Oct 06, 2026 Board of Supervisors Meeting

CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE, UNDER NEW BUSINESS, THE AWARD OF COUNTY OF A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES BETWEEN PICTOMETRY INCORPORATED.

IS THERE OTHER, ANY OTHER ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? DOES THAT HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS TO REMOVE? NOT, NOT, NOT TO REMOVE IT, ONLY TO...

GIVE ME ONE SECOND HERE.

I'M 99% SURE IT'S ONLY IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING NEW, IT'S UNANIMOUS.

OKAY, WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING UP, MY ONLY THING IS I KNOW THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING A DECISION ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS A BIG ISSUE.

HOWEVER, IT IS ON THE AGENDA AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PRESENTATION OR QUESTIONS OR WHATEVER TO BE TALKED ABOUT NOW AND THEN WE CAN PUT IT ON THE SECOND MEETING FOR AN ACTUAL VOTE JUST BECAUSE I HAVE QUESTIONS.

I'M SURE WE'VE ALL GOTTEN SOME EMAILS ABOUT SOME CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE, BUT I THINK THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MEETING TO AT LEAST FLESH OUT SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEN IT WOULD GIVE US TIME TO, UH, UH, CON- CONTEMPLATE THOSE ANSWERS AND ALSO GIVE THE COMMUNITY SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TOO BEFORE WE ACTUALLY MAKE A DECISION ON IT.

SO I WOULD, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK WE LEAVE IT ON THERE WITH THE INTENTION THAT WE JUST TABLE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING.

MRS. SOWERS HAD A CONFERENCE TO GO TO, SO SHE HAS ALREADY LEFT TO GO TO THAT CONFERENCE.

THAT, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, NO DOUBT.

UM - BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT SHE WAS GONNA BE HERE FOR THE WORK SESSION AND WE WERE GONNA BUMP HER UP TO THE FIRST ITEM, BUT SHE LEFT.

NO, SHE COULDN'T STAY FOR THAT.

SO FOR THAT REASON - 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I SAW ON THE THING, SO.

AND FOR THE FACT THAT WE SAID THIS WAS GONNA BE A HOUSEKEEPING MEETING, UM, THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING TO REMOVE IT AND HAVE IT PLACED ON THE OCTOBER 20TH AND WE CAN HAVE A PRESENTATION PRIOR - OKAY.

UM, AS WE WOULD HAVE FOR THIS.

I UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS BEING HOUSEKEEPING, BUT THERE AGAIN, I THOUGH SHE WAS GONNA BE HERE AND SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF SHE'S NOT HERE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

ONE, ONE POINT ON THAT, UM, REGARDING THE PRESENTATION, I, I RECALL WE HAD A PRESENTATION SOME 18 MONTHS AGO PRIOR BOARD.

UM, AND I CANNOT REMEMBER IF THAT WAS AN IN-HOUSE PRESENTATION OR IF THE VENDOR WAS HERE.

THE VENDOR WAS HERE.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THE VENDOR AVAILABLE IF POSSIBLE, EVEN IF THEY'RE REMOTE ON THE SCREEN.

WE CAN, WE CAN ASK THAT THAT HAPPEN, UM, IF POSSIBLE.

SHE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW THIS COR - IF I'M CORRECT, MS. MEADOWS, UNTIL THE, BY DECEMBER, CORRECT? SO WE HAVE TIME.

A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND.

SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION,

[00:05:01]

ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

[D. Report - Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)]

ON.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, VDOT HERE TO GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION.

MR. CARTER, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.

AND MR. SMITH AND MR. ROBINSON.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

OUR REPORT FOR THIS MONTH, UH, UNDER OUR MAINTENANCE CATEGORIES, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE FALL MOWING OF OUR SECONDARIES.

AND THIS WEEK WE ARE BEGINNING LITTER PICKUP AND WE'RE GONNA START MOWING OUR PRIMARIES THIS WEEK USING CONTRACTORS AND VDOT CREWS.

WE'LL ALSO COMPLETE OUR SLOPE MOWING THIS MONTH, WHICH IS THE STEEP SLOPE SO WE CANNOT PUT TRACTORS ON SO WE HAVE A SLOPE MACHINE THAT WE REMOTELY CONTROL.

UH, WE PERFORMED SURFACE, UH, WE'VE COMPLETED PIPE REPLACEMENTS ON 682 POE DRIVE AND 631 GOONY MANOR LOOP.

WE'VE DONE SURFACE TREATMENT ON 616 MUSSEX AND THREE, UH, 637 CAWTHORN MILL.

AND THIS MONTH ROGER'S GONNA CONTINUE ON 627 RELIANCE AND 609 RITTEN ARROW HOLLOW AND 631 GOONEY MANOR.

WE'VE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE THIS MONTH AS NEEDED, UH, GRADING AND PLACING STONE ON OUR NON-HARD SURFACE ROADS.

WE COMPLETED OUR DRY RUNS ON VDOT SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT AND WE'VE BEGUN INSPECTIONS OF CONTRACTOR EQUIPMENT THAT SIGNED UP FOR SNOW REMOVAL.

WE HAVE TO GO AND INSPECT EVERY PIECE THAT'S SIGNED UP AS PART OF OUR PROTOCOL NOW, VERIFY THAT IT'S WHAT IT SAYS IT IS, AND SEE THAT IT HAS A PROPER LICENSING AND INSURANCE AND REQUIRES A FIELD INSPECTION.

AND THIS IS GONNA CONTINUE AS EQUIPMENT COMES IN, UH, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

EQUIPMENT ALWAYS SEEMS TO ADD A LITTLE BIT LATE, AND OF COURSE WE, WE TAKE AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN GET.

HO - WE HAVE NOT HEARD OUR STATE'S FORECAST FOR LONG-TERM WEATHER YET.

ALL INDICATIONS ARE FROM NATIONAL WEATHER REPORTS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE IN FOR A WETTER THAN NORMAL WINTER.

AND I GUESS IT'LL DEPEND ON THE TEMPERATURES, BUT IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT, UH, VIRGINIA COULD SEE MORE SNOW THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST THIS YEAR.

UNDER BOARD ISSUES, I HATE TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT BECAUSE WE, I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED ON IT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT, UH, THE PAINT CREW IS SCHEDULED TO COME IN UP WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND ADD ADDITIONAL LINE MARKINGS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS WANTED AT THE END OF THOMPSON HOLLOW.

NOW, WE THOUGHT THIS HAD BEEN DONE AND IN FACT IT HAD, BUT THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATIONS AND INSTEAD OF ADDING SPACED LINE MARKINGS, THEY JUST WENT IN AND WIDENED THE ONES THAT WERE THERE.

SO NOW THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK IN BETWEEN THOSE AND PLACE ADDITIONAL LINE MARKINGS.

THERE SHOULD BE NO MISCONSTRUANCE BY ANYBODY THAT'S LICENSED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT YOU CAN'T PARK THERE.

AND IN ADDITION, WE WENT UP, UH, LAST WEEK AND ADDED TWO MORE SIGNS ON EITHER SIDE WITH ARROWS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

SO BEYOND THAT, UH, OTHER THAN PLACING SPIKES IN THE ROAD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO.

UH, WE SAW YOUR EMAIL, MR. DANMEYER, AND WE HAVE, UH, PLACED OUR SPEED RECORDERS YESTERDAY ON BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD.

WE'LL LEAVE THEM THERE TILL THURSDAY MORNING, SO WE WILL HAVE FRESH DATA TO DISCUSS AT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING.

AND THEN ON 55 EAST, THE PIMS, WHICH IS THE CENTER LINE MARKINGS THAT, UH, REFLECTORS HAVE BEEN PLACED FROM FRONT ROYAL OUT TO LINDEN.

AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER ISSUES THE BOARD WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO ADDRESS? ANYONE? SURE.

UM, YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE CENTER REFLECTORS AND, AND ALSO THE THING IS THEY'VE, UH, REINSTALLED THE RUMBLE STEPS, RUMBLE STRIPS AT HIGH NOB, UH, WHICH HELPS.

UH, AND SPEAKING OF THAT, HOW IS THAT PROJECT GOING? UH, RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL ON SCHEDULE.

THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY PHASE, SO.

UH, AND I THINK IT'S IN THE OVERLAY DISTRICT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND THERE AGAIN, SOMETHING I GUESS JUST PUT ON YOUR RADAR AND DON'T WANNA JUMP THE GUN, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOME DEVELOPMENT THERE BETWEEN THE UNDERPASS AND LINDEN,

[00:10:01]

BETWEEN THE UN - BETWEEN THE O - THE RAILROAD OVERPASS AND THE - YEAH.

AND THE, UH, 155? YEAH, IT'S ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE.

I, I'M NOT, UH, MATT, HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT? IT HAS, IT PROBABLY HASN'T GOT TO YOU YET, BUT SOMEBODY'S LOOKING TO DEVELOP THAT AND THEY NEED SETBACKS OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY, IF THEY PROCEED ON, THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY, I'M SURE.

BUT THERE AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA JUMP THE GUN BECAUSE - YEAH, WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.

WELL, THAT'S STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

SO, BUT- BUT WE, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING ON IT YET.

UM, AND THE ONLY OTHER THING LIKE YOU SAID ABOUT THE WEATHER, UH, LAST THING I SAW, SAW I THINK WAS THE FARMER'S ALMANAC, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT A CO- COLDER THAN NORMAL, AND MAYBE LESS PRECIPITATION, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT THE WEATHER...

AND IT'S LIKE MARK TWAIN SAID, "EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WEATHER, BUT THEY NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT." AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

BUT THANK YOU, SIR.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK, UH, YOU ANSWERED MY FIRST QUESTION AT THE BEGINNING WHEN YOU FIRST CAME IN, BUT FOR THOSE LISTENING, I ASKED ABOUT MOWING, UH, BECAUSE, UM, I'M SURE 340 ISN'T, SOUTH IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT THE JOHNSON GRASS IS ALMOST AS TALL AS I AM, AND SEEING THOSE DEER BEFORE THEY COME OUT ACROSS THE ROAD, UM, IT'S KINDA HARD BECAUSE IT'S DRIED UP NOW AND IT'S BROWN JUST LIKE THE GRA - UH, THE DEER ARE.

SO I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT A, A SECOND TIME OF MOWING COMING.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S STARTING, IT'S STARTING THIS WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH ROUTE DO YOU KNOW, ROGER, WHICH ROUTES ARE STARTING GOING? CONTRACTOR'S ON, UH, 522 AND 340, AND WE'LL BE DOING 340, 522, 55 OURSELVES.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

WELL, I, I HEAR A FROST IS COMING SOON, SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL KNOCK IT AND IT WON'T GROW QUITE AS FAST.

I THINK, UH - WELL, TH- THIS FALL, THIS IS FALL MOWING, SO IT'S, IT'S AS FENCE TO FENCE AS, AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET MECHANICALLY.

AND SO IT'S NOT JUST THE SHOULDER CUT.

THEY ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB WHEN THEY COME UP.

I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT IT'S THE JOHNSON GRASS.

IT JUST, IF EVERY GRASS GREW AS FAST AS JOHNSON GRASS, WE'D BE DOING WELL.

UM, COUPLE OF THINGS, UH, AND I THINK THEY'RE ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION MEETING, BUT, UM, I HAD A RESIDENT ASK ABOUT A WHITE LINE, MIDDLE LINE FOR THE BENTONVILLE BROWNTOWN ROAD, UH, FROM 340 SOUTH AT 613 OVER.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'LL, IT'LL HELP, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM NOT TO KNOW WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD THEY'RE GONNA BE ON, SO THEY DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE ALL THE TIME.

AND, UH, SO THAT WAS A QUESTION, IF IT WAS POSSIBLE JUST TO GET A LINE IN THE, UH, UH, WHITE LINE, CENTER LINE.

AND THEN, UM, TREES, SO THERE'S SOME DEAD TREES ON THE SECTION OF BROWNTOWN ROAD FROM, UM, THE FRONT ROW ENTRANCE GOING UP NEAR THE HICKORY HILL ROAD.

AND I KNOW I ASKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, AND I THINK SOMEONE WENT TO LOOK AT THEM, BUT I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER AS TO WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY AND IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.

I KNOW YOU COULDN'T CUT THEM DURING THE BAT, UM, AND I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER BIRD - THERE'S BAT RESTRICTIONS.

UM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THAT WAS EITHER, AND THAT RESIDENT IS ASKING - THAT, UH, THAT LIFTS IN NOVEMBER.

IT LIFTS IN NOVEMBER.

UH, I, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEONE HAD SEEN THEM AND IF THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY AND IF THAT WAS VDOT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING OR NOT.

SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK.

UM, AND THEN, UM, I DID SEE, UH, BUTCH HUBMAN UP AT, TO PUT THE ROCK THIS MORNING.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE PIPE ON THAT SOUTH END OF ROCKY HOLLOW WAS GONNA BE PUT IN AND, UH, HE WAS GONNA LEAVE THE BACKHOE SO THAT HE COULD FINISH PUTTING THAT IN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

SO THAT'S ON TRACK AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON THAT.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT KEEPING UP WITH THE GRASS IS HARD, ESPECIALLY AT JOHNSON GRASS.

SO ANYBODY THINK OF ANYTHING IN THAT? OKAY.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TOEING ON THURSDAY.

AND YOURS IS ON AIRPORT ROAD, RIGHT? YEAH.

I'M, I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL.

I'LL SEND, I'LL FOLLOW BACK UP AN EMAIL.

I MEANT TO DO THAT.

NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WE, WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR WORK.

[00:15:01]

BUT IT ALWAYS FINDS YOU.

YEAH, IT FINDS US.

YEAH, STOKES AIRPORT AND LANG ROAD THERE'S GOT A BIT OF SHOULDER ISSUE, BUT I'LL, UH, I'LL FOLLOW BACK UP.

YOU KNOW OFFHAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON RELIANCE? I'M SORRY? DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON RELIANCE RIGHT NOW ON THAT BRIDGE? WAIT A MINUTE.

WHICH BRIDGE? ON RELIANCE ROAD.

RIGHT THERE, UM, BY.

YEAH, SO THAT WAS, UM, WE TRIED TO DO CERTAIN SO WE WENT BACK AND WE'RE DOING A GREATER PATCH TODAY.

NICE THAT WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK, YOU, YOU FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK, RIGHT? THANK YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU THURSDAY.

NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF, UH, FOR NATIONAL 4-H WEEK.

[E. Presentation - National 4-H Week ]

MS. MS. EMILY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

AND I BROUGHT ONE OF MY TEENS ALONG WITH ME AS WELL, SO YOU CAN KIND OF HEAR ABOUT HIS 4-H EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT.

UM, BUT FIRST, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON 4-H IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF IT.

SO IT IS THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

UM, OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME CONFIDENT, CAPABLE LEADERS, AND 4-H IS THE NATION'S LARGEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

IT HELPS PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE GAIN LIFE SKILLS THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING, LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND HEALTHY LIVING.

AND SO I AM THE WARREN COUNTY 4-H AGENT, AND I AM EMPLOYED THROUGH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND VIRGINIA TECH.

AND WARREN COUNTY IS A VITAL PARTNER IN MAKING 4-H POSSIBLE HERE.

UH, SO THE COUNTY PROVIDES A PORTION OF MY SALARY, AND THAT ALLOWS ME TO DELIVER THOSE PROGRAMS DIRECTLY TO OUR YOUTH HERE IN WARREN COUNTY.

UH, IN MANY WAYS, I SERVICE WARREN COUNTY'S LOCAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR.

UH, BECAUSE OF THAT LOCAL INVESTMENT, WE ARE ABLE TO REACH OVER 600 YOUTH ANNUALLY THROUGH SCHOOL ENRICHMENT, CAMPS, LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY CLUBS.

OUR REACH IN THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS ALMOST TRIPLED, UM, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS WHO PROVIDE DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS TO FUND OUR PROGRAMS. UH, THIS PAST YEAR, WE BEGAN PARTNERING WITH THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH 4-H.

UH, DURING THE SPRING, WE COMPLETED AN EMBRYOLOGY PROJECT WITH ALL THE SECOND GRADE CLASSROOMS IN THE COUNTY.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE SIX COMMUNITY CLUBS THAT COVER A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUBJECT AREAS AND TARGET DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.

IN THE SUMMER, WE HAVE AN OVERNIGHT 4-H CAMP AT THE NOVA 4-H CENTER JUST UP THE ROAD HERE.

UH, AND WARREN COUNTY HAS APPROXIMATELY 30 TEENS WHO ARE CAMP COUNSELORS AND 100 CAMPERS DURING THAT WEEK.

WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND DAY CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL.

UH, THESE EXPERIENCES HELP YOUTH DEVELOP COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT SERVE THEM THROUGHOUT LIFE.

4-H IS AN INVESTMENT IN WARREN COUNTY'S FUTURE WORKFORCE, LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ENGAGED CITIZENS.

AS PETITION - PARTICIPATION CONTINUES TO GROW, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WARREN COUNTY YOUTH.

AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL 4-H WEEK, WE THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF WARREN COUNTY VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND THE OPPORTUNITIES WE PROVIDE TO OUR LOCAL YOUTH.

TOGETHER, WE ARE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE TODAY AND LEAD TOMORROW, MAKING THEM BEYOND READY FOR WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN THEIR FUTURE.

AND TODAY I HAVE ONE OF MY 4-H TEAM MEMBERS WITH ME, PEYTON PARKER, WHO'S GONNA LEAD YOU IN THE 4-H PLEDGE AND ALSO EXPLAIN HIS 4-H EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT.

AND FINALLY, I PLEDGE MY HEALTH TO BETTER LIVING.

SO TO START, I WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE, THE 4-H PLEDGE.

SO I PLEDGE MY HEAD TO CLEAR THINKING, MY HEART TO GREATER LOYALTY, MY HANDS TO LARGER SERVICE, AND MY HEALTH TO BETTER LIVING FOR MY CLUB, MY COMMUNITY, MY COUNTRY, AND MY WORLD.

HELLO.

MY NAME IS PEYTON PARKER, AND I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU WHAT 4-H MEANS TO ME AND WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR ME.

WE JUST SAID THE 4-H PLEDGE, AND IN THAT PLEDGE ARE OUR 4-H'S, HEAD, HEART, HANDS, AND HEALTH.

I PLEDGE MY HEAD TO CLEAR THINKING.

IN 4-H, I HAVE BEEN A CAMP COUNSELOR, LEAD TEEN, AND A CLUB PRESIDENT.

IN THESE ROLES, I HAVE BEEN ABLE, I'VE BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO LEAD AND HOW TO THINK CLEARLY IN MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF 4-H.

I PLEDGE MY HEART TO GREATER LOYALTY.

IN 4-H, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND MAKE BONDS WITH THEM THAT TRANSCEND OUR INVOLVEMENT IN 4-H.

I PLEDGE MY HANDS TO GREATER SERVICE.

AS A CAMP COUNSELOR AND A CLUB MEMBER, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EARN A CIVIC SEAL OF EXCELLENCE ON MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BECAUSE OF THE VOLUNTEER WORK I HAVE DONE WITH 4-H.

[00:20:02]

THIS PAST YEAR, I SERVED AS A VIRGINIA STATE HEALTHY LIVING AMBASSADOR, WHERE I FACILITATED A WORKSHOP AT BOTH VIRGINIA 4-H STATE CONGRESS AND A NATIONAL 4-H CONFERENCE.

LAST YEAR, I WAS THE FIRST PERSON FROM WARREN COUNTY TO ATTEND VIRGINIA STATE CONGRESS IN EIGHT YEARS.

THIS YEAR, I WAS ELECTED AS A NORTHWEST DISTRICT AMBASSADOR ON STATE CABINET, AND I WAS ALSO SELECTED TO BE A DELEGATE AT NATIONAL 4-H CONGRESS.

AND NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FOUNDATION OF THOSE 4-H'S.

AND I, AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S DONE GREAT THINGS HERE IN 4-H.

UM, HE'S MY LOVELY EXAMPLE I GET TO USE FOR EVERYTHING, FOR DOING THINGS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL, AND NOW NATIONAL AS WELL.

UM, BUT ALSO I SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL OF YOU, OH, A WEEK OR TWO AGO, INVITING YOU TO OUR ACHIEVEMENT BANQUET DINNER.

UM, I KNOW, UH, CHAIR CALLERS WILL BE THERE, AND LAST YEAR, MR. HENRY WAS THERE AS WELL.

UH, SO THAT'S OCTOBER 18TH AT 2:30 AT THE NORTH WARREN FIRE STATION.

SO I'D LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO ATTEND AND HELP US CELEBRATE OUR YOUTH.

UM, I HAVE A FLYER HERE AND THEN JUST A PAMPHLET OF OUR CLUBS IF Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, YOUNG MAN.

UH, THAT'S HUGE ACHIEVEMENTS AND APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO AND ALL YOU DO.

I AM A BIG FAN OF 4-H.

I ENJOYED IT A LOT AS A KID MYSELF, SO I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S THRIVING IN WARREN COUNTY.

ALL

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

37 TEACHERS, 20 SUPPORT STAFF, ONE PRINCIPAL, ONE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WERE TRANSFERRED FROM E.

WE ARE AT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, UH, 60 MINUTE TIME PERIOD, THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU'RE FROM.

ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.

NO APPLAUSE, BOOING, OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION.

AND PLACARDS POSTERS AND, UH, VISUAL DISPLAYS ARE NOT ALLOWED UNLESS IT'S FOR A FACTUAL PRESENTATION.

UM, THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS, AND YOU CAN BE ASKED TO LEAVE IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE.

UH, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES, MA'AM.

FIRST UP IS JOHN JENKINS.

HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.

UH, I KNOW THAT THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, UH, IS ON THE, UH, LIST HERE FOR THE, FOR THE BOARD TO START WORKING ON, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, E.

WILSON MORRISON WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES ON THAT LIST.

SO, UM, WANNA ASK, HAS THE BOARD BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COST FOR THE ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION THAT'S BEEN DONE? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPLETE OR NOT.

UM, ALSO, UH, THESE REPORTS, THE ENGINEER REPORTS AND THE RE- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTIONS, IF THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED ALONG WITH THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORTS, UH, I THINK THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE IN YOUR POSSESSION SO YOU CAN REVIEW THAT PRIOR TO MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA BE, WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE SO YOU'RE NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THOSE REPORTS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT, BUT, UH, I'M THROWING THAT OUT THERE.

UH, AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, UM, AT THIS LAST MEETING, THEY'RE REQUESTING AT LEAST TWO ENGINEERED STAMPED QUOTES FOR STRUCTURAL SHORING.

NOW, IF THEY WANT DETAILED STRUCTURAL DESIGNS ALONG WITH A, UH, AN ENGINEERED STAMP AND THEY WANT TWO OF THOSE, THAT'S GONNA THROW IN SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE NEEDED.

UM, AND THE, ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS DURING THAT MEETING THAT COME ABOUT AT THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, A SPECIALIST WITH A PHD NEEDED TO CONDUCT HISTORICAL MASONRY STRUCTURAL PRESERVATION ANALYSIS.

I HAD TO LOOK THAT UP TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WAS, AND I STILL DON'T KNOW.

UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S NEEDED.

UM, I'M THROWING THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S QUESTIONABLE.

NOW, WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM OWNS THAT SCHOOL ACCORDING TO PUBLIC RECORD.

HOWEVER, THE FUNDING FOR ITS REPAIRS IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SO THE TAXPAYERS SUPPORT EDUCATION COSTS AS, AS IT SHOULD.

HOWEVER, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR FRIVOLOUS STUDIES AT THE REQUEST OF ELECTED INDIVIDUALS WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ESTABLISH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND MANAGE THE SCHOOL BUDGET.

ANOTHER TOPIC AT THAT MEETING THAT, THAT CAUGHT ME WAS, AND THIS IS QUOTE, "OUR SCHOOL DIVISION IS FACING DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND SEVERAL OF THE EXISTING FACILITIES ARE OPERATING WELL UNDER CAPACITY." WELL, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS,

[00:25:02]

WILSON MORRISON TO OTHER SCHOOLS.

NOW, PREVIOUSLY LAST YEAR, WHEN I MADE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE 10 TO ONE RATIO, UH, IT WAS HEARD THAT THE CLASSROOMS WERE FULL.

SO I THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW THAT THE BOARD REVIEW AND CONFIRM FACTUAL INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS AND REPAIR THAT SCHOOL.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP IS VICKY COOK.

BRITTANY? OKAY.

I'M VICKI COOK, AND I LIVE IN THE FORT DISTRICT.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE BOARD TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE COUNTY'S MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND ITS INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROLS THAT HAVE CAUSED THE FISCAL YEAR 24 AUDIT DELAY.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, TAXPAYERS HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THIS AUDIT DELAY, INCLUDING PAYROLL ADJUSTMENTS, ONGOING MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IN THE COUNTY'S INTERNAL, UH, FINANCIAL CONTROL SINCE 2019.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER THE FULL BOARD HAS BEEN INFORMED OF ALL THE REASONS FOR THE AUDIT DELAY.

DO THESE DELAYS INCLUDE THE TREASURER'S AUDIT TURNOVER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT ABOUT NET CASH RECONCILIATIONS, OR DO THEY STEM FROM THE 2019 FIVE-YEAR MOU IN WHICH THE COUNTY PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE EDA AS PART OF THIS BUSINESS, REGULAR BUSINESS? WITH MY BACKGROUND IN FINANCIAL AUDITS AND REVIEWING CONTRACTORS' FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, I HAVE SEEN RED FLAGS IN THE INFORMATION REPORTED BY THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, AND THE TREASURER THAT THEY HAVE SHARED ALL OF YOU.

BUT NONE OF YOU HAVE ASKED ANY PUBLIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS BEING REPORTED.

IT SEEMS THAT THE BOARD IS RELYING ON STAFF LEDGER ADJUSTMENTS AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS TO FIX THESE MATERIAL WEAKNESSES BEFORE THE AUDIT RECORDS ARE TURNED OVER TO THE AUDITORS AND SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC.

I ASK THIS BOARD TO MEET ITS LEGAL DUTY FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT BY STARTING A FORENSIC AUDIT FOR THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL RECORDS FROM 2019 TO 2024.

THIS WILL SHOW TAXPAYERS THAT...

THIS WILL SHOW TAXPAYER THAT THESE INTERNAL CONTROL VULNERABILITIES HAVE NOT LED TO MISMANAGED FUNDS OR UNAUTHORIZED SPENDING, UM, UH, FOR OVER PAST SIX YEARS.

FURTHERMORE, THE FORENSIC AUDIT EXPO - UM, IF THIS FORENSIC AUDIT DOES EXPOSE ANY MISMANAGEMENT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS, I HOPE IT WOULD LEAD TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND LESSONS LEARNED.

PLEASE CARRY OUT YOUR LEGAL OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSURE TAXPAYERS THAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AND BEING MANAGED APPROPRIATELY BEFORE CONSIDERING A NEXT TAX RAISE IN 2027.

IF THEY JUST STAND NEAR A CA - A CAMERA.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR SIGNUPS, MA'AM.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? GOOD AFTERNOON, SUPERVISORS.

MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.

UH, I HAVE A FEW THINGS.

I, I KNOW I WAS VERY LATE ON SENDING YOU A, AN EMAIL ABOUT FLOCK AND MY CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF, UM, AND, AND THIS IS JUST TO PRINT OFF THAT EMAIL, SO THE, SO IF YOU WANT A HARD COPY, IT'S THERE.

UM, I JUST HAVE CONCERNS MAINLY ABOUT PRIVACY, WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE DOING IN VIRGINIA.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF NEWS ARTICLES HOW THEY'RE EITHER, UH, DISCONTINUING THEIR CONTRACTS OR REDUCING IT DOWN TO JUST A SEVEN DAY, UM, RECORDING OR, OR LO - AUDITING OR LOGS OR WHATNOT.

UM, THERE'S ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT I'M ALSO AWARE OF.

I'M A TECH GUY, SO I'M VERY MUCH AWARE OF HOW PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY HACKING THESE SYSTEMS. I HAVEN'T TRIED IT MYSELF, BUT IT'S LIKE I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO THERE IS CONCERN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MODEL OR WHAT AIR, AIR STUFF USES HERE, BUT IT IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN THAT MY INFORMATION IS ON THOSE CAMERAS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO OUTSIDE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

[00:30:01]

AND TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME VERY CHEAP AND OPEN SOURCE.

UM, SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.

UH, SO THE, SO TO TRAN- TRANSITION TO ANOTHER TOPIC WITH E.

WILSON, THE PLACE LOOKS ABANDONED, RUN DOWN, OVERGROWN GRASS.

YOU'VE GOT THE FENCES UP.

AND I, I'M HEARING FROM SOME OF THE TEACHERS THAT THEY'VE GOT STUFF THERE.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED INSIDE AREAS THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR STUFF.

THEY NEED THEIR SUPPLIES.

AND I'M RECOMMENDING, YOU KNOW, HAVE A DAY WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THERE THAT CAN MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO IN THE, THE, THE BAD AREAS, GET THEIR SUPPLIES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON STUFF ALREADY FOR THEIR KIDS THAT THEY, THAT THEY NEED.

UM, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE VERY UPSET AND FRUSTRATED OVER THIS.

UM, THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE FENCES UP AND A LOT OF PARKING VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.

SO IT'D BE NICE IF SOME OF THAT FENCING COULD BE PUSHED BACK AND OPEN UP SOME OF THE PARKING SPOTS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS COMING, LIKE FESTIVAL LEASE IS COMING UP.

UH, I KNOW THE MARY MARKET'S COMING UP.

I THINK, UH, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS THAT BUILDING'S GONNA BE CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, THE, THE WAY THAT THE STUDENTS ARE BROUGHT, DIVIDED UP BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS IS NOT REALLY OPTIMIZED BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN THE, THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING A LOT OF THE OVERCROWDING.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AND SEE IF WE CAN SHIFT THINGS AROUND OF WHAT SCHOOLS ARE USED FOR WHAT, MAYBE MORE SCHOOLS FOR HIGH SCHOOL OR, OR MIDDLE SCHOOL, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

I CAN'T GO TO THOSE MEETINGS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE THEY'RE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.

SO I'M COMING TO YOU.

YOU HOLD THE PURSE.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, SIR.

UH, MY NAME IS JAMES CONTRERAS.

I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS MEETING WAS GONNA HAPPEN, BUT THEN I SAW THAT FLOCK WAS ON THE AGENDA, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING BRIEF.

UM, SO FLOCK CAMERAS, IT'S GIVING OUR DATA AND OUR FACES TO PRIVATE COMPANIES.

AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN USED BY POLICE OFFICERS TO, UM, TRACK WOMEN, UH, AND STALK THEM AS WELL.

MULTIPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHARGED FOR IT, BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN OVER A DOZEN CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED OF CRIMES USING THE FACIAL A - UH, RECOGNITION.

UM, AND A GRANDMA ACTUALLY SERVED MULTIPLE MONTHS IN JAIL FOR IT, FOR A CRIME THAT SHE NEVER COMMITTED.

AND IT JUST PUTS OUR SAFETY AT, AT RISK, SPECIFICALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

UM, THERE'S ALSO BEEN A CAMERA THAT HAS ACCESS TO WATCH JEWISH, UH, GIRLS GYMNASTICS.

I FORGOT WHICH SPECIFIC STATE.

UM, IT'S, IT'S A DANGER.

IT'S GIVING OUR FACES AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE, UH, AND PUTTING THEM AT RISK TO DANGEROUS MEN.

THAT'S ALL.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SIR, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THE FLOCK.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA.

UH, NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS.

MR. CARTER.

UM, YEAH, HE'S GONE ANYWAY.

UH, REGARDING MR. UM, JENKINS' COMMENTS ABOUT E.

WILSON MORRISON AND THE NEXT STEP, THAT IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHETHER IT'S, UH, FURTHER STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT OR REALIGNING THE SCHOOLS, THAT'S UP TO THEM.

HOWEVER, UM, AND I GUESS WE HAVE A JOINT WORK SESSION WITH THEM COMING UP TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE LIKE HE SAID, VERY GOOD POINT, YOU KNOW, THEY DECIDE, BUT WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY...

WE WANT THEM TO DO, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AS ACCURATE A, A MEASURE AS POSSIBLE, BUT, UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE COST AS WELL.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET OUR MONEY'S WORTH.

UM, LIAISON'S COMING UP.

WHO IS THE COUNTY REP THIS, THIS TIME? MR. JAMESON, IF HE'S AVAILABLE.

WHAT DAY IS THAT? UH, 15TH.

THAT'S ON THE 26TH, I BELIEVE.

[00:35:01]

HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THE TOWN AS FAR AS THEIR, UM, RESPONSE TO THE MOU? NO.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SUGGEST TOO.

I WAS THINKING IT WAS FURTHER ON, BUT AS FAR AS US DISCUSSING THE VSA TOO, BUT I GUESS WE'LL GET IN, CHECK AND SEE ALONG THAT.

AND ALSO THE OTHER THING ON THERE, I THINK AT THIS POINT THERE'S THREE THINGS, THE MOU, THE VSA, THE MOUSE, UH, THE BATTLEFIELD ASSOCIATION.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN DRAGGING ON FOR A LONG TIME TOO.

