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ALL RIGHT, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK, SO WE'LL START THE SPECIAL MEETING WORK SESSION MARCH 27TH, 2026.
AND AGAIN, TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA WE NEED TO ADD, UM, I'M SORRY, JOHN, DISCUSSION TO AUTHORIZE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE CIGARETTE TAX RATE, UM, TO THE APRIL 14TH MEETING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION TO ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION OF THAT? A AYE, AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
AND FIRST IT WILL BE THE DISCUSSION OF THE FY 26 27
[Items A & B]
TAX RATES.SO, DR. MARTIN, ARE YOU GONNA START US OFF, OR? OH, I MIGHT START YOU
SO, UM, I'M GONNA TALK FROM, UM, YOU HAVE A FOUR PAGE DOCUMENT THAT BEGINS AND LOOKS LIKE THIS.
OKAY? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA START.
AND, UM, CAN I JUST TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE HAS HAD, I DON'T KNOW, 5, 6, 7 DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF, SO YOU'RE SEEING THE LIGHTEST VERSION AS OF 20 MINUTES AGO.
UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY TRYING TO DO SOME THINGS THAT, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I'VE NOT DONE BEFORE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE.
SO LET ME START OFF BY TELLING YOU A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS, WE HEARD SOME THINGS FROM YOU AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND I WANNA TELL YOU WHAT WE HEARD.
WE HEARD THAT, THAT, THAT YOU HAVE SOME PRIORITIES AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET REVENUE IN THIS BUDGET.
FIRST ONE BEING, CAN YOU, BECAUSE WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, AN EDA OFFICE OPEN UP.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE HIRING OF A PERSON, SUPPORT STAFF, UM, AND GIVING THEM ENOUGH FUNDS TO OPERATE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE HEARD WAS, UM, THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD REMOVE THE FIRE MARSHAL AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT ADDING STAFF.
UM, AND SO WE HEARD THAT KIND OF LOUD AND CLEAR.
SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF, UH, REITERATIONS OF THAT TONIGHT.
UM, SO THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE AMENDED YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT, IS BECAUSE OF THE CIGARETTE TAX.
SO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE TONIGHT IS THE CIGARETTE TAX REALLY, REALLY NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD AS QUICK AS IT CAN BECAUSE WE'VE ANTICIPATED SOME REVENUE THAT YOU'RE WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
SO THE FIRST PAGE ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH A, UH, PROPERTY TAX, UH, REAL ESTATE TAX, MOVING FROM 0.479 TO 0.579.
NOW, I WANT YOU TO KIND OF KEEP THAT IN YOUR MINDS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOU SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TONIGHT THAT COULD CHANGE, COULD CHANGE, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU OPTIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THEY TEACH YOU IN SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL IS NEVER GIVE A SCHOOL BOARD OPTIONS.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA SEE IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU, BECAUSE I'M GONNA GIVE YOU, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME OPTIONS TONIGHT BECAUSE WE, THESE, UH, RIGHT NOW, THIS BUDGET IS NOT MINE.
AND YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE GONNA BE IN THE BUDGET.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS FIRST PAGE, THIS IS JUST AS WE HAVE MADE SOME, UM, PREDICTIONS WITH REVENUES, WHAT WE'RE GONNA GENERATE AND SO ON.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE BEGUN TO TAKE THINGS OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
UH, WE HAVE TAKEN OUT AN EXECUTIVE RECRUITER, WE HAVE TAKEN OUT HR WELLNESS PROGRAM, WE HAVE TAKEN OUT HR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT.
BUT HOLD THAT THOUGHT BECAUSE WE'VE NOT DONE IT TOTALLY.
UM, WE HAVE TAKEN OUT JUROR REIMBURSEMENT.
WE HAVE TAKEN OUT THE FIRE MARSHAL.
UM, WE HAVE ADDED IN, UH, UM, THE, UH, DIRECTOR FOR YOU.
UH, WE'VE TAKEN OUT COLLEGE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT.
[00:05:01]
TAKEN OUT, UM, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND WE'VE LET THE SCHOOLS KNOW THAT, UM, THEY, WE, I'VE TAKEN A HALF A CENT FROM THEM, WHICH IS $375,000.OKAY? AND AFTER TALKING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, IT APPEARS THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW, LET'S GET INTO SOME OPTIONS IF WE CAN.
AND STAFF'S GONNA HELP ME WALK THROUGH THREE OPTIONS.
SO THE FIRST OPTION I WANNA BE SURE IS OPTION A AND COULD MEAN A TAX RATE DECREASE OF 0.01.
ALRIGHT, LET'S START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP.
SO THAT MEANS IF WE RECEIVE ALL THE REVENUES THAT WE ANTICIPATE FROM THE CIGARETTE TAX, WE WILL HAVE UNCOMMITTED FUNDS IN OPTION A OF $395,825.
OKAY? NOW, CAN I JUST SAY A WORD ABOUT UNCOMMITTED FUNDS IN A BUDGET THAT'S THINKING, WELL, WE HOPE NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT A LOT OF CUSHION.
OR YOU MAY DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO COMMIT THOSE DOLLARS TO OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEAR ME SAY TONIGHT THAT YOU WANT TO SEE GO BACK IN THIS BUDGET.
SO THIS OPTION INCLUDES FOR, UM, THE SCHOOLS WILL GET $5,057,393.
FIRE AND RESCUE WILL GET THREE POSITIONS.
UH, THE SALARY AND BENEFIT INCREASES ARE THERE.
UH, THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS WILL BE COVERED THROUGH COST RECOVERY FUNDS.
UH, THE FIRE STATION ENHANCEMENT WILL BE CARRYOVER FUNDS.
CANCER PROVISION WILL BE CARRYING OVER FUNDS.
SO ALL OF THAT ADDS UP TO 486,000, UH, $46.
THE SHERIFF AND THE E 9 1 1 2 DEPUTIES ONE, HI HETA, HIDA HIDA, SORRY.
UM, THE FOIA CLERK STAYS IN, UH, OPERATIONAL INCREASES OF $135,000.
THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACT OF FOR 89 1 1 OF 451,000, UH, THE CALL HANDLING AND SEVEN SHERIFF VEHICLES WILL BE DONE IN CARRYOVER FUNDING.
SO THE TOTAL INCREASE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS $858,405.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DON'T Y'ALL GET EXCITED NOW? SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, THE SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR THE DIRECTOR WOULD BE 185,000.
AND WE ANTICIPATE THE SUPPORT PERSON AND BENEFITS WOULD BE 85,000, UM, FOR A TOTAL COST OF $270,700.
NOW HERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T MISS.
AND THAT'S ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND CSA, THERE ARE UNFUNDED MANDATES FOR THEM FOR $966,919.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CANNOT NOT FUND.
WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE OF CUTTING THESE DOLLARS AND WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE OF CUTTING SNAP AT $395,106.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOCIAL SERVICES AND CSA, UH, $1,706,794.
UH, YOU CAN SEE DISPOSAL FEES, HAULING FEES, REFUSE FEES, RECYCLING FEES, SALARY AND BENEFIT INCREASES.
GENERALLY SERVICE AGREEMENTS, IT SERVER REPLACEMENT, A DA VOTER EQUIPMENT THAT HASN'T COME OUT.
UM, AND FANTASY LAND, THOSE LAST THREE THAT I NAMED WILL BE DONE IN CARRYOVER FUNDS.
WE HAVE TRIED TO PULL AS MUCH AS WE CAN LEGALLY PULL AND PUT IT IN CARRYOVER MONEY OR, UH, ONCE THE AUDIT'S COMPLETED.
SO THAT LEAVES YOU WITH THIS OPTION WITH A TO THE GOOD OF $395,825.
AND IF YOU DECIDE TO SELECT OPTION A, THAT WILL BE A 0.01 INCREASE OF THE ANTICIPATED
[00:10:02]
10 CENT TAX INCREASE ON REAL ESTATE.SORRY, I'VE BEEN SEEING NEVERMIND
SO I PUT THE WRONG NUMBER ON THERE.
SO THAT WOULD BE AT WHAT, 9.5.
CAN WE GO ON TO B? 'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENCE.
UM, IS THE, IS THE UN-DESIGNATED FUNDING THE EQUIVALENT OF THE, OF THE COUNTY'S, UM, UH, CONTINGENCY FUND? NO.
OR IS THAT SEP A DIFFERENT THING? THAT'S IT'S SEPARATE.
SO, SO WHAT IS THE POINT OF UNDESIGNATED FUNDING? WELL, BECAUSE WE, UH, YOU TOLD US THERE WERE OTHER NEEDS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE FUNDED IN THE BUDGET, AND IF YOU WANT THOSE, THERE'S MONEY FOR, FOR A SM MORTGAGE BOARD OF WHATEVER, WHATEVER YOU WANT.
AND STILL GIVES YOU A TAX DECREASE.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY FUND BALANCE.
ONCE WE GET THE AUDIT, WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WE HAVE RIGHT THERE.
AND AGAIN, AS I'M SURE EVERYONE'S AWARE, THE FUND BALANCE MONEY SHOULD GO FOR ONE TIME ONLY EXPENSES AND NOT A CONTINUOUS OPERATING EXPENSE.
AND SO THAT, THAT THEN THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE IT DOWN THERE AS FAR AS THE VEHICLES OR WHATEVER CORRECT.
ALRIGHT, SO NOW LET'S GO, I'M SORRY, I'M AHEAD.
I JUST NEED TO RE-CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST TRIED TO CLARIFY.
THAT $395,000 IS NOT FUND BALANCE, IS IT? NO, NO, THAT'S, THAT'S AS, IT'S JUST AVAIL UNTAGGED FUNDS IN THE FY 27 BUDGET, UNRESTRICTED FUNDS IN THE BUDGET.
SO IF WE GO TO OPTION B, OPTION B, THERE'S NO CHANGE FOR THE SCHOOLS.
THERE IS A CHANGE FOR FIRE AND RESCUE OF ADDING SIX, UH, FIREFIGHTERS, AND THEIR INCREASE GOES TO $816,046.
EVERYTHING ELSE BASICALLY STAYS THE SAME.
EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME FOR THE SHERIFF.
EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.
EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME FOR REFUSE PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME FOR GENERAL.
SO THE ONLY INCREASE IS ADDING THREE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN YOUR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS BECOMES $65,825 AND THERE IS NO, UM, DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE STAYS 10 CENTS STAYS AT 10 CENTS.
