Dec 12, 2023 Regular Meeting

ON THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2023, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF PRINCE GEORGE TO ORDER AND

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CALL], WHAT WE HAVE IS THE FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA

[B. Closed Session (5:00 pm)]

SO, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD GO INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2-3711A1 OF THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT FOR THE DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE VIRGINIA GATEWAY REGION, AND THE CRATER PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION, AND PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.237118 FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A FINDING OF SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD UNDER STATE LAW AS RELATED TO SOLAR FACILITIES AND SR 2301. I HAVE A SECOND.

SORRY, I HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

AND SAY ANYTHING ABOUT.

MR. CARMICHAEL HAS ASKED THAT WE CALL HIM WHEN WE GO BACK THERE SO HE CAN MONITOR THE MEETING. HE.

OH, THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW.

THE BOARD HAS BEEN IN CLOSED SESSION AND IT'S NOW TIME TO COME OUT OF CLOSED SESSION TO GO BEGIN OUR WORK SESSION.

[C. Work Session (6:00 pm)]

YEAH. TO RECONVENE AND CERTIFY.

YEAH. TO RECONVENE AND CERTIFY TO CLOSED SESSION.

MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD CERTIFIED TO THE BEST OF EACH BOARD MEMBERS KNOWLEDGE THAT ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS WAS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS WERE DISCUSSED, AND THAT ONLY THE MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE CLOSED MEETING MOTIONS WERE DISCUSSED BY THE BOARD.

THAT'S MY MOTION. ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MR. CARMICHAEL, BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T IN THE FULL SESSION BACK THERE, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CERTIFY US. THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. CARMICHAEL CAME IN AT ABOUT 520, AND SO HE DID NOT VOTE TO GO INTO THE CLOSED MEETING, ALTHOUGH HE DID.

AS FAR AS Y'ALL KNOW, I'M STILL IN IT.

YEAH. I CAN'T COME OUT.

CALL THE ROLL. MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN. ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE .

UH, WE HAVE A WORK SESSION.

THIS? YES.

MR. JOSH ROLLER PARTNER WITH ROBINSON, FARMER, COX HERE TO GO OVER HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR JUNE 30TH, 2023, AUDIT REPORT.

WELCOME, SIR. THANK YOU.

UM, GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS JOSH ROLLER WITH ROBINSON FARMER COX.

AND AS MR. DREWRY JUST SAID, I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 23 AUDIT REPORT.

UM, OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS HAVE HAD THAT REPORT FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT TWO MINUTES.

SO, IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME ABOUT.

SO, I'LL JUST KIND OF POINT OUR ATTENTION TO A FEW THINGS IN THE IN THE AUDIT REPORT HERE.

THE FIRST THING UNDER THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION ON PAGE NINE, THIS IS THE GFOA CERTIFICATE OF FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.

THIS IS FOR THE 2022 AUDIT REPORT.

FINANCIAL REPORT? UM, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

SO, IT WAS KIND OF ACCEPTED AND GOT THE CERTIFICATION AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR THERE.

GOING FORWARD. PAGE 15 THROUGH 17 IS OUR ACTUAL AUDITOR'S REPORT, WHERE WE ARE ISSUING A CLEAN OPINION AND UNMODIFIED OPINION AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR.

IT'S THE UNMODIFIED IS THE BEST OPINION WE CAN GIVE YOU ALL.

SO, I THINK FLIPPING FORWARD A LITTLE BIT TO PAGE 35.

PAGE 35 AND 37, EXHIBIT THREE AND EXHIBIT FIVE.

THESE ARE YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, BALANCE SHEET AND YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS.

STATEMENTS OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE.

UM, YOU CAN SEE ON EXHIBIT THREE THERE, PAGE 35.

IT LISTS YOUR FUND BALANCE FOR ALL THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, YOUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE, UH, AT THE END OF THE YEAR WAS 41 MILLION 173.

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FUND BALANCE WAS 3.3 MILLION THIS YEAR.

SO. ON TO THE NEXT SECTION, THE PAGE 39 THROUGH 41.

THESE ARE THE STATEMENTS FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, KIND OF THE OTHER KIND OF MAJOR FUND OF THE GOVERNMENT THERE THAT KIND OF IS REPORTED ON THE FULL CRAWL.

SO, THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THOSE GOVERNMENTAL FUND STATEMENTS.

THE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LONG-TERM ASSETS, AND YOUR DEBT ARE REPORTED ON THOSE FUND STATEMENTS COMPARED TO GOVERNMENTAL FUND.

FLIPPING FORWARD QUITE A BIT ON PAGE 121.

THIS IS YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGETARY SCHEDULE.

SO, THIS LISTS YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES, EXPENDITURES BY ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. WHEN COMPARING TO THE BUDGETED AMOUNT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE VARIANCE IN THAT FINAL RIGHT COLUMN THERE.

THEN THE LAST COUPLE THINGS I'LL, UH, BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION HERE.

PAGE 187, UNDER THAT COMPLIANCE SECTION TAB.

UH, THIS IS OUR AUDITOR'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AS PART OF THE AUDIT PROCESS, WE'RE REQUIRED TO TEST CERTAIN INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES.

WE DON'T ISSUE AN OPINION ON THOSE CONTROLS, BUT AS PART OF OUR TESTING, WE HAD NO ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISCLOSED.

SO, IT'S A KIND OF A CLEAN REPORT THERE AS WELL.

THE NEXT LETTER, THE TWO PAGES FORWARD, IS OUR AUDITORS REPORT ON COMPLIANCE AS IT RELATES TO UNIFORM GUIDANCE, WHICH IS WHAT GOVERNS THE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE PIECE.

SO, THERE'S CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS.

AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE TESTED THIS YEAR, WE HAD NO ISSUES OF NONCOMPLIANCE AS WELL THAT NEED TO BE DISCLOSED. SO, ANOTHER CLEAN REPORT THERE AS WELL.

AND THEN THE LAST THING WILL BE THE VERY LAST PAGE 195 THE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS. THIS IS KIND OF THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE AUDIT REPORT, WHERE IT KIND OF LISTS THAT WE HAVE AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, WE HAVE NO ISSUES OF NONCOMPLIANCE OR ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.

AND THEN IT LISTS THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE THERE THOSE THREE FEDERAL PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT DEPENDING ON THE SIZE, DEPENDING ON WHEN THE LAST TIME WE AUDITED THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WE HAD TO SELECT AND HAD TO TEST THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S THE VERY BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE AUDIT REPORT.

HAPPY TO GO OVER ANYTHING ELSE THAT KIND OF CAUGHT YOUR EYE NOW, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING.

UH MRS. DREWRY AND COMPANY HAS PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS.

ONCE AGAIN. THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

THEY ARE VERY EASY TO WORK WITH.

IT'S NOT AN EASY WORKING RELATIONSHIP FOR, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SIDE TO BE AUDITED.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT ON THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT SIDE AS WELL AS SCHOOL BOARD, SOCIAL SERVICES, KIND OF IT'S A HUGE TEAM EFFORT.

THAT IS A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT.

WE'RE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE TEAM WE DO WITH THAT.

YES, SIR. AND SO AND SO IT WOULD BE YOUR UNMODIFIED OPINION THAT SHE NEVER GOES ANYWHERE, RIGHT? YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR AND A MOTION.

OTHER COMMENTS? I'M GOOD SIR, I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'VE BEEN WITH US FOR QUITE A WHILE.

YES, SIR, I HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

YEAH. THANK YOU. AND TO YOU, MISS DREWRY AND TEAM.

THANK YOU. AND MISS DREWRY.

JUST A POINT THAT JOSH IS LEAVING BECAUSE HE HAS OTHER, OTHER AUDIT MEETINGS AND OTHER LOCALITIES TONIGHT, AND THAT THIS ITEM WILL BE VOTED ON LATER DURING ORDER OF BUSINESS.

CORRECT? CORRECT. WE WILL ASK THE BOARD TO AUTHORIZE MR. HUNTER AND MR. STOKE TO SIGN A CERTIFICATION THAT YOU DID RECEIVE THE AUDIT REPORT AND A NORMAL BUSINESS MEETING, AND THAT REPORT WILL GO TO THE VIRGINIA AUDITOR OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. STOKE.

MOVING ON.

THE BTC OFFER TOURISM UPDATE.

WELCOME MICHAELA CHRISTIANSEN.

GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU.

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THEY WORKED WITH US FOR PART OF THE CAMPAIGN WITH THE BTC FUNDS.

SO TODAY WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE GOING OVER SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE DID WITH THOSE FUNDS AND THE RESULTS THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THEM.

THE FIRST THING THAT I WANTED TO GO OVER WAS THAT WE CREATED A LOGO FOR DISCOVER PRINCE GEORGE, WHICH IS KIND OF THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN MOVING WITH THE BRANDING.

A LOGO GIVES YOU A KIND OF A VOICE TO YOUR BRAND.

IT CREATES MEMORABILITY.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT GOING INTO THIS CAMPAIGN, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ADS WERE MAKING AN IMPACT WAS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO RELATE BACK TO IT.

SO THAT WAS THE LOGO THAT WE CREATED.

IT HAS THE CROWN.

AND THEN THE COLORS SYMBOLIZE KIND OF AGRICULTURE, THE GREEN AND THE GOLD FOR PRINCE GEORGE. AND THE WATER WITH THE RIVER IS THE BLUE.

WE ALSO CREATED SOME MARKETING COLLATERAL WITH AFTON DESIGN CO, WHO IS OUT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE. WE CREATED A NEW GENERAL TOURISM GUIDE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE IMAGE THERE. THAT'S REALLY JUST ALL THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.

WE CREATED A SPORTS TOURISM GUIDE HIGHLIGHTING THE DIFFERENT SPORTS AREAS THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN HOST IN THOSE AREAS.

AND THEN WE WILL BE CREATING SOME NEW DIXIE WORLD SERIES COLLATERAL FOR THE 2024 SERIES.

THAT ONE THAT WE HAVE UP THERE IS WHAT WE DID FOR THE 2021.

WE ALSO ADDED A MEMBERSHIP TO SPORTS ETA, WHICH GAVE US ACCESS TO A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK. WE CAN VIEW TRENDS AND ANALYZES IN THE SPORTS TOURISM REALM AND LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES IN THE INDUSTRY.

I WENT WITH ROB ELY TO THE SPORTS ETA TRADE SHOW.

WE MET WITH EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS, ATTENDED SOME INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS, WE SUBMITTED SOME RFPS AND NETWORKED WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS THERE.

WE ALSO PURCHASED MEMBERSHIPS TO CANVA PRO AND HOOTSUITE.

HOOTSUITE IS A SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULING SOFTWARE, SO THAT'S WHAT ALL OF OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM POSTS ARE SCHEDULED WITH.

AND THEN CANVA PRO.

UM, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I CREATED WITH CANVA PRO THERE.

THAT WAS AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE DID IN THE SPORTS ETA PLAYBOOK.

WE ALSO MADE AN ALLOCATION TO THE HERITAGE CENTER FOR THE JAMES RIVER EXHIBIT, AND THEN TWO INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL BE DOING THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED WILL BE DOING AN AUTOMATED EVENT CALENDAR WITH THE HOPEWELL PRINCE GEORGE CHAMBER, AND THAT WILL PULL DATA FROM THE WEB WITHOUT US HAVING TO MANUALLY DO IT, TO CREATE AN EVENT DIRECTORY TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO VISIT THE AREA WITHOUT THE MASSIVE MANPOWER THAT THAT USUALLY TAKES.

AND THEN I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE WILL BE CREATING A DEDICATED VISITOR SITE.

CURRENTLY, WE ONLY HAVE A VISITOR'S TAB ON OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT SITE.

WE DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED AREA FOR VISITORS TO GO TO PLAN THEIR TRIP.

SO WE WILL BE CREATING A SITE THAT WILL MAKE IT EASY WITH A DIRECTORY OF RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA THAT WILL MAKE IT MUCH EASIER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR THEM TO DO THAT. BUT THE BULK OF THIS CAMPAIGN WAS REALLY WHAT WE DID WITH JV, AND WE WANTED TO START THIS OFF HIGHLIGHTING THE VIDEO THAT THEY CREATED IN COLLABORATION.

SO, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS IT ALONG TO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN GO OVER SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY DID.

THAT'S VERY GOOD.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. I'M JILL VAUGHN, OWNER OF JLB COMMUNICATIONS.

AND HOW DID WE CONNECT WITH YOU GUYS? WE'VE HAD WE HAVE PRETTY DEEP EXPERIENCE THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN THE REGION.

WE DO SOME WORK WITH VIRGINIA'S GATEWAY REGION.

WE WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.

WYNDHAM MATTRESS, A LOCAL MANUFACTURER, IS ONE OF OUR CLIENTS AS WELL.

OKAY. WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN.

SO, FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE AS MICHAELA SAID, THIS WAS REALLY THE FIRST TIME.

NOT ONLY DID YOU HAVE A LOGO OR AN IDENTITY, BUT A TOURISM CAMPAIGN FOR THE COUNTY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT BEING A PART OF ANOTHER REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP.

SO, REALLY EXCITING.

TO START THIS MOMENTUM AND SET A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE OF TOURISM IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. SO, WE STARTED WITH THE POSITIONING STATEMENT SAYING THAT THE COUNTY IS A HIDDEN

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WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY, BE ACTIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY, HOST A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING, OR SIMPLY TAKE IN NATURE, IT'S A CONVENIENT DRIVE CLOSE TO HOME TO EXPLORE UNIQUE PART OF VIRGINIA.

SO, WE WEREN'T REALLY GOING OUTSIDE OF VIRGINIA.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS JUST PRETTY CLOSE BY THAT MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE BEAUTY AND THE GEM OF PRINCE GEORGE AS A TOURISM DESTINATION.

SO, WE WANTED TO RAISE AWARENESS TO OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNTY AMONG CENTRAL VIRGINIA RESIDENTS.

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? AND THAT IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

AND WE WANTED TO PROMOTE SPECIFIC DESTINATIONS TO INCREASE VISITORS AND DRIVE REVENUE TO YOUR COUNTY.

OUR COMMUNICATIONS OBJECTIVES FOR OUR KEY MESSAGES.

WE WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE A HOME TO A LARGE CZECH AND SLOVAK COMMUNITY THAT HAVE WONDERFUL FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.

IT'S AN EASY DRIVE FOR HISTORY, FAMILY, FUN AND A LOT OF NATURE, INCLUDING A WILDLIFE REFUGE, MARINAS, WEDDING VENUES AND MORE.

I'LL STAY ON THIS SLIDE A FEW SECONDS.

WE HAD LOTS OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS.

UP TO SOMETHING BRAND NEW, LIKE THE PERFECT PICK FLOWER FARM THAT OPENED DURING THIS CAMPAIGN. SO, WE DELIVERED ALL OF THESE ASSETS FROM THE BRANDING TO THE VIDEO THAT YOU JUST SAW.

WE HELPED WITH THE STYLE GUIDE TO HELP THE COUNTY BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR LOOK AND FEEL AND MESSAGING IN ALL OF YOUR MATERIALS.

WE WROTE TWO FEATURE ARTICLES.

WE PRODUCED A PRINT AD FOR RICHMOND FAMILY MAGAZINE.

WE DID LOTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADS AND INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT AND SOME DIGITAL ADVERTISING.

SO, EARNED MEDIA AND PR WERE A BIG PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AND EARNED MEDIA.

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, IT REALLY MEANS US WORKING WITH OUR RELATIONSHIPS TO GET PUBLICITY FOR FREE THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

SO HERE ARE SOME OF THE HITS WE GOT THERE.

WE'LL SEE SOME VISUALS HERE.

NBC NEWS AT NOON.

AND WE HAD MARTHA BURTON FROM PART ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE FESTIVAL LIVE.

THIS WAS IN THE PROGRESS INDEX.

JUST RECENTLY. YOUR CHRISTMAS PARADE.

THE GREAT FULL PAGE IN THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH, WHICH IS PRETTY AWESOME IN OCTOBER.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AFTER IT HAPPENED.

STYLE WEEKLY INDEPENDENT MESSENGER.

AND WE DID A LOT OF WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CALENDARS OF ALL OF THESE MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS TO MAKE SURE YOUR EVENTS WERE SHOWING UP.

AND HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF YOUR FIVE K.

THERE'S ANOTHER FARMERS MARKET CALENDAR ITEM.

THE FILL IS A NONPROFIT PUBLICATION ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA THAT TALKS ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN NONPROFITS.

SO, WE FEATURED THE HERITAGE CENTER AND THE FESTIVAL AND THAT NEWSLETTER.

AND NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE DON TO TALK ABOUT THE PAID PARTNERSHIPS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WORKED ON WE USED SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT WE WERE GIVEN FROM VIRGINIA TOURISM TO DO SOME PAID MESSAGING, AND WE HAD PARTNERSHIPS WITH RICHMOND FAMILY MAGAZINE AND THEIR ONLINE E-NEWSLETTER, THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH.

RICHMOND.COM. RICK, TODAY WE DID SOME SOCIAL MEDIA, AS JILL SAID, WITH FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. AND WE ALSO DID INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIPS.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHO HAVE WHO HAVE INFLUENCE AND HAVE LARGE AUDIENCES. SO, WE PARTNERED WITH THEM, AND THEY CAME INTO THE MARKET AND EXPERIENCED A LOT OF THE VENUES, AND WE SHARED THEM WITH THEIR FOLLOWERS.

SO, I WON'T READ ALL OF THIS TO YOU.

ALL I KNOW WE'RE ON A TIGHT TIMELINE.

UM, BUT RICHMOND FAMILY MAGAZINE, AS WE SAID, WE WERE IN THEIR PUBLICATION.

WE HAD A TWO-PAGE SPREAD THAT WAS ALL ABOUT PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO. SO, EVERYTHING WE DID IS REALLY TAPPING INTO THE DISCOVER PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY. THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO, AND IT DEFINITELY IS A DESTINATION TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

WELL, THAT WAS THE TWO-PAGE SPREAD THAT JUST WENT BY.

WE AGAIN DID A LOT AROUND THE CZECH AND SLOVAK FEST IN THE E-NEWSLETTER AND DIFFERENT CALENDARS. I'M NOT HITTING THIS RIGHT.

OKAY. THERE WE DID WITH THE TOP FIVE.

WE DID A COUPLE OF THINGS CALLED A LISTICLE.

PEOPLE LOVE LISTS.

SO, WE HAD LIKE THE TOP FIVE FAMILY FUN ADVENTURES IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

WE WERE REALLY TARGETING THOSE TWO FAMILIES TO COME AND EXPERIENCE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

WE DID A LISTICLE.

WE ACTUALLY DID TWO LISTICLES WITH THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH, TEN FUN DAY TRIPS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO REALLY SAY.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO COME.

WHETHER YOU'RE ON SPRING BREAK OR SUMMER, BRING THE FAMILY EXPERIENCE, OUR MUSEUMS AND EVERYTHING FUN TO DO.

WE DID SOME SOCIAL MEDIA BOOSTED ADS AND THEN WE WERE ON RICHMOND.

COM THERE ARE SO MANY ANALYTICS.

I AM NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE WITH YOU, BUT THEY ARE THERE FOR YOU TO SEE

[00:20:01]

AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT AGAIN, EVENT FEATURES WE LOOKED FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY FROM YOUR FARMERS MARKETS TO YOUR FIVE K TO YOUR CHRISTMAS PARADES FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE PEOPLE HERE.

THIS IS SOME OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS.

WE WORKED WITH THE WEST END MOM.

SHE HAS A REGULAR SEGMENT ON NBC 12 NEWS.

SHE ALSO, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, YOUR VIDEO THAT YOU JUST SAW OR THE VIDEO THAT SHE HAD PRODUCED FOR US WAS OVER 308,000 100,000 PEOPLE, AND THOSE ARE THE VENUES THAT SHE FEATURED. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE RICHMOND EXPERIENCE.

WE HAD OVER 113, 100,000 VIDEO PLAYS.

AND THEN BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH RICHMOND FAMILY MAGAZINE, OUR VA FAMILY FUND, SHE CAME OUT FOR FREE.

SHE SAID I WOULD JUST LOVE TO COME DOWN AND EXPERIENCE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

AND SHE HAS SAID, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU WANT ME TO COME BACK.

I'D LOVE TO DO IT.

THIS IS. AND MICHAELA'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET SOME TESTIMONIALS, BUT THE TREE TIME ADVENTURES TEAM JUST SAID OVERNIGHT AFTER THE WEST END MOM VISITED AND POSTED HE HAD OVER 100 NEW FOLLOWERS.

SO, IT'S JUST A GREAT WAY TO REACH OUT.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET OTHER TESTIMONIALS, BUT THE OVERARCHING THEME FROM EVERYONE WHO WAS A PARTICIPANT IN THE CAMPAIGN WAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWCASING MY BUSINESS AND DRIVING BUSINESS.

I'M NOT DOING THAT RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO. SO, AT THE END OF ANY CAMPAIGN, WE WANT TO LOOK AT RESULTS.

SO, WE GO BACK TO OUR OBJECTIVES.

SO, WE GAINED ATTENTION THROUGH EARNED MEDIA ABOUT YOUR EVENTS IN THE COUNTY IN GENERAL.

WE CUT THROUGH THE CLUTTER.

THOSE INFLUENCERS WERE SOME OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL, UM, ACTIVITIES CUTTING THROUGH THE CLUTTER TO CATCH PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

AND YOU SAW MIKAYLA SHOWED ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL ASSETS.

NOW WITH THIS LOGO, FROM BROCHURES TO GUIDES TO BAGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET A BAG AND SOME GOODIES, THINGS YOU'RE GIVING AWAY TO PROMOTE THE COUNTY AND TOURISM THAT WILL LIVE ON. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM.

YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM WITH JEFF AND JODY AND MIKAYLA AND EVERYTHING.

IT'S BEEN A TRUE COLLABORATION OVER A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE A PART OF IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

VERY WELL DONE. YEAH.

APPRECIATE IT. PRINCE GEORGE APPRECIATES IT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US AT ALL? GOOD JOB.

YOU JUST GO HOME AND GET RID OF THAT COLD? I DO. IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE FY 25 BUDGET CALENDAR DISCUSSION.

YES, SIR.

IF IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT WITH THE BOARD, IF I COULD STAY AT MY SEAT SO I CAN SCROLL DOWN.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A PDF FILE THAT IS ON THE WEB PAGE FOR THREE OF YOU THESE ARE SOME UPCOMING BUDGETS WORK SESSIONS AND A BUDGET CALENDAR FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET.

THAT THE THREE RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS MAY BE INTERESTED IN.

I KNOW THE TWO DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS ARE GOING TO MISS THIS PROCESS DEARLY.

YEAH, I WAS LOOKING AT THESE DATES AND THOUGHT, OH, MY GOODNESS, CALL ME.

YOU'LL GET A TWINGE.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO, AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, WE HAVE SUSPENDED WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS DUE TO BASICALLY LIMITED, VERY LIMITED DEBT CAPACITY UNTIL FY 27.

SO, WE HAVE NOT ENGAGED IN THAT FORMAL CIP PROCESS.

CERTAINLY, NEXT SUMMER, WE MAY HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD AT THAT TIME TO SEE IF WE'RE READY TO RESTART THAT PROCESS, TO BEGIN LOOKING AT CAPITAL NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL DIVISION.

SO, THERE'S BEEN LIMITED ACTIVITY WITH THE FY 25 BUDGET UNTIL LAST WEEK.