AND WHEN THEY WERE HERE SOMETIME BACK, THEY

[G.1. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]

GAVE A PRESENTATION.

WERE THEY, AND I DON'T REMEMBER, WERE THEY ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE OPTIONS AS FAR AS THEM PURCHASING THAT PROPERTY OR THEY JUST GAVE AN OVERVIEW? I THINK THEY JUST GAVE AN OVERVIEW.

UM, AND WE HAVE THE BUDGET COMING UP TOO, AND IT'S GONNA BE TIGHT.

UM, BECAUSE AS WE'VE ALL SEEN WITH, UH, UH, GAS AND DIESEL, AND THEN THAT IMPACTS ELECTRIC TO SOME EXTENT.

THE OTHER THING IS JUST RECENTLY I ASKED TO, UH, MY, UH, HEATING OIL SUPPLIER TO, TO FILL UP MY TANK AND THE HEATING OIL IS $5.69 A GALLON.

AND IF IT'S LESS THAN 150 GALLONS, THEY T- TACK ON ANOTHER 30 CENTS FOR THE TRAVEL CHARGE OR WHATEVER.

SO, AND AS, UH, ALLUDED TO EARLIER TOO, UH, WITH MR. CARTER, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A, A, A SOMEWHAT COLDER.

SO I KNOW THE STAFF'S WORKING ON THEIR BUDGET REQUEST.

IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH.

UM, AND WE'RE KINDA CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE FROM THE STANDPOINT WE DON'T WANNA OVERBURDEN THE TAXPAYERS, BUT WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF AND WE COMPENSATE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT CARRY OUT OUR POLICIES.

UM, LET'S SEE.

AS FAR AS THE AUDIT, I ASSUME YOU'LL PROBABLY GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.

AND YOU WILL ALSO, I GUESS PART OF THE, UH, REGULAR MEETINGS, YOU'LL ALSO TELL US AS FAR AS WHAT OPENINGS MAY BE OR WHERE THEY CAN LOOK TO FIND THAT.

SO I'LL LEAVE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO YOU.

AND LET'S SEE.

YEAH, AS FAR AS THE AUDIT, I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

AND OF COURSE, THIS STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

UM, AND I KNOW THERE'S THAT TALK ABOUT DOING A FORENSIC AUDIT.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, NORMALLY FORENSIC AUDITS, AS FAR AS WHAT I'VE BEEN, WHAT I'VE HAD TO DO OR, OR BEEN INVOLVED WITH, THEY DEALT WITH WHEN THERE WAS SUSPICION OF MAYBE SOME ILLE- ILLEGALITIES.

AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

FORENSIC AUDITS, THEY LOOK AT EVERY ITEM LINE BY LINE.

WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD PREVIOUS, THERE WERE TWO.

ONE WAS ONE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

AGAIN, NOT A BIG BUDGET, BUT IT TURNED OUT COSTING, I THINK AROUND $150,000.

WITH THE EDA, THERE WAS A FORENSIC AUDIT WITH THEM AS WELL, AND THEIR BUDGET WAS A FRACTION OF WHAT THE COUNTY'S WAS.

AND THAT WA - WOUND UP COSTING $700,000 AT LEAST.

SO AT THIS POINT, IF, IF WE WERE TO GO TO A FORENSIC AUDIT FOR THE COUNTY, YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO HOPEFULLY MAKING PROGRESS, I'LL WAIT AND, UH, LISTEN TO YOUR REPORT.

AND I MAY JUST HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS THEN TOO, BUT WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. STANMEYER? UH, RECENTLY I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A HANDFUL OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, UM, INCLUDING MEETINGS, UM, REGARDING THE 66 AND 606 SHENANDOAH SHORES ROAD, UH, GATED EMERGENCY RAMP, UH, PROJECT, UM, WHICH HAS GOTTEN SOME SETBACKS, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

UM, CONSTITUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT SAME 606 NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AND LONGER TERM TRANSPORTATION PLANS, UH, AND THEN AS WELL AS THE, UH, SPEEDING AND OTHER TRAFFIC ISSUES ON BLUE MOUNTAIN AND IN THE FARMS THAT, UH, MR. CARTER, UH, ALREADY SAID THAT, THAT VDOT IS, IS NOW GATHERING DATA ABOUT.

UM, SO MOVING ALL THOSE THINGS ALONG AS QUICKLY AS CAN BE ACHIEVED.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I'M, I'M PLEASED THAT WE PUSHED THE EAGLEVIEW, UH, TO THE NEXT MEETING SO WE CAN GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSIDERATION, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT.

TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT E.

MR. JAMISON? YES.

UM,

[00:40:01]

WILSON, ONE OF THE THINGS AT OUR LAST REGULAR MEETING I NOTED WAS THAT THERE'D BEEN NO, THERE'S BEEN NO STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS DONE AT ALL SO FAR.

UM, AND SO WHEN THE SCHOOL BOARD'S TALKING ABOUT GETTING STAMPED DRAWINGS, UM, AND THEN THE COMMENTS ARE MADE THERE THAT THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE NEEDED.

UM, I THINK MR. JENKINS ISN'T HERE NOW.

UH, PULLING OUT THE TERM FRIVOLOUS STUDIES, UH, IS, IS NOT HELPFUL RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE BOARD, SCHOOL BOARD IS, IS ON THE TRACK TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, UM, WHICH IS TO ASCERTAIN WHAT'S ACTUALLY WRONG.

AND IF THEY WANT TWO OPINIONS ABOUT THAT, I THINK, UM, AND THEY WANT THOSE OPINIONS TO BE HIGHLY, UH, QUALIFIED, I THINK THAT SOUNDS REASONABLE.

I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDTHS, MAYBE TENTHS OF PENNIES PER DOLLAR OR HUNDREDS OF PENNIES PER DOLLAR.

WE TALK ABOUT THE TYPES OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND ENGINEERING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ASCERTAIN WHAT'S ACTUALLY WRONG AND WHAT THE PO- POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ARE.

WHERE, YOU KNOW, 30 MILLION, 50 MILLION, ALL KINDS OF BIG NUMBERS AND LONG DURATIONS HAVE BEEN THROWN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS, THIS THING GOING ON.

SO I THINK THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

UH, I DON'T THINK THAT STUDIES WILL BE CONSIDERED FRIVOLOUS.

I THINK THEY'LL BE CONSIDERED WHAT'S NECESSARY TO KNOW WHAT'S ACTUALLY WRONG AND THEREFORE WHAT ACTUAL SOLUTIONS MIGHT BE THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS.

I DO AGREE, OF COURSE, WITH THE IDEA THAT THE, THE ENROLLMENT SITUATION THAT, UH, UM, UH, DR.

WRIGHT, IS IT TROY, DR.

WRIGHT, THAT DR.

WRIGHT, UH, WENT OVER WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY UNDER CAPACITY IN, IN, IN TOTAL, UH, ALTHOUGH THE ALIGNMENTS BY GRADE LEVEL ARE, ARE NOT LINED UP WELL, THERE COULD BE SOME, UM, SOME ORIGINAL SOLUTIONS COMING OUT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH THAT AS WELL.

SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO, TO, TO SEE THEM CONTINUE ON THE TRACK THEY'RE ON.

IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE TO ME.

UM, REGARDING SOME OF MRS. COOK'S COMMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE, I'VE, FOR MAYBE A YEAR NOW, I'VE BEEN ASKING IS, YOU KNOW, CAN WE, CAN WE START GETTING, UH, I, I, I'VE BROUGHT THIS, THIS FORWARD ABOUT AN AGREED UPON PROCEDURE, UH, EN- ENGAGEMENT, UM, THAT IS AIMED AT GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

YOU MENTIONED, UH, MR. CARTER MENTIONED, UM, UM, FORENSIC AUDITS ARE USUALLY BROUGHT FORWARD WHEN THERE'S SOME SUSPICION OF CRIME.

UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE IT, UH, BUT LET'S JUST TRY TO TAKE THIS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE PUBLIC.

UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS, HAS THE BOARD RECEIVED ALL THE REASONS, UM, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS IN PUBLIC.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT, THE, THE, THE PROGRESS THAT WE GET IN PUBLIC IS ESSENTIALLY WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

WE ALMOST GOT IT.

UM, AND THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT REALLY SATISFYING FOR US AS A BOARD, I KNOW, UH, IT'S NOT SATISFYING FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND, UM, MANY TIMES WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TOLD, WELL, IT'LL BE 30 DAYS FROM NOW AND THEN IT'S MORE THAN 30 DAYS, AND THEN IT'S ANOTHER 30 DAYS.

AND NOW, NOW THE LATEST WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, SEEM TO BE MAYBE WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THAT LAST, UH, TARGET, WHICH IS ENCOURAGING, BUT NEVERTHELESS, TRYING TO SEE THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UM, I, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE, UM, A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING AND PRESENTATION OF, OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER THE COURSE OF THE, THESE, OF THESE DELAYS.

UM, I STILL DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE, OR HAVEN'T HEARD BACK AFTER THE, YOU KNOW, A FEW TIMES AT THIS, AT THIS BOARD TALKING ABOUT AGREED UPON PROCEDURES TO TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROCESS.

UM, MANY, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL AUDITS NOW DO HAVE THE SAME MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, SO, UM, I JUST HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF OUR, IF WE'RE, LIKE, CONTEMPLATING THAT OR, OR IF STAFF HAS, UH, UH, UM, CONSIDERED ENGAGING A PRO - SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, OR IF WE'RE JUST BANKING ON GETTING TO THE END OF THIS PROCESS AND THEN THINKING, WELL, SINCE WE GOT TO THE END, OUR, OUR PROCESSES ARE, ARE STRAIGHTENED OUT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

IF I DON'T KNOW, THEN I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, GENERAL PUBLIC.

UM, SO I DO, I DO, YOU KNOW, AGREE THAT, THAT A COM - UH, SOME SORT OF COMPREHENSIVE L - UH, UH, KNOWLEDGE AND, AND, UH, I GUESS PUBLICATION OF, OF WHAT OUR TRACK HAS BEEN AND WHY WE'RE HERE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BETTER IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I DO THINK THAT KIND OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS A GOOD IDEA.

[00:45:02]

UM, AND OF COURSE, I, I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO ASSURE TAXPAYERS THAT WE'RE, WE'VE GOT HOLD OF THE SITUATION AND WE'RE GONNA BE ON THE HORSE, YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE AND, AND GETTING ON TRACK TO, TO DO THESE THINGS ON TIME, UH, AND WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WITHOUT THE, UH, OUTSIDE RESOURCES, UM, ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS.

SO I D - I WOULD LIKE AT SOME POINT MAYBE, UH, UH, MS. MEADOWS OR, OR MADAM CHAIR TO, TO KNOW ARE WE OR ARE WE NOT CONTEMPLATING OR WILL WE DO AN AGREED UPON PROCEDURES IN, IN LIEU OF SOMETHING LIKE A FORENSIC AUDIT OR DO WE JUST AS A BOARD AND ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION NOT THINK IT'S NECESSARY? I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE LEVEL OF CLARITY THAT WE CAN GIVE ARE WE, ARE WE, OR ARE WE NOT GONNA DO IT? UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING THIS YEAR TOO.

MR. HENRY.

UH BACK ON.

UM, I WAS AT A JOINT MEETING, UH, BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE, UH, SCHOOL BOARD.

UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF IN THE BUILDING THAT NEEDS TO BE GETTING OUT.

UM, BASICALLY BUILDING INSPECTION, FIRE MARSHALS CONSIDERED A BUILDING UNSAFE, SO THAT'S WHAT THE SHORING PROJECT IS FOR.

UM, THEY'RE GETTING PRICING ON THAT AND, UH, I THINK THE SHORING COMPANIES ARE BASICALLY TRYING TO KIND OF BRING THEIR OWN DESIGN.

UM, ALL OF IT HAVE TO BE APPROVED, BUT, UM, I WISH YOU COULD RUN IN AND RUN OUT REAL FAST AND GET THAT STUFF OUT OF THERE, BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST NOT A, UH, IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

SO WE'LL, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR BUILDING INSPECTION, THE FIRE MARSHAL FEELS SAFE, UM, TO GO IN AND GET THAT STUFF.

UH, THE PRICING ON THE, UH, THEY, THEY WERE GOING TO GET SOME PRICING BACK ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UH, STUDIES TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, FOR BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAUSED IT A FORENSIC STUDY.

A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THERE.

UH, AND THEN IT WAS IN THE SCOPE OF WORK AND I'D ALSO INDICATED THAT, UH, BESIDES WHAT CAUSED IT, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYBE NOT A COMPLETE DESIGN, BUT POSSIBLE SOLUTION GOING FORWARD TO, UH, CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

UM, I THOUGH IT WAS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT IT BACK LIKE IT WAS AND DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME, YOU KNOW, SO I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY, UH, IDENTIFY THE CAUSE FIRST AND THEN, UH, COME UP WITH A REMEDY AND THEN, UH, THAT REMEDY CAN BE DESIGNED AND, AND PUT OUT FOR BID AFTER THAT.

UH, I AGREE THEY ARE WORKING, UH, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GET THOSE STEPS DONE.

UH, WE WERE BLESSED WITH, UH, A LITTLE DOWN CURVE IN STUDENT POPULATION, UM, TO ALLOW THE MOVEMENT OF THESE STUDENTS INTO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS. UH, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GOOD, IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD MOVE OF PREVIOUS BOARD, PLUS THE STUDY DIDN'T SHOW A DOWNTURN IN, UH, STUDENT ENROLLMENT, AND LONG-TERM GOING FORWARD, IT WILL GO BACK UP.

UH, I THINK THEY SAID A SLIGHT DOWN CURVE, NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS, AND THEN MAYBE A FLAT LINE AND THEN START BACK UP.

UH, BUT OF COURSE THE, THE PREVIOUS STUDY NEVER SHOWED IT GOING DOWN, SO, UM, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GUESS, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY BASED ON POPULATION, AT SOME POINT, IT WILL GO BACK UP.

SO, BUT, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT ABILITY DID, UH, GIVE US THE LUXURY OF TIME, YOU KNOW, WHERE, UH, THOSE STUDENTS DO HAVE A BUILDING, A SAFE BUILDING, UH, TO GO INTO AND, AND FINISH THEIR STUDIES AND, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD AS THEY SHOULD.

SO THAT, A LITTLE BIT OF A BLESSING, UH, TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A GROWING ROOM IN THERE.

LET'S SEE HERE.

UH, ENROLLMENT CURVE, TALKED ABOUT THAT.

UH, YOU HAD BROUGHT UP BEFORE, UH, DR.

JAMESON, WHERE WE HAD, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, SCOPE OF WORK THROUGH MAYBE BARRY DUNN OR A DIFFERENT FIRM OR MAYBE GETTING A PRICE ON DOING A STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES, UH, SCENARIO.

I WAS IN SUPPORT OF THAT, UH, TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE GOT HERE.

UH, BEING FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD, IT WAS A PROBLEM AND I KIND OF INHERITED, I, I DO FEEL THAT, UH, STAFF AND, UH, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION WITH THE, UH, GETTING LEDGER LINES MATCHED WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH CODES AND STUFF ON, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD AND, UH, OUR FINANCE PEOPLE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE MESHED NOW.

UH, I FEEL PRETTY GOOD THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD.

I'M NOT SUSPECT OF, UH, OF, UH, NEEDING A FORENSIC AUDIT, BUT I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WAS IT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS MISALIGNMENT TO GET THESE AUDITS? WAS IT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD? WAS IT, UH, KS RECONCILIATION, YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE COMBINATIONS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

UH, THAT, THAT WOULD BE OF SOME INTEREST, UH, SIMILAR TO THE KNOWING WHY THE, UH, STRUCTURE FAILED AT THE SCHOOL

[00:50:01]

BEFORE YOU FIX IT.

UH, AND IT MAY BE A, ALSO A HANDY PIECE OF INFORMATION TO HAVE.

UM, AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE ON THE TOURISM SIDE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UM, THE HOMESTEADERS DO A MASSIVE EVENT.

UH, IT'S OCTOBER 9TH, 10TH THIS YEAR.

UH, I THINK IT SELLS OUT AT 4,500 PEOPLE.

IT MAY BE OUR SINGLE BUSIEST OR BIGGEST TOURISM ITEM.

UM, IT WAS RUMORED THAT THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THAT WERE LOOKING TO MAYBE HAVING A LARGER VENUE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE.

UH, AND I HATE TO SEE A, A GOOD ONE GET AWAY IF THAT WAS A, IF THAT'S A BIG, UH, IF THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ONES.

UM, I'VE JUST BARELY TIPPED INTO IT, SO I DON'T HAVE REAL GOOD INFORMATION, BUT THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY WHERE THEY USED THE PARKING.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS A PARKING ISSUE.

AND THEN, UH, MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AS FAR AS, UH, ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO DO THIS SHOW IN THE CURRENT STRUCTURES, UH, THAT ARE THERE.

UH, I WAS WANTING TO KIND OF GET A SOFT FEEL FOR THE BOARD, WHETHER IT WOULD BE WORTH ME INVESTIGATING THIS A LITTLE FURTHER.

UM, I KNOW WE HAD SOME TOURISM DOLLARS.

UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE EITHER IN A FORM OF A LOAN OR A GRANT.

IF THEY NEEDED SOME SMALL IMPROVEMENTS, THEY WANTED TO TAKE THIS THING FROM, LIKE, 4,500 TO MAYBE 6,500.

UM, I THINK FROM, UH, TRANSIENT LODGING TAX, YOU KNOW, FROM THEM ACTUALLY STAYING HERE, BECAUSE IT'S A TWO OR THREE DAY EVENT AT TIMES, THIS YEAR'S A TWO DAY EVENT, UH, I'D SAY IT PROBABLY OUTPERFORMS FESTIVAL LEAVES, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY HERE AS THEY TRAVEL FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR THIS THING.

UM, SO I'D LIKE TO INVESTIGATE SOME WAYS TO KEEP IT HERE.

AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I NOTICED IN A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, SO I JUST TIPTOED INTO THIS LAST WEEK AND I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO, TO DIG INTO IT.

UM, I WISH THEY WOULDN'T SCHEDULE, UH, IT'S OCTOBER 10TH AND THE FESTIVAL LEAVES AS THE 10TH.

IT WOULD BE SO NICE IF THEY WOULD'VE DID THEIRS THE WEEK BEFORE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S NOT, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVING BOTH FESTIVALS, SAME TIMES, BUT WE ARE ALREADY A LITTLE BIT OF A TRAFFIC ISSUE, SO IT'D BE NICE MAYBE WE COULD WORK OUT SOMETHING WITH IT IF WE CAN KEEP THEM HERE TO, TO OFFSET THOSE WEEKS.

AND THEN, UH, AND AS FAR AS OTHER SCHEDULING WITH, UH, TOURISM AND 4-H AND, UH, FAA, UM, I DID PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, ANIMAL AUCTION AT THE FAIR THIS YEAR.

UM, VERY PLEASED THAT THE KIDS WORKED PRETTY HARD, UM, TALKING TO THE GUYS AT, UH, GORE'S PROCESSING.

UM, AND THEY, UH, THEY'VE BEEN GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW, THEY COME TO, UH, BOTH FAIRS.

THERE'S A CONFLICT, A SCHEDULING CONFLICT WHERE WARREN COUNTY FAIR SEEMS TO SCHEDULE THAT OFTEN WITH FREDERICK COUNTIES.

AND IT INDICATED TO ME DURING THAT PRICING THAT THE, UH, SOME OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY ANIMALS OUTPERFORMED OURS THREE TO ONE, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE QUALITY OF ANIMAL, IT WAS THE COMPETITION OF THE BUYER, AND THEY WENT TO FREDERICK.

UM, SO, UH, FROM, I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY'S COMFORT LEVEL WAS, IF THEY MINDED ME, UH, AS KIND OF REPRESENTING THE COUNTY AND THE BOARD KIND OF NOSING INTO THESE SCHEDULE CONFLICTS AND, AND WHAT THESE ARE PEOPLE KIND OF DOING, AND IF WE CAN USE, IF, UH, IF IT'D BE WORTH TO SEEING WHAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THEM HERE, AND, UH, IF IT'S IN A PRICE RANGE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER USING TOURISM DOLLARS.

I, I DON'T KNOW THAT THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS.

THEY'RE JUST PURELY IDEAS ON THE, ON, ON THE ROUGH AS WELL.

BUT I'D JUST BE CURIOUS IF ANYBODY - I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THE HOMESTEADERS CONFERENCE.

I, I THINK THAT'S A, A NICE FEATHER IN OUR CAP AND WE WANNA KEEP IT.

UM, I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS YEAR THEY HAVE UNDERSOLD THEIR, THEIR NORM, AND THEY, THERE STILL MAY BE TICKETS AVAILABLE.

MY, MY WIFE ACTUALLY BOUGHT ONE, LIKE, THE OTHER DAY.

UM, BUT, UH, THAT IS A KIND OF A TIGHT SPACE FOR THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

THERE, THERE ARE A COUPLE BIGGER SPACES IN THE COUNTY.

I THINK THE, THE 4-H PROBABLY COULD ACCOMMODATE THEM.

UH, THE APPALOOSA THING, WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED THIS YEAR, BUT THEY'VE HAD UP TO 10,000 THERE AND THAT, THAT, BUT THAT'S SKYLINE RANCH AND THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENCLOSED SPACE.

UM, SO THERE, THERE IS A LIMITED SELECTION OF, OF PROPERTIES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A, A, A CONVENTION OR A CONFERENCE LIKE THAT WITH ENCLOSED SPACE FOR, FOR SOME OF WHAT THEY DO.

AS FOR THE SCHEDULING, I THINK IT'S TRICKY.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND, AND SOME BIG NAME SPEAKERS LIKE JOEL SELTON.

UH, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO GET THEM TO WORK AROUND FESTIVAL LEAVES, BUT IT'S WORTH, ALWAYS WORTH ASKING.

YEAH, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS YEAR.

AND I WASN'T SURE WHETHER THEY'RE ACTUAL...

[00:55:01]

SO I WASN'T SURE IF, UH, IT WAS PURELY, UM, THEY NEEDED MORE BUILDING OR THEY NEEDED MORE PARKING OR IF IT'S A COMBINATION THEREOF, BUT IF, UH - OKAY.

I, IF NOBODY'S GOT AN OBJECTION, I MAY DIG INTO IT A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO, EXCUSE ME.

UM, BECAUSE THEN, AND THEN THERE AGAIN, I KNOW ONE OPTION WOULD BE ROCKLAND PARK, BECAUSE I KNOW WAY BACK IN THE DAY THEY USED TO HAVE THE FISHNET THING AND THEY HAD 10,000 PEOPLE SHOWING UP THERE.

BUT I THINK YOU GET BACK TO, LIKE JOHN SAID, AND YOU, YOU MENTIONED, UH, THE, AT THE FAIR AT LEAST, THEY'VE GOT THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CALL IT, THE WONDER BUILDING, I THINK, AND THEN THE 4-H WHERE THEY HAVE THE LIVESTOCK.

SO THEY GOT THE, THOSE THINGS THERE TOO.

AND, AND THE OTHER THING WAS LIKE WITH THE, UM, THE 4-H CENTER.

AND AGAIN, I KNOW OVER THE WEEKEND, THEY HAD SOMETHING OVER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY HAD THE ROCKLAND THING, THEY HAD SOMETHING AT THE, UM, GAZEBO.

SO SOMETIMES, I KNOW TRAFFIC'S THE ISSUE, BUT IF YOU HAVE A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME, THEY MAY FEED OFF EACH OTHER.

BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOU PURSUING THAT AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.

ROCKLAND'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY.

I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

ROCKLAND'S A GOOD IDEA.

I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST THIRD THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S A HUGE EVENT AND, AND LOSING IT WOULD BE KIND OF A, A, A BAD THING, SO.

YOU FINISHED YOUR REPORT, MR. HENRY? YES.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS DURING THE WORK SESSION.

AND THE KIDS THAT COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE JELLO COMES FROM.

ALL RIGHTY.

UM, I'LL GO DOWN MY LIST AND THEN I'LL PUT MY THOUGHTS IN ON THAT, UM, AS PART OF MY REPORT.

UM, ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, WE DID HAVE THE JOINT, UH, TOWN AND, I MEAN, COUNTY AND SCHOOL BOARD, UH, BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE, UM, THE INTERIM TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR GAVE US AN UPDATE ON, UM, THE NEEDS OF TRANSPORTATION, THE BUSES, THE STATE OF REPAIR AND SO FORTH.

UM, THAT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE OF NEEDING, UM, ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION.

THEY'VE GOT SOME REALLY OLD BUSES, UM, THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

AND THE SCHOOL, E.

WILSON MORRISON WAS DISCUSSED AT, AT LENGTH.

THEY ARE BEING VERY DILIGENT, BUT, UH, AND METHODICAL IN THIS PROCESS.

THEY PUT OUT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, UM, AS FAR AS SHORING UP AND, UM, NO KNEE-JERK RE- REACTIONS HERE.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING ABOUT THIS, UH, VERY METHODICALLY AS FAR AS GETTING INTO THE SCHOOL AND USING THE PARKING LOT BY MOVING THE FENCE.

UM, THE CHANCES OF THAT GOING DOWN MAY BE SLIM, BUT NOBODY CAN SAY WHEN THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, SAFETY COMES FIRST OVER PARKING.

I'M SORRY WE DON'T HAVE THE PARKING, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE, UM...

I KNOW I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA SAY, "OKAY, GO IN AND GET WHATEVER YOU WANT OUT OF YOUR CLASSROOM," AND WHILE THEY'RE IN THERE, SOMETHING UNFORESEEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE BACK A FEW YEARS THAT WHO WOULD'VE THOUGH WE WOULD'VE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE AND IT WAS IN MINERAL, BUT WE FELT IT HERE.

AND THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO JAR IT AND SOMEBODY GETS HURT WHILE THEY'RE IN THAT BUILDING.

SO SAFETY HAS TO COME FIRST.

AND I THINK, UH, FROM WHAT I...

THE TIMES I'VE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT AND TALKED TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE KIDS ARE LOVING BEING AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ARE LOVING HAVING THEM THERE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF THE PARENTS OR THE KIDS COMPLAIN AT ALL ABOUT BEING RELOCATED.

IT'S LIKE A NEW ADVENTURE TO THEM AT THIS POINT.

UM, AND WE'RE ALL ADULTS.

WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO THE SITUATION THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALT AT THE TIME.

IT'S, WE'RE DOING THE, EVERYBODY'S DOING THE BEST THEY CAN IN A BAD SITUATION.

UM, ON THE 25TH, I ATTENDED SKYLAND HIGH SCHOOL'S FFA FEED AMERICA EVENT.

THEY, UM, HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS THERE THAT SHOW KIDS WHERE FOOD COMES FROM.

THEY HAVE LIVE ANIMALS THERE FOR THEM TO SEE, AND THEN DIFFERENT BOOTHS, UM, SOIL AND WATER WAS THERE, AND DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY WAS THERE, JUST LOTS.

AND IT WAS AMAZING.

ONE LITTLE BOY, THEY SHIPPED ALL THE FOURTH GRADERS FROM ALL THE COUNTY SCHOOLS IN AND LET THEM ROTATE THESE BOOTHS.

AND THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHICH VEGETABLE CAME FROM.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WAS KETCHUP.

WHAT, AND, UM, SO THERE WAS A TOMATO PITCHER THERE AND THEY SAID, "WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS MADE OUT OF TOMATOES?" AND HE SAID, THE ONE LITTLE BOY SAID, "I HATE TOMATOES." AND THEY SAID, "WELL, KETCHUP'S MADE OUT OF TOMATOES.

DO YOU LIKE KETCHUP?" AND HE GOES, "I LOVE KETCHUP.

I GUESS THAT MEANS I LOVE TOMATOES." SO HE HAD NO IDEA.

IT WAS KIND OF, TO SEE THE LIGHT BULB GO OFF, UM, THE ONE THAT AMAZED ME WAS, UM, JELLO

[01:00:01]

AND THEN THEY WERE KIND OF GROSSED OUT ABOUT IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

UM, SO THAT WAS AN ALL DAY EVENT AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST A GREAT EVENT TO SEE THE KIDS ENJOY THAT.

ON THE SEPTEMBER 26TH, I ATTENDED THE RETIREMENT DINNER, UH, BREAKFAST PUT ON FOR THE RETIRED FIREMEN IN THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY AT COMPANY FIVE.

AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE THE RETIRED FOLKS AND INTERACT WITH THE NEW GUYS.

UM, APPRECIATE BEING INVITED TO THAT.

27TH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE PITCH BURST AND GOT DUNKED, UM, WATER BALLOONS DUNKED ON ME FOR A GOOD CAUSE WITH THE WARREN COALITION.

THEY DO A LOT WITH THE KIDS IN THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOLS.

OCTOBER 2ND, I ATTENDED THE COFFEE AND CONVERSATION AT ON Q WHERE OUR EDA DIRECTOR, UM, MR. BARKER SPOKE AND HE DID A GREAT JOB OF, UM, EXPLAINING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HIS ROLE HERE, UM, IN WARREN COUNTY AND AS PART OF THE STAFFING HERE.

UH, THERE WAS A BREAKFAST AT LIMETON CHURCH TO A FUNDRAISER FOR THE, UM, SHELTER, THE, UH, WINTER SHELTER HEARTS.

I ATTENDED THAT.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, THEY ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT BREAKFAST THERE.

COMPANY TWO, RIVERMONT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD AN OPEN HOUSE AND I WENT TO THAT.

GOT TO SEE THEY HAVE A NEW ATV AND A CARRIER, UM, CARGO CARRIER THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BE USED AS A STAGING HEADQUARTERS AT AN EVENT WHERE YOU CAN'T GET A REGULAR VEHICLE UP.

THEY'VE GOT A NEW BRUSH TRUCK AND THAT WAS ALL PAID FOR WITH VOLUNTEER, UM, FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS.

JUST PROVES HOW VALUABLE A DUAL SYSTEM OF PAID AND VOLUNTEER STAFFING, UM, CAN BE TO OUR, UH, COUNTY.

UM, THE SAME DAY, UH, THE OCTOBER 3RD WAS A BUSY DAY.

UH, I ATTENDED THE NAACP DINNER WHERE MRS. SLOAN, A FORMER TEACHER OF MINE WHO'S 100 YEARS OLD WAS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

THAT WOMAN IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

UM, I WOULD, I HOPE IF I GET TO 100, I HAVE HALF OF THE, UM, ABILITY TO, THAT THAT WOMAN DOES.

SHE'S JUST AMAZING.

THEN I WENT TO THE 4-H FUNDRAISER FOR THE 4-H CENTER LATER THAT NIGHT OUT AT, UM, SHANDOH VALLEY GOLF CLUB.

AND THAT IS ANOTHER JEWEL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

AND IT, UM, IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH, UM, LEARNING ABOUT.

UM, ON SUNDAY THE 4TH, THIS IS NATIONAL SAFETY WEEK FOR FIRE AND FRONT ROYAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE STREET HAD THEIR OPEN HOUSE.

THEY HAD A LOT OF NEAT, UM, TOOLS TO TEACH PEOPLE.

MY GRANDSON LEARNED HOW TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH A SIMULATOR, UM, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL.

THEN YESTERDAY, MR. STANMEYER AND I MET WITH VDOT AT SHANDO SHORES FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TALK ABOUT AN EMERGENCY ACCESS FOR OFF OF 66 IF THE RAILROAD IS CROSSED.

AND THAT'S, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT, WHAT, THREE YEARS? SO IT'S STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON IT.

UM, TO ADDRESS A FEW OF THE THINGS, UM, NUMBER ONE THAT I'VE SEEN ON FACEBOOK, WHICH I HATE MISINFORMATION ON FACEBOOK, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

UM, TOURISM POSITION, WHICH BRINGS ME TO A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS HERE.

I READ WHERE I'M THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE THE TOURISM DIRECTOR THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR WHAT, YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT MISCONCEPTION GOT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD PREACH ANY HARDER THAT WE NEED THAT POSITION AND I'M TIRED OF BEING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD ABOUT THE FAIRGROUND IS EXACTLY WHAT A DESTINATION DIRECTOR WOULD TAKE CARE OF.

THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM HAVING TO, TO DO ANY OF THAT.

THAT WOULD BE EXACTLY WHAT A DESTINATION PERSON WOULD DO IS, AND AFTER BEING IN THAT ON CUE FOR THAT COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH MR. BARKER, TORRES, ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THAT ROOM, UM, HAD A SMALL BUSINESS OR AN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL COMPONENT TO THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY ALL WANTED TO KNOW THE SAME THING.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR US? TOURISM IS NOT WHAT HIS WHEELHOUSE IS GOING TO BE.

THIS DESTINATION PERSON COULD WORK HAND IN HAND WITH HIM ON THE LOGISTICS OF SOMETHING BIG.

LIKE IF WE EVER GOT TO THE POINT OF A CONFERENCE, UH, SPORTS CONFERENCE COMPLEX TYPE THING, THAT'S WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WOULD COME IN TO HELP WITH

[01:05:01]

THAT.