OPTION C, OPTION C SCHOOL STAY THE SAME.
UM, HOWEVER, FIRE AND RESCUE, THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF CUTTING THIS PIE A LITTLE BIT.
UH, THEY GET THREE NEW POSITIONS, BUT THEY ALSO GET A LS PAY INCENTIVE INCREASES OF $90,000.
AND JANE, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO THAT'S THE INCENTIVE PAY THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR PARAMEDICS.
UM, WE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN ALL OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS, AND IT IS VERY COSTLY TO TRAIN AND HIRE A PARAMEDIC.
SO WE WANNA RETAIN THE QUALIFIED STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND WE HOPE TO DO SO BY INCREASING THIS INCENTIVE.
AND IT'S AN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF ROUGHLY $90,000 BASED OFF OF OUR CURRENT STAFF.
SO EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINS THE SAME.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE IS THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT IN ALL THREE OPTIONS.
AND, AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH FIRE AND RESCUE, BECAUSE, UM, THEY'VE DONE, THEY GOT AN OUTSIDER TO COME IN AND LOOK AT STAFFING AND THEY LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE COMPETING NEEDS FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOLS AND SO ON.
SO WE'VE LOOKED AT FIRE AND RESCUE GO THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO IF YOU DO THAT, WHICH IS THE
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A LS INCENTIVE, THREE FIREFIGHTERS, YOUR TAX RATE GOES TO 0.0025 OR SO, YOU HAVE A QUARTER OF A PENNY REDUCTION.SO YOU'D BE AT THE 9.75 CENTS.
SO, AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AN UNDESIGNATED FUND OF $305,387.
AND HOW MUCH OF A PERCENTAGE DROP WAS THAT IN THE 10 CENTS? IT WAS NINE A QUARTER OF A PERCENT QUARTER.
SO IT PUT YOU BELOW 10, BUT NOT MUCH.
NOW, JUST LET ME REMIND YOU, OPTION C AND OPTION A, OFFER THE BOARD OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE ANYTHING ANYWHERE.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMPETING NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE NOT, UM, TALK WITH US ABOUT AND YOU WANT TO PUT THIS IN, THEN NOW'S THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
I'LL CHIP IN MY, I'LL CHIP IN MY 2 CENTS HERE.
UM, CAN YOU MAKE IT FIVE, 5 CENTS? OKAY.
UM, I BEL AND LOOKING AT THIS, YOU KNOW, AND THE IDEA OF LEAVING UNDESIGNATED FUNDING, UH, AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THERE'S A LOT OF AGONIZING DETAILS AND CHOICES BEING MADE HERE.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD ALLOCATE IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS TO WHAT WE WANT TO FUND AND NOT LEAVE SOMETHING UN-DESIGNATED.
UH, THAT JUST MEANS IT'LL BE SPENT ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT, UH, AS PUBLICLY DETERMINED, UH, AS THIS PROCESS WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
NOW IS, UH, HAVING SAID THAT, I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE ADDITIONAL THREE TO SIX, UM, FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS AND, AND PREFER TO LEAVE AN UNDESIGNATED FUND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I JUST DON'T WANT AN UNDESIGNATED AMOUNT OF MONEY PUSHED AROUND, YOU KNOW, ELSEWHERE LATER ON FOR LESS PUBLICLY VISIBLE, UH, PRIORITIES.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALL DISCUSSING ALL OF THE PRIORITIES.
SO THAT, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS IS, UH, OPTION B.
5 CENTS, EXCUSE ME, WITH THE UNDESIGNATED FUNDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF MS. SCOTT WANTS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND TRAVEL, AND I DID NOT TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS.
SO WHILE THE TRAINING AND, UM, ANY ANCILLARY ITEMS FOR TRAINING AND CONFERENCE EDUCATION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE POOLED IT INTO THE NON DEPARTMENT FUND.
AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT AS DEPARTMENTS REQUEST FOR AND GET APPROVED FOR GOING TO THEIR TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES, THEN THAT MONEY WOULD BE MOVED OVER TO THEIR BUDGETS.
UH, SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERNAL CONTROL THAT WE'VE NOT IMPLEMENTED BEFORE, UH, FOR A POOLED FUNDING PROGRAM, UH, THAT COLLECTIVELY, UH, PUTS EVERYONE'S REQUEST TOGETHER.
AND WE DID REDUCE THAT, UH, SLIGHTLY BY, UM, 70, UM, THOUSAND DOLLARS, A LITTLE OVER $70,000.
AND SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE HAD IN THE BUDGET, AS WELL AS ANY MILEAGE, LODGING, UM, ANY MEALS.
UM, AND THE ACTUAL TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES THEMSELVES.
AND THIS WAS A NEW LEARNING FOR ME BECAUSE I LEARNED THAT FOR SOME OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, THEIR POSITIONS ARE TIED TO THEIR CERTIFICATIONS WITH THE COMP BOARD.
SO UNLESS THEY GO TO CONFERENCES AND, AND GET CERTIFIED, THEN WE WILL NOT GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE COMP BOARD NEW LEARNING.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN, UH, WE'VE REDUCED THEM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE DOING THIS.
WE'VE JUST, WE'RE EXERCISING SOME INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER IT.
UM, AND THIS, UM, WELL, WE JUST KIND OF WANT TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING, WHY THEY'RE GOING AND SO ON.
UM, HOW MUCH MONEY IS THAT QUARTER OF A CENT? I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT MATH IN MY HEAD.
UH, A HUNDRED AND LIKE 85,000.
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YEAH.WELL, DECISIONS DECISIONS, I HAVE HAD A GOOD BIT OF REACH OUT OVER THAT CHESTER GAP THING STILL.
UH, I MEAN, THE ORIGINAL ASK WAS 10 GUYS, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT WITH, UH, THE 10 GUYS.
WE COULD HAVE GOT A, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER FULL 24 7 RESCUE SQUAD SERVICE.
BUT IT DON'T LOOK LIKE WE'RE REACHING THAT.
UM, IF WE LOOK AT, AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, NOT TO COPY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT, UH, IF CRYSTAL HADN'T HAVE FIXED HER PAY SCALE, SHE WAS GETTING READY TO HAVE A BUNCH WALK, I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW, UH, THAT PAY INCENTIVE INCREASE HOW IMPORTANT THAT MIGHT BE TO KEEP OUR BEST GUYS.
UM, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT CHESTER GAP THING AGAIN, IF WE DID IT TWO SOMETHING, 200,000, 200,000 EVEN? WELL, IF YOU, I CAN'T GET, I CAN'T GET BOTH.
I WISH I HAD BOTH, BUT IF I PUT THE QUARTER OF A CENT BACK, IT PUTS ME AT FOUR 90.
AND THEN IF WE, LIKE I SAID, IF WE HAD TO, IF WE HAD ANOTHER FULL EMT SQUAD, I MIGHT WOULD AGREE THAT WE DON'T NEED CHESTER GAP, BUT I'VE HAD A LOT OF OUTPOURING ABOUT THAT.
UH, YOU TAKE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF MONEY AND YOU CAN FUND ANOTHER 24 7 EMT SQUAD ALL, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT AS GREAT AS OURS.
I WON'T ARGUE THAT, I WON'T GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THAT, BUT, UH, BASED ON WHAT I SAW IN THAT ARTICLE, WORLD EXAMINER AND I'VE HAD REACH OUT FROM HARMONY HOLLOW, CHESTER GAP, POINTY WOODS HAD A FEW PHONE CALLS THAT THEY REALLY WANTED ME TO, UH, RECONSIDER THAT.
UM, SO IF WE PUT THE, IF WE PUT THAT QUARTER OF A PERCENT BACK, THAT WOULD ALMOST COVER THAT $200,000 AND THAT WOULD GET YOU ANOTHER FULL EMT SERVICE.
IF IT, IF I'M COMPLETELY WRONG, SOMEBODY PLEASE CORRECT ME, BUT IT'S TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY CAN'T FULLY FUND AN EMT SERVICE OVER THERE EITHER.
SO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT PULLING THAT TO SQUAD BACK TO FLINT HILL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL ACTUALLY DECIDE DURING THE SAME MESS WE'RE IN.
I'M SURE ON BUDGET ALL, BUT IF THEY PULL HIM BACK TO FLINT HILL, THAT THAT IS A HELL OF A GAP AND THEY ONLY HAVE THREE OR FOUR OR SIX GUYS TO, TO FILL THAT GAP IS A BIG DEAL.
NOW, IF I HAD TO PERFECT WORLD, I HAD, WHEN I ORIGINALLY GOT INTO THIS THING, I WAS THINKING IN MY HEAD, SIX OR 7 CENTS IS GONNA KNOCK US OUTTA THE APART.
I'LL GIVE 'EM A CIGARETTE TAX THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS AND I'LL GIVE 'EM A PENNY THAT'S 700,000, THAT'D PUT 'EM AT 1.6.
THERE'S 1.3 AND THERE'S SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS LEFT TO THROW BACK AND ASK THAT REPLACEMENT.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REASONABLE, REASONABLE REQUEST STARTING INTO THIS THING.
AND THEN WE, YOU KNOW, HAD A FLAT FUND TO SCHOOL BUDGET FOR SEVERAL YEARS, KIND OF GOT US A LITTLE BEHIND AND THEN NOBODY SAW A 23% INCREASE.
AND HEALTH BENEFITS, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HOW THE HECK DO YOU PLAN FOR THAT? BUT IF YOU TAKE THE LAST OPTION AND YOU PUT THE QUARTER OF A CENT BACK AND IT TAKES THAT TO FOUR 90, I COULD TAKE 200,000 AND DO CHESTER GAP AND THAT WOULD STILL LEAVE ME TWO 90.
AND MAYBE WE GIVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ONE MORE GUY, WHICH IS WHAT, 130? UM, SO WITH FIRE AND RESCUE, YOU NEED TO DO IT IN INCREMENTS OF THREE RATHER THAN ONE, BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE SHIFTS.
SO IN ORDER TO ADD STAFFING, YOU'RE ADDING THREE PEOPLE, NOT ONE.
SO IT'D BE 330 FOR ONE ADDITIONAL.
SO ONE JUST MAKES AN ODD DUCK KIND OF MM-HMM
IT'S LIKE TRAVELING WITH THREE
IT'S ALWAYS AN ODD WELL, OH, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO GET 200,000 TO FUND IN SIX.