DEPARTMENT TEMPLATES AND MEMOS TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS WENT OUT THE DOOR LATE LAST WEEK. AND WE, FOR TO GIVE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND OUR OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS WHO MAKE FUNDING REQUESTS OF THE COUNTY AND OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE REQUESTS.

[00:25:02]

UM, SO AS SOON AS THOSE COME IN THE DOOR, WE WILL BEGIN CATALOGING THOSE LOOKING AT WHAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.

AND BEGINNING ON JANUARY 16TH AND CONCLUDING ON FEBRUARY 9TH.

MR. STOKE, ME AND MY TEAM WILL BEGIN MEETING WITH EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD AND CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS TO REVIEW WHAT THEY HAVE SUBMITTED FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET.

THOSE MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED SO THAT BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THOSE MEETINGS.

BETWEEN THE 12TH AND 20TH OF FEBRUARY, WE'LL BE FINE TUNING OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND REVIEWING THOSE EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS OR REQUESTS AGAIN.

AND WE WILL WE HAVE TENTATIVELY PUT ON HERE FOR FEBRUARY 21ST, A PRE-BUDGET WORK SESSION. AND TEN AND AS A PLACEHOLDER, WE HAVE PUT IN SOME IDEAS OF WHAT WE MIGHT DISCUSS AT THAT MEETING.

ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL REQUESTS FROM OUR OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY HAVING JEREMY AND MARV COME IN TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THREE DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PLANS THAT THEY WILL HAVE COMPLETED BY THAT TIME.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PRE-BUDGET WORK SESSION, TENTATIVELY ON THE CALENDAR FOR MARCH 5TH WITH A REVENUE FOCUS, AND SOMETIME DURING THAT TIME FRAME, WE WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH THE BOARD SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RANK THEIR PRIORITIES ON WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.

MR. STOKE AND I MAY NEED TO TALK AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO WORK THAT IN.

PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE INTRODUCED BUDGET ON MARCH THE 12TH.

ANY TIME YOU SEE AN R BESIDE A DATE, THAT IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD, AND IN BLUE THERE WE HAVE NOTED THE 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNMENT DATE, AND WE ARE PRAYING THAT THEY WILL HAVE ADOPTED A BUDGET WHEN THEY LEAVE THE SESSION.

IT SEEMS TO BE THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE.

THESE DAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR WE ENCOUNTER DELAYS IN GETTING NECESSARY INFORMATION FROM OUR STATE OFFICIALS ON WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.

ON THE 14TH, WE HAVE SCHEDULED OR PUT ON THE CALENDAR A WORK SESSION WHERE WE WOULD BE REQUESTING AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE, UM, A PUBLIC HEARING ON ANY EFFECTIVE TAX RATE INCREASE. IF OUR ASSESSED VALUES DO IN FACT INCREASE BY MORE THAN 1% AND THE BOARD DOES NOT EQUALIZE, THAT RESULTS IN AN EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE.

AS YOU KNOW THAT PUBLIC HEARING HAS TO BE ADVERTISED FOR 30 DAYS, AND THE PAPER REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF LEAD TIME ON THAT VERY SPECIFIC LEGAL AD.

SO, THAT'S WHY THE TIME FRAME IS SO SOON AFTER MR. STOKE PROVIDES YOU IN THE PUBLIC WITH THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.

THEN WE'VE SCHEDULED ANOTHER WORK SESSION FOR THE 28TH OF MARCH AND ANOTHER ONE ON APRIL 18TH IF NEEDED.

AND THEN AT A REGULAR MEETING ON APRIL 23RD.

WE ARE REQUESTING A TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION OF THOSE TAX RATES, INCLUDING ANY EFFECTIVE REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE FROM ASSESSED VALUE INCREASES.

ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

MAY 7TH. WE'VE PUT IN HERE AS A WORK SESSION DATE TO MAKE ANY FINAL ADJUSTMENTS, WE TYPICALLY GET INFORMATION FROM THE COMP BOARD AROUND THE 1ST OF MAY, USUALLY AT 5:30 P.M. ON THE 1ST OF MAY.

SO, WE TRY TO MAKE ANY LAST-MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS IN MAY.

THEN WE ARE REQUESTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE COUNTY'S BUDGET ON MAY 14TH AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, FOLLOWED BY ADOPTION TWO WEEKS LATER ON THE 28TH.

SO, OF THE THREE RETURNING BOARD MEETING, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY KNOWN CONFLICTS AT THIS TIME WITH THESE DATES, OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME, UM, LATER THIS WEEK TO LET ME KNOW.

I CAN LET YOU KNOW LATER THIS WEEK.

I CAN'T ANSWER, RIGHT.

OKAY, OKAY.

AND I WILL ALSO BE EMAILING THIS TO OUR TWO NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, PROBABLY FIRST THING TOMORROW TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK ON ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE WITH THESE CALENDAR DATES.

[00:30:02]

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE, ANY SUGGESTIONS OR YOU'RE GOING TO PING US WHEN THESE RECORDINGS TAKE PLACE.

SO, WE KNOW. YES, SIR.

WE WILL NOTIFY YOU, AS WE HAVE IN PAST YEARS, AS TO WHO WE MET WITH AND SEND A LINK.

YES, SIR. AND THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS MAY WANT TO KNOW THAT, TOO.

SO THEN. YES, SIR. WE'LL SEE THEM AHEAD OF TIME.

YES, SIR. I ACTUALLY MEET WITH THEM ON THURSDAY TO DO ORIENTATION.

ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM, AND I'LL MAKE MENTION OF THAT TO THEM AT THAT TIME, TOO.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SURE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY. IT'S NOTHING ELSE BEFORE THE BUSINESS MEETING.

SO, WE'LL BE AT RECESS UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK.

[D. Business Meeting (7:00 pm)]

WE'RE COMING BACK TO CALL THE MEETING, BACK TO ORDER.

AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK SUPERVISOR BROWN TO GIVE US THE BOARD'S VOTE NOTIFICATION. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING.

FIRST, JUST TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE YET ANOTHER DAY.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING ASKING YOU TO PUT YOUR LOVING ARMS OF PROTECTION AROUND EACH AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM.

HEAVENLY FATHER, ALL OF OUR FIRE POLICE, OUR EMS, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER THIS BOARD THIS EVENING AS WE GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT THINGS ON OUR AGENDA ITEM.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THIS EVENING THAT YOU ALLOW US TO WORK IN HARMONY THROUGH EACH AND EVERY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN FRONT OF US THIS EVENING.

AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK YOU THIS EVENING TO LOOK AFTER THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES ALONG THE WAY. AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT FOR YOU TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH THEM AND GIVE THEM SOME TYPE OF COMFORT.

AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK ALL THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.

THANK YOU, MR. BROWN.

ASK MR. WEBB, AT LEAST IN THE PLEDGE OF THE FLAG.

. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

AT THIS TIME. IT'S TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NOW I WANT TO BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ANYTHING THAT'S OTHER THAN THE SOLAR PROJECT.

THAT'S GOING TO COME UP LATER FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, ANYBODY THAT HAS PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME FORWARD.

MRS. KNOTT, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? MR. WILLIAM STEELE.

MR. WILLIAM STEELE, WELCOME, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR. MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS BILL STEELE.

9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD.

I'D LIKE TO START OFF THIS EVENING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE AN INTERESTING BY JUST SAYING TO MR. HUNTER AND TO MR. CARMICHAEL.

THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE BOARD HAD BEEN UP HERE BEFORE YOU FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. CERTAINLY, WE HAD DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS, BUT AT NO TIME DID I, AS A CITIZEN, FEEL THAT YOU ALL AT LEAST DIDN'T LISTEN TO HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO SAY.

YOU HAVE BIG SHOES THAT THE TWO GENTLEMEN THAT ARE GOING TO REPLACE YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL. SO, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND THE 149 CITIZENS THAT BELONG TO THE DISPUTANTA NETWORK, WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BEST WISHES TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. MR. STEELE. THANK YOU, SIR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YES, SIR. COME FORWARD.

JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS.

IT TOOK ME THREE MINUTES TO GET OUT OF THERE.

WE WON'T START TILL YOU START.

GOODNIGHT TO YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'LL MAKE MINE JUST REAL SHORT.

JUST THE THINGS I COME HERE TO MENTION.

MY NAME IS LEE BELLINGHAM.

I LIVE AT 112928 WOOD DRIVE, JUST OVER BY THE OLD.

WHERE THE OLD PRINCE GEORGE GOLF COURSE.

THE MAIN THING IS I WANT TO KNOW THE COMPLETION OR ROUGH ABOUT COMPLETION ON THE, THE BRIDGE DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY CAUSED A LOT OF HAVOC, YOU KNOW, GETTING STUFF IN AND OUT OF THE ROAD REALLY NEEDS REPAIR BAD SOME SECTIONS.

IT'S A REAL GOOD SHAPE.

BUT WHEN THEY PUT THE NEW HOUSES IN, THEY'RE BRINGING ALL THAT EQUIPMENT IN TO BUILD THEM.

HOUSES REALLY KIND OF ROUGH THAT ROAD UP.

SO, MY CONCERN IS, IS THE ROAD ITSELF.

BUT THEY CAN PUT A NEW BRIDGE IN, BUT THEN HAVE A ROAD THERE ON BOTH SIDES, PROBABLY ABOUT A HALF A MILE ON EACH SIDE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REAL BAD SHAPE.

I'VE SEEN SCHOOL BUSSES THAT THAT CAN'T.

THE MIRRORS ALMOST CLIP ON THAT ROAD.

YOU KNOW, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55.

[00:35:02]

BUT ANYWAY, UH.

TODAY. I WAS COMING UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT I CALL IT.

THE TRESTLE WHERE THE TRESTLE IS OVER THERE LOOKED UP COMING FROM DISPUTANA.

THERE'S A HOLE IN THAT RAILROAD TRACK UP ABOVE.

I NOTICED IT BECAUSE WATER WAS RUNNING OUT OF IT ABOUT A 12 BY 12 HOLE IN THAT BRIDGE.

SO, WHAT WE NEED WHEN THE RAILROAD TRACKS FALL DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, TAKEN AND LOOKING IN CONSIDERATION MY LAST CONCERN IS US OLD PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D GET TO THIS POINT, THAT I'D BE LOOKING AT YOU GUYS SAYING, WE NEED SOME HELP.

YOU KNOW, IF I'D HAVE DONE BETTER PLANNING, MAYBE I WOULDN'T NEED HELP, YOU KNOW.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE COUNTY CAN DO.

I KNOW IT'S 28,000 NOW.

YOU KNOW, UH, TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO LIFT THAT UP, YOU KNOW, THE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NATIONAL POVERTY LEVEL IS, BUT I GUESS Y'ALL CONSIDER THE POVERTY LEVEL 28,000 IN PRINCE GEORGE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TRY LIVING ON IT.

YOU CAN'T LIVE ON THAT IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, YOU KNOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS YOU KNOW YOU GUYS COMING UP AND ALL AND I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. CARMICHAEL.

MR. HUNTER AND THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO HELP US IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO MAKE COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENTS. YES, SIR.

LAURENCE BROCKWELL.

YES, SIR. HERITAGE ROAD.

I WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK OUT IN THIS AUDIENCE.

AND WHAT I SEE OUT HERE.

I SEE A BUNCH OF GOOD MEN AND GOOD WOMEN.

THESE MEN AND THESE WOMEN RIGHT HERE GO AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, 5:00 IN THE MORNING.

SNOW, RAIN.

AND THEY FIGHT FIRE.

THEY'RE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

AND WHAT I'M GATHERING FROM THESE FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS WITH THEM. WE LET IN CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THIS ONE GENTLEMAN.

AND THE RUN OF THESE, THESE VOLUNTEERS IN THE GROUND.

I'M CONCERNED.

WHERE I LIVE AT.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE RIGHT UP HERE THAT LIVE IN THE AREAS THAT NEED THESE PEOPLE.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE BEEN SUSPENDED.

YOU GOT LAWSUITS? YOU HAD AN ALTERCATION IN FRONT OF THE PARADE THE OTHER DAY, SO IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE.

I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I LIVE OUT HERE.

I DON'T WANT MY HOUSE TO FALL IN AND BURN UP.

I DON'T WANT Y'ALL'S HOUSE TO BURN UP.

YOU PAID. FIREMEN ARE GREAT.

PAID FIREMEN NEED THE VOLUNTEERS TO BE AT THE FIRE TO HELP FIGHT THE FIRE.

I FOUGHT FIRE FOR YEARS, DONALD, YOU'VE BEEN A FIREMAN.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? WE NEED THE VOLUNTEERS RIGHT HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS COUNTY.

YOU GOT SOME SITTING IN HERE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CHARTER MEMBERS.

BEEN THERE 50, 60 YEARS.

SO, YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM AND DON'T TRY TO RUN THEM IN THE GROUND BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE AND THEY WANT TO STAY HERE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I GOT TO SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM.

COME FORWARD. DO ME THE FAVOR OF PULLING THE MIC DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SPEAK. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS SUSAN SUIT, AND I AM THE WIFE AND MOTHER OF TWO MEMBERS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FIRE AND EMS, AND HAVING TWO CHILDREN IN THE FIRE SERVICE, AS WELL AS A HUSBAND WHO IS SERVING. I AM NO STRANGER TO THE COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE THAT IS MADE BY BOTH THOSE SERVING AND THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS MEMBERS.

IT IS FOR THIS REASON I FEEL COMPELLED TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL CONCERNING AN EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE PREPARATIONS BY COMPANY FOR PRIOR TO THE CHRISTMAS PARADE HELD DECEMBER THE 2ND, 2023.

AN INCIDENT OCCURRED BETWEEN MY HUSBAND, JOHN SUIT AND THE SELF-PROCLAIMED CHIEF OF PRINCE GEORGE FIRE AND EMS, RESULTING IN THE POLICE GETTING INVOLVED AND ACQUISITIONS MADE. THE CHIEF OF THIS DEPARTMENT ACCUSED MY HUSBAND OF GRABBING HIM AFTER A VERBAL DISAGREEMENT PERTAINING TO DEPARTMENT BUSINESS, WHILE COMPANY FOUR WAS DECORATING THE FIRE APPARATUS FOR THE 2023 CHRISTMAS PARADE.

[00:40:01]

I REPLIED TO HIS COMMENT THAT HIM YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS MY HUSBAND OF 50 YEARS, AND I THINK IT WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW MY HUSBAND HANDLES HIMSELF THAN YOU.

MR. BEEMAN THEN REPLIED WITH I DO NOT CARE.

I WILL DO WHAT I WANT.

THE EXCHANGE LEFT ME FEELING DISMISSED AND DISRESPECTED.

NOT ONLY DID I EXPECT MORE FROM THE CHIEF OF THIS DEPARTMENT WHO WAS IN UNIFORM, BUT AS A CIVILIAN, I FELT BELITTLED BY HIS SMUGNESS.

HIS TONE WAS CONDESCENDING, AND IN SPEAKING TO ME IN THAT MANNER, IT LEFT ME FEELING DISCOURAGED. I AM NO STRANGER TO THE FORMALITIES, NOR THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND LOVE THIS THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE FAMILY MEMBER OF A FIREFIGHTER.

IT MEANS SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, COUNTLESS HOURS OF WORRY AND IMMENSE CONCERN.

I LIVE WITH 365 DAYS A YEAR.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

IT DISAPPOINTS ME THAT OUR BELOVED MEMBERS OF PRINCE GEORGE, FIRE AND EMS AND LET ARE LED BY SOMEONE SO APT TO DISRESPECT A FAMILY MEMBER SO WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS CHARGE.

FOR THOSE THAT KNOW AND LOVE SOMEONE IN THE FIRE SERVICE, YOU UNDERSTAND THE ENORMOUS RISKS THEY TAKE EVERY SINGLE TIME THE TONES GO OFF.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MR. BEAMAN IS A PROPER FIT TO LEAD OUR DEPARTMENT OF DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF PRINCE GEORGE, FIRE AND EMS, NOR THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY IN SUCH A GOOD MANNER.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE? I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD TONIGHT.

I THINK PETE'S COMING UP.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JOHN SUIT, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME.

UH. AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO READ THIS AS BEST I CAN.

IN A POST MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY PAUL BEAMAN IN AUGUST 2022, IT STATED, LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT BEING THE BEST.

LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT MAKING EVERYONE ELSE BETTER.

IN HIS BRIEF TENURE AS OUR FIRE ADMINISTRATOR, CHIEF BEAMAN HAS HAD HAS NOT SUPPORTED HIS OWN AFFILIATIONS ON LEADERSHIP BELIEFS.

THERE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY FOUR INSTANCES WHERE PRINCE GEORGE FIRED FIREFIGHTERS.

PERSONNEL HAVE HAD TO RETAIN REPRESENTATION AGAINST HIM, AND THE DIVISION BETWEEN PAID AND VOLUNTEER MEMBERS IS, AS IS AT ITS WORST IN YEARS.

MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT.

AS THE LEADER OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS APPALLING THAT A FIRE CHIEF HAS HAD MEMBERS HAVE TO SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL AGAINST HIM AND HIS DECISIONS IN SUCH A BRIEF TIME FRAME.

A POOR OFFICER DEMANDS RESPECT FROM HIS MEMBERS.

A GOOD OFFICER COMMANDS RESPECT AMONG HIS MEMBERS.

NO ONE CAN TAKE.

UH. EXCUSE ME.

ONE CAN ONLY TAKE FROM MR. BEEMAN'S ACTION THUS FAR THAT HE DOES NOT HOLD HIS POSITION, NOR HIS MEMBERS IN HIGH REGARD FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR EVERYONE.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT PAID AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER PERSONNEL WILL NOT AGREE AT ALL TIMES, NOR SHALL SHARE THE SAME TRAINING OR YEARS OF TIME OR GRADE.

HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, WE ALL ANSWER THE TONE WHEN IT GOES OFF.

WE ALL ARRIVE ON SCENE AND INTENT AND WITH THE INTENT TO SAVE LIVES, PROPERTY AND MITIGATE ANY EMERGENCIES.

IN MY 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE NEVER BEEN NEVER SEEN A LEADER SO DRIVEN TO WIDEN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PAID AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.

[00:45:03]

HOW CAN OUR LEADERS MAKE US BETTER IF HE IS ONLY CAUSED SEPARATION RATHER THAN UNIFICATION UPON US UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF TRAINING AND SERVICE? IT IS MY IT IS, IN MY OPINION THAT THIS COMMUNITY, OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE PERSONNEL THAT SERVE. AND WE AND WITH ME DESERVE THE CHIEF THAT NOT ONLY MAKES SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS LIKE THOSE STATED ABOVE, BUT INDEED CARRY OUT SAID BELIEFS.

MR. SUIT? YES. OUR TIME IS UP, SIR.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THE WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE CLERK, YOU CAN.

I CAN DO THAT.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.

I ONLY HAD ONE SENTENCE LEFT, SO THANK YOU ANYWAY.

THANK YOU. I'D LET IT GO A LITTLE BIT ANYHOW.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PETE.

MR. SUIT.

YES. CLERK IS OVER HERE IF YOU WANT TO.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD? OKAY. YES, MA'AM.

TO HIT YOU WITH. THANK YOU, MR. SUIT. THAT'S RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS TAMMY PARKS, AND I PULL THAT MIC DOWN TO SAY THANK YOU.

SEE? I DON'T NEED THEM. I'M A LAP.

ANYWAY, MY NAME IS TAMMY POTTS, AND I LIVE AT 11004 SASSAFRAS DRIVE OVER ON BEECHWOOD MANOR. AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS COUNTY FOR 35 YEARS.

I GUESS I'VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN ON COMPANY ONE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN IT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER STAFF.

I NOW HAVE A HUSBAND WHO, AT THE AGE OF 65 OR 72, COMPLETED FIRE ACADEMY AND I HAD HIS INSTRUCTOR, RAY BLAKE, TELL ME IF HE HAD FIVE OF HERBIE.

HE COULD LET THE WHOLE CLASS GO BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH HE WORKED TO ACHIEVE THAT FIREFIGHTER DESIGNATION.

I ALSO HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER, MACKENZIE.

BLACKWELL'S BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE COMPANY FOR.

I, MYSELF, AM AN ASSOCIATION MEMBER AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER EIGHT YEARS.

I WORKED WITH BRAD OWENS, VOLUNTEERING TO HELP THINGS WHEN THERE WERE NO PEOPLE TO DO JOBS. BRAD, I HELPED HIM DO SOME ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS.

SO, I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT I WAS WITNESS TO.

ON DECEMBER THE 2ND, I CAME INTO THE AREA WHERE THE FIRE TRUCKS WERE BEING DECORATED, AND YOU COULD SEE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE UNEASINESS THERE.

AND SO, I WALKED OVER TO THE BACK OF THE SQUAD AND PETE WAS SITTING ON HER.

JOHN WAS SITTING ON THE BACK OF THE SQUAD WITH HIS WIFE, SUSIE, AND HE WAS VISIBLY UPSET AND ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND THEY TOLD ME THAT CHIEF BEAMAN WAS FILLING UP PAPERWORK TO HAVE MR. SUIT ARRESTED, AND THAT HE WAS FILING CHARGES AGAINST HIM FOR HITTING HIM OR FOR TOUCHING HIM. WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE KNOWN PETE A LONG TIME.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR OUT OF HIM.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE BEHAVIOR THAT I WITNESSED ABOUT MR. BEAMAN. I MET MR. BEAMAN WHEN HE CAME ON BOARD HERE.

I WAS UP IN THE COUNTY OFFICE, IN THE ADMIN OFFICE.

I MET HIM, WENT IN AND INTRODUCED MYSELF, AND I SAW HIM THAT TIME.

THE NEXT TIME THAT I SAW HIM WAS AT WHERE THEY PUT THE FIRE TRUCKS OUT FOR EVERYBODY TO COME AND SEE.

BACK IN AUGUST, I THINK, OR SEPTEMBER.

ANYWAY, HE WAS THERE.

I WENT UP AND SPOKE TO HIM AGAIN.

HE DIDN'T REMEMBER ME, NOR HAD HE EVER MET MY GRANDDAUGHTER.

SO BACK TO THE INCIDENT HE WAS.

MR. BEAMAN WAS STANDING AT THE COP CAR SPEAKING TO THE POLICE, AND HE WAS VERY UPSET. YOU COULD TELL BY HIS BODY LANGUAGE THAT HE WAS VERY ANGRY.

HE WASN'T SCARED.

HE WASN'T.

HE WAS ANGRY.

AND HE CAME CHARGING DOWN THAT ROAD DOWN THERE WHERE THEY WERE DECORATING THE FIRE TRUCKS. HE ALMOST PUSHED US OUT OF THE WAY TO MRS. POTTS. I'M SORRY YOUR TIME IS UP, AND I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.

OKAY? ALL RIGHT.

[00:50:01]

I'LL FILE MY COMMENTS WITH HER AS WELL.

YES, MA'AM. FINE. THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY.

MORNING, SIR.

YOUR NAME, ADDRESS? AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, SIR.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL BLACKWELL.

I'M MARRIED TO TAMMY'S GRANDDAUGHTER, MACKENZIE.

I RESIDE AT 11004 SASSAFRAS DRIVE.

AND I GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY.

UM, I'VE ONLY SEEN PAUL BEEMAN ONE TIME, ONCE.

AND MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF HIM IS ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.

HE WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE, RUDE, CONDESCENDING.

UM, HIS BODY LANGUAGE JUST SCREAMED VIOLENCE.

BULLY. AS SHE WAS SAYING HIS VISIT TO US AS A GROUP, WE WERE IN THE PARADE DECORATING THE FIRE APPARATUSES WERE, HE CHARGED DOWN THE STREET, AND SO SOMEBODY HAD BEEN STANDING IN HIS WAY. THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN SHOVED.