BUT THESE DESTINATIONS LIKE HOMESTEADING AND WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE AND HOW TO MAKE IT WORK AND GROW, THAT'S YOUR DESTINATION PERSON.

AND I, YOU KNOW, I, I APPLAUD YOU FOR WANTING TO GO INTO IT AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU DOING THAT, BUT THAT'S THAT PERSON'S JOB.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THAT PERSON.

AND THE, AND THE COMMUNITIES WANTING THAT PERSON, IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, HELP SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE.

WE HAD, UH, MARK HARRIS WHO HAS DOWNRIVER CANOE COMPANY AND A LOT, I DON'T KNOW SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY WERE PEOPLE I HADN'T SEEN BEFORE, BUT THEY WERE ASKING QUESTIONS OF HOW CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS? SO WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THAT AND QUIT KICKING THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

THE INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN DONE.

WE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T STOP IT, BUT THE BOARD DID STOP IT.

BUT I, IT WAS NOT ME.

I AM ALL FOR GETTING THAT DONE.

UM, ANOTHER MISCONCEPTION, I MADE A COMMENT ABOUT BROADBAND.

WHICH BROADBAND, I KNOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S ROARING THROUGH FINALLY WARREN COUNTY.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THE PEOPLE ALONG THE ROAD WITH BIG SPOOLS OF ORANGE, UH, CONDUIT, THAT'S YOUR BROADBAND GETTING IN.

AND I KNOW IT'S A PAIN TO TRY TO GET AROUND THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THESE BACK ROADS AND THEY TAKE UP A GOOD PORTION OF THE BACK ROADS.

AND YOU CAN'T, ANYBODY THAT COOKS, YOU CANNOT COOK A MEAL AND NOT MAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MESS, BUT YOU CLEAN YOUR MESS UP WHEN YOU'RE DONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

AND THAT'S WHAT I SAID WAS A MESS.

WELL, IT GOT ON FACEBOOK THAT MUST BE A FINANCIAL MESS.

THERE'S NO FINANCIAL MESS.

OUR FINANCES ARE HANDLED BY THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL COMMISSION WHO IS OUR PROJECT MANAGER AND NOTHING GETS PAID FOR UNTIL THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE.

SO WE HAVE OUR MONEY SECURED WITH THEM.

THERE'S NO FINANCIAL MESS THERE.

IT'S A CONSTRUCTION MESS.

SO I HOPE I HAVE CLEARED THAT UP.

UM, AND THE HOMESTEADING, I, I AM, MS. MEADOWS AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT.

AND ROCKLAND PARK WAS, UM, THE IDEA THAT WE HAD THAT IF THE FAIRGROUNDS COULD NO LONGER CONTROL, YOU KNOW, HAVE IT BECAUSE OF THE PARKING BEING AN ISSUE BETWEEN THE, UM, AREA THAT'S THERE AND THE CHURCH THAT'S ACROSS THE STREET THAT'S BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING TO US IN THE PAST TO USE THEIR PARKING, THAT, THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE, THE DESTINATION PERSON COULD WORK ALL THAT OUT, BUT IT IS, UH, A PLACE THAT THAT COULD EASILY GO TO AND NOT BE A PROBLEM AND, AND BE ABLE TO GROW THERE.

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

DELEGATE OATES CALLED ME ABOUT, UH, SOME CALLS SHE WAS GETTING OVER ANIMAL CRUELTY, AND I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS MADE AWARE OF IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE A SMALL COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH S - UM, LEGAL ON OUR PART, BECAUSE THIS WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH LEGAL AS, UM, TO STRENGTHEN UP OUR ORDINANCE, UH, ON THIS.

AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, UM, ANIMAL CONTROL, WHOEVER THE SHERIFF DESIGNATES, AND HAVE THAT SMALL COMMITTEE TO WORK AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS WE NEED.

THEY'RE THE ONES DEALING WITH THE ANIMAL CONTR - UH, CRUELTY.

AND IT SEEMS OUR ORDINANCE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO, TO KNOCK DOWN ON THIS.

SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE, UM, CREATE THAT.

AND I'M MORE THAN GLAD TO, TO SIT ON THAT AS PART OF OUR SIDE AND WHOEVER ELSE MIGHT WANNA BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN JUST THROW AT LEGAL AND SAY, "HEY, STRENGTHEN THIS UP." WE, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT GROUP CONVERSATION FROM ANIMAL CONTROL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN AND PUT IN THERE.

UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S NOTHING TO DEAL WITH CATS.

IT'S ALL DOGS.

UM, MAYBE, I, I DON'T, I'M NOT EVEN SURE OF THE REST OF IT, BUT, UM, SOMETHING I THINK THAT IS ONE OF OUR ORDINANCES THAT WE NEED TO, TO LOOK AT.

AND, UM, AS FAR AS THE COMMENTS MADE TODAY ABOUT THE AUDIT AND OUR TRANSPARENCY, IT'S KIND OF AMAZING TO SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND, UM, THAT WAS ON THIS BOARD.

UM, I WAS CRITICIZED VERY MUCH BECAUSE I, UM, WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THE ACCOUNT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS TRANSPARENT

[01:10:01]

ENOUGH.

AND I WAS CRITICIZED MONTHLY ON THAT, ABOUT I NEEDED TO TRUST THAT I TRUST AND VERIFY.

AND, UM, I DO ASK QUESTIONS.

I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS FROM UP HERE.

IT'S, IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND I FEEL LIKE WE GET EXCUSES.

UM, AND YOU TRY TO BE AS POLITE AS POSSIBLE AND NOT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ATTACKING THEM WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS.

BUT, UM, I HAVE ASKED MS. MEADOW THAT ONCE WE GET THIS AUDIT, THAT WE GET MONTHLY REPORTS IN PERSON.

I DON'T WANT A PIECE OF PAPER UP HERE WITH NUMBERS ON IT THAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO THOSE NUMBERS.

AND I'VE ASKED FOR THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP.

IT'S FRUSTRATING.

UM, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYBODY STEALING MONEY.

I THINK IT'S...

I, I, I DON'T WANNA SIT HERE AND MAKE ACCUSATIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE MAYBE A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING.

I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I'M TIRED OF THE EXCUSES.

I'M TIRED OF THIS BEING POSTPONED.

AND, UM, I DO WANT IT MADE PLAIN THAT MONTHLY REPORTS IN PERSON ARE EXPECTED AND WE DON'T NEED EXCUSES AS TO WHY THEY'RE NOT HERE.

IF THEY CAN'T BE HERE, THEN SEND SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE BECAUSE WE NEED ANSWERS.

MS. SCOTT'S ALWAYS HERE.

THERE'S NO REASON THE TREASURER CAN'T BE HERE AS WELL.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T WANNA SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS TO FIND OUT IT, IT WAS JUST SOMEBODY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

BUT IF THE AUDIT COMES OUT AND IT SAYS THERE ARE WEAKNESSES AND THEY FEEL AN AUDIT, A FORENSIC AUDIT'S NEEDED, THEN WE'LL GO WITH A FORENSIC AUDIT.

WE'LL FIND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE.

BUT I, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE THAT AS THE BASELINE OF, IS IT INEFFICIENCY? IS IT LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON THAT THEY FEEL IS SUSPICIOUS? THEN WE'LL, WE'LL DEAL WITH IT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.

I GUESS I'VE BEEN A LITTLE TOO PROTECTIVE OF PEOPLE'S FEELINGS, UM, BUT THEN PEOPLE DON'T MIND TEARING US UP FOR IT.

SO I, UM, I JUST, I THINK ENOUGH'S ENOUGH.

SO THAT'S THE END OF MY TIRADE HERE.

MS. MEADOWS.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE AUDIT.

UM, THE AUDITORS LET US KNOW THAT A DRAFT OF THE AUDIT WOULD BE PROVIDED TO MS. SCOTT AND MYSELF ON FRIDAY, WHICH IS THE 9TH, AND IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL ON THE 20TH.

THE DRAFT WILL BE PRESENTED.

THE FINAL FINDINGS WILL BE AT THE END OF THE MONTH, BUT THE INITIAL DRAFT WOULD BE PRESENTED.

UM, AND THE FINAL FINDINGS WILL INCLUDE, OF COURSE, ANY, UM, FINDINGS THAT THEY HAVE, ANY MATERIAL OR INTERNAL CONTROL WEAKNESSES.

SO THAT WILL BE LAID OUT.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE LOOK AT IT.

UM, REGARDING THE 2025 AUDIT, UM, THE TREASURER'S OFFICE IS CONTINUING TO WORK WITH BARRY DUNN IN ORDER TO DO THE CASH RECONCILIATION TO THE GENERAL LEDGER.

UM, MS. SCOTT AND MR. BALLENTINE FROM THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR NUMBERS AND CODES ARE ALIGNING SO THAT AS THE AUDITORS GET THIS INFORMATION, IT WILL BE QUICKER.

THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE 25 AUDIT WILL BE DONE IN BASICALLY TWO TO THREE MONTHS.

UM, SO A MUCH SHORTER TIME PERIOD.

UM, THE ASSESSORS HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THEIR HEARINGS FOR 2027.

THEY HAD 103 APPEALS THAT THEY FINISHED LAST FRIDAY.

UM, SO THE NEXT SET OF HEARINGS WILL BE THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.

SO THE DATES AND THE MEMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED ON YET.

WE ARE STILL, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING ON THAT BOARD, AND THAT'S GONNA KIND OF LEAD INTO THE CITIZEN APPOINTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.

UM, WE STILL HAVE THE SOUTH RIVER VACANCY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD.

UM, THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS PLUS AN ALTERNATE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, SO AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS.

UM, FOR FAPT, THE FAMILY ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING TEAM, WE NEED A PARENT REPRESENTATIVE.

FOR THE FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES.

AND AS I WAS REMINDED DURING COFFEE AND CONVERSATION, WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL SEATS THAT EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO IF WE

[01:15:01]

ARE NOT ABLE TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO BE ON THIS, IT WOULD MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE, UM, STANDARD BUSINESS THAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR MINIMUM THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FOR QUORUM.

ARE, ARE THEY DONE BY DISTRICT? NO.

SO IT DOESN'T MATTER? AT LARGE.

AT LARGE.

AND OF THE END OF THE YEAR EXPIRATIONS, HAVE THEY SIGNALED, UH, THAT THEY'LL WANNA RENEW OR HAVE THEY NOT SIGNALED? AT LEAST ONE HAS SAID HE IS NOT.

THE OTHER THING TOO, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS WE'D HAVE TO ADJUST THE BYLAWS SINCE THAT'S OVERSEEN BY THE STATE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CUT IT FROM SEVEN TO FIVE.

THAT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WAY MAYBE EASIER TO FILL.

I KNOW THEY NEED TO STILL BE INVOLVED WITH SOME OF THE OLD PROPERTIES AND BANKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND JUST TO, WE SAID IT BEFORE, JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, MR. BARKER IS NOT PART OF THAT EDA.

HE IS - TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES.

THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE WHO ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR - UH-HUH.

WITH SOME DIRECTION FROM US.

AND AGAIN, ONCE WE GET SETTLED, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD FOR HIM AS WELL.

BUT ONE THING AT A TIME.

UM, THE SHANNON WOODS SANITARY DISTRICT STILL HAS ONE VACANCY, AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE IN THAT IT HAS TO BE A RESIDENT OF SHANNON WOODS, AND THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY.

UM, THE AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST- FORESTAL DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE HAVE VACANCIES FOR BOTH FOURTH, OR SORRY, ALL THREE FOR CABBY CREEK AND NORTH RIVER, UM, FOR THIS, UM, BOARD.

AND THEN THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, UM, WE HAVE A VACANCY FOR THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.

UM, THIS IS, OR SORRY, A POTENTIAL VACANCY FOR THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.

UM, THE MEMBER HAS EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO STEP DOWN.

HOWEVER, WE KEEP HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING QUORUM.

UM, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, AND I BELIEVE MS. WALL IS GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT DURING THE WORK SESSION, UM, KIND OF OUR APPROACH TO APPROACHING THAT.

AND I, I FOUND OUT TODAY AND, AND LET MS. WALL KNOW ALREADY THAT, UH, SOMEONE INFORMED ME THEY'RE INTENDING TO APPLY FOR THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING IT AS WE SPEAK.

IS THAT, UM, I KNOW WE MAKE THE NOMINATIONS, THE BOARD OR THE, THE JUDGE APPOINTS THEM, BUT IS THAT STRICTLY PER DISTRICT? DOES IT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY? ALL RIGHT.

AND MAY, MAYBE MS. WALL WILL GET INTO THAT LATER WHEN SHE COMES UP.

SHE WILL.

WE'LL LET THAT HAPPEN THEN.

PERFECT.

UM, THE JOINT TOW BOARD, WE STILL HAVE A CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE VACANCY.

AND THEN FOR THE SHENANDOAH FARM SANITARY DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE HAVE ONE VACANCY AS WELL.

AND THAT IS IT FOR THE CITIZEN APPOINTMENTS.

UM, JUST A REMINDER, THE LIAISON MEETING IS OCTOBER 15TH AT SIX O'CLOCK.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT I'VE GOT.

JUST ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS TOO, IF I MAY.

UM, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME AS FAR AS LEAVING A 30-DAY WINDOW.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, THESE EXCEED THE 30 DAYS.

WE MAY WANNA INSTITUTE A 30-YEAR WINDOW, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY EXCEED THE 30...

WELL, IT'S AS SOON AS IT GETS FILLED.

AND I THINK 30 DAYS WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

AND THEN THAT WAY IF YOU GET TWO OR THREE OR WHATEVER.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, OBVIOUSLY WE JUST LEAVE IT TILL SOMEBODY COMES FORWARD.

AND MR. HENDERSON HAS BEEN UPDATING OUR COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE IN ORDER TO PUSH SOME OF THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET SOME ADDITIONAL TRACTION.

OH, ON THE SHENANDOAH FARMS, UH, BOARD, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A HOA BOARD TOO, IT HAD BEEN...

IT WAS TALKED AT ONE TIME AND MAYBE MESSING THOSE.

WOULD THAT, WOULD THAT HELP FILL THE VACANCIES? DO, DO YOU REMEMBER? WE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THAT ONCE, JOHN.

I DON'T REMEMBER.

YEAH, WE TALKED WITH, WHO, WITH MR. RINALDI? YEAH.

UM, UH, PO- POSSIBLY, BUT I, I THINK MAYBE AN OPTION IS, IS HE ALREADY COMES TO THE MEETINGS.

MAYBE I COULD SEE IF HE WANTS TO FILL THAT VACANCY AND, AND HANDLE IT THAT WAY.

IT'S, UM, IT'S TRICKY TO JUST DISSOLVE THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE SITUATION THAT IF THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING PRETTY WELL, SO.

MR. HAM? I HAVE NO REPORT.

UH, THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 15TH REGULAR MEETING.

MOVING ON,

[H. Approval of Minutes]

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, CORRECTIONS? NOPE.

HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.

SECOND? SECOND.

ROLL CALL, MR. HENDERSON.

[I. Consent Agenda]

AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION? I WOULD LIKE TO PULL,

[01:20:02]

UM, THE NUMBER FIVE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE, UM, ABSENCE OF NUMBER FIVE? SO MOVED.

SECOND? SECOND.

ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

MR. STANDENMEIER? AYE.

JUST TO READ THE RESOLUTION THAT, UM, THEY ASKED US TO, UM, APPROVE TODAY.

I PULLED THIS

[I.5. Proclamation — National 4-H Week - Karen Poff]

WHEREAS 4-H IS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, LEAD, SERVE, AND GROW.

AND WHEREAS 4-H EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THEIR INTERESTS, BUILD VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS, AND DEVELOP CONFIDENCE THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING AND CARING RELATIONSHIP WITH ADULTS.

AND WHEREAS VIRGINIA 4-H MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, FAMILIES, ALUMNI, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL 4-H WEEK WILL BE CELEBRATED OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH THE 10TH OF 2026 WITH THE THEME BEYOND READY AND WHEREAS NATIONAL 4-H WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF 4-H AND CELEBRATE THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LEARNING, LEADING, SERVING, AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY RECOGNIZE THIS OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL 4-H WEEK IN WARREN COUNTY AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION 4-H TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN WITNESS OF, I HEREBY SIGN, SET MY HAND ON THIS, AND I SIGNED IT, UM, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

SO I'LL...

IF THERE'S A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION.

I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION AS READ.

SECOND ON THAT? SECOND.

ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.

UM, ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS? HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE BUSINESS MEETING? AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A FEW MINUTES BREAK BEFORE THE WORK SESSION.

WE'RE ADJOURNED, AND WE'LL COME BACK IN 10 MINUTES GOOD? SOUNDS GOOD.

EVERYONE WOULD GET THEIR SEATS, WE'LL GET THIS WORK SESSION STARTED HERE.

[M. Work Session ]

AND FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN STRUCTURE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO THIS AFTERNOON.

SO YOUR EXPERIENCE RATED ON YOUR MEDICAL, POOL RATED ON YOUR PHARMACY, AND THOSE TWO COME TOGETHER, AND THAT'S HOW BASICALLY THE LOCAL CHOICE BUILDS YOUR RATE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF Y'ALL AND TALK ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

UM, AND YOU MAY RECALL, I'M ED WHITE.

WE GOT BONNIE LEE BACK THERE.

WE HELP THE COUNTY OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, NAVIGATING OPTIONS IF WE LOOK AT OPTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT, UM, WE WERE ASKED TO KIND OF GIVE MAYBE A, A FAIRLY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SELF-FUNDING AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND BEFORE I DIVE INTO IT, AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU'LL HAVE A COPY OF THAT, UM, JUST TO KIND OF LEVEL SET WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY.

AND, AND FOR STARTERS, YOUR RENEWAL IS JULY ONE, SO WE'RE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE RENEWAL, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE HAVE THESE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT.

DO WE WANNA DO AN RFP? WHAT, WHAT DO THOSE THINGS LOOK LIKE? BUT TODAY, JUST AS A LEVEL SET, YOU ALL HAVE THE LOCAL CHOICE.

IT'S, IT'S A STATE SETUP PROGRAM THAT COUNTIES AND SCHOOLS CAN PARTICIPATE IN.

YOUR EXPERIENCE RATED IN THAT PLAN, UM, FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF YOUR, OF YOUR, UM, CLAIMS. UM, AND THEN THERE'S PARTS OF THAT PLAN THAT AS WELL THAT ARE POOLED.

SO THE LOCAL CHOICE IS MADE UP OF PROBABLY 500 DIFFERENT GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

AGAIN, SCHOOLS, TOWNS, COUNTIES, WATER AUTHORITIES, ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND GROUPS THAT ARE IN THAT, IN THAT POOL.

THAT POOL IS MANAGED BY ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.

ANTHEM SELLS OR HAS THAT PRODUCT FOR THE STATE AND IT'S BID PROBABLY EVERY FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

UM, BUT ANTHEM ALSO DOES DIRECT WRITING OF COUNTIES AND SCHOOLS AND TOWNS OUTSIDE OF THAT LOCAL CHOICE PLAN.

BUT SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE LOCAL CHOICE PLAN, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, FOR STARTERS, UH, YOU GET THE BENEFITS OF BEING PART OF A VERY, VERY LARGE GROUP.

OBVIOUSLY, WITH, WITH THE NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT THEY HAVE IN THE, IN THE MEMBERSHIP, YOU'RE IN WITH, WITH MANY GROUPS, WHICH CAN HELP TAKE OUT SOME OF THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS.

AND, AND AT THE, THE SIZE THAT THE COUNTY IS, WARREN COUNTY IS, UM, YOU'RE KIND OF BASED ON YOUR MEDICAL CLAIMS EXPERIENCE ONLY.

SO BASICALLY THE LOCAL CHOICE LOOKS AT THE MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, THEY COME UP WITH A RATE, AND THEN THEY ADD TO IT THE POOLED RATE FROM THE, FROM THE, ALL THE LOCAL CHOICE PLANS, PHARMACY BENEFITS.

AND THAT CAN MAKE UP 30 TO 40% OF YOUR TOTAL PIE.

UM,

[01:25:01]

UM, AND AGAIN, ANTHEM BEING THE ADMINISTRATOR, YOU'RE PAYING THOSE RATES TODAY TO THE LOCAL CHOICE AND WHAT WE CALL FULLY INSURED BASIS.

SO THAT MEANS YOU'RE PAYING, LET'S SAY, I'M JUST GONNA PULL A NUMBER OUT OF THE AIR, SO IT'S NOT YOUR ACTUAL RATE.

YOU'RE PAYING $1,000 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH FOR A CERTAIN PLAN, AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR CLAIMS ARE BEYOND THAT.

YOU'RE PAYING IT EVERY MONTH AS THE EMPLOYEES STAY ON THE PLAN, YOU PAY THAT EVERY MONTH, YOU'RE PROBABLY PAYING 2,000 FOR FAMILY COVERAGE AND MAYBE A 1,500 FOR EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE COVERAGE.

AND BASICALLY IT'S EASY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOUR CLAIMS ARE MONTH TO MONTH.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE PREMIUM YOU'RE PAYING ANTHEM.

YOU GET TO THE END OF YEAR, OR PAYING TO LOCAL CHOICE, YOU GET TO THE END OF JUNE OF NEXT YEAR, YOU WANNA WALK AWAY, YOU CAN WALK AWAY.

YOU'VE PAID THOSE FULLY INSURED PREMIUMS AND THERE'S NO, NO LIABILITY BEYOND THAT.

SELF-FUNDING IS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

UM, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GROUPS, A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE SELF-FUNDED.

IF YOU EVER CONSIDER GOING THAT PATH, YOU'D IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE LOCAL CHOICE BECAUSE THE LOCAL CHOICES ONLY DO, ONLY KIND OF STRUCTURES THEIR PLANS AROUND FULLY INSURED GROUPS.

UM, IN THE SELF-FUNDED WORLD, AND AGAIN, I'VE GOT SOME SLIDES HERE, MAYBE WE CAN KIND OF FOLLOW ALONG, THINK OF IT AS JUST A DIFFERENT WAY TO FUND HOW YOU PAY FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. SO TODAY, AS I MENTIONED, YOU'RE FULLY INSURED, YOU'RE PAYING THAT, WHATEVER THOSE RATES ARE FOR EMPLOYEE ONLY, EMPLOYEE SSPOUSE, EMPLOYEE CHILDREN, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

IN A SELF-FUNDED WORLD, YOU TYPICALLY, YOU REALLY PAY WHAT THE ACTUAL CLAIMS ARE.

SO IN A TYPICAL SCENARIO, EVEN IF YOU HAD ANTHEM AS YOUR ADMINISTRATOR, YOU PAY ANTHEM AN ADMIN FEE EVERY MONTH FOR ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE ON THE PLAN.

AND THEN YOU PAY A FLUCTUATING AMOUNT BASED ON WHAT THE ACTUAL CLAIMS THAT ANTHEM PAYS ARE, PHARMACY CLAIMS, VISITS FOR FOLKS TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, UH, HOSPITAL CLAIMS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S SELF-FUNDED AND THOSE CLAIMS ARE GONNA VARY VI - WIDELY FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

IT, IT GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF AN IDEA WHERE YOU THINK CLAIMS ARE GONNA BE AND YOU BASICALLY SET YOUR RATES, WHAT YOU CHARGE EMPLOYEES AND, AND SPOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR COVERAGE BASED ON THAT.

SO IT'S, THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

SO FULLY INSURED'S LEVEL SET, PRETTY MUCH YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA BE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SELF-FUNDING'S GONNA FLUCTUATE SOMETIMES PROBABLY BELOW WHAT THOSE FULLY INSURED RATES WOULD BE, SOMETIMES POTENTIALLY ABOVE WHAT THOSE FULLY INSURED RATES ARE GONNA BE, BUT NO MATTER WHAT, IT'S GONNA FLUCTUATE MONTH TO MONTH.

UM, THE DOWNSIDES TO THE LOCAL CHOICE ARE THAT YOU'RE FULLY INSURED FOR STARTERS AND THERE'S BENEFITS TO BEING SELF-FUNDED IN SOME CASES.

THE, THE LOCAL CHOICE DOES ONLY HAVE FOUR PLANS TO CHOOSE FROM.

SO WHEN WE SIT DOWN AT RENEWAL TIME WITH A LOCAL CHOICE AND, AND GET YOUR RENEWAL RATES, UM, IT IS, HERE'S THE FOUR PLANS, WHICH OF THESE FOUR PLANS DO WE WANT? WE CAN TAKE UP TO THREE OF THE FOUR, UM, BUT THAT'S IT.

WE CAN'T SAY, "WELL, WHAT IF WE DID THIS TO THE DEDUCTIBLE OR WHAT IF WE DID TO THIS TO THE, YOU KNOW, MAX OUT OF POCKET OR A COPAY FOR DOCTOR VISITS?" THOSE OPTIONS AREN'T ON THE TABLE WITH THE LOCAL CHOICE.

IT'S, IT'S FOUR PLANS.

UM, IN THE SELF-FUNDED WORLD, OUTSIDE OF THE LOCAL CHOICE, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DEDUCTIBLES, CHANGE YOUR COPAYS.

YOU'VE GOT COMPLETE FLEXIBILITY IN YOUR PLAN DESIGN AND HOW YOU, HOW YOU, HOW YOU DO IT, HOW YOU SET IT UP.

UM, SO THAT'S, I GUESS I'LL SAY ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES.

AND I WOULD SAY MOST OF OUR MUNICIPALITY GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH, THAT I WORK WITH, SOME ARE SELF-FUNDED.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL THAT ARE, THAT ARE INSIDE THE LOCAL CHOICE AS WELL.

THE LARGER THOSE MUNICIPALITIES ARE FROM A PURE EMPLOYEE SIZE, THE, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO POTENTIALLY BE SELF-FUNDED BECAUSE THEY WANNA HAVE MAYBE SOME CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN DESTINY AND BE ABLE TO MAYBE TWEAK THEIR BENEFITS IF THEY THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THERE'S SOMETHING THEY'D LIKE TO DO DIFFERENTLY.

UM, THE OTHER THING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL CHOICE OR THE SELF-FUNDED WORLD IS IT, THE RISK IS ON THE COUNTY AT THAT POINT.

UM, IN A SELF-FUNDED WORLD, YOU'RE TAKING THE RISK.

AND, AND, AND THE EXAMPLE I GAVE WHERE CLAIMS ARE FLUCTUATING MONTH TO MONTH AND YOU'RE PAYING THE ACTUAL CLAIMS, THAT IS TRUE AT A, AT A GROUP THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY, THE OTHER THING THAT YOU WOULD PURCHASE IN A SELF-FUNDED WORLD IS WHAT WE CALL REINSURANCE OR STOP LOSS COVERAGE.

AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT DOES IS JUST PROTECT YOU FROM THE CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS. WE, WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME TODAY WITH OUR OTHER COUNTIES AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE SELF-FUNDED.

UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO SEE A $500,000 PHARMACY BILL, UM, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT CAN BE SOMETIME A, AN ANNUAL BILL, BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF MEDICATION THEY'RE TAKING.

SO MOST SCHOOLS AND COUNTIES THAT WE WORK WITH, ALL OF THEM ACTUALLY, EVEN THE LARGEST OF LARGE, PURCHASE SOME PROTECTION AGAINST THOSE CATASTROPHICALLY LARGE CLAIMS. YOU CAN SEE A PREMATURE BABY CLAIM TODAY THAT HIT SOME $2 MILLION.

WELL, FOR MANY GROUPS THAT WOULD, UM, BLOW THEIR TOTAL CLAIMS EXPERIENCE AND THEIR RATES OUT OF THE WATER.

SO THEY BUY STOP LOSS COVERAGE TO PROTECT THEM, AND LET'S SAY IT'S $150,000 PER EMPLOYEE, UM, PER YEAR, AND THAT'S BASICALLY LIKE A LARGE DEDUCTIBLE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD PURCHASE TO PROTECT THEM FROM THAT CATASTROPHIC CLAIMANT.

SO YOU'RE ON THE HOOK FOR THE FIRST 150,000 IN AN EXAMPLE, BEYOND THAT, THE STOP LOSS COVERAGE KICKS IN AND KIND OF PROTECTS YOU FROM THAT UNLIMITED LIABILITY.

UM, AGAIN, BUT THE SIZE YOU ALL ARE, WE WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND ALMOST MANDATE, I WOULD SAY MOST

[01:30:01]

INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD EVEN MANDATE THAT YOU PURCHASE STOP LOSS COVERAGE TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE TRULY THE UNKNOWN THAT YOU CAN'T BE PREPARED FOR.

SO, UM, BEYOND THAT, IN THE SELF-FUNDED WORLD, YOU STILL HAVE REGULAR RATES, YOU CHARGE EMPLOYEES, AND THEY, AGAIN, THEY FLUCTUATE MONTH TO MONTH.

WE'LL OFTEN GET QUESTIONS, AND PARTICULARLY WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, FROM BOARD MEMBERS THAT'LL SAY, "WE SHOULD BE FULLY, WHY AREN'T WE FULLY INSURED OR WHY AREN'T WE SELF-FUNDED? OR WHICH IS BEST?" AND, AND REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, THE MATH BEHIND THE SCENES, HOW THEY BUILD YOUR RATES IS REALLY A LOT THE SAME.

YOUR CLAIMS, YOUR MEDICAL CLAIMS, WHICH ARE GONNA REPRESENT 65 TO 70% OF THE OVERALL CLAIMS EXPERIENCE IS GONNA DRIVE IT.

AND IF YOU'RE FULLY INSURED, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT YOUR CLAIMS AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GONNA BUILD THAT NEXT YEAR'S FULLY INSURED RATE.

THE SAME THING GOES FOR SELF-FUNDING.

THEY'RE STILL LOOKING AT YOUR CLAIMS, BUT THEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT PHARMACY CLAIMS SPECIFICALLY AS WELL.

AND THAT'S REALLY GONNA BUILD YOUR RATES FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO IT, IT REALLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAVE YOU MONEY.

UM, MOST OF THE LARGE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE SELF-FUNDED, THEY, THEY GO INTO THE CONCEPT KNOWING IT'S A LONG-TERM THING.

THERE'S GONNA BE YEARS YOU'RE GONNA WIN, HOPEFULLY MORE YEARS YOU'LL WIN AND YOU'LL HAVE LOWER CLAIMS THAN, THAN WHAT THE, THE CARRIER EXPECTS.

THERE'LL BE CERTAINLY YEARS, MAYBE ONE IN EVERY THREE TO FOUR YEARS WHERE YOUR CLAIMS AREN'T GONNA BE GOOD AND YOU'RE GONNA PAY AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY, "BOY, I WISH I WAS FULLY INSURED THIS YEAR." BUT IN THE LONG TERM, YOU'RE HOPING THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA BEAT TRENDS AND YOU'RE GONNA BEAT THE OVERALL, UM, FULLY INSURED RATES THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD'VE BEEN HAD YOU, HAD YOU NOT BEEN SELF-FUNDED.

SO I WILL TAKE A BREATH THERE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS THERE MIGHT BE BEFORE I...

SO AT, AT OUR POPULATION LEVEL AND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, UH, WE'RE DEFINITELY ABOVE THE LINE WHERE SELF-FUNDING NORMALLY WORKS.

YEAH, YOU ARE.

I MEAN, I THINK WE, WE'VE GOT GROUPS THAT ARE SELF-FUNDED AT 150 EMPLOYEES AND I THINK TODAY YOU'RE PUSHING 300 OR SO ON THE PLAN.

SO IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY THE SIZE YOU COULD DO IT, YES.

UM, AND HAS THERE BEEN, OR WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE LIKE AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CLAIMS HISTORY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THEN SEE HOW THAT COMPARES TO THE NORM KIND OF NATIONWIDE OR AT LEAST REGIONALLY? WE WOULD...

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A, A KIND OF A FIRST STEP THAT WE WOULD SAY BEFORE YOU REALLY WENT DOWN THIS PATH OF SELF-FUNDING.

AGAIN, WE CAN KIND OF SAY, "WELL, HERE'S WHAT YOUR FULLY INSURED RATES WERE, WERE.

AND IF WE DO, IF WE LOOK BACKWARDS, IF WE COULD LOOK BACKWARDS, HERE'S WHAT YOUR ACTUAL CLAIMS WERE.

YOU WOULD'VE WON THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR YOU WOULD'VE LOST, THIS YEAR YOU PROBABLY WOULD'VE WON BASED ON THE ACTUAL LOOKING BACKWARDS KIND OF, UM, RETROSPECTIVE - OKAY.

REVIEW." AND LOOKING THROUGH THE PACKET, IT LOOKED LIKE SOME, SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES WERE POTENTIALLY CASHFLOW ADVANTAGES, ESPECIALLY IN, IN YEAR ONE, AS WELL AS, UH, NOT PAYING...

UH, THERE'S STILL AN ADMIN FEE, BUT YOU, YOU DON'T PAY THE RISK, UH, UH, SURCHARGE.

BUT YOU DO HAVE TO POTENTIALLY REINSURE FOR CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS. SO HOW MUCH DOES THAT EAT INTO THAT RISK SURCHARGE BENEFIT? YEAH.