GOSH, WE, WE'LL GIVE YOU A FLOATER.
YOU KNOW, AN EXTRA MAN'S AN EXTRA MAN.
UH, NO, I'M, I, I LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU NEED A, YOU KNOW, 400,000 WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A, THAT'S A HALF A CENT.
THAT'S A BIG CUSHION TO ME ON A, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 5% OF THE INCREASE OR WHATEVER.
UH, SO I DON'T WANNA DRAW IT DOWN.
I THINK AT 65 NUMBERS A LITTLE NO LOW, BUT I DON'T NEED A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN CUSHION
[00:25:01]
OR SHOULDN'T.I MEAN, GRANTED, IF YOU HAD IT TO HAVE, IT'D BE GREAT, BUT, UH, GOSH.
AND IF IT DON'T GET TO, IF YOU SCARED SOMEONE, 'EM WOULD WALK WITHOUT THE PAY INCENTIVES.
THE GUYS WE DO GOT, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS THINK THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD THING TO DO.
UH, AS THIS MARKET HAS GOT MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THE NEED FOR THESE GUYS THAT, I MEAN, WE GOT GOOD GUYS.
I, I'VE, I AIN'T GONNA SAY I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY STAYED, BUT MAYBE I'M GRATEFUL AND IF THEY DIDN'T STAY, I'D UNDERSTAND WHY FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
BUT, OH, I, I JUST BASED ON THE CALLS THAT I'VE GOT, AND I DIDN'T GET ENOUGH TO FUND ANOTHER SQUAD 24 7 ALL WEEK LONG.
SO IT LEAVES A GAP ON THE, ON THE SOUTH END AND OH, THEY DID RUN 500 SOME CALLS I THINK IT WAS, OR 4 55 OR FIVE 40.
SO I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, BUT IT, UH, I KNOW THEY'RE CLOSE, BUT AT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS FAR AS THEIR DISTANCE AND PROXIMITY, UH, THERE'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DISTANCE FROM RIVERMONT TO FORT SMITH.
IT IS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT, OF COURSE THE ROAD'S SO MUCH NICER OTHER THAN IN THE WINTERTIME, OH, YOU PAY BACK FOR THAT STRAIGHT ROAD UP THAT MOUNTAIN.
THERE'S JUST SOMETHING I THROW OUT THERE.
IF, IF WE CAN'T GET 10 FIREFIGHTERS TO GET A OR NINE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU GOTTA HAVE TO GET THAT, THAT 4 24 7 SERVICE BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SAY THIS, BUT LIKE, OH, CHAND FARMS, THAT, THAT WAS ON THE CLARK COUNTY SIDE AND HAD BASICALLY THROWED US THE KEYS.
AND BE, BE LIKE, NOW WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WE'RE GONNA TRY TO COVER ALL THAT OUT OF STATION ONE.
AT SOME POINT THE BUILDING PROBABLY BE NEED EXPANDING OR SOMETHING IN.
AND THEN IT IS KIND OF NICE TO HAVE MORE SPOTS TO PULL FROM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, FORT SMITH AND RIVERMONT.
I ORIGINALLY, WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I SAID, WELL, FORT SMITH'S GOTTA GO IF WE BUILD A NEW BUILDING.
I WAS SHOCKED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SAID, OH NO, IT'D BE TOO FAR.
AND THEN THEY'VE TURNED OUT SOME PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS.
SO I WAS LIKE, EH, I GOTTA KIND OF EAT MY WORDS THERE.
MAYBE FORT SMITH NEEDS TO STAY BY THAT SAME RATIONALE.
I THINK IT'D BE WORTH GIVING CHESTER GAP A SHOT AND I'D HATE FOR 'EM TO JUST THROW THE TOWEL IN IT.
'CAUSE THEY'RE HAVING SOME WEIRD ISSUES WITH FIRE AND RESCUE ANYWAY.
I HEARD IT'S A LAWSUIT AND SOME OTHER COMPLICATIONS, BUT IF WE COULD MAKE THAT DEAL, IT WOULD BE, UH, IT MIGHT HELP FILL THE GAP UNTIL WE CAN GET THIS FUNDING THING CAUGHT UP ENOUGH TO GET THAT FULL THING.
JUST, JUST SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D THROW OUT THERE.
I'D OH, I'D DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT.
AND I'D ADD THAT IF HE, IF THE FLOATER GUY WILL HELP HIM, YOU KNOW, WITH A SURPLUS OF TWO 90 OR SOMEBODY'S GOT ANOTHER WANT LIST THAT, THAT JUSTIFY USING SOME OF THAT UP.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT EITHER, SO.
UM, YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING CHESTER GAP AT 200,000 IN ONE OF THESE SCENARIOS.
YEAH, I I FIGURED C AND THEN IF YOU PUT, AND, AND IF YOU TAKE C AND YOU PUT THAT QUARTER OF A CENT BACK, OH, YOU PICK UP ANOTHER 185,000 WOULD TAKE YOU NEAR NEARLY TO A HALF A MILLION.
THEN YOU PULL THE 200 BACK OUTTA THAT AND YOU STILL GOT SOME DECENT, DECENT CHANGE THERE.
OH YOU, THE QUARTER OF C OF THREE FIREFIGHTERS.
WELL, THE QUARTER OF THE CENT IS ALREADY IN THERE.
SO THE 3 0 5, IT GIVES YOU THE CUSHION THAT YOU COULD LOWER IT A QUARTER OF A CENT.
OH, I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALREADY WAS A QUARTER CENT.
IS THAT YOUR FAULT OR MINE? I'M SORRY.
IS THAT YOUR FAULT OR MINE? THAT I MISUNDERSTOOD.
WELL, THAT'D BE THE CASE THEN WITH 300 TO TAKE 200 OUT ONLY LEAVES YOU A HUNDRED CUSHION.
SO OPTION C IS THREE FIREFIGHTERS, THREE NEW POSITIONS, CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
PLUS THE INCENTIVE THOUGH TO KEEP, KEEP THE GOOD ONES.
I WOULD, I THINK JUST WANT TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS.
UH, OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE MATRIX STUDY, UM, CHESTER GAP'S, 2% OF THE CALLS, UM, THE THIRD LOWEST OUT OF 10, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE CHESTER GAP CALLS THAT COME INTO WARREN COUNTY ARE COMING INTO THE FRONT ROYAL FIRE STATION TERRITORY.
UM, I LOOKED AT THIS STUDY AND LOOKING AT, UH, TOTAL RESPONSE TIMES AND UM, THERE ARE SIX OUT OF 10 HAVE LONGER RESPONSE TIMES THAN THAN CHESTER GAP.
SO I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, LIKE A LOT OF PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT IT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO NOT FORGET WHEN WE'RE LISTENING TO CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, FEELINGS ABOUT IT AND, AND, AND INPUT WHICH IS VALID THAT WE ALSO NOT LOSE TRACK OF WHAT OUR, OUR PROFESSIONAL FIRE STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED TO US STRONGLY AND
[00:30:01]
WHAT WE, WE OBTAINED WHEN WE DID THIS STUDY.SO I'M, I'M REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN, THEY NEEDED 10.
YOU'RE NOT GETTING TO THREE OR SIX.
WHATCHA ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH GAP? OH SIX SIX? IT STILL AIN'T 10.
YOU STILL DON'T HAVE TEN FOUR SERVICE, BUT IT'S SIX.
IT'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN THAT'S, THAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, I APPRECIATE A COUPLE THINGS.
AVA, YOU FOUND PLACES TO PINCH AND PULL SOME MORE MONEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, AND I'M THE ONE WHO ASKED IF YOU COULD FIND A WAY TO GET THE RATE DOWN TO 9 CENTS AND YOU DID.
UH, THAT SAID, LOOKING AT THESE THREE OPTIONS, UM, AND KNOWING THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, WITH THE DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES HERE, I'D BE INCLINED AT THIS POINT TO STAY WITH OPTION B AND THE, THE FULL 10 CENT INCREASE, UH, AS TO HOW TO SPEND IT WITHIN FIRE AND RESCUE, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY LEVER BETWEEN THESE TWO OPTIONS.
UH, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO DEFER TO THE CHIEF AND TO THE DEPARTMENT IN THEIR EXPERTISE ON HOW BEST TO USE THAT.
UM, IF THAT MEANS THREE MEN OR, OR SIX, UH, AND, AND WHAT TO DO WITH CHESTER GAP, I WOULD, I WOULD TRUST THE CHIEF ON THAT AND HIS PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN THE, THE STUDY THAT HE HAS, UH, TO MAKE THAT CALL.
THAT SAID, I WOULD NOTICE ON HERE THAT IN OPTION B, THE UN-DESIGNATED FUNDING COMES OUT AT 65 GRAND AND THAT'S ONLY 25 GRAND AWAY FROM THE EXTRA AMOUNT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THE A LS INCENTIVE.
SO IF, IF THERE'S A WAY TO TO, TO PINCH ANOTHER 25, WE COULD, WE COULD DO BOTH AND, AND NOT, UH, HAVE ANYTHING ON DESIGNATED, UH, THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
UH, AGAIN, THOUGH, I, WHATEVER WE DO, I'D, I'D LIKE THAT DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO BE ALLOCATED, UH, BY THE CHIEF.
AND, UH, I THINK HE HAS MORE EXPERTISE THAN I DO IN, IN THAT REMIT.
AND, AND I DON'T, UH, DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND SAY THAT I KNOW WHAT'S BEST THERE.
UH, I DO, I DO THINK WE HAVE A STUDY WITH, WITH NUMBERS THAT, THAT TELL A BIG PICTURE STORY AND WE WANNA KEEP THAT IN MIND.
HOW YOU DOING DOWN THERE? OH, NOT TOO BAD.
I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU WITHOUT YOUR, UH, REFEREE JERSEY ON DIFFERENT NIGHT, DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT NIGHT, DIFFERENT GAME
UM, I GUESS A COUPLE THINGS MAYBE, UH, WELL, LET ME DOUBLE CHECK ON THE, UM, OPTION B.
DID THAT REMOVE, I SAW THERE SOMEWHERE, MAYBE IT'S DID YOU REMOVE THE, THE COST FOR THE EXECUTIVE RECRUITER? YES, THAT'S THE THING ON EVERYTHING.
