UM, NO MATTER HOW FAR THE SETBACK FENCE IS IS POSITIONED. THE ELEVATION FAR EXCEEDS THE DEPTH. HE CONTINUES TO BE A JUNKYARD AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE SAID PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED DETERIORATING VEHICLES OF ALL TYPES AND THE LOT REMAIN AND WILL CAUSE WELL WATER CONTAMINATION. THIS IS, THIS IN TURN WOULD CAUSE OUR HOUSE TO DEVALUE. THE UNAPPROVED VDOT ENTRANCE IS AND CONTINUES TO BE A HAZARD TO TRAFFIC AND UPPER SLOPE ONTO THE 55 MILE AN HOUR ROAD WILL ULTIMATELY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND, AND TRAFFIC HAS BEEN SEEN PASSING ON THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE IN THAT AREA. THE HOMEOWNERS HAD HAD A CORDIAL TALK WITH THE HOMEOWNER AFTER THE PLANNING BOARD LAST MONTH. WE CONVEYED OUR CONCERNS AND LISTENED TO WHAT HE HAD HAD TO SAY. HE NEVER RESPONDED TO A DIRECT QUESTION, ASKED ABOUT THE HOA DOCUMENTS AT HIS CLOSING. IN CONCLUSION, WE STILL DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSED BUILDING ESTABLISHMENT OR ANY FUTURE CHANGES TO THIS PARCEL. FURTHERMORE, ALL VEHICLES SHIPPING CONTAINERS, EARTH MOVING VEHICLES, UTILITY VEHICLES STILL NEED TO BE REMOVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. NEXT STEP, NEXT STEP IS PATTY CALLAHAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PATTY CALLAHAN AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT AND I'M REPRESENTING MY FAMILY HERE TONIGHT. WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY 20 YEARS AGO AS A BEAUTIFUL PASTORAL FAMILY SUBDIVISION, WHICH WE SUBDIVIDED INTO SIX LOTS. AND AT THE TIME OUR ATTORNEY ADVISED US TO GET AN HOA GOING AND I THOUGHT, WHAT IN THE WORLD DO WE NEED THAT FOR? UM, SIX LOTS. WE DON'T NEED AN HOA, BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT HE GAVE US THAT ADVICE BECAUSE WE DID ESTABLISH AN HOA, WHICH UM, DOES HAVE GUIDELINES AND BYLAWS AND EVERY PURCHASER OF A PROPERTY HAS, UM, GOTTEN THOSE AT THE, AT CLOSING ACCORDING TO THE TITLE COMPANIES. I'M NOT SURE HOW MR. RIVERA'S PURCHASE WENT THROUGH. I DON'T KNOW IF HE BOUGHT IT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL RATHER THAN A REAL ESTATE AGENT, BUT WE DID HAVE A MEETING [01:55:01] IN APRIL WITH OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION TO MEET WITH ALL OF THE HOMEOWNERS. AND, UM, HE WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE. WE DID SEND HIM A COPY OF VIOLATIONS THAT HE HAS MADE IN OUR SUBDIVISION TO OUR BYLAWS AND HE NEVER RESPONDED TO THOSE. I'VE NEVER MET HIM UNTIL THE NIGHT OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING. SO HE HAS NOT BEEN OPEN AND FORTHCOMING ABOUT WHAT HE IS PROPOSING TO DO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A FAMILY SUBDIVISION. WE HAVE FIVE HOMES SURROUNDING IT AND THEN A JUNKYARD RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. AND, UM, HE'S NOT CARING FOR HIS PROPERTY. ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNERS, UM, TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR PROPERTIES. THEY'RE ALL NEED IS A PIN. HIS, HE'S LET HIS GRASS GROW TO LIKE THREE FEET IN THE SUMMERTIME AND THERE'S PROBABLY 20 UNTAGGED WHITE PANEL VANS SITTING DOWN THERE. AND IT'S JUST, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING THAT SOMEONE WOULD PURCHASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THINK THAT NO ONE IS GONNA STEP UP AND, AND MAKE HIM COMPLY TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE OTHER HOMEOWNERS. SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEEK LEGAL ACTION AFTER THIS, BUT WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DENY THIS REQUEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS BETH FOX. HI, GOOD EVENING. I'M BETH FOX AND MY HUSBAND AND I, WE LIVE ONE LOT FIVE AND WE ARE, WE'RE PROUD TO BE WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS AND LIKE THE CALLAHANS, WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY TOGETHER WITH 34 ACRES AND WE JUST DEVELOPED IT TO MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. WE FEEL VERY, WE'RE UPSET WITH MR. RIVERA BECAUSE HE HASN'T BEEN FORTHCOMING LIKE MRS. CALLAHAN SHARED AND OUR PROPERTY ADJOINS HIS LOT FIVE ADJOINS, LOT TWO. AND THE WAY THE LAY OF THE LAND IS, EVERYONE CAN SEE HIS TOTAL MESS. THERE'S A LOT OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ALSO THAT I WANTED TO SHARE THAT GOES ON DOWN THERE. THEY COME IN THERE AT NIGHT AND WE'VE BEEN SHARING OUR CONCERNS WITH MR. LANCE AND HE'S BEEN SO HELPFUL. HE'S BEEN UP TO OUR PROPERTY TWICE, BEEN TAKING PICTURES. HE'S TRIED TO HELP US IN MANY WAYS. WE'RE THANK YOU, THANKFUL FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT, BUT WE ARE ASKING, PLEASE HELP US AND HAVE THIS MOTION DENIED. UM, WE THINK THAT THERE'S MEN LIVING DOWN THERE. WE'RE ALMOST POSITIVE. WE KNOW THEY COME AND STAY THERE. WE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE THERE ALL THE ALL THE TIME, BUT PROBABLY ARE. AND IT'S NOT SAFE FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO PLAY DOWN THERE. UM, MOST OF THEM DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND THEY COME IN THERE AT TWILIGHT AND AT NIGHT AND THEY MAKE ALL KINDS OF NOISES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT DIGGING FLASHLIGHTS. UM, A LOT OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. UM, OUR NEIGHBOR, CHRISTINA MCCORMICK, WHO WAS THIS PRECIOUS LADY, SHE WAS SO CONCERNED AND UPSET AND FELT FOR HER SAFETY BECAUSE SHE DID THAT LOT. ONE, SHE SOLD HER HOME IN NOVEMBER AND I KNOW SHE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL ABOUT HER, ALSO ABOUT HER, THE THINGS THAT SHE WAS UPSET ABOUT. BUT THE WAY THE LAY OF THE LAND IS, IS JUST NO MATTER WHAT HE WOULD DO, WE WOULD ALL STILL BE SUBJECTED TO IT. WE'D, IT'D BE A VISUAL AS OR AND WE'D JUST ASK YOU, PLEASE HELP US THIS EVENING AND DENY THIS REQUEST. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. I I I KNOW IT'S, UM, HARD NOT TO CLAP FOR PEOPLE, BUT, UM, IF YOU COULD TRY TO REFRAME, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUPS, MA'AM. OKAY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SECOND CALL. ANYONE ELSE? THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. I MAKE A MOTION, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2 5 2 0 2 5 DASH 12 DASH TWO THREE FOR BUILDING SERVICE. ESTABLISHMENT WITH THE CONDITIONS IS RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING STAFF. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET THERE TO SEE IF YOU'RE SERIOUS. I NEVER KNOW ANYMORE. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? I GUESS SECOND. LEMME VOTE IT DOWN. OKAY. THE REASON I MADE IT THIS WAY TO APPROVE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE TO ME IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER RATHER THAN THE, I I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT I MADE THE REASON, I MADE IT THE MOTION TO [02:00:01] APPROVE IT BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLEANER RATHER THAN VOTING YES TO THE NINE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. 'CAUSE THAT GETS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING SOMETIMES AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THINGS, BUT THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LOT CLEANER. SECOND, THAT MOTION IF THAT HELPS. SECOND THE MOTION? YES. OKAY. THERE'S UM, MR. HENDERSON ROLL CALL. SURE. UM, DR. DR. JAMISON? NO. MR. HENRY? NO. MADAM CHAIR? NO. MR. CARTER? NO. MR. STAN? NO. NO. YOU'RE ADDING TO MY GRAY HAIRS. JUST TAKING . ALRIGHTY. ONWARD AND UPWARD HERE. CUP 2025 [F.5. CUP2025-12-04 - Short-Term Tourist Rental - 48 Pineview Drive - A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 48 Pineview Drive and is identified on tax map 13A, section 4, block 7 as lot 3. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the Shenandoah Magisterial District. - Kelly Wahl , Planner] DASH 12 DASH OH FOUR SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL 48 PINE VIEW DRIVE A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM, UH, TOURIST RENTAL. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED 48 PINE VIEW DRIVE IDENTIFIED ON TAX MAP 13. A SECTION FOUR BLOCK SEVEN. LOT THREE. I DO NOT KNOW WHO COMES UP WITH THESE BUT GOD BLESS 'EM. THE PROPERTY IS ZONED AGRICULTURAL AND IS LOCATED IN THE SHENANDOAH MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT. MS. WALL. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR THE PROPERTY SHE PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 24. THE OWNER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR SHORT-TERM LODGING AS A PEACEFUL RETREAT FOR TOURIST AND VISITORS OF THE WARREN COUNTY AREA. THE APPLICANT WILL SERVE AS THE PRIMARY PROPERTY MANAGER WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGER. NO PREVIOUS CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR NOR APPROVED FOR THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. THE DWELLING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1965. THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPAIR PERMIT APPROVING A MAXIMUM OF TWO OCCUPANTS FOR THE TWO BEDROOM DWELLING. THE LOCAL POINT OF CONTACT, JOSEPH GILBERT LIVES WITHIN THE 30, UH, REQUIRED 30 MILE DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN A SUBDIVISION GOVERNED BY AN HOA OR A POA. THE DWELLING ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY MEETS THE MINIMUM SEPARATION REQUIRED FROM NEIGHBORING RESIDENCES WITH THE CLOSEST DWELLING LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 180 FEET TO THE EAST. THE PLANNING COMMISSION MOVED THIS APPLICATION FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO. PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO APPROVE. NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS IN VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. NUMBER TWO. THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE SYSTEM CAPACITY AS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE CERTIFICATE OF ZONING SHALL ONLY BE ISSUED WITH APPROVED HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECORDS. THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE WELL WATER TESTED ANNUALLY FOR E COLI AND CALL FORM BACTERIA IN A COPY OF THOSE RESULTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND NUMBER FOUR, THE APPLICANT SHALL HAVE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM SERVICED EVERY FIVE YEARS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND A COPY OF THE SERVICE INVOICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED. ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. IS THE APPLICANT HERE? OKAY, MOVING ON. UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. WOLF FROM THE BOARD AT THIS POINT? IF NOT, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS? NO MA'AM. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SECOND CALL. ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. DO UH, ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION I'M NOT MAKING THE MOTION THIS TIME. MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER 2025 DASH 12 DASH FOUR FOR SHORT TERM TOURIST RENTAL WITH THE CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF. SECOND. SECOND ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON. MR. STEINMEYER AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAMESON AYE. ALL RIGHTY. Z 2025 [F.6. Z2025-12-01 - Zoning Text Amendments to Modify Front Setback Requirements in the Residential-One (R-1) and Residential-Two (R-2) Zoning Districts - An ordinance to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend the yard requirements for corner lots and accessory structures and to amend the zoning district regulations for the Residential-One (R-1) and Residential-Two (R-2) zoning districts to modify the front yard setback requirements. - Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator] DASH 12 DASH ONE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO MODIFY FRONT SETBACK REQUIREMENTS IN THE RESIDENTIAL R ONE AND RESIDENTIAL R TWO DISTRICTS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 180 OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE TO AMEND THE YARD REQUIREMENTS FOR CORNER LOTS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES TO AMEND THE ZONING DISTRICT RE RES REGULATIONS GOODNESS FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL R ONE AND RESIDENTIAL R TWO ZONING DISTRICTS TO MODIFY THE FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS. MR. LENS? WELL I WON'T REREAD THAT , BUT, UM, I'LL START WITH SAYING THE EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL REDUCTION OF FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS IN THE RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONING DISTRICT WAS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GOAL FOR THIS YEAR. I BELIEVE IT'S CARRIED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. UH, THE PLANNING [02:05:01] COMMISSION HELD A WORK SESSION FOR THIS ITEM ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2025, WHERE PLANNING STAFF PRESENTED A POTENTIAL TEXT AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT FOR STRUCTURES IN THE RESIDENTIAL ONE ZONING DISTRICT FROM 50 FEET TO 35 FEET. THE PLANNING COMMISSION IDENTIFIED THERE ARE SEVERAL VDOT MAINTAINED ROADWAYS LIKE VILLE ROAD AND STRASSBURG ROAD WITH HIGHER SPEED LIMITS WHERE A SETBACK OF 50 FEET IS MORE APPROPRIATE FROM THIS DISCUSSION, PLANNING STAFF DRAFTED A TEXT AMENDMENT PROPOSING A FRONT YARD SETBACK OF 50 FEET FROM STATE ROUTES AND 35 FEET FROM NON-STATE ROUTES. PLANNING STAFF ALSO INCORPORATED THE SAME FRONT YARD SETBACK FORMAT FOR THE RESIDENTIAL TWO ZONING DISTRICT. SINCE THE STATEMENT OF INTENT IN INDICATES A HIGHER DENSITY OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAN THE RESIDENTIAL ONES DISTRICT, AND IT WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE FOR A HIGHER DENSITY ZONING DISTRICT TO HAVE MORE RESTRICTIVE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS. THE AMENDMENTS ALSO MODIFY EXISTING LANGUAGE TO THE YARD REQUIREMENTS FOR CORNER LOTS AND A PROVISION TO ALLOW FOR AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE IN THE FRONT YARD FOR LOTS AFFECTED BY SEVERE ELEVATION CHANGE. THE SUBSECTIONS SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY A FRONT SETBACK REQUIREMENT OF 50 FEET AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BASICALLY JUST SWAP THAT OUT WITH GENERAL LANGUAGE. UM, POINTING TO THE APPLICABLE FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT, SINCE IT MAY HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS THAN 50 FEET. UH, WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THE FRONT YARD SETBACK FOR CORNER LOTS AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURE PROVISION WOULD DEFER TO THE FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS. I HAVE INCLUDED THE STATEMENT OF INTENT FOR BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL ONE AND RESIDENTIAL TWO ZONING DISTRICTS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD THEIR PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM LAST MONTH AND IT WAS MOVED FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. UM, THIS IS A STAFF GENERATED AMENDMENT BASED ON THE BOARD'S GOAL AND UM, SO THERE'S NO