SO EVEN IN TODAY'S WORLD, IN THE FULLY INSURED WORLD YOU'RE UNDER TODAY WITH THE LOCAL CHOICE, IF YOU LOOKED AT THEIR, THEIR KIND OF WORKUP PAGE, YOU DO PAY A KIND OF A STOP LOSS FEE, BECAUSE THE LOCAL CHOICE DOES PULL OUT LARGE CLAIMS AS WELL.

SO THEY DON'T...

EVEN IN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXPERIENCE RATED ON YOUR MEDICAL CLAIMS, YOU STILL COULD HAVE THAT LARGE CLAIM THAT COULD MAKE YOUR CLAIMS EXPERIENCE TOTALLY GO AWRY.

SO THEY DO CHARGE YOU ACTUALLY A, A FEE FOR REINSURANCE.

SO KIND OF THAT PIECE IS IN BOTH SELF-FUNDED AND, AND THE FULLY INSURED WORLD.

UM, THERE ARE CASH FLOW ADVANTAGES, AGAIN, IN THAT, IN THAT FIRST YEAR.

WHEN YOU GO...

FOR GROUPS THAT GO SELF-FUNDED, LET'S SAY YOU WENT SELF-FUNDED JULY ONE OF, OF NEXT YEAR, UM, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT IT TAKES ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF FOR CLAIMS TO START REALLY ROLLING IN.

CLAIMS THAT ARE INCURRED IN JULY TYPICALLY DON'T GET SUBMITTED TILL AUGUST, SEPTEMBER KIND OF TIMEFRAME.

SO YOU HAVE SOME LAG ON THE FRONT END OF, OF BEING UNDER A FULLY INSURED KIND OF PRODUCT.

YOU CAN BANK THAT MONEY, SET IT ASIDE, JUST KNOW IT'S GONNA BE THERE IF YOU EVER LEAVE FULLY INSURED OR SELF-FUNDED KIND OF STRUCTURE, UM, AND WANNA COME BACK TO IT.

HAVE BEEN THAT WAY FOR 25 PLUS YEARS.

AND THEN LAST QUESTION IS FR- FROM TIME TO TIME WE TALK ABOUT COMBINING THE COUNTY INSURANCE AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM INSURANCE AND, UH, LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT THAT, IT, IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE.

UM, BUT I'M WONDERING IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO LOOK AT AGAIN IN THIS CONTEXT OF SELF-FUNDED? IT'S, IT REALLY, AND PROBABLY I JUST, I THINK MAYBE I MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME, IT'S, IT'S STILL GONNA BE SOMEBODY'S PROBABLY GONNA WIN, SOMEBODY'S GONNA LOSE BECAUSE IN THE, YOU'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA LOOK THE CARRIER, WHETHER IT BE ANTHEM DIRECTOR, UNITED, OR CIGNA OR ANYONE ELSE THAT'S QUOTING YOUR SELF-FUNDED PRODUCT, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, "WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL'S CLAIMS? WHAT ARE THE COUNTY'S CLAIMS?" AND THEY'RE GONNA BRING THEM TO THE MIDDLE.

SO THE GROUP THAT'S HAVING BAD EXPERIENCE IS GONNA LOVE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA BE PULLED DOWN HERE.

THE GROUP THAT'S DOWN HERE IS GONNA SAY, "I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT MY PREMIUMS NOW GOING UP JUST SO I CAN SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, UM, THE OTHER PARTY." AND IT'S THE REASON IN MANY CASES THAT WE, WHEN WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNTIES AND SCHOOLS, AND THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE ALREADY TOGETHER, CLARK COUNTY, UM, DOWN THE VALLEY, I THINK PAIGE MIGHT BE, UM, MOST OF THEM THAT ARE THAT, UNDER THAT STRUCTURE

[01:35:01]

MOST OF THEM HAVE OVER THE YEARS SEPARATED, UM, AND HAVE TRIED TO TALK ABOUT COMING BACK OVER THE YEARS, BUT NEVER DO BECAUSE THEY GET TO THAT POINT WHERE YOU SAY SOMEBODY'S GONNA WIN, SOMEBODY'S GONNA LOSE.

AND IT'S THE SAME SCENARIO, FULLY INSURED OR SELF-FUNDED.

I WAS JUST WONDERING, LIKE, IF YOU, IF YOU DOUBLE OR TRIPLED YOUR POOL BY COMBINING WITH THE BENEFITS OF THAT IN SELF-FUNDING - UH-HUH.

UH, WITH KIND OF AVERAGING OUT THE RISK, WOULD THAT MITIGATE WHAT, WHATEVER LOSS THERE WOULD BE ON WHO'S DOING BETTER? YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A LEGITIMATE KIND OF, UM, WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

AND YOU DO ON THE ADMIN FEE AND THE, SOME OF THE STOP LOSS FEES.

SO YOU, YOU'RE...

THOSE ARE THE FIXED FEES YOU'RE, YOU'RE BUYING AND, AND WHEN YOU BUY IN BULK OR BUY IN NUMBERS, YOU DO GET SOME SAVINGS.

UM, IT DOES NOT OFFSET THE, THE OVERALL CLAIMS RISK THAT SOMEBODY'S PROBABLY GONNA PICK UP VERSUS WHAT THEY HAD BEFORE.

UM, AGAIN, THE ADMIN FEE, IF I WAS SHOWING YOU A, A, AN ANTHEM, UM, KIND OF WORKUP ON A SELF-FUNDED GROUP, THE ADMIN FEE ENDS UP ACTUALLY BEING A NEGATIVE NUMBER BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU A REBATE BACK FOR THE PHARMACY REBATES THEY'RE GONNA RECEIVE.

UM, A 300-PERSON GROUP VERSUS AN 800-PERSON GROUP, IF YOU ALL WERE TOGETHER WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, UM, MAYBE THAT PHARMACY REBATE WOULD BE ANOTHER THREE TO $4 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH.

UM, THE STOP LOSS FEES, PROBABLY MAYBE $10 SAVINGS PER MONTH BY GOING FROM 300 EMPLOYEES TO 800 EMPLOYEES.

STILL, KNOWING THAT YOUR CLAIMS PROBABLY, IF YOU LOOKED AT THEM ON A PER, PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH BASIS, AND I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, THEY'RE...

IT WOULD...

IT'S THE, THE TWO GROUPS ARE PROBABLY $100 OR MORE APART PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH.

SO YOU DO, YOU DEFINITELY DO, AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A CONCEPT YOU CAN LOOK AT.

YOU JUST GOTTA GO INTO IT KNOWING THAT BOTH PARTIES GOTTA LOOK AT THIS AS A LONG-TERM VENTURE POTENTIALLY, EVEN IF YOU'RE FULLY INSURED, A LONG-TERM VENTURE, BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S PROBABLY GONNA PAY MORE AND THAT, THAT PARTY'S GONNA BE THE ONE THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO...

OH, BACK DURING COVID, DID THE SELF-INSURED PEOPLE REALLY GET HIT HARD BECAUSE OF CLAIMS? DID IT MAKE A, REALLY COMPLICATE THINGS FOR THEM? B- BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EARLY IN COVID, IT WAS A WINDFALL FOR THE SELF-FUNDED GROUPS BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

UM, THERE WERE, THERE WERE SOME LARGE CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS, BUT ALL OF THE ROUTINE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD NORMALLY GO, THE KNEES, THE HIPS, THE, THE, THE ROUTINE THINGS, AND PROBABLY MAN - MUCH, MANY OF THOSE THINGS GOT PUT OFF, THE CANCERS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SIGNIFICANT DIP IN CLAIMS, UM, EARLY ON IN COVID.

THERE WAS THE COVID CLAIMS, WHICH CERTAINLY WERE CATASTROPHIC IN SOME CASES, BUT THEY DIDN'T WEIGH, OUTWEIGH THE, THE ACTUAL OVERALL, UH, ROUTINE MEDICAL CLAIMS THAT FOLKS WERE HAVING.

SO IT WAS THE OPPOSITE.

WOW.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

AND NOW THERE WAS A CATCH-UP .

AT COVID, WHEN COVID WAS OVER, THOSE, THOSE SA - SELF-FUNDED GROUPS AND EVEN THE FULLY INSURED GROUPS SAW THEIR CLAIMS EXPERIENCE.

I THINK ACTUALLY, UM, THE LOCAL CHOICE WHEN, WHEN AT THE, AT THE PEAK OF COVID, WHEN CLAIMS WERE SO FAR OFF, THEY, THEY GAVE GROUPS, UM, REBATES BECAUSE THE CLAIMS WERE SO LOW.

THEY WERE SO UNPREDICTABLY LOW.

WOW.

THEY DID CATCH UP AND TODAY WE'RE BEYOND THAT AND TALKING ABOUT 15 TO 20% A YEAR.

GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM - OKAY.

SO IF, IF BASICALLY YOU'RE SELF-INSURED, YOU CAN STOMACH THE VOLATILITY, THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR OWN RISK AND PAY LESS OVER- OVERALL, RIGHT? CORRECT.

THAT'S THE CHUNK OF THE CONCEPT.

OR WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE A DELTA? I MEAN, IF, IF YOU DID THAT? YOU MEAN HOW MUCH EXTRA RI - WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU TAKE THE RISK - YEAH.

YOU TAKE THE VOLATILITY, YOU GET, YOU, YOU BASICALLY PAY LESS.

SO - CORRECT.

PERCENTAGE-WISE IS THAT TYPICALLY? AND THAT'S...

WHEN WE, WHEN WE TRULY SPREADSHEET AS MUCH AS WE CAN A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, BECAUSE IT'S, AGAIN, AT THAT POINT, IT'S, IT'S YOUR CLAIMS AND WE TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FORECASTING AS TO WHAT WE THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN 12 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.

UM, I WOULD SAY MOST GROUPS, AND I WOULD NEVER TELL A GROUP, IF YOU THOUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOCAL CHOICE IS RATE ON THE MONEY AND THEY'VE PEGGED YOUR CLAIMS WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE, DON'T GO SELF-FUNDED AND TAKE THE RISK.

I MEAN, IF YOU TRUST THEIR NUMBERS, TRUST THEIR NUMBERS AND, AND, AND STAY IN THAT FULLY INSURED CONCEPT AND LET THEM BE THE RISK TAKER, NOT THE COUNTY.

UM, IF...

AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE KIND OF GO DOWN THE PATH OF CONSIDERING SELF-FUNDING IS IF YOU THINK THEY'RE OFF, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GIVING YOU A 20% INCREASE AND IT'S JUST NOT JUSTIFIED, YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN YOUR CLAIMS EXPERIENCE, YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE GOING FORWARD, UM, THAT'S THE TIME TO POTENTIALLY CONSIDER SELF-FUNDING.

AGAIN, WE'VE TAKEN MANY GROUPS FROM FULLY INSURED TO SELF-FUNDING.

MOST OF THEM DON'T GO BACK.

UM, SOME OF THOSE GROUPS, THE FIRST YEAR WAS THE WORST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE GROUPS, THEY HAD THREE OR FOUR GOOD YEARS IN A ROW AND IT WAS THE BEST THING THEY COULD HAVE EVER, YOU KNOW, DONE.

BUT IT'S...

I MEAN, INSURANCE IS ALL ABOUT PAYING FOR RISK, RIGHT? IT IS.

YEAH, OKAY.

SO, SO IF, IF THERE'S NOT A GENERALLY, A GENERAL GAP BETWEEN SELF-INSURING AND, AND, UM, AND, UM, WHAT DO YOU CALL THE OTHER ONE?

[01:40:01]

FULLY INSURED.

UH, THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME, SOME GAP THAT'S, THAT'S TYPICAL.

BUT NOW WE START TALKING ABOUT STOP LOSS.

DO YOU...

HOW DO YOU TAILOR THE STOP LOSS? I MEAN, THE, THE, THE MORE STOP, THE MORE CONSERVATIVE YOUR STOP LOSS IS, THE CLOSER YOU GET TO, TO - FULLY INSURED.

FULLY INSURED.

EXACTLY.

AND HOW, HOW DO YOU...

IS THAT, UH, IS THAT A PARAMETER THAT YOU WORK ON? IT IS.

WE, WE, WE, WE CAN...

YOU, YOU, YOU BASICALLY MODEL IT OR MONTE CARLO IT, OR THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT TERMS WHERE YOU LOOK AT YOUR PAST CLAIMS EXPERIENCE AND YOU, YOU, AS BEST YOU CAN.

AND AT 300 EMPLOYEES, IT'S HONESTLY MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT IS FOR A 2000 EMPLOYEE GROUP.

THAT'S MUCH MORE, YOU KNOW, STABLE AND PREDICTABLE AND YOU CAN HANDLE SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE LARGE CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS A LITTLE EASIER.

UM, BUT IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.

WE...

AND WE TRY TO SAY, OKAY, IS 150,000 STOP LOSS LIMITS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OR IT'S, THAT'S TAKING TOO MUCH RISK BASED ON THIS GROUP? AND I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS WHEN WE STARTED.

THE OTHER PART OF BEING FULLY INSURED, AND, AND THIS IS TRUE OF THE LOCAL CHOICE AND TRUE OF BEING OUTSIDE THE LOCAL CHOICE.

WHEN, WHEN A CARRIER PUTS A FULLY INSURED RATE ON THE TABLE, BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THE RISK, THEY'RE PUTTING A RATE AND THEY'RE PROBABLY...

ANY UNDERWRITER'S GONNA SAY, "WE GOTTA ADD SOME FLUFF IN HERE BECAUSE IF THIS GOES BAD, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR THIS CLAIM, THESE CLAIMS, BECAUSE THE GROUP'S PAYING US A FLAT AMOUNT EVERY MONTH.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE CLAIMS ARE." THAT, THAT DELTA, I GUESS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 10%.

SO WHAT - OKAY.

A FULLY INSURED CARRIER MIGHT BE ADDING TO THAT BILL IS 10% TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE UNKNOWN RISK THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

UM, IN THE FULLY...

IN THE SELF-FUNDED WORLD, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DELTA BECAUSE IN THE END, YOU COULD BE LIABLE FOR IT, BUT YOU HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

I THINK THE QUESTION - THAT'S IT.

SO ALL OF THIS IS, IS, IS ABOUT SAVING MONEY.

AND, AND SO IF YOU, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND SELF-INSURE, BUT THEN STOP LOSS YOURSELF, UH, REALLY CONSERVATIVELY, THEN YOU'RE BASICALLY NOT, PROBABLY APPROACHING NOT WORTH, NOT WORTH THE DELTA.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S...

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF, AS I MENTIONED WHEN I STARTED, AND THIS IS TRUE, JUST MAYBE THE LOCAL CHOICE IN GENERAL, WHETHER YOU STAY WITHIN THE LOCAL CHOICE, YOU ARE, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAVE FOUR PLANS TO CHOOSE FROM.

YOU REALLY CAN'T TWEAK AND SAY, "WE WANNA SAVE SOME MONEY BY RAISING OUR DEDUCTIBLES OR DOING THESE THINGS THAT THE LOCAL CHOICE DOESN'T LAST." THAT'S ANOTHER VENUE, ANOTHER AVENUE OF SAVINGS.

THAT'S, THAT'S INSIGHTFUL.

I THINK YOU'VE ANS- ANSWERED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT WITH THE RATE INCREASE, MOST OF IT'S BASED...

FULLY INSURED.

MOST OF IT'S BASED ON CLAIMS EXPERIENCE.

LIKE YOU SAID, THEY PUT 10% FLUFF IN THERE AND I WAS ALSO FIGURE OUT THE RISING COSTS AS WELL.

ALL THAT'S IN THERE.

MEDICAL INFLATION, CORRECT.

YEP.

AND I THINK WE DID LOOK SOME YEARS BACK AS FAR AS COMBINING THE SCHOOL AND THE, AND THE, UH, COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT WAS MAINLY FOR A FULLY INSURED PLAN.

AND IF I REMEMBER, I THINK THEY HAVE ROUGHLY 800 PEOPLE AND THEIR CLAIMS EXPERIENCE WAS WORSE THAN OURS.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A WINNER, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOSER.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT MAY WORK WITH, UH, SELF-INSURED.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT STOP LOSS TOO.

FOR THE GROUP, LET'S SAY IT'S 500,000.

IS THERE AN INDIVIDUAL STOP LOSS AS WELL? MM-HMM.

THERE, THERE'S TWO TYPES.

THE ONE I MENTIONED IS THE IN - WAS THE INDIVIDUAL OR SPECIFIC STOP LOSS WE CALL IT.

OH, OKAY.

THAT, AGAIN, FOR A GROUP YOUR SIZE, IT'D BE SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 150,000 TO 200,000 PER PERSON.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT AGAIN - RIGHT.

YOUR AVERAGE EMPLOYEE DOESN'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR THAT.

UM, AND THEN YOU ALSO GENERALLY PURCHASE, WE CALL IT AGGREGATE STOP LOSS COVERAGE, WHICH JUST PROTECTS YOU IF ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THOSE BIG CLAIMS AND BREAK, YOU KNOW, OR HIT 150,000.

UM, AND THAT JUST KINDA GIVES YOU A WORST CASE SCENARIO CLAIMS CAP.

SO YOU GET YOUR INDIVIDUAL AT 150,000 AND THEN A KIND OF WORST CASE SCENARIO, LET'S SAY IT'S $5 MILLION.

I DON'T...

I'M REALLY SHOOTING FROM THE HIP.

THAT WOULD BE YOUR WORST CASE CLAIM SCENARIO FOR THE WHOLE GROUP.

IF, IF THINGS WENT BAD AS A GROUP.

THOSE ARE THE TWO PIECES THAT YOU TYPICALLY PURCHASE.

I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID TOO, THERE, THERE, THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL SAVINGS, BUT WOULD WE, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD THE SELF-INSURED, WHAT THE COUNTY PAYS, THAT WOULD FLUCTUATE ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS BASED ON CLAIMS? MM-HMM.

SELF-INSURED STRUCTURE, NORMALLY YOU LITERALLY PAY CLAIMS EVERY WEEK.

YOUR, YOUR, UH, UACH CLAIMS TO ANTHEM OR THE ADMINISTRATOR, WHOEVER IT IS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

AND I THINK YOU ALREADY TA - TOUCHED, UH, TOUCHED ON THAT TOO, BUT I GUESS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK ON THE LAST TWO, THREE YEARS OR WHATEVER AND SEE HOW THAT WOULD EQUATE TO A SELF-INSURED PLAN.

AND OF COURSE, THAT'S NO PREDICTION FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT THAT WOULD GIVE US AN IDEA.

WE, WE CAN.

I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS.

THE, THE, THE ONLY DOWNSIDE...

WE CAN.

WE CAN LOOK AT MEDICAL CLAIMS. THE LOCAL CHOICE WILL NOT SHARE PHARMACY CLAIMS BECAUSE - OKAY.

THEY SAY THEY PULL THAT WITH EVERYONE ELSE'S, SO THEY WILL NOT...

THEY WON'T EVEN LET US LOOK AT IT.

SO, SO WE CAN'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY, YOU'VE BEEN WITH LOCAL CHOICE A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.

UM,

[01:45:01]

SO IT'S, IT'S...

WE CAN'T SEE THE PHARMACY CLAIMS, AND THAT IS A BLACK HOLE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REALLY PREDICT ON.

I KNOW THE OTHER THING THAT, UH, IN THE PAST WE TALKED ABOUT VALLEY HEALTH POSSIBLY PAYING SOME OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK MR. HENRY HAS LOOKED INTO THAT ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS MAYBE THEY COULD OFFER LIKE A FREE CLINIC.

I THINK THEY MAY HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT OVER IN WINCHESTER.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN ANY IMPACT OVER THERE.

I HAVEN'T.

THERE IS A FREE CLINIC.

I KNOW, UH, FREE MEDICAL CLINIC, THE SINCLAIR CLINIC.

IS THAT WHAT YOU' TALKING ABOUT? THAT FOLKS CAN GO TO FOR...

UM, IT, THE, THERE'S ALSO CLINICS THAT SOME EMPLOYERS HAVE ACTUALLY OPENED THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, HIRE - RIGHT.

A PA AND, AND HAVE THEIR OWN CLINIC TO MEET THEIR, THEIR EMPLOYEES.

HAVE YOU SEEN SAVINGS, SEEN SAVINGS ON THAT ASPECT? ONLY IN A SELF-FUNDED WORLD.

THEN, THEN YOU ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT...

THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL TYPICALLY SEE SAVINGS IS SELF-FUNDED.

'CAUSE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE, IF THE, THE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE THAT HAVE CLINICS, CITY OF WINCHESTER AND FREDERICK COUNTY SCHOOLS IN, IN WINCHESTER, UM, THEY'RE BOTH SELF-FUNDED.

UM, AND WHAT WE KNOW, AND THE WAY, THE WAY THEY CAN FUND THEIR CLINIC IS THEY KNOW, WELL, IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO THE IN-HOUSE CLINIC, THEY'RE PAYING THAT CLINIC A F - A FLAT FEE.

UM, THAT SAME PERSON WOULD'VE BEEN GOING TO A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR OR SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR CARE THAT THEY WOULD'VE BEEN PAYING THROUGH THEIR SELF-FUNDED PROGRAM.

UM, SO THEY KINDA LOOK AT IT AS AN OFFSET.

THEY'RE NOT GOING OVER HERE AND WE'RE PAYING FOR IT UNDER A SELF-FUNDED PLAN.

THEY'RE GOING OVER HERE AND WE HAVE IT COVERED UNDER OUR, UNDER THE, THE FLAT FEE WE'RE PAYING.

IN THE FULLY INSURED WORLD, YOU'RE PAYING THE ADMINISTRATOR A FLAT FEE EVERY MONTH.

DOESN'T...

THAT ADMINISTRATOR DOESN'T CARE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR OWN CLINIC NECESSARILY, THAT, THAT YOU GOT MONEY THAT, THAT WOULD BE GOING ANOTHER WAY.

SO IT'S KIND OF A...

IT...

THE, THE, THE MATH ON A CLINIC OR AN IN-HOUSE OR ONSITE CLINIC, AS THEY CALL THEM, UM, DOESN'T WORK AS WELL WHEN YOU'RE FULLY INSURED.

WHEN WE WERE AT THE, AT THAT MEETING, IT, IT WAS NOT COMPLETELY A, A FREE CLINIC BECAUSE THEY WERE SELF-INSURED.

THEY PUT THEIR CLINIC SERVICE OUT FOR BID.

AND THEN, UH, VALLEY HEALTH CAME IN WITH A DISCOUNTED OR VERY COMPETITIVE RATE IN LIEU OF A PILOT TO COMPETE AND THAT'S HOW THEY - OKAY.

SAVED A LITTLE MONEY THROUGH A SELF-INSURED THAT, IF I UNDERSTOOD - YEAH.

WAS IT FREDERICK COUNTY SCHOOLS? I, I DID - YEAH.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE MY CLIENT.

IT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

UM, THEY HAD A, THEY HAD A DIFFERENT CLINIC COMPANY FOR THREE YEARS.

THEY PUT IT OUT TO BID.

VALLEY HEALTH WON THE BID AND, UM, HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER, I THINK, FOR, FOR S - THE SCHOOLS FOR, FOR THEM SINCE THEN.

AND I HAD ANOTHER ITEM, UH, AND I KEPT FORGETTING IT, BUT HE REMINDED ME, YOU REMINDED ME.

DO YOU, WITH THE COUNTY'S PLAN, SAY WE STICK WITH THE FULLY INSURED, DO YOU PUT IT OUT TO OTHER...

DO YOU...

H- HOW OFTEN DO YOU BID THAT OUT? MM-HMM.

OR I GUESS WITH BEING IN THE BUSINESS, YOU SEE HOW THINGS CHANGE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT UNITED HEALTHCARE.

RIGHT .

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I THINK, WHEN VALLEY HEALTH AND ANTHEM WERE STRUGGLING TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

WE WENT...

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS UNITED HEALTHCARE THEN OR AETNA OR CIGNA, BUT WE WENT WHO? YEAH, UNITED.

UNITED.

UNITED WAS HAVING A BATTLE.

THEY GOT IT SOLVED.

END OF DECEMBER, SEPTEMBER, BUT YEAH.

BUT DO YOU LOOK AT - UH-HUH.

I MEAN, HOW OFTEN DO YOU PUT IT OUT TO BID OR SEE WHAT'S GOING ON? IT'S FROM ONE MUNICIPALITY TO ANOTHER, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

UM, THE...

AGAIN, WHEN WE DO, AND, AND LOCAL CHOICE GROUPS, IT'S A...

THERE'S A DYNAMIC THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DO - RIGHT.

BECAUSE WE DON'T GET PHARMACY CLAIMS. RIGHT.

SO WE, WE DO IT AND WE'LL GO TO THE UNITEDS AND THE CIGNAS AND THE AETNAS, THE...

AND EVEN ANTHEM DIRECT - UH-HUH.

AND SAY, "WE'D LIKE A QUOTE, YOU KNOW, FULLY INSURED OR SELF-FUNDED, FOR EXAMPLE." UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANTHEM - RIGHT.

THEY'LL ALL SAY, "WHAT IS THE PHARMACY CLAIMS?" AND WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

WE CAN'T GET IT BECAUSE IT'S A LOCAL CHOICE AND IT'S...

IT MAKES THEM BE MORE CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED TO, SCARED TO DEATH THEY'RE GONNA PICK UP SOME MILLION DOLLAR PHARMACY BILL.

SO THIS WOULD BE...

IF WE WENT SELF-INSURED, IT WOULD STILL BE...

IT, IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE THROUGH LOCAL HEALTH, IT WOULD BE THROUGH, UH, LOCAL CHOICE, IT WOULD BE THROUGH ANTHEM? CORRECT.

YEAH, YOU COULDN'T BE SELF-FUNDED THROUGH THE LOCAL CHOICE.

IT WOULD BE ANTHEM DIRECT - RIGHT.

UM, OR THE OTHER VENDORS THAT ARE - RIGHT.

THAT ARE OUT THERE.

ANTHEM, WHEN WE DO A REAL ANALYSIS ON A SELF-FUNDED KIND OF GROUP, UM, WHEN YOU'RE SELF-FUNDED, WHEN 85% OF THE PIE IS CLAIMS, THE OTHER ADMIN FEE AND STOP LOSS FEES ARE THE OTHER 15%, WE FOCUS A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE CLAIMS AND WHAT WE KNOW IS - RIGHT.

ANTHEM'S GOT THE DEEPEST DISCOUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THEY PAY THE HOSPITAL AND WHAT THEY PAY THE DOCTORS.

ONE OF THEM HELPS YOU WITH WEIGHT LOSS, ONE OF THEM HELPS YOU WITH, UH, GLUCOSE.

AND WHEN IT'S 85% OF YOUR BILL, YOU WANT...

YOU TYPICALLY WANNA BE WITH A CARRIER THAT'S GOT THE BASICALLY DEEPEST WHOLESALE PRICES FOR WHAT THEY'RE REIMBURSING THE DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS WITH.

'CAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD ANY COMPLAINTS WITH ANTHEM AND CLAIMS OR WHATEVER, BUT THE OTHER THING TOO, I GUESS WITH LOCAL CHOICE, I'M NOT SURE MANY PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, BUT IT'S OUT THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD COME UNDER AS FAR AS SELF-INSURED, AND THAT'S...

THEY GOT EAP PROGRAM, THEY GOT THE CATAPULT, THEY GOT VITRA, AND THEY...

[01:50:01]

THEY ALSO HAVE SOME TYPE OF ONLINE PT THING AND THE WHOLE THING.

WHAT WOULD, WOULD THOSE PROGRAMS COME OVER WITH THAT, OR? UH, YOU CAN, YOU CAN BRING THEM OVER.

WHEN WE'VE TAKEN GROUPS FROM THE LOCAL CHOICE TO ANTHEM DIRECT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH MIRROR.

WE DON'T...

WE ACTUALLY DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME GETTING MIRED IN THE BENEFITS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN PRETTY MUCH BRING THE BENEFITS AND MIRROR - OKAY.

WHAT THE LOCAL CHOICE OFFERS.

IT'S, IT'S MORE JUST, YOU KNOW, IS THE, IS THE ADMINISTRATOR THE RIGHT ADMINISTRATOR? YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PART OF LOCAL CHOICE IS YOU GOT THE DENTAL THAT'S BUNDLED IN IT.

UM, IT'S NOT ANTHEM, IT'S DELTA DENTAL, BUT IT'S, IT'S STILL PART OF THAT PACKAGE THAT THE, THE WAY LOCAL CHOICE SELLS IT, SO.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FACETIOUS, BUT I GUESS THE EASY ANSWER IS WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY CLAIMS. WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE PHARMACY CLAIMS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

WE CAN SEE MEDICAL CLAIMS, UM, EVERY MONTH.

NO, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE CLAIMS - OH, YEAH.

SORRY.

THEN WE SAVE MONEY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT ANYWAY, AGAIN, BEING FACETIOUS.THAT'S RIGHT.

SO I'VE NOT PUT ANYONE TO SLEEP YET.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AGAIN, WE, WE, WE'VE ENJOYED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE HERE TO HELP OUT WITH CLAIM PROBLEMS AND RENEWAL ISSUES, AND, UM, IT'LL BE FEBRUARY BEFORE WE KNOW IT, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN WE SEE THE LOCAL CHOICE RENEWAL FOR YOUR JULY 1ST EFFECTIVE DATE.

SO...

WHEN...

IN ANTICIPATION OF THAT, ARE YOU GONNA TRY TO HAVE SOMETHING PRESENTED TO US AS FAR AS BASED, LIKE WE SAID, ON THE, THE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE AND SAY, "LOOK, IF YOU HAD DONE THIS THREE YEARS AGO, THIS IS WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED." WE CAN.

SURE.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY, I MEAN, THE, THE INFORMATION GIVEN US IS VERY GOOD.

BUT AGAIN, TO LOOK AT THE HARD NUMBERS AND SEE WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHICH IS NO, UH, DEF- DEFINITE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL GO IN THE FUTURE, BUT AT LEAST WOULD GIVE US AN IDEA THAT MAYBE IT WOULD'VE BEEN BENEFICIAL, MAYBE NOT.

WE CAN DO THAT.

SO THE FOUR, FOUR TESTS, FOUR QUESTIONS ANY TOOL SHOULD ANSWER, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS USEFUL FOR THIS.

WE'LL, WE'LL...

AND WE'LL JUST MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ON THE PHARMACY STUFF - YES.

BECAUSE THAT'LL BE THE PART WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW.

UM, MR. STANMEYER ASKED IF THE SHERIFF WOULD MIND GOING NEXT BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO LEAVE EARLY.

DO YOU MIND GOING NEXT, SHERIFF KLEIN? SORRY.

I USUALLY SAY GOOD EVENING, SO GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCE.

I AM GONNA STAY ON TRACK WITH MY SPEECH A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I TEND TO RAMBLE, AND THEN WE WILL BE HERE FOR TWO HOURS.

SO WE...

YOU DON'T WANT THAT, I DON'T WANT THAT.

NO ONE WANTS THAT.

SO I AM GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT FROM MY PREPARED WORDS SO I, I DON'T DO THAT.

UM, MY PURPOSE THIS AFTERNOON IS TO EXPLAIN HOW THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS...

USE, USES FLOCK LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS, WHAT THE SYSTEM IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT, WHAT IT RECORDS, HOW IT HAS HELPED OUR WORK, THE VIRGINIA LAW THAT GOVERNS EVERY PART OF HOW WE USE IT AND HOW WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL BRIEFING.

I'M ASKING YOU AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM WELL ENOUGH TO JUDGE IT BASED ON FACTS.

I DO SUPPORT THIS TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE IT HAS HELPED OUR DEPUTIES DEVELOP LEADS AND LOCATE PEOPLE WANTED FOR CRIMES.

I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT A SYSTEM THAT PHOTOGRAPHS VEHICLES ON PUBLIC ROADS RAISES LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT PRIVACY.

I GET THAT.

PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY HAVE RAISED THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEY DESERVE DIRECT ANSWERS RATHER THAN REASSURANCE.

ONE THEME RUNS THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT I WILL SAY TODAY.

THIS IS A TOOL, A TOOL ONLY.

IT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR OUR DEPUTIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, OR GOOD DETECTIVE WORK, AND IT NEVER MAKES A DECISION.

TRAINED DEPUTIES REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY INVESTIGATION AND EVERY ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

[01:55:01]

UM, FIRST, IS IT USEFUL? DOES IT ACTUALLY HELP US SOLVE CASES, UM, FIND ENDANGERED PEOPLE AND ARREST FUGITIVES? SECOND, IS IT LAWFUL? DOES IT OPERATE WITHIN VIRGINIA LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION? THE CONSTITUTION GIVES US PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE, KEYWORD BEING UNREASONABLE.

THIRD, IS IT PROPORTIONATE? IS THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN REACH IT JUSTIFIED BY THE NEED TO HAVE IT? AND FOURTH, IS IT ACCOUNTABLE? CAN WE SHOW WHO SEARCHED WHEN AND WHY? AND ARE THERE ENOUGH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE? THE REST OF THIS PRESENTATION IS ORGANIZED AROUND THOSE FOUR ITEMS RIGHT THERE.

SO WHAT IS ALPR? IT'S, UM, IT STANDS FOR AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION.

A CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHS A PASSING VEHICLE.

IT'S AN IMAGE.

IT'S AN IMAGE IN A POINT OF TIME.

THE SOFTWARE READS THE PLATE AND RECORDS THE DATE AND TIME AND CAMERA LOCATION.

THAT LETS AN INVESTIGATOR OR DEPUTY FIND ONE PARTICULAR OBSERVATION WITHOUT WATCHING HOURS OF RO- ROADWAY VIDEO.

FLOCK SAFETY IS THE COMPANY THAT SUPPLIES OUR CA - OUR CAMERAS, AND YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LATER THAT THERE ARE OTHER LICENSE PLATE READER C- COMPANIES.

FLOCK DOES SELL OTHER PRODUCTS, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE OTHER PRODUCTS BECAUSE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT UTILIZE THOSE OTHER PRODUCTS.

SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY USE, WHICH IS FLOCK LICENSE PLATE READERS.

THAT'S IT.

SO HOW IT WORKS IN FOUR STEPS.

HERE WE ARE.

THINK OF IT IN FOUR STEPS.

ONE, THERE'S A CAMERA ON A PUBLIC ROAD CAPTURES A STILL IMAGE OF A PASSING VEHICLE.

THE SECOND THING THAT HAPPENS IS A SO - THE SOFTWARE READS THE PLATE AND IT RECORDS THE PLATE TEXT, THE ISSUING STATE, THE DATE, THE TIME, THE CAMERA LOCATION, AND VISIBLE VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS, SUCH AS THE MAKE, THE MODEL, THE COLOR, ANY DAMAGE ON IT.

IT WILL ALSO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE WHETHER THERE'S A RACK ON THE VEHICLE OR BUMPER STICKERS OR STICKERS ON THE WINDOWS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

AND FOURTH...

WELL, THREE, THE SYSTEM COMPARES THAT PLATE AGAINST AUTHORIZED HOT LISTS, WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN IN A LITTLE BIT.

AND FOUR, IF, UM, THERE IS A MATCH, A DEPUTY IS ALERTED, AND THAT DEPUTY VERIFIES THE INFORMATION BEFORE DOING A- ANYTHING AT ALL.

UM, WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS WE HAVE TO VERIFY WHETHER IT IS...

THE PLATE IS ENTERED CORRECTLY.

UH, IF IT IS PLACED ON ANOTHER VEHICLE, IF, UM, I- IT'S THE SAME VEHICLE.

EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THE JOB THAT WE'RE PAID TO DO.

THE IMAGE ON THIS SLIDE IS, IS AN ILLUSTRATIVE FLOCK IMAGE.

UH, IT IS FROM NORFOLK.

IT IS NOT A WARREN COUNTY CASE.

YOU CAN SEE A VEHICLE, A PLATE, AND WHERE AND WHEN THE CAMERA CAPTURED IT.

NOTICE WHAT ISN'T THERE.

THE LOCATION BELONGS TO THAT CAMERA AT THAT MOMENT.

IT DOES NOT SAY WHERE THE VEHICLE WENT NEXT, AND THE PHOTOGRAPH DOES NOT SAY WHO WAS DRIVING, UM, WHO THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED TO.

IT HAS NONE OF THAT INFORMATION.

THOSE ARE QUESTIONS IN- INVESTIGATORS HAVE TO ANSWER WITH OTHER EVIDENCE.

QUICK QUESTION ON THAT EXAMPLE.

DO- DO THE CAMERAS ALWAYS GET THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE? REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

SO THEY WOULDN'T GET THE...

THEY WOULDN'T TAKE A PICTURE OF AN ONCOMING CAR ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH THE - NO.

WINDSHIELD AND THE DRIVER IN THE - IN THE PICTURE? SO THEY ARE PLACED EASTBOUND, WESTBOUND.

SO EVEN ONE FLOCK CAMERA AT AN INTERSECTION CAN'T FACE BOTH WAYS.

AND IT ALWAYS TAKES A PICTURE OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

ALSO, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING DOWN THE ROADWAY OR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT DOES NOT TAKE PIC - TAKE PICTURES OF PEOPLE.

ONLY THE BACKS - BACK END OF A VEHICLE.

FLOCK USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

SO AI.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THE AI HERE IS IMAGE ANALYSIS.

IT LOOKS AT THE IMAGE AND IT ANALYZES IT FOR PERTINENT INFORMATION THAT IT'S LOOKING FOR.

IT FINDS THE PLATE IN THE PICTURE AND READS THE CHARACTERS.

IT RECOGNIZES VEHICLE TRAITS LIKE THE MAKE, MODEL, COLOR OF THE VEHICLE, EVERYTHING THAT I- I JUST SAID BEFORE.

IT CALLS THAT A VEHICLE FINGERPRINT.

SO IT'S THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE, WHETHER IT HAS DAMAGE AND ANYTHING ON A STICKERS, AND SOMETHING ABOUT THESE STICKERS AND BUMPER STICKERS OR ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE WINDOWS,

[02:00:01]

AI DOES NOT READ THOSE.

WHERE IT CAN, IT LOOKS AT THE CHARACTERS ON A LICENSE PLATE AND CAN TELL WHAT STATE IT'S FROM AND WHAT THOSE CHARACTERS ARE, WE CAN'T PUT IN A DATABASE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, SALT LIFE IS GOOD.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT IS WRITTEN ON THERE, WE CAN'T PUT WORDS ON WHAT IT IS.

ALL WE HAVE TO SEARCH BY IS BUMPER STICKER.

UM, SO IT'S A DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE, NOT A PERSON.

THE SYSTEM DOES NOT PERFORM FACIAL RECOGNITION, DOES NOT DETERMINE GUILT, AND DOES NOT DECIDE WHETHER ANYONE IS STOPPED OR ARRESTED.

SO THESE ARE THE ITEMS OF WHAT THIS SYSTEM IS NOT.

SO IT IS NOT FACIAL RECOGNITION, IT IS NOT A GPS TRACKER ON A PERSON OR A CAR.

IT IS NOT FINDING OF GUILT AND AN ALERT IS NOT BY ITSELF A LEGAL BASIS TO STOP ANYONE.

IT IS NOT A LICENSE FOR CURIOSITY SEARCHES, POLITICAL MONITORING OR PERSONAL USE, AND IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A WARRANT WHEN ONE IS REQUIRED OR GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY TO ACT BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE CONSTITUTION.

IT IS ONE IMAGE TAKEN IN A POINT IN TIME AND IT HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER YOU WENT STRAIGHT, YOU TURN LEFT, YOU TURN RIGHT AFTER THAT IMAGE IS TAKEN.

IT HAS NO IDEA.

SO WHEN AN IMAGE IS TAKEN AND THERE IS AN ALERT FOR THIS HOT LIST, DEPUTIES OR USUALLY IT'S OUR COMMUNICATION CENTER WILL GET AN ALERT THAT THERE IS A WANTED PERSON, A STOLEN TAG, A STOLEN VEHICLE, WHATEVER IT IS THAT ALERT IS.

AT THAT POINT, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR DEPUTIES ARE AT THAT POINT, BUT DEPUTIES, OFFICERS FROM FRONT ROYAL, THEY WILL TRAVEL TOWARDS THAT LOCATION AND ATTEMPT TO OBSERVE THAT VEHICLE SOMEWHERE ON THE ROADWAY.

AFTER IT GOES THROUGH THAT CAMERA, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE IT IS, BUT WE JUST HAVE AN AREA OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH WE WANT TO LOOK.

SO THIS IS NOT THE ONE I'M NOT ON.

IT DOESN'T KNOW YOUR NAME? THE ONE BEFORE.

THAT ONE.

YEAH, OKAY.

THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS.

SO FLOCK DOES NOT KNOW YOUR NAME.

IT DOESN'T KNOW YOUR ADDRESS OR WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE.

IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO DMV RECORDS.

IT RECORDS A VEHICLE AND A PLATE, THAT'S IT.

IF A DEPUTY NEEDS TO KNOW WHO A VE- VEHICLE IS REGISTERED, THEY DO A SUBSEQUENT SEARCH IN ONE OF THE STATE OR NATIONAL DATABASES THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO.

BUT THAT INFORMATION IS ALSO LOGGED.

EVERYTHING HAS AN AUDIT TRAIL.

THE DISTINCTION IS GROUNDED IN LAW.

SO IN 2020, THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA REVIEWED FAIRFAX COUNTY'S LICENSE PLATE READER DATABASE IN NEAL VERSUS FAIRFAX COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE COURT HELD THAT THE SYSTEM AS CONFIGURED DID NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM UNDER VIRGINIA'S GOVERNMENT DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION PRACTICES ACT.

THE DATABASE RECORDED VEHICLE OBSERVATIONS BUT DID NOT ITSELF CONTAIN THE OWNER'S NAME OR OTHER IDENTIFYING PARTICULARS.

TO IDENTIFY THE REGISTERED OWNER, AN OFFICER HAD TO SEPARATELY ACCESS ANOTHER AGENCY'S DATABASE.

RECORDING A VEHICLE'S PLATE AND LOCATION IS DIFFERENT FROM AUTOMATICALLY IDENTIFYING THE PERSON DRIVING IT.

THE COURT UPHELD FAIRFAX'S COLLECTION AND STORAGE PRACTICES UNDER THAT PARTICULAR STATUTE.

THE PRACTICAL POINT IS THAT THE CAMERA PROVIDES A VEHICLE OBSERVATION CONNECTING THAT OBSERVATION TO A PERSON REQUIRES ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE WORK AND APPROPRIATE LEGAL AUTHORITY.

SO AS I SAID BEFORE, FLOCK IS NOT THE ONLY LICENSE PLATE READER.

MOTOROLA, AXON, GENETEC, ALL OF THESE HERE, UM, SELL LICENSE PLATE READERS.

I PUT THEM IN COLUMNS SO YOU CAN SEE THE COMPANIES UNDER LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TOLLING AND TRAFFIC AND PARKING RETAIL AND REPO.

ALL OF THESE AREAS HAVE LICENSE PLATE READERS.

THE TOLL ROADS, EZPASS, PARKING GARAGES, THE REPOSSESSION INDUSTRY RUN PLATE READERS TOO.

YOUR PLATE IS READ SOMEWHERE MOST DAYS.

AND THE TOLL AND SPEED CAMERA SYSTEMS YOU DRIVE PAST MATCH YOUR PLATE TO DMV RECORDS SO A VENDOR CAN MAIL YOU A BILL THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.

FLOCK DOES NOT SEND ANYONE A BILL AND DOES NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE, DOES NOT KNOW YOUR NAME AND DOES NOT KNOW YOUR ADDRESS AND IS NOT TRACKING YOU.

THE DIFFERENCE IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALPR IN VIRGINIA IS THE PLATE READER WITH A STATE LAW BEHIND IT.

IT LIMITS WHY IT CAN BE SEARCHED, DELETES THE DATA IN 21 DAYS, REQUIRES AUDITS AND MAKES MISUSE A CRIME.

REMOVING OUR CAMERAS WOULD NOT REMOVE PLATE READERS FROM EROTES.

[02:05:01]

IT WOULD REMOVE THE REGULATED ONES.

I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UH, ON THE PRIOR SLIDE, WE DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE CAMERAS OR TECHNOLOGY FROM ANY OF THOSE OTHER COMPANIES, DO WE? NO, JUST FLOCK.

AND SO I PUT A BOLD LINE AROUND THAT - OKAY.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE USE.

UTILIZE.

AND THEN, UH, REGARDING THE 21 DAYS, I BELIEVE THE TOWN IN THEIR PRESENTATION A WEEK AGO SAID THEY DO SEVEN DAYS.

AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY REASON - SO THE REASON FOR THAT IS, I BELIEVE IT WAS BACK IN JULY OR AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, FLOCK ACTUALLY PUT THEIR, UM, LIKE WHEN YOU SET UP SOMETHING, THEIR, UM, STANDARD DELETION IS SEVEN DAYS.

AND THEN YOU CAN CHANGE IT TO WHAT VIRGINIA LAW IS OR PENNSYLVANIA LAW IS OR MARYLAND LAWS IS OR WHATEVER.

VIRGINIA LAW IS 21 DAYS.

I KEPT OURS AT 21 DAYS.

THAT GIVES ENOUGH TIME SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME, UM, YOU DON'T CHECK YOUR RING CAMERA OR, UM, KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS STOLEN OR YOU REPORT LATE.

WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO INVESTIGATE THAT CRIME AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.

UM, NOT ALL CRIMES ARE, ARE REPORTED RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.

BUT NUMBER TWO, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO GET THE COURAGE IN ORDER TO REPORT THAT A CRIME HAS HAPPENED TO THEM.

SO I FEEL THAT 21 DAYS, I, I FEEL THAT'S SHORT.

IT USED TO BE 30 DAYS.

I, I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH 30 DAYS.

VIRGINIA LAW SAYS 21 DAYS AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

SO, BECAUSE THAT'S THE GOAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, WE HAVE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND EN- ENDANGERED PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, UM, ALMOST DAILY.

AND SOMETIMES, UM, FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE MISSING RIGHT AWAY.

UM, I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT REPORTED MISSING MAYBE ON THE 14TH DAY AND A RESOURCE, A TOOL TO HELP FIND THEM, UM, CAN'T BE UTILIZED.

SO - SURE.

MY TAKE ON IT.

SO THERE'S TWO WAYS WE USE THIS INFORMATION.

LET ME GET A DRINK.

DONUTS, BUT MAYBE I WENT TO DUNKIN DONUTS SIX TIMES LAST WEEK, AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW.

DEPUTY USES INFORMATION IN TWO WAYS, THE FLOCK CAMERAS.

NUMBER ONE, THERE'S ALERTS.

NUMBER TWO, THERE ARE SEARCHES.

IN ALERTS, WHAT HAPPENS IS WANTED PEOPLE, FUGITIVES, UM, FROM JUSTICE, STOLEN TAGS, STOLEN VEHICLES, UM, AMBER ALERTS, MISSING ENDANGERED PEOPLE.

THEY'RE IN NCIC.

AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT IF A VEHICLE GOES THROUGH OF A REGISTERED PERSON UNDER ONE OF THESE CHARGES OR ENDANGERED PEOPLE, ONE OF THESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CODES, THEN IT WILL ALERT OUR DISPATCH THAT, HEY, THIS VEHICLE JUST PASSED THROUGH THIS INTERSECTION AT THIS TIME.

WE VERIFY AND DO EVERYTHING THERE.

THE SEARCH IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

SO IF WE HAVE A, UM, A CASE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, WE DON'T HAVE WARRANTS YET, WE DON'T HAVE CHARGES OR ANYTHING, WE ARE, ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.

CASE IN POINT, I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT IT LATER, IS WE HAD A SEXUAL BATTERY AT THE CROOKED RUN SHOPPING PLAZA, AND THE PERSON DIDN'T KNOW WHO IT WAS BASED ON THE SHOPPING PLAZA'S CAMERAS.

IT WA - IT, THE SUSPECT LEFT IN AN RV.

NO TAG COULD BE RETRIEVED FROM THAT CAMERA SYSTEM.

SO A SEARCH IS WE CAN GO INTO THE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO HAVE, UM, A, A CASE NUMBER.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A REASON WHY.

IT'S LOGGED UNDER OUR NAME, UM, WHOEVER IS SEARCHING FOR IT, AND WE CAN PUT IN THERE RV.

AND IF WE KNOW A COLOR, WE CAN PUT A COLOR.

IF IT HAS A, A BACK RACK, WE CAN PUT THAT IN AND THEN RETRIEVE THAT.

AND WE RETRIEVED ONE DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, THERE WAS AN RV AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE TAG NUMBER TO THEN FURTHER INVESTIGATE AND FIND THAT RV AND INTERVIEW THEM AND OBTAIN CHARGES.

SO THAT'S A SEARCH.

SO TWO DIFFERENT, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THESE FLOCK CAMERAS DO.

WE CAN SEARCH THE DATABASE FOR CASES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.

UM, SAY THAT WE GOT A PARTIAL TAG FROM THAT RV, BUT NOT A, A FULL TAG.

AND WE CAN'T RUN THAT IN, UM, IN OUR DISPATCH CENTER, YOU KNOW, IT'LL COME BACK MILLIONS OF HITS.

UM, BUT WE CAN PUT IN A PARTIAL TAG RV AND SEE WHAT, WHAT COMES BACK TO FURTHER OUR INVESTIGATION.

SO, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S RULES IN, IN ALL OF THIS.

SO, UM, THE SEARCH, IT DOES CARRY THE BRUNT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY, UM, WORRIES PEOPLE IS IF I'M GOING THROUGH...

I, I'LL JUST PICK LEACH RUN.

IF I GO THROUGH LEACH RUN, IT IS, EVERYBODY'S GONNA KNOW THAT I WENT THROUGH THERE EVERY DAY, OR THERE'S NOT ONE BY DUNKIN

[02:10:01]

UM, A SEARCH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, A, A CRIMINAL CASE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO PUT IT IN THERE.

YOU CANNOT JUST SEARCH FOR YOUR OWN TAG.

THAT'S AGAINST THE, THE RULES.

I CAN'T GO IN THERE AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES I, I, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH A CERTAIN INTERSECTION.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, A REASON, A TRUE LAW ENFORCEMENT REASON IN ORDER TO SEARCH ANY TAG.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REASONABLE, YOU KNOW, SUSPICION TO, TO SEARCH ANYTHING, THEN NO ONE'S GONNA KNOW WHETHER YOU WENT THROUGH...

THERE IS NO RECORD OF, OF YOU DRIVING THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION.

NO ONE IS GONNA KNOW THAT I WENT THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION A HUNDRED TIMES.

THERE IS NO LIST THAT GIVES US, AND I CAN SEE THE SAME TAG GOING, GOING THROUGH THERE.

THERE HAS TO BE A LEGITIMATE REASON IN ORDER TO USE THAT.

IT HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED.

SO, SO DOES EVERY SEARCH GET, DOES, DOES EVERY SEARCH GET TAGGED WITH A, A CASE NUMBER AND A REASON CODE? YES.

AND, UH, EVERY ONE, PERIOD, ALL OF THEM? EVERY SEARCH, YES.

THOSE ARE THE REQUIRED FIELDS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANY TIME YOU SEARCH THIS DATABASE.

AND, AND WE'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THE AUDITS AND WHAT THAT MEANS ON THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS WHEN WE GET THERE IN THE PRESENTATION.

SO, WHAT IS A HOT LIST? A HOT LIST IS A LIST OF PLATES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO AN EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT NEED.

MOST OF IT COMES FROM THE STATE NATIONAL CRIME DATABASES, VCEN AND NCIC.

YOU GOT STOLEN VEHICLES, YOU GOT STOLEN PLATES, PEOPLE WITH OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, MISSING ENDANGERED PERSONS, AMBER ALERTS.

UM, DEPUTIES CAN ALSO ENTER A PLATE, JUST AS I, I MENTIONED THERE.

WHAT IS NOT A HOT LIST IS A LIST OF RESIDENTS, A LIST OF RESIDENTS AND WHAT THEIR TAGS ARE.

IT IS NOT A WATCH LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SUSPECTED OF ANYTHING.

IT IS NEVER USED FOR POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, OR OTHER PROTECTIVE ACTIVITY, AND NEVER FOR PERSONAL CURIOSITY.

A LOCALLY ENTERED PLATE STILL NEEDS A PERMITTED PURPOSE AND AN OLD OR INCORRECT ENTRY CAN PRODUCE A MISLEADING ALERT, WHICH IS ONE OR MORE REASONS WHY VERIFICATION MATTERS.

YOU CANNOT...

WE CANNOT JUST PERFORM A TRAFFIC STOP JUST BASED ON, "OH, WE HAD THIS ALERT AND THAT'S THE TAG NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN." SO A HIT IS A LEAD AND NOT A STOP.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SYSTEM ALERTS.

FIRST, WE CONFIRM THE UNDERLYING RECORD IF IT'S STILL ACTIVE AND VALID THROUGH VCIN AND NCIC, OUR OWN RECORDS, OR THE ORIGINATING AGENCY WHO PUT THE LEAD OUT THERE.

IF IT IS A VA - IF IT IS VALID AND A DEPUTY IS AVAILABLE, WE TRY TO LOCATE THE VEHICLE.

IF WE FIND IT, THE DEPUTY CONFIRMS THE PLATE AND THE VEHICLE AGAIN BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION.

VIRGINIA LAW EXPLIC - IS EXPLICIT ON THIS POINT.

SECTION 2.2 - 5517, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKETS, I GAVE, GAVE THAT TO YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT NOW, OF COURSE, SAYS THAT A NOTIFICATION FROM THE SYSTEM DOES NOT BY ITSELF CONSTITUTE REASONABLE SUSPICION AS GROUNDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STOP A VEHICLE.

BEFORE A STOP, THE OFFICER MUST DEVELOP INDEPENDENT REASONABLE SUSPICION OR CONFIRM THAT THE PLATE OR VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS MATCH THE DATABASE RECORD THAT GENERATED THE ALERT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO REASONABLE SUSPICION IS THE LEGAL STANDARD FOR A TRAFFIC STOP.

IT MEANS SPECIFIC, ARTICULABLE FACTS THAT WOULD LEAD A REASONABLE OFFICER TO BELIEVE A CRIME IS OCCURRING OR HAS OCCURRED.

A SCREEN NOTIFICATION IS NOT THAT.

PLATES GET MISREAD, STOLEN, SWAPPED OR PUT ON SIMILAR VEHICLES, AS I SAID BEFORE.

A WARRANT TIED TO A REGISTERED OWNER DOES NOT PROVE THAT THE OWNER IS DRIVING.

LOCATING A VEHICLE, CONFIRMING A RECORD, STOPPING IT, AND ARRESTING SOMEONE ARE FOUR SEPARATE DECISIONS AND EACH NEEDS ITS OWN BASIS, WHICH IS PERFORMED BY OUR DEPUTIES, NOT THE FLOC SYSTEM.

SO WHAT A SEARCH REQUIRES BEFORE IT'LL RUN.

FOR A SEARCH, OUR POLICY PERMITS TWO THINGS, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS WHERE THERE'S REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT A CRIME OCCURRED AND ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING MISSING OR ENDANGERED PEOPLE OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

BEFORE THE SYSTEM WILL RUN A SEARCH, THE USER MUST ENTER THE REASON, THE OFFENSE TYPE, AND THE CASE OR CALL FOR SERVICE NUMBER.

THAT RECORD LETS A SUPERVISOR CONNECT EVERY SEARCH TO AN INVESTIGATION AND JUDGE WHETHER IT WAS APPROPRIATE.

A CASE NUMBER, NUMBER IS NOT A PERMISSION SLIP.

THE RECORD HAS TO REFLECT A LEGITIMATE PURPOSE AND CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS CONTINUE TO APPLY ON TOP OF OUR POLICY, INCLUDING A WARRANT WHEN ONE IS REQUIRED.

OUR POLICY IS NECESSARY.

IT DOES NOT REPLACE THE CONSTITUTION OR A COURT'S REVIEW OF A PARTICULAR USE.

SO LET'S LOOK AT THE REQUIRED FIELDS TO SEARCH.

SO IN RED,

[02:15:01]

SO YOU MUST HAVE AN OFFENSE TYPE, OUR CASE NUMBER, WHICH IS GENERATED BY OUR DISPATCH, AND A REASON.

AND ON THE SIDE ARE THE REASONS, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO SOMETHING.

AND THIS IS JUST A SNIPPET OF THOSE, OF...

I DIDN'T WANNA GIVE YOU FIVE SLIDES ON THIS, ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SEARCH IN SOME OF THE, THE, UM, REASON CODES.

AND YOU CAN SEARCH FOR, ON THE, UM, VEHICLES, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR THE MAKE, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR A MODEL IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE TAG, THE COLOR, THE TYPE OF PLATE, WHETHER IT'S A REGULAR PLATE, A TEMPORARY PLATE, A COVERED PLATE OR NO PLATE AT ALL, NO TAGS.

UM, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR THE TOP RACK, BACK RACK, BUMPER STICKERS, WINDOW STICKERS, OR A TOOLBOX.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT YOU CAN SEARCH IN THIS SYSTEM.

UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, CASES THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WHERE, WITH, AND THE CASE WHERE THE YOUNG ADULT TRAVELED FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND HAD EXPLOSIVE DEVICES IN HIS VEHICLE, HE DID NOT HAVE TAGS ON HIS VEHICLE.

HE HAD MADE UP SOMETHING AND POST - PUT SOMETHING WHERE THE LICENSE PLATE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

UH, WHAT WE DID DO WAS SEARCH THE FLOCK CAMERAS AT LEACH, LEACH RUN PARKWAY TO SEE HOW FAR INTO THE COUNTY THAT HE WENT.

AND HE, HE WAS NOT OBSERVED ON THOSE CAMERAS, BUT THAT WAS PART OF OUR INVESTIGATION INTO THAT.

IT IS VERY USEFUL IN A LOT OF THINGS, JUST NOT IDENTIFYING A VEHICLE OR PERSON THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A CRIME, BUT IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE, THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES THAT YOU HAVE TO COVER.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPUTIES, INVESTIGATORS HAVE TO DO BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE TO GET WARRANTS.

AND DOING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IS WHAT OUR JOB IS.

SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS TOOL HERE, WE CAN START TO PLACE, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER A TIMELINE, YOU KNOW, UM, AND THIS IS ALL BEFORE OUR CELL PHONES.

I DIDN'T BRING MY CELL PHONE UP HERE, YOU KNOW, WE GET A WARRANT FOR A CELL PHONE AND TRACK TO SEE WHERE, WHERE THAT CELL PHONE WAS.

WE CAN IMMEDIATELY, WE CAN DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE THINK OR WHERE, WHERE WE BELIEVE THIS PERSON COULD HAVE GONE, JUST IN THIS CASE ALONE.

SO, SO WHAT IS OUR FOOTPRINT? OUR DEPLOYMENT IS, IS SMALL AT THE MOMENT.

WE HAVE FOUR STATIONARY CAMERAS AND WE HAVE ONE MOBILE UNIT.

THE MOBILE UNIT IS...

WE DON'T USE IT VERY OFTEN.

WE PROBABLY SHOULD USE IT A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE DO, BUT IT IS, UH, A CAMERA THAT WE CAN PLACE TEMPORARILY FOR A SPECIFIC PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSE.

SO WHERE WE HAVE USED IT BEFORE IS AT THE WARREN COUNTY FAIR.

WE PUT IT IN AS PART OF OUR OPS PLAN.

WE CAN PUT IT AT THE ENTRY.

WE DIDN'T DO IT THIS YEAR.

UM, WE DID IT THE YEARS, UH, PRIOR.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY...

AND IN THE OPS PLAN, WE WILL GIVE IT CRITERIA ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO BECAUSE OUR JOB REALLY BASICALLY THERE IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE SECURITY OF THE FAIR PERSONNEL AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC THAT IS, IS COMING THERE TO THE FAIR.

THAT'S OUR, OUR MAIN PURPOSE THERE.

BUT WE PUT IN THERE THAT IF IT WAS ANY MAJOR FELONIES OR MAJOR CRIMES, UM, THAT WE GOT A HIT ON, THEN WE WOULD, WE WOULD MOVE INTO THAT AREA AND, AND FIND THOSE PE - THOSE PEOPLE.

SO THAT IS, UM, ONE OF THE, THE WAYS WE USE IT.

THE MOBILE UNIT CAN ALSO BE SET UP IF WE HAVE, UM, IF WE'RE DOING A DRUG INVESTIGATION, SAY, AND IT'S IN A CERTAIN PART OF, OF THE COUNTY.

WE CAN, WE CAN SET IT UP FOR LAWFUL USE IN AN APPROPRIATE AREA AND LOCATION IN ORDER TO GET INFORMATION TO FURTHER OUR CASE IN, IN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING.

UM, OUR PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2023 AND WAS PURCHASED WITH GRANT FUNDS.

UM, IT WAS THE ARPA FUNDS FOR A LITTLE OVER $50,000.

UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S A REALLY GREAT, GREAT TOOL FOR A RURAL, FULL SERVICE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IT GIVES US CONSISTENT EYES AT A HANDFUL OF KEY POINTS WITHOUT PARKING A DEPUTY THERE.

AND IF WE WERE TO PARK A DEPUTY THERE, IT WOULD BE A DEPUTY SEEING A TAG AND RUNNING A TAG, SEEING A TAG AND RUNNING A TAG.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, ANOTHER THING, JUST EVEN RESEARCHING FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS A LOT OF THE FLOCK HITS ARE NOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM WARREN COUNTY.

UH, AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UM,

[02:20:02]

IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY INTO OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE WANTED, WHO HAVE STOLEN VEHICLES, ET CETERA.

UM, TOWN OF FRONT ROW HAS SIX CAMERAS, UM, AROUND THE TOWN, AND THEN THERE ARE PRIVATE FLOCKS, AND RIGHT NOW LOWE'S, I BELIEVE, IS OUR ONLY, UH, PARTNER IN WARREN COUNTY THAT ALSO HAS FLOCKS, AND THEY DO SHARE THEIR INFORMATION WITH US.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE CANNOT SHARE OUR INFORMATION WITH LOWE'S.

IT IS A, IT'S A, IT'S A ONE-WAY STREET.

SO THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE GIVEN US ACCESS, UM, TO THEIR CAMERAS.

AND I'LL, I'LL COME BACK TO BOTH ABOUT SHARING IN A LITTLE BIT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CRO- CROSSROADS OF WARREN COUNTY.

AND I DO LIKE TO THINK OF US AS THE WHOLE IN THE DONUT.

WE ARE THE CENTERPIECE BETWEEN FREDERICK, CLARK RAPPAHANNOCK, PAGE, SHENANDOAH.

ALL OF THOSE COUNTIES AROUND US TRAVEL IN AND OUT AND THROUGH OUR, OUR COUNTY CONSISTENTLY.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE INTERSTATE 66, WE HAVE I-81, WE HAVE ROUTES 340 AND 522, AND WE HAVE 55 THAT GO IN AND OUT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INGRESS AND EGRESS COMING INTO OUR COUNTY.

AND THEN YOU FOLLOW ALL THE INTERSTATE SIGNS.

YOU CAN GO INTO MARYLAND, DC, WEST VIRGINIA, AND ALL SIGNS POINT TO FRONT ROYAL.

THEY'RE ALL COMING HERE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF TOURISM AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

WE HAVE SKYLINE DRIVE AND ALL OF THE NATIONAL PARKS AND CANOEING AND, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR COUNTY.

SO PEOPLE WANTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES ELSEWHERE CAN AND DO TRAVEL THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY.

WHEN SOMEONE IS A FUGITIVE OR A CHILD IS MISSING, MINUTES MATTER.

THAT MATTERS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RE - VULNERABLE RESIDENTS TOO.

THIS OFFICE CONDUCTS A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ICAC CASES, INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN INVESTIGATIONS, IN WHICH ADULTS TRAVEL TO WARREN COUNTY TO MEET A CHILD.

THIS TOOL CAN BE INVALUABLE IN A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

SO I'M GONNA MENTION A LITTLE BIT, WHILE WE LOOK AT THIS, ABOUT A COUPLE SUCCESSFUL CASES IN A, A FEW.

WE DO GET A LOT OF, UM, HITS AND ARRESTS FROM, FOR, FOR WANTED PEOPLE, BUT SOMETIMES THE ONES THAT ARE JUST A, A LITTLE BIT MORE, A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUS.

UM, RECENTLY, WELL, LAST YEAR, UM, FLOCK HIT AND NOTIFIED US, US OF AN ALERT, UM, WHO, THAT ORIGINATED OUT OF FREDERICK COUNTY, AND IT WAS OF A, UM, A PERSON THAT WAS HAVING MENT- MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, UH, WAS SUICIDAL, HAD LEFT A SUICIDE NOTE.

UH, THAT, THAT ALERT, UM, WE WERE ALERTED IN OUR DISPATCH THAT THEY HAD COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

ALL OF OUR DEPUTIES, UM, WENT TO THE AREA AND STARTED LOOKING FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL AND WAS ABLE TO PERFORM A TRAFFIC STOP ON 340 GOING SOUTH.

UM, THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION AND INTERVIEWING, INTERROGATING THIS YOUNG MAN, UH, IT WAS DETERMINED HE WAS, UM, HE WAS PLACED ON AN ECO AND HE WAS ULTIMATELY CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER.

HE WAS ON HIS WAY IN WARREN COUNTY TO, TO MURDER OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IF IT'S JUST ONE PERSON THAT WE SAVE, WHICH IS HIS LIFE, WE ALSO SAVED THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HE WAS GOING TO.

IF I SAY NOTHING ELSE, THAT IS THE REASON THIS, THIS TOOL, THIS USEFUL TOOL SHOULD STAY IN WARREN COUNTY.

IT SHOULD STAY IN VIRGINIA.

IT SHOULD STAY IN ALL OF THE OTHER STATES.

I, I FEEL WITH ALL OF THE REGULATIONS AND ALL THE RULES AND ALL THE AUDITS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE WITH THIS SYSTEM PLACED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, WE'RE HELPING...

OUR, OUR WHOLE GOAL IS PUBLIC SAFETY, KEEPING OUR PUBLIC SAFE.