UM, HAD A QUESTION FOR THE, UH, JUST CLARIFICATION FOR THE, THE, THE SHERIFF.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT IN THERE FOR THE FOIA THERE, YOU'RE FOR THE FOIA THING, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WITH FOIA REQUESTS THE TIME INVOLVED AND THERE'S MORE OF 'EM AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW? DO YOU HAVE LIKE SOMEBODY THAT'S DOING THAT BETWEEN AND DOING ANOTHER JOB OR WHAT? SO DIANA, SHE'S BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR, WITH THE COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND SHE'S BEEN DOING 'EM WITH HELP FROM ANOTHER PERSON AND THEN WHEN THEY CAN ACTUALLY WITH TWO OTHER PEOPLE TO TRY TO KEEP UP.
SO SHE'S ASKING OTHER PEOPLE TO PULL SOME OF THE INFORMATION JUST TO HELP HER KEEP UP.
BUT SHE'S ALSO WORKING LATE AT NIGHT, WORKING MORE HOURS THAN SHE SHOULD RIGHT.
SO SHE'S, I DON'T WANNA LOSE HER.
I, I JUST, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW STRESSED SHE WAS.
AND TRY TO KEEP THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE SHE COULD BE SUED.
UM, IT'S HUGE LIABILITY IN THAT AREA.
NO, I JUST HEARD SOMEBODY SAY THEY ALREADY HAD ONE, BUT I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT MORE DETAIL THAT, AND THAT THING TOO IS THEY HAVE TO REVIEW I THINK THE, THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE AND ALL THAT STUFF AND IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
IT'S JUST INCREASING AS PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY NEED ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON EVERYTHING.
AND I THINK WE HAVE ON THERE, UH, I KNOW THE LIBRARY ASKED FOR LIKE 1.2, BUT WE HAVE BASICALLY, UH, FUNDING FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR AT 1.024.
AND THAT IS SUFFICIENT FOR, THE MAIN THING WAS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE JUST LIKE SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LOCAL FUNDING, UH, TO GET THE STATE OR FEDERAL MATCH.
SO I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE ADEQUATE FOR THE, UH, LIBRARY TO CONTINUE ON.
UH, EXCUSE ME, SOMEBODY'S CALLING.
THEY WANT TO EXTEND MY CAR WARRANTY.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, UM, THE THING IS TOO, AND THAT, AND THAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU MENTIONED, JUST GO OVER AGAIN AS FAR AS THE
[00:35:01]
ADDITIONAL, UH, VEHICLES FOR THE SHERIFF THAT WOULD COME OUTTA THE FUND BALANCE.AND THERE AGAIN, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, ONE TIME EXPENDITURES THAT WE NEED TO, UH, PLAN FOR THOSE BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND SO IT'S BETTER TO, YOU KNOW, PUT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AWAY FOR THREE YEARS TO BUY THE NEW VEHICLE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS TOO, UH, 'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S SPREAD OUT THROUGH ALL THE, UH, COUNTY EMPLOYEES, UM, WHAT WAS THE TOTAL FOR, UH, THE COLA, THE MERIT, THE VRS INCREASE AND ALL LIKE THAT? SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT INCREASE? NOT THAT I'M, I I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OR THE PERCENT SURE.
SO FOR THE, THE COLA IT'S UH, 3% AND I BELIEVE IT'S $700,000 THAT'S IN THERE.
THE MERIT, IT IS A 2% AND WE DID IT FOR NINE MONTHS RATHER THAN 12.
SO IT WAS REDUCED TO $488,000 AND THEN THE VRS ACTUALLY DECREASED THIS YEAR.
UM, SO IT WAS A 1.25% DECREASE BETWEEN ALL OF THE VRS CATEGORIES.
UM, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER AREA THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT? THAT WAS MAINLY THE TOTAL OF THE MERIT AND THE INCREASE.
AND, AND THERE AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE NOT TOO MUCH, BUT AS FAR AS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LITTLE BIT OF INCREASE IN WORKERS' COMP.
WE HAD A SIGNIF, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT, OUR MODERATING WENT FROM 0.88 TO 1.34.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHERE THE WELLNESS PROGRAM, IT REALLY A LOT OF HEARTBURN TO PULL THAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, BY DOING THE EARLY CANCER SCREENINGS MM-HMM
WE'RE ABLE TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT LONG TERM.
UM, WE DO FEEL THAT FOR FY 27, WHAT WE HAVE IN A PO FOR FY 20, ACTUALLY FOUR OR FIVE AND SIX THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UM, WILL COVER PHYSICALS FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR 27.
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING THROUGH CARRYOVER AND THAT, UM, HOWEVER, WE DON'T WANT THAT FUNDING TAKEN OUT PERMANENTLY BECAUSE OUR MOD WILL GO THROUGH THE ROOF AND BETWEEN THE, OR THE CANCER AND UM, CARDIAC EVENTS.
THERE ARE PRESUMPTIVE LAWS IN VIRGINIA THAT COVER BOTH FIRE AND RESCUE AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A DEPUTY HAVE A STROKE THIS WEEK.
SO IT'S VERY REAL, REAL, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THE CANCER THAT HAS POPPED UP IN THE FIR AND RESCUE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR US.
UH, AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, UM, REQUIREMENTS ARE AND THAT'S FOR LIKE, UM, I KNOW SOME OF THE, UH, SURROUNDING LOCALITIES HAVE A FIRE TAX LEVY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD INSTITUTE, NOT THAT I WANNA INCREASE THE OVERALL, BUT HAVE THAT PARTICULAR AMOUNT SPECIFIC TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT'S THE PROCESS ON THAT? IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS.
TO START, BUT I BELIEVE IT WOULD TAKE OVER A YEAR BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON AND OKAY.
I, I ASKED THE VOTER REGISTRAR BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO FOR A REFERENDUM AND HE SAID IF WE WERE GONNA DO IT, WE NEEDED TO START IT BECAUSE, UM, TO GET IT ON FOR NOVEMBER.
THAT WE'D NEED TO GET IT STARTED NOW.
UM, I THINK IT'S GOTTA GET JUDGE APPROVAL OR SOMETHING AS WELL.
SO HE SAID IT'S DOABLE, BUT WE CAN'T, WE'D HAVE TO GET IT ON IT RIGHT AWAY.
UM, JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE, WHICH JUST FOR FOLKS KNOW, THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, THE SHERIFF, THE TREASURER, THE CLERK, CLERK OF THE COURT, UH, COMMISSIONER, THOSE POSITIONS ARE BASED ON THE COMP BOARD.
THEY LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF THE LOCALITY.
THEY SAY, OKAY, YOU GOT THIS MANY PEOPLE, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
I JUST KNOW IN YEARS PAST, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SHERIFF, THAT THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES.
SO THE COUNTY WOULD KICK IN FOR A DEPUTY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WITH SOME OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES.
THE COUNTY WOULD ALSO SUPPLEMENT THAT TO SOME EXTENT.
BUT WE DO GET A FAIR SHARE OF FUNDS FROM THE COMP BOARD.
UM, AND THAT'S, AND, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
BUT I'M, AND I KNOW AS FAR AS CHESTER GAP, I WOULD PREFER THAT WE, UH, AND I KNOW THEY RUN A FAIR AMOUNT OF CALLS IN WARREN COUNTY, BUT MY
[00:40:01]
UNDERSTANDING TOO IS THAT, UH, AT LEAST COMPANY ONE HAS TWO FULLY STAFFED, UH, MEDIC UNITS.SO IF SOMEBODY, IF THEY GO UP TO UH, CHESTER, GAP POINT WOODS, THERE'S STILL SOMEBODY IN TOWN THAT CAN, UM, COVER THOSE CALLS.
UM, THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE TIME RESPONSE, UH, BUT I, I WOULD JUST THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT IN OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEN MAKE IT WORK THERE.
IDEALLY IT WOULD BE SOMETHING IF WE COULD HAVE A UM, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT HOUSING BUILDING OR WHATEVER DOWN BELOW CHESTER GAP, BUT THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD.
AGAIN, ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO START PLANNING FOR WHATEVER.
BUT I FEEL, AND AGAIN, THE ONES I FEEL FOR THE MOST ARE GONNA BE THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN RAPPA COUNTY AND CHESTER GAP, BECAUSE IF THEY MOVE 'EM, BUT I WOULD THINK, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT PARTICULARS, BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS UP THERE, UH, AND THERE'S A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT TOO, SO, AND, AND, AND THEY PROBABLY DO THAT NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE BETTER OFF TAKING THAT MONEY, UH, TO, TO UM, DO IT TOWARDS THEIR, UM, THEIR CITIZENS 'CAUSE THEY'RE PAYING THE MONEY.
AND I THINK THERE'S ROUGHLY, WELL I THINK THERE'S ROUGHLY 2000 PEOPLE IN THAT AREA, NOT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY SERVED.
SO THAT'S ABOUT WHERE I STAND AT THIS POINT.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, ARE YOU LEANING TOWARDS ANY ONE OF THESE THREE OPTIONS? UH, I'D PROBABLY BE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
COULD I HAVE A, A CLARIFICATION QUESTION? UM, YOU MENTIONED 480 IN THE AMER POOL, BUT IT SAYS SIX 50 IN HERE.
IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR BOOK, THERE'S A COLUMN MISSING, UM,
UM, SO THE FY 27, UM, PROPOSED HAS THE $488,000.
JUST MAKING SURE EVERYBODY WAS DONE BEFORE MY TURN.
UM, I LEAN TOWARDS C AND DID YOU SAY B, C, C? SORRY.
UM, AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I AM AT ODDS WITH MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD HERE AND WHO I SU UH, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO CHESTER GAP.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DON'T AGREE WITH ME, BUT I WAS ELECTED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT AND THAT'S MY JOB.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.
AND I REALIZE THAT CHESTER GAP IS IN RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY BY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S A QUARTER OF A MILE OR NOT.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE ARE IN WARREN COUNTY.
AND THOSE PEOPLE EXPECT ME TO ADVOCATE, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM ON THIS.
IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT IS THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
AND THAT'S WHERE, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE TOLD ME THEY WANT ME TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T APPRECIATE OR SUPPORT.