THANKFULLY, EVERYBODY STOOD.

WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE IS THAT FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WERE PRESENT DURING THIS ALTERCATION? WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE IS THAT? TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, LIKE ME, WHO SHOWED UP AS AN ANSWER TO THE CALL FOR HELP, HEY, WE NEED HELP DECORATING THESE APPARATUSES.

WE ONLY HAVE A SMALL TEAM, AND HE JUST COMES UP AND MAKES A SCENE.

AS FAR AS HIS BEHAVIOR IS CONCERNED, I HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD AT HOME, AND I FEEL QUITE STRONGLY THAT HER BEHAVIOR IS MORE MATURE THAN WHAT HE SHOWED US ON THE 2ND OF DECEMBER. FLAT OUT.

I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS COUNTY SEVEN YEARS.

I'VE BEEN HELPING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT LONG.

I'VE KNOWN PETE A HANDFUL OF YEARS AND HAVE NEVER KNOWN HIM TO BE VIOLENT IN ANY WAY.

SO, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY PAUL BEEMAN IS A LIAR.

BUT. I DON'T FIND ANY TRUTH IN HIS STATEMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A PUBLIC COMMENT TIME.

IF PEOPLE HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT A SITUATION THAT YOU WANT THE COUNTY TO BE AWARE OF.

YES, SIR. SCOTT CAMPBELL, 18 130 SOUTH CRATER ROAD SOUTH, PRINCE GEORGE, GOD'S COUNTRY.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.

MR. HUNTER, I HATE TO SEE YOU GO.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME AWAY.

DON'T GO TOO FAR.

MR. CARMICHAEL, IT'S SAD TO SEE YOU GO AS WELL, SIR.

THE GENTLEMAN COMING IN GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL.

AND FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD.

KUDOS TO YOU ALL.

AND MR. WEBB, MISS BROWN, MR. BROWN, MISS WAYMACK, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN GET THESE TWO NEWCOMERS ON BOARD AND WORK LIKE A WELL-OILED MACHINE, IF YOU WILL.

WE'LL GO DOWN MEMORY LANE A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT.

WE'VE BEEN PLAGUED FROM THE BEGINNING.

WITH THE FIRE DIRECTOR POSITION.

EVERYBODY REMEMBERS KEN BROWN.

EVERYBODY SHOULD REMEMBER KEN BROWN.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE KEN BROWN.

BACK THEN WE HAD MAX.

THEN WE HAD ANDY EGNER.

WOW. THEN WE HAD MR. OWENS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE GET EITHER A GOOD FIT FOR THE VOLUNTEER SIDE OF THE HOUSE, OR WE GET A GOOD FIT FOR THE BOARD AND THE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY CAREER STAFF BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH WHATEVER'S THERE.

WE NEED THE CAREER STAFF.

THE CAREER STAFF NEEDS THE VOLUNTEERS.

I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATION THERE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE SOME MISALIGNMENTS ALONG THE WAY, AND I THINK THEY CAN BE WORKED OUT.

BUT THE ONE THING I REMEMBER WHEN WE HIRED THE LAST, WELL, WHEN WE HIRED OUR FIRST FIRE CHIEF, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY IS WE NEED THE REAL THE VOLUNTEERS IN.

AND I GUESS I'M ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS.

I'M ONE OF THOSE THAT, I GUESS A BAD PIECE OF THE APPLE, I GUESS, BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE THINGS LYING DOWN. I HAVE A BIG MOUTH.

I SPEAK FOR ALL MY FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY, AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO BRING THINGS TO THE BOARD OR TO THE ADMIN THAT ARE NOT WELL LIKED, BUT IT'S WHAT MY COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE AND WHAT WE WANT TO SEE GO ON.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. STOKES, THE ADMINISTRATOR, YOU AS WELL.

UM. IT'S JUST BEEN SOMETHING.

[00:55:02]

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BUTTING HEADS AND SO FORTH, AND WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME.

TRYING TO MAKE THE ONE PERCENTERS, I GUESS, OR THE TWO PERCENTERS HAPPY.

IF WE COULD FOCUS ALL THAT ENERGY, ALL THAT ENERGY ON BETTER RESPONSE TIMES, BETTER CAMARADERIE. PEOPLE WANTING TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER.

IF WE COULD TAKE ALL THE NEGATIVE ENERGY AND TURN IT INTO POSITIVE ENERGY.

NOW, CAN I GIVE YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT? WHY, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL WORK.

ALL I CAN DO IS GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.

SO, LIKE I SAID, THE CHALLENGES ARE HERE.

THANK YOU. SCOTT. JUST TO STEAL FROM.

THIS IS STILL A PUBLIC COMMENT.

TIME FOR THE GENERAL COMMENTS.

IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO COME FORWARD.

HELLO, BOARD MY NAME IS JUSTIN NOBLIN, 8724 CENTENNIAL ROAD, DISPUTANTA, VIRGINIA.

I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT TODAY ABOUT OUR LAND USE PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP ENCOURAGE OUR COUNTY TO STAY RURAL.

SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A REAL HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS.

IT DOES THIS BY REDUCING TAXES FOR THE FARMERS AND ANYBODY WHO CHOOSES TO KEEP FIVE ACRES OR MORE OF THEIR PROPERTY UNDEVELOPED.

THIS IS ALL OVERSEEN BY OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE THROUGH GUIDELINES FROM THE STATE.

TWO, TWO YEARS AGO, AN 83 YEAR OLD WIDOW WHOSE FARM HAS BEEN IN LAND USE SINCE LAND USE BEGAN IN THIS COUNTY WAS TOLD WEEKS BEFORE HER HUSBAND OF 59 YEARS DIED THAT PART OF THEIR FARM WAS BEING REMOVED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT IT.

THAT WAS INCORRECT.

IT WAS SIMPLY IN THE WRONG CLASSIFICATION.

TWO MONTHS AGO, A FOURTH GENERATION FARMER WHOSE FAMILY HAS FARMED THEIR LAND FOR OVER 107 YEARS, HAD THE EIGHT ACRES THAT WAS DEEDED TO HIM IN THE CENTER OF THEIR FAMILY FARM REMOVED FROM LAND USE BECAUSE THE ASSESSOR USED HIS DISCRETION WITHOUT A SITE VISIT AND DEEMED A 60 BY 100 METAL BARN FULL OF HAY AND AN EQUIPMENT STAGING AREA, NOT AGRICULTURE, AND CUT JUST ENOUGH OF THE PARCEL TO REDUCE IT BELOW THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT OUR LOCAL FARM BUREAU.

I TALKED TO QUITE A FEW FARMERS WEEKLY.

I'M HEARING THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST THESE TWO HAVING ISSUES.

I MYSELF WAS REMOVED LAST YEAR FROM THE LAND USE PROGRAM, AND SINCE I HAVE READ NEARLY EVERY STATE AND LOCAL CODE CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE ASSESSOR SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND WAS ASSURED THAT I WAS TO BE REINSTATED IMMEDIATELY, BUT JUST RECEIVED MY APPLICATION A FEW DAYS AGO TO REAPPLY.

I'M NOT REINSTATED AT THIS POINT.

83 YEAR OLD WIDOWS AND FOURTH GENERATION FARMERS ARE NOT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO TARGET FOR INCREASED TAXES.

THE STATE GUIDELINES HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWED BY PREVIOUS ASSESSORS.

I KNOW OUR ASSESSOR THAT'S IN THE OFFICE NOW HAS NOT BEEN THERE VERY LONG, BUT TO THIS POINT, THE STATE GUIDELINES ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED NOW EITHER.

UH, I'M HOPING TO WELL, I'M ACTUALLY I'M MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY NEXT MONTH TO DISCUSS THIS. I JUST GOT AN APPOINTMENT TODAY.

UH, I'M HOPING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE BOARD THAT REMAINS AND THE NEW MEMBERS CAN LOOK INTO THIS THOROUGHLY AND CORRECT THESE ISSUES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, THANK YOU SIR.

ANYONE ELSE? APPARENTLY.

GOOD EVENING. REED FOSTER.

LIVE AT 7031 LAUREL SPRING ROAD.

MR. HUNTER.

MR. CARMICHAEL, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS.

MISTER CARMICHAEL, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU GOT ELECTED.

I THINK YOU REMEMBER MY FIRST VISIT WHEN I KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR AND WE SAT DOWN AND HAD A CONVERSATION, BUT IT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION.

AND MR. HUNTER. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU GOT ELECTED.

I CAME KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR, AND WE SIT DOWN AND HAD A CONVERSATION.

[01:00:04]

AND I WISH YOU BOTH WELL AND WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO AFTER DECEMBER THE 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU'RE STILL A BOARD MEMBER UNTIL DECEMBER THE 31ST AT MIDNIGHT, SO YOUR PHONE WILL PROBABLY STILL RING.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MOST OF Y'ALL BACK HERE NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, REED. ANYONE ELSE.

I THINK THAT FINISHES UP PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

WE'LL MOVE ON.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED IN LESS THAN ONE.

LET'S MAKE A CHANGE. MR. MOVED. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[E. Order of Consensus]

HAVE A SECOND, SECOND A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

[F. Presentations]

THE FIRST ONE IS FOR MR. CARMICHAEL, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF READING MR. CARMICHAEL'S ACCOMMODATION.

MR. CARMICHAEL, WOULD YOU IN ANY OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COME FORWARD, COME UP? FIRST TIME WE GOT THEM ON THE SAME ROOM FOR A CHRISTMAS PHOTO.

THERE YOU GO. WELL, AND I MIGHT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT I'M NOT.

OH, YOU NEED THE HAT. ALL OF THEM.

WE ALL LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE, SO I HAD KIND OF AN EDGE.

YOU GET ALL THESE PEOPLE.

I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, RIGHT? YOU KNOW.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M FOR YOU, TOO.

YEAH.

SO. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS.

GIVES ME A REAL PLEASURE TO READ THIS.

ACCOMMODATION FOR ALAN R CARMICHAEL SERVICE TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

HE PRESENTED ON THIS DATE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023.

WHEREAS ALAN R CARMICHAEL OF 1981 GRADUATED FROM PRINCE GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL, WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007.

[INAUDIBLE]. SO ANYHOW, I HAD TO ASK THAT I HEAR YOU BECAUSE I WAS ALL RIGHT.

AND WHEREAS DURING HIS 16-YEAR TENURE ON THE BOARD OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY'S ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER.

A NEW NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE EXPANSION OF THE PRINCE GEORGE HERITAGE CENTER, THE NEW CARSON VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION, THE NEW ROUTE TEN FIRE STATION, RENOVATION OF THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COURTHOUSE, RENOVATION OF THE WELLNESS CENTER, WHICH IS THE OLD.

RENOVATIONS TO THE HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING AND A NEW MIDDLE ROAD SCHOOL.

WHEREAS MR. CARMICHAEL SERVED AS VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR ONE YEAR AND CHAIRMAN FOR ONE YEAR UNDER HIS CHAIRMANSHIP.

HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE $45 MILLION ADDITION TO SERVICE CENTER METALS, CREATING

[01:05:08]

WHEREAS UNDER HIS CHAIRMANSHIP, MR. CARMICHAEL SERVED AS THE BOARD'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE VIRGINIA GATEWAY.

REGION, WHEREAS MR. CARMICHAEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FRIENDLY FACE FOR THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND QUICKLY EARNED THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE ADVOCATE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY PUBLIC SAFETY.

HE HAS FONDLY BEEN REFERRED TO AS BIG AL, THOUGH THE WORKING MAN'S PAL.

AND WHEREAS MR. CARMICHAEL WORKED VERY HARD TO VASTLY IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION AND HAS ALWAYS GONE THE EXTRA MILE FOR THE COUNTY VOLUNTEERS.

AND WHEREAS MISTER CARMICHAEL ALSO SUPPORTED THE RURAL BAND BROADBAND.

YEAH. RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVE WITH PRINCE GEORGE EC.

AND WHEREAS MR. CARMICHAEL HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY DEMONSTRATING PATRIOTISM, INTEGRITY AND DEVOTION IN A MANNER BESPEAKING THE DEDICATION OF A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT FOR 16 YEARS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, THIS 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2023, COMMENDS AND SINCERELY THANKS ALAN R.

CARMICHAEL, FOR HIS DEDICATED CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BODY.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD WISHES MR. CARMICHAEL MUCH HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION AS HE PURSUES HIS ENDEAVOR, DESIGNED BY ME AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. STOKES. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

THANK YOU ALL FOR TRUSTING IN ME FOR THIS.

THIS IS MY FIRST FAMILY.

THIS IS MY SECOND. AND I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND. THIS GROUP BEHIND ME AND THOSE THAT ARE COMING IN WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PRINCE GEORGE INTO THE FUTURE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

CAN WE GET A LITTLE TIGHTER? . THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. I THINK I'M FALLING IN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, SWEETIE. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, BUDDY. I SHOULD ASK YOU TO SING.

YOU.

NOW MRS. WAYMACK HAS ANOTHER COMMENDATION.

I HAVE A COMMENDATION FOR MR. DONALD HUNTER. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

FAMILY.

I'M AFRAID I'LL FALL BACK TO MY LEGS.

THIS IS A COMMENDATION TO DONALD R HUNTER.

SERVICE TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

WHEREAS MR. DONALD HUNTER, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, BEGAN EMPLOYMENT WITH PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 1971, AS A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER.

[01:10:08]

HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT ON JANUARY THE 1ST, 1988.

AND WHEREAS MR. HUNTER TRANSFERRED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON OCTOBER THE 1ST, 1994, AND WAS APPOINTED SHERIFF ON APRIL THE 1ST, 1995.

SHERIFF HUNTER WON REELECTION UNTIL HE RETIRED ON APRIL THE 30TH, 2004.

AND WHEREAS MR. HUNTER WAS HIRED AS A PART TIME DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR ON APRIL 15TH, 2013, AND RECLASSIFIED TO A PART TIME REGULAR POSITION ON JANUARY THE 1ST, 2016.

MR. HUNTER SERVED AS THE LEAD STAFF PERSON FOR THE COUNTY DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, AND THAT WAS QUITE A THING, WASN'T IT? HE RESIGNED FROM PART TIME REGULAR DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR ON JULY THE 20TH 9TH TO 2022, AND WHEREAS MR. HORNER WAS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON JANUARY THE 1ST, 2016.

HE SERVED AS VICE CHAIR FOR THREE YEARS AND CHAIRMAN FOR THREE YEARS.

AND WHEREAS DURING HIS EIGHT-YEAR TENURE ON THE BOARD, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY BUILT A NEW CASTLE VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION.

THE NEW ROUTE. ROUTE TEN FIRE STATION.

RENOVATIONS TO THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

RENOVATIONS TO THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER.

RENOVATIONS TO THE HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING AND A NEW MIDDLE ROOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND WHEREAS MR. HUNTER SERVED AS THE BOARD'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE VIRGINIA GATEWAY REGIONAL, THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMISSION, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT TEAM.

AND WHEREAS, MR. HUNTER SERVES ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION AND THE RIVER RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS JUSTICE BOARD.

AND WHEREAS, MR. HUNTER HAS SERVED AS CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, DEMONSTRATING PATRIOTISM, INTEGRITY AND DEVOTION IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, THE DEDICATION OF A TRUE PUBLIC SERVICE.

SERMON FOR OVER 52 YEARS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE, THIS 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2023, COMMENDS AND SINCERELY THANKS DONALD HUNTER FOR HIS DEDICATED CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BOARD.

AND IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD WISHES MR. HUNTER MUCH HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION AS HE PURSUES HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

AND IT'S SIGNED BY GEOFFREY STOKES, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

[01:15:20]

IT'S TIME FOR THE SUPERVISOR'S COMMENTS.

SO, THANK YOU.

SO MY MICROPHONE IS ON.

IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE QUIET DOWN.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SUPERVISORS' COMMENTS .

[G. Comments]

I'M GOOD.

JUST ALRIGHTY THANK EVERYBODY FOR A GREAT COUNTY TO LIVE IN.

GREAT COUNTY TO BE A PART OF, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FINE AS WE GET BIGGER.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE OF THAT.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.

MISS WAYMACK. YES.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GET THE FLU VACCINE AND THE COVID SHOT TOO.

[01:20:02]

IT'S GOING AROUND. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SICK RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. MR. BROWN? JUST SIMPLY TO THANK BOTH OF YOU GUYS FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE HERE ON THE BOARD SO THANK YOU TO YOU, MR. CARMICHAEL, MY DISTRICT ONE, COMPADRE, AND THANK YOU, SIR, TO YOU, MR. HUNTER. YES, SIR.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

MR. WEBB. I'M GONNA DO THE SAME THING.

WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

[INAUDIBLE]. YEAH, AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THIS BOARD AND WITH THE COUNTY AND WHEN I STARTED, WHEN I CAME ON THE COUNTY AS A BOARD MEMBER, I SAID I WAS GOING TO LISTEN TO MY DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND I'VE TRIED TO DO THAT AND GO ALONG WITH THOSE, AND OTHER THAN THAT I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND GOOD CHRISTMAS AND THINK ABOUT THE THINGS, NOT THE CHRISTMAS THINGS, THE THINGS YOU DO AT CHRISTMAS, BUT THE CHRISTMAS THINGS YOU CAN DO ALL YEAR LONG.

MHM. THANK YOU.

MR. STOKE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN JUST AS A REMINDER, TWO QUICK DATES DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IS ACTUALLY TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13TH, RIGHT HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM AT 6:30 P.M, AND THERE IS A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON BEING HELD AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16TH FROM 12 TO 3. IT'S BEING PUT ON BY THE PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE 501(C)(3), AND I BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 100 PEOPLE ALREADY SIGNED UP.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU MOVING ALONG, WE'LL GO TO THE REPORTS AND VDOT REPORT, MISS SMITH.

[H. Reports]

YOUR REPORT IS IN YOUR PACKET TONIGHT, BUT I DID WANT TO PROVIDE SOME UPDATES.

WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR REVIEW OF THE DETOUR SIGNAGE ON GOLF COURSE ROAD.

SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE BY OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THOSE MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.

THIS PROJECT IS ALSO STILL ON SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION IN OCTOBER OF 2024.

THE RESIDENCY IS ALSO COMPLETED A REVIEW OF THE [INAUDIBLE] AT LAUREL SPRINGS AND 156.

OUR REVIEW AND REQUEST FOR MODIFICATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE.

ONCE WE GET THOSE BACK, WE'LL UPDATE THE BOARD AND ANY MODIFICATIONS WILL BE MADE.

AT THAT TIME, THE INFAMOUS BAILEY BRIDGE SETTLEMENT IS BACK, AND IF WE CAN GET ASPHALT BEFORE THEY ALL SHUT DOWN, WE'LL BE LOOKING TO SMOOTH THAT BACK OUT AGAIN AS WELL.

THE ROUNDABOUT AT BULL HILL WAS DELAYED A LITTLE BIT I DON'T EXPECT IT TO AFFECT THE COMPLETION DATE BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A LAY DOWN YARD RIGHT NOW, SO THAT'S WHAT'S HOLDING UP THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

STARTING THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I DID WANT TO MAKE NOTE MOUNT SINAI WAS CLOSED TODAY FOR PAVEMENT FAILURES. NOT SURE WHAT HAS CAUSED THOSE AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'VE GOT BOTH COUNTY STAFF AND VDOT STAFF EVALUATING THAT AND WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES, BUT THE ROAD IS CLOSED, SO THAT'S THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO GET OUT TONIGHT.

NO OTHER UPDATES FROM ME, ANY INFORMATION THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I GUESS YOU HEARD PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER.

I DID, I DID TAKE NOTE OF THAT.

OKAY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU THAT YOU DO THAT FOR MR. [INAUDIBLE], AND OF COURSE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FLOODING, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN TOO.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

LAST MEETING, YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE AN UPDATE.

MAYBE YOU MENTIONED IT AND I DIDN'T HEAR IT.

THE 301 STUDY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

YEAH. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING BACK FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ON THAT ONE YET.

HOPE TO HAVE IT BEFORE YOU HAD LEFT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM.

WELL, SOMEBODY MENTIONED I GOT TO THE 31ST.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT; I'LL DEFINITELY CALL AND SEE IF I CAN'T PUSH THEM TO GET AN UPDATE AND I'LL HELP YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. I HAVE, I GOT A PHONE CALL TODAY, AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON CHESTER ROAD THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF A BETTER WAY, A POTHOLE, AND IT WAS KIND OF FILLED IN, BUT A LOT OF DEBRIS WAS KIND OF TOSSED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE BLOCKING A DEAD TYPE FIRE HYDRANT THERE THAT DRAWS FROM A POND OR SOMETHING THERE.

I'LL GET ALL THE EXACT DETAILS AND A LOCATION OF THAT TO GET YOU.

MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

I'M GOOD. WE'VE ALREADY HAD OUR DISCUSSION.

MS. WAYMACK ANYTHING?

[01:25:02]

YOU ALL BOTH HAVE BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THAT GOES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR AGENCY AND TO ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN MY ROLE.

SO THANK YOU BOTH.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOU BEING PART OF THE BOARD, BUT I DO WISH YOU BOTH WELL IN WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU DO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.

YOU'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE WHENEVER I CALLED.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE GREAT.

WELL, YOU CAN STILL BLOW THEIR PHONE UP TILL THE 31ST.

[CHUCKLING] I WILL PROBABLY AFTER THAT.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE IN REPORTS.

YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY. YEAH, MISS SMITH, IF YOU COULD STAY THAT WAS ALL THE REPORTS,

[I. Order of Business]

ROAD TO THE SECONDARY SYSTEM.

YES, SIR. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION FROM THE BOARD TO REQUEST VDOT TO MAINTAIN THAT MOVING FORWARD AND PUT IT INTO OUR SECONDARY ROAD SYSTEM.

OKAY. I THINK THERE IS A WE'VE GOT A RESOLUTION.

YEAH. THERE'S A RESOLUTION IN THE PACKET.

TERESA CAN YOU DO CLERK ONE PLEASE? [INAUDIBLE] WHILE SHE'S PULLING IT UP IF YOU WANT TO LOOK, THERE IS A RESOLUTION IN OUR PACKET IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, AND AT THE PROPER TIME I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION.

[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. SHOW THE MAP AT THE END.

THERE IT IS. THERE YOU GO.

[INAUDIBLE] SO FOR THE BUS LOOP, IF THE BOARD SO VOTES FOR VDOT TO MAINTAIN THAT, THAT WOULD BE FOR THE NETWORK FOR THE LOOP ITSELF.

IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY PARKING.

THAT'S WHAT? THE DRIVING AREA? YES, SIR. RIGHT.

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH IN REFERENCE TO THAT? I'M GOOD. IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? COMMENTS, MR. SMITH? ALL RIGHT, CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS.

OKAY. YOU TOO. YOU TOO.

PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT.

[J. Public Hearings]

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST, TIM? YES. YEAH I'LL INTRODUCE STAFF REPORT.

I THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN HUNTER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKES, MS. ERARD AND BEST WISHES.

WHAT'S NEXT? MR. HUNTER AND MR. CARMICHAEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TOO.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS IS A REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON WHETHER OR NOT THE LARGE SCALE SOLAR FACILITY PROPOSED BY RWE, CLEAN ENERGY AND THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION, SE-23-09 IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE COUNTY, AND THIS, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, INDICATES THE PROPERTY IS PLANNED FOR RESIDENTIAL OR AGRICULTURAL USES AND THE COUNTY'S ADOPTED SOLAR SITING FACILITY POLICY PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR SITING NEW FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY.