AND WE CERTAINLY CAN'T DO IT ALONE WHEN I HAVE, YOU KNOW, SIX DEPUTIES AT NIGHT FOR 217 SQUARE MILES.

I CANNOT, YOU KNOW, SEARCH EVERY TAG OR EVERY PERSON OR KNOW WHO'S COMING INTO WARREN COUNTY AT ALL TIMES.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.

SO THIS, THIS PRODUCT, THIS PROGRAM DOES SO MUCH GREATER THINGS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THAT CASE RIGHT THERE IS JUST...

[02:25:02]

I, I SHOULDN'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO SAY ANY OTHERS THAT WE'VE DONE, BUT I WILL, UM, SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION, WE'VE ARRESTED A LOT OF FUGITIVES, INCLUDING A FUGITIVE THAT HAD BEEN ON THE RUN FOR 10 YEARS, GOT A FLOCK HIT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE LOWE'S CAMERA.

WE WERE ABLE TO GO IN THE AREA AND ARREST THIS FEMALE.

SHE HAD BEEN WANTED ON A CAPIAS FOR ASSAULT AND BATTERY FOR 10 YEARS.

ON JULY 10TH OF THIS YEAR, THIS IS ONE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY INVOLVED.

I WAS IN MY VEHICLE AND I HEARD IT OVER THE RADIO, A FLOCK INCIDENT CAME ON A, AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS WANTED FOR DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

UH, ONE OF OUR DEPUTIES OBSERVED IT ON SOUTH STREET AND COULD NOT GET TURNED AROUND.

SO DEPUTIES CONVERGED ON THE AREA, WENT UP AND DOWN JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY, COULD NOT FIND THE VEHICLE, AND THEN FOUND THE VEHICLE ON ROBIN HOOD LANE.

AT THAT POINT, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THE SUBJECT, ARREST THE SUBJECT, AND TAKE HIM TO JAIL.

UM, THE CAMERA, IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD LEAD.

IT'S, UM, WE STILL HAVE TO DO POLICE WORK.

WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT PERSON.

YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE TO DO THE POLICE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT IS JUST A LEAD.

IT IS A RESOURCE TO USE.

BUT WHAT WOULD TAKE US DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS IS NOW WE CAN SHORTEN SOME OF THESE CASES TO TWO MINUTES, IF NOT HOURS, AND I, I BELIEVE IT'S WORTH IT.

SO I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE SEX BATTERY, DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

SO ON JUNE 23RD OF THIS YEAR, A CALL WAS LOADED FOR AN ASSAULT THAT OCCURRED AT THE RIVERTON COMMON SHOPPING PLAZA.

THE VICTIM WAS MACED AND THE ASSAILANT FLED IN HIS VEHICLE.

THE VICTIM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE TAG OF THE ASSAILANT.

THE TAG WAS SEARCHED IN FLOCK AND SHORTLY LOCATED ON SHENANDOAH AVENUE COMING INTO TOWN.

UM, QUICK.

IT IS A QUICK TOOL.

UM, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THEM BEHIND BARS WITHIN MINUTES.

ON MARCH 15TH OF THIS YEAR, A CALL WAS LOADED FOR A STOLEN VEHICLE.

THE VICTIM REPORTED THEIR RENTAL VEHICLE WAS MISSING FROM THEIR DRI- DRIVEWAY.

UPON SEARCHING THE VICTIM'S TAG, UH, IT WAS OBSERVED ON THE BACK OF A TOW TRUCK IN MANASSAS.

UH, THE IMAGE CAPTURED ON FLOCK WAS ABLE TO SHOW THE COMPANY AND CONTACT NUMBER.

UH, CONTACT WAS MADE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A, A HIT-AND-RUN AS WELL.

SO YOU HAVE THE STOLEN VEHICLE AND A HIT AND RUN, TWO INCIDENTS THAT ARE, ARE BEING, UM, LOOKED INTO AT THIS POINT.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO OTHERS.

UM, ONE OF THEM IS A STOLEN VEHICLE FROM, I BELIEVE IT WAS NORTHERN VIRGINIA, CAME INTO WARREN COUNTY AND THE VEHICLE, UM, THEY PARKED THE VEHICLE AT KFC.

THAT IS WHERE IT WAS FOUND.

THE SUBJECT THAT WHOEVER WAS DRIVING THAT STOLEN VEHICLE WAS GONE.

TALKED TO PEOPLE AT KFC AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE A QUICK DESCRIPTION OF WHO WE WERE LOOKING AT.

UM, SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, A CALL CAME INTO THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT A STOLEN, UH, PERSON WHOSE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN AT BING CROSBY.

UM, AT THAT TIME, WE HAD, HAD IT NOW A STOLEN VEHICLE FROM OUR JURISDICTION.

AND THROUGH FLOCK HITS AND INVESTIGATION, WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO FIND THAT VEHICLE IN LONDON.

IT HAD GONE THROUGH A, A COUPLE FLOCK HITS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO IN THERE AND FIND IT AND ARREST THAT SUBJECT.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO BRING BACK, UM, M- MY OLD DAYS BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS IN INVESTIGATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HERE REMEMBERS, BUT WE HAD NOT ONE BUT TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS FULL OF FURNITURE STOLEN FROM JACKSON FURNITURE.

BOTH OF THOSE CASES WERE MINE.

I SPENT HOURS GOING TO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES LOOKING AT THEIR CAMERA SYSTEM TO TRY TO HAVE A TIMELINE OF WHEN THE TRAILERS WERE STOLEN.

UH, THE FIRST TIME THE TRACTOR TRAILER WAS STOLEN, THEY...

JACKSON FURNITURE DID NOT HAVE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.

THEY HAD NOTHING, SO WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME OF EVENING OR MORNING THAT THE TRAILER WAS STOLEN.

UH, IT TOOK A LOT OF HOURS LOOKING THROUGH VIDEO JUST, JUST TO TRY TO FIND THAT.

THE SECOND TIME, A YEAR LATER, WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER FULL OF FURNITURE WAS STOLEN, UM, THEY HAD CAMERAS, BUT THE SUSPECTS CAME AND THEY WERE AT A HEIGHT THAT THEY WERE, UM, SPRAY-PAINTED OVER.

BUT WE HAD A BASIC TIME OF WHEN THE THEFT OCCURRED.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S JUST COMBING THROUGH AS MUCH VIDEO SURVEILLANCE ALL OVER THE TOWN AND COUNTY THAT I COULD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A TIMELINE FOR THIS.

SO BOTH TRACTOR TRAILERS ENDED UP AT THE BALTIMORE PORT, THAT IS WHERE THEY ENDED UP, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO FIGURE OUT THE ROUTE THAT THEY UH, IT

[02:30:01]

WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE WAS A TAIL VEHICLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO GET TO WARREN COUNTY SOMEHOW, A TRACTOR TO CARRY THE TRAILER.

UM, IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO HAVE THAT.

STILL UNSOLVED.

UH, FURNITURE'S GONE.

JACKSON FURNITURE ATE THAT COST, WHICH ULTIMATELY WE AS CONSUMERS ARE GONNA EAT, EAT THAT COST.

SO WHY IT MATTERS, SPEED AND COVERAGE.

WHAT THESE CASES SHOW THAT A PLATE READER, LET'S SAY SMALL AGENCY DO WHAT CAN'T PRACTICALLY OR EFFICIENTLY DO BEFORE.

SO IT NARROWS A SEARCH FOR A VEHICLE TIED TO A CRIME, TO A WARRANT OR A MISSING PERSON FROM DAYS TO MINUTES.

IT GIVES OBJECTIVE ROADWAY OBSER- OBSERVATIONS WITHOUT A DEPUTY AT EVERY POINT.

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

AND EVIDENCE, A TIME AND LOCATION CAN, CAN CORROBORATE A LEAD AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY CAN RULE SOMEONE OUT.

IT SUPPLEMENTS TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATION, IT DOES NOT REPLACE IT.

UM, SO IF WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVE FALSE REPORTS, IF THIS IS ONE AREA AND WE'VE HAD A COUPLE CASES WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, UH, BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT THOSE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT TRUE AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD'VE HAD THAT OTHERWISE.

SO WHEN MINUTES MATTER...

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE NEXT THING.

OUR REGION HAS SEEN WHY SPEED MATTERS.

AND I AM ONLY, ONLY ONE, THE ONE IN MAROON IS THE ONLY ONE THAT LICENSE PLATE READERS WERE USED, ALPR.

THE OTHER TWO DIDN'T, BUT I AM GOING TO TELL YOU THAT CRIME HAPPENS HERE.

SERIOUS CRIME HAPPENS HERE.

AND THE TWO CASES MOST REC- RECENTLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS BORDER US.

UM, THE FIRST ONE I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IS IN 2015.

I'LL GO THROUGH THE OTHER TWO.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE MAN WHO MURDERED THE WD- WDBJ REPORTER ALLISON PARKER ON LIVE TV.

UM, THE SUSPECT FLED NORTH AND THEN EAST ON 66.

IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT A VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON 66 AND THAT LICENSE PLATE READER CAUGHT THE SUSPECT VEHICLE AND UNITS WERE ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THIS VEHICLE.

AND THEN IT ULTIMATELY CRASHED IN FAUQUIER COUNTY, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO US.

66 RUNS THROUGH WARREN COUNTY.

UM, IT VERY WELL COULD BE THAT THEY GOT OFF AT EXIT SIX TO, TO GET GAS.

UH, WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS WITHOUT THAT LICENSE PLATE READER, THE BAD GUY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN STOPPED.

HE DID CRASH.

HE ULTIMATELY COMMITTED SUICIDE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WEEKS OR HOW LONG THAT MAN HAD WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

UM, THAT'S A HUGE SUCCESS STORY, UH, ARREST IN THE SAME DAY.

UM, TWO WEEKS AGO ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, A LOUDOUN COUNTY MAN ALLEGEDLY SHOT AND KILLED HIS WIFE IN ALDI AND FLED IN A RENTAL CAR.

HE WAS ARRESTED LATER THAT AFTERNOON IN BEDFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUT WHO'S TO SAY THAT PERSON DIDN'T TRAVEL THROUGH WARREN COUNTY OR MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH HERE IN SOME WAY? SEPTEMBER 30TH, A MAN KILLED TWO COWORKERS AT A BUSINESS IN MANASSAS AND FLED AND THEY FOUND HIM SOUTH ON 81.

HOW DID HE GET TO 81? IT COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH WARREN COUNTY.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH 66, THROUGH 55, OR ANOTHER WAY.

WHO'S TO SAY? BOTH OF THOSE, I DON'T BELIEVE FLOCK WAS INITIATED, BUT THE FACT IS, IS IF THEY HAD ENTERED THOSE TAGS AND HE DID ENTER OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTY, WE WOULD BE ALERTED TO THIS HAPPENING.

WITHOUT THEM, WE ABSOLUTELY WOULDN'T.

I SHARE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE HAPPENING IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND BECAUSE THE ROADS THESE SUSPECTS MAY HAVE USED RUN THROUGH OURS.

WHEN A SUSPECT'S TAG IS ENTERED INTO THE STATE AND NATIONAL SYSTEMS, EVERY PLATE READER ON THE ROUTE BECOMES A LOOKOUT, INCLUDING OURS.

SO THE STATE LAW SETS THE LIMITS.

SO NOW, IS IT LAWFUL? IS THE SEARCHES AND, AND THE ALERTS, IS IT LAWFUL? ARE WE USING IT CORRECTLY? SO UNTIL LAST YEAR, VIRGINIA HAD NO STATUTE GOVERNING POLICE PLATE READERS AT ALL.

THAT CHANGED JULY 1ST OF LAST YEAR IN 2025 WHEN HOUSE BILL 2724 TOOK EFFECT AS VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 - 5517.

IT GOVERNS EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT PLATE READER IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND IT IS THE THIRD MOST RESTRICTIVE LAWS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THE LAW SAYS WE MAY USE THE SYSTEM ONLY FOR THREE THINGS,

[02:35:01]

A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WHERE THERE'S REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT A CRIME HAS COMMITTED, AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION INVOLVING A MISSING OR ENDANGERED PERSON OR A PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RECEIVING ALERTS FOR MISSING OR ENDANGERED PERSONS, OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AND FUGITIVES, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, STOLEN VEHICLES AND STOLEN PLATES.

THE SYSTEM CANNOT BE QUERIED UNLESS THE USER ENTERS THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR THE AUDIT TRAIL, THE MANDATORY FIELDS.

THE AL - LAW ALSO SAYS WHAT WE MAY NOT DO, WE MAY NOT SELL THE DATA.

WE CANNOT SELL THE DATA TO ANY THIRD PARTY OR COMPANY OR ANY- ANYBODY, INCLUDING FLOCK.

FLOCK IS HELD TO THOSE SAME STANDARDS OR THEY CANNOT DO BUSINESS IN VIRGINIA.

WE MAY NOT SHARE IT WITH OR SEND IT TO ANY DATABASE OF ANOTHER STATE, A FEDERAL AGENCY, OR A PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL ENTITY.

WE MAY NOT USE IT TO INTERFERE WITH LAWFUL ACTIVITY OR TO TRACK ANYONE BASED ON THE CONTENT OF PROTECTED SPEECH.

AND AS I SAID, AN ALERT ALONE IS NOT REASONABLE SUSPICION FOR A STOP.

THE LAW ALSO STATES THAT RETENTION IS 21 DAYS.

UM, THIS IS WHERE PROPORTION IS CLEAR.

UNDER THE STATUTE, SYSTEM DATA, MEANING THE PLATE IMAGES AND VEHICLE DETAILS MUST BE PURGED 21 DAYS AFTER CAPTURE IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT UNRECOVERABLE BY BOTH THE VENDOR AND TO US.

THE AUDIT TRAIL, MEANING WHO SEARCHED WHAT AND WHY, IS KEPT FOR TWO YEARS SO THAT IT CAN BE REVIEWED.

SO ANY DEPUTY OR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER THAT IS SEARCHING, YOU KNOW, A, A PLATE THROUGH FLOCK, WHEN WE DO OUR AUDITS AND WE DO OUR AUDITS EVERY MONTH, THAT INFORMATION, THOSE AUDITS THAT WE DO, WE HAVE TO KEEP THOSE FOR TWO YEARS.

ALL INFORMATION, THOSE CAMERAS AND ANY IMAGES TAKEN IN THAT POINT ARE PURGED AFTER 21 DAYS AFTER THEY, THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

SO THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS DATA THAT IS PART OF AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

IF WE HAVE AN ONGOING CASE INVESTIGATION, WE USE FLOCK.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT FOR COURT PURPOSES.

UM, WHETHER IT HELPS OUR CASE OR IT DOESN'T HELP OUR CASE, WE HAVE TO KEEP IT UNTIL THAT CASE IS COMPLETE.

THAT 21-DAY FIGURE WAS NOT THE INDUSTRY DEFAULT AS WE TALKED ABOUT.

FLOCK STANDARD WAS 30 DAYS.

THEY JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO THEIR STANDARD AS SEVEN DAYS.

UM, AND THEN THE SENATE COMMITTEE, UM, PUT IT AT 21 DAYS.

THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED MOVING IT BACK TO 30, BUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REFUSED.

IF YOUR CAR PASSES ONE OF OUR CAMERAS AND IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO A CASE AT ALL, THE RECORD IS GONE IN THREE WEEKS.

SO PENALTIES IN PUBLIC REPORTING.

THE LAW HAS TEETH.

AN OFFICER WHO INTENTIONALLY QUERIES THE SYSTEM FOR A PURPOSE THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW OR WHO INTENTIONALLY SELLS OR SHARES DATA IN VIOLATION OF THE SHARING RULES IS GUILTY OF A CLASS ONE MISDEMEANOR.

THAT IS THE MOST SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR THAT WE HAVE AND IS PUNISHABLE OF IT FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS IN JAIL.

ANY EVIDENCE OBTAINED THROUGH A VIOLATION OF THE USE, UM, SHARING FIRST AMENDMENT OR STOP PROVISIONS, IT IS INADMISSIBLE BY THE COMMONWEALTH IN ANY CRIMINAL OR CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.

IT WILL BE KICKED OUT.

THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES EACH AGENCY TO ADOPT A WRITTEN POLICY, WHICH I'VE, UM, INCLUDED IN YOUR, YOUR PACKETS UP THERE WITH THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE POLICY IS ON THIS.

UM, WE AUDIT EVERY 30 DAYS.

UM, WE ALSO DO A STEP ABOVE THAT AND WE AUDIT EVERY 20TH SEARCH IN, IN OUR SYSTEM.

UM, WE ALSO UTILIZE THE AUDIT TOOLS THAT FLOCK GIVES US.

SO IF THERE'S ANY ABNORMAL SEARCHES, SO SAY THERE'S A HIGH NUMBER OF, UM, SEARCHES FOR ONE TAG IN PARTICULAR, IT WILL FLAG AND GIVE US A REPORT OF THE ANOMALIES.

THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S, UM, MAYBE WE HAVE A DETECTIVE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, RUNNING A DRUG CASE OR SOMETHING AND, AND PUTS IT IN, UH, A LOT OF TIMES, DIFFERENT DAYS OR DIFFERENT CAMERAS, IT WILL FLAG IT.

AND SO OUR ADMINISTRATOR WHO DOES OUR AUDITS CAN GO IN THERE, LOOK IN THE CASE, LOOK IN THE CALL FOR SERVICE, AND ENSURE THAT THAT TAG IS, IS PART OF THAT INVESTIGATION.

UM, IN JANUARY, THE STATE CRIME COMMISSION REPORTED THAT MANY VIRGINIA AGENCIES WEREN'T COMPLYING.

ABOUT ONE IN FIVE RESPONDING AGENCIES WAS KEEPING DATA LONGER THAN 21 DAYS.

20 AGENCIES WERE GIVING CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO OUT-OF-STATE POL - UH, POLICE, AND NINE WERE SHARING WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, BOTH OF WHICH THE STATUTE FORBIDS.

OUR POLICY WAS WRITTEN TO MEET EVERY ONE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS, AND I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH HOW WE CHECK OURSELVES AGAINST IT WITH THE AUDITS.

[02:40:01]

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT VIRGINIA COURTS HAVE UPHELD WITH THE FLOCK USE.

IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL? THE COURTS HAVE LOOKED CLOSELY AT FLOCK SYSTEMS RIGHT HERE IN VIRGINIA, AND THE SYSTEMS THEY LOOKED AT WERE FAR LARGER THAN OURS.

SO THREE OF THESE DECISIONS, THE FIRST ONE IS ROBINSON VERSUS THE COMMONWEALTH.

IN NOVEMBER OF 23, THREE NORFOLK BUR - BUSINESSES WERE BURGLARIZED.

A LOTTERY TICKET STOLEN AND ONE OF THEM WAS CASHED THE SAME DAY AND STORE VIDEO SHOWED A WHITE BMW SU- SUV WITH NO VISIBLE PLATES.

A DETECTIVE SEARCHED FLOCK FOR A WHITE BMW SUV, SUV NEAR THAT STORE WITHIN A TWO-HOUR WINDOW.

ONE MATCH CAME BACK WITH A PLATE, AND THROUGH A SEPARATE SEARCH THROUGH THE, UM, STATE DATABASES, DMV RECORDS IDENTIFIED THE DRIVER AS ROBINSON, AND A SEARCH WARRANT TURNED UP STOLEN PROPERTY AND A FIREARM.

UM, ON APRIL 7TH, THE COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA, IN A PUBLISHED OPINION, HELD THAT THE WARRANTLESS FLOCK SEARCH WAS NOT A FOURTH AMENDMENT SEARCH BECAUSE A DETECTIVE WAS REQUESTING STILL IMAGES OF A VEHICLE ON A PUBLIC ROAD IN WHICH ROBINSON HAD NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY.

THE COURT NOTED THAT NORFOLK'S 172 CAMERAS CAPTURED STILL IMAGES, NOT CONTINUOUS TRACKING, AND THAT DATA WAS HELD FOR ONLY 30 DAYS.

THE SECOND ONE IS UNITED STATES VERSUS MARTIN.

IN FEDERAL COURT IN RICHMOND, AFTER A SERIES OF ARMED ROBBERIES IN 23, GAS STATION VIDEO SHOWED THE GETAWAY ACURA, BUT NO PLATE.

AN OFFICER SEARCHED FLOCK OVER A 30-DAY WINDOW AND GOT 2,500 RESULTS, WHICH IS THE SYSTEM MAXIMUM.

A DETECTIVE REVIEWED THOSE IMAGES BY HAND AND FOUND THE ACURA BY ITS DISTINCTIVE REAR WINDOW STICKERS, WHICH REVEALED THE PLATE.

IN LATE 24, SE- SENIOR JUDGE ROBERT PAYNE DENIED SUPPRESSION, FINDING THAT A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF SHORT-TERM PUBLIC MOVEMENTS ARE NOTHING LIKE THE MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS CELL PHONE TRACKING THE SUPREME COURT ADDRESSED IN CARPENTER.

NOTICE THAT THIS CASE TOOK REAL DETECTIVE WORK.

A DETECTIVE WENT THROUGH 2,500 IMAGES TO FIND THAT ONE VEHICLE THAT HAD THE MARKINGS AND CHARACTERISTICS THAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR.

THE THIRD IS SCHMIDT VERSUS CITY OF NORFOLK.

TWO NORFOLK RESIDENTS REPRESENTED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE SUED OVER THE CITY'S 176 CAMERA NETWORK ITSELF, EVEN THOUGH POLICE HAD NEVER SEARCHED FOR THEIR PLATES.

ON JANUARY 27TH OF THIS YEAR, JUDGE MARK DAVIS RULED FOR THE CITY.

HE FOUND THAT THE NETWORK WITH 45 TO 50 MINUTES AND TWO TO THREE MILES BETWEEN AN AVERAGE VEHICLE'S CAPTURES DOES NOT TRACK THE WHOLE OF A PERSON'S MOVEMENT OR OPEN AN INTIMATE WINDOW INTO WHERE PEOPLE DRIVE, PARK, VISIT, OR SLEEP.

SO I PUT TOGETHER A FEW SLIDES ON, UM, WHAT MY BIGGEST CRITICS ARE, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT I HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

UM, AND I, I DO FEEL THAT SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS ARE, ARE REAL WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

SO I WANNA TAKE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD IN THIS COUNTY ONE AT A TIME AND, AND SEE IF I CAN ANSWER THEIR CONCERNS A LITTLE BIT.

SO WHAT, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, IT VIOLATES MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

I JUST WENT OVER THE, THE COURT'S RULINGS ON VIRGINIA FLOCK SYSTEMS, AND THEY HAVE HELD THAT PHOTOGRAPHING A VEHICLE ON A PUBLIC ROAD IS NOT A SEARCH, UNREASONABLE SEARCH.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT, UM, WE ARE BOUND BY STATUTE, A POLICY IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND THAT EVIDENCE OBTAINED IN VIOLATION OF THE STATUTE CANNOT BE USED AGAINST ANYONE.

ANOTHER ONE IS BIG BROTHER, WHERE CAMERAS ARE ALWAYS WATCHING.

THERE ARE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

THERE'S TRACKING DEVICES EVERYWHERE.

YOU CAN'T GO INTO A GROCERY STORE OR WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK OR I, I MEAN, WITH YOUR CELL PHONE.

UM, MY CELL PHONE HAS EARS.

UM, I WAS LOOKING FOR A MATTRESS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW I HAVE, YOU KNOW, 180 MATTRESS COMPANIES TRYING TO SELL ME A MATTRESS.

I DON'T KNOW.

SO THESE CAMERAS PHOTOGRAPH VEHICLES THAT HAVE N- NOTHING TO DO WITH A CRIME.

AND IN THEORY, ENOUGH CAMERAS OVER ENOUGH TIME COULD REVEAL PATTERNS ABOUT A PERSONAL LIFE.

THAT, IT'S TRUE.

THAT CONCERN IS LEGITIMATE AND IS GOT EXACTLY WHY THE LAW LIMITS THE NUMBER OF DAYS, THE PURPOSES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO CAN SEARCH.

OUR ANSWER IS NOT THE CONCERN IS, IS SILLY.

OUR ANSWER IS IT IS A STILL IMAGE IN A POINT OF TIME OF THE REAR OF A VEHICLE IN WHICH 21 DAYS IT IS PURGED, A DOCUMENTED PURPOSE FOR EVERY SEARCH AND AUDIT DONE.

THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT WANTED TO WATCH EVERYONE WOULD NOT BUILD THIS SYSTEM THIS WAY.

AND THEN I WANT YOU TO ALSO REMEMBER ALL THOSE CAMERAS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT REGULATED, THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIRD-PARTY BILLING

[02:45:01]

SYSTEMS, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE CAMERAS, FLOCK IS NOT THAT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT OFFICER MISUSE.

WE'VE HEARD IT IN THE NEWS A LOT.

SO COPS MISUSE IT TO STALK THEIR EXES.

THIS IS A CONCERN I PROBABLY TAKE MOST SERIOUS OUT OF ALL OF THEM BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED.

OFFICERS ARE BEING CHARGED FOR MISUSE OF THIS SYSTEM, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT, QUITE FRANKLY.

UM, IN AUGUST, THE WASHINGTON POST FOUND AT LEAST 50 CASES NATIONWIDE OF OFFICERS CHARGED WITH OR ACCUSED OF MISUSING FLOCK, UH, ABOUT HALF OF THEM TO TRACK WIVES, GIRLFRIENDS, OR FORMER PARTNERS.

AND BY LATE SEPTEMBER, THE POST PUT THE COUNT AT AT LEAST 100 POLICE EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF MISUSING PLATE READERS, INCLUDING FIVE INDIANAPOLIS OFFICERS WHO HAD BEEN CHARGED CRIMINALLY, INCLUDING ONE WHO SEARCHED A WOMAN'S PLATE 178 TIMES.

I, I'M HORRIFIED BY THIS.

UM, I'M GLAD THOSE CASES ARE IN THE NEWS.

THOSE OFFICERS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

UM, WE HAVE REGULATIONS ON THIS.

WE HAVE LAWS ON THIS.

UM, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE NUMBER DOUBLED, MAYBE PEOPLE STARTED TAKING THE AUDIT SERIOUS.

UM, I DON'T KNOW.

I, I WELCOME THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF THESE CASES.

I FEEL THAT OFFICERS WHO MISUSE THIS TECHNOLOGY VIOLATE THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM AND SHOULD FACE DISCIPLINE.

AND WHEN THEIR CONDUCT VIOLATES CRIMINAL LAW, THEY SHOULD FACE PROSECUTION.

THESE INCIDENTS DESERVE SERIOUS ATTENTION, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT DEFINE THE INTEGRITY OF THE MANY OFFICERS WHO USE INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS LAWFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY.

THE PROPER RESPONSE IS TO HOLD INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE AND ENFORCE SAFEGUARDS THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC WHILE PRESERVING THE TECHNOLOGY'S LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATIVE VALUE.

IN NEARLY EVERY CASE, THE MISUSE WAS CAUGHT BECAUSE THE AUDIT LOG EXISTED AND SOMEONE READ IT.

AND I'M GONNA SKIP THROUGH SOME OF THIS.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HERE A LOT.

AND I AM GONNA TELL YOU WHAT MY COMMITMENT IS.

ANY MEMBER OF THIS OFFICE, THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHO USES THIS SYSTEM OR ANY SYSTEM FOR A PERSONAL PURPOSE WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, WILL FACE TERMINATION, WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY FOR PROSECUTION UNDER THE STATUTE, AND WILL BE REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES FOR DECERTIFICATION.

I CANNOT PROMISE YOU THAT A HUMAN BEING WILL NEVER DO SOMETHING WRONG.

I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT WE WILL FIND IT AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE DO.

I HAVE, UM, I, UH, I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR THIS, UM, AND THAT IS MY WORD TO YOU AS SHERIFF.

THE NEXT ONE IS, UM, THE, THE DATA IS SHARED WITH ICE IN IMMIGRATION.

BEFORE JULY 1ST OF LAST YEAR, 2025, THERE WAS NO VIRGINIA LAW GOVERNING PLATE READERS.

SO LIKE MANY AGENCIES, OUR OFFICE INCLUDED FLOX STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL SHARING WAS T- TURNED ON.

WE DID SHARE WITH OTHER STATES, JUST AS OTHER STATES SHARE WITH US, AND WE SHARED WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.

WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DREW THE LINE, WE UPDATED OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO MATCH THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS.

SO SINCE JULY 1ST, 2025, THE STATUTE PROHIBITS SHARING AND DISSEMINATING THIS DATA TO ANY FEDERAL, OUT-OF-STATE, PRIVATE, OR COMMERCIAL DATABASE AND MAKES DOING SO A CRIME.

UM, OUR WRITTEN POLICY, AS YOU WILL SEE, GOES FURTHER THAN THE STATUTE AND EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS USING THIS DATA FOR IMMIGRATION STATUS ENFORCEMENT, CIVIL DEBT COLLECTION, OR ROUTINE FINES AND FEES.

TODAY, OUR SHARING IS LIMITED TO VIRGINIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES OR WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT INTELLIGENCE AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS OUR STATE, IF NOT THE WHOLE NATION, IS CRITICAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT IS MY BELIEF AND MY OPINION.

UM, I DO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY IN VIRGINIA AND, AND I AM ALLOWED TO DO THAT UNDER, UNDER THE LAWS.

I WILL TELL YOU BASED ON THE, UM, THE PRESENTATION THAT CHIEF WHITED WITH THE FRONT ROW POL- POLICE DEPARTMENT DID, I LEARNED THAT THEIR SIX CAMERAS, THEY ARE NO LONGER SHARING WITH WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

UM, THAT IS HIS DECISION.

I HOPE THAT, UM, CHIEF WHITED AND THE TOWN MANAGER, MR. PETTY, WILL RECONSIDER BECAUSE I DO THINK BOTH AGENCIES ARE FIGHTING THE SAME CAUSE.

WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL, AND THAT IS TO KEEP EVERY WARREN COUNTY AND TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL RESIDENT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, FROM THOSE THAT ARE COMING TO OUR COUNTY TO COMMIT CRIMES AND THOSE IN OUR VERY

[02:50:01]

COUNTY COMMITTING CRIMES.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER OUR, YOU KNOW, WE DO SO MANY THINGS TOGETHER ANYWAYS.

WE TRAIN, OUR SWAT TEAMS GO OUT TOGETHER.

WE DO A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER, AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE REMISS THAT WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

UM, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE WITH FRONT ROYAL, UM, AND I, I HOPE THEY CHANGE THEIR OUTLOOK ON THAT.

LOWE'S, WE ARE VERY, UM, WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH LOWE'S.

WE, UM, LOWE'S AND TARGET AND WALMART, ALL THREE OF THOSE HAVE A LOT OF THEFT, AND IT'S USUALLY RING, RINGS OF, THEFT RINGS, UM, THAT GO UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.

SO BETWEEN THEIR, THEIR AGENCIES EVEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE A RETAIL TASK FORCE, THEY SHARE INFORMATION ON THESE RINGS THAT ARE GOING IN AND WHAT THEY'RE TAKING AND WHAT THE SUSPECT VEHICLES ARE AND STUFF.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

UM, IT'S LIKE DRUGS.

UM, THERE'S PIPELINES COMING FROM NORTH CAROLINA, YOU KNOW, FROM MEXICO, BUT FROM NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH ROANOKE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT USED TO BE THAT WE GOT MOST OF OUR DRUGS FROM DC AND BALTIMORE AND SOME FROM PHILADELPHIA, A FEW FROM, UM, NEW JERSEY, BUT A LOT OF OUR DRUGS RIGHT NOW IS COMING FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH NORTH CAROLINA.

WHAT DO THEY KNOW? WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW? UM, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE NATION TO, TO FIGHT THE BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT FOR EVERYDAY CRIMES AS WELL.

WE'RE A VERY MOBILE SOCIETY, SO WHOEVER IS, YOU KNOW, COMMITTING CRIMES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS COULD VERY WELL COME TO OUR JURISDICTION AND COMMIT THOSE SAME CRIMES.

I, WE DO INTELLIGENCE BULLETINS.

UM, THE, THE STATE SHARES A LOT OF INFORMATION.

OUR TASK FORCES SHARE A LOT OF INFORMATION.

UM, AGENCIES, LOCAL AGENCIES, WE GET TOGETHER FOR INTEL SHARING.

THIS IS THE EXACT SAME THING, EXCEPT I DON'T HAVE TO SHOW UP AT A MEETING AND THEY TALK ABOUT THE THREE BIGGEST CASES THAT THEY HAVE.

THIS IS A, A COMMUNITY EFFORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR WARREN COUNTY.

AND I APOLOGIZE, I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

SO TRACKING.

IT TRACKS ME.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS ALREADY.

IT DOES NOT TRACK ANYBODY.

IT IS A PHOTO, LIKE IF I WAS STANDING ON THE ROAD AND I TOOK A PICTURE OF, WITH MY PHONE, THAT IS ALL IT IS.

IT HAS NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ATTACHED TO IT.

NO NAME, NO ADDRESS, DATE OF BIRTH, NOTHING.

IT HAS NO IDEA, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THAT VEHICLE IS GOING AFTER IT CROSSES THAT INTERSECTION OR WHEREVER THAT FLOCK CAMERA IS.