I THINK, UM, I HAVE BEEN, I HAVE PUSHED FOR THE THINGS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS GOTTEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD, UM, BEEN BEHIND A HUNDRED PERCENT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, WE JUST HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE BECAUSE IT'S MY JOB TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT, JUST AS I'VE ADVOCATED FOR COMPANY FIVE TO GET, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AND AND THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED FOR THE COMPANIES.
BUT I LOOK AT THIS AND IF WE HAVE WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, THE 305, AND YOU TAKE AWAY THE 200, THAT STILL GIVES OUR A LS PROVIDERS THEIR INCREASE, WHICH I AGREE.
I'VE, I SAID WHEN I FIRST CAME, ONE, I WOULD MUCH RATHER, UM, INCREASE SALARIES FOR EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT INSTEAD OF LET'S MAKE EVERYBODY A LIEUTENANT OR WHATEVER TO GET A RAISE THAT, THAT NEVER MADE
[00:45:01]
SENSE TO ME.SO I WANT US TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
SO I DEFINITELY WANT THAT IN, IF YOU TAKE THE 200 AWAY, IT GIVES YOU, IF MY MATH WAS, IS CORRECT, 105.
SO WE COULD ADD BACK IN THE WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT 80,000.
'CAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A NECESSARY THING.
I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO THE CANCER WAS CAUGHT EARLY, SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT.
UM, AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS FOR ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE UNDER AND TO GIVE THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA A PEACE OF MIND.
BECAUSE IF CHESTER GAP, ONE OF TWO THINGS IS GONNA HAPPEN, THEY'RE EITHER GONNA MOVE THEM UP TO FLINT HILL, WHICH DEFINITELY IMPACTS, BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, FOLKS, TWO RESCUE SQUADS COULD GO OUT OF THAT BUILDING OR THAT FIRE TRUCK COULD GO OUT IN A RESCUE SQUAD AND FRONT ROW IS DEPLETED.
HAVING THAT BACKUP THAT CLOSE IS OF VALUE.
AND AT SOME POINT EVERYBODY IS DEPLETED.
YOU GET THE RIGHT, THE, THE NIGHT THE MOVIE THEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE, WE WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN CALLING PEOPLE FROM EVERY COUNTY AROUND US.
'CAUSE MAIN STREET COULD HAVE GONE UP LIKE IT DID IN THE SIXTIES THAT THE FAR END DID.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, I HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
AND I THINK WITH CI DON'T LIKE GETTING DOWN, YOU KNOW, BARE BONES LIKE THIS, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT GIVES US THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.
IT STILL GIVES YOU YOUR THREE PEOPLE, IT GIVES YOU YOUR INCREASES, IT PUTS BACK IN, UM, THE CANCER WELLNESS.
UH, AND IT GIVES THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA PEACE OF MIND, UM, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE SERVICES.
AND HOW DO YOU DENY THE, THE RECENT ARTICLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU GUYS COULDN'T HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IF YOU GOT THERE FIRST.
I'M NOT DECREASING ANYBODY'S LEVEL OF SERVICE, BUT AGAIN, GOTTA ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE TOLD ME THEY WANT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA ADVOCATE.
SO JUST LIKE SCHOOL, LET'S REVIEW WHERE WE ARE.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW, IF I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU HAVE SAID, RICH JOHN AND TONY ARE INTERESTED IN OPTION B.
SO I'M GONNA COMBINE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THAT OPTION AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
UH, THAT WOULD PROVIDE SIX, UH, FIREFIGHTERS, UH, A SALARY INCREASE.
AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE PUT IN THE 25,000 FOR THE A LS INCENTIVE.
AND IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE, THE FIRE CHIEF GET THESE FUNDS AND MEET HIS NEEDS WITH THE FUNDS.
IT SUGGESTED SIX POSITIONS, THE A LS, BUT HE MAY DETERMINE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE IF, IF THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THEN IF YOU GO TO, HOLD ON.
I, I THINK, DID I MISSPEAK? I DEFINITELY INTEND FOR THERE TO BE SIX OPERATIONAL POSITIONS.
IF THAT'S, IF HE HITS THE ONE I, I MEAN THIS OPTION DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ADMIN.
THE WHAT? I, WELL, THE, UM, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS REMOVED? THE, UM, FIRE MARSHAL.
SO YOU WANT SIX POSITION? I I, THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR.
SO, AND THEN FOR OPTION C, HUGH AND CHERYL, THAT PUTS, UM, UH, $200,000 AT CHESTER GAP THREE FIRE OPERATIONAL POSITIONS.
THE A LS PAY INCENTIVE IS THERE, AND THERE'S MONEY TO PUT IN THE $80,000 WELLNESS SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD LEAVE AN UNDESIGNATED FUND OF AROUND I THINK 25,000, 25,387.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND I'M NOT COUNTING VOTES.
SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, IS THERE COMMON GROUND FOR YOU TO REACH? BECAUSE, UM, I'M, I'M JUST GONNA
[00:50:01]
TELL YOU, WE'RE NOT LEAVING THIS ROOM TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE THIS BUDGET ON MONDAY PERIOD, END OF DISCUSSION.WE, THAT'S A HAVE TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS LEGALLY OF ADVERTISING IT, UM, APPROVING A BUDGET, GETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING, GETTING IT FINALIZED, AND GIVING THE SCHOOLS ENOUGH TIME TO OFFER CONTRACTS TO TEACHERS, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
SO AS THEY SAY, SOMETIMES IN THE SOUTH, WE GOTTA FISH AND CUT BAIT TONIGHT.
WELL, IF B PASSES, I WILL AGREE THAT I DO NOT WANT, IT'S GONNA BE SIX OPERATIONAL FIREMEN.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE I, I DON'T KNOW.
I, YOU KNOW, I WANT THE PEOPLE THAT I FEEL LIKE ARE BEING NOT HEARD IN MY AREA TO KNOW THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE SITTING IN A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND NOT IN AN OFFICE.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME COMMON GROUND FOR YOU, MS. CALLERS.
NO, I WON'T CALL IT COMMON GROUND.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK I'VE ASKED FOR TOO MUCH, FOR CONSIDERATION FOR, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MY CONSCIENCE IS GONNA BE CLEAR.
IT'S ON THOSE WHO DON'T SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE.
BUT SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UH, OPTION B SIX FIREFIGHTERS, WE WILL FIND $25,000 MORE FOR THE A LS INCENTIVE.
CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? 'CAUSE IN OPTION C, IT LOOKS LIKE 90,000, THERE'S 90,000 NOT 25.
RICH HERE, HERE'S WHAT I, I POINTED OUT.
ON B, ON B, WITH THE FULL INCREASE IN, IN THE TAX RATE, THERE'S 65 UNDESIGNATED LEFTOVER.
SO IF YOU APPLY THAT PLUS TO THE 90 FOR A LS INCENTIVE, YOU ONLY NEED TO SOMEHOW FIND 25 MORE ELSEWHERE.
TO MAKE THE NINE KNOW WHEREVER IT CAN BE PINCHED FROM PAYROLL SHORT ON THE A LS WOULD BE, BUT IT'S REAL, JUST BARELY SHORT, 25,000 SHORT.
SO EITHER OPTION, UH, JUST, JUST LET ME SAY EITHER OPTION.
WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE I, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, AND I I JUST NEED TO SAY THIS.
YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS AT A STANDSTILL AND PUTTING SOMEBODY IN THAT POSITION IS MOVING THIS COUNTY FORWARD, BEGINNING TO DO SOME ECONOMIC, IT'S IF THIS IS A LONG TERM DECISION, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT SETS THE STAGE FOR, FOR THIS COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, SO I, I JUST NEED TO, I'M, I'M ADVOCATING FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A POSITION IN, UM, IT'S A LONG TERM PIECE.
AND, AND I SAID THIS TO THE CHIEF AND THE DEPUTY CHIEF TODAY.
UM, AND THIS IS PROBABLY A POINT OF REALITY FOR ME.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T GET ALL THESE POSITIONS? AND THEY JUST LOOKED AT ME AND I SAID, WELL, I COULD TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENED.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT BECAUSE WE CANNOT FUND, AND THE CITIZENS OF WARREN NEED TO EXPECT SERVICE.
AND, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO, TO BE THE, THE TOWN CRIER ABOUT THIS.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
AND THAT'S, I'M NOT SAYING JUST THAT.
I THINK THERE, THERE, THERE'S COMMON GROUND HERE.
UM, AND NOT EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE HAPPY, BUT I, I JUST NEED YOU TO THINK, AND, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO SAY THIS, UH, YES, YOU REPRESENT THE CITIZENRY, BUT YOU REPRESENT THE CITIZENRY OF EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, WE HAVE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY.
[00:55:01]
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY.FIRE AND RESCUE HAS TO BE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY.
THE SHERIFF HAS TO BE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY, UM, SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND I, I MEAN, UM, AND I'VE BEEN A BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEMBER BEFORE, AND I CAN TELL YOU, UM, I LOST QUITE A BIT FROM MY DISTRICT, BUT IN THE END, I HAD TO COME DOWN ON THE SIDE OF WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTY.
AND I DON'T DISAGREE, AND I AM ADVOCATING FOR IT, BUT I, I THINK EVERY ONE SITTING BACK THERE WOULD AGREE, CHESTER GAP HAS GONE TO EVERY DISTRICT IN THIS COUNTY TO SUPPORT, OH, I'M, I'M NOT SAYING WE, WE'VE HAD TIMES WHEN WE WERE DOWN A RESCUE SQUAD IN CHESTER GAP LOANED AS A RESCUE SQUAD.
YOU KNOW, I'VE, IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONE OF TWO THINGS IS GONNA HAPPEN.
THEY'RE GONNA MOVE THAT EMS TO FLINT HILL, WHICH WILL EXTEND THE TIME.
IT'S NOT GONNA GET OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ONE PAY PERSON AND THEN RUN IT OFF OF VOLUNTEERS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT DOESN'T WORK.
OR CHIEF BROWN IS GONNA LET HIS EMS GO BECAUSE HE IS NOT GOING TO PUT HIMSELF IN A POSITION OF BEING SUED BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE SQUAD THERE AND NOBODY TO RUN IT.
SO WE'RE GONNA LOSE THOSE S SERVICES.
UM, AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT, UM, YES, IT'S A BIG BENEFIT TO MY DISTRICT, BUT IT'S BEEN A BIG DI BENEFIT TO THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD ARGUE THAT POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, MR. CARTER, IF THEY MOVED IN, UM, THAT QUARTER OF A MILE, WHATEVER IT IS TO THE OLD, UM, STORE DOWN THERE.