APPLICANT, JUST JUST US. SO WE NEED TO WORK ON IT. WE'LL WORK ON IT. UM, BUT UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. QUESTIONS FOR MR. LENS? HE HAD A QUESTION. I I WAS JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS CAME ABOUT. YOU'D MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT MAYBE A, A A A BOARD GOAL IN THE PREVIOUS TENURE OR WHATEVER. UM, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT, THAT, THAT, UM, MADE THIS, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION OR WHAT HAS THERE BEEN A PROBLEM? WELL, WE WERE DIRECTED BY ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE IT FORWARD BECAUSE IT WAS A BOARD GOAL. UM, I WOULD SAY THE OVERALL PROBLEM IS THAT A LOT OF SUBDIVISIONS, ESPECIALLY IN, IN MORE, UM, I GUESS KIND OF SLOPE AREAS ON, ON THE MOUNTAINS HIGH KNOB FOR EXAMPLE, UH, HAVE BEEN BUILT OUT ON ALL OF THE NICE AND EASY TO BUILD LOTS. AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, SOME LESS BUILDABLE, LOTS TO BE, BECOME MORE BUILDABLE WITH, UH, THEM BEING ABLE TO BE CLOSER TO THE FRONT, FRONT YARD LINE. UM, I'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW VARIANCES. A LOT OF THEM ARE FOR LESS THAN 35 FEET, SO IT WON'T ADDRESS ALL OF THEM. UM, BUT THE MOST COMMON VARIANCE WE GET IS TO THE FRONT YARD SETBACK AND IT'S, IT'S MOST OFTEN IN RESIDENTIAL ONE. UM, OKAY. QUESTION WHEN IT SAYS ACCESSORY DWELLING, UM, COULD BE IN THAT FRONT AREA, IS THAT AN ACCESSORY, LIKE A STORAGE OR COULD THAT BE ANOTHER SMALL HOUSE? YES. SO THE CODE BASICALLY SAYS THAT ACCESSORY BUILDING SHALL BE LOCATED IN THE FRONT OR IN THE SIDE AND REAR YARDS ONLY, AND THERE'S LIKE AN ACCEPT CLAUSE. AND THEN, UH, THERE'S A LIST OF EXCEPTIONS TO ALLOW FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER BASED ON THE PROPERTY ACREAGE THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO JUST THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT. SO THOSE ARE UNAFFECTED FRONT SETBACK AND AGRICULTURAL IS 50 FEET AND THAT'S NOT CHANGING. THERE IS HOWEVER, UM, THE LAST EXCEPTION IS FOR ANY PROPERTY OVER TWO ACRES IN SIZE THAT HAS A, A SEVERE ELEVATION CHANGE. UH, I THINK IT'S 40 FEET. UH, AN ELEVATION CHANGE IN THE FIRST 200 FEET OF FRONTAGE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A SINGLE BUILDING TO BE LOCATED IN THE FRONT YARD. BUT THIS IS JUST ACCESSORY BUILDINGS THAT IT WOULD APPLY TO. AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE ARE CROSSING OUT WHERE IT SAYS 50 AND SAYING WHATEVER THE APPLICABLE ZONING DISTRICT IS. SO YOU'RE NOT ADDING A PROVISION, YOU'RE JUST MODIFYING IT SO THAT IT POINTS TO THE DISTRICT REGULATIONS TO PULL THE SETBACK INSTEAD OF SAYING IT'S 50 ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT ON TWO ACRES OR LESS, THEY COULD POSSIBLY PUT ANOTHER ACCESSORY LIVING SPACE VERSUS A STORAGE? NO, THEY CAN'T. SO, NO. YEAH. THE ONLY, UH, PLACE OR DISTRICT IN WARREN COUNTY THAT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ARE ALLOWED IS THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT. THIS IS NATURALLY UNAFFECTED BY IT SINCE IT'S JUST R ONE. UM, IT'S JUST A PROVISION THAT EXISTS TO ALLOW FOR AN ACCESSORY BUILDING LIKE A SHED OR A GARAGE TO BE IN THE FRONT YARD. OKAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, JUST TO, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT THE WATER AND I DON'T WANNA BE VOTING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA INCREASE THE DENSITY IN AN ALREADY COMPROMISED WATER AQUIFER. [02:10:01] SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHAT I'M GETTING READY OF EVERYONE. THANK YOU. UM, IN THE HIGH TOP AREA, WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD ABOUT, WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT A LOT. WHAT IS, IS THAT, WHAT IS THE ZONING THERE? UM, SO THERE'S THE BLUE RIDGE RESERVES CONSERVATION EASEMENT. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT KIND OF WEAVES IN AROUND THOSE LOTS. BUT THE SHENANDOAH FARM SUBDIVISION IN THOSE SECTIONS OFF OF HIGH TOP ROAD ARE IN SHENANDOAH FARMS ARE ALL ZONED RESIDENTIAL ONE. OKAY. THOSE WOULD BE AFFECTED BY IT AS THEY'RE NOT STATE MAINTAINED ROADS. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. WILLIAMS? IF NOT MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, MA'AM. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, MA'AM. HI, KATHLEEN. MANCINI SHENANDOAH DISTRICT. UM, I, I THINK THAT THE GOAL OF THIS IS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HOUSES ON SMALLER LOTS. AND I THINK THAT IN R ONE, UM, DISTRICTS, THAT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE. AND, BUT WHAT MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IS THAT IF YOU DO, UM, DECREASE THAT FRONT YARD SETBACK FROM 50 FEET TO 30 FEET, THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO WIDEN THE ROAD AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO. SO IF YOU DO APPROVE THAT, UM, REDUCTION, THEN I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALSO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF HOUSES THAT ARE ABLE TO BE BUILT ON THESE RURAL ROADS, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT NEED THOSE ROADS TO BE WIDENED, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE WIDENED IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE PROPER SETBACKS. SO IF YOU APPROVE THE SETBACKS TO BE LESS, THEN I THINK YOU SHOULD SET LIMITS TO THE NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT CAN BE BUILT ON THOSE ROADS, OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE CREATING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE TALKED, THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SECOND CALL? YES, SIR. UH, GOOD EVENING. UH, JIM BARNES, UH, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UM, I WOULD ALSO, UH, OPPOSE THIS, UH, UH, THIS CHANGE, UH, TO THE CODE, UM, FROM, JUST FROM LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION SO FAR, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THIS IS, THIS IS BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT. THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO APPLICANT HERE, THE WHO'S, WHO'S PUSHING THIS, WHO'S TRYING TO GET SOMETHING BUILT ON A LOT THAT THEY CURRENTLY CAN'T. UM, AND SO FOR THAT REASON, FOR REALLY, FOR THAT REASON ALONE, UM, I, I DON'T THINK IT, I DON'T THINK IT WARRANTS TINKERING WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, STATUTE AS IT, AS IT READS CURRENTLY, UH, OR AS THE, AS THE CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY. UM, I ALSO WOULD, WOULD, WOULD BE SUSPICIOUS THAT THIS MIGHT OPEN THE DOOR FOR, UH, INCREASED BUILDING ON LOTS THAT, THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY SUITABLE. UM, AND WHILE I CAN CERTAINLY SYMPATHIZE WITH AN OWNER WHO HAS A LOT, WHO THEY CAN'T BUILD ON, UM, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE AND WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT AS FAR AS, UH, OUR CURRENT, UH, WATER SHORTAGES AND, UH, AND, AND, AND CROWDING ISSUES AND, AND ALL OF THAT. SO FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, I WOULD RECOMMEND, OR I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU, UH, DENY THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? LAST CALL. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. UM, I, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT I WORKED ON A PLANNING COMMISSION AT LEAST THREE TIMES NOW. UM, THE 35 FOOT SETBACK, UM, SHOULDN'T CREATE, I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE ONE IN A THOUSAND AND IT, IT MAY MAKE A LOT THAT WAS UN BUILDABLE, BUILDABLE. THE, UH, TYPICALLY LIMITING FACTORS ARE WELL TO, WELL, WELL DE SEPTIC, UM, OR WHAT WAS USED TO SOFTEN THE PROPERTY DENSITY, UM, PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND STUFF. IT, IT WAS, THE INTENT OF THIS IS NOT TO CREATE ANY NEW LOTS, BUT IT'S HOW YOU FINISH WHAT'S LEFT. SO IF YOU TAKE, UH, HIGH KNOBS, PERFECT EXAMPLE, 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE WELLS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LOTS ARE EXISTING, THEY ONLY HAVE SEPTIC SYSTEMS. UH, TYPICALLY THESE MOUNTAIN SUBDIVISIONS WERE CUT IN TO WHERE NEAR THE ROAD IS THE FLATTEST PART OF THE LOT. AND THEN AS THE LOT GETS FARTHER AWAY FROM THE ROAD, IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY STEEPER. AND THEN THERE'S NO SETBACK FROM SEPTIC TO SEPTIC. BUT YOU GET, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S ROCK OR SOMETHING, YOU [02:15:01] KNOW, TYPICALLY AS IT GETS STEEPER, IT GETS MORE ROCKY IS WHAT WE FOUND OUT. YOU DON'T END UP WITH A HOUSE 50 FOOT OFF THE ROAD. THE SEPTIC ENDS UP IN THE FRONT YARD AND THE HOUSE ENDS UP 150 FOOT OFF THE ROAD ON, ON A STEEP LOT. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TOPOGRAPHY, UM, UM, AND THEN THE ONES WITH THE WELLS, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE CLEARING A LOT MORE THAN WE NEED TO, UH, TO GET THE STUFF TO FIT. UH, THE OTHER THING IT DOES FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT IS WE KEEP THE HOUSE CLOSE TO THE ROAD ON A PRIVATE ROAD SUBDIVISION. NOT SIX 19, NOT 55. UM, WE GIVE FIRE AND RESCUE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK 35 FOOT OFF THE ROAD. SO YOU COULD POTENTIALLY DRAG A HOSE, 35 FOOT, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY CARRY A MAN OUT 35 FEET. UH, WE'RE, IF WE'RE CLEARING MORE AND WE'RE PUSHING THE HOUSES FAR OFF THE ROAD, WE GOT A, WE GOT A HIGHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THE OTHER CONCERN WAS TOO, THAT THE SETBACK IS NOT OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. IT'S OFF OF, RIGHT. OF WHAT? SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TYPICALLY, WELL, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT DEL FARMS, A LOT OF THE ROADS ARE NOT IN THE CENTER OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. THEY'RE USUALLY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, BUT, OH, THE ACTUAL SETBACK DOES NOT OCCUR FROM EDGE OF ROAD. IT OCCURS FROM EDGE OF RIGHT OF AWAY, WHICH SOMETIMES ARE 10. AND I'VE SEEN AS MUCH AS 30 FOOT INTO THE LOT. SO THE RIGHT OF WAY IS ALREADY THERE IF THE ROAD WOULD NEED TO BE WIDENED AND IT WOULDN'T IMPACT THAT. BUT, UH, THE, THE PLUSES TO IT WAS, UH, UH, SAFETY. YOU DON'T HAVE THE REAL STEEP DRIVEWAYS, YOU KNOW, UH, IN OTHER WORDS, ON A STEEP LOT OF, UH, OF EVEN A MODERATE TWO TO ONE SLOPE OF MOVING THE HOUSE CLOSER TO THE ROAD 15 FEET, IT COULD RAISE ITS ELEVATION OVER SEVEN FEET. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALMOST A WHOLE STORY THAT THE THING, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF, INSTEAD OF PULLING UP AND ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THE ROOF, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT BETTER, BETTER ACCESS TO THE HOUSE. UM, I THINK IT'S, UM, LESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, SAFER DRIVEWAY, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICEABILITY, UH, UPS, ANY DELIVERIES, FUEL, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS. ALL THE INTENT OF IT. AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT DOES IT, BUT JUST HOUSE SETBACK BECAUSE OF THE WELL TO, WELL, AND WELL TO SEPTIC SETBACKS ARE, WERE REALLY FOR PROPERTY DENSITY. UH, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF INCIDENCES WERE, UH, BEING IN THE INDUSTRY, MAN, WE ENDED UP WITH LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT, IN OTHER WORDS, THE ENGINEERS, IT DOESN'T KILL A LOT. IT JUST HOW WE FIT IT ON THE PAPER. AND THEN WE DO SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK VERY REALISTIC, BUT IT MEETS THE CODE. AND BY DOING THIS, WE DIDN'T CREATE A NEW LOT, BUT MAYBE WE DID SOMETHING THAT MADE MORE SENSE. IF, IF THAT HELPS. SO THE PUBLIC AND THE REST OF THE BOARD. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? UM, MADAM CHAIR, FINDING THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC NECESSITY, CONVENIENCE, GENERAL WELFARE, AND GOOD ZONING PRACTICE. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. SECOND. I'LL SECOND IT. ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMESON. AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? NO. MR. CARTER? NO. MR. STAN MEYER? NO. MR. ALL RIGHT. SALE OF COUNTY [F.7. Sale of County-Owned Real Property located at 0 Hillidge Street, Front Royal, VA 22630 - Alisa Scott, Finance Director] OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT ZERO HILLAGE STREET FOR ROYAL. UM, MS. SCOTT. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE COUNTY HAS DETERMINED THAT ITS VACANT PROPERTY LOCATED AT ZERO HILLAGE STREET, FORT ROYAL, VIRGINIA, 2 2 6 3 0. FURTHER IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP NUMBER TWO ZERO A B12 16 IS SURPLUS PROPERTY OR OF EXCESS NEED THE POTENTIAL REVENUE TO BE DERIVED FROM THE SALE. THE PROPERTY IS BETTER USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE 15.2 DASH 1800 COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS AS AMENDED, THE COUNTY OF WARREN MUST ADVERTISE AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED. THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED ONE OFFER $60,000 FROM ALLY NICHOL, LLC. THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. SCOTT? IF NOT, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS? YES, MA'AM. LOUIS MOTON. GOOD EVENING SUPERVISORS. MADAM CHAIR, MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. UM, I TALKED ABOUT THIS BACK [02:20:01] IN JANUARY 8TH WHEN I SAW THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT TO COME UP. UM, THERE'S A PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE PRICING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I THINK IT WAS LIKE $75,000 THAT WAS ASSESSED AT, AND THEN IT DROPPED DOWN 35% DOWN TO, UH, NO, 34% DOWN TO 49,000 WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE WAS KIND OF GOING UP. UM, THE OFFER IS 60,000, WHICH IS 21% BELOW THE 2024 VALUE, AND 21% ABOVE TO 2025 VALUE. SO, UM, THERE'S AN, AN ADJACENCY CONCERN HERE BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT, RIGHT DOWN THERE. THE, BY THE, THE BUYER IS ACTUALLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT. AND I RAISED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE, WHERE WAS THE FAIR MARKET VALUE APPRAISAL? ALL I SAW WAS THE TAX ASSESSMENT. SO I'M HERE AGAIN, THERE'S NO APPRAISAL. SO THAT, THAT'S MY CONCERN HERE IS I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING OUT ON SOMETHING HERE WHERE IT'S MORE VALUABLE TO THE PERSON RIGHT NEXT TO THAT LOT. IT'S GOT A FIRE HYDRANT, ALL UTILITIES ARE RIGHT THERE IN TOWN. SO THAT IS, UM, THAT'S MY CONCERN. I THINK. I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING A FEW BUCKS OFF OF THIS DEAL. THANKS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MR. HARRIS? NO, MA'AM. THAT'S ALL. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. WHAT? OKAY. GOOD. SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, I WOULD SUGGEST PUTTING THAT PROPERTY ON THE MARKET TO MAXIMIZE THAT POTENTIAL FOR SOME OF THESE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OBJECTION. LAST CALL. ANYONE ELSE? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. ANY DISCUSSION IF NO DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR? THE, THE MOTION IN THERE IS THE OLD AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE. UH, SO IT WOULD BE A, YOU NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY. OKAY. SO IF, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT. COULD I ASK A QUESTION OR TWO? MAYBE? UM, WELL, ANYWAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY. UH, I WAS ON THE BOARD, I DON'T KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE 250 YEARS AGO, UM, WHEN WE PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY. AND THE INTENT THERE WAS, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GONNA NEED ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT, UH, MAYBE PARKING FOR THE SCHOOLS, IF THAT WAS EXPANDED OR WHATEVER. UM, AND WHEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, I THINK THERE WAS A STRUCTURE ON IT. AND I DON'T THINK THE STRUCTURE WASN'T VERY GOOD SHAPE SINCE THAT TIME. I BELIEVE THE COUNTY PURCHASED THE OLD LAUNDROMAT, WHICH HOUSES PART OF, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE AT THIS POINT THAT THAT, AND THERE AGAIN, IT'S LIKE A 10TH OF AN ACRE IF I READ THAT RIGHT. POINT ONE TWO. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S, IT, IT'S, THE COUNTY WILL NEED THAT FOR THE FUTURE. UM, I DON'T KNOW. AND I THINK SOMEBODY MAY, MAY MAY HAVE SAID THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, UM, IF IT'S WORTHWHILE PUTTING IT ON THE MARKET AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE INTERESTED. I DON'T SEE THAT BEING, UH, VERY CONDUCIVE TO ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT. IT, IT, IT, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE, UH, THE GARAGE THERE. AND I THINK HE'S LOOKING AT THAT FOR AT LEAST, UM, OVERFLOW. WELL, IT'S COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. IT IS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. YEAH. AND IT'S 60. THAT'S, YOU CAN'T BUY A RESIDENTIAL $60,000 OF FRONT ROYAL. I, MA'AM. I DON'T, YEAH, WE'RE NOT, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED. I DON'T WANNA I DON'T WANNA STOP, YOU KNOW, BUT I, I HAVE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO, BUT THAT, THAT'S IT TOO. YEAH. I MEAN, AND, AND YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT A IS THE LOT BILLABLE. IT HAD A HOUSE ON IT, BUT THAT WAS PROBABLY BEFORE ZONING AND EVERYTHING. I MEAN, THE HOUSE ON IT WAS AGED. I I WAS STILL UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS TOO NARROW TO BUILD A CURRENT, YOU KNOW, BUT MAYBE I'M, OF COURSE I'M USED TO OUR SETBACKS NOT TOWN. CAN WE GET CHASED BACK HERE TO I DOUBT IT. , BUT NO, I MEAN, I MEAN, THE OTHER, ONLY OTHER THOUGHT WOULD BE IF THE COUNTY FELT IT WAS SOMETHING NEEDED IN THE FUTURE OR THE, THE, THE PRICE WAS INADEQUATE, UM, WE COULD ALWAYS LOOK AT JUST RENTING IT TO THE INDIVIDUAL FOR THE FUTURE. BUT THAT'S JUST THROWING THAT OUT. BUT I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, A 10TH OF AN ACRE AT $60,000, THAT MEANS AN ACRE WOULD BE 600,000. I DON'T KNOW. [02:25:01] I MEAN, WE CAN EITHER DO SOMETHING TONIGHT OR AT LEAST TABLE TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER. UH, BUT RIGHT NOW I DON'T REALLY SEE A, A BIG OBJECTION TO GOING FORWARD WITH IT. IT'S, RIGHT NOW IT'S SITTING THERE NOT PRODUCING ANY INCOME FOR THE COUNTY, AND WE AT LEAST GET 60,000 BACK. SO I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU ALL. 'CAUSE I GET IN TROUBLE WHEN I MAKE MOTIONS. I, I DO AGREE. IF WE'RE NOT GONNA USE IT, I'D LIKE TO SAY IT BACK IN THE TAX BASE. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A A RESIDENTIAL OR A TOWN BUILDING LOT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS PROBABLY GOT A LITTLE MORE VALUE THAN 60. BUT, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY A SMALL ONE OF THEM IS, YOU KNOW, A QUARTER ACRE. UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S MANY TENTHS OF AN ACRE. LOTS THAT, UH, WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, QUOTE, A BUILDING LOT, UH, HIGH VALUE BUILDING LOT. UH, BUT IT, BUT I'LL BE DISCRETION IF, IF, UH, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO CHECK AND SEE IF IT'S ACTUALLY BUILDABLE WITH THE TOWN, YOU KNOW? 'CAUSE IT WOULD BE THEIR SETBACKS. I MEAN, I'D BE WILLING TO TABLE IT, BUT IF IT'S NOT BUILDABLE, I FOR A 10TH OF AN ACRE, IF IT'S NOT BUILDABLE, I THINK 60,000 IS VERY FAIR. UM, I KNOW WE HAD AN APPRAISAL ONE WAY AND THEN AN APPRAISAL THE OTHER WAY. AND THIS IS KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE. SO, UH, FROM THAT STANDPOINT, UM, FROM THIS ON COMMERCE AVENUE, ISN'T IT COMMERCIAL, IT'S ACROSS THE STREET NEXT TO THE AUTUMN REPAIR THAT'S ON COMMERCE, RIGHT? MM-HMM . IS THIS COMMERCIAL THEN? RIGHT? SO IT, IT PROBABLY A 10, IT'S A 10TH OF AN ACRE AND NOBODY'S GOING TO, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A, A RESIDENCE. I, I I DON'T THINK IT'S BUILDABLE. NO. OR, UH, OR RE WELL, I SAID RESIDE. I THINK IT'S TRIANGULAR TOO. YEAH. I, I DIDN'T SEE THE PLAT IN HERE THIS TIME, BUT I, I DON'T THINK IT'S A BUILDABLE LOT, IF ANY. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHETHER IT'S A STANDALONE BUILDABLE LOT COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL? I, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS, BUT I, I, YOU KNOW, I JUST SEEN 10TH OF AN ACRE AND I KNOW IT WOULDN'T BE MOST PLACES. BUT MR. HAM, SINCE WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE HAVE THESE KIND OF QUESTIONS, COULD WE CONTINUE, UM, GET THOSE ANSWERS AND THEN PUT THIS ON A FUTURE? YEAH. I MEAN, YOU, YOU'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING SO YOU COULD MOVE TO TABLE IT. YEAH. PUBLIC HEARING WAS ALREADY CLOSED. WHAT WE COULD DO, WE COULD GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE THE, UH, MAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE, UH, ANY DECISION TONIGHT. I WOULD THINK THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE TO PUSH THAT OFF PROBABLY TO THE SECOND MEETING. UM, SINCE THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED IN WHAT WE NORMALLY WANNA HAVE DURING THE, UM, THE DAY MEETINGS. AND THEN THAT WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORT, UH, AT THAT POINT. AND, AND HOPEFULLY THE, THE BUYER WHO'S NOT HERE WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT. I MEAN, THE ONLY OTHER PEOPLE I COULD THINK THAT COULD BE POSSIBLY INTERESTED IN IT WOULD BE VALLEY HEALTH, BUT THAT'S SO FAR REMOVED FROM, UH, I THINK THEY, UH, FROM THEIR, UM, FACILITY THERE. BUT IF THAT'S OKAY, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE TILL THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH, WHICH WOULD BE 17TH. MM-HMM . IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECOND ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. MR. STAN MEYER. AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAMESON? AYE. ALL RIGHT. ORDINANCE [F.8. Ordinance Repealing Chapter 7 for the formation of a Warren County Library Board] REPEALING CHAPTER SEVEN FOR THE FORMATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD. LEMME FIND THAT HERE. SINCE ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2024, THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER SEVEN FOR THE FORMATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AS AN ADDITION TO THE WARREN COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, WHICH CREATED A COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD CONSISTING OF FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. UM, TONIGHT'S IS A, A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REPEALING THAT AND DOING AWAY WITH CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE, IN THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD. SO, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. AND MR. ANDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS? UH, FIRST UP IS LOUIS MOTEN LEWIS MOTON OF THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. I PROMISE IS THE LAST TIME YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME TONIGHT. UM, I AM SPEAKING TONIGHT AS A RESIDENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY. UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, UM, THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE A NEW PERFORMANCE, [02:30:02] NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR LIBRARY SERVICES. IT INITIALLY ADOPTED BYLAWS AND PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FUTURE DIRECTION. SINCE IT HAS ADOPTED ITS BYLAWS, IT HAS NOT PUBLICLY HELD A MEETING. AND, UH, THE TRANSITION IT WAS CONNECTED TO DID NOT MATERIALIZE. UH, AT THIS POINT, THE ORDINANCE REMAINS ON THE BOOKS, AND THE BOARD ITSELF IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS AN ACTIVE BODY GOVERNING. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE SHOULD EXIST FOR A CLEAR, ONGOING PURPOSE. WHEN A BOARD IS NO LONGER MEETING OR CARRYING OUT A DEFINED ROLE, MAINTAINING THE ORDINANCE CREATES CONFUSION RATHER THAN CLARITY. REPEALING AN INACTIVE STRUCTURES NOT IN INDICTMENT OF THE PAST, IS SIMPLY ADMINISTRATIVE HOUSEKEEPING MOVING FORWARD. WHAT MATTERS MOST IS A STABLE, CLEAR, CLEARLY DEFINED FRAMEWORK FOR THE, FOR THE LIBRARY FUNDING AND OVERSIGHT WHEN IT OPERATES CONSISTENTLY AND TRANSPARENT TRANSPARENTLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT STEP IS JIM JAMES BARNES. UH, GOOD EVENING. UH, JIM BARNES FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UM, IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO, UH, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS AGO. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN, BUT, UH, DEFINITELY BEFORE THE CURRENT BOARD, UH, WAS SEATED, UM, IN ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE MEETINGS DURING THE, UH, UH, DURING SUPERVISOR REPORTS, UH, SUPERVISOR JAMESON GAVE A FAIRLY LONG AND, AND DETAILED DISSERTATION, UH, RECOUNTING THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE LIBRARY, THE LIBRARY BOARD, THE DEFUNDING, OR NOT DEFUNDING, DEPENDING ON WHO HE LISTENED TO, UH, OF THE LIBRARY. UM, IN HIS, UH, IN HIS REPORT, HE, UH, ELABORATED ON, OH, AT THIS POINT, UH, THE COUNTY DID THIS, AND THEN THE LIBRARY DID THAT. AND THEN THE COUNTY SAID THIS, AND THE LIBRARY SAID THAT. AND AT VARIOUS POINTS HE INTERJECTED THAT WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED HERE OR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HERE WAS THIS. AND I WON'T, I, I COULDN'T RECOUNT EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID, BUT THE SUBSTANCE, SUB AND SUBSTANCE WAS BASICALLY, YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO ME AND YOU DIDN'T, AND THAT WAS WRONG. UM, I WOULD INTERJECT A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THAT, AND I WOULD COUNT, I WOULD LOOK BACK TO DECEMBER 12TH, UH, I'M SORRY, DECEMBER 10TH, 2024, UH, WHEN THE FIRST MEETING FOR THE CREATION OF THE LIBRARY BOARD WAS HELD, AND OVER SOMETHING AROUND 90% OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE OPPOSED TO THE CREATION OF THE LIBRARY BOARD. BUT YET SUPERVISOR JAMESON AND HIS THEN IN POWER CABAL ON THE, ON THE BOARD, CHOSE TO DISREGARD THE WISHES OF ALL, OF, VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE. AND YOU WENT AHEAD AND CREATED THE LIBRARY BOARD. NOW, WE BRING, COME TO TODAY, THE TABLES HAVE TURNED SOMEWHAT THANKFULLY, I HOPE, I EXPECT, I ASSUME THAT WE WILL SEE A DISSOLUTION TO THE LIBRARY BOARD. UM, AND I WOULD JUST REMIND ALL OF YOU NOT POINT ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR, ALL OF YOU, THAT YOUR PURP, YOUR JOB ON THE BOARD IS TO REPRESENT THE WISHES OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS AS A WHOLE AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, IN PARTICULAR, NOT MERELY YOUR OWN WISHES. AND HAD YOU DONE THAT BACK THEN, WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. HOLD IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE. UM, NEXT UP IS BETHANY O'NEILL. BETHANY, BETHANY O'NEILL, NORTH RIVER, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THE BOOKS AND MEDIA AND SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, LET'S LET THIS NIGHTMARE IN TONIGHT. FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I'VE USED THREE MINUTES RELIGIOUSLY TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO GIVE THE FUNDING BACK TO THE LIBRARY TONIGHT. I'LL KEEP IT SHORT. SUPERVISOR COLORS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENDURING SUPPORT SUPERVISOR CARTER AND HENRY. I HOPE YOU'LL STICK TO YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES SUPERVISOR STAN MEYER. I STILL HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON YOU AND JAMISON, I'LL SAVE MY BREATH. MY REQUEST IS TO DISMANTLE THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AND GIVE SAMUELS THEIR FULL FUNDING. ONWARD AND UPWARD. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SAMANTHA GOODE. HI, I'M SAMANTHA GOODE WITH THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAFE SAMUELS LIBRARY PACK. I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE DEDICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE [02:35:01] TONIGHT, YET AGAIN TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SHOWING UP, SPEAKING UP, AND FIGHTING FOR SAMUELS FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS NOW. WE GAVE HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE FORMER BOARD, MAJORITY COMMENTS THAT THEY NOT ONLY REFUSE TO HEAR, BUT ALSO LOUDLY AND REPEATEDLY DISPUTED WITH PERPETUAL LIES AND CLAIMS OF SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE. HOWEVER, TONIGHT I AM MORE HOPEFUL THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN. AS I MAKE MY PUBLIC COMMENT, I AM HOPEFUL THAT MY VOICE AS WELL, THOSE OF ALL OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL ACTUALLY BE HEARD. BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE STRONGEST STAND THAT WE COULD, WE CAME OUT AND VOTED FOR SUPERVISORS WHO CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS, NOT JUST THEMSELVES AND THEIR FRIENDS. SO TONIGHT I DIRECT MY COMMENTS TO SUPERVISOR CARTER AND HENRY WHO WERE RECENTLY ELECTED, AS WELL AS SUPERVISOR CU, WHO HAS HELD THE LINE ALONE FOR TOO LONG. AS FOR THE OTHER TWO OF YOU, YOU HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. SO I DON'T CARE IF YOU LISTEN OR NOT. YOUR TERMS WILL BE UP SOON ANYWAY. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT BE REELECTED. AS THIS COMMUNITY HAS REPEATEDLY STATED, WE DO NOT APPROVE OF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, NOR DID WE EVER AS A NONPROFIT, THE STANDARDS TO WHICH SAMUELS IS HELD ALREADY EXCEED THAT OF THE COUNTY. IN ADDITION, SAMUELS HAS COMPLIED WITH EVERY LEGAL REQUEST THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS MADE. THEREFORE, THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUPERFLUOUS. IT WAS MERELY A TOOL BY WHICH THE FORMER BOARD MAJORITY AND THEIR FRIENDS HOPE TO GAIN CONTROL OF SAMUEL'S COLLECTION, AN EXPENSIVE TOOL AT THAT. THE COUNTY HAS NOW SPENT MORE THAN $70,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY ON LEGAL AND OTHER FEES RELATED TO THE ATTACK ON THE LIBRARY. BUT TONIGHT, YOU CAN FIX THE DAMAGE THAT THE FORMER BOARD MAJORITY WR YOU CAN VOTE TO REPAIR OUR COMMUNITY BY REPEALING CHAPTER SEVEN, DISSOLVING THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, AND MOVING FORWARD TO REPAIR THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY, COUNTY AND SAMUELS. WE VOTED FOR YOU. NOW IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO VOTE FOR US. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS AMY RATLIFF. AMY RATLIFF, HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT. AS I STAND HERE TONIGHT, I WANNA THANK A FEW PEOPLE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, CHAIRWOMAN CHERYL COLORS. YOU HAVE BEEN DEDICATED AND LOYAL TO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY. REGARDLESS IF THAT CAME WITH EXTREME CRITICISM BOTH ON THE PREVIOUS BOARD AND OUTSIDE OF IT, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR AWARD-WINNING LIBRARY. YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON TO TONY CARTER AND HUGH HENRY. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, IT'S PATRONS AND THIS COMMUNITY, AND KEEPING WITH THAT SAME SPIRIT AND HONORING YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISE PROMISES TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. LAST, AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, SAMANTHA GOODE, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS I COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR AND DEFINED THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. YOUR DETERMINATION AND GRIT THROUGH ALL OF THIS AS OUR FEARLESS, SAFE, SAMUEL'S LEADER HAS BEEN TRULY INSPIRING. I WILL ALWAYS BE IN AWE OF YOU. NOW, THE OTHER TWO OF YOU ON THE BOARD, WHEN I THINK OF YOU, I'M REMINDED OF THE TWO EVIL STEPSISTERS AND CINDERELLA CONSTANTLY TRYING TO BRING DOWN THE HEROINE, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, USING ANY TRICK OR DISTRACTION AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO KEEP FUNDING AWAY THAT ENDS. NOW, I KNOW THAT THIS BOARD, AS IT STANDS, WILL DISSOLVE THE LIBRARY BOARD AND ALLOW SAMUELS TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE THROUGH FUNDING. AND YOU KNOW WHAT VOTERS TURNED OUT IN RECORD NUMBERS. AND GUESS WHAT? OUR VOICES WEREN'T SILENCED. NEXT UP IS KARA YOUNG. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KARA ALDER YOUNG, AND I'M FROM THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT. I GREW UP IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND SAMUELS MATTERS DEEPLY TO ME. SO I WANT TO JOIN THE CHORUS OF VOICES HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF DISSOLVING THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND FULLY RESTORE COUNTY FUNDING TO OUR LIBRARY WITH OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES. THIS COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN CLEARLY. IT'S TIME TO TURN THE PAGE, PUT THIS CONFLICT BEHIND US, AND INVEST IN WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JOHN JENKINS. [02:40:22] JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UH, SO MY LAST TIME HERE TONIGHT, UH, YES, THE, UH, THE REPEAL OF THAT BOARD I THINK IS A LONG TIME COMING. UH, WHEN IT, WHEN WAS PUT IN THE ACTION ALMOST A YEAR AGO, IT BASICALLY DIVIDED A COMMUNITY. IT DIVIDED A BOARD, IT CREATED A LOT OF ANGER AND ANIMOSITY WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE. UH, A LOT OF THAT ANGER AND STUFF WAS DIRECTED AT THE BOARD. DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I ONE, PROBABLY A GUILTY OF THAT. I'M WILLING TO STAND THERE TONIGHT AND TELL YOU I APOLOGIZE FOR THE THINGS THAT I MAY HAVE SAID OUTTA LINE. UH, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THE BOARD WORK TOGETHER, THE COMMUNITY COME BACK TOGETHER AND MAKE IT WORK. COUNTY GREAT. AGAIN. THAT'S MY SHIRT, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT STEP IS JARED HILL. GOOD EVENING. I'M JARED HILL. Y'ALL MY FRIENDS CALL ME PARSON AND MADAM CHAIR, IT IS SO NICE TO SEE YOU BACK IN THAT SEAT. THE LAST FEW YEARS, OUR COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF CONFLICT, OUTRAGE, BEWILDERMENT, AND PAIN. AS OUR BELOVED AND HISTORIC AWARD-WINNING PUBLIC LIBRARY, SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS ATTACKED AND BESIEGED ALONG WITH THE INTEGRITY AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR COUNTY AND THE PRIDE OF OUR PEOPLE. AND I NEED NOT RETELL EVERY DETAIL 'CAUSE Y'ALL WERE THERE. HOWEVER, AS INSULTING AS THE UNWARRANTED ASSAULT AGAINST FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM TO READ, AND THE HERITAGE OF OUR HOME HAS BEEN A STAND HERE TODAY, FEELING BLESSED AND MY SPIRITS ARE LIFTED, MY FAITH RENEWED BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE BY OUR COMMUNITY TO STAND UP, STEP UP, STEP ACROSS POLITICAL AISLES AND COME TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY ON THIS ISSUE, HAS REJUVENATED CIVIL ENGAGEMENT AND BROUGHT US TOGETHER. FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE SHARED COMMON SPACE ARE NOW JOINED IN COMMON CAUSE. FORMER FOES, NOW FRIENDS, FORGED AN ALLIANCE. THIS COUNTY IS MORE UNITED, COLLECTIVELY ENGAGED AND COORDINATED THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. AND ALL IT TOOK WAS A PERVERSE NOTION FROM A TINY GUILD OF DOGMA, DRUNK ZEALOTS TO AWAKEN THE FORCE OF GOOD NEIGHBORS. Y'ALL PICK THE WRONG LIBRARY TO PICK ON. Y'ALL PICK THE WRONG PEOPLE TO BULLY. AND Y'ALL P****D OFF THE WRONG COUNTY. AND WE WILL NOT YIELD TIME TO END THIS MISGUIDED CRUSADE AND REPEAL. CHAPTER SEVEN, DISSOLVE. WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUPS, MA'AM. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? CHRIS NELSON, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT. I'M GONNA KEEP THIS SIMPLE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BELIEVED AND ACTED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE FULL POWER, WITH THE FULL POWER OF THEIR ELECTED OFFICE, THAT A PICTURE BOOK CAN MAKE A CHILD GAY. THAT THE LIBRARY, OUR LIBRARY FUNDED IN 1799 NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT QUEER PEOPLE EXISTED. THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS. YOU USED YOUR SEATS, YOUR VOTES, AND TAXPAYER MONEY TO DO IT. YOU WENT AFTER THEIR BOOKS, THEIR VISIBILITY, THE SENSE OF BELONGING. YOU DEFUNDED AN AWARD-WINNING INSTITUTION. YOU HUMILIATED THE COUNTY ON A NATIONAL STAGE. HERE'S WHAT YOU DIDN'T COUNT ON. QUEER PEOPLE HAVE AN ARMY STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM. THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR COWORKERS, THEIR FRIENDS. PEOPLE WHO NEVER ONCE SET FOOT IN A GOVERNMENT MEETING SHOWED UP MONTH AFTER MONTH FOR 16 HOURS UNTIL 2:00 AM THEN THEY VOTED YOU OUT. YOU CANNOT HURT PEOPLE AND EXPECT TO GET AWAY WITH IT. THE MOMENT YOU COME FOR PEOPLE'S DIGNITY, SOMEONE'S SAFETY, SOMEONE'S RIGHT TO SIMPLY EXIST. YOU WILL BE MET EVERY SINGLE TIME. SO TONIGHT, AS THIS BOARD NEW BOARD CORRECTS COURSE, I WANT THE LESSON TO BE HEARD CLEARLY DO NOT HURT PEOPLE. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW CERTAIN YOU ARE THAT YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS JUSTIFY IT. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOU DRESS IT UP IN GOVERNANCE, LANGUAGE OR PHYSICAL CONCERN OR TRANSPARENCY, [02:45:01] THEATRICS. WHEN YOUR GOAL IS TO ERASE PEOPLE, WE WILL FIGHT BACK. WARREN COUNTY IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE PUT US THROUGH. SAMUEL'S LIBRARY PROVED THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN THEY STAYED OPEN WITHOUT A SINGLE DOLLAR OF COUNTY FUNDING AND WATCHED YOU TWIST THE KNIFE BY DUELING IT OUT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, NO MATTER HOW DESERVING THEY MAY HAVE BEEN, BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY REFUSED TO LET IT BURN TO THE GROUND. HISTORY WILL REMEMBER WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE. EVERY VOTE, EVERY NAME, I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE SURE IT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN OR REWRITTEN. YOU WERE WARNED AND YOU LOST. YOU'LL KEEP LOSING EVERY RACE, EVERY SEAT, EVERY ELECTION IN THIS COUNTY. 2027 IS COMING. WE'LL BE THERE. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? I WOULD. UH, OKAY. I AM, UH, JOHN CERMACK FROM NANDO DISTRICT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, LEAVE. I HOPE I'M ONE OF THE LAST WORDS WITH, UM, I HOPE THAT WE CAN, AS SOMEONE ELSE SAID TONIGHT, WORK TOGETHER. UH, THIS IS A TOUGH JOB THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE. I AM TRULY AMAZED AND WE HAVE TALENTED PEOPLE HERE THAT COULD USE THEIR SKILLS TO ATTACK SOME OF THE TOUGH PROBLEMS HERE. AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. AND AS, UH, MY REPRESENTATIVE, MR. STAN MEYER, I HOPE THAT YOU MIGHT VOTE TONIGHT, UM, WITH THE LIBRARY. THIS IS NOT A, A WAR, THOUGH. IT MAY APPEAR THAT WAY. THIS IS MISGUIDING, PEOPLE WANTING TO CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE'S WAYS WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU JOHN. HI, KATHLEEN MANCINI, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT. UM, ONE OF THE MAIN ARGUMENTS I HEARD FOR HAVING THIS, UM, LIBRARY BOARD WAS BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE TAXPAYERS MAKING THE DECISION ON THE FUNDING OF THE LIBRARY. SO I ASKED THE LIBRARY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THEIR BOARD, THE SAMUELS LIBRARY BOARD, THEY ALL LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY. SO THEY ARE ALL TAXPAYERS, UH, WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS, AND ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS. SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE ENOUGH WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS THAT CAN RESOLVE THIS WITHOUT ELECTING OR APPOINTING CERTAIN WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS TO MAKE THAT DECISION WHO ARE NOT AS INVOLVED AS THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE WHO WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS ON THE LIBRARY BOARD AND Y'ALL, I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH, WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS TO MAKE THE DECISION ON FUNDING THE LIBRARY. SO I HOPE YOU'LL DISSOLVE THIS WARREN COUNTY, UM, UH, BOARD, LIBRARY BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LAST CALL. ANYONE ELSE? STEVIE HUBBARD, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. I HOPE THAT TONIGHT EVERYBODY'S GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO AND DISMANTLE THIS, UH, BOARD THAT WAS JUST BUILT OUT OF HATE AND BIGOTRY, RIGHT? AND IT REALLY WAS HARD ON OUR COUNTY. AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE COUNTY FOR SO MANY PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. AND I JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND SMILE AND SAY, LIKE I TOLD YOU IN THE BEGINNING, LOVE ALWAYS CONQUERS HATE. AND SO YOU JUST GOTTA GO WITH THE FLOW. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. THAT'S WHAT THE GOOD BOOK SAYS, JAMESON. SO, UM, I HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE DON'T TRY TO DEMONIZE THEM. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF US ARE DIFFERENT. AND IT'S OKAY FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T JUST LIKE YOU TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FOR THEMSELVES TOO. YOU, YOU ARE, YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT THE BLUEPRINT ANYBODY WANTS TO FOLLOW. AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU ALL DO THE RIGHT THING, VOTE THE RIGHT WAY TONIGHT, AND HEAR THE VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY THAT CAME TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE. [02:50:01] UM, AND REPRESENT THE CONS, CONSTITUENTS YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT AND DO THEIR WILL AND NOT YOUR OWN PERSONAL BIGOTED ATTACKS. AND THAT'S ALL. OKAY. I HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. ANY DISCUSSION? UM, YEAH, I, UM, IT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I ASKED. WE PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY TO RE-LOOK AT THIS, UH, LIBRARY BOARD. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF OUR MEETING SCHEDULE, THAT'S WHY I WAS PUSHED BACK TO, UH, FEBRUARY. UM, SO HERE WE ARE. THE, UH, AND THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING TO, AND I THINK THAT RUMOR WAS FLOATED THAT I WAS GONNA BACKTRACK ON SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY BECAUSE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS WERE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD WAS, UM, MAYBE THAT COULD BE AN EXTRA LAYER OF, UH, FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT. BUT THEN IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD WAS CREATED TO OVERSEE THE LIBRARY THAT THEY HAVE NO, UH, NO CONTROL OVER. SO I FULLY SUPPORT DISSOLVING THIS AT THIS POINT. UM, THE FINANCES, I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE, THE LIBRARY BOARD AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND TO GO OVER AND I THINK IN A COUPLE WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA, UH, THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THEIR BUDGET PRESENTATION, UH, TO GO OVER THINGS. I KNOW THEY GET AUDITED. I, I THINK THEY'RE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO TELL US WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND TO SHOW US ANYTHING THAT WE ACTUALLY ASK FOR. UM, AND THEN, AND I THINK WHEN I CAME, IT WAS, WHAT, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN THEY BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE LIBRARY. AND THE THING OF IT IS, YOU KNOW, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO HAVE MORE INVOLVEMENT. AND I THINK THE LIBRARY'S OPEN. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE TAXPAYERS ELECTED EACH ONE OF US. WE LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET, WE HAVE FINAL SAY OVER THEIR BUDGET IF WE GIVE 'EM EVERYTHING THEY WANT OR WE REDUCE IT OR WHATEVER. SO I THINK THE OVERSIGHT IS THERE, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE JUST TO MAKE SURE. AND, UH, I WON'T SAY ANYMORE ABOUT THAT. BUT THEY WILL TELL YOU ONE THING AND KIND OF, UM, VERIFY WHY I'M SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY THE WAY I AM. I WENT OVER AND VISITED MY SON IN CAIRO AND, UH, ROGER CAIRO'S IN EGYPT, BY THE WAY, . SO, SO WE WOUND UP, UH, UH, GOING TO RESORT IN THE SINAI PENINSULA AND THE SINAI PENINSULA. THEY HAVE, IT'S CALLED ST. CATHERINE'S MONASTERY. IT'S THE OLDEST CONTINUOUS MONASTERY IN THE WORLD, OVER 1400 YEARS OLD. AND IT WAS IN TRIBUTE TO ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA. SHE WAS A YOUNG LADY, TEENAGER OF NOBILITY. SHE STUDIED, SHE LOVED TO LEARN. SHE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. AND SO THAT DIDN'T SET WELL WITH THE EMPEROR. SO HE BROUGHT HIS PHILOSOPHERS IN TO DEBATE HER. AFTER THE DEBATE, HALF THE PHILOSOPHERS CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. AND THE THING THAT IS REALLY KIND OF NEAT, AND I KNOW I TOLD SOME OF YOU SO I WON'T ASK, SHE WAS ACTUALLY THE PATRON SAINT OF LIBRARIES, STUDENTS, AND LIBRARIANS. AND JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, AND MR. HAM WILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS, SHE WAS ALSO THE PATRON SAINT OF ATTORNEYS . SO, BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE ON. THERE'S BEEN TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THIS ISSUE, AND MEANWHILE, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS NEED ATTENTION. I CAN, I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST, BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO START CONSTRAIN ON. AND, UH, I DON'T MEAN TO STEAL WHAT HE SAID, BUT LET'S MAKE WARREN COUNTY GREAT AGAIN. SO ANYONE ELSE? UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD, I'D MENTIONED DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH ANY BOARD COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ALL ALWAYS FELT THAT THE, EACH DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THE SUPERVISOR, SHOULD, UH, ENLIST SOMEONE FROM HIS DISTRICT, UH, FOR ANY C PLANNING COMMISSION, DZA, YOU KNOW, A LIBRARY BOARD IF HE NEEDED ONE, REALLY DON'T THINK HIS BOARD IS NEEDED. BUT, UH, A MORE OBJECTION TO THE WAY IT WAS APPOINTED. UH, IN OTHER WORDS, A FEW COMES IN AND APPOINTS A PLAN OR IN A BZA AND WHATEVER OTHER COMMITTEE, AND HE DOES A BAD JOB, UH, WHEN HE GOES OUT, UH, ASSOCIATE SHOULD HIS COMMITTEE. SO, UH, I THINK YOU SHOULD, UH, BE RESPONSIBLE, OR AT LEAST IN PART, IF YOU CAN GET REPRESENTATION FROM YOUR DISTRICT. AND THEN ALSO THINK ANY, ANY BOARD OR SUBCOMMITTEES SHOULD ALSO HAVE A TERM LIMIT. AND I THINK THAT TERM LIMIT SHOULD COINCIDE WITH THE BOARD MEMBER THAT HELPED APPOINT HIM. SO, [02:55:01] LIKE I SAY, IF HE DOES A BAD JOB, HE'S GOTTA GO NEXT TIME, AND HE PUT A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS IN HERE, THOSE PROBLEMS CAN GO WITH HIM OR VICE VERSA. SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE, ONE OF MANY REASONS. BUT, UH, THAT ONE I HAD MENTIONED DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND, UH, LIBRARY'S BEEN A BIG PART OF THE COMMUNITY. IT, IT OBVIOUSLY SHOWED AT THE POLLS. UH, WHEN I DID THE DOOR KNOCK CAMPAIGN, IT WAS ONE, IT WAS NUMBER ONE TOPIC. UH, WHEN I KNOCKED DOORS IN TOWN THROUGH MY DISTRICT, I DIDN'T GET 'EM ALL, BUT I GOT A BUNCH. I WAS GETTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STEPS AN AFTERNOON GETTING THEM. BUT, UH, SO IT WAS A BIG DEAL. UH, VOTERS SPOKE AND, UH, I I'M, I'M SUPPORTING THE, UH, REMOVAL OF IT. ANYONE ELSE? I'LL SAY A COUPLE THINGS. OKAY. I, I THINK ALL ALONG, UM, WHAT MY INTENT WAS WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD WAS SOMETHING THAT SUPERVISOR CARTER JUST MENTIONED IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT NEED ATTENTION. AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT AS A WAY TO GET A BIG DISTRACTION OFF OF OUR PLATE. UM, THE, UH, MY MOTIVES HAVE BEEN MISCHARACTERIZED ALL ALONG. AND, AND THAT'S OKAY. UM, I HAVE NEVER COME AT THIS FROM A PLACE OF, OF HATE OR BIGOTRY, THOUGH. UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE CREATED IT, I POINTED OUT THAT 95% OF MUNICIPALITIES IN VIRGINIA HAVE A LIBRARY BOARD. IT, IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE AN EXTREME THING. UM, BA BASED ON THAT. I'M CONFLICTED, YOU KNOW, TO REPEAL IT. UH, BUT I'M ALSO REALISTIC. AND I, I SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE AND, AND WHAT, UH, PEOPLE HAVE STOOD UP AND ASKED FOR. AND, UH, SO BASED ON THAT, I'M, I'M GOING TO, THIS SEEMS LIKE A COP OUT, BUT I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO, UH, CAST, UH, SHADE ON MY ORIGINAL DECISION BY VOTING AGAINST IT. UM, I, I ALSO, UH, AT THIS POINT THINK I'LL JUST ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE AND COUNT THAT AS A MIDDLE, MIDDLE OF THE WAY VOTE. I DON'T WANNA STAND IN THE WAY OF, OF THIS GETTING BEHIND US. UH, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, I DO HAVE A STATEMENT. LET ME FIRST ADDRESS ANY LINGERING SUSPENSE ABOUT MY INTENTIONS. UH, THE MAJORITY HAS THE VOTES ON THIS MOTION. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF ATTEMPTING TO PROLONG THIS MATTER OR KEEP IT ALIVE, PROCEDURALLY, OR ANY OTHER WAY GOING FORWARD. WHAT I DO INTEND TO DO IS PUT SEVERAL THINGS ON THE RECORD BEFORE WE PROCEED IN THE INTEREST OF WHAT I'LL CALL INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY, AND THEN PERHAPS THE OPTIMISTIC BELIEF THAT THE ACCURATE HISTORY OCCASIONALLY SERVES SOME PURPOSE. I WANT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIVE CITIZENS WHO SERVED ON THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, ERIC BELK, DEAN JACKS, VERONICA RANIERI, VICKI COOK, AND FRANK GRESHAM. THEY STEPPED FORWARD TO SERVE IN A LAWFULLY CREATED PUBLIC BODY DOUBT. WHAT THEY RECEIVED IN RETURN WAS MONTHS OF ORGANIZED PERSONAL ATTACK, COORDINATED WELL-RESOURCED AND SUSTAINED WITH AN INTENSITY THAT BORE NO RELATIONSHIP WHATSOEVER TO ANYTHING THESE INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY DID. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THESE FIVE FOR THEIR SERVICE. AND WHAT, AND THAT I WANT TO GR GRATITUDE STATED PLAINLY FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE RECORD. 'CAUSE THE PUBLIC MEMORY OF THIS DEBATE HAS BEEN CREATIVELY CURATED. LET ME DESCRIBE WHAT WAS ACTUALLY AT ISSUE. WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS PROVIDE MORE THAN 70% OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARIES OPERATING REVENUE DIRECTLY. THE TOTAL PUBLIC FUNDING REACHES ROUGHLY 90% OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT RUNNING THIS INSTITUTION. THE COUNTY OWNS THE BUILDING AND EXCHANGE FOR THAT. WARREN COUNTY HAS HELD ONE SEAT ON A 16 MEMBER SAMUEL'S BOARD, ONE SEAT ON 90 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR. WE HEARD THIS 20 MILLION IN 2023. IN 2020. BEING RESPECTFUL. THANK YOU. IN 2023 BEFORE I WAS ON THIS BOARD, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSED A MODEST ADJUSTMENT. FIVE SEATS, ONE PER DISTRICT. SAMUELS REFUSED THAT PROPOSAL. SO WITH THE SAME TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION GOALS IN MIND, THE 2024 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ESTABLISHED THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AND OVERSIGHT STRUCTURE CONTEMPLATED BY VIRGINIA STATUTE. WE WERE APPLYING A STRAIGHTFORWARD STANDARD SEEN IN VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE AND THE US TO AN INSTITUTION RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDS AT A RATIO THAT WOULD RAISE IMMEDIATE ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS IN ANY OTHER CONTEXT. THAT WAS AN OVERSIGHT QUESTION. IT WAS NOT AND IS NOT GRANTED THE MOST EMOTIONALLY COMPELLING QUESTION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IT DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO RALLY SIGNS OR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ACTIVISM. I'LL ADDRESS THE BOOK NARRATIVE [03:00:01] DIRECTLY BECAUSE TWO YEARS OF REPETITION HAS APPARENTLY NOT APPROVED, IMPROVED ITS ACCURACY. IN THE SPRING OF 2023, COMMUNITY CONCERNS WERE RAISED ABOUT SEXUALLY THEMED MATERIALS ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN. AT THE TIME THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXERCISED ITS FINANCIAL LEVERAGE TO SECURE A RESPONSE FROM SAMUEL'S LIBRARY. ON JULY 10TH, 2023, SAMUEL'S LIBRARY RESOLVED THE MATTER ON THEIR OWN TERMS, A NEW LIBRARY CARD POLICY, A NEW ADULT SECTION, AND THE RELOCATION OF MORE THAN 800 TITLES, NOT REMOVAL, NOT BANNING RELOCATION. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ACCEPTED THAT RESOLUTION IN JULY, 2023. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE SUPERVISORS, THE BOOK MATTER WAS CONCLUDED. EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWED EVERY BOARD ACTION, THAT THE BOARD TOOK EVERY BUDGET NEGOTIATION IN THE FALL OF 2023, EVERY PROPOSAL FOR DISTRICT TRUSTEE REPRESENTATION, THEN LATER THE CREATION OF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD. EVERY HEARING WE HELD THROUGH 2024 WAS ABOUT TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION AND FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY. NOT A SINGLE BOOK. THE BOOK BANNING CAMPAIGN THAT RAN THROUGH THE FALL OF 2023 ELECTIONS WHILE THE BOARD WAS NEGOTIATING BUDGET REPRESENTATION, BUDGET AND REPRESENTATION, NOT LIBRARY COLLECTIONS. AND STRAIGHT THROUGH 2025 WAS TO PUT IT PLAINLY, A CAMPAIGN PROSECUTED AGAINST A STRAW MAN ISSUE THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED BY SAMUELS. I WANTED TO LEAVE MY COLLEAGUES WITH A FEW FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS OFFERED. IN THE SPIRIT OF INFORMED STEWARDSHIP. SAMUELS HAS SUBMITTED A BUDGET REQUEST FOR A 24% INCREASE IN COUNTY FUNDING LAST YEAR. THEIR POSITION WAS THAT COMPETITIVE SERVICE ALTERNATIVES OFFERED NO MEANINGFUL COST SAVINGS, UH, OVER THEIR OPERATION. THEY WERE IN THEIR OWN ASSESSMENT IN EXCELLENT VALUE THIS YEAR, WITH THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS SETTLED IN THEIR FAVOR, THEY'RE RAISING THEIR FUNDING REQUESTS SIGNIFICANTLY. THE NEW MAJORITY RAN ON THE PROMISE THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT LIBRARY ARRANGEMENT FOR WARREN COUNTY. AND I DO HOPE THEY CAN SECURE FROM SAMUEL'S A WILLINGNESS TO USE THEIR LEGENDARY FUNDRAISING CAPABILITIES TO CARRY THEIR FAIR SHARE OR TO CARRY THEIR SHARE OF THE PARTNERSHIP. FOR EXAMPLE, COVERING BUILDING MAINTENANCE EXPENSES AS DETAILED IN THE 2008 LEASE AGREEMENT THAT GRANTS THEM A DOLLAR A YEAR LEASE. AND THERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE STANDING BY THEIR 2011 STATEMENT THAT THE FUNDS FROM THE SALE OF THE VILLA AVENUE BUILDING TO THE COUNTY WOULD BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NEW REISER FACILITY THAT CAN BE HOPED FOR. I BELIEVE IN THE PRINCIPLE OF PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC SERVICES IS SOUND. I BELIEVE A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD IS A RATIONAL RESPONSE TO BRING TAXPAYER FUNDING TO THE TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT OF SAMUELS AND INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING, THE 2023 REFUSAL TO GRANT MORE THAN ONE REPRESENTATIVE. AS WE ALL KNOW, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE LAST ELECTION IS THAT MY POLICY PREFERENCE WILL NOT PREVAIL. AND I ACCEPT THAT. AND SOME EXPRESSED SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE SNEAKY USE OF PARLIAMENTARY RULES TO FOIL THE COURSE OF TONIGHT'S ACTION. MY INTENTIONS ARE TO ACCEPT THIS OUTCOME AND LET THE ENTIRE MATTER REST. I MOVE NO. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR. I I, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET, SO JUST HANG IN THERE FOR A SECOND. I DO GET TO SPEAK. SO DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT GOTTA HAVE MY TIME HERE. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE LAST TWO YEARS, I, I TOO HAVE NEVER BEEN A PART OF SUCH A DYSFUNCTIONAL SYSTEM AND I WANT THIS TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER TONIGHT IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. BUT WE ALL HAVE TO WANT THAT. AND MY FEELING IS IF YOU'RE NOT HERE TO DO GOOD AND TO BRING POSITIVE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEIR THEIR MONEY IS FUNDING EVERYTHING, THEN WHY BE A PART OF THIS, THIS BOARD? THAT'S MY THOUGHT ON THAT. AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN RUBBING SOFT AND THE WOUND, BUT I DO WANNA THANK THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TOGETHER. UM, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH A LOT. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU GAVE ME. UM, IT WAS MY HONOR TO, TO STAND STRONG. I, I WAS TOLD, UM, THAT IF I DIDN'T LEAVE THE LIBRARY BOARD, THINGS WOULD NOT WORK SO WELL FOR ME. UM, UM, I DON'T SCARE WELL AND I GUESS COMING, GROWING UP WITH THREE BROTHERS, ONE OLDER, TWO YOUNGER, UM, OF WHO I CHERISH AS I DO THIS COMMUNITY. [03:05:01] SO, AND I WANNA SAY THAT NOT ONE DAY DID I GO INTO THAT LIBRARY THAT I DIDN'T SEE SMILES ON THE FACE OF EVERY PERSON THAT WORKED THERE, ESPECIALLY BEN, WHO I'M MISSING HIS SMILE TONIGHT. UM, THEY WENT ON DAY AFTER DAY DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST, GIVING A HUNDRED PERCENT SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY USE THAT LIBRARY NOT KNOWING IF THEY WERE GONNA HAVE A JOB THE NEXT DAY. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. SO IT IS MY PLEASURE TONIGHT. I WANNA MOVE AND I DON'T USUALLY MAKE MOTIONS AS CHAIR, BUT I WANNA MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. REPEALING CHAPTER SEVEN FROM THE WARREN COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES. DO AWAY WITH THIS. SO I'VE GOT A SECOND ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMON? NO. MR. HENRY. AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STAN MEYER. IAIN MOTION PASSES. SO MOVING ON. THANK GOODNESS WE'RE OUT WITH THE BAD AND IN WITH THE GOOD. SO WE ARE AT, IF I'M CORRECT ON THIS, APPROPRIATIONS AND [G. Appropriations & Transfers - Approval of Accounts] TRANSFERS. UH, AND IF I KNOW IT'S BEEN, IT'S NOT BEEN THAT LONG A NIGHT, BUT IT, THANK YOU ALL THAT ARE LEAVING FOR COMING. SAFE TRAVELS HOME. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE APPROPRIATIONS AND TRANSFERS? HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AS, UH, UM, PRESENTED MOVE TO ADOPT APPROVE? SECOND. SECOND. ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. MR. STEINMEYER? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAMESON AYE. AND APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS, ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNS THERE? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMISON? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? NO. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STAN MEYER. AYE. OKAY. APPROVE APPROVAL [H.1. January 28th 2026 - Special Meeting] OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 28TH, 2026 TO THE SPECIAL MEETING. ANY APPROVAL OF, UM, CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS. HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? MADAM CHAIR, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 28TH, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING, MINUTES AS PRESENTED. SECOND. SECOND. ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON. MR. STANMORE? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAM. AYE. FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026. [H.2. February 3rd 2026 - Regular Meeting & Work Session] REGULAR MEETING AND WORK SESSION. ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS. HEARING NONE? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? MADAM CHAIR, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND. SECOND. ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMISON AYE. MR. HENRY AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STAN MEYER? AYE. OKAY. WE'RE AT [I. Consent Agenda] CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION? I WANNA PULL NUMBER EIGHT. NO, YOU GO PULL NUMBER NINE. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EIGHT AND NINE? SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON. MR. STAN MAY AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAMESON? AYE. A NUMBER EIGHT [I.8. Purchase of 68 Desktops and 54 Laptop Computers] IS PURCHASE OF 68 DESKTOPS AND 54 LAPTOPS. MR. JONES? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I, UH, ASKED MS. CALLERS TO, UM, PULL THE, UH, AGENDA SO I CAN GIVE YOU SOME LAST MINUTE UPDATES. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT FIRST THOUGH [03:10:01] THAT MR. CARTER, WHILE I HAVE MAD RESPECT FOR MR. HAM, ACTUALLY USED THE WORDS ATTORNEY IN SAINT IN THE SAME SENTENCE AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE UNTIL TONIGHT. SO, , GOOD JOB, SIR. UM, YOU'LL NOTICE IN YOUR HAND THERE, UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS, UH, PURCHASE FOR COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND SUCH, AND, UM, THROUGH THE PROCESS WE'VE GAINED QUOTES, UM, FOR, UH, HP COMPUTER SYSTEMS, DELL COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND LENOVO COMPUTER SYSTEMS. AND IN THE, UH, HANDOUT THAT WE GAVE OUT IN THE PACKET, YOU'LL SEE THAT MY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PURCHASE LENOVO COMPUTERS SOLELY BASED ON THE PRICE. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES IN THE PRESS RECENTLY ABOUT LENOVO COMPUTER SYSTEMS. I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THEM ARE FACTUAL. I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO RESEARCH THEM. UM, BUT THEY ARE CHALLENGING THINGS TO READ ABOUT. I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT, UM, LENOVO IS, UH, 51% OWNED BY CHINA, WHICH IS SOME CONCERN, HAS SOME CONCERNS ACROSS THE NATION FOR THAT AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE HAD LENOVO COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN OUR OFFICE AS WELL AND HAD SOME CHALLENGES WITH IT. MS. COLORS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THAT BEFORE I CAME IN AS THE IT DIRECTOR. UM, WE THE, YOU'LL NOTICE THE INITIAL, UM, THE INITIAL, UH, QUOTES WE RE RECEIVED. UM, THE DELL QUOTE WAS ABOUT $11,000 HIGHER THAN THE, THE LENOVO QUOTE, WHAT I JUST HANDED YOU. THERE WAS AN UPDATED DELL QUOTE THAT WE GOT TODAY AND IT'S WITHIN $500 OF THE LENOVO QUOTE. SO I'D LIKE TO CHANGE MY RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASING THE DELL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND I THINK, UH, MR. HAM MAY HAVE A MOTION THERE FOR YOU THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. YEAH, I EMAILED YOU A A DIFFERENT MOTION. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHEN THIS WENT THROUGH CIVIC THAT THIS $153,000 WAS COMING FROM SORT OF A GENERAL COUNTY CONTINGENCY FUND. SO IN, IN THE EMAIL I TOLD YOU ALL THAT, UM, I THINK, WELL MAYBE YOU WANT TO JUST ADDRESS THIS, THAT THERE'S ABOUT $20,000 LEFT IN THE IT BUDGET, RIGHT? SO THAT IF YOU, UH, AND I, I PROVIDED THIS IN THE EMAIL ON, UH, MONDAY I, I SUGGESTED MOTION OF I MOVE THAT 150,000 AND FY 25, 26 CONTINGENCY FUNDS BE TRANSFERRED TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS PRIOR TO INCREASED PRICING TAKING EFFECT. AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IS THAT A SMALL PORTION OF THE REMAINING CONTINGENCY FUNDS WOULD THEN BE ALSO SPENT ON THAT. BUT THAT'S UP FOR THE BOARD TO DECIDE HOW MUCH OF OF THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS IN THE IT DEPARTMENT TO LEAVE. YOU KNOW, IF ANY, I I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I THINK I HEARD, I THINK I HEARD YOU, YOU RE GOT A RETE FROM DELL AND IT ACTUALLY CAME DOWN FROM WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. YEAH, DELL CAME DOWN ALMOST $11,000. THEY'RE WITHIN A $500 PRICE RANGE OF WHAT THE LENOVO QUOTE IS AS WELL. YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PART WITH DELL IS WE'RE A DELL SHOP. SINCE I CAME ON BOARD, WE PURCHASED DELL COMPUTERS FOR DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS. UM, IT, IT HELPS STAFF TO DO THE SUPPORT IF THEY'RE THE SAME MODEL, SAME MAKE TYPE OF COMPUTER IF YOU WILL. THE, UH, ALSO THE DESIGN BEHIND THE LENOVO COMPUTERS IS A, BASICALLY A MINI COMPUTER MOUNTED BEHIND, UM, THE MONITOR. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A GREAT, UM, WAY TO DO THAT. IT, IT WORKS. IT'S, YOU SAVE SOME MONEY THAT WAY, BUT IT CAN BE CUMBERSOME. SO MM-HMM . AND YOU SAID 11,000, THAT WAS THE TOTAL THAT WENT 11,000 PER COMPUTER, RIGHT? NO, $11,000 MORE TOTAL IN THE QUOTE. OKAY. THAN LENOVO. BUT LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE, THEY'VE COME DOWN. SO, SO NOW THE QUOTES ARE WITHIN $500 OF EACH OTHER? YES, SIR. AND DELL, I THINK JUST TO SUMMARIZE, THEY'RE PREFERABLE FOR FAMILIARITY, CONTINUITY, RIGHT? SIMPLICITY, MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY. ABSOLUTELY SIR. YEP. AS WELL AS ABOUT A HUNDRED OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PRIMARY POINTS. YES, SIR. WE, WE GOT, UM, THE LENOVO OR HOWEVER YOU SAY IT, UM, AFTER THE IT CRASH THAT WE HAD IN 2021, YOU, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND THEY WERE JUST, THEY WEREN'T GOOD QUALITY. INCIDENTALLY, THE BULK OF THE LAPTOPS WE'RE REPLACING ARE ACTUALLY LENOVO LAPTOPS. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HOW MANY OF 'EM STILL HAVE THAT LITTLE ERASER THING IN THE MIDDLE? ALL OF THEM ? I THINK IT RICE NUTS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? I TRY TO MAKE A MOTION ON HERE. YOU WANNA MAKE IT? NO, WE GOTTA UPDATE THE MOTION. IT SAYS LENOVO, RIGHT? IT'S A, SO THAT'S WHY I HAD SENT YOU THE EMAIL AND THAT'S WHY I, I SPOKE UP THAT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS NOT WHAT YOUR IT DIRECTOR IS ASKING FOR. RIGHT? SENT AN EMAIL. YES. ALRIGHT. I MOVED, UH, LET'S SEE, WHERE DO I MOVE, STEVE? IF IT'S RIGHT? I I I DIDN'T GET THE EMAIL COME FROM YOU. I GOT THE EMAIL [03:15:01] AS YESTERDAY. NO, YOU MEAN NOW YOU MEAN NOW. UH, I'M, I DON'T KNOW. YESTERDAY. OH, I, WE, WE ACCEPT THE, UH, THE, THE, THE DELL QUOTE FOR 154,000 $122 AND THAT THE 150,000, THE FISCAL YEAR 26 CONTINGENCY FUNDS BE TRANSFERRED TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS PRIOR TO INCREASED PRICING TAKING EFFECT. DOES THAT WORK? OKAY. THANK YOU. SECOND, SECOND. ROLL CALL. MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMESON. AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STANIER? AYE. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT EVENING. YOU TOO. UM, ITEM [I.9. Resolution - Amending Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget and Appropriating funds to Samuel's Library, Incorporated - Tony Carter] NINE IS RESOLUTION AMENDING FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND 2026. BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED. MR. CARTER, THAT WAS YOURS. NO, I THINK THIS IS, UH, GETS SENT BACK TO FINISH UP THEIR FISCAL YEAR AND UH, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AMENDING FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 26 BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND YOU'LL CALL MR. HENDERSON. MR. STAN MEYER. AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. DR. JAMESON? NO. ALRIGHT. MOVING. OKAY. OKAY. IF YOU GUYS ARE, I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO GET OUT AND THEN WE WILL FINISH THIS BUSINESS MEETING UP UNDER NEW [J.1. Consideration of the Warren County Finance / Audit Committee] BUSINESS, WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF THE WARREN COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE. MR. HENRY, DO YOU WANNA TAKE THAT OR DO YOU FOR THAT ONE? UM, FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED AND WITH THE, AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF, UM, WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET OUR AUDIT FINISHED, I DON'T WANNA DO AWAY WITH THIS COMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HALT IT AND THEN REORGANIZE IT. I THINK THAT WILL, UH, GIVE MS. SCOTT AND HER STAFF MORE TIME TO CONCENTRATE AND, UM, WORK ON THE AUDIT. AND THEN, UM, I THINK ALL OF US RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION, UH, FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE MEETINGS AND, UM, I THOUGHT HE GAVE A LOT OF GOOD OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER. UM, SO THAT IS MY RATIONALE FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF, UM, PUTTING THIS ON HOLD INDEFINITELY UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THIS AUDIT AND THEN REORGANIZING TO MAKE IT, UM, MORE FUNCTIONAL. YOUR THOUGHTS? NO, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO. AND I GUESS I WAS SURPRISED WHEN IT SAID THE, THE DISSOLVING OF THAT, UH, FINANCE COMMITTEE. I DID NOT WANNA DO THAT. UM, 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, I THINK, AND I, AND I AGREE, THAT WAS MY THOUGHT ALL ALONG, THAT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS AUDIT AND I THINK THAT, UH, FINANCE AND TREASURER AND THE THIRD PARTY VENDOR ARE MAKING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, UH, ON THAT. AND ONCE YOU GET FINISHED WITH THAT, YOU CAN DO THE 2025 AUDIT. SO I'M, I'M JUST AFRAID THAT THERE, THERE'S, EVEN THOUGH THE MEETINGS ONLY LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR, UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF PREP TIME BEFORE THE MEETING. THERE WAS A LOT OF PREP TIME AFTER. AND RIGHT NOW THE NUMBER ONE JOB SHOULD BE, UH, GETTING THIS AUDIT DONE. AND THEN AGAIN, THAT'LL ALSO GIVE US TIME TO REVISIT THE MAKE OF THE COMMITTEE. AND UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO DO ANY BYLAWS. I, UH, AND I THINK, AND I THINK MR. HAM CAN CONCUR. I THINK TECHNICALLY, I DUNNO IF IT'S CODE OR STATE CODE, COUNTY CODE, I THINK TECHNICALLY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL DID IN THE PAST? YES. OKAY. OKAY. BUT YEAH, I THINK IT, I THINK IT IS, IT CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A, A SE UH, A SECOND SET OF EYES LOOKING OVER THINGS. BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A BREATH, GET THE AUDITS DONE, AND THEN WE REVISIT IT AFTER WE FINISH ALL THE OTHER STUFF WE HAVE TO FINISH. UH, [03:20:01] OH, I, I'D PROBABLY ADD THAT, UH, I, I IS SAME LANGUAGE FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD. UH, EACH DISTRICT TERM LIMITS MATCH THAT BOARD MEMBER, UH, THIS DOESN'T ALIGN THAT AWAY. UH, AFTER BEING AT A MEETING, I CAN, UH, AGREE THAT, UH, UH, LIST STAFF IS WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT GET CAUGHT UP ON HER. I, UH, AUDIT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, LAST MEETING SHE WAS LITERALLY AT THE MEETING. SHE HAD STAFF WORKING ACROSS THE HALL. I THINK HER TIME WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER THERE. OH, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION EVEN AMONGST THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT DO EXIST, UH, OF EXACTLY, UH, WHAT THEY SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE DOING AS THE, MAYBE ITS DIRECTION HAS CHANGED, UH, THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. UH, SUSPEND OR DO YOU KNOW, OR DISSOLVE? I, I, I REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT IT. IF WE DO THE DISSOLVE, I JUST WANT THE UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, WE WILL WRITE A NEW SET OF BYLAWS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL APPOINT A COMMITTEE, UH, SAME AS WE DO B, C, A OR ANY OF THE OTHER. UM, I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT SAYS DISSOLVE OR SUSPEND. I'M APPLICABLE TO EITHER, UM, IF WE DO DISSOLVE OR SUSPEND, UH, I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT IT, UH, REWRITTEN SO THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED MORE FEDERALLY, UH, FAIRLY TO REPRESENT EACH DISTRICT, AND THAT, UH, ITS BYLAWS AND TASKS ARE MORE CLEAR. AND, UH, I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT, UH, STAFF INPUT ON WHAT THOSE SHOULD BE. SO, DO I HAVE MOTION? MAY I MAKE A FEW COMMENTS? I, I HAVE NO, UH, REAL ISSUE WITH THE, WITH THE PAUSE. I, I WOULD'VE OBJECTED TO A DISSOLUTION, UM, SINCE THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY. I THINK THAT, I DO THINK, THOUGH, THAT, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REDOING BYLAWS, YOU KNOW, OR TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR, IT'S, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN REFERENCE TO WHAT THEY ALREADY SAY. AND, AND QUITE A BIT OF TIME, UH, WAS, HAS, WAS SPENT ACTUALLY IN THE LAST MEETING GOING THROUGH THOSE. UM, SO I JUST WANT TO PUT OUT THERE THAT, THAT IN REFERENCE TO WHAT THEY ALREADY ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A BETTER APPROACH TO KEEP THINGS STABLE. AND THEN WHILE THAT'S STABLE, COME UP WITH WHAT IMPROVEMENTS YOU WANT RATHER THAN BREAK IT DOWN AND DISSOLVE IT, AND THEN TRY TO RECONSTITUTE. THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION. SO I'M OKAY WITH, WITH THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE FREEZE, THE HOLD, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. UM, AND JUST KIND OF GLAD WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SOLUTION. NO, I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON AS FAR AS WE NEED TO REVISIT IT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO SUSPEND IT. YOU READY FOR A MOTION? ONE, ONE POINT, UM, IS SUSPENDING UNTIL BOTH THE FY 24 AND FY 25 AUDITS ARE COMPLETE, OR JUST THE FY 24? I THINK BASICALLY, SEE HOW IT GOES. I MEAN, ONE STEP AT A TIME, WE GET THE 2024 DONE. EVERYBODY CATCHES THEIR BREATH, BUT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO START RIGHT BACK ON IT. SO IF THIS COMMITTEE CAN BE BENEFICIAL IN THAT PROCESS, BY ALL MEANS. BUT IF WE NEED TO, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HIRE ANOTHER THIRD PARTY TO DO THE 2025, BUT THE MAIN THING RIGHT NOW IS 2024. I WOULD PREFER WE SUSPEND IT UNTIL THE FY 24 IS DONE AND THEN REVISIT THE ISSUE. NO PROBLEM. YEAH. AND WE CAN ALWAYS SUSPEND IT AGAIN IF THE TIME WAS PER YEAH, YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. BECAUSE I, MY, MY HOPE IS THAT WITH THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE AND HAVING A BASELINE TO START FFY 25 OFF OF, UH, IT WILL GO A LOT FASTER. UM, AND, AND THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE A CASE IF YOU CAN DO THIS OR THAT, BUT NOT BOTH. I THINK AT THAT POINT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME. SO, OKAY. THEN I CAN, IS THERE A MOTION? UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I MOVE THAT WE SUSPEND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, UH, RIGHT NOW UNTIL THEIR NEXT MEETING COULD BE FEBRUARY 30TH. SEE IF ANYBODY CAUGHT THAT ONE. NO, WE MAY, WE SUSPEND THE IT RIGHT NOW UNTIL THEY GET FINISHED WITH THE 2024 AUDIT. ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, AND BEFORE THEN IF WE GET TIME, WE'LL START RECONSTITUTING IT. IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AN ALL THE MEETING, UH, MOTION, BUT, BUT ANYWAY, AFTER 2024 AUGUST, COMPLETE IT. WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN TO SEE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. NO DATE. SECOND, SECOND. ROLL HALL. MR. HENDERSON. DR. JAMESON. AYE. MR. HENRY? AYE. MADAM CHAIR? AYE. MR. CARTER? AYE. MR. STAN MEYER, AYE. STARTED TUCKING PAPERS AWAY AND NOW I'VE TOOK MY, UM, I THINK WE ARE AT BOARD, [K. Board Reports ] SO MR. JAMESON. OKAY. UM, MAIN THING THAT I WANNA REPORT IS THAT I HAD A, UH, [03:25:01] MEETING WITH THE DEVELOPER OF THE RUSH MARK PROPERTY, UM, AND THEY DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO PUT A DATA CENTER IN, IT'S BEEN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, UM, SINCE THE ELECTION. AND THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT ADA CENTERS ARE JUST A DESK FOR ACTION. UH, THEY'RE NOT REALLY HAPPENING. SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN FALSE. UM, I THINK THEY'RE NOT ONLY WANT TO GO ON RUSH MARK, BUT THEY'RE QUEUING UP FOR A FEW SITES. SO I JUST WANNA CHARACTERIZE THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION I HAD. UM, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO, TO HEAR AND LISTEN AND, AND, UH, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THEIR PROPOSAL IS GONNA BE, UM, LOW WATER USE. SO THEY ALREADY ARE ANTICIPATING, UH, THAT AS A, AS A, AS A CONSTRAINT AND ARE PLANNING TO PROPOSE, UH, SOMETHING ABOUT IT. UM, I, I JUST INDICATED, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE FULL CONTENTS OF THE MEETING. I WANNA BE OPEN ABOUT IT THOUGH. I DO WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, UM, THAT I DID MEET WITH THEM AND, UM, THAT IS THEIR INTENTION AND THAT, THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO, UM, FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY AND ON THE BOARD AND SO FORTH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I, I THINK I SPENT THE MOST TIME TALKING TO HIM ABOUT IS WHAT ELSE COULD GO THERE? 'CAUSE THEY HAVE APPROVAL UP THROUGH A CERTAIN, A, A, A SHELL, I BELIEVE A SHELL OF A BUILDING. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY APPROVED WATER FROM THE TOWN, WHICH I BELIEVE SOMETHING LIKE $4,500 OR GALLONS A DAY. UH, AND, AND THE NATURE OF OUR CONVERSATION WAS, YOU KNOW, IS IT PART OF YOUR JOB AS A DEVELOPER OR IS IT PART OF WHAT YOU DO AS A DEVELOPER TO GO OUT INTO THE MARKETPLACE AND FIND GOOD CANDIDATES TO FIT IN THESE BUILDINGS? UM, AND HIS ANSWER WAS, YES, THAT, THAT'S WHAT OUR JOB IS. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WELL, HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANY, UM, SMALL MANUFACTURERS OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE, THE RANGE OF TYPES OF, OF CAN OF CANDIDATES? AND, UM, IT WASN'T AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LIKE SUPER, LIKE A LIST FROM HIM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE PEOPLE HE IS TALKED TO. BUT WHAT IS EVIDENT IS THE DATA CENTERS ARE ALREADY ON THIS DOORSTEP. SO HE ALREADY HAS A CUSTOMER. UM, AND THAT'S THE CUSTOMER HE'S HOPING TO, TO USHER INTO THE SPACE. WHAT THIS LEADS TO IS THE DISCUSSION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A POSITION, UH, FOR A LONG TIME, MAYBE A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS. UM, IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT A PRIORITY FOR US. UM, UH, IT WAS ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO AGO, UM, THAT I BROUGHT A, A PROPOSAL TO THE TABLE. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR EDA ON IDEAS FOR HOW TO KICKSTART THINGS, HOW TO GET MOTION GOING. UH, THE TERM THAT I'VE TALKED WHEN I'VE TALKED TO MR. HENRY ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE NOT HAVE NOBODY SITTING AT THE TABLE. UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SITTING AT THE TABLE. WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE GOING OUT, UH, LOOKING FOR THOSE JOB PRODUCING TYPES OF, OF LIGHT MANUFACTURING THAT MAY FIND A A HOME HERE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT DATA CENTERS ARE PRICING OUT ALL SORTS OF, OF CLIENTS REAL ESTATE, UH, UH, INDUSTRIAL USERS. SO IT'S NOT JUST DATA CENTERS THAT WANNA COME HERE. EVERYBODY'S BEING PRICED OUT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. SO, UM, I BELIEVE YOU KNOW, THAT IT, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER FOR US TO BE LOOKING FOR AND, AND GOING OUT. AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED SOMEONE ON THE GROUND IN THAT POSITION TO DO, UH, AND RECRUITING AND, AND ATTEMPTING TO RECRUIT THOSE BETTER JOBS. UM, OR THOSE, THOSE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE MORE JOBS. AND SO, WHILE THE DEVELOPER IS IN THE BUSINESS OF FINDING PEOPLE TO BE IN HIS BUILDING, IN THIS CASE, THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THAT. SO, SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA REALLY EXPECT A LOT OF EFFORT ON THEIR PART TO FIND ALTERNATIVES. IT'S GONNA BE UP TO US TO FIND ALTERNATIVES. UM, AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND, AND ALL THE STUFF ABOUT THE MONEY IN THE LIBRARY, WE JUST, THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE, FOR THE BOARD NOW, UM, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. BUT SINCE THAT TIME, FIVE, SIX MONTHS AGO, THAT WHEN WE APPROPRIATED THAT MONEY FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT WHO WOULD THEN DEVELOP AN, UH, UH, HELP US DEVELOP A, A PROFILE FOR A POSITION THAT WE NEED, UH, THAT WILL RECOGNIZE THE SORT OF TRIANGLE BETWEEN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE COUNTY ITSELF, AND THE TOWN ITSELF, SO THAT WE ARE NOT BEING REDUNDANT. UM, WE NEED TO [03:30:01] REALLY BE CAREFUL HOW WE APPROACH THIS AND NOT BE REDUNDANT. UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT NOW. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PLAN IS TO DEAL WITH THAT. THAT MONEY'S JUST BEEN REAPPROPRIATED. UM, ANOTHER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE PAYING FOR THE SEVERANCE OF THE DEPARTED, UH, RECENTLY DEPARTED COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR? WE, WE, WE NEVER REALLY SAID WE WERE DOING IT IN PUBLIC. WE, UH, DON'T KNOW. LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM. UM, ARE WE GONNA JUST FIND IT SOMEWHERE? DON'T KNOW. UM, SOMEWHAT REGARDING THAT TOPIC, I JUST, I NEED TO READ FOR THE RECORD, UH, SOMETHING CONCERNING ACCUSATIONS MADE ABOUT ME DURING THE FEBRUARY 3RD BOARD REPORTS. UM, I REPUDIATE ANY ACCUSATION THAT I BREACHED THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONNEL INFORMATION. THE MATERIALS I DISCLOSED TO THE PRESS WERE COUNTY ATTORNEY EMAILS CONTAINING CONTRACT TERMS, STATUTORY CITATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF GOVERNANCE PROCEDURES, NOT EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE RECORDS OR CONFIDENTIAL PERSONNEL DATA. I ALSO REPU THE CLAIM THAT I VIOLATED ATTORNEY CLAIM PRIVILEGE. THIS ASSERTION REMAINS UNSUBSTANTIATED. I REQUESTED LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON FEBRUARY 3RD BEFORE ANY PUBLIC ACCUSATIONS WERE MADE AGAINST ME, AND NO SUCH JUSTIFICATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED. THAT'S IT, MR. HENRY. OH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DR. MARTIN. OH, I HAD THE, UH, WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT BE OUT ON JOB SITE TODAY, SO I GOT TO COME IN AND HANG IN WITH STAFF AND, AND, UH, WELCOME HIM A BOARD. SO I, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, UH, FOR HIS, HIS HELP AND GUIDANCE TO GET, TO GET US, UH, BACK ON A DIRECTION THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY. AND I, AND I, UH, REALLY SUPPORT HIM. AND I JUST GOT GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE, WE'VE MADE A GOOD DECISION. UM, I DO AGREE THAT THE, UH, WE DO NEED A FUNCTIONAL EDA, UH, WE'VE NOT HAD ONE IN A LONG TIME, AND CONSEQUENTLY, WE'VE HAD NO NEW REVENUE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. SO WE'VE GOT A, A AMOUNT AND A BUDGET SHORTFALLS. AND IN, UH, IN A PROPERTY TAX STATE LIKE VIRGINIA, UH, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME ECONOMIC GROWTH, UH, TO KEEP INDIVIDUAL TAXES, HOMEOWNER TAXES IN LINE. AND, UH, AFTER MEETING WITH MR. MCDOUGALL, UH, A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM. WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, HE INDICATED IT'S LIKE AN EDA MAGAZINE AND, YOU KNOW, TALKS ABOUT ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES AND WHAT THEY GOTTA OFFER AND THE KIND OF BUSINESSES THAT THEY LIKE TO BRING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND THEY HAVE ROUND TABLE MEETINGS, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SITTING THERE. UH, I HAVE INDICATED TO MR. MCDOUGAL, HE WILL COME IN FOR EDA BUDGET, AND I ALSO WANTED HIM MAYBE SORT OF GIVE TWO BUDGETS. SO, UH, MAYBE WHEN WE'RE SCHEDULING HIM, HE MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME, BUT, OH, YOU KNOW, I WANT THE BUDGET TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. AND THEN, UH, I ALSO WANNA BUDGET, UH, WHAT HIS IDEAS ARE. AND HE HAD SOME GOOD ONES. UH, I COULDN'T FIND, UH, ANYBODY TO HAVE ANYTHING NEGATIVE SAY ABOUT MR. MCDOUGALL. HE, HE REALLY SEEMS TO BE VESTED IN THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY. AND, UH, I I, IF YOU MET HIM, YOU, YOU'D AGREE WITH THAT. HE'S, HE'S, UH, YOU CAN JUST TELL HE'S, HE'S IN FOR WHAT'S GOOD FOR WARREN COUNTY. SO I, I'M HOPING THAT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, HE CAN COME IN AND, UH, BESIDES HIS MINIMAL BUDGET THAT HE NEEDS, I'M HOPING THAT HE CAN, UH, GET SOME IDEAS. YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE OUT IN THE PUBLIC. AND THEN, UH, AS I, I HAD INDICATED TO HIM, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GET THROUGH BUDGET, AND THEN YOU COULD COME IN LATER AND HE'D HAVE THE GREATEST IDEA IN THE WORLD. AND WE'D BE LIKE, MAN, LET'S DO THAT. AND THEN WE'D ALL BE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, OR ARE WE GONNA GET THE MONEY? WE'VE ALREADY, OH, DR. MARTINS, YOU KNOW, HE INDICATED THE BUDGET AS A PIE AND EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY GET A BIGGER PIECE, SO YOU HAVE TO CUT IT UP FAIRLY. BUT I'D HATE FOR THE PIE TO BE GONE, SO TO SPEAK. AND, UH, WE HAD NOT HAD AT LEAST TRIED TO, UH, DO SOMETHING TO HELP OURSELVES. 'CAUSE WITHOUT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, OR, OR NOT SOMEBODY SOLICITING FOR US FOR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T WANT DATA CENTERS, WHAT DO YOU WANT? UH, AND THERE'S BEEN PREVIEW APPLICANTS THAT INDICATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE DATA CENTER CRAZE IN THE INOVA AREA AND IT'S PUSHED OUT WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION AND LIKE MANUFACTURING, WE MAY BE STRATEGICALLY IN A GOOD POINT TO WHERE WE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE AND, UH, IF THEY RUN LAND PRICES UP DOWN THERE, UH, CONSEQUENTLY OUR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL WILL BE WORTH MORE TOO BECAUSE OF NOT ANY OF IT DOWN THERE. SO I, UH, WE MAY BE ABLE TO USE THAT AGAINST THEM, SO TO SPEAK. UH, I'M NOT ALL IN FOR [03:35:01] DATA CENTERS. I WAS ATTACKED DURING A CAMPAIGN FOR THAT SAID, I'D LISTEN TO ANY AND ALL REVENUE AND, UH, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEM YET, BUT I, I WILL LISTEN. UM, BUT, UH, I UNDERSTAND OUR WATER CONCERNS AND OUR ELECTRICITY CONCERNS AND OUR COMMUNITY CONCERNS. SO THAT WILL ALWAYS GO INTO ANY DECISION THAT I MAKE. UH, BUT, UH, WITHOUT AN EDA, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, AT A MUCH DISADVANTAGE, UH, TO THE REST OF THE STATE. SO I WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING TO THAT GOING FORWARD DURING BUDGET SEASON. THANK YOU, MR. CARR. UM, YEAH, ALONG THE SAME LINES, UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THAT GOING. I KNOW THAT MS. UH, CALLERS AND I ATTENDED THE LAST LIAISON. I THINK WE BRIEFED YOU ALL ON IT. AND WE TALKED ABOUT, AND I THINK Y'ALL WERE AWARE OF IT TOO, WAY BACK IN THE DAY AFTER AVTEC SHUT DOWN, A GROUP OF CITIZENS GOT TOGETHER AND STARTED THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTION COMMITTEE. I SEE, I THINK ONE MEMBER FROM TOWN COUNCIL SITTING HERE TODAY. AND I THINK HE WAS PART OF THAT. THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL INVOLVED. SO THEY GOT TOGETHER A, A, A, A BUNCH OF CITIZENS, AND THEY LOOKED AT TOURISM INDUSTRY AND COMMERCIAL, AND IT WAS AN UMBRELLA TYPE OF APPROACH. AND AFTER THEY FOUND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHICH DIRECTION THEY WENT TO, THAT'S WHEN THEY HIRED A, ANOTHER, UH, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. SO MY THOUGHT IS, ALONG WITH WHAT MR. HENRY AND DR. JAMESON SAID, WE NEED TO GET STARTED ON THIS PROCESS. I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO A COMMUNITY WIDE THING. 'CAUSE I THINK WHEN THEY DID CACI DON'T THINK THEY HAD A CONSULTANT PER SE. MAINLY THE COMMUNITY DID IT. IF THEY NEED A CONSULTANT TO HELP, DO HELP, HELP GO THROUGH THE, UH, PROCESS. THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO WORK TO IS WITH THE COUNTY. RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY HAS AN EDA AND THE TOWN HAS AN ED, A AND I, AND NEITHER ONE OF 'EM HAS ANYBODY THAT CAN EVEN ANSWER THE PHONE. SO WE NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF STAFFING IN THERE. I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS PROBABLY MR. PETTY, AND I THINK HE DID A FAIRLY GOOD JOB. UM, THE OTHER THING THAT'S COMING UP REGARDING TOURISM, I THINK TOURISM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PART. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH, EACH DIFFERENT LEG OF THE, UH, OF THE TABLE. UM, BUT ON, I THINK I TOLD MS COLORS THIS, BUT ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, THERE'S AN HOUR SEMINAR, WEBINAR FROM HUNTING SYSTEMS. AND IF THEY KINDA CAUGHT MY IDEA, LET'S SEE, THEY'RE DOING, UH, IT'S ON, UM, WHAT WAS IT? IT'S DOING REPOSITIONING DESTINATIONS AS ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS. BUT THE THING THAT KIND OF CAUGHT MY EYE WAS THEY'RE ACTUALLY PARTNERING, PARTNERING WITH VIRGINIA TOURISM COMMISSION IN UPDATING, UH, BTCS STRATEGIC TOURISM PLAN FOR 2026 AND 2029. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WORTHWHILE, WELL, IT'S WORTHWHILE, BUT MAYBE MS. CALLERS CAN DIRECT THE MEMBERS OF THE TOURISM COMMITTEE FOR THE COUNTY TO AT LEAST LOOK AT THAT ON THEIR OWN TIME. AND I WOULD ASSUME MAYBE THEY MAY EVEN, WE BROADCAST THAT. I WOULD ALSO REACH OUT TO THE TOWN, POSSIBLY LIZZIE, UH, WITH THE TOWN AND JUST LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT. IF THEY WANT TO, THEY CAN. BUT WE DO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON ALL ASPECTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. UH, THE OTHER THING TOO IS I THINK I HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. I KNOW THAT'S A, A BIG ISSUE AS FAR AS THE, UH, THE WELLS AND THE WATER IN OUR AREA. I DON'T KNOW. I KNOW STAFF IS LOOKING AT IT. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT, WHAT WE CAN DO SINCE A LOT OF THESE, UH, UH, LOTS WERE PLANTED OFF 50 YEARS AGO. SO OUR HANDS MAY BE TIED. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME, UH, CONCERN. AND AGAIN, IT'S LIKE WHEN PEOPLE MOVE HERE FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA, LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE USED TO TURNING ON THE TAP, FLUSHING THE, UH, COMMODE, AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THERE'S, UH, AND OUT HERE, WE A LOT OF PEOPLE PLACE TO HAVE WELLS OR SEPTIC SYSTEMS, AND ESPECIALLY 'CAUSE WHEN I ASK PLANNING. BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW IN THE PAST SOME OF THESE SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS. I KNOW MR. HENRY'S, UH, AWARE OF THAT. BUT SOME OF THESE ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS, THEY NEED TO BE MAINTAINED BASICALLY ON A, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT, THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT MOVE HERE ARE REALLY AWARE OF THAT, AND THEY'LL COME BACK AND CREATE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. THE SAME THING TOO, WHEN THEY, UM, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN HERE AND IMPACTS AN EXISTING RESIDENCE, WELL, THAT'S BAD, BUT IT'S ALSO BAD WHEN THE NEW PERSON COMES AND THEY GOTTA GO 800 FEET DOWN AND THEY GET A DRY HOLE AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP GOING. SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME EDUCATION, ALTHOUGH IT DOES GO BACK TO, I GUESS THE LATIN PHRASE, CAVEAT, BEWARE. SO EVERYBODY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE PURCHASING PROPERTY. AND LOOK AT IT SAME WAY TOO, WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE. WHEN WE MOVED HERE 20 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS REALLY NICE AND PRISTINE, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT IF IT'S ALREADY ZONED. I MEAN, THE [03:40:01] ONLY, ONLY SOLUTION TO THAT IS IF THAT PERSON PURCHASES THAT PROPERTY TO KEEP IT THE WAY THEY WANT. AND THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE EITHER. SO IT'S JUST A MATTER WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PRESERVE WARREN COUNTY AND LOOK AT THINGS. BUT ANYWAY, I RAMBLED ON. IT'S TIME TO GO HOME. CAN I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT TO WHAT, UH, MR. CARTER SAID? I THINK EDUCATING PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING PROPERTY PROBABLY HAS A LOT OF MERIT BECAUSE IF, IF, IF THEY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY THAT PEOPLE'S WELLS ARE DRYING AND THAT THEY SHOULD PLAN TO DRAW FOR 1500 FEET OR, OR WHATEVER THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE PERMITTING OFFICE THAT'S LIKE A ORANGE SHEET OR SOMETHING THAT SAYS, BY THE WAY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON HIGH TOP OR WHATEVER. I, I AGREE. MR. SAM, I, I'LL BE BRIEF. UM, , I TOO WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DR. MARTIN. IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU. UM, AND ALSO HE'S, HE'S NO LONGER AT THE TABLE THERE, BUT TO SAY FAREWELL TO MR. LEN, WHO HAD BEEN OUR, OR STILL IS UNTIL TOMORROW, OUR ACTING, UH, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND OUR ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, UM, HE'S BEEN A FINE PERSON TO WORK WITH AND DONE GOOD WORK AT, AT, SO HE'S GOING ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS THAT ARE, UH, WORK FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY LIFE AND HIS WIFE. AND, AND I'M HAPPY FOR HIM FOR THAT. BUT IT'S A LOSS TO US. UM, WE, WE HAVE MS, UH, MS. WALL STEPPING UP THOUGH, AND THAT'S, UH, THAT'S GOOD. UH, WE'LL, WE'LL BE IN GOOD HANDS. SO, UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS I, I TOO, UH, MET WITH THE DEVELOPER ABOUT RUSH FARK. UM, IT WAS A SIMILAR CONVERSATION TO THE ONE YOU RELATED. UM, I DID INQUIRE ABOUT LIGHT MANUFACTURING, UM, WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES. UM, THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY A DATA CENTER DEVELOPER. UM, I WILL SAY THIS RUSH MARK ONE WAS SLIGHTLY MORE PALATABLE PROPOSAL, BUT, UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S TRUE THAT, THAT THESE ARE COMING AND THEY'RE GONNA KEEP COMING AT US. SO I, I AGREE WITH EVERY, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT NEEDING TO LOOK INTO ALTERNATIVES, UH, NEEDING TO, UH, GET SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE PHONE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, UH, PARTNER WITH VEDP AS WELL, UM, VDEP, UH, TO, UH, SNAG SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PASSING US BY. UM, SO IT, THAT'S ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT, UH, BECAUSE WE DO NEED THE REVENUE AND, UH, THERE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY DEPARTMENTS AND, AND WORTHY CAUSES OUT THERE THAT THE COUNTY PARTNERS WITH. AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO CONTINUE TO FUND EVERYTHING AT THE LEVEL THAT'S REQUIRED WITHOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO I, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE, WE'LL HAVE OUR, OUR BOARD RETREAT, BOARD ADVANCE COMING UP SOON, AND I HOPE WE CAN DEDICATE A GOOD PORTION TO TALKING ABOUT THAT. SO THAT'S ALL. OKAY, THANK YOU. I TOO WILL WELCOME YOU DR. MARTIN. WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO HAVE YOU, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING TO BE HERE. AND, UM, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT FEBRUARY 15TH, 2026 WAS NATIONAL RESOURCE OFFICER DAY. AND IF I'VE GOT IT RIGHT, ARE YOU MR. DEPUTY HUSTIS? SAY AGAIN? I NOPE. GOT THE WRONG PERSON. UM, SO JUST WANNA NAME OFF THE RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE AT SY JEFFRIES. WE HAVE DEPUTY KNOWLES WHO LOOKS AFTER MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. HILDE. JAY BARBER IS DEPUTY VORIS E WILSON MORRISON IS DEPUTY BROCK. A S ROSE IS DEPUTY KELLER, LFK IS DEPUTY MOLINA SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, WHERE I HAVE ANOTHER GRANDCHILD IS, UH, DEPUTY BROWN, WARREN COUNTY. MIDDLE IS DEPUTY CHRISTOPHER SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL IS DEPUTY HUSTIS, WHICH YOU REMIND ME OF. SO SORRY. UM, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL IS DEPUTY TROXEL AND DIVERSIFIED MINES IS DEPUTY LAMBERT. SO APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM. UM, LET'S SEE. I DON'T THINK MAJOR, HE'S GONE. MYRTLES ARE GONE. UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T KNOW HER RANK. I WANNA SAY SERGEANT, HOW DUKE, UM, IS OVER THIS GROUP, BUT I MAY HAVE A RANK WRONG, BUT DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM, UM, TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN DURING THEIR SCHOOL DAYS. UM, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO BRING ON FEBRUARY 4TH, THE HERITAGE SOCIETY HAD A PLANNING MEETING FOR THE VIRGINIA TWO A EVENTS THAT, UM, WE'RE HAVING IN THE COUNTY. AND, UM, IT'S, IT IS JUST GOOD TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE WORKING ON A COMMON GOAL TO MAKE THINGS, UH, EXCITING EVENTS, UM, TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH BIRTHDAY. AND THAT'S WILL START APRIL 18TH. UM, FOR [03:45:01] THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE, FEBRUARY 6TH, UM, I'M ON THE RECOVERY COURT, UM, COMMITTEE. AND AT OUR LAST MEETING, JUDGE FUNK HAD CHALLENGED US, UM, MAYOR CO RULE MYSELF TO START ATTENDING IT, OR AT LEAST GO TO ONE OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS. UM, EVERYONE THAT'S IN THE RECOVERY COURT PROGRAM HAS TO DO, UM, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PHASES IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH AND GRADUATE, AND THEY HAVE TO ATTEND WEEKLY COURT SESSIONS, UM, AS PART OF THIS. AND I WAS GLAD I WENT. IT WAS, UH, VERY INTERESTING. GIVES ME A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM THAT SIDE VERSUS SITTING IN A MEETING. AND HERE, UM, I DID ATTEND THE CHESTER GAP MEETING ABOUT THE FIRE SERVICES. UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE FIREMEN, VOLUNTEERS PAID, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE AND RESCUE. THAT'S MY, MY FAMILY, MY BROTHERS, MY SON, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VOLUNTEER FIREMAN. MY HUSBAND WAS A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN, SO NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. AND I WISH THAT MONEY TREE THAT I PLANTED GREW. IT DID NOT, BUT I'M STILL TRYING, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PIE TO GO AROUND TO GIVE EVERYBODY EVERYTHING WE WANNA GIVE 'EM. BUT, UM, IT'S A, A CONTINUING CONVERSATION AND, UM, DO APPRECIATE AND TRYING TO SUPPORT AS WELL AS WE CAN. SO, UM, LET'S SEE. WE HAD A JOINT ON THE 10TH. WE HAD A JOINT WE SCHOOL, UM, BOARD, UH, BUDGET, WHICH I TOLD, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, WE HAD TO QUIT MEETING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS GOING UP $2 MILLION EVERY TIME WE MET. BUT THEY TOO HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS. UM, AND I THINK ALMOST EVERY ROOF, INCLUDING THIS ONE, HAS LEAKED IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO. SO THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF TRASH CANS GOING AROUND, AND THERE'S ANOTHER NEED FOR THE MONEY TREE THAT'S NOT GROWING. UM, THAT NIGHT WE ALSO GOT PART OF THE FIRE STUDY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, READING THE REST OF THAT. AND I PLAN ON MEETING WITH SOME OF THE FIREMEN AGAIN TOMORROW. SO ON THE, UM, 11TH, UM, MET WITH MS, UM, MARTIN AND, UM, MRS. AL BETHAL, I'LL SAY THAT NAME WRONG, JOE PETTY, JANE MEADOWS. AND THEN MR. HENRY WALKED IN AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMESTEADERS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAIRVIEW HOUSE. AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, THE FAIRVIEW HOUSE IS THE ROCK HOUSE NEXT TO, IT'S GOT THE WHITE FENCE BEFORE YOU GET TO THE FAIRGROUNDS. UM, THAT USED TO BE A CARPET. THEY SOLD CARPET OUT OF THERE YEARS AGO. AND THAT IS THE BROTHER OF THE MCKAY HOUSE AT THE MCKAY SPRINGS. AND THERE IS HISTORICAL VALUE. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT BEING A SITE FOR THEIR HOMESTEADING. UM, SO THEY, THEY FOUND THAT INTERESTING AND IT'S A CONVERSATION TO KEEP HAVING TO 12TH, WE HAD A BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE LEAKING ROOFS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, UM, WE NEED TO WORK ON AS FAR AS OUR BUILDINGS AND BOTH THE SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY AND OUR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. ON THE 13TH, I WAS ASKED TO GO TO RICHMOND WITH OUR STATE CHAMPION LITTLE LEAGUE, UH, THE 12-YEAR-OLD STATE TAMPA LITTLE LEAGUE GUYS. AND THAT WAS THE, IT WAS JUST A DELIGHTFUL TRIP. THEY HAD A BALL DOWN THERE. WE HAD THE BEST TOUR GUIDE, AND THOSE KIDS KEPT HIM ON HIS TOES AS MUCH AS HE KEPT THEM ON THEIR TOES, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKING US A TOUR THROUGH THE CAPITOL, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATED. UM, ANOTHER THING, UH, AT OUR CPMT MEETING TODAY, UM, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES THAT THEY'RE, UM, STARTING A PARENTING LOVE AND LOGIC PARENTING TRAINING CLASS. IT'S A SIX, SIX WEEK CLASS DATE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE. IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE LIBRARY WHEN THEY DO HAVE IT, AND IT'LL BE, UM, THE TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF. AND, UM, IF ANYBODY WANTS, I'VE GOT CONTACT, UH, INFORMATION OF WHO YOU CAN CONTACT OUT THERE. OR YOU CAN JUST CALL AND SAY, I'M INTERESTED IN THE LOVE AND LOGIC. I TOOK THIS WHEN MY KIDS, MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK THIS WHEN MY KIDS, UM, WERE TEENAGERS ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I GUESS NOW. AND I FOUND OUT I'M A HELICOPTER PARENT. DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT A HELICOPTER PARENT WAS UNTIL THEY DESCRIBED [03:50:01] IT. AND I WAS LIKE, YES, THAT'S ME. HOVER AROUND TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES FINE. AND MY KIDS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY BECAUSE I'M THERE TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL RIGHT. SO I STARTED DOING THE, UM, TRAINING THINGS THAT LOVE AND LOGIC TEACHES YOU, WHICH IS, YOU'RE A SMART KID, YOU'RE GONNA FIGURE THIS OUT. I HAVE FAITH IN YOU. AND THEY WENT FROM, MOM, CAN YOU HELP ME TO, MOM, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? BECAUSE, UM, THEY JUST THOUGHT THAT I HAD, BECAUSE I KEPT ENCOURAGING THEM TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEM. SO IT'S, IT'S A GREAT COURSE AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT IF YOU HAVE KIDS OR IF YOU HAVE GRANDKIDS OR NEIGHBOR KIDS THAT MIGHT BE DRIVING YOU CRAZY AND YOU CAN USE IT ON THEM. BUT, UM, GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE. AND I WILL STOP AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU, DR. MARTIN. SO LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY YET AGAIN. UM, SO IT'S BEEN, UH, LET'S SEE, 12 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT I'VE LEARNED SINCE BEING HERE. UH, ONE IS I HAD A MEETING AND, UH, MR. HEGAR WAS PART OF THE MEETING TODAY, UH, WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. UM, AND WE TALKED LEADERSHIP A LITTLE BIT. UM, I TOLD THEM WHAT I EXPECTED OF THEM, WHICH WAS, DON'T TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK I WANT TO HEAR. I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS, AND I WANNA SHARE MINE WITH YOU. AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO TELL ME, DR. MARTIN, THAT'S A STUPID IDEA, BUT BE READY TO TELL ME WHY. SO WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT. I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE SENSE AFTER TALKING WITH STAFF, THEY ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO WARREN COUNTY. THEY WANT ONLY THE BEST. IT IS SO OBVIOUS AND THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT THEM FROM MOVING FORWARD. I HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH FINANCE AND JANE TODAY, AND WE TALKED AUDIT, AND WE TALKED BUDGET. AND I THINK THERE ARE GONNA BE MANY, MANY MORE CONVERSATIONS, UH, FOR US TO DO THAT. UM, OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, I HAVE WILL BE SCHEDULING ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, UH, WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, AND WITH YOU, UH, BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT'S COMING UP. IT WARMED MY HEART TONIGHT WHEN YOU ALL SAID THAT YOU WERE INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. UM, HAVING SERVED MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE ONLY REALLY THREE GOALS TO EVERY BUDGET PROCESS, ONLY THREE, PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION. AND IF YOU'VE GOT THOSE THREE AND THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD, YOUR COMMUNITY'S GONNA BE GREAT. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OUTTA MY REALM, BUT, UM, ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. UM, UH, I WAS ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN HENRY COUNTY AND THEY DID SOME PRETTY INNOVATIVE THINGS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AFTER FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND TEXTILES LEFT. UH, THEY HAD TO REINVENT THEMSELVES RATHER QUICKLY. AND, UM, SO THERE'S SOME THINGS I THINK I CAN SHARE AND HOPEFULLY WE COULD TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE. UM, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN. MR. AM, I ENJOYED WORKING WITH CHASE AND, UH, LENS AND WISH HIM WELL ON HIS NEW ENDEAVORS, AND I'M LOOKING FOR WELCOME DR. MARTIN. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. THANK YOU. HE SAYS, SMILE. EVERYONE ENJOYS WORKING WITH YOU. I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE DO HAVE THE SPECIAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 24TH, 5:00 PM AND FEBRUARY 24TH, UH, 5:00 PM SO WE'RE AT, AND I DO WANNA SAY REALLY QUICKLY, I'M GONNA MS. CHASE. UM, HE'S, HE'S A NICE YOUNG MAN WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL, AND THEN I HATE TO SEE HIM GO. SO WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME, SHANE? * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.