UM, ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE FOURTH TEST.

BEFORE ANYONE IN, AT THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN RUN A S - A SEARCH.

THE SYSTEM REQUIRES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT IT REQUIRES, BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES TRAINING.

UM, WE TRAIN EVERYBODY THAT WANTS A LOGIN TO OUR SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW, AND I HAVE CLOSE TO 100 STAFF MEMBERS, WE HAVE 29 PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO FLOCK, SO IT'S NOT EVEN THE ENTIRE AGENCY.

SO COMMUNICATIONS HAS ACCESS TO FLOCK, OUR INVESTIGATORS HAVE ACCESS TO FLOCK, AS WELL AS OUR SUPERVISORS.

UM, THAT WE HAVE, UH, ANNUAL TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

IF THEY DO NOT DO THEIR ANNUAL TRAINING, THEN THEIR ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED.

SO WE TREAT THIS VERY RESPONSIBLY.

UM, TRANSPARENCY, UH, IT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR US.

IT IS THE LAW.

OUR WRITTEN POLICY COVERS AUTHORIZED, UM, USES, TRAINING, AUDITING, RETENTION, SHARING, SECURITY, AND DISCIPLINE, AND IT'S PUBLIC.

OUR ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE WILL SHOW CAMERA INVENTORY, DATABASES USE, QUERY VOLUME AND PURPOSES, ANY STOPS THAT FOLLOWED AN ALERT, WHO HAS ACCESS, AND ANY MISUSE.

UM, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, THANK YOU, MR. HAMM, ABOUT ALL THE IMAGES THAT ARE TAKEN BY FLOC.

UM, THAT IS NOT FOIABLE.

SO SOMEONE CAN'T COME IN AND SAY, "HEY, DID THAT CAMERA TAKE A PICTURE OF MY TAG?" WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DO NOT...

YOU CAN'T COME IN AND SAY, "HOW MANY TIMES DID MY TAG GET RAN THROUGH THIS, THIS SYSTEM?" IT IS NOT FOIABLE.

THAT IS NOT PART OF THE FOIABLE RULES.

ON SECURITY, UM, I WILL MAKE ONLY THE CLAIMS THAT, THAT I CAN DEFEND.

FLOC STATES THAT DATA IS ENCRYPTED ON THE DEVICES IN TRANSIT AND AT REST, AND THAT IT HOLDS AN SOC2 TYPE TWO CERTIFICATION.

VIRGINIA REQUIRES APPROVED VENDORS TO MEET THE INFORMATION SECURITY STANDARDS OF THE VIRGINIA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AGENCY.

ON OUR SIDE, EVERY USER HAS AN INDIVIDUAL LOGIN, PASSWORDS ARE NOT TO BE SHARED, ACCESS IS REMOVED WHEN DUTIES

[02:55:01]

CHANGE, AND EVERY ACCESS IS LOGGED.

TO DATE, THIS OFFICE HAS HAD NO KNOWN SECURITY INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE FLOC SYSTEM.

REMEMBER, THERE ARE SEVERAL PLATE READERS IN USE WITHOUT THE REGULATION THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS.

SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE FOUR TESTS.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, I ASKED YOU TO JUDGE THIS PROGRAM BY THE FOUR STANDARDS.

IS IT USEFUL, IS IT LAWFUL, IS IT PROPORTIONATE, AND IS IT ACCOUNTABLE? THOSE ARE THE STANDARDS AGAINST WHICH I EXPECT THIS OFFICE TO BE MEASURED.

OUR LOCAL CA- CASE HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS VALUE, IS HELP DEPUTIES LOCATE FUGITIVES, IDENTIFY VEHICLES CONNECTED TO SERIOUS OFFENSES, DEVELOP LEADS WHEN A VICTIM CAN ONLY PROVIDE PART OF THE PICTURE.

THE CAMERA SUPPLIED INFORMATION, OUR PERSONNEL VERIFIED IT, INVESTIGATED IT, AND ACTED ON IT.

THAT IS HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY CONTRIBUTES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

IS IT LAWFUL? VIRGINIA IS THE THIRD STRICTEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES TO ALPRS.

THEY HAVE SPECIFIC RULES FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY AND COURTS HAVE UP- UPHELD PARTICULAR ALPR USES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

NEITHER GIVES US UNRESTRICTED AUTHORITY.

EVERY SEARCH MUST HAVE AN AUTHORIZED PURPOSE.

EVERY ENFORCEMENT ACTION MUST HAVE A LEGAL BASIS, AND THE CONSTITUTION REMAINS THE BOUNDARY OF OUR AUTHORITY.

IS IT PROPORTIONATE? WE OPERATE FOUR STATIONARY CAMERAS IN ONE MOBILE UNIT.

ROUTINE OBSERVATIONS ARE RETAINED FOR 21 DAYS.

WHILE RECORDS CONNECTED TO AN INVESTIGATION OR COURT PROCEEDING FOLLOW PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY EXTENDS TO SHARED INFORMATION AS WELL.

ACCESS MUST SERVE A LEGITIMATE NEED, AND I BELIEVE TODAY, I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE LEGITIMATE NEED.

IS IT ACCOUNTABLE? SEARCHES ARE TIED TO NAMED USERS AND DOCUMENTED REASONS.

ACCESS REQUIRES TRAINING.

COMMAND STAFF REVIEWS USE THROUGH AUDITS.

OUR POLICY IS PUBLIC AND THE LAW REQUIRES PUBLIC REPORTING.

MISUSE DEMANDS INVESTIGATION AND CONSEQUENCES.

THESE SAFEGUARDS MUST BE ENFORCED IN PRACTICE, NOT SIMPLY WRITTEN ON PAPER.

WE REVIEW THOSE AUDITS EVERY SINGLE MONTH, PLUS WE DO EVERY 20TH SEARCH.

WE AUDIT THAT AS WELL.

SO TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE FOUR STANDARDS MAKE THE CASE FOR RETAINING THIS PROGRAM RESPONSIBLY.

WE CAN PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO BOTH.

THIS REMAINS A TOOL.

IT IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR GOOD DETECTIVE WORK.

WE STILL HAVE TO BE COPS.

I AM NOT ASKING YOU FOR ANYTHING TONIGHT EXCEPT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM WELL ENOUGH TO HOLD ME TO IT.

KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS, READ THE POLICY THAT I'VE GIVEN, AND IF THE DAY COMES WHEN THE FACTS SAY THIS PROGRAM SHOULD CHANGE, I, I WILL REEVALUATE AND GO THAT DIRECTION.

SO MY POSITION IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR UNLIMITED SURVEILLANCE.

KEEP THE TOOL, ENFORCE THE LIMITS, REVIEW THE SEARCHES, AND KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED.

JUDGE US BY THE CASES WE CAN DOCUMENT THE RULES WE FOLLOW AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY WE DEMONSTRATE.

THAT IS THE STANDARD I AM PREPARED TO ANSWER FOR AS YOUR SHERIFF.

SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'VE, I'VE GOT ANOTHER, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERJECTING DURING YOUR PRESENTATION.

I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT WHOLE SECTION.

UM, I, I READ THAT IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, THE FLOC RELEASED LIKE AN AI ASSISTANT W - TO HELP WITH THE AUDIT PROCESS.

UM, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU USE THAT IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE USE THE, IF IT'S AI ASSISTANT.

WE USE THEIR AUDITS ON THE ANOMALIES WHERE IF THEY GO THROUGH AND IT'S AN ANOMALY WHERE WE HAVE A CERTAIN, UM, DETECTIVE OR DEPUTY OR DISPATCHER RUNNING A TAG NUMEROUS TIMES THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE NORM FOR RUNNING, UM, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

UM, IS THAT WHAT IT IS? IT'S PART OF THE AUDIT TOOL.

THAT'S PART OF THE AUDIT TOOL.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE SAME THING I'M TALKING ABOUT.

UH, OKAY.

SO WE USE THEIR AUDIT TOOLS AS WELL AS WE DO OUR AUDIT AS WELL.

AND THEN, UM, UM, I'M NOT QUESTIONING YOUR DEPARTMENT'S INTEGRITY AT ALL, BUT THE NUMBERS OF 50 AND THEN 100 CASES NATIONWIDE, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY LOW.

I, I READ IN GEORGIA ALONE, A, A PAPER IN ATLANTA CAME OUT IN JULY WITH A, A STORY ABOUT IN GEORGIA.

THEY DID A, UH, INVESTIGATIVE, UH, UH, LOOK ACROSS ALL THE JURISDICTIONS THERE AND FOUND, I THINK, 44 CASES ACROSS 19 DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IF YOU PUT THAT NATIONWIDE WOULD BE A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER.

SO WHAT I'M COMING TO IS, UH, ARE SOME OF THESE STATISTICS NOT YOUR OWN RESEARCH, BUT PROVIDED BY FLOCK TO YOU? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON MISUSE BY OFFICERS FROM FLOCK.

UM, AND I DID GET THAT FROM A NEWS SOURCE WASHINGTON

[03:00:01]

POST - OKAY.

ABOUT THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT I, I'M, I'M GONNA SAY THIS, THAT THERE ARE BAD EGGS AND BAD APPLES IN EVERY PROFESSION THAT YOU ARE.

SO IF THERE'S 100, OR SAY THERE'S 500, THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 740,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS THE NATION.

AND ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS GONNA HAPPEN? YES.

UM, I, I DON'T AGREE WITH THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME COPS DO.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR NOT FOLLOWING WHAT OUR OATH SAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.

IF YOU CANNOT FOLLOW THE RULES AND YOU, YOU'RE VIOLATING SOMEONE'S CONSTITUTION, THEIR RIGHTS, YOU, THERE NEEDS TO BE DISCIPLINE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE ACTION ON THAT.

I, I AM, I, I'M GLAD IT'S PUBLICIZED.

IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THE CRIME, THEN YOU NEED TO FACE IT.

AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE A, A HARD STANCE ON THAT.

UH, SO THANK YOU.

I, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S CONCERN OF BEING TRACKED.

UM, AND THIS THING, I THINK TRACKS US MORE.

I, I, IT AMAZES ME.

I WAS IN THE GARDEN VENTING AND MY PHONE AT, WHICH WAS IN MY POCKET SAID, "I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?" I HAD NEVER HAD MY PHONE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT BEFORE.

SO KIND OF UNNERVED ME THAT, YOU KNOW - I WILL TELL YOU THAT CELL PHONE USAGE, UM, WE DO A LOT OF THIS ON OUR MAJOR CRIMES THAT ARE COMMITTED HERE IN WARREN COUNTY AND OUR INVESTIGATIONS, WE USE TRACKING OF CELL PHONES QUITE OFTEN, PROBABLY MORE SO THAN FLOCK.

UM, I ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, LIKE I SAID, I CAN UNDERSTAND IF PEOPLE'S NOT UNDERSTANDING AND NOT WANTING TO BE TRACKED AND, UH, THAT KIND OF THING IN THE, THE INVASION OF PRIVACY.

BUT THEN I ALSO, UM, HAVE A MEMBERSHIP AT HANG 10 WHERE I DRIVE UP AND THE ARM GOES UP BECAUSE IT READS MY LICENSE PLATE.

AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION TO DO A DIRECT PAYMENT INSTEAD OF HANDING OUT MONEY THERE.

UM, I'M NOT SURE PEOPLE HAVE.

AND WHO HAS ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION AND IS IT BEING SOLD? I DON'T KNOW.

NOT HANGTON IN PARTICULAR, BUT WHERE WE SEE THIS.

SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, COMMITTED A CRIME TO WHEN THEY'RE SENTENCED TO JAIL.

IT, BUT IT IS AN AVENUE OF, SEEMS LIKE MORE INVASION THAN THIS.

SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND FLOCK AS WELL AS I SHOULD.

AND, UM, I'M HOPING THIS HELPS THE COMMUNITY.

I DO, WE ALL HEAR WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE IN AN UPROAR DEMANDING THAT THEY BE REMOVED.

I PERSONALLY DON'T WANNA BE PUT IN THE POSITION OF MAKING THAT DECISION.

I WOULD RATHER SEE IF THE COMMUNITY GOES INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, AN OUTRAGE AND DEMANDING THAT IT BE PUT ON A REFERENDUM AND LET THE COMMUNITY DECIDE.

WELL, I WILL TELL YOU THAT W - I, OUR DEPARTMENTS AND PROBABLY EVERY SINGLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACROSS THE NATION GETS A LOT OF FLACK AND GRIEF AND CRITICS OVER US NOT DOING OUR JOB.

AND WHEN WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE LEADS THAT WE CAN AND WE COME UP EMPTY-HANDED, IT, IT SUCKS.

IT SUCKS AS BEING, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN INVESTIGATIONS FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

I MEAN, IN THE GREATEST TIME OF MY LIFE, THERE WAS CASES THAT I COULD SOLVE AND THERE WAS CASES THAT I COULDN'T.

AND I WORKED AS HARD AS I COULD.

THIS IS JUST A TOOL, LIKE A TOOL ON MY, MY TOOL BELT HERE TO HELP US WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND PEOPLE WHO PERPETRATE CRIMES AGAINST OUR INNOCENT CITIZENS AND PUTTING THEM IN JAIL WITH FULL PROSECUTION.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SIT BACK AND, YOU KNOW, CRY AND, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE COURTS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COURTS ARE HORRIBLE, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, OUR COPS DON'T DO ANYTHING.

IT TAKES A LOT.

THERE ARE SO MANY HOOPS WE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO GET A SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION.

EVERY T HAS TO BE CROSSED.

EVERY I HAS TO BE DOTTED.

YOU KNOW, EVERY PROCEDURE HAS TO BE FOLLOWED.

EVERY, EVERYTHING ALL THE WAY.

AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CRIMES AND THE PUNISHMENT, THEY DON'T MATCH.

BUT THAT IS WHAT OUR LEGISLATORS ARE FOR.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE JUDGES, THEIR, THEIR HANDS ARE TIED WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A POINT SYSTEM AND WHAT IT'S TIED TO, HOW MUCH TIME THEY COULD GIVE SOMEONE.

UM, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE INVOLVED THAN, OH, I'M GONNA SAY THAT

[03:05:01]

AND - SO.

I, I CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE'S PRIVACY, BUT I ALSO CONCERN ABOUT A CHILD BEING TAKEN AND IF THIS TOOL WAS THERE TO HELP GET THAT CHILD BACK FASTER.

UM, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

I, PERSONALLY, I HAVE, YOU KNOW - WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

THE MURDER OF MY BROTHER 43 YEARS AGO.

MAYBE THIS COULD HELP.

THAT'S TRUE.

IT'S STILL AN UNSOLVED CASE.

UM, SO THE, THE PROS AND THE CONS ARE THERE, AND I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND LIKE I SAID, I, I SEE THE VALUE, BUT I SEE THE CONCERNS AND I, I RESPECT THAT.

AND IF THE PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE PUT FOR A REFERENDUM BECAUSE I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO BE, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING A DECISION THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE COUNTY WHEN THE WHOLE COUNTY CAN VOTE IN ON THAT.

WELL, I AM GOING TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE VIOLATION OF SOMEONE'S PRIVACY.

WE - NO, I DON' DISAGREE.

YOUR TAG IS RIGHT OUT THERE THAT I CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF.

I CAN TAKE A PICTURE INSIDE YOUR CAR.

UM, I CAN SIT AT AN INTERSECTION AND DO A VIDEO AND TRACK PEOPLE AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

UM, YOU CAN BE SITTING ON YOUR FRONT PORCH AND I CAN BE ON THE ROAD AND I CAN VIDEOTAPE YOU ALL DAY LONG.

THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL AND IT IS REGULATED.

AND WITH THE STATE OF VIRGINIA STATING IT'S NOT AG- AGAINST ANYBODY'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, UM, ON THIS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ABIDE WITH.

NO, I, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.

THERE IS NO PERSONAL INFORMATION GATHERED WITH THIS.

UM - I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU AND, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S, AND YOU'VE PRESENTED THIS VERY WELL, BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ONLY BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

SO I, I NOT DISAGREEING WITH, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, YOU HAVE PROVEN WITH THIS, UM, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE PROVEN IT TO ME DOESN'T MEAN YOU'VE PROVEN IT TO EVERYONE.

SO THAT'S THE DIFFICULTY.

RIGHT, BUT WE GOTTA GO OFF OF FACTS.

FACTS.

I AGREE.

AND SOME PEOPLE, THERE'S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION OUT THERE IN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, JUMPING ON THE WAGON, YOU KNOW, ON A CERTAIN SIDE BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID THIS, SOMEONE'S, IT'S NOT EVEN FACTS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE LIKE GPS AND TRACKING, LIKE IT, IT'S NOT.

THAT, THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS SYSTEM IS AT ALL.

I AGREE.

ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WELL, THANK YOU.

MR. JAMESON, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, IF YOU DO, I KNOW THIS WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND YOU HAVE INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKETS AND STUFF, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME.

UM, AND I, I TALKED TO DETECTIVE ROMER TODAY IN THE PARKING LOT, YOU KNOW, AND HE WAS CHECKING HOW I WAS AND I WAS TELLING HIM I WAS GETTING READY FOR THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.

AND TO HEAR HOW PASSIONATE HE WAS AND, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE CASES THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING, UM, I AM GOING TO DRAG HIM HERE AND IN FRONT OF YOU ONE DAY.

UM, AND IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, REACH OUT TO HIM AND HE CAN GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DOING WITH FLOCK AND THE CASES THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF IT.

LIKE REACH OUT TO HIM.

UM, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, TO HEAR HIS PASSION ON THIS, AND I TOLD HIM, AND I, I DON'T WANNA LET HIM DOWN.

AND I WAS LIKE, "I'LL DO MY BEST." YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S, IT'S THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE CAN'T DO THIS ON OUR OWN.

UM, WE CAN'T DO IT WITH FOUR OR FIVE DEPUTIES ON THE STREET AT A TIME.

LIKE IT, WE, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

IT IS GONNA TAKE A VILLAGE.

AND, UM, THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT HAS ASSISTED US.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE'RE STILL 18 STEPS BEHIND THESE CRIMINALS THAT ARE COMMITTING THESE CRIMES.

WE'LL NEVER CATCH UP.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS A NEW CRIME OR A NEW WAY TO, YOU KNOW, COMMIT THESE CRIMES THAT WE'RE ALWAYS CHASING THEM.

WE'RE ALWAYS CHASING THEM.

MR. STANMEYER, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO, WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD.

THANK YOU THOUGH.

IT WAS A GOOD, REALLY? VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

I'LL, WHEN, WHS - WHEN SHE STEPPED AWAY, I'LL, I'LL EXCUSE HER.

I DO APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS UP THAT I NEED TO DO A PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.

SO THANK YOU.

MS. WALKER? CAN I JUST MAKE ONE SUGGESTION TO...

LET ME TURN THAT ON.

I, WE GOT THE MARIJUANA LAWS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT PRESENTATION'S GONNA BE.

I'M, I'M SURE THAT MS. WALL AND MS. SCOTT CAN DO A, AN EXCELLENT JOB.

BUT SINCE THE COMMISSIONER'S NOT HERE, MAYBE WE COULD POST THIS, POSTPONE THIS BECAUSE THERE'S REAL NO RUSH ON THIS.

IS THAT CORRECT, UH, CORRECT, MS. MEADOWS? THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION.

THIS IS JUST THEM LAYING OUT KIND OF THE INFORMATION.

RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'D BE GOOD IF THE COMMISSIONER

[03:10:01]

WAS HERE THEN TOO.

SO I WOULD, I WOULD R- REQUEST THAT WE JUST STRIKE THAT AND POSTPONE IT TO A FUTURE DATE, IF THAT'S AGREEABLE.

UM, AS TO THE OTHER TWO WORK, WORK SESSION ITEMS, I APOLOGIZE TO STAFF.

I'VE GOT AN IMMOVABLE CONFLICT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS MEETING TO GO QUITE THIS LONG.

UM, BUT I WILL CATCH THE VIDEO AND FOLLOW UP WITH THEM WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND, UH, APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THEY PUT INTO PREPARING FOR THIS.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL EXCUSE MYSELF.

UM, WITH OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, UH, WE CREATED OUR FIRST PUMPKIN PATCH FOR THE VA 250 EVENT OUT AT ROCKLAND.

SO, UH, MS. WALKER, SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION.

PARKS AND REC UPDATE.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UM, SO MR. CARTER AND MS. MEADOWS ASKED ME TO COME AND GIVE A LITTLE UPDATE ON WHAT PARKS AND REC HAS BEEN DOING.

AND I REALIZED THAT THE ONLY TIME I COME IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHEN I'M ASKING FOR SOMETHING FROM YOU.

SO THIS WILL BE A NICE CHANGE OF PACE, AND I PLAN TO START DOING THIS QUARTERLY.

SO AT EVERY, UM, SEASON CHANGE, I'LL COME IN FRONT OF YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON FOR THE UPCOMING SEASONS AND WHAT WE'VE COMPLETED IN THE PAST.

UM, SO WITH OUR PARKS AND REC FACILITIES, UH, WE JUST REPLACED EIGHT POSTS OUT AT CHIMLEY, UH, PARK, THE SHELTER.

THE POSTS WERE RUSTED OUT AT THE BOTTOM.

OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF ACTUALLY NOTICED AND TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO GET THOSE CHANGED.

SO WE REPLACED THOSE WITH, UM, EIGHT BY EIGHT POSTS.

UH, WE DID A BUSH HOGGING OUT AT ROCKLAND PASS FOR THIS UPCOMING VA 250 EVENT WE JUST HAD ON OCTOBER 3RD.

WE DID THE INITIAL FIRST PASS, AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETED THE SECOND.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON REMOVING THE GRAFFITI AT THE SKATE PARK.

UM, I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES FOR YOU.

WE REMOVED THE GRAFFITI ON THE HALF PIKE AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A LADY, UM, MRS. HORN COME IN AND SHE PAINTED A MURAL ON THAT HALF PIKE THAT FACES OUT TOWARDS THE SOCCER PLEX.

WE ARE 80% COMPLETE REMOVING THE GRAFFITI AND THE BOWL.

UH, WE RAN OUT OF THE GRAFFITI REMOVAL.

WE JUST ORDERED MORE, SO THAT CAME IN.

SO WE'RE GONNA GET BACK ON TOP OF THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A MONTHLY PROJECT TO REMOVE THE GRAFFITI.

WE DO REALIZE THAT IT IS A COMMON TAGGING GROUND.

OPEN CONCRETE IS READING GROUNDS FOR TAGGING AND GRAFFITI.

UM, WE DID MAKE SURE WE REMOVED THE MOST PROFANE AND INAPPROPRIATE IMAGES FIRST.

UM, ONCE THEY HAVE ANOTHER NICE DAY, THEY'LL GET OUT THERE AND REMOVE THE REST.

WE DID REMOVE SOME AND THEN CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND IT WAS TAGGED AGAIN.

SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET SOMEONE AND REACH OUT TO LOCAL ARTISTS TO COME IN AND HELP PAINT THAT AREA BECAUSE WE DID NOTICE THAT, KNOCK ON WOOD, WHEN WE PAINT SOMETHING THAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND NICE LOOKING, PEOPLE TEND TO LEAVE IT ALONE.

UM, WE'VE NOTICED THAT AT SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE MURALS.

UM, PEOPLE, I GUESS, RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK IN THAT REGARDS.

UM, SO WE ARE DOING THAT WITH THE SKATE PARK AND ANY OTHER GRAFFITI THAT WE SEE, WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE REMOVAL NOW.

UM, WE HAD A BUSTED SPRINKLER HEAD AT THE SOCCER PLEX THAT WE REPLACED.

UM, ONGOING REPLACEMENT OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

WE HAD, UH, TWO STEPS CRACKED, SO WE REPLACED THOSE ON ONE OF THE PLAYGROUNDS.

THEY JUST CAME IN YESTERDAY.

UM, OUR BOUNCE EQUIPMENT AT LYONS PARK BROKE.

WE REMOVED IT BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD.

WE'VE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PIECE FOR THAT THAT'S COMING IN.

AS SOON AS THAT COMES IN, WE'LL GET IT REPLACED.

WE HAVE A COUPLE PIECES OF FITNESS EQUIPMENT THAT BROKE OUT AT ROCKLAND.

SO ONCE THOSE SHIP IN OCTOBER, WE'LL REPLACE THOSE AS WELL.

UH, WE REMAR - RE-MULCHED THE ROCKLAND PARK PLAYGROUND.

WE REPLACED THE BENCH SOCCER GOALS AT THE SOCCER PLEX.

UH, WE UPDATED THE BULLPENS AT BEN CROSBY STADIUM TO ELIMINATE GRASS GROWTH AND TO PREVENT PUDDLING.

UH, WE ORDERED REPLACEMENT SIGNS FOR EASTON TRAIL AND WILLIAM CARSON TRAIL.

WE REPLACED THOSE.

THEY WERE DAMAGED DUE TO SUN EXPOSURE, SO WE'RE TRYING TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THOSE AS WELL.

UH, WE'RE BEGINNING PREPARING FOR NORTH POLE LIGHTS THAT WE STARTED LAST YEAR.

THE POOL WAS SHUT DOWN AND WINTERIZED.

WE REPLACED THE BROKEN FIELD GROOMER, WHICH HAS NOW HELPED US LEVEL OUT THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELD.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL STOP HAVING THOSE TYPE OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE FIELDS AREN'T LEVELED.

UM, MAINTENANCE GUYS SAY THE FIELD GROOMER WORKS WONDERFUL.

IT DOES HAVE A LASER LEVEL, SO WE'RE ABLE TO ADD DIRT IN SPOTS WE NEED IT.

SO HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD, THAT'LL ELIMINATE THE COMPLAINTS AND WE CAN HAVE A BETTER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GIRLS' SOFTBALL AND FOOTBALL, I MEAN, BASEBALL TEAMS MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING THING ABOUT OUR FIELD STATUS AT CHIMNEY.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT.

UH, WE REPLACED THE GAS PUMP AT THE MAINTENANCE SHOP AND INSTALLED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

UH, WE RE-BEAR-PROOFED THE BEAR-PROOF TRASH CANS BECAUSE THE BEARS ARE SMARTER THAN HUMANS APPARENTLY, AND THEY OPENED THEM, DESTROYED THEM, SO WE FIXED THOSE.

AND WE REPAINTED THE SHELTERS AT THE SOCCER PLEX IN LIONS PARK.

AND WE REPLACED THE S - OR REPAIRED THE SCOREBOARD AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMPLEX.

[03:15:01]

IT WAS AMAZING.

IT TOOK OFF REALLY WELL.

UH, WE HAD A PUMPKIN CHUNKING OUT THERE, SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE SEVERAL PUMPKINS NEXT YEAR, WHICH WILL BE WONDERFUL, UM, TO MOVE A PUMPKIN PATCH AT THE TOP.

UH, LET'S SEE.

WE'RE GONNA CON- CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS REACHING OUT NOW, THE COALITION.

WE PARTNER AT THEIR EVENTS.

THEY PARTNER AT OURS AS WELL.

UH, WE PARTNERED WITH THE PALS, UM, WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR FLAG FOOTBALL.

THAT'S BEEN ONGOING SINCE SEPTEMBER.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT GOING YEARLY NOW.

UM, I THINK FLAG FOOTBALL'S STARTING TO TAKE OFF.

IT'S IN HIGH SCHOOLS NOW.

COLLEGE, IT'S GONNA BE AN OLYMPIC SPORT, SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE PEOPLE TRANSITIONING BACK TO FLAG.

UM, LET'S SEE.

WE PARTNERED WITH THE ARK OF WARREN AND BLUE RIDGE OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER PROGRAMS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ACTUALLY, ON FRIDAY, HAVE A GAME SHOW EVENT COMING UP FOR BLUE RIDGE OPS.

WE'RE GONNA TAILOR IT TO, UM, GAMES LIKE JEOPARDY, UH, WHEEL FORTUNE, FAMILY FEUD, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

WE DID A BINGO WITH THEM BEFORE AND A KARAOKE, SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING WITH THOSE.

UM, OTHER FALL PROGRAMS AND RECREATIONS, WE'RE GONNA LAUNCH AN AFTERSCHOOL SUPER SPORTS CLUB, UH, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON NON-TRADITIONAL SPORTS LIKE ULTIMATE FRIZZLY, BUCKET GOLF, UM, THINGS THAT KIDS AREN'T REALLY EXPOSED TO EXCEPT IN PE CLASSES.

AND THEN IF THEY LIKE 'EM, CARRY THOSE ON.

UH, WE'RE OFFERING ANOTHER TODDLER SPORTS, NUTRITION CLASS, TWO WOMEN'S SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES.

OUR GYMNASTICS REGISTRATION IS OPEN.

THE DEADLINE'S OCTOBER 16TH.

BASKETBALL REGISTRATION'S OPEN FOR THE WINTER.

THE DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 21ST.

UH, WE'RE WORKING TO ESTABLISH A PICKLEBALL LEAGUE AND A VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE THIS COMING, UM, SPRING.

UH, POKEMON CLUB STARTED BACK UP.

MAHJONG PROGRAM, WE EXPANDED INTO THURSDAY EVENINGS.

IT'S OUTGROWING OUR SPACE, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

UM, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO OFFER MORE MOVIE NIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMS COMING UP THAT YOU CAN FIND ON OUR CIVIC REC FLEGS FLIGHT.

UM, WE ARE TRYING TO REESTABLISH OUR GROW SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH IS GIFTING RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES IN WARREN.

UM, WE HAD OUR FIRST PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT, RAISED $250, I MEAN, $15 TOWARDS THE GROW SCHOLARSHIP.

THAT WAS ON APRIL 13TH.

UM, WE'RE GONNA DO ANOTHER PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT THIS MONTH, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER INSIDE AT THE GYM.

WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ASK IF WE WOULD CONTINUE THOSE ON.

PICKLEBALL, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, HAS TAKEN OFF.

UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

UM, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR FIRST, UM, ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT TO TRY TO RAISE, RAISE MONEY FOR THE GROW SCHOLARSHIP.

WE ALREADY HAVE $1,500 IN SPONSORSHIPS THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH SCHOLARSHIP.

WE'RE GONNA START DOING THREE-ON-THREE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF SPORTS-RELATED FUNDRAISERS THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.

UM, LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE GONNA REMAIN FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES WHILE WE EXPAND.

UM, WE'RE GONNA WORK ON APPLYING FOR GRANTS, UM, REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR DONATIONS.

WE DID SET UP A DONATION BIN AT THE PUMPKIN CHUCK INN TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR REVITALIZING FANTASY LAND.

UM, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE OUR PARKS AS OPTIMAL AND AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY DESERVE THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WE WANT THEM TO KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO WASTE.

WE DO UNDERSTAND.

AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME, RESOURCES, AND MONEY, AND WE'RE WORKING OUT EVERY AVENUE THAT WE CAN TO OBTAIN THAT FOR THEM.

ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I, I HAD TR- TROUBLE HEARING.

COULD YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID? ALL OF IT.

ALL OF IT? NO.

NO, VERY GOOD.

I APPRECIATE IT.

A COUPLE THINGS THAT YOU, YOU TOUCHED ON.

UM, LET ME SEE WHERE I START.

FANTASY LAND.

THE SAME THING, REPLACING THEIR OLD WOODEN PLAYGROUND, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT, GETTING SURVEYS, HAVING THE COMMUNITY GIVE US DESIGNS LIKE THEY DID WITH THE OLD FANTASY LAND, ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN BE INVOLVED AS WELL.

AND HOW'S THAT PROGRESSING AS FAR AS IS THAT BEING DONE BY PRIVATE? I KNOW THEY WANNA REPLACE THAT WHOLE FACILITY.

YES, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.

SO I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT, UM, PLAYGROUND COMPANIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TYPE OF GRANTS THEY HAVE, IF IT'S GONNA BE A COMMUNITY BUILD, A NON-COMMUNITY BUILD, WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.

I REALLY WANNA GET WITH THEM AND ESTABLISH A SET, TRANSPARENT APPROACH FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED, EVEN IF IT'S NOT A COMMUNITY BUILD, MAYBE HELPING WITH THE AESTHETICS, UM, SETTING UP DONATION FUNDS, REACHING OUT.

UM, WE JUST WANNA GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, IDEAS ON HOW THEY'D LIKE TO SEE THE PARK DONE.

I DID GO UP TO HARRISONBURG AND I LOOKED AT THEIR KIDS CASTLE PARK, WHICH WAS A REPLACEMENT FOR WHAT THEIR FANTASY LAND WAS.

IT IS PHENOMENAL.

THEY PUT 2.6 MILLION IN, BUT I REALLY LIKED THE CONCEPT BECAUSE THEY HAD SOME WOODEN STRUCTURES AND MODERNIZED PLACE STRUCTURES.

SO MAYBE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I KNOW 2.6 MILLION IS A LOT FOR OUR AREA, UM, COMPARED TO WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD, AND I DO KNOW THAT THEY RECEIVED GRANTS FOR THAT.

UM, BUT IT WASN'T TEST - NECESSARILY A COMMUNITY BUILD, BUT I DID SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY DID TO HELP GET THAT PARK ORGANIZED.

UM, SO I'M REACHING OUT TO WINCHESTER, TO THEIR DIRECTOR, BECAUSE THEY JUST DID

[03:20:01]

'CAUSE I KNOW WHEN THEY BUILT FANTASY LAND LAST CENTURY - YEAH.

UH, A LOT OF COMMUNITY CAME OUT.

I HELPED FOR ONE DAY, I THINK.

BUT THAT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD.

GOT EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

UM, THE OTHER THING, TOO, THAT I THINK WHEN I WAS AT THE LAST MEETING, I THINK I MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP, AND I THINK, UH, MS. MEADOWS HAS TOUCHED ON IT AS FAR AS IN THE, UM, CIP, AND THAT'S THE, THE TRAIL DOWN THERE AT, UH, VFW? YES, SIR.

I KNOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AT, UH, UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE OR SOMETHING.

IS THAT GONNA BE LIKE A NATIVE PLANT AREA TOO? SO I HAD A LADY REACH OUT THAT SHE HAS A GRANT AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO PUT A NATIVE MEADOW IN THAT AREA.

UM, HOWEVER, I HAVE PUT HER ON HOLD UNTIL WE CAN START GETTING IN THERE AND DECIDING WHERE THE PATH IS GONNA GO AND WHAT PORTION WE CAN DEDIGNATE, DESIGNATE TO THE NATIVE MEADOW, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT MR. ANDREAS WANTED IT TO BE AN OPEN AREA WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME, SIT, PICNIC, PLAY PICKUP GAMES, NOT A RENTABLE SPACE SINCE WE DON'T HAVE MANY OF THOSE IN THE COUNTY.

SO, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT ONE THERE AS WELL.

IS THAT YOUR DOG? NO, SIR.

UM, AND THEN THIS KINDA GOES IN TOGETHER, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET STUFF GOING ON ROCKLAND PARK AS FAR AS I THINK THE ADDITIONAL FIELDS, THE BATHHOUSE, ALL THOSE AMENITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOT A TIMELINE, BUT IT'S BEEN EXTENDED, SO THAT'S GOOD.

AND I KNOW ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WHEN I WAS AT THE MEETING LAST OR BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS, WELL, ABOUT HAVING, UH, ENOUGH PRACTICE FIELDS AND ALSO HAVING ENOUGH INDOOR FACILITIES.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED TOO AS FAR AS WITH, UM, TOURISM, HAVING LIKE AN INDOOR FACILITY TO HOST TOURNAMENTS AND THOSE THINGS TOO.

BUT I, AND I THINK I BROUGHT THAT UP AT ONE TIME.

I KNOW WAY BACK WHEN, WHEN MY KIDS WERE PLAYING SOCCER, THEY USED THE PRACTICE FIELD ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE ON SHENANDOAH DOWN BELOW RIVERTON.

I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER CHECKED INTO THAT AS FAR AS HAVING OTHER PRACTICE FIELDS OR SOMETHING TO MAYBE LOOK AT.

UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WHO USED THAT.

WE USED TO USE IT FOR FLAG FOOTBALL.

UM - OKAY.

BUT I CAN TALK TO JOE WITH FRONT ROW SOCCER AND SEE IF THEY USE IT OR IF THEY KNOW WHO USES IT.

OR I CAN REACH OUT TO THEM AND GIVE JOE THAT POINT OF CONTACT AS WELL.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO USE, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE WE HAD THE CURFET LANE SOCCER PLEX - YES, SIR.

AT THAT POINT TOO.

UM, ANOTHER THING TOO, AND I KNOW YOU WEREN'T HERE, BUT, UH, WELL, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

BUT ANYWAY, THERE WAS SOME RUMOR GOING AROUND TOO, THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE PARK ON SHORT AND FRONT STREET.

WHAT'S NAME OF THAT PARK? YES.

SO - THEY WERE GONNA TURN INTO A DOG PARK.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO THAT.

NO, SIR.

NOT RIGHT NOW.

SO I HAD A LADY THAT PRESENTED ME WITH THE WHOLE PLAN FOR THAT.

I TOLD HER I WOULD BRING IT UP TO THE REC COMMISSION.

WE HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF AVENUES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHECKED OUT BEFORE THAT WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO BE ESTABLISHED.

IF IT'S ALLOWABLE IN TOWN, NOISE ORDINANCE, ANY, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF FOLLOW THROUGH.

UM, I APPRECIATED THE LADY REACHING OUT, GIVING ME THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE NOT - OKAY.

SAID THAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING TOO.

I MEAN, THAT, THAT...

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT, THAT WAS ON FACEBOOK AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SOMETHING'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT WASN'T TRUE? YES, SIR.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING TOO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TOUCHED ON THAT OR NOT, BUT, UH, I KNOW THEY HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE PRESS BOX.

IS THAT BEING ADDRESSED NOW? YES.

IT IS BEING ADDRESSED.

SO THE PRESS BOX ROOF BLEW OFF IN THE BAD STORMS WE HAD A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

NOT THE ENTIRE ROOF, JUST THE PARTIAL SECTION.

UM, WE DID FILE A CLAIM WITH VERSA.

THEY GAVE US PARTIAL REFUND FOR THE INTERIOR DAMAGE.

UM, OUR TEAM IS LOOKING AT IT.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THAT REPAIRED.

WE DID GET A COST ESTIMATE OF LIKE 20,000 TO GET IT DONE.

OUR TEAM HAS STATED THAT THEY COULD DO IT INTERNALLY, SO.

THAT'S GOOD.

AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING WITH OUR PARK SYSTEM.

WE GOT THE WALKING TRAILS, THIS, UH, THE BALL FIELDS, THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AS FAR AS HOSTING DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU COVERED IT ALL, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OH YES, MA'AM.

A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UM - SURE.

ONE, THE LITTLE PARK THERE, UH, ON SH - UM, SHORT STREET.

I KNOW I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT REACH OUT TO ME BECAUSE THAT'S MY DISTRICT.

UM, WHEN THE GATE IS LOCKED.

SO I KNOW THE CHILDREN ARE STILL USING IT.

WOULD, IF IT TURNED INTO A, A, AN AREA FOR DOGS, THEN THE CHILDREN WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE IT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO HAVE WE SURVEYED THAT COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THE PLAYGROUND FOR THE CHILDREN VERSUS HAVING A DOG PARK? I MEAN - YES, NOT YET.

UM, I'VE ONLY HAD ONE LADY ASK FOR THE DOG PARK.

UM, I HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY ELSE BRING THAT TO MY ATTENTION, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.

I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LIKE UPGRADED PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN THE NEW BUDGETS, A ROTATING SCHEDULE FOR EACH PARK IS SOMETHING I'M WORKING ON SO THAT WE CAN UPDATE EACH PARK SO IT'S NOT A HUGE HIT EVERY YEAR.

[03:25:01]

I HAVEN'T HAD A CALL FOR A WHILE, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT USE IT FREQUENTLY BECAUSE I GET THAT CALL OF, "CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE, THE GATES BEING LOCKED?" AND, AND AT THAT TIME, BRAD WAS STILL HERE AND I HAD HIS NUMBER TO BE ABLE TO CALL HIM AND SAY, "HEY, CAN YOU GET SOMEBODY TO UNLOCK THE GATE UP THERE?" UM, THE OTHER ONE WAS, UM, I WAS AT THE 4-H CENTER EVENT THE OTHER NIGHT AND, UM, IT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE POOL UP THERE NEEDING SOME, UH, REHAB.

AND NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, COMPANIES.

I TOLD HER YOU HAD SOMEONE THAT DID YOURS AND THAT MAYBE YOU COULD COMMUNICATE THAT TO HER.

I CAN DO THAT.

AND PUT ON THE LIST SO THAT THEY CAN GET ESTIMATES OF, UM, WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO WHATEVER THEY NEED DONE UP THERE.

SURE.

I CAN DO THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE HAD THREE COMPANIES COME OUT, SO I CAN GIVE HER THOSE CONTACTS.

I APPRECIATE THAT.M.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.

NEXT UP IS, UH, MRS. WALL WITH BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND THE MEMBERSHIP AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT WORLD.

APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US AN UPDATE.

LET'S SEE.

LET TUCKER GET MY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION UP.

DID THEY CUT YOU OFF? SORRY, THERE WAS CONFUSION.

I THOUGHT WE MOVED BOTH OF MY STUFF UNTIL JASON LET ME KNOW.

SO I DO APOLOGIZE FOR LEAVING.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING FLEXIBLE WITH THE CHANGING AROUND.

JUST ONE SECOND.

NO, WE DON'T NEED THAT ONE AGAIN.

WELL, SHE WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE I TOLD HER YOUR STUFF WAS BEEN MOVED AND THEN I SAT DOWN AND SAW HER NAME AGAIN ON ANOTHER ONE, SO.

SHE COULDN'T HEAR YOU GUYS FROM BACK THERE.

OH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH US.

NO, YOU'RE FINE.

COURT ALLOWED HIM, UM, ALLOWED HIS APPOINTMENT, HE WOULD HAVE TO FULFILL THE REMAINING PORTION OF MR. WECKAMAN'S TERM, WHICH EXPIRES AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

SO THE REASON FOR THE WORK SESSION IS I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU GUYS WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATUTORY AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING MEMBERSHIP, APPOINTMENTS, ATTENDANCE, WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUORUM AND POTENTIAL USE OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS.

UM, SO THE BZA IS A QUAS - A QUASI-JUDICIAL BOARD THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

CURRENTLY, WARREN COUNTY'S POLICY IS A FIVE MEMBER BOARD.

THREE MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A HEARING AND VACANCIES OR REPEATED ABSENCES CAN THEREFORE CREATE OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES.

SO THE PURPOSE OF BRINGING IT FORWARD TODAY IS NOT TO FOCUS ON ANY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER, BUT RATHER TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF POTENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF THE BZA.

SO AS I GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, I'LL BRIEFLY COVER ALL OF THE IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE BZA.

SO WHY THE BZA MATTERS? UM, SO EVERY LOCALITY THAT ADOPTS A ZONING ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A BZA.

UM, THEIR CORE FUNCTION IS TO HEAR APPEALS FROM ZONING ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS, CONSIDER VARIANCES, ET CETERA.

WITHOUT A QUORUM, THE BZA CANNOT CONDUCT A HEARING POTENTIALLY DELAYING APPEALS IN OTHER CASES.

SO AS I STATED BEFORE, WARREN COUNTY CODE ESTABLISHES A FIVE MEMBER BZA.

STATE LAW ALLOWS THREE, FIVE, OR SEVEN MEMBERS FOR A COUNTY BZA AND BETWEEN ONE TO THREE ALTERNATES.

SO CURRENTLY WE DO NOT HAVE AN ALTERNATE PROCESS.

AND AS IT STANDS NOW, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING INTO AN ISSUE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH OUR BZA FOR ATTENDANCE.

UM, SO WE HAVE HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ADVERTISED AND PUT OFF BECAUSE OF ATTENDANCE LACKING.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AN OPTION TO YOU ALL TO NOMINATE ALTERNATES.

YOU GUYS DO NOT APPOINT THE BZA MEMBERS, THE CIRCUIT COURT DOES, BUT I WANNA DISCUSS WITH YOU GUYS THE OPTION OF ALTERNATES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR US.

WE DO.

AND THEY SERVE FIVE YEAR TERMS UNLIKE YOUR FOUR YEAR TERMS, AND THEY ARE STAGGERED.

SO WE HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER WHO THEIR TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, BUT THANKS TO JOHN, HE DID FIND A BACKUP.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO GO OVER WITH JASON.

IT'S OKAY.

UM, ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

IF, IF MR. WECKENMAN WERE TO STEP DOWN TODAY AND MR. CHRISTENSEN WAS TO STEP FORWARD, AND LET'S JUST ASSUME THAT THE CIRCUIT

[03:30:01]

HE COULD BE REAPPOINTED IN THE NEW YEAR, BUT THAT'S WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS OF NOW.

AND MR. WECKENMAN IS SEEKING RELIEF FROM THE BZA.

YES? JUST ONE QUICK THING, AND THEN WHATEVER.

ANYWAY, BEFORE I FORGET, DOES IT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER FROM EACH DISTRICT? AS IT STANDS NOW, THAT'S BEEN OUR PROCESS.

THE ALTERNATES, HOWEVER, DO NOT.

THEY WOULD BE AT LARGE.

WE ARE GONNA HAVE A POLICY ON APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR THINGS AND INTERVIEWING.

AND, I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME THAT JASON AND JORDAN WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

UM, I MEAN, I, THERE WOULD BE NO ABILITY TO COME TO A CONCLUSION WITH EACH OF YOU WHO THOSE THREE, WHICH DISTRICTS THOSE MEMBERS WOULD COME FROM.

SO THEY WOULD JUST BE QUALIFIED AT LARGE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE STAGGER THAT.

SO I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND JUST BRINGING ON THREE ALTERNATES THIS YEAR.

WE WOULD WANT THEIR TERMS TO BE STAGGERED THE SAME WAY OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE.

SO THIS YEAR WE COULD LOOK AT ONE NEXT YEAR, WE COULD LOOK AT ANOTHER, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, A THIRD, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS CHOOSE.

OR YOU COULD JUST GO AHEAD AND STAGGER THE TERMS FOR THE ALTER- ALTER- ALTERNATES HAVE ONE SERVED ONE YEAR, THE OTHER ONE SERVE TWO, AND THEN THREE? THEY FULFILL THE SAME FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

SO CURRENTLY, OUR PROCESS IS THAT WE, I, WE, WE RECRUIT OR IDENTIFY POTENTIAL MEMBERS, YOU GUYS NOMINATE THEM, YOU DISCUSS IT AMONGST YOURSELVES.

UM, ESSENTIALLY YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS PICKED YOUR OWN CANDIDATE.

AND THEN THE CIRCUIT COURT MAKES THE LEGAL APPOINTMENT.

AS IT STANDS, WE REQUIRE THREE MEMBERS FOR A QUORUM.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FAVOR- FAVORABLE VOTE OF THREE MEMBERS IS REQUIRED TO PASS.

SO IF WE ONLY HAVE THREE MEMBERS PRESENT AND THEY VOTE TWO TO ONE, IT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD.

IT HAS TO BE FAVORABLE.

THEY WOULD ALL THREE HAVE TO VOTE IN THE SAME MANNER FOR IT TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE WOULD ALWAYS WANT TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS PRESENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO A PRO - WELL, THE LAST TWO MONTHS WE'VE ONLY HAD TWO MEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE'VE NOT EVEN BEEN ABLE TO CONDUCT A MEETING.

SO WHAT THE STATUTE DOES AND DOES NOT SAY IS THAT A REGULAR MEMBER ANTICIPATING ABSENCE OR ABSTENTION MUST NOTIFY THE CHAIRMAN AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN WELL REGULATED.

UM, SO I HAVE SENT OUT AN EMAIL REMINDER TO OUR BZA MEMBERS AND OUR CHAIRMAN THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO LET US KNOW 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

WE'RE GONNA FIGHT WITH THE TV.

GIVE ME JUST ONE MOMENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS...

THEY FOUND A REMOTE TO THAT, DIDN'T THEY? HUNTER, DO YOU HAVE THE REMOTE? IT WANTS TO POWER OFF.

I THOUGH THEY DID.

OH, IT WASN'T THE REMOTE RIGHT ONE? OH.

MAYBE THEY DID.

SO WHAT THE STATUTE DOES NOT PROVIDE IS A MECHANISM, UH, LIKE A FIXED NUMBER OF ABSENCES.

WE, TO REMOVE A BOARD MEMBER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

THE CIRCUIT COURT HAS TO REMOVE THEM.

IT'S, IT'S QUITE A PROCESS AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING I'D RATHER US NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

SO I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT CONTINUING OUR PROCESS WHEREAS YOU GUYS, UH, REQUEST APPOINTMENTS OR ALTERNATES.

WE BRING THAT TO THE CIRCUIT COURT AND THEN THEY SERVE AS NEEDED.

THEY HAVE THE SAME EXACT AUTHORITY AS THE MEMBER THAT THEY'RE REPLACING.

THIS, THIS WILL FULFILL WHETHER A MEMBER IS ABSENT OR IF ONE HAS TO ABSTAIN, AND THEY HOLD THE SAME AUTHORITY AS THE MEMBER THAT THEY'RE REPLACING.

I WANTED YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OPTIONS.

SO CONTINUE RECRUITMENT AND NOMINATION FOR VACANCIES AS WE ALWAYS HAVE, AND I'VE LISTED OUR TERMS. SO OUR SENA - SHENANDOAH DISTRICT BZA MEMBER EXPIRES THIS DECEMBER.

FORK NEXT, HAPPY CREEK 2028, SOUTH RIVER 29, AND NORTH RIVER 2030.

NOW, IF THESE VACANCIES ARE NOT FILLED, THESE MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE FILLING THEIR POSITIONS UNTIL A NEW PERSON IS APPOINTED.

UM, WHAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO DO IS CONSIDER REQUESTING APPOINTMENT OF ONE TO THREE ALTERNATES.

AND LIKE I SAID, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT STAGGERED.

SO ONE THIS YEAR, ONE NEXT YEAR, AND ADDITIONAL THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

AND THEN I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO WORK WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BZA TO ESTABLISH A, UH, ROTATION PROCEDURE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, FAIRFAX COUNTY REQUIRES A ROTATION OF ALTERNATES.

SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHETHER THEY'RE, IT'S PROBABLY BY APPOINTMENT PERIOD AND THEN THEY ARE TO BE CYCLED THROUGH.

SO THESE ARE THE OPTIONS THAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER.

AND THE KEY TAKEAWAYS, UH, FIVE REGULAR MEMBERS, FIVE STAGGERED TERMS, THE CIRCUIT COURT APPOINTS, COUNTIES JUST CAN NOMINATE.

UH, THREE MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED FOR A QUORUM, UP TO THREE ALTERNATES.

WE DON'T ADDRESS ABSENCES.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT ADDRESSING IN OUR BYLAWS FOR THE BZA.

IT'S NOT CURRENTLY IN THERE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE CIRCUIT COURT HAS TO REMOVE THEM.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I WOULD,

[03:35:01]

SO THAT PO - WOULD APPLY TO THIS AS WELL.

AND THEN WE WOULD.

I KNOW, BUT WE, THAT, WHOEVER WE SELECT OUT OF THE INTERVIEWS WOULD GO UP FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE JUDGE.

I MEAN, THAT IS THE PROCESS WE SAID WE WERE GONNA DO FOR OTHERS.

SO I WOULD THINK WE WOULD DO THAT.

THE JUDGE WOULD ULTIMATELY...

SO IF HE'S MAKING, UM, HE OR SHE IS MAKING THAT DETERMINATION, WOULD WE NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE APPLICANT FOR EACH YEAR SO THEY HAVE A CHOICE OR DO WE SEND UP ONE? I'VE NEVER SEEN A JUDGE REJECT A LOCALITY'S RECOMMENDATION.

I WOULD...

WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE DOING, DRAFTING YOUR POLICY, I WOULD MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE SO THAT YOU WOULD SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, "THIS POLICY, YOU KNOW, APPLIES TO BOARD APPOINTEES AND TO THOSE APPOINTED BY A COURT AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD." SO THAT YOU WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THAT, UH, AMONGST THAT.

BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN A JUDGE REFUSE TO DO WHAT THE LOCALITY WANTS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT AND, AND - NO, THE, THE JUDGE DOESN'T WANNA GET INTO Y'ALL' BUSINESS.

WE HAVE DECIDED MOVING FORWARD TO BE CONSISTENT WITH, UH, APPOINTING TO BOARDS AND, AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

'CAUSE I'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO.

UM, WHEN IS THE FOURTH DISTRICT BZA PERSON? FOURTH IS NEXT YEAR, SO DECEMBER OF 27.

AND IT'S FIVE-YEAR TERM, SO THE - YES, SIR.

TWO I'VE HAD IS, HAVE FILLED AN EXISTING TERM.

UM, THEY WEREN'T NEW TERMS. UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND OR OFFER THIS FOR SOME, MAYBE SOME QUICK RELIEF BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'VE BOTH BEEN APPROVED AND THEY'VE, UH, BOTH DONE THE JOBS THAT ARE EXPERIENCED AND SO, UM, SEAN DID PUT HIMSELF IN A CONFLICT AND ACTUALLY MISSED THE LAST MEETING.

HE SEEMS VERY APOLOGETIC ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS A OVERSIGHT AND THEN HE WAS SCHEDULED OUT THE MEETING BEFORE.

I REACHED BACK OUT TO, UH, PAUL, OUR FORMER BZA MEMBER, DID A LITTLE TIME ON PLANNING COMMI- COMMISSION AND THEN ENDED UP, UH, RESIGNING FROM THAT POSITION.

IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN HE HAD WANTED, BUT HE HAD INDICATED HE WOULD BE GLAD, UH, TO HELP OUT ON THE BZA BECAUSE IT'S NOT QUITE AS MUCH DEMAND.

UM, SO WE GLADLY COULD...

BOTH OF THEM INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD EITHER DO PRIMARY OR ALTERNATE.

UM, BOTH OF THEM'S BEEN APPROVED BEFORE, BOTH OF THEM'S GOT EXPERIENCE.

UM, AND THEN MAYBE WE COULD DO TWO NOW MAYBE BECAUSE JOHN'S IS COMING UP ON A RENEWAL.

SO IF WE DID ONE FROM THE FORK, IT'S GONNA RENEW IN A YEAR OR TWO, AND THEN JOHN'S WOULD RENEW IN FIVE.

IT WOULD PUT TWO ALTERNATES ON THE TABLE IMMEDIATELY WITH A STAGGERED RENEWAL PERIOD BECAUSE THEY'D BE JUST, UH, FILLING OUT TERMS HERE.

UM, THE NEW...

THE ALTERNATE WOULD BE ITS OWN FIVE-YEAR.

THEY ARE NOT...

THE ALTERNATE WOULDN'T BE FULFILLING.

OH, OKAY.

I GOTCHA.

SO THEY'RE THEIR OWN FIVE-YEAR TERM.

WELL, I COULD, UH, I COULD OFFER, UH, MR. BARNHART SERVICES AS, AS AN ALTERNATE.

HE, HE'S AGREED THAT HE WOULD, UM - THAT WOULD BE NICE FOR THE SAKE OF EFFICIENCY, BUT THAT'S JUST - WELL, I, I'LL GET HIM TO IF, UH, IF YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S A PROBLEM, UH - YEAH.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 5TH.

SO WE, WE DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING.

SO WE'LL HAVE FIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND I, I HAVE LET OUR BZA KNOW.

WE'RE USED TO ONLY SEEING MAYBE FOUR APPLICATIONS A YEAR.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK.

I MEAN, WE HAVE FIVE IN NOVEMBER ALONE.

AND THAT MAY VERY WELL BE THE, THE REST THAT WE HAVE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, BUT IT'S JUST COMPLETELY UNKNOWN.

I, I'LL, I'LL GET THE...

I'LL JUST GET PAUL TO REAPPLY, AND THEN IF Y'ALL WANT, IF, IF THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, FINDS HIM FIT OR WHATEVER, LIKES ANYTHING, IT CAN BE AN ALTERNATE.

HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE EMPTY? NOTHING IS EMPTY CURRENTLY.

NO, SIR.

FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, PLANNING COMMISSION, I MISSED A MEETING ONE TIME TOO, JUST FORGOT IT.

I MEAN, YOU'D BE, UH, WHICH IS PRETTY UNEXCUSABLE WHEN THE MEETING'S EVERY MONTH, BUT IT'S WHAT, UH, I THINK IT MAKES IT HARDER IS WHEN YOU DON'T MEET EVERY MONTH.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE, UH, YOU, YOU'RE IN, YOU MIGHT NOT MEET FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE TWO MEETINGS IN A MONTH.

MAKES IT, UH, MIGHT MAKE IT HARDER FOR SOMEONE TO REMEMBER, WHERE IF YOU'RE A CREATURE OF HABIT, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA MEET THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, YOU GET KINDA MORE OF A ROUTINE OR, OR WHATEVER IT IS.

AND WE TOUCHED ON IT ALREADY BRIEFLY, BUT RIGHT NOW, IS IT, IS IT, IS IT STATE STATUTE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE BZA FROM EACH DISTRICT? NO.

DISTRICT, BUT IF YOU'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING SOMEBODY FROM EACH DISTRICT, IT MAY BE WORTHWHILE TO FILL IT.

STATE STATUTE DOESN'T SAY THAT AT ALL.

I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE ACTUALLY SHOULD BE DOING THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE WARREN COUNTY ORDINANCE SAYS AND THE STATE CODE JUST SAYS FIVE MEMBERS, SO.

WE COULD CONSIDER THAT TOO.

I KNOW IT'S NICE TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM EVERY

[03:40:01]

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE STRUGGLING TO FULFILL, UM, A ROLE.

IT...

THE FOURTH DISTRICT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR SOME TIME, AND WE HAD LOOKED AT THAT, BUT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT THAT TIME HAD ADVISED AGAINST DOING SO, UM, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF HOW WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THINGS.

UM, BUT NO, IT IS NOT, IT'S NOT REQUIRED.

IF, IF WE DID IT, IF WE DID IT POLICY-WISE, I THINK YOU SHOULD TRY TO DO EACH DISTRICT FIRST, AND THEN IF YOU CAN'T GET IT - NO, I, I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT AT LEAST WE WOULDN'T BE HAMPERED BY THAT.

THE OTHER THING YOU MENTIONED TOO ABOUT ROTATING, WHAT WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT, ROTATING? MM-HMM.

THE ALTERNATES.

SO WHAT - YES, SIR.

SO WE HAD AN ALTERNATE THAT'S ON THERE, THE OTHER GUY GOES OFF, WE PUT THE ALTERNATE ON THE BZA, THEN WE FIND ANOTHER ALTERNATE? IS THAT WHAT YOU - NO.

WHEN WE SELECT WHO THE ALTERNATE IS GOING TO - YEAH, SOMEBODY SCHEDULED OUT FOR A MEETING.

NOT HAVE THE SAME ONE.

SO LET'S JUST ASSUME WE ONLY NEED ONE FOR A MEETING.

IT'S COMPLETELY APOLITICAL.

WHO ARE WE PICKING? GOTCHA.

SO AS NOT TO SHOW FAVORITISM, BECAUSE IT, IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

YOU'RE BASICALLY HOLDING A COURT SESSION AND YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE ALTERNATES BECAUSE NOW WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST INTER - UH, BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE FOR THE ALTERNATES.

SO THEY SHOULD TRULY JUST BE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE DECISIONS.

AND I THINK THAT, THAT PART OF THE REASON WE'VE HAD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS IS BECAUSE OF YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

BECAUSE IN THE PAST, FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW ONE, IT JUST HAPPENED.

IT WAS GONNA GO BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR, UH, A CHALLENGE TO THE SETBACKS OR SOMETHING.

AND THEN YOU LOOKING AT THE CODE, YOU SAID THAT ACTUALLY HAS TO GO FOR THE BZA.

HMM.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO I, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY A, A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A POLICY THAT THE COUNTY HAS THAT, UH, SAYS THAT EACH ONE COMES FROM EACH DISTRICT.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A COUNTY ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT.

AND I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY CAN DO THAT.

I MEAN, YOU CAN CHOOSE PEOPLE PER DISTRICT, BUT THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT, NOT SURE THAT THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT IF YOU WANNA PROVIDE YOURSELF FLEXIBILITY, YOU'D WANNA MODIFY THAT ORDINANCE TO BASICALLY JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, FIVE MEMBERS AND - RIGHT.

AND I MIGHT, AFTER I LOOK AT THIS, YOU KNOW, DECIDE THAT YOU KINDA NEED TO DO THAT ANYWAY SINCE NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TWO ALTERNATES.

SO IF THE BOARD'S INTERESTED IN JUST MAKING IT FIVE MEMBERS AND THEN THE BOARD CAN THEN CHOOSE OR NOT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS TO EITHER MAKE IT A POLICY TO HAVE ONE FROM EACH, UM, DISTRICT OR NOT, UH, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERISM AND WHO'S WILLING TO DO WHAT.

UH, BUT RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR OWN ORDINANCE.

AND THE STATUTE DOES, AS WELL AS OUR ORDINANCE, WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE BZA CAN BE A PLANNING COMMISSIONER.

SO A BOARD OF SUPERVISOR CANNOT BE A BZA MEMBER, HOWEVER, PLANNING COMMISSIONER CAN BE.

AND CURRENTLY OUR CHAIRMAN, ROBERT MYERS, IS SERVING THAT ROLE.

NOW, THEY ALSO CAN BE LIKE A TOWN OFFICIAL THAT LIVES WITHIN THE JURISDICTION AS WELL.

SO SOMEBODY FROM...

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL COULD ALSO BE ON THE BOARD.

THAT'S STATE STATUTE.

AND THEN OUR, OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE ALSO REQUIRE, REQUIRES A PLANNING COMMISSIONER TO BE ON THE BZA.

WHEREAS STATE LAW JUST SAYS THEY CAN BE.

I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT, UM, BECAUSE THEY...

I- IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN THAT DISTRICT, THEN THEY, THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISTRICT.

SO, BUT THE AT LARGE, I THINK, KEEPS IT FROM ONE DISTRICT OVERPOWERING ANOTHER IN DECISIONS AND - AT LEAST WITH THE ALTERNATES, YEAH.

SO - BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW...

I MEAN, YOU GUYS COLLECTIVELY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE AS A BOARD THOSE ALTERNATES.

AND IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA BE BASED ON, AS I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU GUYS WANT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE BASED ON THE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT.

AND, UM, AS, AS FAR AS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROCESS, WE'LL ALL HAVE A, A PART IN THAT, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE JUDGE, UM, STAGGERING IT.

AND, AND THE ROTATION, THEY'RE GONNA NEED A ROTATION TO KEEP THEM FRESH.

STARTED, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE TIME TO DECIDE AS FAR AS, UH, IF IT HAS TO BE STRICTLY PER DISTRICT.

UH, AND UP TO, UP TO SNUFF ON THINGS.

SO, AND I THINK THEY CAN DEAL WITH THAT THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR OWN - STAGGERING THEM WILL ALSO HELP ME MAKE ROOM IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE TRAINING THEM, UM, GETTING THESE MEMBERS EDUCATED IS VERY EXPENSIVE THROUGH VCU.

UH, THE COURSE IS AROUND $700.

IT'S ONLY OPEN FOR A PERIOD FROM, I BELIEVE, MAY TO OCTOBER.

I COULD BE INCORRECT.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO PUT TOGETHER AN EDUCATIONAL VIDEO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, BUT I STILL RECOMMEND THEM GOING THROUGH THE VCU TRAINING.

LIKE I SAID, THAT'S AROUND $700.

I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE IT BUDGETED FOR THREE ADDITIONAL, SO STAGGERING IT WOULD HOPEFULLY ALLOW ME SOME WIGGLE ROOM IN MY BUDGET.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE GO AHEAD AND, AND WORK ON GETTING THE ALTERNATE

[03:45:01]

I DO...

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MS. COLLE SAID TO YOU ALL.

THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.

I, I DO NOT...

I, I DON'T HAVE ANY STAKE IN THE GAME.

I JUST WANT THESE MEETINGS TO HAPPEN.

AND I DON'T WANT THESE APPLICANTS TO BE UPSET ANY LONGER AND HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD.

NO, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I DON'T HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENT TRYING TO HAVE EACH DISTRICT REPRESENTED, BUT IF WE HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING SOMEBODY FROM THAT DISTRICT, I'D RATHER HAVE A GOOD QUALIFIED PERSON FROM OUTSIDE THAT AREA.

BUT THAT'S FOR A FURTHER DISCUSSION.

RIGHT NOW, WE'LL CONCENTRATE ON THE ALTERNATES.

SO WE CAN KIND OF AGREE WE SHOULD TAKE APPLICANTS FOR ALTERNATES? YEAH, DEFINITELY.

I THINK SO TOO.

AND SINCE THIS IS A WORK SESSION, WE CAN'T VOTE ON THAT, BUT WE CAN DO THAT AS A DIRECTIVE TO THE TWO OF YOU.

LET'S JUST TAKE AN APPLICANT.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE TEXT IN THE ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING FIRST.

I'M GONNA LOOK AT THAT.

I SUSPECT THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE.

AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING THAT SINCE IT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH YOU GUYS ANYWAY, IF, IF YOU MIGHT THINK SOME MORE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANNA GET RID OF THAT REQUIREMENT OF IT'S BEING PER DISTRICT AS BEING A LEGAL REQUIREMENT RATHER THAN JUST A PREFERENCE.

UM, 180-69 THROUGH 18073 LAYS OUT OUR ORDINANCE FOR THE BZA.

THEIR MEMBERSHIP, THEIR DUTIES, ET CETERA.

AND THEN 15.2 - 2308 IS BZA, STATE CODE.

IF YOU GUYS WANNA REVIEW THAT.

OKAY? AND JUST CALL ME, EMAIL ME IF YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADDING ME TO THE WORK SESSION BECAUSE I REALLY NEED THESE BZA MEETINGS TO HAPPEN.

WELL, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE DOING AN AWESOME JOB AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.