THEY'D BE IN WARREN COUNTY AND INSTEAD OF SHARING THE COST WITH HANOCK COUNTY, WE'D BE FUNDING IT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO, I MEAN, I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT THIS AS A COST SAVINGS BECAUSE WE'RE SHARING THE EXPENSE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GO INTO CLARK COUNTY ALL THE TIME.
WE GO INTO FAKI COUNTY ALL THE TIME.
PAGE COUNTY, WE'RE NOT SHARING EXPENSES, BUT IT'S, IT'S MUTUAL AND IF WE NEED THEM, THEY'LL COME HERE.
IT'S JUST, THIS IS, UH, KIND OF THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IT IS A COST SHARING.
SO I, I'VE LOOKED AT IT AS WE'RE GETTING THE BANG FOR THE BUCK AND IT'S, AND IT'S BEEN, LIKE I SAID, A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
BUT IF WE, I'VE DONE ALL I CAN DO AND I CAN PUT MY HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT AND KNOW THAT I DID THE BEST I COULD.
IF THE VOTE GOES, IT GOES, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND PADDLE OVER IT.
BUT I'VE, ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD DO THE SAME THING IF I FELT THE SAME WAY.
IF IT WAS CLARK COUNTY AND THEY WANTED TO GET INTO AGREEMENT IT, YOU KNOW, FAKI OR ANY OF THEM, I JUST, I THINK WHEREVER YOU CAN SHARE EXPENSES AND GET A BIGGER, BIGGER BANG FOR THE BUCK IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT.
MY TURN
BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT THAT STUDY MISSES AND THE ROADS AS BAD UP.
OUR FRONT ROW IS NOTORIOUS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GET AROUND THEM.
MOUNTAIN SUBDIVISION WHEN IT'S, I SEE IF I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MULTIPLE TIMES MYSELF, I DON'T.
THE WORST TIMES HE WAS NOT FIRE CHIEF.
AND HE'S INDICATED BECAUSE I, WELL, I'LL JUST TELL THE STORY.
BE BETTER THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS AT IT.
FORMER TRIER CHIEF HAD A TERRIBLE PROGRAM FOR GETTING AROUND IN M ICY ROADS UP THERE.
I PLOWED LAKEFRONT ROLL SINCE 1996.
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE WORST WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY MAY HAVE SEEN A HALF INCH ICE IN THE ROAD IF THAT BOOK WAS LAYING THERE.
I, I COULD STILL READ THROUGH IT.
I GOT OUTSIDE THE TRUCK TO CHECK THE LOAD.
I HAD TO HOLD ON BOTH HANDS, KEEP FROM FALLING.
I GOT AROUND PREGNANT WOMAN UP ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN CHESTER GAP, MADE IT IN AND OUT WITH AN ENGINE.
JUNIOR DAR HAD A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TRUCK CHAINED UP, WENT UP AND GOT THE PREGNANT WOMAN AND I GIVE THE EMS SQUAD A RIDE BACK TO THE PARKING LOT.
NOT ONLY COULD THEY COULDN'T NOT GET IN, THEY COULDN'T GET OUT.
FOLLOWED IT UP LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, ROLLOVER WITH ENTRAPMENT.
EVERYBODY SITTING UP THERE IN THE ROAD AND NO CHAINS ON HAD HELL TIME GETTING THROUGH MYSELF.
[01:00:01]
MADE IT IN AND OUT.POWER COMPANY WAS UP THERE WORKING AND THE STATE TROOPER THAT COME UP THAT WAS IN A CAR THAT WAS EQUIPPED TO GET AROUND THE ICE THAT WAS CHAINED UP SAID HIS ONLY COMPLAINT ABOUT PUTTING HIS CHAINS ON WAS HE'D HAVE TO GO TO COURT LATER THAT DAY WOULD DIRTY PANTS.
AND HE'S AFRAID THE JUDGE WOULD GET AFTER HIM.
NOW I THINK THEIR PROGRAMS IMPROVED SOME, BUT IT'S ONLY BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO SINCE THEY WERE A SANITARY DISTRICT THAT TRAVIS STOPPED HIM AT THE BOTTOM FOR ANOTHER ACCIDENT AND SAID, Y'ALL GONNA HAVE A CHAIN UP, YOU'RE NOT GETTING IN.
I PULLED IN BY MYSELF, I HAD MY CHAINS ON, WENT UP, DID MY WORK, AND WAS BACK OUT.
AND HE STILL DOWN THERE IN A PARKING LOT SCREWING AROUND WITH A SET OF CHAINS.
SECOND PROBLEM THAT I HAD WITH THAT FROM BACK THEN, DIFFERENT FIRE CHIEFS.
SO I DON'T WANNA SEE HIM ISH ON HIM.
HE'S PROBABLY GOT A BETTER PROGRAM.
I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO PROVE IT TO ME.
BUT, OH, I, YOU KNOW, I'M BUYING, YOU KNOW, I GOT, I'M GETTING AROUND IN A $5,000 TRUCK AND THEY, I OFFERED TO SET UP A MEETING WITH CHIEF MAYBE AT THAT TIME, AND I WAS GONNA SHOW HIM HOW TO PUT A SET OF CHAINS ON AND IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF, I HAD PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO BUY IT AND I WAS DENIED THAT THEN.
NOW HE'S, HE'S EXTENDED A MUCH MORE FRIENDLY OFFER, BUT I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, IF IT'S BAD, THEY'RE ALREADY UP THERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET UP THERE.
AND THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE EQUIPPED TO GET DOWN OR THEY WON'T MAKE IT DOWN WHEN IT'S ICY.
SO IF THAT HAPPENS AND THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR POLICY FOR THAT ICY MOUNTAIN UP THERE AND SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WHOSE FAULT IS IT IS I KNOW BETTER 'CAUSE I'VE EXPERIENCED IT.
SO IF I VOTE THE OTHER WAY AND SUPPORT THE SIX, LIKE I SAID, I WISHED I COULD GET THE 10 IN BOTH.
I CAN'T, HARD DECISION TO HAVE TO MAKE.
BUT THEN IF I VOTE AGAINST CHESTER GAP PER SE, IS THE WAY I GOTTA LOOK AT IT.
AM AM I TAKING THAT LIABILITY? WOULD I BE GUILTY OF THAT? SO IT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE IF I CAN'T GET WHAT I NEED OUTTA THIS.
OH, I, I'M, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HEAR I TOLD YOU SO, BUT I'M GONNA BE DAMNED UPSET IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET A FIRE STATION WITH A RESCUE SQUAD SERVICE AND JUST PAY FOR THE PART OF THE SERVICE YOU NEED.
AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN ASK ANYTHING FOR THE TRUCK.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD DEAL.
NOW THERE WAS SOME OTHER STUFF ABOUT INSURANCE AND WHO COLLECTS THIS AND WHO COLLECTS THAT.
BUT FOR THE SHORT TERM, IT'S JUST LIKE WE'VE GOT HIM FUNDED FOR A MONTH, HIS BUDGET'S GONNA START IN JULY OR WE'RE GONNA FUND HIM THE NEXT TWO MONTHS UNTIL HE HAS TIME TO HIRE THESE GUYS.
NOW IF HE GETS THE SIX HIRES, I MEAN THEY'LL DO A WHOLE LOT BETTER JOB FOR SURE.
I WISH THE STUDIES, IT WAS THREE TIMES THAT THE 10 NUMBER HE WAS ASKING FOR.
I THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT TO SPEND.
OH, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE IN THIS PREDICAMENT IS WE'VE HAD NOT USED AN OLD SCANDAL.
EVERYBODY WAS GEAR TACTIC, POLITICS GOT INVOLVED, BUT WITHOUT THAT IT'S ON THE BURDEN OF THE PROPERTY OWNER WITHOUT ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT.
OR IF WE'D HAVE HAD DONE A LITTLE BIT, AND I AIN'T ACCUSING THE BOARD OF THAT 'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW YOU COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR A WHILE.
WE STILL GOT OUR HANDS TIED A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE IT'S NOT COMPLETELY A CLEAR SLATE.
BUT WE HAVE GOTTA GET PAST THAT TO GET SOME NEW INCOME TO GET IT OFF OF THE BACKS OF IT.
BUT, UH, UM, I HATE TO PUT IT OUT THERE LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.
I'M FEARFUL THAT IF I VOTE CHESTER GAP OUT AND WE'RE SHORT 'CAUSE WE, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND I GOTTA ASK MY CONSCIENCE DID I VOTE RIGHT? AND THAT'S A HARD THING FOR ME TO DO, BUT I, I WON'T STOP IT.
IF THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO WITH THE SIX.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? THIS IS A, AN A COST NEUTRAL ISSUE.
UM, I DID WANNA BRING UP THE, THE TOURISM STAFF HIRE ISSUE.
UM, I GUESS I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUESTION AND SEE IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER.
IF WE HAVE A TOURISM STAFF POSITION IN THE COUNTY, UH, ARE WE GONNA GET DOUBLE THE TOURISM REVENUE IN THE COUNTY? I MEAN, IS IT, UH, ARE WE GONNA HAVE REDUNDANT TOURISM STAFFS WITH THE TOWN AND DOUBLE OUR TOURISM REVENUE? I MEAN THE IDEA OF OF PARTNERING WITH THEM I THINK WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO HAVE SHARE STAFF.
THEY ALREADY HAVE STAFF, THEY HAVE A PROGRAM.
UM, THERE'S A JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE.
[01:05:01]
IT BE MORE EFFICIENT TO CONTRIBUTE MONEY TOWARDS MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TO BRING, INCREASE THE DOLLARS VERSUS HAVING TWO STAFFS? SO YESTERDAY AT THE TOURISM MEETING, WHICH ONLY MS COLORS ATTENDED, UM, WE ACTUALLY WENT OVER THAT.UM, WE DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE VERY EFFICIENT TO KIND OF OPTION B.
WHAT I PROPOSED WAS SHIFT THE MARKETING AND A PORTION OF THE LABOR FOR THE VISITOR CENTER TO THE TOWN.
SO THERE WOULD STILL BE A PORTION OF THE TOURISM DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO THE COUNTY FOR USE, FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FOR PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT TOURISM.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DON'T WANNA BE REDUNDANT WITH THE TOWN AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT.