THE DEVELOPMENT AREA FOR THIS FACILITY IS PROPOSED TO BE 506 ACRES APPROXIMATELY, AND THE TOTAL AREA OF THE PARCELS INVOLVED IS BIGGER THAN THAT AT OVER 1200 ACRES.

[01:30:05]

HERE'S A LOCATION MAP TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHERE THIS IS THAT RED OUTLINE SHOWS THE OUTLINE OF ALL OF THE PARCELS INVOLVED.

THE FOOTPRINT OF THE FACILITY IS A SMALLER AREA WITHIN THOSE WITHIN THAT AREA.

WE CAN SEE THIS IS IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY, SOUTH OF ROUTE 460.

THIS IS A VIEW OF THE ZONING MAP.

THE WHOLE WHOLE AREA IS ZONED RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL.

THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW.

IT'S MOSTLY TREES WITH SOME OPEN AREAS, AND THIS IS A VIEW OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE GREEN AREAS ARE PLANNED FOR AGRICULTURAL USE.

THE YELLOW AREAS ARE PLANNED FOR RESIDENTIAL.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS PROPERTY IS ALONG THE BORDER OF THAT THOSE TWO AREAS WITH SOME OF THE FACILITY PROPOSED TO BE IN THE COUNTY'S RURAL CONSERVATION AREA PLAN FOR AGRICULTURAL AND SOME INSIDE THE PLANNING AREA.

PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA, WHICH IS PLANNED FOR THAT AREA, IS PLANNED FOR RESIDENTIAL.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CONCEPTUAL LAYOUT OF THE FACILITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDES, IT IS A SMALLER AREA WITHIN THAT THOSE PARCELS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE PINK COLORS SHOW WHERE THE ESSENTIALLY WHERE THE PANELS ARE PROPOSED TO BE WITHIN THAT OVERALL SITE BOUNDARIES.

THE GREEN INDICATES TREES THAT WOULD BE RETAINED.

SO JUST AS WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE, THE GOAL OF THE APPLICANT IS TO DEVELOP A LARGE SCALE ENERGY FACILITY, SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE 506 ACRES OUT OF A 1270 ACRES.

THOSE 506 ACRES WOULD INCLUDE SOLAR PANELS AND ALL OTHER SITE INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE OF THE REQUIRED BUFFER SCREENING AREAS, BASICALLY INSIDE OF TREES SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING THE DEVELOPMENT AREA, AND SO QUICK REVIEW OF HOW WE GOT HERE.

THE APPLICANT APPLICANT SUBMITTED A SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION FOR SOLAR FACILITY, AND THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES THAT THE COUNTY'S PLANNING COMMISSION MAKE A DETERMINATION OF SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD ON WHETHER THIS FACILITY, AS PROPOSED IN THE LOCATION AND SIZE, IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION DID CONSIDER THIS REQUEST, AND THEY HELD A PUBLIC HEARING IN OCTOBER, AND THEY MADE A DETERMINATION THAT THE FACILITY IS NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO THE APPLICANT, AS THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO, THEY APPEALED THIS DETERMINATION TO THE BOARD FOR THE BOARD'S FINAL DECISION AND SO THE BOARD'S FINAL DECISION WOULD BE IN THIS CASE FOR THIS WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A DECISION TO EITHER UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION OR OVERRULE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION.

SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. YOUR YOUR TASK IS TO EITHER UPHOLD WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINED, WHICH WAS THAT IT'S NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD, OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO OVERRULE THAT [INAUDIBLE] TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR DECISIONS RELATING TO SOLAR FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY.

THE BOARD, OF COURSE, ADOPTED A SITING POLICY IN 2020 AND THEN ADDED THAT OFFICIALLY TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SO THAT THIS COULD BE USED FOR THIS KIND OF DETERMINATION, THAT GUIDANCE AND THAT POLICY ALLOWS, GIVES YOU GUIDANCE.

YOU'VE GIVEN YOURSELF GUIDANCE AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC AND THE APPLICANTS GUIDANCE ON WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, WHAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR.

SO THAT SITING POLICY COVERS MANY DETAILS.

SOME ARE HIGH LEVEL, SUCH AS HOW BIG THE FACILITIES ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE IN THE COUNTY, WHERE YOU WANT THEM AND DON'T WANT THEM, AND THEN MORE SPECIFIC, MANY MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS, SUCH AS HOW MUCH SCREENING IS AND BUFFERING IS GOING AROUND THE PANELS.

SO HOW WELL YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM THE ROAD AND OTHER DETAILED REQUIREMENTS.

SO FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBSTANTIAL RECORD REVIEW, WE'VE FOCUSED ON THE HIGH LEVEL STUFF THAT'S IN THAT POLICY, WHICH IS, WHICH WILL GO THROUGH IN A MINUTE HERE.

IF THE BOARD OVERRULES THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION AND FINDS THE PROJECT IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD, THEN ALL OTHER DETAILS FROM THAT POLICY CAN BE CONSIDERED DURING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION PUBLIC HEARING.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE HIGH LEVEL STUFF AT THIS STAGE.

SO GOING THROUGH WHAT THE STAFF IS AS MOST SUMMARIZED FORM, WE CAN HERE, WHAT THE STAFF FOUND IN REVIEWING THIS PROJECT WAS THAT ESSENTIALLY IT GENERALLY OR SOMEWHAT AT LEAST SOMEWHAT COMPLIES WITH FOUR OF SIX MAIN CRITERIA IN THE POLICY, AND

[01:35:09]

IT IS NOT CLEARLY IN COMPLIANCE, SO TWO OUT OF SIX WERE WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF FOCUSED ON, AND NUMBER ONE THERE ON THIS LIST THE COUNTY'S ACREAGE LIMIT.

SO THIS FACILITY.

SO GOING BACK A MINUTE, THE BOARD HAD SET AN UPPER LIMIT OF THE DESIRED TOTAL ACRES IN ALL OF THE COUNTY THAT IT WANTED TO HAVE FOR SOLAR FACILITIES, AND THAT ACREAGE WAS OVER 4000 ACRES AND THAT WAS EQUIVALENT TO, I THINK 2.4% OF THE AREA OF THE COUNTY, AND SO THIS FACILITY, IF IT WERE TO BE APPROVED, WOULD PUSH OVER THAT LIMIT BY 22 ACRES SO BUT IN THE POLICY, WHAT IT SAYS IS THE COUNTY DESIRES AN UPPER LIMIT OF THE COUNTY ACREAGE DEDICATED TO SOLAR FACILITIES.

SO IT'S REALLY UP TO THE THE DECISION, THE ELECTED BODY HERE TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THAT.

IT DOES PUSH IT OVER.

THE COUNTY SAID IT DESIRES AN UPPER LIMIT, AND THIS IS GUIDANCE FOR YOURSELVES BUT THE BOARD'S ULTIMATE DECISION MAKER SKIPPING THE NEXT ONE THAT WE FOCUSED ON WAS THE MINIMUM TOTAL PARCEL ACREAGE, AND THIS THIS IS COMPLIANT WITH THAT AND THE NEXT ONE THERE ABOUT AVOIDING THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

SO THAT'S AGAIN, COMING FROM THE COUNTY'S POLICY THAT THE COUNTY WANTS TO THESE FACILITIES TO AVOID THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA AND THE EXACT WORDING IS SITING OF A FACILITY WITHIN THE PRINCE GEORGE'S PLANNING AREA SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

SO THIS IS AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS NOT CLEARLY IT'S NOT CLEARLY IN COMPLIANCE SINCE ABOUT 35% OF THE PROJECT ACREAGE IS OUTSIDE THE PLANNING AREA AND ABOUT 65% OF IT IS INSIDE THE PLANNING AREA OR PROPOSED TO BE INSIDE THE PLANNING AREA AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION REALLY FOCUSED ON WHEN THEY RECOMMENDED OR THEY DETERMINED THAT THIS IS NOT A SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD, AS THEY SAID, THE MAIN REASON IS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T AVOID THE PLANNING AREA, AND THEN THERE'S A FEW MORE CRITERIA THERE THAT WERE POINTS, KEY POINTS FROM THE POLICY, AND GENERALLY THIS APPLICATION COMPLIES WITH THOSE AND THEN THERE'S JUST A REMINDER THAT ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE POLICY THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL IN THAT SITING POLICY AND THOSE CAN BE CONSIDERED IF THIS WERE TO PROCEED TO A SPECIAL EXCEPTION STAGE.

SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION AGAIN WAS THAT IT IS NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THAT WAS BY UNANIMOUS VOTE FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING.

THEY PROVIDED A REASON IT'S WRITTEN THERE.

IT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE GENERAL GUIDANCE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, INCLUDING THE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY SITING POLICY, SPECIFICALLY TO AVOID THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA. SO AGAIN, THAT'S THE MAIN REASON THAT THEY PROVIDED.

SO THE APPLICANT APPEALED THAT DETERMINATION AND THEY'RE IN ATTENDANCE, AND THEY CAN EXPLAIN MORE OF WHAT THEIR REASONING IS AND THEY PROVIDED APPLICATION MATERIALS, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE BOARD AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC AND THEIR THEIR CORE ARGUMENT APPEARED TO BE THE PROJECT MEETS THE MAJORITY OF GOALS IN THE POLICY, AND THEREFORE THEY THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE FOUND IN SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE SINCE IT MEETS A MAJORITY OF THE GOALS OF THE POLICY STAFF COMMENTS ABOUT THAT IS THAT ALL GUIDELINES ARE NOT EQUAL IN THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.

AGAIN, THERE'S A POLICY WITH LOTS OF WORDS IN IT, AND IT'S UP TO YOU ULTIMATELY, TO DETERMINE WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT HERE IS TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS IN ACCORD WITH THE COMP PLAN AND SO THE TWO GUIDELINES THAT THIS PROJECT IS INCONSISTENT WITH, YOU COULD YOU MIGHT THINK THEY'RE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AS A WHOLE.

SO THAT MIGHT BE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO DETERMINE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINED THAT ONE GUIDELINE WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH SO THAT 'S WHAT THEY BASED THEIR DETERMINATION ON.

THE BOARD HAS THE DUTY TO, AGAIN, EITHER UPHOLD THAT OR OVERRULE THAT, AND THERE WERE PUBLIC COMMENTS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.

AS OF 5:20 P.M.

TODAY, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS AWARE OF AT LEAST 25 WRITTEN COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION AND AT LEAST NINE WRITTEN COMMENTS IN SUPPORT EXCUSE ME, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, SIR.

THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU GOT IN WRITING.

THAT'S JUST WHAT WE [INAUDIBLE] WERE COPIED ON IN WRITING.

THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO POSSIBLY PURSUE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT THEY KNEW THEY DIDN'T FALL WITHIN ALL THE GUIDELINES THAT WERE SET UP. SO THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE EXTRA EFFORT TO GO APPLY, AND.

THEY KNEW WE HAD THE STIGMA.

SO THEY PROBABLY YOU DON'T HEAR FROM THEM.

[01:40:04]

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME.

DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE APPELLANT? YES, WE HAVE NATALIE GERBER AND I THINK THEY HAVE A PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD AND MR. STOKE. MISS ERARD, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TONIGHT IF I MAY, WE HAVE A SOME HANDOUTS IF I'M ALLOWED TO APPROACH.

[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

COULD I HAVE ONE FOR THE CLERK ALSO? OKAY. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. I'M NATALIE GERBER.

I'M A DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR RWE CLEAN ENERGY AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE TIME TO SPEAK THIS EVENING IN REGARDS TO THE APPEAL OF THE 2232 DETERMINATION FOR THE BAKERS POND SOLAR PROJECT.

RWE IS REQUESTING A DETERMINATION THAT THE BAKER'S POND SOLAR PROJECT IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2232.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR THE BOARD TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROJECT IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD BASED ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JUST A VERY QUICK BACKGROUND ON RWE, JUST SO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE HAVE ROUGHLY EIGHT GIGAWATTS OF PROJECTS IN OPERATIONS CURRENTLY.

WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST SOLAR COMPANY IN THE US AND THE FOURTH LARGEST RENEWABLES COMPANY. WE HAVE ABOUT 1500 EMPLOYEES AND GROWING WITH ROUGHLY 24GW IN OUR PIPELINE, THAT IS WIND, SOLAR AND BATTERIES WE DO HAVE A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN OPERATIONS OR IN CONSTRUCTION IN VIRGINIA AS WELL, IN HALIFAX COUNTY WITH COUNTY AND SUFFOLK COUNTY AS WELL.

JUST A REALLY QUICK BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT.

I THINK TIM DID A GOOD JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE PROJECT.

SO IT IS 100 MEGAWATT AC IT'S THREE LANDOWNERS.

IT SPANS SEVEN PARCELS IT IS APPROXIMATELY 1260, 1270 ACRES CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR FOREST, IT'S COMMERCIAL FORESTRY TIMBER AND A SMALL PORTION FOR AGRICULTURE THE PROJECT AREA FOR WHEN WE SUBMITTED IS 506 ACRES.

SO THAT 506 ACRES ALSO INCORPORATES A 50 FOOT VEGETATIVE BUFFER.

SO THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FINAL ACREAGE NUMBER SO IT'S A ROUGHLY 440 ACRES THAT WOULD BE EITHER UNDER PANEL ROAD OR STORMWATER BASINS.

SO THE REMAINING ROUGHLY A LITTLE OVER 800 ACRES WOULD BE LEFT, WOULD NOT BE DISTURBED AND THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THAT VEGETATIVE BUFFER.

RIGHT NOW THERE THERE ARE TREES ON THE SITE.

SO THE MAJORITY OF IT IS CURRENTLY FORESTED BUT THAT 506 ACREAGE NUMBER INCLUDES THAT 50 FOOT VEGETATIVE BUFFER IN THE AND THAT IS IN THE SOLAR POLICY AND AT THE END OF THE LIFE, IT CAN BE CONVERTED BACK TO COMMERCIAL FORESTRY USE FOR AGRICULTURE HOWEVER, THE LANDOWNER DEEMS THAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE LAND AFTER THE END OF THE LIFE.

WHAT IS THAT LIFE? BETWEEN 35 TO 40 YEARS, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS JUST FOR SOLAR THERE IS NO BATTERY THAT WE HAVE APPLIED FOR IS JUST THE 100MW OF SOLAR AND [INAUDIBLE].

WE HAVE A QUEUE POSITION FOR BATTERY, BUT THIS APPLICATION IS JUST FOR THE SOLAR PIECE AND AS TIM MENTIONED, THERE ARE SIX ITEMS FOR THE SOLAR SITING POLICY SPECIFIC TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS THAT UPPER LIMIT FOR THE ACREAGE CAP.

SO LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S 441 ACRES, LIMIT OF DISTURBANCE, 506 TOTAL AND ROUGHLY 22 ACRES OVER THAT LIMIT I BELIEVE THE WARWICK PROJECT WAS ADJUSTED AFTER WE SUBMITTED OUR SPECIAL EXCEPTION PERMIT AND OUR APPLICATION CAN BE MODIFIED TO FIT UNDER

[01:45:05]

WE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO CONSIDER WHAT'S BEFORE IT, WHICH IS THE APPEAL, AND SO IT IS FOR THE 22 ACRES ABOVE.

OKAY. UNDERSTOOD.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

THE SECOND ITEM IS THE MINIMUM AGGREGATE PARCEL SIZE, WHICH IS 70 ACRES, WHICH WE DO COMPLY WITH THAT THE MAIN TOPIC THAT I THINK IS, WAS THE, THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS THE SITING OF A FACILITY WITHIN THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA SHOULD BE AVOIDED AS THE MAP SHOWED I CAN MAYBE.

I KNOW IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE, BUT ROUGHLY WHERE PUMPHOUSE DRIVE IS, IS MORE OR LESS WHERE THE SPLIT IS BETWEEN THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA AND THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

SO IT'S ABOUT 35% IN THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA, AND THE REMAINING 65% IS IN THAT PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA WHEN DEVELOPMENT STARTED ON THIS PROJECT, THE LAND WAS SIGNED BACK IN 2018 SO THAT WAS WHEN THE LAND WAS SIGNED UP AND THEN WE ALSO SUBMITTED OUR INTERCONNECTION APPLICATION FOR THE 100MW AFTER THAT TIME IS WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AND THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED, THAT KIND OF HAD THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA AND THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA. SO JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, THE INTERCONNECTION APPLICATION PROCESS TAKES ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

SO WHEN WE SUBMITTED IN 2018, WE JUST RECEIVED BACK OUR INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT FOR THE PROJECT THIS PAST JULY.

SO IT TOOK THAT LONG FOR THE INTERCONNECTION TO EVEN THE RESULTS TO BE GIVEN BACK TO US.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF OF WHEN DEVELOPMENT STARTED VERSUS WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2022 FOR THE SPLIT BETWEEN RURAL CONSERVATION AND PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE THE PUBLIC OR WASTEWATER SO THERE IS CURRENTLY NO PROPOSED WATER OR SEWER EXTENSIONS IN THE UTILITIES MASTER PLAN IN THAT PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S SLATED FOR POTENTIALLY RESIDENTIAL, BUT THERE IS NO PLAN WATER OR SEWER EXTENSION IN THAT SPECIFIC PART OF THIS PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA WHERE THE PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD GO IN THE LAST TWO WE'RE ALSO DEEMED IN COMPLIANCE WITH MASS GRADING OF SITES SHALL BE LIMITED THE SITE IS VERY FLAT, SO THERE WILL BE MINIMAL GRADING REQUIRED AND SITES LOCATED NEAR RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL OR HISTORIC [INAUDIBLE] SHOULD BE AVOIDED AND ON A DESKTOP ANALYSIS, THERE IS NO PRESENT CULTURAL RESOURCES, ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES PRESENT SO I THINK WE JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY TOUCH BASE AGAIN ON THE SHOULD BE AVOIDED. I THINK THERE WAS MAYBE SOME WASN'T CRYSTAL CLEAR ON THE SHOULD BE AVOIDED VERSUS MUST BE AVOIDED BECAUSE I THINK WITH THE FOR INSTANCE, THE PUBLIC WATER OR WASTEWATER ITEM IT SAYS WILL BE DISCOURAGED AND WILL NOT BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL SO WE FELT THAT LANGUAGE WAS MUCH MORE DEFINITIVE WHEN IT CAME TO THAT WATER AND SEWER PLAN VERSUS THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA SHOULD BE AVOIDED, AND LIKE WE SAID, IT IS RIGHT ON THAT BOUNDARY.

SO WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY SO WE DID WANT TO JUST REITERATE THAT THE PROJECT IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD WHEN WE THINK OF SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD, WE THINK MOST OF THE ITEMS THAT WE CHECK OFF THE BOXES.

SO IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD CONSIDER IT TO BE IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD BECAUSE OF THE, THE FOUR OF SIX THAT IT, THAT IT CHECKS THE BOXES FOR.

WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS? YES, SIR. GO AHEAD.

IS IT NOT TRUE THAT SOLAR PANELS ON AN AVERAGE ONLY ABSORB ABOUT 23 TO 25% OF THE SUNLIGHT WHEN YOU'VE GOT FULL SUNLIGHT? I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.

I DO HAVE MY SENIOR DIRECTOR WITH ME AS WELL, THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE.

I JUST LEFT THE CONFERENCE. SO THEY PUT ALL THAT DATA UP THERE.

OKAY AND AS FAR AS THE DISPOSAL.

[01:50:01]

THIS THING'S SO NEW, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DISPOSE OF THIS IF THEY FAIL EARLY AND OR AT THE END OF 30 YEARS.

CORRECT? YEAH.

SORRY. DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

ABOUT 90% OF THE COMPONENTS RIGHT NOW ARE RECYCLABLE, SO IT'S MOSTLY IT'S GLASS.

STEEL THERE'S ALUMINUM WIRING, AND THEN THE PANELS THEMSELVES ARE SILICON.

SO ROUGHLY 90% OF THE MATERIALS IN THE PANELS ARE RECYCLABLE, AND THERE ARE SOME NEW PROGRAMS. THERE'S ONE IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT THEY'RE STARTING TO COME UP WITH SOME RECYCLING PROGRAMS, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT IS NEW BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF, OF FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE STARTING TO RECYCLE THESE.

WHAT'S THE OTHER 10%? IT'S SOME IT'S LIKE SILICONE IS WHAT MAKES IT UP.

YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. YEAH. MY COMMENT OR MY QUESTION IS YOU MADE A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT BATTERY AND YOU SAID SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT.

YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT'S IN THE QUEUE.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU'RE PREPARING TO DO THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, BUT YOU JUST HAVEN'T EXECUTED THAT YET? WE HAVE THE OPTION TO BUT FOR THIS APPLICATION, WE JUST WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE SOLAR IT'S IN THE PJM INTERCONNECTION QUEUE SO WE HAVE THE OPTION TO EITHER BUILD THE BATTERY OR NOT, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND AND GO THROUGH THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION PERMIT PROCESS IF WE WOULD WANT TO BUILD THE BATTERY.

SO LET ME SAY IT AGAIN TO ME IN THE QUEUE MEANS I HAVE IT THERE.

SO IF I WANT TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE, I CAN PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS FOR THAT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WE COULD PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS, YES, BUT YEAH, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD. UNDERSTOOD. IT'S NOT IN THE PLAN TODAY.

CORRECT, BUT IT IS IN THE QUEUE? CORRECT, YES, SIR. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. NOT AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WOULD STAND BY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW, AND IT MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS AFTER THE PUBLIC MAKES THEIR COMMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE.

IT'S A SPECIAL EXCEPTION 2301 IT IS APPEAL OF THE SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD DETERMINATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I THANK MRS. KNOTT HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT IN FOR MAKING COMMENTS.

MRS KNOTT, IF YOU WOULD CALL THEM, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME UP.

IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND YOUR ADDRESS AND HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD.

YES SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN, THE FIRST PERSON IS AARON STORY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I JUST WANTED TO BE AWARE OF THAT THREE MINUTES AND NOT BE ABLE TO HIT THEIR KEY POINTS THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE, AND WE HAVE TO CUT THEM OFF.

OKAY. YEAH.

GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU ALL? JUST FINE. GOOD EVENING AARON STORY 13610 PUMPHOUSE ROAD.

I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROJECT IF THEY COULD BRING UP THE MAP THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAILED US, IT IS THE ONE WITH THE SITE OVERALL SITE IN RED.

THIS IS ILLEGAL BY ORDINANCE AND ZONING.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

THE OLD SAYING IS GIVE A MAN AN INCH, HE'S GOING TO TAKE A MILE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE RED AREA THAT THEY'RE SHOWING, THE LITTLE RED BOX IN THE MIDDLE IS MY SIX HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED UP TO A HALF MILE IN EVERY DIRECTION, WITH OVER 270,000 SOLAR PANELS, ALL ANIMAL LIFE WOULD BE GONE.

WE DO HAVE A BALD EAGLE NEST AND WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND THAT.

DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT WE NEED TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. RIGHT BELOW THE LITTLE RED BOX IN THE MIDDLE IS A LITTLE BLUE LINE.

THAT'S THE CREEK FEEDING MY WELL.

MY WELL IS 14FT DEEP.

THE SOLAR COMPANY SAYS THAT THE LAND IS FLAT.

WELL, IT IS; IT'S DOWNHILL FEEDING THE WELL.

ALL RIGHT, NOW THE PANELS ARE COMING ABOUT FROM THE WAY I'M UNDERSTANDING IT, 200FT FROM MY WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO END UP HAVING ANOTHER CAMP LEJEUNE ON OUR HANDS.

CONTAMINATION, RUNOFF, WEED KILLERS, SOIL EROSION, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO CONTAMINATE THE WELL. WHEN I MOVED TO PRINCE GEORGE, I DIDN'T MOVE INTO A MIDDLE OF A SOLAR FARM.

I DID NOT BUY PROPERTY TO BE IN A SOLAR FARM.

IF THIS IS PASSED, WE WOULD BE THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY SOLAR PANELS AND IT WOULD OPEN A DOOR FOR YOU ALL'S NEIGHBORHOOD TOO.

[01:55:01]

ANYTHING THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD LOWER YOUR PROPERTY VALUE, OUR PROPERTY VALUE WOULD BE VIRTUALLY WORTHLESS THE VISUAL BUFFER THAT THEY ARE CLAIMING TO HAVE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM REEVES ROAD, IT'S AN EYESORE.

IT'S NOT VISUALLY BUFFERED.

THE CITIZENS CLEARLY DO NOT WANT THIS THE DECIBEL LEVELS FROM THE INVERTERS RUNNING, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THEY'RE MEASURING THE DECIBEL LEVELS FROM THE INVERTERS TO THE HOUSE.

THAT'S WRONG. IT'S TO THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE PROPERTY.

ONCE AGAIN, THEY DIDN'T ADDRESS THE BATTERY STORAGE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS FIVE ACRES TEMPERATURE CHANGE, AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT YOU ALL'S SLOGAN IS EMBRACING PRINCE GEORGE'S RURAL CHARACTER, FOCUSING ON ITS PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

THIS CREATES NO JOBS FOR PRINCE GEORGE, AND THE ENERGY IS SOLD TO DOMINION POWER.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WHO DO YOU HAVE NEXT, MRS. KNOTT? WILLIAM STEELE.

MR. STEELE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS WILLIAM STEELE, 9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD, DISPUTANTA.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REQUEST THAT YOU, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REJECT THIS RWE PROPOSAL FOR THE BAKERS POND SOLAR SITE AS IT IS NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH OUR CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE PROPOSAL VIOLATES OUR COUNTY'S COMP PLAN IN TWO SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF CONCERN.

ONE, THE PROPOSAL FOR THE BAKERS POND SOLAR SITE IS CONTRARY TO PARAGRAPH FOUR OF THE PG COUNTY SOLAR SITE POLICY BY EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE ACREAGE SITTING FOR SOLAR SITES. OUR SOLAR SITE SETS THE LIMIT FOR SOLAR SITES TO BE NO MORE THAN 4,603.5, OR 2.74% OF THE COUNTY.

THIS PROPOSAL PLAN WILL EXCEED THAT NOW.

THREE YEARS AGO. MR. HUNTER, MR. BROWN, WE SAT WHEN WE DEVELOPED THE SOLAR PLAN AND THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT A 6000 ACRES, THE CITIZENS WERE HIGHLY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

WE DID REDUCE IT DOWN TO THE 2.74.

THAT IS THE LIMIT.

2.74 IS WHAT WE SAID.

WE ACCEPTED THAT AS THE COMPROMISE.

WE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT.

WE SHOULD NOT EXCEED THAT, NOT EVEN BY ONE MILLIMETER.

THAT IS WHAT WE SAID.

THAT'S WHAT WE AGREED TO.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

SECONDLY, THE PROPOSAL FOR THE BAKER'S POND SOLAR SITE IS CONTRARY TO ARTICLE TWO, ARTICLE TWO A AND ARTICLE THREE OF THE SITTING SOLAR POLICY AS IS.

IT IS NOT TO PROTECT OR ENHANCE OUR COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL OR RURAL HERITAGE, AS STATED IT SHOULD IN ARTICLE TWO, AND THIS PROPOSAL WILL PRESS MORE, WILL PUT MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR PROJECT INTO THE PLANNING AREA IN VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 2A, AND IT WILL NOT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AS STATED IN ARTICLE THREE.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DID NOT HEAR THE RWE GIVE ANY INDICATION ON HOW THEY CAN HOW THEY CAN ENHANCE OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

IN MY OPINION, GOD DID A GREAT JOB ON THERE.

I DON'T SEE HOW ANYBODY CAN IMPROVE UPON THAT.

LET'S LEAVE IT ALONE AS IT SHOULD BE.

FINALLY, FINALLY, I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT THE COMP PLAN IS DRIVEN BY THE INPUT OF US, THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, OUR COMMUNITY DISPUTANTA WE INPUT AND WE PUT THE SOLAR OR THE COMP PLAN IN PLACE, WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN PLACE.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO JUST EEK EEK EEK OUR WAY OUT OF IT LIKE THE [INAUDIBLE] EARLIER.

GIVE THEM AN INCH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A MILE.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

LET'S STICK TO THE POLICY.

THE COMP PLAN IS CREATED AND DEVELOPED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT IS THE RESIDENTS, NOT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BRINGING IT.

THEY DON'T LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT HAVE TO LIVE AND SUFFER WITH THIS.

WE DO.

IT'S OUR COMMUNITY.

LET'S ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THEREFORE, MR. CHAIRMAN, I ADVISE THAT IF WE CAN REJECT THIS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FIT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THE SITE PLAN, WHICH WE, THE COMMUNITY, HAVE ADOPTED FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I RESERVE MY RIGHT TO DISCUSS IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT OTHER ELEMENTS OF THIS, WHICH THE RWE DID THE JOBS OR SO FORTH AND SO ON.

I RESERVE MY RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE SCOPE OF THE MEETING TONIGHT.

THE SCOPE IS JUST THIS.

PLEASE, LET'S STICK TO THIS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. MRS.

[02:00:07]

HOWARD PENDERGRASS.

GOOD EVENING, SIR. GOOD EVENING.

I'M HOWARD PENDERGRASS.

I LIVE AT 407 RIVERVIEW COURT, CHESTER ACROSS THE RIVER FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

I ALSO OWN ONE OF THE PIECES OF PROPERTY THIS IS TO BE SITED ON.

SO I HAVE OBVIOUSLY A BIASED OPINION.

I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE PLAN.

I LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OKAY, IT'S IN YOUR PLANNING ZONE.

IT'S IN THE BACK CORNER OF YOUR PLANNING ZONE FOR RESIDENTIAL.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE SEWER AND WATER OUT THERE SO WE CAN ACTUALLY DEVELOP THOSE PROPERTIES FOR RESIDENTIAL? NO TIME SOON.

IT'S 22 ACRES OVER YOUR 4000 SOME ODD ACRE LIMIT.

PRETTY INSIGNIFICANT ROUNDING ERROR I LOOK AT IT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IT THERE.

QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S MY [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU SIR. MRS. KNOTT. RHONDA HAMLIN.

HAMLIN.

IT WAS A VERY LONG WAY. SORRY.

YOU'RE THREE MINUTES DON'T START UNTIL YOU START.

HI, MY NAME IS RHONDA HAMLIN.

I LIVE AT 12,000 PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE, DISPUTANTA, VIRGINIA.

I'M ASKING THAT YOU ALL UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO NOT HAVE THE SOLAR FARM. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, I CAME BEFORE YOU ALL WITH MY CONCERNS OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS OCCURRING IN PRINCE GEORGE.

WE MOVED TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY NINE YEARS AGO AND REALIZED OUR DREAM OF OWNING A SMALL FARM, HAVING HORSES ON OUR PROPERTY, AND RAISING OUR CHILDREN.

IN THAT TIME, WE'VE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLEXES AND SUBDIVISIONS GO UP AS WELL AS ONE SOLAR FARM. OUR CONCERN THEN WAS OVER DEVELOPMENT AND BECOMING CHESTERFIELD COUNTY 2.0.

I NEVER DREAMED THAT WE'D HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A SOLAR FARM.

WHEN YOU THINK OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, YOU THINK OF FARMS, YOU THINK OF HOMES, YOU THINK OF NATURE, NOT SOLAR FARMS. SO I AM ASKING YOU WITH DEEP RESPECT, TO PLEASE UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION AND KEEP PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY RURAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM, THANK YOU MA'AM.

WHAT WAS HER ADDRESS? [INAUDIBLE]. PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE, 12000.

TO THE NEXT PERSON, MISS KNOTT.

MICHELLE COKER.

WOULD YOU SAY THE NAME AGAIN? MICHELLE COKER.

THANK YOU. MS. COKER. HOW ARE WE DOING? GOOD EVENING MICHELLE COKER, 13732 PUMPHOUSE ROAD.

MY PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY THE VERY FIRST PROPERTY ADJOINING IN THAT LITTLE BOX RIGHT NEXT TO MR. STORY I ACTUALLY HAD PLANS TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK OF ALL KINDS OF CITATIONS AND POLICIES AND STUFF THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PERSONALIZE THIS FOR JUST A MINUTE AS YOU CAN SEE, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE SURROUNDED BY THESE SOLAR PANELS I MOVED TO THIS AREA ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO BY WAY OF A BAD ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP FROM FLORIDA.

LIVED WITH MY BROTHER IN CHESTER FOR A WHILE AND LATER GOT RELATED TO PRINCE GEORGE BY BEING INVITED TO A COOKOUT.

I'M A WEST VIRGINIA GIRL FROM THE MOUNTAINS, AND PRINCE GEORGE SPOKE TO ME.

IT WAS WHERE I WANTED TO BE.

IT TOOK ME 12 YEARS TO GET OUT HERE, AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT BRIEFLY MENTIONED TO YOU AT THE LAST MEETING, ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE MOVED OUT THERE, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR CANCER WE'VE BEEN WORKING EVER SINCE.

WE'VE PUT ALL KINDS OF MONEY INTO THE HOUSE TO MAKE IT OUR HOME, OUR OASIS THERE'LL BE A POINT WHERE I CAN'T TRAVEL.

I CURRENTLY WORK FROM HOME, SO THIS EYESORE WILL BE AT MY BACK DOOR EVERY DAY I ACTUALLY WISH I WOULD HAVE SUBMITTED THEM, BUT I TOOK PICTURES THIS MORNING FROM OUR BACK PORCH AND ALSO FROM OUR POOL DECK.

THAT ALL WE'LL SEE.

IT WILL BE SOLAR FARMS NEXT TO US SO I ASK YOU AGAIN WITH DEEP PERSPECTIVE, EVERYBODY ELSE'S COMMENTS AS WELL, TO PLEASE UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S VOTE NO AGAINST

[02:05:02]

KEEP IT WHAT I LOVED AND FELL IN LOVE WITH TO BE OUT HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

THANK YOU MA'AM. WHO'S NEXT, MA'AM? LAYLA MYERS.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING. BOARD LAYLA MYERS, 8711 SECOND COURT.

DISPUTANTA 23842.

THE ISSUE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT TO SUPPORT OR OVERRULE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS DECISION.

THE VISITORS TO THE COUNTY WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO THAT, TO OVERRULE IT, BUT IF YOU DO THAT AND OVERRULE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION, YOU WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS.

YOU WILL BE VOTING AGAINST YOUR OWN ADOPTED POLICY AGAINST THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF 2022.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THE PROPOSED FACILITY IS NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY SITING POLICY.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT AFFECTS NEGATIVELY THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

THE LAND OF THIS PROPERTY IS PLANNED FOR RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL USES.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT EXCEEDS THE ACREAGE LIMIT SET BY THE COUNTY FOR SUCH FACILITIES.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT AFFECTS NEGATIVELY THE RURAL CONSERVATION AREA.

35% OF THE PROJECT ACREAGE IS IN THE CONSERVATION AREA.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE TWO CRITERIA CARRY MORE WEIGHT IN THEIR REVIEW PROCESS, AND THAT IS WHY THOSE TWO CRITERIAS ARE MOST SIGNIFICANT IN THE IMPACT ON THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

AS YOUR ELECTED POSITION TELLS YOU, YOUR ROLE IS TO DO WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY'S BEST INTEREST? THIS SOLAR FARM PROJECT IS NOT IN THE COMMUNITY'S BEST INTEREST.

IT IS NOT IN A SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS IT RELATES TO THE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY SITTING POLICY.

SO YOUR VOTE SHOULD BE TO UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS DECISION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

CHRIS BROOKS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRIS BROOKS.

I LIVE AT 10921 MERCHANTS HOPE RD, 23860.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TONIGHT? DOING FINE. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. AS A PROPERTY OWNER IN THREE COUNTIES AND ALL THREE PROPERTIES WITHIN ONE MILE OR LESS OF A NOW SOLAR FARM, THAT ALL USED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL FARM PROVIDING COMMUNITY TO THE COMMUNITY.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, TAXES HAVE GONE UP AND PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE DOWN.

THESE SOLAR AREAS DO NOT BENEFIT OUR PROPERTIES IN ANY WAY.

THE 50 FOOT BUFFER IN NO WAY HELPS FOR AN EYESORE OR SOUND OR WIND.

WHAT ABOUT THE LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS OF THESE PROPERTIES OF THESE PANELS AFTER 30 YEARS AREN'T PORTIONS OF THEM? RADIOACTIVE. WHAT ABOUT WILDLIFE IN THESE AREAS? THEY'RE FENCED OFF AND REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES.

THESE SOLAR FARMS DO NOT PROVIDE POWER TO DIRECT PRINCE GEORGE PRINCE GEORGIANS.

IT IS SENT UPSTREAM AND THEN SOLD TO WHOMEVER.

THE PEOPLE THAT WANT THIS DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.

THEY'RE ONLY CONCERNED WITH FATTENING THEIR POCKETS.

IT ONLY COVERS OVER ABOUT 22 ACRES, AND THAT'S 1270 ACRES TOO MANY.

NO THANK YOU TO SOLAR.

THANK YOU SIR. IS SAYS HEDGEPATH.

DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR WILLIAM ON THERE.

[CHUCKLING] ALL RIGHT.

JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

WE'LL BE FINE. WILLIAM HEDGEPATH 6214 THWEATT DRIVE.

THIS WOULD BE RIGHT IN MY BACKYARD ON THE RED LINE.

NOT GOING TO TRY TO POINT IT OUT TO YOU.

WE MOVED OUT HERE A YEAR PLUS AGO AND HAVE LOVED GOING OUT THERE AND SEEING THE ANIMALS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO KNOW FROM [INAUDIBLE] CHESTERFIELD, THE RUNOFF THAT COMES FROM THESE HEAVY METALS THAT ARE IN THERE.

GO AHEAD AND HOLD A CUP UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT FOR THE RUNOFF, THESE PANELS, AND TAKE A DRINK AND YOU'LL REALIZE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE VERY GOOD.

LOOK AT WHAT IT'S GOING TO MEASURE UP TO IN ALL KINDS OF HEAVY METALS.

IT'S GOING TO RUIN OUR WELL, THE STORY'S AND ALL THEM.

I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NEVER GOING BE ABLE TO SELL THAT PROPERTY.

THEY'RE GOING HAVE TO SELL IT STRAIGHT TO WHOEVER HAS IT AROUND THEM, WHICH IS RWE; THEY'RE CUT OFF.

WE DON'T WANT THIS.

WE HAD A CHOICE TO MOVE HERE FROM AN AREA THAT WE LIKED A LOT AND WE LOVE IT OUT HERE.

WE WANT TO STAY OUT HERE.

I'VE JOINED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT HERE.

WE'VE ALREADY HEARD STUFF ON THAT, AND I LOVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I'M 22 YEARS CHESTERFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I STILL SERVE THERE, AND I SERVE HERE NOW, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT IF THIS COMES IN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SELL

[02:10:04]

MY WIFE REMINDS THAT WE DON'T HAVE 12, SO 22 IS NOT THE SAME.

A MAJORITY OF THINGS USING THAT WORD MAJORITY FOUR OUT OF SIX.

I'M ALSO A COLLEGE PROFESSOR.

YOU GOT TO MEET ALL THE CRITERIA TO GRADUATE.

IF YOU ONLY PASS FOUR OF YOUR SIX CLASSES, YOU DON'T GET A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE.

YOU KNOW YOU GOT TO DO IT BY THE RULES HERE, AND THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.

PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE IT WHERE THEY WANT TO SELL THE LAND AND LEASE THE LAND, THEY DON'T EVEN FROM AROUND HERE I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

PLEASE UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION.

THIS IS NOT A SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

KEITH BROWN.

MR. BROWN. HI, MY NAME IS KEITH BROWN.

I LIVE AT 15242 GRAHAM LANE.

WHEN I CAME HERE TONIGHT, I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS.

I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND SAW PEOPLE, SAW THE SIGNS UP ON THE ROAD TO COME HERE TO SAY, TURN IT DOWN BUT I COME HERE WITH AN OPEN MIND, TRY TO FIND OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S MEETING TWO OUT OF THE SIX REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE.

SO I CAN'T SUPPORT IT WITH NOT MEETING ALL THE CRITERIA THAT THE COUNTY HAS SET FORTH FOR THIS THING. SO I'D SAY I COULDN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE OF THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU SIR.

CHARLES SKELLY.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS CHARLES SKELLY.

I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF IBEW LOCAL 666 IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

I'M A RESIDENT OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

I REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 1400 ELECTRICIANS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

APPROXIMATELY 50 OF THOSE ELECTRICIANS LIVE IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

EXCUSE ME? AROUND 300 OF MY MEMBERS ARE APPRENTICES IN TRAINING TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRICIANS.

I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT AND THE JOBS THAT WILL CREATE.

IF APPROVED, UTILITY SCALE SOLAR JOBS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN GREAT JOBS.

THE TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FROM THE IRA HAVE CHANGED THAT.

I BELIEVE THE PROJECT DEVELOPER PLANS TO QUALIFY FOR THE INCREASED TAX CREDITS, WHICH MEANS THEY WILL PAY THE WORKERS A PREVAILING WAGE AND UTILIZE A PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED APPRENTICES ON THE PROJECT TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE TAX CREDITS.

THE MORE WORK IBEW 666 HAS, THE MORE APPRENTICES WE CAN START.

IT'S A DIRECT LINE.

THIS PROJECT WOULD MEAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO START MORE APPRENTICES AND RECRUIT FROM THE COUNTY. FOR THOSE APPRENTICES WITH THE OPERATING ENGINEERS AND THE LABORERS UNIONS, WE ARE TALKING WITH THE DEVELOPER ABOUT UTILIZING AN AGREEMENT DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS WORK, AND THOSE THREE TRADES THAT WILL ENSURE LOCAL WORKERS ON THE PROJECT AND ALL THREE UNIONS RECRUITING IN PRINCE GEORGE RESIDENTS FOR APPRENTICESHIPS, CAREERS IN A CONSTRUCTION UNIT, OR MIDDLE CLASS CAREERS THAT DON'T END UP IN COLLEGE DEBT.

PROJECTS LIKE THIS CREATE MIDDLE MIDDLE CLASS CAREERS.

THE MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF IBEW, THE LABORERS AND THE OPERATING ENGINEERS HERE THIS EVENING SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, AND WE HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL, TOO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

BRADY HORN.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

BRADY HORN, 3901 LARKIN STREET.

THAT IS ACTUALLY IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA THAT'S WHERE I LIVE AND WHERE MY OFFICE IS.

I AM BUSINESS MANAGER, THE OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 147.

I REPRESENT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS AND STATIONARY ENGINEERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF VIRGINIA I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT CHARLES SAID WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF APPRENTICESHIP. ON A PERSONAL NOTE AFTER MY SERVICE IN THE MILITARY, WHEN I GOT OUT, I HAD NO DIRECTION. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.

SOMEBODY, A FRIEND, HOOKED ME UP WITH THE OPERATING ENGINEERS.

I WENT THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP DID MY FOUR YEAR APPRENTICESHIP, BECAME A CRANE OPERATOR AND A DIRT OPERATOR AND I WORKED MY WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS.

I GOT INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS OF MY LOCAL UNION, AND EVENTUALLY, 25 YEARS LATER, I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER REPRESENTING 1400 ENGINEERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA I LOOK OUT FOR THEIR PENSION, THEIR HEALTH AND WELFARE.

[02:15:01]

THESE PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE STATE, AND THEY'RE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE I KNOW IT'S NOT SUPER POPULAR WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SOMETIMES, AND THERE'S ROOM TO GIVE AND TAKE THERE BUT I WILL TELL YOU, I DO HAVE ROUGHLY, I THINK IT'S 12 MEMBERS OF MY LOCAL THAT LIVE IN THIS COUNTY THAT ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS, BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY ON OTHER SOLAR FARMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WE COVER THE ENTIRE STATE.

SOME OF THEM ARE SIX, SEVEN HOURS AWAY OUT IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA IS VERY ATTRACTIVE RIGHT NOW WORK HAS RAMPED UP OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND IT'S REAL ATTRACTIVE TO THESE DEVELOPERS AND THESE OTHER THESE COMPANIES COMING IN.

OF COURSE, THEY'RE STRANGERS, BUT THEY WANT TO INVEST IN HERE AND IT LEADS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS. JUST LIKE CHARLES SAID, IT LEADS TO APPRENTICESHIPS.

WE NEED MORE. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NOW AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE AND WE LOOK FOR THEM LOCALLY ON ANY PROJECT.

SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU ALL CONSIDER THE WORD SUBSTANTIAL MEANS MAJORITY OF.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

CHRISTOPHER MACEY. HOW ARE YOU ALL TONIGHT? THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK I'M ACTUALLY WITH THE OPERATING ENGINEERS, ALSO WITH BRADY YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF GOOD JOBS SO I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I LIVE IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY, WHICH IS ON THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, RIGHT THERE NEAR THE MOBJACK BAY, AND I AT ONE TIME WAS KIND OF AGAINST THE SOLAR PANELS AS WELL, SOLAR SITES, AND I SAW WHAT THEY BROUGHT FOR WORK AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE MOVE.

WE ALSO WERE A COMMUNITY THAT WE FOUGHT A 1200 ACRE SITE, AND NOW THEY PASSED IT FOR A THOUSAND HOMES.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT TO DEAL WITH.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED.

INSTEAD OF SEEING A SOLAR SITE THAT THEY CAN HIDE, YOU CAN MAKE THEM PUT UP BIGGER BUFFERS MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON, IS WHAT WE COULD FIX TO MAKE IT GOOD FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO SUSTAINABLE JOBS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANTHONY [INAUDIBLE], I'M PROBABLY SAYING IT WRONG.

HE'S COMING. [INAUDIBLE] YES, SIR. WELL, HOW DID SHE DO ON YOUR LAST NAMW? IT WAS CLOSE, [INAUDIBLE], BUT I SCRIBBLED, SO IT WAS PROBABLY MY FAULT.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

I LIVE AT 9970 [INAUDIBLE] ROAD.

IT'S IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY I AM PART OF THE LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, AND WE'RE BIG ADVOCATES FOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN RECRUIT LOCALLY AND PUT THESE PEOPLE TO WORK SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE BETTER CAREERS.

SO WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT JUST SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT IN YOUR COUNTY, AND ALSO TO GET RESIDENTS FROM YOUR COUNTY WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS AND ON THEIR WAY TO A BETTER LIFE IN A MIDDLE CLASS LIFESTYLE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

MRS. KNOTT. CATHY BENNETT.

[INAUDIBLE] MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU ALL , BY THE WAY, CHEERS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MISS BENNETT, AND YOU GOT THE CUTEST GRANDDAUGHTER EVER, MR. CARMICHAEL. SHE IS ADORABLE, BUT YOU KEEP TALKING.

RWE HERE TONIGHT IS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE BOARD THAT THE SITE PLANS FOR BAKERS POND PROJECT IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD.

AS WE PROVED IN THE LAST MEETING, RWE PROPOSAL DOES NOT COMPLY WITH OUR CURRENT SOLAR POLICY AND ARE NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE PERIOD.

RWE IS ASKING THE BOARD TO JUST FORGET ABOUT OUR SOLAR POLICIES, BUT I ASK THE BOARD AND

[02:20:06]

AS A CITIZEN OF PRINCE GEORGE, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 22 YEARS TO PLEASE NOT TO CAVE.

STICK TO YOUR RULES. THEY WERE PUT IN PLACE FOR A REASON THIS PROJECT DOES EXCEED THE ACREAGE BY 22.3 ACRES, AND THIS IS A RURAL AGRICULTURAL AREA.

IT'S NOT INDUSTRIAL.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE BOARD TO DO THEIR RESEARCH, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND IN MY RESEARCH THAT YOU'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO LIVE 1.3 MILES FROM A SOLAR FARM.

SO THAT REALLY, REALLY EATS AT [INAUDIBLE] WITH THOSE PEOPLE, SIX HOMES THE DEFINITION OF INDUSTRIAL SOLAR FARM IS INDUSTRIAL SOLAR SYSTEMS ARE LARGE SOLAR PLANTS THAT COVER A LOT OF SPACE.

BY 2035, THERE WILL BE 90 BILLION TONS OF DECOMMISSIONED PANELS.

THEY SHOULD NOT GO INTO THE DUMPS.

OKAY. THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE SURROUNDED BY WETLAND CONSERVATION LAND AND THESE ARE TO BE PROTECTED. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY HAVE STATED THEIR CONCERNS.

WE ARE A RURAL COMMUNITY, AND WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE STICK TO THE RULES.

ENVIRONMENTALPROGRESS.ORG JULY 3RD, 2023, AND SHORT HAS FOUND SOLAR IS NOT REALLY GREEN AND NEEDS MUCH, MUCH MORE RESEARCH OUR RWE DOES NOT IMPROVE OR BETTER OUR QUALITY OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

THERE ARE OWLS, HAWKS, EAGLES IN THE AREA AND RWE OUT OF STATE ASSESSMENTS DIDN'T EVEN STATE IT. I MYSELF HAVE HAWK NESTS IN MY BACKYARD I WOULD ALSO LIKE AND ASK THE BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DO MORE RESEARCH.

LOWER THE ACREAGE AND REFINE AND DELETE SOME ACREAGE, AND ALSO DO MORE RESEARCH AROUND THE HEAT THAT IT CAUSES, THE NOISE THAT IT CAUSES, AND THE DEATH OF ANIMALS AND SO FORTH THIS IS A ACREAGE.

THE DEFINITION OF ACREAGE IS AN AREA OF LAND, TYPICALLY WHEN USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. IT DOES NOT SAY INDUSTRIAL.

OUR PEACEFUL PRINCE GEORGE DOES NOT NEED A LOUD INDUSTRIAL FARM THAT MIGHT ADD TO AND ALSO A FIRE HAZARD.

RWE STATES ON THE WEBSITE IS FREE ENERGY.

MY BROTHER LIVES IN CHESTER.

MY SISTER LIVES IN VERONA.

MY BROTHER PAYS $7.13, AND MY SISTER PAYS $9.21 FOR OFF SHORE SOLAR, OFFSHORE WIND AND SOLAR, AND OUR RWE IS NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT RWE DELETES ALL NEGATIVE RESPONSE ON THEIR AD ON FACEBOOK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

DAWN [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

I LIVE ON TAYLOR DRIVE JUST TO TALK TO THE UNION REPS HERE.

THESE ARE TEMPORARY JOBS.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LAST MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS FOR THESE PEOPLE, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THIS MEETING IS ABOUT TONIGHT THE BAKERS POND SITE DOES NOT AVOID THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA IT'S OVER, AND THAT'S A BLATANT DISRESPECT TO OUR POLICY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT RWE KNOWINGLY PLAN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP, THAT WHOLE AREA IS SURROUNDED BY FAMILY HOMES.

MINE IS ONE OF THEM.

YOU DON'T PUT AN INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL SOLAR FARM IN THE MIDDLE OF FAMILY HOMES.

YOU JUST DON'T.

I MEAN WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE PROPOSED ACREAGE IS OVER BY 22.3 ACRES, AND THAT PROJECT IS ACTUALLY OVER A THOUSAND ACRES THAT WOULD BE TIED UP IN A 40 YEAR LEASE.

LET'S NOT VIOLATE OUR SOLAR SITING POLICY BY ALLOWING AN OVERAGE OF THAT CAPPED LIMIT.

THE LIMIT IS THERE FOR A REASON AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THEY'RE NOT EVEN REMOTELY COMPLIANT WITH IMPROVING NATURE IN OUR WETLANDS.

ALL OF THEIR WILDLIFE CORRIDORS LEAD DIRECTLY TO WETLANDS.

WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO THOSE WETLANDS? UM, WE KNOW THERE'S BALD EAGLES THERE.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THEM, AND THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN YOU ANY OF OUR FEEDBACK FROM THEIR TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WERE VERY VOCAL AT THOSE MEETINGS.

WE HAD A LOT TO SAY.

WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY COULD NOT ANSWER AND SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THAT.

THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO US ABOUT ANY OF OUR QUESTIONS, WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE ASKED.

ACTUALLY ASKED A COUPLE TONIGHT AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THEM GET THAT FEEDBACK

[02:25:03]

THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHANCE OF BEING COMPLIANT.

THEY SHOW A CLEAR DISRESPECT FOR OUR SOLAR SITING PLAN, AND AS FAR AS WATER GOES THAT THEY'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT, WE'RE ALL ON SEPTIC AND WELL, WE'RE NOT EXPECTING PUBLIC WATER TO COME OUT THERE FOR OUR HOUSES.

THAT'S RURAL LIFE.

THAT'S THE WAY WE LIVE PLEASE UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S UNANIMOUS DECISION AND DENY THE APPEAL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

BRANDON LUCK.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M DOING WELL. HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD EVENING YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE TALKS TONIGHT ABOUT THE RULES ON WHY WE DON'T WANT, NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE, BRANDON LUCK 15565 PROVIDENCE ROAD, SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE RULES AND WHY WE DON'T WANT THAT TONIGHT HOWEVER, ON OCTOBER 27TH, I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL AS WELL AS THE PLANNING BOARD, AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO A FEW OF YOU ALL ABOUT A SIMILAR SITE IN LOUISA COUNTY CALLED BELCHER FARMS, AND THEY HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS GROUNDWATER RUNOFF THAT HAS AFFECTED FARMERS IN THE LOCAL AREA.

THEY'VE ALSO NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TASTE IN THEIR WATER, AND THE SOLAR COMPANIES HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RESPOND TO IT EXCEPT FOR FIGHT THEM IN COURT.

LOCAL FARMERS DON'T HAVE THE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY OR THE SUBSTANCE TO FIGHT A LARGE COMPANY LIKE THIS.

SO ONCE IT'S THERE, IT'S THERE RECENTLY I WAS ABLE TO ACCESS ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT I'VE NOTICED THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY CUT IN SURVEY ROADS AND ALSO FOR TESTING FOR GROUND FOR THE SOILS IN DOING SO, I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE USING THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY ARTICLE SIX, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO DO THIS.

IN DOING THAT, THEY STILL HAVE TO PUT IN SILT FENCE AND ALL STORMWATER PREVENTION MEASURES. THEY HAVE DONE NONE OF THIS.

THEY'VE DONE THIS OVER FIVE MONTHS AGO, AND THEY STILL HAVE LEFT THE GROUND WITHOUT ANY KIND OF GROUND COVER ON IT, NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING.

THAT WILL ENCOURAGES MORE GROUNDWATER RUNOFF TO HAPPEN.

IF THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THIS BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN APPROVED TO BUILD THEIR SITES, WHAT WILL THEY DO WHILE THEY'RE BUILDING THEIR SITES TO CUT CORNERS? SO WITH SAYING THAT, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT IF YOU'RE ALREADY BREAKING THE RULES, WHAT WOULD YOU DO ONCE YOU HAVE THIS MUCH MORE MONEY INVESTED INTO IT? SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU.

JOSHUA INGRAM [INAUDIBLE] JOSHUA INGRAM, 7205 THWEATT DRIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM ONE OF THE PROPOSED ENTRANCES ON THIS SITE, AND WHILE I'M SPEAKING, IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE TOPO MAP THAT I BELIEVE RWE PROVIDED, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE POINTS I ADDRESS.

RWE CLAIMS THAT THEY'RE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY VOTED NO FOR GOOD REASON.

ONE THE COUNTY ACREAGE LIMIT NOT GOING TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IF YOU INCLUDED THE ENTIRE 1255 ACRES PLUS OR MINUS, THAT PUT IT ROUGHLY 771 ACRES OVER THE COUNTY APPROVED ACREAGE.

ALSO THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA, 35% OF IT IS IN THE RURAL CONSERVATION, 65% OF IT'S IN THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

SUBSTANTIAL. I'M NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST, BUT I AM A SURVEYOR, SO I CAN DO MATH.

65% IS SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN 35%.

NOW ON TO THE TOPO MAP.

I PROVIDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH A MAP THAT I PRINTED OFF MYSELF FROM THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY GIS.

THIS MAP, I BELIEVE, IS THE TEN FOOT CONTOUR MAP, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD PRINT OUT ON SCALE TO BE ABLE TO EVEN BE VISIBLE.

WHEN YOU USE THE TWO FOOT CONTOURS, THERE'S SO MANY CONTOURS YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE IT.

THE ENTIRE MAP IS COVERED BY CONTOURS WHEN YOU TRY TO EVEN SCALE IT TO PRINTABLE SIZE, AND A TWO FOOT CONTOUR MEANS EVERY LINE REPRESENTS A TWO FOOT FALL IN THAT AREA.

THIS AREA IS NOT FLAT.

WHERE IT POSES RISK IS INTO THE PUBLIC RESOURCES, OUR BEAUTIFUL RURAL COUNTY.

THIS WILL RUN OFF AGAIN.

BEING A SURVEYOR, I WORK ON PLENTY OF SITES.

I'M ALL ABOUT BLUE COLLAR JOBS, BUT THIS WILL BE TEMPORARY.

ONCE THEY GET THEIR MONEY, ADIOS, VAMOOSE, THEY'RE GONE.

[02:30:05]

I BELIEVE IT'S SPANISH.

WHO REALLY KNOWS? [CHUCKLING] PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE NO, THAT THIS IS NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD, AND STICK WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND YOUR CITIZENS OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR.

CHRIS [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS CHRIS [INAUDIBLE].

I'M A RESIDENT OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY MY CONNECTION WITH PRINCE GEORGE AS MY WORK POSITION WITH APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY.

I DON'T HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS DECISION BUT IN MY LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK, I VOLUNTEER AS A NONPARTISAN CLIMATE ACTIVIST.

I PURSUE THAT ACTIVITY FOR THE SAKE OF OUR GRANDDAUGHTER AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S GRANDDAUGHTERS. THE ISSUE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IS THAT IT'S CUMULATIVE.

IT GETS WORSE UNTIL WE STOP PUTTING MORE CARBON DIOXIDE AND METHANE INTO THE SKY.

THE PROCESS CAUSES TEMPERATURES TO RISE, AND IT DRIVES EXTREME WEATHER EVERYWHERE.

THAT DESTROYS PROPERTY AND KILLS PEOPLE.

LONG TERM RESULTS INCLUDE PEOPLE STARTING WARS OVER RESOURCES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HUNGRY PEOPLE MIGRATING DUE TO CROP FAILURES.

SO MY REMARKS ARE GOING TO FOCUS JUST ON THE BIG PICTURE.

SO GLOBALLY, NATIONALLY, LOCALLY WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF CARBON INTO THE SKY, AND ACTUALLY IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WE HAVE A STATE LAW IN EFFECT WITH A TARGET OF REDUCING OUR CARBON EMISSIONS TO ZERO BY A CERTAIN FUTURE DATE, BUT VIRGINIA ALSO FACES A SHARP INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY DEMAND, INVOLVING DATA CENTERS AND LOTS OF OTHER PRESSURES ON GETTING MORE ELECTRICITY TO RUN.

THIS APPLIES PRESSURE FOR US TO BUILD MORE FOSSIL FUEL BURNING PLANTS TO GENERATE THAT NEEDED ELECTRICITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE $600 MILLION METHANE [INAUDIBLE] PLANT THAT DOMINION'S PROPOSING TO BUILD IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.

NOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE DO WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND NOR SHOULD WE.

ELECTRICITY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, HOWEVER, AND THAT MEANS THE CHOICES CAN BE HARD, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A PERFECT ANSWER THAT HAS ZERO DOWNSIDE. I SUPPORT THE SOLAR PROJECT BECAUSE IT HELPS IN A SMALL WAY TO ADDRESS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM THAT THREATENS EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE FOR MANY DECADES INTO THE FUTURE.

IT DOES SO IN A WAY THAT HAS A SMALLER DOWNSIDE THAN EQUIVALENT FOSSIL FUEL ELECTRICITY WOULD HAVE.

I SYMPATHIZE GREATLY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSING THE PROJECT.

HOWEVER, THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE REVENUE TO THE COUNTY WITHOUT INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICES AND ROAD MAINTENANCE.

THE DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO REVERSIBLE.

A SOLAR PROJECT CAN BE AT SOME FUTURE TIME TAKEN DOWN, AND THE LAND CAN, AT LEAST IN THEORY, BE RETURNED TO FARMING AND FORESTRY.

HOME CONSTRUCTION, BY CONTRAST, IS ESSENTIALLY PERMANENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SIR. MRS KNOTT.

THAT'S ALL I HAD SIGNED UP, MR. CHAIRMAN. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.

IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

PROCEDURALLY, BEFORE YOU START, I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.

CAN PEOPLE YIELD THEIR TIME TO OTHER PEOPLE IF THEY'RE GOING ALONG? YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS POSSIBLE.

ON A SIDE NOTE, MR. HUNTER, I'VE KNOWN YOU SINCE YOU WERE ONE OF MY FIRST LITTLE LEAGUE COACHES.

I THINK THE WORLD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THANK YOU. ALAN, I THANKED YOU WHEN YOU BEAT ME IN 2005.

I'M THANKING YOU AGAIN. 16 YEARS OF WHAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH, HAVE PULLED ALL THIS OUT, I APPRECIATE IT MY NAME IS RICK [INAUDIBLE].

I LIVE AT 9750 BLACKWATER FARM LANE.

I'M HERE PRIMARILY TO SPEAK ABOUT VALUES.

EVERYBODY SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT VALUES.

WELL, WHEN I SOLD [INAUDIBLE], THERE WERE TWO LOTS ON THE POWER LINE.

ONE OF THEM JUST RECENTLY SOLD.

WE WERE SELLING THE AVERAGE LOT IN THERE FOR $45,000.

THE POWER LINE LOTS WERE SELLING FOR 30 TO 25.

THE ONE THAT'S BEEN BUILT RECENTLY WAS LESS THAN THAT.

SO DON'T TELL ME IT DOESN'T AFFECT YOU.

YOU GO BACK AND STUDY THE HISTORY OF CANCER CLUSTERS, WHICH WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT ANYMORE, AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THE RADIATION AND OTHER THINGS OFF OF THIS ARE GOING TO AFFECT US IN THAT WAY.

IS MY DEAR FRIEND MICHELLE GOING TO BE AFFECTED MORE? IS THE RADIATION GOING TO AFFECT THE REST OF HER LIFE?

[02:35:01]

AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THE REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NOW SINCE 1996, CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS SINCE I WAS 14, I WILL SAY, AND I SAY THIS CAUTIOUSLY AND NOT ARROGANTLY, I AM AN EXPERT.

I'VE DONE IT A LONG TIME.

MY FIRST JOB WAS DIGGING FOOTINGS.

GENTLEMAN SAYS THAT RUNOFF AND WE CAN RESTORE THIS THING.

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IS FULL OF CLAY.

WHEN YOU GET BELOW THE SURFACE, IT'S CLAY.

PUT A WAD OF CLAY IN THE OVEN AT 150 DEGREES.

LEAVE IT THERE FOR A WEEK. SEE WHAT IT TURNS INTO.

ASK YOURSELF WHY THAT RUNOFF IS SO HIGH.

THE GROUND. WE JUST HAD A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY WE WERE IN A DROUGHT.

WE HAD 3.5IN OF WATER.

MY SWAMP ROSE SIX FEET.

ASK YOURSELF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GROUND AFTER THE SUN REACHES DOWN, BAKES THOSE PANELS INTO THE GROUND, BAKES IT DOWN, AND THAT DIRT BECOMES BEDROCK.

THAT RUNOFF IS GOING TO GET WORSE EVERY YEAR, SAYING IT CAN BE RESTORED.

IT'S MORE OF THE GOOD, FEEL GOOD POLICIES WHEN A BUSINESS IS NOT VIABLE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, IT'S NOT A BUSINESS.

THIS BUSINESS IS BEING SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES PERIOD.

NO GETTING AROUND IT.

IT IS. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK OTHERWISE.

JOBS NOTICE EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THAT DOESN'T LIVE IN THIS COUNTY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE OUR PEOPLE.

YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR OUR PEOPLE.

YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO COME FORWARD AND WORK FOR YOU, AND THEN AFTER THEY FINISH THEIR APPRENTICESHIP, YOU'RE GOING TO SEND THEM SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WITH THE REST OF THEM. SO YOU GET A YEAR'S WORTH OF JOBS.

IS THAT REALLY BENEFICIAL TO THIS COUNTY? YOU TALK ABOUT HOUSES DOING DAMAGE, SIR.

FEEL GOOD POLITICS.

SAME THING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH ETHANOL.

YOU ALL BEEN PREACHING IT. YOU'VE BEEN SUBSIDIZED ON ETHANOL FOR YEARS.

ETHANOL DESTROYS CARBURETORS, DESTROYS SMALL ENGINES.

THEY GO INTO A JUNKYARD, THEY WEEP OIL.

THEY SEEP INTO THE GROUND.

NO ONE LOOKS AT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF FEEL GOOD POLITICS, AND THIS IS FEEL GOOD POLITICS. THIS DOES NOT BENEFIT OUR COUNTY.

IT DOESN'T HELP PRICES.

IF YOU BELIEVE, AND I'M SAYING THIS DIRECTLY TO YOU, IF YOU BELIEVE, I WILL.

IF RWE TRULY BELIEVES THAT THIS DOESN'T AFFECT THE VALUE OF THOSE HOMES, BUY THEM AT TODAY'S PRICES. PAY FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO MOVE AND PAY FOR THEM TO GET THE LOANS DOWN TO THE 3% INTEREST RATES MOST OF THEM ARE CURRENTLY UNDER.

IF YOU TRULY THINK IT WON'T AFFECT IT, BUY THEM UP.

YOU ALL GOT OUR MONEY TO DO IT NOW.

I HEAR THEY LIKE TO SUE AND I'M GOING TO FINISH ON THIS.

I HEAR THIS COMPANY LIKES TO SUE.

WELL, SINCE THEY'RE USING MY TAX DOLLARS TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO SUE THIS COUNTY, I VOLUNTEER THE FIRST $1,000 TO THE PUBLIC DEFENSE FUND AGAINST RWE IF THEY WANT TO SUE US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

YEAH. YES, SIR.

MY NAME IS DAVE DELGUERCIO.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VIRGINIA ENERGY CONSUMER TRUST.

WE'RE BASED IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

YES, SIR. WE'RE HERE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FACTS BASED ON DATA ABOUT ENERGY IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

OKAY, WE'RE NOT ANTI SOLAR.

WE'RE NOT PRO SOLAR.

IT'S JUST A FACTUAL GROUP TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, COMMERCIAL RESIDENTS AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTS.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS HERE TONIGHT.

THE KEY THINGS ARE AND THIS IS THE DATA FROM NOT ONLY IN VIRGINIA BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT ANYONE THAT LIVES WITHIN A MILE, ANY PROPERTY WITHIN A MILE OF A SOLAR FIELD, HAS A DROP OF ABOUT 10% IN PROPERTY VALUES.

OKAY. NOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND FOR THE COUNTY? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REASSESS THAT PROPERTY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS TAX REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY AROUND THE THAT'S WITHIN A MILE OF THE SOLAR FIELD.

SO THAT'S FACTUAL.

THAT'S DATA, OKAY? SECOND THING AND THIS THESE ARE DOMINION'S NUMBERS 5 TO 10% OF SOLAR FIELDS CATCH FIRE EVERY YEAR. NOW THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THEY CATCH FIRE, BUT THEY DO.

OKAY. THERE'S NO WATER OUT THERE.

SO IF THIS WERE TO CATCH FIRE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE GROUP THAT LIVES IN THE CENTER OF IT, YOU HAVE A SERIOUS, SERIOUS ISSUE AS WELL AS GOING OFF IN ADJACENT PROPERTIES FOREST.

OTHERWISE. OKAY.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING AND READ ANYTHING IN THE DOSSIER RELATIVE TO FIRE PREVENTION, OTHER THAN THE 50 FOOT SETBACK, 50FT IS NOT ENOUGH. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A SETBACK, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ABOUT 200FT FOR A FIRE BREAK.

OKAY? THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

FACTUAL DATA.

LAST THING, SOLAR FIELDS REFLECT HEAT BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

OKAY. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SOLAR PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE HEAT REFLECTION BACK IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

THOSE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE SOLAR FIELD WILL HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 5 DEGREES HIGHER TEMPERATURES, AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IN THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND THEIR

[02:40:05]

NOW IT DOES DISSIPATE, AND IF YOU GO ABOUT A MILE OR TWO AWAY FROM THE SOLAR FIELD, OKAY, IT'S NOT NEARLY AS BAD, BUT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO IT HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES.

LAST POINT SOLAR PANELS AS THEY AGE BECOME SEMI-PERMEABLE.

OKAY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT WHEN IT RAINS THAT THE MOISTURE GETS WITHIN IT AND THEY BEGIN TO.

I'LL USE A COMMON TERMS. IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY CORRECT.

THEY BEGIN TO ERODE, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY BEGIN TO LEACH HEAVY METALS INTO THE SOIL.

NOW FOR A FORESTED AREA IF A SOLAR FIELD WAS DISMANTLED, OKAY, A FORESTED AREA CAN REGROW, BUT THAT MEANS THAT PROPERTY IS OUT FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES UNLESS THE DEVELOPER POSTS A BOND TO RENOVATE THE PROPERTY AFTER THE FIELD IS GONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.

THANK YOU GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARK GRUBBS, 2100 COURTLAND ROAD, SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VIRGINIA. A LOT OF THIS HAS BEEN HIT ON.

I WAS UP HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO SPEAKING AGAINST THIS.

SO I AM IN OPPOSITION.

ONE THING THAT I DID WANT TO BRING UP, BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN AUGUST OR APRIL OF LAST YEAR WITH CHARLES CITY COUNTY BECAUSE I WAS APPROACHED BY DOMINION FOR AIR PROPERTY. MY WIFE AND I TALKING WITH THE SUPERVISOR AND WITH THE SOLAR FARM STUFF LAST YEAR, THERE'S ONLY 31% MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY WITH SUN, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHER TWO THIRDS GOES. SO ANYWAY, 31% WE'RE LOOKING AT 22.3 ACRES OVER.

SO LET'S SAY I'M GOING DOWN INTERSTATE 95 DOING 79, AND A PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY POLICE OFFICER PULLS ME AND I'M IN A 70 MILE AN HOUR ZONE.

SO DO I GET A BREAK FOR THAT? BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE QUOTE UP HERE ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE ITEMS COVERED.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE NOT COVERED? IS THAT JUST GLOSSED OVER? SO I DON'T LIKE THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS THE CONTRACT ON MY BEHALF WAS 15 TO 25 YEARS WITH PANELS ON OUR PROPERTY IN CHARLES CITY COUNTY.

THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL 25 YEAR HALF LIFE.

YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF ALL THE LEACHING, THE TOXINS, THE CARCINOGENIC MATERIALS, THE HEAVY METALS THAT ARE COMING OFF OF THESE PANELS.

SO THAT'S 25 YEARS THAT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE PROPERTY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT, TOO WE'VE ALREADY HIT ON THE MAJORITY OF THE REASONS, AND THEN THE OTHERS ARE KIND OF GLOSSED OVER THE OTHER THING TOO, IS ABOUT ALL THIS EMPLOYMENT THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BRING ON.

SO THESE UNION ELECTRICIANS AND APPRENTICES THAT ARE COMING OUT HERE, ARE THEY KEEPING A PLETHORA OF THESE ELECTRICIANS ON STANDBY IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS? SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING, TOO THE FIRE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT FIRES, BUT.

YEAH. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF YOU HAVE A MAJOR FIRE OUT THERE AND YOU GOT TO GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS FROM OTHER COUNTIES TO COME IN PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SIR.

GETTING HARDER TO GET UP HERE AND HARD TO GET UP HERE.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

I LIVE AT 12928 WOOD DRIVE IN DISPUTANTA OVER THERE BY THE OLD GOLF COURSE.

JUST A FEW THINGS.

THE FIRST NOTICE I GOT IN THE MAIL WAS THE DAY AFTER THEY HAD THE MEETING, YOU KNOW.

SO THEN THE SECOND ONE, I GOT IT LIKE THREE DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING, AND THE MEETING DOWN AT THE IN DISPUTANTA WAS NOT REALLY INQUISITIVE.

THE QUESTION WAS ASKED IS HOW MANY PEOPLE IS THIS GOING TO EMPLOY? 230 ON AVERAGE IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO EMPLOY.

I SAYS, WELL, I MEAN, WHEN YOU START PRODUCTION, THEY SAID ABOUT THREE, 2 TO 3, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR OWN WORDS.

THEY WON'T CUT GRASS AND KEEP THE ANIMALS OUT BUT GOING BACK TO IT, THE LAND IS SO FLAT AROUND THERE THERE'S NO WATER RUNOFF THEY SAY, BUT WHY DO THEY GOT WHEN I JUST WENT THROUGH THERE YESTERDAY, THEY HAD HIGH WATER SIGNS COMING ACROSS THE ROAD, YOU KNOW.

WE MAKE THE DETOUR ON THAT AND GO AROUND [INAUDIBLE] TO GO OUT, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] WORK ON THE BRIDGE.

[02:45:02]

YOU GO RIGHT DOWN AND YOU CAN SEE SLAM ACROSS THAT CUT OVER.

YOU KNOW IT'S JUST WIDE OPEN.

THERE'S NO BORDER AROUND THAT.

IT MIGHT BE 3 OR 4 TREES AND THEN 3 OR 4 TREES AND 3 OR 4 TREES.

TAKE A RIDE AROUND THERE AND LOOK AND SEE HOW MUCH COVER IT'S GOING TO HAVE.

LOOK, I THANK YOU PEOPLE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND TAKING CONSIDERATION.

YOU JUST TURN THIS THING DOWN.

I HAVE ABOUT 16 GREAT GRANDKIDS AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE FOR THEM, NOT FOR ME, BECAUSE I'LL BE DEAD AND GONE. I'M 74 YEARS OLD AND I PROBABLY COACHED SOME OF YOUR PEOPLE INVOLVED TOO.

OKAY. THANK YOU SIR.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, SIR.

MY NAME IS SKYLER [INAUDIBLE].

I REPRESENT A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) CALLED ENERGY RIGHT, BASED IN RICHMOND AT 210 EAST FRANKLIN STREET.

WE FOUNDED ENERGY RIGHT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO TALK ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY, DEVELOP THE RIGHT WAY. WE THINK THAT CLEAN ENERGY CAN BE A POSITIVE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, AND THAT IS WHY WE'VE ENGAGED IN 65 PLUS COUNTIES ACROSS VIRGINIA, TALKING WITH FOLKS LIKE YOURSELVES AND MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS JUST LIKE YOURS TO HELP ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS, INCREASE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND IN PURSUIT OF CLEAN ENERGY, DEVELOP THE RIGHT WAY.

A KEY THERE BEING EDUCATION.

I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A FEW IDEAS THAT I DIDN'T HEAR SO FAR TONIGHT, AND I ASK KINDLY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THOSE.

WE FOUNDED ENERGY RIGHT AS A CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION, TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH RURAL CONSERVATIVES IN CONSERVATIVE TERMS. I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN DC, AND I'VE WORKED ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS ACROSS VIRGINIA.

AN IMPORTANT CONSERVATIVE IDEAL IS PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED HERE.

WE KNOW PROPERTY RIGHTS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

OUR FOUNDERS, SPECIFICALLY GEORGE WASHINGTON, SAID FREEDOM AND PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE INSEPARABLE.

YOU CANNOT HAVE YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY HERE, INCLUDING YOURSELVES AND ME, TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I WANT WITH MY PROPERTY.

IT'S A KEYSTONE TO A CAPITALISTIC ECONOMY, AND IT'S LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

IT'S RIGHT. THE QUESTION THERE IS YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT ADVERSELY AFFECTING YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND WITH SOLAR FACILITIES THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INSTALLING BUFFERS, BY HAVING SETBACKS AND MEANINGFULLY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I GREW UP IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.

THAT NEVER WAS REALLY A BAD THING UNTIL I HEARD SOME OF THE AUDIENCE REMARKS THIS EVENING. I'M THE DIRECT NEIGHBOR TO A 400 ACRE SOLAR FACILITY IN MOSELEY, SKINQUARTER AREA. MY FAMILY, MY EXTENDED FAMILY, MY NEIGHBORS WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT PROPOSAL COME TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ANOTHER 1000 ACRE SUBDIVISION.

THOSE LANDOWNERS CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR PROPERTY IN MY SCENARIO.

THEY TIMBER IT EVERY 30 YEARS AND INSTEAD FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS IT'S GOING TO BE A SOLAR FACILITY. I GREW UP ON A WELL, EVERYBODY GREW UP ON A WELL, AND WE TRUST IN THE DETAILED, DETAILED STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE PROVING THE SAFETY OF THESE PANELS DEPLOYED AT THE UTILITY SCALE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS ISN'T A NEW THING.

SOLAR CAN BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE HEARD, HEARD HERE TONIGHT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED BY OUR STATE GOVERNMENT LEADERS, BY FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

SOLAR'S A SAFE LAND USE THAT DOESN'T POLLUTE THE DEQ REQUIRES THAT THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF WATER LEAVING A SOLAR SITE NOT CHANGE FROM THE MOMENT THEY BEGIN CONSTRUCTION TO WHEN IT'S EVENTUALLY OPERATIONAL.

THEY'RE REQUIRED THAT THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF THAT WATER DOES NOT CHANGE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL REVIEW OF THE LETTER WE SUBMITTED TO YOU ALL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'RE HERE AS A RESOURCE TO YOU, TO ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AT ENERGYRIGHTVA.COM HERE AS AN EDUCATION ORGANIZATION AND WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK AND PROVIDE ANOTHER PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I WOULD HAVE FILLED OUT A THING.

THERE WAS NOTHING TO FILL OUT.

I WOULD HAVE SPOKE TO BEGIN WITH.

MARY J. TYSON, 15303 ARWOOD ROAD, DISPUTANTA, VIRGINIA.

I SPEAK INTO THE MIC IF YOU WOULD.

SORRY GUYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR EVERYBODY THAT RAN AND EVERYBODY THAT WON.

I'M GETTING JAMMED UP HERE.

OKAY. OH, I WANT TO SAY REMEMBER WHEN.

RENEE. MA'AM? MA'AM, AND SHE ASKED EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.

YOU NEED TO--WHO'S FOR SOLAR IN THE ROOM.

[02:50:02]

MA'AM, YOU NEED TO DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD.

EVERYBODY BEHIND ME.

CAN YOU CLAP IF YOU'RE NOT FOR SOLAR? NOT FOR SOLAR.

[CLAPPING] OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO, AND WHAT IS AMAZING IS THAT ALL THE PEEPS BEHIND ME SHOWED UP.

THANKS, GUYS. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING WARWICK, IT WAS ONLY A FEW OF US BECAUSE IT'S SUCH VAST LAND, ALL OF US SHOWED UP, BUT IT WAS BUT A FEW OF US AND IT'S AGAIN WE TOLD HIM THEN IT'LL BE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

I RESPECT THE LANDOWNER FOR WANTING TO MAKE MONEY, AND I DON'T FAULT HIM FOR THAT BECAUSE TIMES ARE HARD, BUT NOT IN OUR BACKYARDS.

OKAY, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I FELT BAD THOUGH, BECAUSE HE'S LIKE, WHEN AM I GOING TO GET SEWER AND WATER? AND THEN THIS DUDE FROM CHESTERFIELD WAS LIKE, WELL, WE DON'T MIND IT. WELL THEN TAKE IT TO CHESTERFIELD IF YOU DON'T MIND IT, BUT IF MAYBE WE COULD WORK ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE THESE PEOPLE COULD LAND, DEVELOP AND GET THE SEWER AND WATER.

I'M WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME EITHER.

IF IT GETS BROKE, I'M GONNA PUT ANOTHER ONE ON ONE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHARGE ME, BUT WHAT IT IS, IS THAT SOME INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE LANDOWNERS. I WOULD RATHER HAVE 25 NEIGHBORS THAN BLACK TOXIC GLASS SO WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THAT POLICY.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING WE ALL DID TOGETHER WHEN THE WARWICK CAME UP, YOU ALL SAID, WELL, THE ZONING BOARD SAID YES, SO IT'S UP TO US TO DECIDE.

THE ZONING BOARD SAID NO.

KEEP IT AT THAT.

IT DOES NOT MEET THIS POLICY.

THANK YOU GUYS.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS VICKIE [INAUDIBLE], 2107 COURTLAND ROAD, AND EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID HERE WAS IN MY NOTES.

THEY'VE COVERED IT.

I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE ONE EXAMPLE, FLUORIDE.

REMEMBER WHEN THEY PREDICTED FLUORIDE WAS GOING TO BE THE BEST THING FOR US? IT WAS GOING TO HELP WITH OUR TEETH.

WHEN WE GO TO THE DENTIST, THEY GIVE US TOOTHPASTE WITH FLUORIDE IN IT.

THEY CLEAN OUR TEETH WITH FLUORIDE.

GUESS WHAT? FLUORIDE. THEY DIDN'T GIVE US THE WHOLE PICTURE.

THEY KNEW ALL ALONG THAT THINGS WERE IN THERE THAT WERE NOT IN OUR HEALTH INTEREST, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS IN THE INTEREST OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND I OPPOSE IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

HOW ARE YOU ALL THIS EVENING? YES, SIR. EVENING. MY NAME IS RUSSELL [INAUDIBLE].

I LIVE AT 15450 GRAHAM LANE, AND I'M GETTING IN ON THE BACK END OF THIS, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR IT, BUT AS THE CROW FLIES, MY HOUSE IS GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THIS, SO BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, MY PROPERTY VALUES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE SWAMP.

IT RUNS BEHIND MR. STOREY'S HOUSE.

IT COMES DOWN AND RUNS ACROSS LOVING UNION ROBIN ROAD INTERSECTION AND COMES IN BEHIND MY HOUSE, AND THAT WILL AFFECT SOMETHING SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD.

I GREW UP IN RURAL HANOVER COUNTY 40 YEARS AGO, AND PART OF THE ATTRACTION OF PRINCE GEORGE IS WHEN MY FAMILY MOVED BACK TO VIRGINIA.

WAS IT HAD A HANOVER COUNTY LIKE FEELING AND WE RAISED OUR CHILDREN HERE, AND OF COURSE THEY DON' GROWN UP AND MOVED NOW THE OTHER THING I LIKE TO SUGGEST WOULD BE REGARDING UNION LABOR.

LAST I CHECKED, VIRGINIA IS A RIGHT TO WORK LAW STATE, AND SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE A THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO RUN A CLOSED SHOP PROJECT OR IS IT GOING TO BE OPEN FOR NONUNION AS WELL? IN CONCLUSION, I'D LIKE TO SAY WHEN GOVERNOR MCDONNELL WAS GOVERNOR, THEY PLANNED A 460 BYPASS TO RUN THROUGH THIS AREA WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND IT DIED ON THE VINE, AND I LIKE TO SEE THIS ONE GO RIGHT ALONG WITH IT.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? THERE WE GO.

HI BOARD, MY NAME IS JUSTIN [INAUDIBLE], 8724 CENTENNIAL ROAD, DISPUTANTA.

SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT LAND USE.

I'M A FARM OWNER.

I'VE GOT A 90 ACRE FARM OVER ON CENTENNIAL RAISING MY FAMILY AND MY BRAND NEW GRANDBABY OUT THERE THE ISSUE I'VE GOT WITH THIS, AND I'VE GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THE BOARD FOR FARM BUREAU, THE LOCAL FARM BUREAU ON 156.

WE'VE GOT 1008 CURRENT MEMBERS OVER THERE THAT ARE LANDOWNERS, FARM OWNERS I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO A SINGLE ONE THAT'S IN SUPPORT OF THIS I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO GO UP TO THE

[02:55:05]

THERE IS NEW LAWS COMING THROUGH THAT ARE BEING PUSHED HARD BY DELEGATES TO MAKE THIS A LANDOWNER REQUIREMENT FOR CLEANUPS.

THEY'VE REALIZED THAT THE SOLAR FARMS ARE LLCS THAT CAN BANKRUPT AT ANY TIME AND WALK AWAY SO THE NEW LAW THAT IS BEING PUSHED AND HOPEFULLY WILL PASS WILL PUT THE REQUIREMENTS ON CLEANUP ON THE LANDOWNER ONCE THE LLC IS BANKRUPT AT THE END, AND WE ALL KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BANKRUPT AT THE END, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THAT'S HOW THEY SAVE THEIR MONEY.

THAT'S WHY IT'S AN LLC PER ACREAGE.

EACH SITE IS GOING TO BE ITS OWN LLC, AND THEY'LL BANKRUPT AT THE END.

THE NEW LAW THAT HOPEFULLY WILL PASS WILL PUT IT ON THE LANDOWNER FOR CLEANUP IF IT'S NOT PUT IN BONDS THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO RESTRICT PRIME FARMLAND, AND HOPEFULLY THAT PASSES, TOO. THERE'S A HUGE PUSH.

ALL THE FARM BUREAUS ACROSS THE STATE, ALL THE FARM OWNERS ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FARM OWNERS THAT OWN A FARM, THEY DON'T LIVE ON IN A SEPARATE COUNTY, THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN WANT SOLAR JUST BECAUSE IT PADS THEIR POCKETS FOR, AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID EARLIER, HIS RETIREMENT CAN'T SEE IT FROM HIS HOUSE.

EVERYBODY THAT'S COME UP HERE AND SPOKE IN FAVOR CAN'T SEE IT FROM THEIR HOUSE, AND IT'S A REAL SHAME THAT THEY HAVE ANY INPUT ON A COUNTY THEY DON'T LIVE IN.

I THINK THERE'S NO BUSINESS.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF EVER GOING TO NORFOLK AND SPEAKING AT ONE OF THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR GLOUCESTER OR ANY OTHER COUNTY OTHER THAN MINE.

THIS IS MY COUNTY. THIS IS ONE THAT I CARE ABOUT, AND THIS IS ONE THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE GET DESTROYED BY THESE SOLAR FARMS WHEN THEY BANKRUPT AND LEAVE THE LAND ABSOLUTELY DECIMATED. SO PLEASE VOTE NO.

PLEASE VOTE WITH YOUR COUNTY CONSTITUENTS AND IGNORE THE OUTSIDERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A DOLLAR OFF OF OUR LAND.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.

CHAIRMAN HUNTER. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS FORD PUGH. I LIVE AT 13305 COLLEGE ROAD.

IN 20 TO 30 YEARS, I EXPECTED AT LEAST ONE OF MY CHILDREN MAYBE MY SON BENTLEY WILL BE THE FIFTH GENERATION OF THE TURNEY FAMILY TO FARM IN PRINCE GEORGE.

THANKS TO MR. [INAUDIBLE] FOR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FOURTH GENERATION EARLIER TONIGHT. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT WE CELEBRATE EVERY YEAR DURING THE CZECH AND SLOVAK FESTIVAL.

IN 2017, MY FATHER IN LAW, PAUL TURNEY, LOST 150 ACRES TO THE REEVES ROAD SOLAR PROJECT IN EARLIER THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A 70 ACRE PROPOSAL ON THE [INAUDIBLE] FARM ON CRATER ROAD THAT SHAWN WOULD HAVE LOST PRIME WHEAT AND SOYBEAN CROP.

I WONDER HOW THE CONTINUED APPROVAL OF NON-INDUSTRIAL SOLAR SITES WILL RUN MORE AND MORE CROP AND TIMBER FARMERS OUT OF PRINCE GEORGE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, WITH MANY OF THOSE BEING CHECKED DESCENDANTS LIKE MY CHILDREN.

LET'S BE OPTIMISTIC AND SAY THAT THE END OF 30 YEARS, THESE BONDS WORK AS INTENDED.

THE SOIL IS RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE AT THE END OF THE LEASE.

WHAT THEY CLAIM ABOUT SOLAR IS THAT IT DOESN'T CONTAIN ANY HEAVY METALS AND WON'T CAUSE HARM TO THE SOIL.

WHAT IF WE FIND OUT IN 30 YEARS THEY DID HARM THE SOIL, AND FARMERS LIKE MY SON HAVE EXTRA REQUIREMENTS TO LABEL MEAT, PRODUCE AND TIMBER WITH LABELS THAT SAY PRODUCE ON A FORMER SOLAR SITE, AND WHAT IF THOSE LABELS DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF INCOME MY SON CAN EARN? WHAT IF, AFTER 30 YEARS, WE FIND OUT THAT SOLAR PANELS TURN OUT TO BE LIKE ASBESTOS INSULATION AND LEAD PAINT? I RECOMMEND YOU UPHOLD WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINED AND DENY THE APPEAL OF THE BAKERS POND PROJECT TONIGHT.

I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHANGE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REMOVE THE FLEXIBILITY IN SIMILAR CASES BY CHANGING THE WORDS, DESIRES AND UPPER LIMIT TO ENFORCES AN UPPER LIMIT, THE WORDS SHOULD BE AVOIDED TO MUST BE AVOIDED.

I RECOMMEND YOU NOT ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO DECREASE THEIR PLAN BY 22 ACRES IN THE FUTURE, AND GAIN APPROVAL WITH THE FUTURE APPLICATION, OR REQUEST A REZONING TO INDUSTRIAL AND THAT YOU WORK WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO AMEND VIRGINIA CODE 15.2 2232 TO REMOVE THE ABILITY TO USE AN ARGUMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD IN SOLAR FACILITY APPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR AND MAINTAIN THE RURAL CHARACTER OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU.

I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE COMING FORWARD. OH, YEAH.

YES.

I AM JULIA BRINSON, WIFE TO BOBBY BRINSON.

WE LIVE AT 6850 THWEATT DRIVE, DISPUTANTA ADDRESS, BUT IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, WE ARE

[03:00:02]

WE COULD HAVE HAD THE SOLAR SYSTEM ON OUR LAND.

WE REJECTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE COMPANY WAS, BUT THIS IS NOT FOR US.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WATCH WHRO ANYWHERE ON THE NEWS, BUT THE SOLAR.

COUNTRIES THAT ARE GOING COMPLETELY SOLAR.

IT LOOKS HORRIBLE, AND I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND NO.

OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU MA'AM.

I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE COMING FORWARD.

SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOLAR COMPANY TO.

YEAH.

TIM, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT.

.. YEAH. YOU HAVE ANY REBUTTAL FOR ANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HEARD JUST NOW? YEAH I JUST WANT TO SPEAK IN GENERAL ABOUT THE PROJECT.

I THINK WE HAD WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE SPEAKING TO THE SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD.

I THINK THERE ARE MANY ITEMS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS ON THE SOLAR SITING POLICY.

IF WE WOULD LIKE TO WE CAN SPEAK TO THE BUFFERINGS AND THE SETBACKS THERE.

THERE ARE 350 FOOT BUFFERS OR SETBACKS SORRY, FROM, FROM RESIDENTS.

I KNOW THAT THE BOARD REALLY DID A GOOD, THOUGHTFUL PROCESS WHEN WRITING THE SITING POLICY AND WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN, THERE ARE POLICIES IN PLACE AND THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DESIGN THIS PROJECT THOUGHTFULLY.

THERE ARE OVER 90 STORMWATER BASINS THAT ARE IN THE DESIGN WE ARE ADHERING TO ALL OF THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, THE STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS.

THERE ARE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE NOISE THERE'S ALSO COULD BE SIGNIFICANT TAX REVENUES IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS APPROVED WE RECENTLY JUST HAD A SPECIAL USE PERMIT THAT WAS APPROVED IN BUCKINGHAM COUNTY, AND LAST NIGHT WE JUST HAD A SITING AGREEMENT APPROVED WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL.

SO THAT WILL OFFER SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE PAYMENTS TO THE COUNTY.

THIS WILL NOT INCREASE TAXES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THIS IS NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE TAX BASE. IT WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT TAX REVENUES THROUGH THE SITING AGREEMENT AS WELL AS THE REVENUE SHARE AS WELL AS THE REZONING OF NEW REAL ESTATE TAX THAT WILL BE GOING RIGHT TO THE COUNTY FOR THINGS LIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE, THE SCHOOLS.

SO I KNOW THAT REALLY THE POINT OF TONIGHT WAS MORE TO SPEAK TO THE SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD OF THE PROJECT AND THAT THERE IS A SEPARATE PORTION FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION PERMIT PROCESS BUT I DID JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO A FEW OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE ADDRESSED TONIGHT. OKAY, AND ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR [INAUDIBLE].

I'M GOOD. OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. SO NOW THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPELLANT TO REBUT IS THERE ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION OR COMMENT? YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR TIM.

QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

TIM, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? YES, SIR. DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES WE DO, I THINK GO AHEAD, MR. BROWN. SO IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AGAIN, IF YOU CAN, JUST FOR ME REITERATE OR RESTATE WHAT THE LIMIT IS THAT IS SET THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WHAT THIS WILL OCCUPY AS FAR AS THE UPPER LIMIT.

YES, SIR. YES, SIR.

THE PLAN, IT STATES I'M GOING TO READ THAT EXACTLY

[03:05:04]

OKAY. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO THAT WOULD GO OVER 22.3 ACRES, YOU SAY? OKAY. ACROSS TWO BOUNDARIES.

YEAH, AND IT DOES CROSS TWO BOUNDARIES, CORRECT? CORRECT. AROUND THE TWO AREAS.

TWO AREAS. COMPREHENSIVE [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

AS FAR AS AVOIDING THE PRINCE GEORGE PLANNING AREA.

YES, SIR. YEAH, AND IT'S 35% OF THE PROJECT ACREAGE IS IN THE RURAL RURAL CONSERVATION AREA AND 65% IS IN THE PLANNING AREA, WHICH IS THE AREA TO AVOID.

THE MAJOR PART IS IN THE PLANNING.

THE MAJORITY IS IN THE PLANNING AREA, SIR.

WE PUT IN PLACE FOR A REASON, AND ONE OF THE LAST SPEAKERS, [INAUDIBLE] WITH THOSE COMMENTS IN MIND.

DOES ANYONE HAVE A MOTION? YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I DO, AND I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT LEADING INTO MY MOTION LET'S BE CLEAR. THIS DECISION TONIGHT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHAT REVENUE, IF ANY, THAT IT BRINGS TO THE COUNTY.

THIS DECISION TONIGHT IS BASED UPON ONE THING, AND THAT'S WHETHER OR NOT THAT THIS REQUEST THAT WAS TURNED DOWN BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON MEETING WITH PEOPLE, MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS, AND PUTTING TOGETHER THIS SITING POLICY THAT NOW IS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO, TO BE HONEST FOR YOU, WITH YOU, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THIS APPEAL, SA-23-01, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE WOULD UPHOLD THE DENIAL OF THE FINDING OF SUBSTANTIAL.

HANG ON PLEASE, THAT WE WOULD UPHOLD THE DENIAL OF A FINDING OF SUBSTANTIAL ACCORD MADE BY THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THAT WAS DONE BACK ON OCTOBER THE 26TH.

THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION, SIR, AND I'LL SECOND IT.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THE MOTION PROPER, MA'AM? OKAY WITH THE MOTION IN PLACE THERE IS NO QUESTIONS, NO DISCUSSION.

CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE GO BACK TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATION INITIATIVE PROGRAM AND ENTER INTO AGREEMENT.

OKAY.

I'M SORRY, MR. CHAIRMAN.

GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO CLEAR.

YEAH. WHICH ONE? NUMBER TWO. OKAY.

[INAUDIBLE] ORDER OF BUSINESS TWO.

YEAH. I'M TRYING TO FIND MY.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN HUNTER.

GOOD EVENING, VICE CHAIRMAN [INAUDIBLE].

JUST A MINUTE. LET THE PEOPLE.

YEAH, LET THEM CLEAR OUT.

LET THEM CLEAR OUT QUIETLY, IF YOU WOULD.

[INAUDIBLE]

[03:10:43]

WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE ON. WE'VE STILL GOT MORE BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO NUMBER TWO AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR VIRGINIA\ TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE PROGRAM AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COASTAL QUEST ASSOCIATION.

YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN HUNTER.

VICE CHAIRMAN WEBB BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE AND MISS ANDREA ERARD.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PRESENT TONIGHT I'LL BE PRESENTING ON THE VATI BODY PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE.

WE'LL BE GOING OVER OUR COUNTY STRATEGIC GOAL, SOME OF THE RESEARCH AND MAPS THAT WE'VE FOUND, PROJECT DETAILS, NEXT STEPS AND ANY QUESTIONS IF THE BOARD MAY HAVE.

SO IN JULY, OUR DEPARTMENT GAVE AN UPDATE TO THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH OUR COUNTY STRATEGIC GOAL WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHO HAS ACCESS, WHO WERE THE PLAYERS? WHAT IS CONSIDERED BROADBAND INTERNET? OUR GOAL IS TO CONNECT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES TO BROADBAND INTERNET.

WE UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS.

THERE COMES ECONOMIC BENEFITS, SOCIAL BENEFITS AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS WITH BROADBAND EXPANSION.

SO OUR DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED THE VIRGINIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH EXTENDS BROADBAND SERVICE TO UNSERVED AREAS.

VATI PREPARES COMMUNITIES TO BUILD, UTILIZE AND CAPITALIZE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE GOAL OF SETTING UP A STRONG COMPETITIVE COMMUNITY.

IT ALLOWS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PARTNER WITH INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO APPLY, AND THE STATE HAS ALLOCATED 49 MILLION FOR FY 24.

SO SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM IS A 10% MATCH FROM THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, AND A 10% MATCH FROM THE COUNTY BODY TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE FCC MAPPING, WHICH WE KNOW HAS ITS FAULTS IN IT AND VATI DEFINES BROADBAND AS 100MBPS DOWNLOAD AND 20 MEGABITS UPLOAD, AND FOR WIRED LINE PROJECTS, PROPOSED AREAS OF 20% OR MORE UNSERVED IS CONSIDERED VIABLE FOR THE PROJECT, AND WE ALSO WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS. WHY YOU HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU IS A CAUSE QUEST AGREEMENT, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT THROUGH THE VATI PROGRAM, WHICH IS A THIRD PARTY DATA PROVIDER FOR THE FCC.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS VATI COLLECTED MAP, THE WHITE AREAS ARE SHOWN AS UN UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY THE FILTER WAS THAT WAS GIVEN IS 100 MEGABITS AND 20MBPS, WHICH VATI IS LOOKING FOR US TO SERVE THOSE AREAS.

THIS IS THE FCC MAP, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR, THAT SHOWS SOME OF THE SAME AREAS IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED.

THIS IS THE CURRENT RURALBAND MAP.

CURRENTLY THEIR COVERAGE EXPANDS WITHIN THE MAJORITY OF THEIR ELECTRICAL TERRITORY AND MOST OF THE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED UNITS ARE WITHIN THE DOMINION AREAS THAT WE HAVE FOUND. THESE ARE THE SIX PROJECT AREAS THAT WE'VE DETERMINED THAT

[03:15:06]

IT WOULD COME FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UNRESERVED FUND, BALANCE OF MEALS TAX OF 387,214 WE'D ALSO ASK FOR THE BOARD TO APPLY TO THE CAMERON FOUNDATION GRANT TO ASSIST WITH OUR 10% MATCH THERE'S ALSO A 10% REQUIRED MATCH FROM THE ISP, WHICH IS RURALBAND, AND A TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS TO BE PASSED THROUGH THIS PROJECT IS 1260, AND SO AFTER THIS PROJECT, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE WITHIN THE COUNTY.

THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE 1260 UNITS THAT WOULD BE SERVED WITHIN THE PROJECT IF AWARDED AND IF THE BOARD APPROVES SO THAT IS EXPANDING FROM RURALBAND TERRITORIES INTO THESE AREAS.

SO NEXT STEPS.

IF THE BOARD DOES ALLOW OUR DEPARTMENT TO APPLY, THE APPLICATION IS DUE ON DECEMBER 19TH. ON JANUARY 4TH DHCD POSTS APPLICATIONS ON THE WEBSITE.

ON FEBRUARY 8TH ANY CHALLENGES ARE DUE.

ON FEBRUARY 15TH DHCD NOTIFIES ANY CHALLENGE APPLICANTS.

MARCH 8TH DEADLINE FOR CHALLENGE REBUTTALS.

APRIL 12TH DHCD NOTIFIES ALL PARTIES OF THE CHALLENGE, AND THEN WE CAN RESCOPE MATERIALS ON APRIL 23RD, AND THEY HAVE NOT SET A DETERMINATION ON WHEN ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN, BUT IF SO, AND IF WE ARE ALLOWED TO APPLY AND WE ARE AWARDED, WE BRING BACK A FINALIZED BROADBAND AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALL PARTIES.

IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE VATI PROGRAM, THE COUNTY WILL ENCOURAGE ALL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO APPLY TO THE BEAD PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THROUGH VATI AS WELL THAT WILL BE OPENED IN THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2024.

SO WITH THAT WE ASK FOR AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY TO THE BODY PROGRAM AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH [INAUDIBLE] LIKE I SAID, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT THROUGH THE BODY PROGRAM, AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS REVIEWED THAT AGREEMENT AS WELL IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

SO WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS, ONE TO.

MAKE THE APPLICATION.

IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT, AND THE SECOND ONE IS TO ACTUALLY ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE MOTIONS SEPARATELY.

YOU CAN MAKE THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTIONS AS PRESENTED. OKAY WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS.

ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION TO HAVE BOTH RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AT THIS TIME? SO MOVED. YEAH. OKAY, WELL, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT IN THIS AUTHORIZATION, THIS IS AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, RIGHT YES.

OR IS THAT YOU? I'M JUST BEING CLEAR TO KNOW WHO'S SIGNING.

IT'S NORMALLY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

OKAY? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

JUST BECAUSE NORMALLY WE SAY THAT TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, AND THE WORDING.

YES. YEAH.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO, NO, YOU'RE FINE, SIR, YOU'RE FINE.

SO WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS ONE IS TO MAKE ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT.

THE OTHER ONE IS TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION? MR. CARMICHAEL MADE THE MOTION.

DID WE GET A SECOND? I'LL SECOND, I SAID.

ALL RIGHT. YOU MADE A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND.

[03:20:01]

WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? THANK YOU, SIR, THANK YOU NEXT IS THE AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR THE CAMERON FOUNDATION BROADBAND GRANT.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ME AGAIN.

I'M. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PRESENT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE CAMERON FOUNDATION BROADBAND GRANT THE CAMERON FOUNDATION BROADBAND GRANT IS A PROGRAM TO ASSIST LOCALITIES WITH BROADBAND EXPANSION THE DEPARTMENT IS APPLYING TO THE CAMERON FOUNDATION FOR A TOTAL OF $193,606.

IF AWARDED, THE CAMERON FOUNDATION GRANT WILL ASSIST THE 10% MATCH THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE FY 24 VATI PROGRAM AND THIS IS DEPENDENT IF WE ARE AWARDED FOR THE VATI PROGRAM AS WELL AND THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR THIS GRANT.

SO AT THIS TIME WE WOULD ASK FOR AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THE CAMERON FOUNDATION BROADBAND GRANT.

THANK YOU.

EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST? YES, SIR. HAVE A RESOLUTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN. I WOULD SO MOVE THAT WE WOULD AUTHORIZE TO APPLY FOR THE CAMERON FOUNDATION BROADBAND GRANT.

ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE, ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM.

YES, SIR, AND THAT'S ME AGAIN THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PRESENT TONIGHT WE'LL BE GOING OVER THE VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM WHICH SITE AND PROJECT THAT WE WISH TO APPLY FOR AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THE VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM UNDER THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS A DISCRETIONARY PROGRAM TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SITES TO ENHANCE THE COMMONWEALTH'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROMOTE ITS COMPETITIVENESS IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS THE READINESS OF POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL SITES AT LEAST 100 DEVELOPABLE ACRES IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND IT ALIGNS WITH GOALS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS SET FOR HIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE VBRSP PROGRAM.

YOU DO NEED A SITE OF 100 CONTIGUOUS ACRES.

IT HAS TO BE ZONED INDUSTRIAL OR BUSINESS IT'S A 3 TO 1 AWARD TO MATCH A SITE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT HAS TO BE COMPLETED IT CAN BE PUBLICLY OWNED OR PRIVATELY OWNED SITES WITH AN OPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE AWARD AMOUNTS, THERE IS NO SPECIFIED DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THE AWARD, AND THE STATE HAS DEDICATED 125 MILLION FOR THE FY 24 PROGRAM.

SO THE SITE THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON IS THE CROSSPOINTE BUSINESS CENTER THIS IS THE FORMER ROLLS ROYCE SITE THAT THE BOARD APPROVED REZONING ON SEPTEMBER OF 2022 FROM ROLLS ROYCE TO M-2 CURRENT OWNERS, THE SILVERMAN GROUP UH, SHOWED US A PLAN TO BUILD OUT THREE POINT 5,000,000FT² OF INDUSTRIAL SPACE AND THROUGH A VEDP STUDY, IT IS PROJECTED TO CREATE AROUND 3500 JOBS, AND WE'D HAVE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 147 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE COUNTY IT'S A UNIQUE SITE OF 800 ACRES WITH WATER, SEWER, ELECTRIC, GAS AND BROADBAND ALL AT THE SITE BUT LIKE MOST OF OUR SITES, IT'S LACKING WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY.

SO WITH THAT, THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS THE SEWAGE PUMP STATION AND

[03:25:02]

THE SILVERMAN GROUP HAS STATED THEY WOULD NEED AROUND 2 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY FOR WASTEWATER, WHICH IS TWO THIRDS OF THE PROJECT.

TOTAL PROJECT FOR THE SEWAGE PUMP STATION WOULD BE 3 MILLION, SO THAT WOULD BE TWO THIRDS OF THE TOTAL PROJECT, AND WITH THE VBRSP PROGRAM, UM FUNDING WOULD SOLELY BE DEDICATED TOWARDS THE SITE'S REQUIREMENTS.

THE PROJECT PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WHICH IS A SEWAGE PUMP STATION WAS IDENTIFIED FOR DEBT ISSUANCE OF AN ESTIMATE OF APPROXIMATELY 28 MILLION.

SO WITH THE 3 TO 1 AWARD TO MATCH PROGRAM REQUIREMENT WE WOULD BE APPLYING FOR A $15 MILLION GRANT AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MATCH 5 MILLION.

THE REMAINING COSTS WOULD BE COVERED BY THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT THAT WOULD BE REPAID BY THE UTILITIES DEBT SERVICE FUND.

SO NEXT STEPS.

IF THE BOARD AUTHORIZES US TO APPLY FOR THE VBRSP PROGRAM, THE FINAL APPLICATION IS DUE JANUARY 11TH THERE WILL BE AN APPLICATION REVIEW JANUARY THROUGH FEBRUARY.

THERE WILL BE SITE TOURS IN APRIL AND AWARD OFFERS WOULD BE MAY THROUGH JUNE OF 2024, AND IF WE ARE AWARDED, WE WOULD BRING BACK AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALL PARTIES FOR THE BOARD FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL.

SO IN CONCLUSION, WE'RE ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY TO THE VBRSP PROGRAM.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. ANYBODY? IS THIS A BLACKWATER SITE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? NO. SEWER? NO.

NO IT'S THE OLD ROLLS ROYCE.

ALL OF THAT. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. EXCUSE ME.

YOU GET YOUR ANSWER? YES. OKAY.

OKAY. SO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS A RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.

MR. CHAIRMAN, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I MOVE TO APPROVE.

I'LL SECOND. I'LL SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE AWARD CONTRACT AND BUDGET TRANSFER FOR ROUTE 301 WELL CONSTRUCTION, MR. HALTOM. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR THE WATER.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING THE BOARD AND UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF MR. CARMICHAEL AND MR. HUNTER, AND WISH YOU BOTH WELL IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

TONIGHT WE ARE COMING ASKING FOR AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR OUR FIRST COMPONENT OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED TO IMPROVE THE WATER FACILITIES ON THE ROUTE 301, EXIT 45 CORRIDOR.

THIS FIRST COMPONENT IS TO DRILL A WELL AND DO SOME TESTING ON THAT WELL ONCE IT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO IDENTIFY THE REQUIREMENTS TO SERVE THAT UTILIZE THAT WELL, TO SERVE AS PUBLIC WATER.

SO THE TESTING WOULD DEMONSTRATE WHETHER OR NOT THE WELL WOULD NEED TO BE THE WATER WOULD NEED TO BE TREATED PRIOR TO BE BEING UTILIZED, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING THE MAXIMUM YIELD THAT WE CAN USE FOR THAT WELL.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO WELLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE UNDER DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP, BUT WE HAVE AGREEMENTS TO OPERATE THOSE WELLS; MAKES THE OPERATIONS OF THOSE WELLS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

SO THIS WILL GIVE US A COUNTY-OWNED WELL SITE TO ALLOW US TO HAVE FULL OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE SITE.

IN OCTOBER, WE DID AN INVITATION FOR BID FOR THE WELL DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE TESTING SERVICES, AND WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS BACK, AND IN THOSE BIDS, THEY WERE ASKED TO ALSO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR A SIX INCH CASING AS WELL AS AN EIGHT INCH CASING, AND ALSO FOR BOTH SIZES TO IDENTIFY THE COST FOR DIFFERENT MATERIALS, ONE BEING PVC CASING, THE OTHER ONE BEING A STEEL CASING AFTER REVIEWING THE BIDS, WHICH THOSE RESPONSES ARE PROVIDED IN YOUR IN YOUR PACKET, TOANO WELL AND PUMP SERVICES PROVIDED THE LOW BID AT $139,000 AND THAT INCLUDES FOR THE EIGHT INCH STEEL CASING, WHICH IS THE PREFERRED

[03:30:03]

HOWEVER, WE DO REQUIRE A TRANSFER WITHIN THAT FUND FROM OUR DEBT SERVICE OVER TO THE CAPITAL UTILITY UH, WATER FACILITIES LINE ITEM THAT TRANSFER WILL BE $134,912 FROM THE DEBT SERVICE FUND TO THE WATER FACILITIES FUND.

WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT TO AWARD THE THE CONTRACT TO TOANO WELL AND PUMPING SERVICES FOR THE EIGHT INCH STEEL, WELL CASING OPTION FOR $139,000 AND AUTHORIZED THE BUDGET TRANSFER WITHIN THE FISCAL CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

BUDGET. OH THAT'S IN THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN.

SECOND. I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

THANK YOU SIR. RESOLUTION NUMBER SEVEN, REVISION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY SECTION 33.1- [INAUDIBLE] NUMBER SIX.

I'M SORRY I SKIPPED NUMBER SIX.

YOU'RE FINE. EXCUSE ME.

I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU A REST.

NO PROBLEM GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. BOARD MEMBERS MR. STOKE AND MISS ERARD.

MR. HUNTER AND MR. CARMICHAEL, IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE.

IT HAS BEEN. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT, PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

WE WILL MISS YOU, BUT IT'S NOT GOODBYE BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME VISIT THE NEXT ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA IS TO AUTHORIZE MR. HUNTER AND MR. STOKE TO SIGN A LETTER CERTIFYING THAT YOU RECEIVED THE ANNUAL AUDIT DURING YOUR WORK SESSION. MR. ROLLER PRESENTED THE AUDIT TO YOU, AND IT IS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA THAT WE SUBMIT A CERTIFIED NOTICE TO THE AUDITOR OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS STATING THAT YOU DID RECEIVE THAT AUDIT DURING A REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

SO WE ARE ASKING PERMISSION FOR YOU OR FOR MR. HUNTER AND MR. STOKE TO SIGN THAT CERTIFICATION.

THERE IS NO RESOLUTION, JUST NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.

YEP. I'M GOOD WITH IT.

I'M GOOD.

CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL GO TO NUMBER SEVEN.

REVISION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY.

MRS. HURT, HOW ARE YOU? YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO GET MISS HURT UP EARLY.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND I WAS TRYING TO GET UP--I UNDERSTAND.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE, MS. ERARD THE FIRST ONE I HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY SECTION 330.

I BASICALLY THE ONLY THING ABOUT THAT POLICY IS WE ARE REMOVING THE FIRE AND EMS VOLUNTEERS SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO ACROSS THE BOARD.

THEY HAVE THEIR INTERNAL POLICIES, AND THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE WITH THAT ONE.

OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] A RESOLUTION, DON'T WE HAVE A RESOLUTION SOMEWHERE? YES. CAN YOU BRIEFLY SAY IT ONE MORE TIME? THAT IS THE NON-TRAVEL FOOD AND BEVERAGE PURCHASES.

THEY WILL HAVE A MIRRORED POLICY INTERNALLY THAT WILL COVER FIRE AND EMS VOLUNTEERS.

THAT LOOKS THE VERY SAME WAY AS OUR POLICY, AND THAT'S JUST TO KEEP THEM INTERNALLY IN FIRE AND EMS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

ALL RIGHT, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN. SECOND.

SECOND. MISS WAYMAC.

MISS WAYMACK SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE ON NUMBER EIGHT.

RESOLUTION TO REVISE PERSONNEL POLICY, SECTION 24.1 THROUGH 24.25.

ENTITLED TO LEAVE PERSONNEL POLICY AND 26.1 THROUGH 26.7 WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE AND SECTION 46.1 THROUGH 46.4 TITLED DRIVING RECORDS AND ACCESS TO EMPLOYEE

[03:35:03]

YES, MA'AM. SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS FIRST, AND IT'S UP TO YOU ALL FOR THE SAKE OF TIME.

I DID SEND YOU ALL ALL OF THE NOTES ON WHAT'S BEING REVISED YESTERDAY.

SO YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT RATHER THAN GO THROUGH THEM ONE BY ONE ON WHAT I CHANGED, WHY I CHANGED IT, I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THEM IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO.

OTHERWISE I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.

I'VE READ IT ALREADY. I JUST HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION.

PLEASE DO. THIS IS THE LAST ONE? I HOPE SO. OH, OKAY. OKAY, I GOT YOU, I'M MESSING WITH YOU.

NO I'M JUST WHEN YOU BRING THIS TO US, THESE POLICY CHANGES.

YES, SIR. DO YOU HAVE A PEER GROUP THAT YOU DISCUSSED THIS WITH THAT WILL BE AFFECTED TO GET ANY FEEDBACK THEY MAY HAVE OR ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE? OR DO YOU COME TO US, GET IT APPROVED AND THEN JUST SLING IT RIGHT ON THEM AND SAY THAT'S IT. WELL, NO, THIS IS VETTED THROUGH WORDS, BUT NO, THIS IS CERTAINLY PUT THROUGH FOR ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM TO REVIEW.

THAT WAY, IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN ANY DEPARTMENT WITH ANY ISSUES, WE TALK ABOUT IT EXECUTIVELY. THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO GET WITH THEIR PEOPLE.

SAY, THIS IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

DO YOU ALL SEE ANY ISSUES YOU ALL MAY HAVE BEFORE? WELL, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO.

YES. NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THEY DO OR DON'T, I'M NOT SURE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, IT'S ALWAYS VETTED THROUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING REVISED IS CORRECT AND LEGAL.

WELL, I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE CORRECT AND LEGAL BUT I'M JUST HAVE TO BE SURE IF YOU DO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOUR 15 OR 20 PEOPLE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD.

DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IT? THEY CERTAINLY ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

THEY RECEIVE ANY COPY OF ANY POLICY THAT'S BEING REVISED SO THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.

SO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

OKAY. SO THERE'S A RESOLUTION UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT.

IF WE TOOK THE TIME TO DO IT.

SO AS A RESOLUTIONS IN YOUR PACKET ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS IT.

SO MOVED.

HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MS. HURT. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.

RESOLUTION RECOMMENDED OF WE HAVE FIVE APPOINTMENTS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

SO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, THIS IS WHEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR, AND YOU JUST NEED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IF IT MEETS WITH WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO RECOMMEND.

ALL RIGHT, AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.

SO MOVED MR. CHAIRMAN. MS. WAYMACK. I'LL SECOND AND MR. WEBB SECONDED.

ANY QUESTIONS? CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

NUMBER TEN IS TO APPOINT A MEMBER TO PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I THINK THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD SO MOVE THAT WE WOULD REAPPOINT MR. JOYNER. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. 11 IS VIRGINIA GATEWAY.

AT THIS POINT, MR. CLEMENTS' TERM IS EXPIRING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

HAVE A RESOLUTION AND AN OPENING TO APPOINT A ONE YEAR TERMS, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT APPLICANTS.

YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE NAMES.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD SO MOVE THAT WE WOULD APPOINT MISS BECKY MCDONOUGH TO THAT POSITION, SIR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

MISS WAYMACK SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

[03:40:08]

WE HAVE A MOTION OR OPPORTUNITY TO REAPPOINT MR. STEVE MCDONOUGH.

NO DISCUSSION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION AND A SECOND TO REAPPOINT MR. MCDONOUGH. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL.

NEXT THING WE HAVE IS VOTE TO ADJOURN TO THE JANUARY THE 2ND.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

REORGANIZATION MEETING 5 P.M.

FOR THE REORGANIZATION.

I'LL DO THE ADJOURN PART.

SOMEBODY ELSE CAN DO THE JANUARY 2ND PART.

WELL, THAT'S I'M JUST KIDDING.

[CHUCKLING] LET'S TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

OKAY.

YOU SEE WHAT TIME IT IS, DON'T YOU? 10:10, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING, FOR REAL.

10:10.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.