UM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THERE ARE OTHER STEPS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE THAT GOES INTO PLACE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN MOUA TIMELINE, BASICALLY A STRUCTURE.
UM, SO IT'LL TAKE SOME TIME IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND, UM, MAY, MAY I INTERJECT, IS THAT, COULD THAT, COULD THAT BE A MATTER OF A MONTH OR TWO OR THREE? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE TO, IS THERE AN INTENTION STILL TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO AN ENTIRE OUR GOAL IS STAFF POSITION TO, NO.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE SOMETHING READY TO PRESENT TO BOTH THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SO THAT BOTH ORGANIZATIONS CAN LOOK THROUGH THAT.
UM, NEXT MONTH, YES, WE HAVE THE LIAISON MEETING.
SO IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY ONE OF YOU WILL HAVE ADDED TO THE AGENDA, UM, TO DISCUSS FURTHER.
BUT THE INTENTION IS TO DO A COMBINED TOURISM EFFORT THE DAY AFTER THE BUDGET.
AND I THINK, EXCUSE ME, I THINK THERE AGAIN, THE TOURISM IS NOT REALLY PART PER SE OF THIS BUDGET.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE THAT MONEY IS DEDICATED FROM THE LODGING TAX TO THIS.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH THE TOWN.
I THINK THAT THERE, THE TOWN REPRESENTATIVE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF, UH, UH, FOCUSING MORE MONEY ON MARKETING.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S GONNA BE A DISCUSSION WE'RE GONNA HAVE LATER.
'CAUSE THIS DOESN'T IMPACT YOU.
THE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT IS THE ANNUAL REVENUE? I KNOW WE GOT SO MUCH SITTING THERE THAT HAS TO BE SPENT FOR TOURISM, BUT, AND WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW THAT TONIGHT, BUT HOW MUCH DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE COUNTY GETS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS KNOWING THAT POSSIBLY, DEPENDING ON TRAVEL, UH, PATTERNS THAT COULD, COULD ACTUALLY DECREASE? UH, HOPEFULLY NOT.
'CAUSE PEOPLE STILL WANNA GO OUT AND, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND GO PARTICULARLY SOMEPLACE CLOSE BY.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A, A FURTHER DISCUSSION AND I WOULD, I IDEALLY, I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET THIS RESOLVED BY JULY ONE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA IMPACT THE, UH, ADVERTISING TONIGHT.
I, I SAID IT WAS NEUTRAL IN DOLLARS.
I WAS JUST QUESTIONING WHETHER, UH, THE POSITION WOULD BE FILLED AND TO OCCUR.
WELL, AND I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, I WAS, I'M GONNA BE BE HONEST 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.
UM, IT WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTING THAT NO ONE, ONE SHOWED UP YESTERDAY.
UM, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, AND I THINK THERE'S, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CONCEPT IS, IS THERE IS STAFFING.
LIZZIE IS, UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES THAT WORK THE, UM, THE VISITOR CENTER.
BUT LIZZIE IS A DEPARTMENT OF ONE BASICALLY.
AND RIGHT NOW THE COMMITTEE IS WORKING, BUT THAT'S A LOT ON JANE'S PLATE WHEN SHE'S GOT MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN THE, JUST THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON TO ORGANIZE.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, BEING AT THAT MEETING YESTERDAY, UM, THE EVENTS THAT ARE PLANNED ARE BEING WELL ORGANIZED, WELL PLANNED 'CAUSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING FOR THE DIRECTOR JOB, EVERYONE THAT WAS ON THE BOARD KNEW WE WERE DOING THAT AND THE RUG JUST GOT PULLED OUT FROM UNDER THAT.
SO IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A REDUNDANCY OF PERSONNEL.
IT IS A COLLABORATIVE OF WARREN COUNTY AND FRONT ROYAL WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON CAUSE OF TOURISM.
SO A TWO PERSON TOURISM I THINK IS, UM, AT THE LEAST, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
IT'S TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE PAID OUT OF THE TOURISM MONEY TO WORK WITH THE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK.
[01:10:01]
IT IS AT THIS POINT.UH, LIZZIE AND JANE WHO ARE PAID, BUT JANE'S POSITION NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, NOT PART OF THAT EQUATION CAN COLLABORATE IN AS, BUT WE NEED SOMEONE THAT'S DOING WHAT HE IS CURRENTLY DOING AND DOING IT FOR FREE AND WHO IS SELECTED BY A PANEL THAT WE ALL AGREED ON IS THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING AND HIRING AND LET THIS THING, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT IT'S DOING AND WORK WITH THE TOWN.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF YOU'RE SO INTERESTED IN TOURISM, THEN INSTEAD OF SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU SHOULD HAVE CAME SO YOU COULD UNDERSTAND AND SEE HOW FUNCTIONAL IT IS.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WITH TAX RATES OR DO WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO, I, I HAD ONE, ONE QUESTION REGARDING THE TOURISM, JUST TO CLARIFY.
I KNOW THE MONEY, THE POSITION WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE, THE TOURISM, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHOSE EMPLOYEE ARE THEY AND WHO ACTUALLY HIRES THEM? IS IT NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR? MM-HMM
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE THAT THE, WELL THE FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAS PUT ON NOTICE AND I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT AND THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HEAR IT.
IT'S THE COUNTY, UH, ADMINISTRATOR'S HIRE.
SO I HAVE ONE OTHER THING REGARDING THE TAX RATES.
UM, FIRE AND RESCUE, I THINK AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE, IT HAS COST RECOVERY FUNDS.
SO SOME OF THE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES IN THEIR BUDGET, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COVER WITH COST RECOVERY IN ORDER TO DO THE ADDITIONAL 25,000, UM, THAT WE WOULD OPERATIONALLY BE ABLE TO COVER THE A LS INCENTIVE WITH OPTION B.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANNA USE COST RECOVERY MONEY AS YOU KNOW, SALARY.
SO THEY WOULD BE COVERING SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL ONE-TIME COST AND THAT, UM, RECURRING COST WOULD BE ON THE COUNTY SIDE.
SO I WANNA BE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS.
SO THE 25,000 INCENTIVE COULD BE PICKED UP BY THAT IN OPTION B.
THEY WOULD PAY FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURE COST OUT OF THEIR CURRENT BUDGET, WHICH, WHICH WOULD LOWER IT AND GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL.
I, I'M, I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED BETWEEN WHAT YOU SAID AND WHAT MR. CALLER SAID.
AS FAR AS THE, THE POSITION THE STAFF HR FUNDED WITH SALARY AND BENEFITS.
IS THAT, IS THAT IN THE OR THE SIX FIREFIGHTERS? NO, FOR THE, FOR THE TOURISM OFFICE.
I, I WASN'T THERE
IT'S CURRENTLY PUT IN AS A STAFF PERSON PLUS BENEFITS JUST AS A PLACEHOLDER WITH TOURISM.
IT IS A BASICALLY REVENUE EXPENDITURES.
AND I HATE TO SAY IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT LINE IT IN.
IT, BUT THE DISCUSSION YOU HAD, THE OTHER WAS THE, RIGHT.
SO I PRESENTED TWO OPTIONS TO YOU ALL.
ONE WHERE WE DO HIRE STAFF PERSON AND THEN THE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE TOWN AND THEN HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, CAPITAL FUNDS BASICALLY THAT WE WOULD MANAGE.
UM, SO CAPITAL BUT THOSE, IT'S THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT AND ULTIMATELY IT'S THE SAME LINE ITEM.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DON'T, AND MS. SCOTT MAY WEIGH IN ON THIS.
DOES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED BEFORE WE RUN THE AD FOR THE NO, THE AD CAN GIVE THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
SO IF THE BOARD DECIDES THEY WANT TO PUT THE 360 TOWARDS THE PAYMENT TO THE TOWN OR PUT THE 360 AMONGST ALL THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS, UH, WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.
UM, IT WILL NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD THROUGH A BUDGET ACTION, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS THAT CLEARS UP, CLARIFIES IT FOR ME.
UM, I NEED TO LOOK AT STAFF FOR A MINUTE.
CAN WE FIND ANOTHER 134,000? ANOTHER A HUNDRED FOR WHAT? A HUNDRED FOR WHAT? 134,000 FOR, UH, I JUST ASKED THE QUESTION.
I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND WITH ALL THESE PROPOSALS.
ALL FEET ARE STILL ON THE GROUND.
WHAT MORE, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANNA SAY FOR THAT? GIVES SIX POSITIONS IN CHESTER GAP AND THE A LS THAT GIVES, THAT GIVES EVERYTHING.
[01:15:02]
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT.I MEAN I CAN JUST SAY THIS TO, TO EVERYBODY HERE WATCHING.
STAFF, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
AND UP UNTIL 20 MINUTES BEFORE WE STARTED THIS MEETING, WE WERE MAKING DECISIONS BECAUSE, OH, I THINK I FOUND THIS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE SCRUBBED AND SCRUBBED AND SCRUBBED.
UM, SO IT HAS TRULY BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO WORK ON THIS BUDGET WITH THESE, THESE FOUR LADIES.
'CAUSE IT HAS BEEN TRULY AN HONOR TO DO THAT WITH YOU.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE COULD, I, I'M SORRY, MAY I, DID YOU, UM, WAS THIS 65,000 THAT HERE DISCUSSED AS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE A LS AND THAT, THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE ANOTHER 25 FOUND FROM SOMEWHERE? YES, THAT'S WHAT I JUST SAID.
UM, FIRE AND RESCUE WOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR SOME ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES OF THE A LS AND THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD FREE UP, FREE UP OPERATIONAL THAT WE CAN PUT TO THE A LS.
SO MADAM CHAIR, I GUESS WE NEED TO ADVERTISE SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DECISION.
SO, UM, WHEN WE GET, HOW, HOW DO WE WANNA DO THIS? JUST GO AROUND AGAIN WITH THE, 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IT WAS THREE TO TWO FOR B, SO, UM, WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE.
I MEAN IT'S THREE TWO, IT'S MAJORITY RULE SET.
RIGHT? SO I GUESS WE NEED A MOTION AS TO WHICH OPTION.
SO IS THERE A MOTION AND MADAM CHAIR MOTION I MOVE TO, UH, APPROVE OPTION B.
IS THERE SECOND? CAN I AMEND THAT MOTION WITH THE DETAILS WE TALKED ABOUT? WELL, YEAH, I WOULD SAY OPTION B, BUT TAKE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SIDE, UH, 25,000 FROM COST RECOVERY TO PAY FOR ONE TIME EXPENSES FOR THEM, UH, WHICH WILL FREE UP 25,000 TO BE ADDED TO THE 65,000 UNDESIGNATED FUNDS TO MAKE A TOTAL OF 90,000 UNDESIGNATED, WHICH WILL THEN GET RE-DESIGNATED TO THE A LS INCENTIVE.
SO THAT'S YOUR AMENDED, THAT'S YOUR AMENDED MOTION? YES.
I'LL SECOND YOUR AMENDED MOTION DISCUSSION.
IF WE HIRE, SO THE 90,000 WOULD COVER, UM, FOR OUR CURRENT PARAMEDICS THAT TOTAL WOULD COVER, UM, INCREASES FOR THE, THE CURRENT NUMBER OF PARAMEDICS WE HAVE.
SO IF WE HIRE SIX PEOPLE AND THEY'RE ALL PARAMEDICS, WHERE DOES THAT PUT THEM? AND A UTOPIA? UM, IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND A CURRENTLY CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE TAKING A PAY CUT COMING HERE.
UM, BUT IF IT HAPPENS EVEN WITH THE INCREASE IN THE INCENTIVE, UM, SO I DON'T ENVISION US HIRING ANY OF THE SIX BEING A PARAMEDIC.
WELL I'M, IT'S, IT COULD HAPPEN.
UM, THERE IS SOME VARIATION AND WITH OUR UM, COMPENSATION RESERVE FUND, IF THERE WAS A VARIATION IT WOULD END UP COMING FROM THERE OR SOME VACANCY SAVINGS THAT COMES THROUGH A, BASICALLY AS A POSITION'S OPEN.
'CAUSE MOST LIKELY IF A POSITION OR IF SIX POSITIONS AND GRANTED THEY ARE VERY EFFICIENT, THEY COULD HIRE THEM JULY 1ST, BUT IF THEY HIRED THEM JULY 3RD THERE WOULD BE VACANCY SAVINGS THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY HELP TO COVER THAT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.
[01:20:01]
PLEASE? THREE MINUTES.I THINK THREE MINUTES EVERYONE'S BACK.
SO WE'LL GET STARTED AGAIN SOMEWHERE.
YEAH, I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE A GAVEL.
SO AS FAR AS BI GUESS UH, DISCUSSION B WAS, UH, THE MARKUP MARKDOWNS SO, OR WE KIND OF ALREADY DONE THAT.
I THINK WE'VE THAT'S DID A AND B IT SEEMS LIKE TOGETHER.
[Additional Item ]
I GUESS IT UM, CIGARETTE TAX.UM, AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE UM, THE CIGARETTE TAX RATE ON OUR APRIL 14TH, UM, MEETING DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
SO I GUESS TO CLARIFY SINCE OPTION B IS A 10 CENTS, SO THE TAX RATE THAT WE WILL BE UM, HAVING THAT HAS NOT CHANGED WILL BE THE 10 CENTS PER HUNDRED AND THE CIGARETTE TAX AND THAT MEETING WE HAVE PLANNED TO HAVE AT THE WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, I GUESS WE'RE READY FOR ADJOURN.
I'M SORRY JUST FOR, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS GONNA BE A SHORT CONVERSATION ON THE CIGARETTE ATTACKS.
UM, WE'LL BE DISCUSSED LATER AND MAYBE IT WAS IN THERE SOMEWHERE AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING THE CIGARETTE TAX TO GO TO.
CAN WE DESIGNATE THAT OR ONCE WE GET IT? 'CAUSE I KNOW INITIALLY WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE GOING, UH, AND I THINK I MENTIONED THIS GOING DIRECTLY TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT THINGS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES, IT WAS ALSO DISCUSSED SOMEWHAT AS FAR AS MAYBE ALSO FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AND I DON'T WANNA SLIGHT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THE ONLY CONCERN IS IF THE TOWN INSTITUTES IT, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY AND IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PALATABLE TO THE TOWN COUNCIL IF THEY KNOW THAT IT'S GOING STRICTLY FOR FIRE EQUIPMENT SINCE WARREN COUNTY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATES INSIDE TOWN LIMITS AND THE WHOLE THING.
SO, AND THERE AGAIN, WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN MAYBE SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS PERHAPS BEEN, AND AGAIN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THE CURRENT TOWN COUNCIL AGREED TO THAT, THAT DOES NOT BOND A FUTURE ONE.
BUT WE JUST NEED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THAT.
SO WE MAYBE, MAYBE THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ACTUALLY DESIGNATE IT.
MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF BETTER CLARIFICATION TOO.
WELL, CAN I ASK SHERIFF KLEIN, DON'T YOU ASSIST IN THE TOWN IF NEEDED AS WELL? IN THE TOWN? YEAH, JURISDICTION.
WHY DON'T WE? YEAH, I MEAN WE STILL HAVE, IT'S STILL OUR JURISDICTION SO WE DO, WE DON'T, OKAY.
WE AREN'T THE PRIMARY CALL FOR SERVICES.
BUT THE CONCERN IS, AND I KNOW THE SHERIFF OPERATES WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS TOO, BUT THE CONCERN WOULD BE THAT IF THE CURRENT OR FUTURE COUNSEL SAYS, WELL WE GOT OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAYBE WE SHOULD DO OUR OWN, UM, CIGARETTE TAX AND THEN HAVE IT GO TOWARDS THEM.
WHEREAS WE HAVE IT ALL GOING TOWARDS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT, UH, THAT SERVES THE WHOLE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS IN, IN THE, IN THE, UH, INCORPORATED LIMITS ATTEMPT.
JUST A THOUGHT, JUST A POINT FOR CONSIDERATION.
IT'S A GOOD ARGUMENT TO KEEP 'EM FROM IMPOSING THEIR OWN.
SO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, JUST LET ME SAY THIS, SO, UM, YOU'VE JUST APPROVED OPTION B WITH A CIGARETTE TAX IN IT? YES.
AND IT'S GOING BOTH TO SAFETY.
UM, UM, IT'S GOING TO SAFETY, FIRE AND RESCUE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I MEAN, BUT I MEAN WE CAN MAKE THE CASE THAT IT'S, WE'RE SPREADING THE WEALTH.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE SOMETHING JUST CAME TO MY MIND THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN, UM, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE BUT A MINUTE.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE SANITARY DISTRICT FEES AND HOW THEY'RE COLLECTED AND UM, SO FORTH.
SO I ASKED MS. SCOTT TO DO A LITTLE
[01:25:01]
EDUCATION ON, FOR US ON THAT.SO THE COUNTY HAS 14 SANITARY DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE NON-MANAGED AND MANAGED DISTRICTS.
MIKE BERRY HAS SUBMITTED THE MANAGED SANITARY DISTRICT BUDGETS FOR FY 27 AND EACH OF THE NON-MANAGED SANITARY DISTRICTS SUBMIT THEIR BUDGET TO ME.
SO IN THE HANDOUT THAT I JUST PROVIDED TO YOU, IT GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF EACH SANITARY DISTRICT.
IT LISTS THE FUND THAT THEY'RE IN.
SO IF YOU'RE IN CLEAR GOV OR IF YOU WANNA LOOK THROUGH ANY OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCIALS, THOSE ARE THE FUNDS LISTED.
AND THEN IT PROVIDES THEIR REQUESTED BUDGET, WHAT THEIR EXPECTED SANITARY DISTRICT EXPENSES ARE.
AND THEN THE FUNDING THAT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND FROM EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT, YOU'VE GOT TWO SANITARY DISTRICTS.
SO THE, THE NON-MANAGED SANITARY DISTRICTS AS WELL AS THE, THE MANAGED, THEY SET THEIR OWN BUDGET.
THEY SUBMIT IT TO US BASED UPON ASSESSMENTS PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE BASED UPON EXPECTED EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR.
AND IF THEY DESIRE TO PROVIDE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THEMSELVES, WHICH IS THEIR FUND BALANCE.
SO THIS WILL BE ADVERTISED AS WELL AS THE COUNTY'S REAL ESTATE AND OTHER, UH, TYPES OF RATES.
IT PROVIDES THE ASSESSMENTS FOR EACH SANITARY DISTRICT.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS IS KEPT SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THESE FEES ARE SANITARY DISTRICT FEES SET ASIDE FROM THE ACTUAL REAL ESTATE TAX.
THESE FEES ARE KEPT SEPARATE AT EACH INDIVIDUAL FUND, WHICH IS KEPT SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
SO THERE'S NO INTERMINGLING OF ANY OF THE TYPES OF FUNDS THAT'S LISTED HERE WITH A GENERAL FUND.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SANITARY DISTRICTS? AND ONE, UM, AND MAYBE IT'S IN THERE, BUT WITHIN OUR BUDGET WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE THIS OBVIOUSLY, BUT RIGHT NOW I KNOW YEARS PAST THEY'RE NOT NO.
SANITARY DISTRICT IS PROPOSING, UH, RATE INCREASE FOR THE SANITARY DISTRICT, CORRECT? YES, THEY ARE, THEY ARE.
WHAT DID I MISS? NONE OF NONE OF THEM MANAGED DISTRICTS ARE REQUESTING AN INCREASE, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, SKYLINE ESTATES OKAY.
UM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A DECREASE.
THEY WENT FROM 28 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS TO 27 CENTS.
IN, IN THE BUDGET ADVERTISEMENT, WHICH WE WILL SEND OUT, UH, MONDAY WHEN WE PROVIDE IT TO ZACH FOR THE, UH, AD YOU'LL SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FY 26 BUDGET AND THE FY 27 BUDGET.
AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE, THE RATES AS WELL, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR THE COUNTY, FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, UH, JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
THE, UH, THE COLUMN, UH, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIDDLE, IT'S ESTIMATED TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND, THAT'S THE, BASICALLY THE COLLECTION FEE THAT THE COUNTY TAKES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF, OF THE COLLECTION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND IT'S 5% OF THE TOTAL COLLECTION PLUS AN ANNUAL ONETIME FEE OF $350.
I WAS WONDERING WHY, UH, ONE OF THEM LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN 5% AND THE, THE ONE TIME FEE MAKES, MAKES SENSE THEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME.