[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. TODAY IS APRIL THE 22ND, 2025.
[A. Call to Order (6:00 pm)]
IT IS NOW 6:00 PM.IT'S TIME FOR OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING.
WE HAVE NO NEED FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION.
SO NEXT, I'LL MOVE TO MS. KNOTT.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO CHANGES, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
I MAKE A MOTION. WE ADOPT THE AGENDA.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MS. WAYMACK, AND SECOND BY MR. COX, THAT WE WOULD ADOPT THE AGENDA AS SO STATED.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> YES. MOTION IS CARRIED ON THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
NEXT, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE BUSINESS MEETING.
[B. Business Meeting]
WE'LL HAVE MRS. WAYMACK WILL DO OUR BOARDS INVOCATION, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY MR. PUGH.>> OUR DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PROTECT US.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, COMFORT THEM.
BE WITH THOSE WHO SUFFER IN BODY, MIND, OR SPIRIT, AND GIVE THEM PEACE.
FATHER, BE WITH OUR NATION, OUR STATE, OUR COUNTY, AND THIS BOARD, AND HELP US TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS.
IN YOUR HOLY NAME, WE PRAY, AMEN.
MRS. WAYMACK, FOR THE BOARD'S INVOCATION.
ALSO, THANK YOU TO MR. PUGH FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
NEXT, WE WILL BE GOING INTO A PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET ME REMIND YOU, PLEASE THAT WHEN YOU COME UP, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT.
ALSO, THE RULE 2 IS IN ORDER TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU MUST EITHER BE A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY OR YOU MUST OWN LAND OR PROPERTY HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THAT WILL BE APPLICABLE TONIGHT ON ALL OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WE HAVE VIRTUAL THAT HAS A DESIRE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
CURRENTLY, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP BEFORE THE MEETING TO SPEAK, BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF PARTICIPANTS ON THE ELECTRONIC MEETING.
GOOD AFTERNOON FOR ALL TEAMS ELECTRONIC PARTICIPANTS.
WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
TO SPEAK PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND ELECTRONICALLY.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
IF ANYBODY ON THE TEAMS MEETING WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND NOW.
MR. BROWN, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY WITH A HAND RAISED.
MS. KNOTT, IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP WITH YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS JAMES LAMB.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN CHESTER, VIRGINIA.
HOWEVER, I AM REPRESENTING THE BINFORD FAMILY, WHICH IS SIX LANDOWNERS THAT I'M MARRIED INTO, AS WELL AS THE WILLIAM BINFORD JUNIOR TRUST AND THE WILLIAM BINFORD TRUST.
I'M REQUESTING FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK AS REPRESENTING A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BINFORD FAMILY.
THE BINFORD FAMILY HAS BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.
WE DON'T OFTEN COME BEFORE THIS BOARD.
[00:05:02]
WE PAY OUR TAXES, WE FOLLOW THE RULES.WE ENGAGE WITH THE COUNTY WHEN NECESSARY.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, YOU'LL SEE THE BINFORD FAMILY AS PART OF THE HISTORY AND ITS FOUNDATION, DATING BACK 322 YEARS.
TONIGHT, I WANT TO EXPRESS CLEARLY AND DIRECTLY OUR FRUSTRATION WITH WHAT HAS UNFOLDED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT TAXES ARE PART OF LIFE.
WE DON'T SHY AWAY FROM OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT WHAT WE TAKE ISSUE WITH IS THE PROCESS, A PROCESS THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE DEEPLY FLAWED, OPAQUE, AND UNFAIR.
THIS YEAR, WE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM VISION ON MARCH 28TH TO DISCUSS MORE THAN 40 PARCELS OF PROPERTY WE OWN.
IT WASN'T UNTIL LATE LAST WEEK THAT WE LEARNED THE MAN WE MET WITH IS NO LONGER WITH THE COMPANY.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THAT LEAVES OUR APPEAL, AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO CLEAR DIRECTION.
THE ONLY ADVICE WE'VE RECEIVED IS APPEAL TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, BUT THEY'VE TOLD US THEY CAN'T ADJUST ASSESSMENT.
THE NEXT STEP IS THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, WHICH WILL BE OVERWHELMED AND UNDER-RESOURCED.
WE WERE WORKING WITH TIFFANY AND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, SOMEONE WHO WAS HELPING US TO BEGIN NAVIGATE THIS COMPLICATED PROCESS, AND NOW WE FOUND OUT SHE NO LONGER WORKS FOR THE COUNTY.
THAT NOT ONLY LEAVES US WITHOUT HELP, IT LEAVES THE COUNTY WITHOUT ANYONE HANDLING LAND USE ITEMS WHICH ARE ALSO DUE ON MAY 1ST. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THE CURRENT APPEALS PROCESS IS COMPLETELY BROKEN.
IT DISCOURAGES THE VERY PEOPLE IT'S SUPPOSED TO SERVE.
IT'S NOT BUILT ON FAIRNESS OR TRANSPARENCY.
IT FEELS LIKE A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO GENERATE REVENUE, NOT ONE BUILT TO ENSURE ACCURACY.
AND THE ASSESSMENTS THEMSELVES, HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS MUCH CONFUSION AND CHAOS COULD HAPPEN TWO YEARS IN A ROW BY ACCIDENT WHEN OUR COLLECTIVE TAX BILL IS SET TO INCREASE BY 1,800% THIS YEAR.
SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG.
WHEN WE ASKED FOR ANSWERS, WE WERE MET WITH SILENCE.
WE CONTACTED COUNTY MANAGER JEFF STOKES.
HE HAD NO ANSWERS AND REFERRED US TO THE ASSESSOR.
THE ASSESSOR DIDN'T CALL US BACK INSTEAD, HE DELEGATED THAT TASK TO SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE, WHO SIMPLY SAID, WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU IN THE ORDER YOUR CALL WAS RECEIVED.
THIS ISN'T JUST FRUSTRATING, IT'S NEGLIGENT.
WHERE'S THE OVERSIGHT? WHERE'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY? GIVEN THE DISASTER LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY MANAGER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
INSTEAD, HERE WE ARE. AGAIN, ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER CRISIS.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S YOU, THE BOARD LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR AN ASSESSOR'S OFFICE THAT'S CLEARLY IN DISARRAY. LET'S BE HONEST.
RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY IS COUNTING ON ONE OF TWO THINGS.
THE PROCESS IS SO DIFFICULT AND INTIMIDATING THAT PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY GIVE UP AND PAY THE INFLATED TAX BILL, OR THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION WILL BE SO OVERWHELMED IT CANNOT PROCESS THE APPEALS IN A TIME THE RESIDENTS WILL BE FORCED TO PAY ANYWAY.
EITHER WAY, THE RESIDENTS LOSE.
THERE'S A GROWING CULTURE WITHIN THE COUNTY OFFICES, ONE OF APATHY, CONFUSION AND DISREGARD FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
THAT CULTURE STARTS AT THE TOP, AND NOW THE BOARD FACES A CHOICE.
DO YOU HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE? WILL YOU STAND UP FOR THE RESIDENTS OF PRINCE GEORGE?
>> HOLD ON, SIR. YOU CAN STOP THAT BECAUSE HE DID ASK FOR MORE TIME BECAUSE HE'S SPEAKING FOR A GROUP. ARE YOU FINISHED WITH?
>> WILL YOU STAND UP FOR THE RESIDENTS OF PRINCE GEORGE? WE'RE NOT ASKING.
WE'RE DEMANDING A FAIR AND FUNCTIONING, AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
IF THE COUNTY CANNOT PROVIDE THAT, THEN THIS YEAR'S ASSESSMENT SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED.
WE DESERVE ANSWERS, AND AS OUR ELECTED LEADERS, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THEM FOR US. THANK YOU.
>> YES, SIR. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE GENTLEMAN, PLEASE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WILL ASK FOR MR. STOKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK WITH ME OR ANY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD, OUR PHONE NUMBERS AND OUR EMAILS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT.
>> YES, SIR. NOW THAT WE'VE COVERED THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAS THROUGH MS. KNOTT.
I WILL NOW TURN TO THE AUDIENCE.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? AGAIN, YOU HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES, AND ALL OF THE RULES ARE APPLICABLE.
AGAIN, THE ONLY THING YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT IS ANYTHING RELATED TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, BECAUSE THERE IS A POINT IN TIME WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING? GO AHEAD, MR. NOBLIN.
YOU HAD INFORMED US THAT THE TAX RATE WAS NOT BEING SETTLED, SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT ASSESSMENTS AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, CORRECT?
>> YES, BECAUSE I JUST ALLOW IT.
YES. GO AHEAD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT IT.
MY NAME IS JUSTIN NOBLIN 8724 CENTENNIAL ROAD.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ASSESSMENTS AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY.
WE ARE NOW OVER $2.5 MILLION TO GET ONE ASSESSMENT, AND WE'RE NOWHERE CLOSER THAN WHEN WE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO.
MY PERSONAL ASSESSMENT, I'D LIKE TO REVIEW REAL QUICK, WENT 475,000-749,000 DOWN TO 609,000 UP TO 23 MILLION DOWN TO 592,
[00:10:07]
AND THERE'S STILL NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH IT.STILL HAVE THE WRONG SQUARE FOOTAGE, STILL HAVE THE WRONG FOUNDATION, STILL HAVE A ROTTEN CATTLE POND DECK THAT'S STILL BEING APPRAISED ON IT.
STILL HAVE NO CLARIFICATION TO THE STANDARDS OF VALUES, WHICH I'VE REQUESTED NUMEROUS TIMES FROM VISION AND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
THIS STANDARD OF VALUES BY LAW, WHICH IS STATE CODE 58.1-3331, IS REQUIRED UPON REQUEST.
WHEN IT'S DENIED, IT GIVES THE CITIZENS THE AUTHORITY TO FILE AN INTENT TO SUE THE COUNTY.
IT IS SETTING THE COUNTY UP FOR A LAWSUIT, NOT ONLY FROM ME, BUT NUMEROUS OTHER RESIDENTS THAT I'VE SPOKE TO.
THIS GROUP THAT WE HAVE HIRED IS REAL DEDICATED TO USING THE KAMA SYSTEM, WHICH IS USED EXTENSIVELY FOR MASS APPRAISALS AND THE EAGLE SYSTEM.
THERE'S A REAL STRUGGLE WITH THIS WHERE IT BASICALLY GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO ASSESS BASED ON WHAT THEY SEE AND THINK COULD BE, WITHOUT PROVING IT PHYSICALLY.
THIS HAS LED TO US HAVING ASSESSMENTS ON A DAM ON A POND AS A HOUSE, CONDEMNED HOUSE THAT IS CAVED IN, VALUED AT $176,000, A SHED AS A HORSE STABLE, AND MY 38-YEAR-OLD DOCK IN A CATTLE POND AT FULL VALUE.
LAST WEEK, WHILE SITTING AND WATCHING TV, I FOUND OVER 1,000 PARCELS IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE BEING TAXED INCORRECTLY.
I DID PUBLISH THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT CAUSED QUITE A STIR IN THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
THIS EQUATES TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR OF TAX REVENUE THAT WAS INCORRECTLY BILLED OR WAS GOING TO BE INCORRECTLY BILLED.
THERE'S COUNTLESS OTHER ISSUES ON LARGE PARCELS THAT I FOUND AND PUBLISHED.
THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO JUST LAND WITHOUT HAVING THE STANDARD OF VALUES, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT BUILDINGS AND THE WORKSHEETS ON HOW THEY'RE DONE.
EVERY HOUSE IS GRADED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND IT'S A TON OF DIFFERENT CODES THAT I'VE ASKED FOR NUMEROUS TIMES, AND I HAVE A VERY BAD FEELING THAT ONCE THOSE VALUES ARE RELEASED, IT WILL FIND THAT MOST OF THE BUILDINGS ARE WRONG, AS WELL AS MOST OF THE LAND.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CHAOS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE EITHER CORRECTED OR WE NEED TO PAUSE IT AGAIN.
>> SCOTT HAMEL, 3963 DO RUN ROAD.
MR. CHAIR, MR. VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE, MR. ERARD.
I THINK MR. NOBLIN HAS PRETTY WELL COVERED THE APPRAISAL PRETTY WELL.
SO I'LL TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS RELATED TO THE RATE THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE SETTING TONIGHT, BUT MAYBE AT A FUTURE MEETING.
I WAS READING AN ARTICLE EARLIER TODAY CAME FROM THE AP, AND IT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE IMF HAS REALLY REVISED A LOT OF THE PROJECTIONS FOR BOTH OUR NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMIES BASED ON CURRENT MACROECONOMIC FACTORS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THE WORLD.
OUR GLOBAL CHANGES THEY'RE SEEING LOOKS LIKE IT'S DROPPED ALMOST A HALF A PERCENT FOR 2025 ON THEIR PREVIOUS PROJECTIONS.
2026 HAS ALSO DROPPED NEARLY HALF A PERCENT AS WELL.
THE US ITSELF, THOUGH, HAS DROPPED FROM A GROWTH PROJECTION OF ABOUT 2.7% DOWN TO 1.8, AND THEY HAVE MARKED THAT THEIR CHANCE OF US RECESSION HAS JUMPED FROM 25-40%.
NOW, THESE ARE VERY LARGE ECONOMIC FORCES THAT HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING NECESSARILY THAT WE CAN CONTROL HERE AT HOME.
BUT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT TAX RATES AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, 24 MONTHS, 36 MONTHS.
THE ONE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT TAXES ARE NOT SOMETHING A CITIZEN CAN AVOID.
THEY GO TO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BURDEN INCREASING TAXES CAN HAVE ON CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECESSION COMING HERE IN OUR COUNTRY AND HERE AT HOME.
I REALLY HOPE THE BOARD MIGHT CONSIDER THINKING ABOUT MAYBE TAKING A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH ON THE FINANCIALS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS THAT EITHER JUST RETIRED OR HAVE BEEN RETIRED FOR A LONG TIME, THAT ARE LIVING ON INVESTMENTS THAT RIGHT NOW, THE INVESTMENTS AREN'T LOOKING REAL GOOD.
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOME MANUFACTURING BACK HERE STATESIDE, AND I KNOW THAT'S A BIG THING HERE FOR THE COUNTY.
SOME OF THOSE JOBS MIGHT NOT COME.
[00:15:03]
THE ONES WE MIGHT BE BANKING ON NOW MIGHT NOT BE ON THEIR WAY.JP MORGAN HAD THEIR RECESSION PERCENTAGE AS HIGH AS 60%.
NOW, THEY WOULDN'T SAY THAT THAT MEANS IT NECESSARILY GUARANTEES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RECESSION.
BUT AS WE'RE SITTING HERE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR NUMBERS, AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NUMBERS UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IS, WHAT IS THE TAX BILL AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE CITIZEN, MAKING SURE THAT IF BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT TIME WE GET TO LOOK AT THE TAX RATES, WE'RE NOT SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE HOUSING MARKET MAYBE POPS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VALUES GO CRASHING.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I WILL NOTE, STILL ATTENDING THE CITIZENS ACADEMY, WHICH IS STILL EXPERTLY BEING LED BY MS. PUTLO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED AT THAT MEETING OF THIS LAST ONE WAS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO REVENUE GOALS THAT THEY HAD.
AND SO THROUGH ONE OTHER CONVERSATION I HAD AND I'VE GOT THREE SECONDS HERE, IF WE HAVE DEPARTMENT-LEVEL GOALS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SETS FOR EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, COULD THOSE BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT METRICS THAT WE SET FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS?
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN.
I LIVE AT 1357 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
THESE INITIAL COMMENTS ARE ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT NOTICE THAT WAS DATED MARCH 11TH.
IT ARRIVED AT OUR HOUSE ON MARCH 17TH, SIX DAYS LATER.
THE LETTER WAS DATED ONE DAY AFTER THE WINDOW OPENED FOR INFORMAL REVIEWS WITH THE CONTRACTOR, SLATED TO START ON THE 10TH.
DEADLINES FOR REQUESTING INFORMAL REVIEWS WERE EXTENDED AT LEAST TWICE, AND YET PROPERTY OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THESE CHANGES.
THE INITIAL NOTIFICATION LETTER DID NOT ADVISE PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT WHERE TO FIND UPDATED INFORMATION.
MY POINT IF OFFICIAL NOTIFICATIONS WERE MADE ABOUT THESE DEADLINES VIA USPS, THEN CHANGES SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS BY USPS.
NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE WORLDWIDE WEB, NOR DOES EVERYONE CARRY A CELL PHONE.
SOME PEOPLE MAY NEVER HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THESE DEADLINE EXTENSIONS.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF A MONTH TRYING TO GET DETAILED INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY'S ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY'S PROPERTY ASSESSMENT CONTRACTOR ABOUT HOW OUR FY 2026 ASSESSMENT WAS CALCULATED.
STATE LAW GIVES US THE RIGHT TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION UPON REQUEST TO EXAMINE THE WORKING PAPERS USED BY ANY SUCH ASSESSING OFFICIAL IN ARRIVING AT THE APPRAISED AND ASSESSED VALUE OF SUCH PERSONS LAND AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THERE ON.
WE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED IN THE CALCULATION OF THE PROPERTY'S ASSESSED VALUE TO INCLUDE THE CAPITALIZATION RATE USED TO DETERMINE THE PROPERTY'S VALUE, A LIST OF COMPARABLE PROPERTIES OR SALES FIGURES CONSIDERED IN THE MARKET VALUATION, AND ANY OTHER MARKET SURVEYS, FORMULAS, MATRICES, OR OTHER FACTORS CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
HAVING THE ASSESSING OFFICER PROVIDE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OR JUSTIFICATION FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY VALUES ASSESSED VALUE.
IN OUR REPEATED EFFORTS TO GET THIS INFORMATION, THE COUNTY'S ASSESSOR'S OFFICE TELLS US TO TALK TO THE CONTRACTOR.
WHEN WE TALK TO THE CONTRACTOR, THEY SAY, TALK TO THE COUNTY'S ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
I THINK THE TECHNICAL WORD FOR THAT IS THE RUNAROUND.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION VA STATE LAW SAYS WE'RE ENTITLED TO HAVE.
COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS DESERVE BETTER.
FINALLY, FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DOCUMENT, A GOAL.
BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY WILL ENABLE MEASURED COMMERCIAL GROWTH TO CREATE A MORE BALANCED TAX BASE OF COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS.
I SEE THIS AS A TACIT ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THERE IS NO SUCH BALANCE IN THE TAX BASE PRESENTLY.
THEREFORE, IT FALLS ON COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF PAYING THE COUNTY'S BILLS, AND THAT BURDEN IS ALREADY HEAVY, AND FROM ALL INDICATIONS, IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN HEAVIER.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YOU CAN PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU DON'T NEED TO RAISE YOUR HAND, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM SO THAT AT LEAST WHEN I LOOK OUT THERE, I CAN SEE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK. THANK YOU.
>> CHANGE THE SUBJECT A LITTLE BIT.
MY RESIDENCE IS 2100 CORTLAND ROAD, SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE.
I'M THE MAN THAT SENT OUT THAT EMAIL.
THERE'S TWO EMAILS YESTERDAY ABOUT THAT EXXON STATION AT EXIT 41 AND THE OYO MOTEL AT THAT SAME EXIT.
[00:20:01]
I KNOW THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE OWNED BY INDIANS.I KNOW THIS GREAT COUNTRY ALLOWS IMMIGRATION.
WHEN YOU COME INTO THIS COUNTRY, A LOT OF YOUR CUSTOMS AND ALL THAT FROM WHERE YOU LEFT, BECAUSE YOU LEFT THERE FOR A REASON, SHOULD BE CHECKED AT THE BORDER.
YOU PICK UP AMERICAN CULTURE, CUSTOMS, AND YOU ASSIMILATE.
THOSE PLACES RIGHT THERE, I'VE BEEN TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN FOUR TIMES.
I'VE BEEN IN AREAS WHERE SOLDIERS WERE THE FIRST ONES IN THE AREA, AND WE HAD BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS THAN WHAT IS AT THAT OYO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SAFETY VIOLATIONS THAT PLACE IS.
I TOOK FOUR OR FIVE PICTURES OF IT TO GIVE YOU ALL AN IDEA.
THEN THERE WAS THAT DOG RUNNING AROUND GROWLING AT ME, SO NOT LEASHED, AND WE DO HAVE A COUNTY LEASH LAW HERE.
ANYWAY, I'VE MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT PLACE BEFORE, THE DUMPING AT THE OLD NIGHTS IN PROPERTY BECAUSE THAT'S OWNED BY THE SAME FOLKS THAT OWNED THE EXXON, WHICH IS THE SINGS, AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THAT, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY 20 MONTHS OR SO AGO.
THE ONLY REASON WHY THERE'S NO MORE DUMPING IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY OF GETTING BACK INTO THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE TREES AND DEBRIS JUST BEEN DUMPED ALL THE WAY UP TO SUNNYBROOK.
THAT'S MY CONCERN WITH THAT PLACE.
THERE'S WILD ANIMALS THAT RUN AROUND THAT PLACE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I GO BY THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT CLEANING THAT PLACE UP.
I'VE HAD AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT I KNEW THAT DIED OF COCAINE AND FENTANYL 2.5 YEARS AGO.
MARK ARCHER JUNIOR IS THE ONE THAT DIED.
THEY FOUND HIM THREE DAYS LATER IN HIS ROOM WITH HIS PILE OF DOPE ON HIS COFFEE TABLE.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES ON THERE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF POLICE PRESENCE ON EXIT 45.
MAYBE THEY OUGHT TO DO IT DOWN HERE, TOO.
THEN THAT EXXON STATION LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT THEY TURNED WHAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE A TRUCK STOP IN THOSE WOODS ON THEIR PROPERTY NOW.
THERE'S GOT TO BE ALL KINDS OF EPA HAZARDS.
YOU SAW THOSE 55 GALLON DRUMS THERE.
I'D MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT SOMEBODY LIVING IN ONE OF THOSE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FINISHED.
COMING UP HERE TODAY OR THIS EVENING, I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE PILES OF TAR THAT'S BEEN DUMPED ON THAT PROPERTY, TOO.
I KNOW THIS COUNTY'S GOT DUMPING PERMITS AND THAT THING.
I LIKE TO KNOW IF THESE PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR THAT STUFF, AND IF THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT REALLY LOOKS BAD IN THOSE TWO AREAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RAYMOND CROCKETT JUNIOR.
I LIVE AT 248 SOUTHWOOD DRIVE IN PETERSBURG, HOME LANE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, 9810 CENTENNIA ROPES.
I HAD ONE ACRE OUT THERE AND VALUE WAS $27,000.
>> COULD YOU JUST BACK AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT?
>> SHE WAS JUST SAYING TO BACK AWAY FROM.
>> IT'S GOOD NOW. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN REAL ESTATE TAX.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS IN THIS COUNTY HERE.
THEY CANNOT AFFORD THIS INCREASE.
WE LOOK LIKE THE COUNTY IS GETTING READY TO TRY TO TAKE A LOT OF SENIOR LAND AWAY FROM THEM.
WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME.
WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS THING VERY SERIOUS THERE BEFORE WE MAKE A COMMITMENT WITH OUTSIDE COMPANIES COMING IN AND DOING THE BIDDING FOR OUR TAX INCREASE THERE.
I HOPE THAT WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT AND THAT THE FIRST GENTLEMAN SPOKE EARLIER THERE. YOU DON'T WATCH OUT.
THERE'S GO A GROUP OF PEOPLE GO TO GET TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO HIRE ATTORNEY AND SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE NIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL ASK ONE LAST TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PERSONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? I SEE NO.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. IT'S WILLIAM STEEL 9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD BOTANA.
I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE, I WASN'T GOING TO COME UP.
BUT AFTER WHAT I'VE HEARD AND JUST GOT A COUPLE TESTS FROM OUR CITIZENS FROM OUR GROUP.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. PUGH.
[00:25:03]
THANK YOU, MR. WEBB FOR SHOWING UP AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE JUST HAD.ALL THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT I'VE STATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, CITIZENS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE TAX RATES IN THIS COUNTY.
YOU'VE GOT TO CUT THE SPENDING.
I THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH.
I'M ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO SEE WHAT YOUR WORKSHOP IS GOING TO BE WHERE YOU'LL FINALLY DISCUSS THIS.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOW GOING TO SEPARATE AND HAVE THE VOTE ON THE CAR TAX VERSUS THE REAL ESTATE TAX.
I UNDERSTAND I DISAGREE WITH IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT WHAT THIS BOARD IS TRYING TO DO, ONCE AGAIN, IS TO SLIP IN TAXES, SLIP IN THE RATES, SLIP IN THE INCREASES.
HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WON'T NOTICE IT.
FOLKS, I THINK WE GET THE IDEA.
PEOPLE ARE NOTICING, WE'RE TIRED OF THE TAX RATES.
YOU'VE GOT TO CUT THE SPENDING.
THERE IS SO MUCH BLOAT IN THIS PROPOSAL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S PUT THROUGH.
I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT. WE'VE TALKED TO THE CITIZENS ABOUT IT.
WE'VE GOT TO START ACTING SMARTER.
WE CAN NO LONGER CAN KEEP JUST THROWING MONEY, WHICH HAS BEEN ROUTINE FOR THIS BOARD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE BOARD.
I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH HEAT IN THIS COUNTY TO SAY, HEY, GUYS, LET'S STEP BACK, LET'S MANAGE BETTER. COME ON, GUYS.
YOU ALL DON'T RUN YOUR HOMES THE WAY YOU RUN THIS COUNTY. I KNOW YOU DON'T.
WE GOT TO THINK BETTER. WE GOT TO DO BETTER.
AGAIN, I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD.
NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
BUT LASTLY, THEN, MR. BROWN, CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, YOU GOT TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING.
WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE COMING UP HERE OVER AND OVER.
QUIT COMPLAINING. GET UP HERE, TALK TO YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM WHAT WE NEED.
MR. BROWN, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME? I SEE NO ONE MOVING FORWARD SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE NEXT THING WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[C. Consent Agenda]
BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING TO BE TAKEN OFF OF THAT, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. WEBB.
IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY MS. WAYMACK THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA BASED ON THE TWO ITEMS THAT ARE SO STATED ON THAT AGENDA.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MISS KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRIED. NEXT WE'LL GO INTO THE SUPERVISOR COMMENTS.
[D. Comments]
I WILL START THIS TIME TO MY RIGHT WITH MR. PUGH.>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I'M GOING TO TOUCH BASE ON A COUPLE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I AGREE WITH MR. STEEL WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
YOU'VE GOT AN ISSUE, REACH OUT TO THIS BOARD.
GET INVOLVED. START COMING TO MEETINGS, START SPEAKING YOUR MIND, SO THIS BOARD CAN HEAR IT, THE ADMINISTRATION CAN HEAR IT, AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AS FAR AS OUR TAXES AND VISION IS CONCERNED, I'VE SAID IT A COUPLE TIMES AT MEETINGS.
I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE.
I SENT A COUPLE E MAILS TODAY, AND I KNOW MR. STOKE IS WORKING ON GETTING SOME RESPONSES FROM SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT.
I'M SURE OUR CHAIRMAN WILL FOLLOW UP WITH EVERYBODY THAT WAS HERE WITH ANY CONCERNS.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PUGH. MS. WAYMACK.
>> WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THOUGH THE POLLEN HAS ABATED SOMEONE, IT'S STILL EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S STILL OUT BREAKS OF FLU.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE MORE CARE OF YOURSELF, TAKE ALLERGEN PILLS, IF YOU CAN, OR WEAR A MASK WHEN WORKING OUTSIDE.
NOW, I KNOW HOW PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO WEAR A MASK, BUT SOMETIMES IT PROTECTS YOU, AND IT SOMETIMES PROTECTS OTHERS.
A MASS DOESN'T MAKE YOU A SISSY.
TODAY'S EARTH DAY, SO CONTEMPLATE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SAVE OUR EARTH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. WAYMACK. MR. COX.
>> GOOD EVENING. I WISH WE COULD SEE A CROWD LIKE HERE LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME KEY ITEMS ON HERE TONIGHT.
I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED AT OUR APRIL 8TH MEETING THAT'S HAD SOME ACCUSATIONS BEING SLUNG AROUND IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND SUCH.
THIS BOARD WAS TASKED WITH PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS THAT I HAD MADE ALLUDED TO SOMEBODY WITH TRAINING.
[00:30:03]
TRAINING NEVER COME OUT OF MY MOUTH AT THAT MEETING.YOU CAN LOOK AT THE VIDEO AND SEE IT.
THE REASON THAT THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I MADE INTO A MOTION CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION WAS THAT WE WERE TO RECOMMEND AN APPOINTMENT, A PERSON TO BE APPOINTED BY THE COURT.
THE COURT MAKES THE APPOINTMENT.
WELL, IN MY TIME BACK AND FORTH, MISS EROID, SHE WAS EXPLAINING THE QUALIFICATIONS TO AND ASK MR. HORN TO COME UP, WHICH I APPRECIATE THAT.
MR. HORN CLARIFIED FOR US, WE WERE NOT LOOKING TO REALLY APPOINT A PERSON.
IT WAS TO MOVE AN ALTERNATE UP TO THE BOARD AND TO POSSIBLY APPOINT OR RECOMMEND AN ALTERNATE.
MY MOTION WAS TO DO JUST THAT TO MOVE MR. WINFREY UP FROM THE ALTERNATE POSITION TO THE BOARD, WHICH WOULD BE THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP FOR HIM BEING THAT HE WAS AN ALTERNATE IF HE DESIRED AND HE DID.
THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL, I MOTIONED TO BE PUT ON THE BOARD WOULD BE RECOMMENDED AS AN ALTERNATE.
THAT'S THE WAY IT WENT DOWN, AND I DON'T LIKE AND DON'T APPRECIATE THE INNUENDOS ON FACEBOOK.
MR. PUGH JUST MADE IT, SAID IT ITSELF, AND IT'S BEEN SAID MANY TIMES.
IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT BOARD DOES, SPECIFICALLY ME, PICK UP THE PHONE AND GIVE ME A CALL.
I'VE REACHED OUT TO TWO GENTLEMEN, BUT I'VE NOT GOT CALLS BACK FROM EITHER ONE OF THEM ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT WHAT WENT DOWN THAT NIGHT SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, A LOT OF CONCERNS.
TRUST ME, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR.
ALL WOULD HAVE TO BE CRAZY IF YOU THOUGHT WE'D WALK INTO SOMETHING AND EXPECT THIS OUTCOME.
I WILL REITERATE WHAT I SAID AT THE LAST TOWN HALL.
REACH OUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT DO SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THAT RUN CLEAR AT THE LAST MEETING OR A CELL PHONE.
PLEASE GET THEM IN TOUCH WITH SOMEBODY, ONE OF US, SO WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH ADMIN TO TRY TO HELP WALK THEM THROUGH THAT.
AS FAR AS I KNOW THE THING WITH THE TIMELINE AND A LOT OF THE SLOTS WERE ALREADY SOAKED UP, BUT I HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY MR. HORN AND HIS GROUP THAT BEFORE ANYTHING GOES BEFORE THE BOE, THE PROPERTY CARDS AND THE RECORDS WILL BE VETTED THOROUGHLY.
BUT BOTTOM LINE, AND I HOPE YOU ALL DON'T TAKE THIS OUT OF CONTEXT BECAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE I DON'T THINK THEY INTENDED TO, BUT THEY DID.
Y'ALL KNOW YOUR PROPERTY BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
IT'S THE SAME THING I STATED TO THE LAST TWO TOWN HALLS I'VE BEEN IN.
REACH OUT. I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING.
I KNOW YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO HAVE TO REACH OUT TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING.
BUT I'M BEING VERY DIRECT HERE.
IT'S YOUR PROPERTY. YOU KNOW IT BETTER THAN ME.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT ME MAKING A CALL ON IT BASED ON WHAT I THINK OR WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW OR JUST BECAUSE I MAY HAVE RODE BY THERE.
IT NEEDS TO BE Y'ALL'S INPUT SO WE CAN TRY TO GET THIS STUFF STRAIGHT. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> I WAS WONDERING WHETHER I WAS GOING TO SAY OR NOT SAY, TO BE HONEST. I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
[NOISE] I THINK SOMETIMES SOME FOLKS ARE GIVING US CREDIT FOR WAY MORE THAN WE EVER THINK ABOUT.
NONE OF US SITTING UP HERE, AS MR. WEBB STATED, ARE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR, AND THERE IS NO WAY WE WOULD HAVE WANTED THIS OUTCOME.
BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK FOR JUST A MINUTE.
LAST YEAR, WHEN OUR ASSESSOR WAS NO LONGER HERE, WE DID HIGHER VISION.
IN ORDER TO DO YOUR ASSESSMENTS, YOU HAVE TO BE LICENSED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
NO ONE IN OUR OFFICE IS LICENSED TO DO ASSESSMENTS.
THAT'S WHY WE WENT THIRD PARTY.
WE THOUGHT BY GOING THIRD PARTY WITH THE COMPANY WHOSE SOFTWARE WE WERE USING, THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER EXPERIENCE. WELL, WE HAVEN'T.
WE ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY, TAKING CALLS, ANSWERING EMAILS, TRYING TO GET THIS SITUATION RECTIFIED.
THERE'S A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE THAT'S FLOATING AROUND.
MR. NOBLIN HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK, AND HE SHARES IT.
I READ HIS POST ON FACEBOOK, AND I TALK TO THIS GENTLEMAN TO MY LEFT JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS BETTER.
THE THING ABOUT THE NOTIFICATIONS? I JUST HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM THE LAST TWO DAYS AGO BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE,
[00:35:03]
PUTTING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, NOT EVERYBODY USES THOSE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION.WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO BE BETTER.
BUT THE US POSTAL SERVICE IS NOT IT. TRUST ME.
I LIVED RIGHT ON LAMORE DRIVE, AND MAILED A CHECK TO SOMEONE IN DISPUTANTA, WHO HAD A POST OFFICE BOX, AND IN 14 DAYS, SHE NEVER GOT IT.
TO MAKE ANOTHER MAILING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE CHANGE, I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I KNOW EVERY ONE OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS SITTING UP HERE, THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE DO ANY DAY OF THE WEEK WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO BE DISHONEST WITH YOU.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO SLIP ANYTHING IN.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES.
THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO DO.
NOW, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH HOW WE MAY HANDLE BUSINESS, AND I TOTALLY RESPECT THAT.
BUT I SAY THAT SHOULD LEAD TO A CONVERSATION.
THERE'S FIVE PEOPLE ELECTED PERSONS UP HERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR THREE MINUTES. YOU CAN CALL US.
MR. GRUBB, HE HAS EMAILED US, AND WE HAVE SEEN IT, AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] MR. KELLER, HE HAS TALKED WITH MYSELF AND MR. PUGH.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR HIM TONIGHT, BUT I DID CALL HIM EARLIER TODAY AND GIVE HIM AN UPDATE.
THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE WAY DEEPER THAN THIS SIX O'CLOCK MEETING AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS FRUSTRATING TO US.
NONE OF US ARE SITTING AT HOME ANY DAY OF THE WEEK HAPPY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE IT RIGHT, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER YET, AND WE HOPE TO.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET ON THE SOAPBOX, BUT FOLKS, WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND.
WE'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN YOU SITTING IN THIS AUDIENCE, EXCEPT FOR WE WERE ELECTED TO DO A JOB AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION.
BUT WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS FIRST, SO PLEASE TALK TO US.
BUT LET'S TRY TO WORK THIS OUT TOGETHER AND WE'LL MAKE EVERY EFFORT.
THIS BOARD WILL MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF WILL WORK WITH YOU.
WE'LL HAVE MISS HARROD WORK WITH YOU IF NEED BE.
I THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO LISTEN.
I'LL HOP OFF MY SOAPBOX, BUT MY LAST COMMENT IS, TRY TALKING TO ME AND NOT ABOUT ME, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS.
MR. STOKE, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, SIR?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. JUST SOME UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE WEEK.
TOMORROW, RIGHT HERE IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ROOM, AT 6:00 PM WILL BE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION PRESENTATIONS BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE BERKLEY GROUP.
THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY CITIZENS' ACADEMY CLASS IS THURSDAY, BEGINNING AT 5:30 IN THE COURTHOUSE.
IT'LL BE THE SHERIFF AND THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, THAT'LL END AT 6:30 BECAUSE THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS THEIR 6:30 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ON THURSDAY.
THIS SATURDAY, WE HAVE THREE THINGS GOING ON AT THE COUNTY COMPLEX ALL AT ONCE.
WE HAVE CLEAN COMMUNITY DAY FROM 8:00-1:00 IN THE PRINCE GEORGE PARKING LOT.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY YARD SALE FROM 9:00-2:00, HOSTED BY PARKS AND REC AT SCOTT PARK MEMORIAL PARK, AND THE POLICE IS HOLDING DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY AT L.L.
BEAZLEY ELEMENTARY FROM 10:00-2:00. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> MR. STOKE, IF I COULD ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, I THINK YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS ANSWER.
BUT CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHAT AN AVERAGE COMMUNITY CLEAN DAY COST US?
>> THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND, I BELIEVE.
WE RECEIVE A GRANT EACH YEAR FROM DEQ, WHICH COVERS A PORTION OF ONE OF THEM.
WE WILL BE HOLDING TWO THIS YEAR.
THERE'S ONE THIS SATURDAY, AND THERE'LL BE ONE AGAIN IN OCTOBER.
>> THE REASON I ASKED HIM FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FREE TRASH PICK UP OR TAKE IT OVER TO THE DUMP.
PEOPLE THINK ON CLEAN COMMUNITY DAY, SOMEONE IS STILL FOOTING THE BILL.
THE FIRST ONE IS THROUGH A PARTIAL GRANT.
BUT WHEN WE HOLD THE SECOND ONE, THAT IS TOTALLY FUNDED OUT OF OUR POCKET.
WE HAVE HAD SOME MAJOR ISSUES WITH PEOPLE, YOU PAY SOMEBODY FIVE DOLLARS TO DUMP YOUR TIRES,
[00:40:04]
AND THEN THEY BRING THEM OVER TO CLEAN COMMUNITY DAY AND DUMP THEM FOR FREE, SO THEY'RE HUSTLING YOU FOR MONEY.WE ARE DEALING WITH SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NOT EVEN BELIEVE THAT GO ON WITH THE STUFF.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS YOU.
YOU REALLY DON'T. AGAIN, WE DEAL WITH A LOT. THANK YOU, MR. STOKE.
>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
[E. Public Hearings]
OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING P1 IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN EFFECTIVE REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.THIS IS A CONSIDERATION OF EQUALIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 REAL PROPERTY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE AND MR. HARD, AND ALL ASSEMBLED.
[NOISE] THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST TWO ARE RELATED TO TAX, TAX RATES SPECIFICALLY.
[NOISE] I'LL WAIT FOR THE POWERPOINT TO COME UP.
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS RELATED TO YOUR REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND YOUR CONSIDERATION OF EQUALIZING THE TAX RATE BASED ON HIGHER REAL PROPERTY VALUES.
THE BOARD RECEIVED INFORMATION ON ESTIMATED FY2026 REAL PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUES FROM STAFF AT TWO BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, THE FIRST ON FEBRUARY 26TH, AND THE SECOND ON MARCH 4TH.
ASSESSED VALUES, EXCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY MORE THAN 1% BASED ON THOSE ESTIMATES.
NO REASSESSMENT WAS PERFORMED IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024 FOR FY2025, SO THIS GROWTH HAS OCCURRED OVER TWO YEARS.
IF ASSESSED VALUES INCREASE BY MORE THAN 1%, NET OF NEW CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS, THE CODE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES THAT THE COUNTY EITHER REDUCE ITS TAX RATE SO THAT REVENUES ARE LESS THAN 101% OF PRIOR YEAR LEVIES, OR THEY MAY ADVERTISE AN EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE AFTER HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING.
THESE ARE THE VALUES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO YOU AT TWO DIFFERENT BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
THOSE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ON REAL ESTATE PARCELS, BOTH ARE IN ALL CATEGORIES: RESIDENTIAL, MULTI-FAMILY, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURE, OF CERTAIN ACREAGES, WERE PROVIDED BY VISION AS A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR, AS YOU HAVE NOTED, AS HAVE MANY OTHERS THIS EVENING, SO NET OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE TAXABLE VALUE DID INCREASE BY 12.3%.
THE EQUALIZATION RATE IS NINE PENNIES OR 73 CENTS, NINE CENTS LOWER THAN THE CURRENT REAL ESTATE TAX RATE OF 82 CENTS.
THE BUDGETED VALUE OF ONE CENT OF REAL ESTATE TAX IS $420,000.
THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 48,000 FROM THIS YEAR'S PENNY VALUE OF $372,000.
THE TAX RATE INTRODUCED IN THE FY2026 BUDGET, KEEPS THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AT 82 CENTS.
THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THAT TAX RATE BELOW 82 CENTS OR TO EQUALIZE TO THE EQUALIZATION RATE OF 73 CENTS.
THE IMPACT OF ONE PENNY REDUCTION IS A TOTAL OF $456,609, AND THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE IMPACTS REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES, 420,000, PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUES OF JUST UNDER 35,000 AND MANUFACTURED HOME TAXES AT JUST OVER $1,800 PER PENNY.
NINE CENTS REDUCTION IN THE REVENUE VALUES WOULD BE A $4.1 MILLION DROP FROM YOUR ADVERTISED RATE OF 82 CENTS.
THE PROPOSED FY2026 GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS $80.1 MILLION, AND IT IS AN INCREASE OF $6.1 MILLION OVER THIS CURRENT YEAR BUDGET OR 8.27%.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE FY2026 BUDGET OVER FY2025 ARE COMPRISED OF AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING OF $1.2 MILLION, STEP INCREASES AND MARKET AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES,
[00:45:06]
MANDATED INCREASES FOR STATE-SUPPORTED LOCAL EMPLOYEES, [NOISE] AS WELL AS DEPARTMENT-HEAD REQUESTS FOR RECLASSIFICATIONS.ADDITIONALLY, A NUMBER OF NEW POSITIONS WERE REQUESTED AND OF THOSE 40 PLUS REQUESTS, 16.5 WERE INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET: 11 WITHIN FIRE/EMS, WHICH IS EIGHT-FIREFIGHTER MEDICS, A DEPUTY CHIEF, A TRAINING CAPTAIN, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
ONE WITHIN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CODE COMPLIANCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST TO DEAL WITH SOME DEQ, INCREASED REQUIREMENTS, ONE WITHIN THE PLANNING OFFICE TO DEVELOP A RURAL CONSERVATION AREA, ONE KENNEL ATTENDANT AT THE ANIMAL SERVICES UNIT, AND CONVERTING A VACANT PART-TIME COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FULL-TIME.
ALSO, INTRODUCED WAS A REGIONAL STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT.
IT'S CONVERTING A LAW CLERK POSITION TO A STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE REQUEST OF ONE OF OUR JUDGES, THE HEAD JUDGE.
ALSO, INCLUDED WAS PHASE THREE OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ORDINANCE UPDATE INITIATIVE BEING CONDUCTED BY THE BERKLEY GROUP, PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO MAINTENANCE ANNUAL CONTRACT, WHICH IS INCLUDED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE FY2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AND OTHER INFLATIONARY AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION INCREASES.
THE FULL BUDGET IS POSTED ONLINE, AND A SYNOPSIS WAS ATTACHED IN BOARD DOCS TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.
STAFF DID RECEIVE AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT A WORK SESSION ON MARCH 13TH.
[NOISE] THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE WAS ADVERTISED IN THE APRIL 8TH EDITION OF THE PROGRESS-INDEX.
THERE IS NO BOARD ACTION REQUESTED FOLLOWING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING, AND ACTION ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA REQUESTS THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE, THE MANUFACTURED HOME TAX RATE, WHICH IS IMPACTED BY THESE REAL PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUES.
THE REQUEST AND RECOMMENDATION INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET IS 82 CENTS, THE CURRENT RATE, ALONG WITH PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATES.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE.
>> ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL START TO MY RIGHT, MR. PUGH.
>> I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF. MRS. WAYMACK.
>> NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.
[NOISE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE HERE WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 1.
THIS WAS AN AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR WHAT WE WOULD CALL AN EFFECTIVE TAX RATE, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO GO TO THE EQUALIZATION OR REDUCE BELOW THE 101%.
AS WAS STATED TONIGHT, THERE IS NO BOARD ACTION TO TAKE.
IT'S JUST THAT BY LAW, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
I AM NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT AT THIS PORTION.
WE WILL ASK THAT YOU COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS.
YOU MUST BE EITHER A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY OR OWN PROPERTY HERE IN THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
LET ME START WITH MRS. PUEBLO.
IS THERE ANYONE VIRTUALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 1?
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN.
EVERYBODY THAT WAS ON THE MEETING IS NO LONGER ON, SO THIS IS JUST EMPLOYEES HERE.
>> MRS. KNOTT, IS THERE ANYONE THAT HAS REGISTERED WITH YOU AHEAD OF TIME TO SPEAK?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WOULD ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME, PLEASE DO SO AND APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AGAIN, MR. BROWN, BILL STEEL HERE.
YOU'VE HEARD US BEFORE, MR. CHAIRMAN. THE EQUALIZATION RATE.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF IT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT ENDS UP WITH OUR TAX BILL.
THAT IS WHAT I'M REQUESTING THAT WE REDUCE DOWN.
$0.82 IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR OUR TAX RATE.
THE EQUALIZATION RATE NEEDS TO BE DROPPED CLOSE TO THE EQUALIZATION RATE OF $0.73.
THOUGH, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE 2% OR $0.02 THAT ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL, THAT GIVES YOU $0.7 THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH.
THAT $0.7 NEEDS TO BE CHOPPED DOWN.
[00:50:02]
THE ONLY WAY TO CHOP IT DOWN IS TO CUT THE SPENDING.WE HAVE ASKING FOR EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES.
DO WE NEED 11 FIREMEN OUT OF 11 MORE POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY THE SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? NO, WE DO NOT.
WE ARE NOT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SIDES OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE NEED OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
WE DON'T NEED THESE BLOATED POSITIONS IN THERE.
I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED MY RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE SROS.
THERE'S BETTER WAYS TO DO THAT.
AS I BELIEVE WHAT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING, WE DON'T NEED OUR UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS STOPPING LITTLE BITTER PROBLEMS BETWEEN KIDS.
THEY'RE BETTER USED OUT ON THE POLICE.
THERE ARE MUCH BETTER WAYS TO DO THAT TO SAVE COUNTY MONEY.
THE BOTTOM LINE OF THIS EFFECTIVE TAX RATE IS IT'S COSTING THE TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY.
WE'VE GOT TO START CUTTING THE SPENDING AND YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT SAYING YOU'RE OVERBURDENING THE TAXPAYERS.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE OVERBURDENING THE TAXPAYERS.
YOU'RE SETTING AN EQUALIZATION RATE WAY TOO HIGH.
IT NEEDS TO GET BACK DOWN TO REASONABLE LEVELS.
IT CANNOT BE AN INCREASE OF A MAGNITUDE THAT YOU'RE ASKING.
THAT $4,000,000 YOU MAY GET, AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OF THE ASSESSMENTS, NEED TO COME BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS.
FOR NINE STRAIGHT YEARS, YOU HAVE INCREASED OUR TAX BILLS THAT'S GOT TO STOP.
YOU'VE GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS.
I HAVE YET TO HEAR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, I HAVE YET TO HEAR ONE IOTA ABOUT, HEY, LET'S CUT SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, I'M WAITING FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AT THE WORKSHOP, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'VE GOT TO REDUCE THAT TAX RATE.
WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO BE AT THE SIXTH-HIGHEST TAX RATE IN THE 26 COUNTIES OF OUR AREA.
WE'VE GOT TO LOWER THAT EQUALIZATION RATE. I CAN'T AFFORD IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS TO DEATH NOW.
LET'S SEE SOME ACTION ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU. LET ME JUST MAKE ONE STATEMENT.
WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IS, WE'RE NOT SETTING THE TAX RATE.
THE TAX RATE WILL BE PART OF THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING, OR IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THE REAL ESTATE OR SOMETHING AT A SECOND MEETING, THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING FOR THAT.
THIS IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO SAY IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IT DOWN TO THIS EQUALIZATION RATE.
THAT YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE.
AGAIN, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT US SETTING A TAX RATE BY NO MEANS.
>> SCOTT HAMEL 39 63, DO RUN ROAD.
SOMETHING I THINK THAT COULD BE REALLY HELPFUL AS A CITIZEN MYSELF.
A LOT OF TIMES THE PENNIES ARE ALWAYS PUT IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE COUNTY.
IF THERE WERE A WAY WHEN WE ADVERTISE THESE THINGS THAT WE CAN PUT THIS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE TAXPAYER, I KNOW EVERYBODY'S GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE OWN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARCELS, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BUT BY MY BEST ESTIMATION, EVERY PENNY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AT THE $420,000 RATE IS WORTH ABOUT $40 TO THE MEDIAN PARCEL OWNER IN THE COUNTY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A $0.9 DIFFERENCE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE RANGE OF $350-$400 MORE IN TAXES.
WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE, I LIKED HOW WE HAD IT BROKEN DOWN BY WHAT EACH RATE EQUAL TO THE COUNTY.
IF WE COULD HAVE THAT SORT OF THING FOR THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER, WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE? I FEEL LIKE THAT GOES A LONG WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIXED INCOME, OUR RETIRED FOLKS, PEOPLE THAT ARE MAYBE ALREADY HAVING A HARD TIME BECAUSE OF THE COST OF GROCERIES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT HAVE GONE UP.
WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW THE TAX RATES AFFECT CITIZENS, BREAKING IT DOWN BY THE IMPACT TO THEM RATHER THAN THESE VERY LARGE COUNTY NUMBERS, WHICH ARE REAL, BUT THEY'RE NOT QUITE SO REAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS.
I THINK THAT COULD GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IMPACT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 1.
IT'S ON THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE BECAUSE OF THE EQUALIZATION WOULD BE $0.73.
WE HAVE SAID THAT WE DID NOT FEEL WE WOULD BE GOING DOWN TO THAT NUMBER.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING?
>> GOOD EVENING, ABOARD. JUSTIN NOBLIN, 87 24 CENTENNIAL.
[00:55:03]
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAD TO ADVERTISE AT $0.82 SO THAT YOU COULD TRY TO GET IT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, BUT THAT SETS YOUR MAX LIMIT AND I WANTED TO IMPLORE AGAIN BEFORE YOU ALL DETERMINE THIS TAX RATE, AND I APPRECIATE A HOLDING OFF ON IT TONIGHT TO GET MORE REVIEW, WE DESPERATELY HAVE TO GET THESE ASSESSMENTS RIGHT.WE'VE SHOWN THOUSANDS OF INCORRECT ASSESSMENTS, AND I KNOW THAT VISION CAME UP AND BRAGGED THAT THEY ONLY HAD THREE TO 3.5% COMPLAINTS AND THAT'S WHY THE NEXT WEEK I PUBLISHED THAT THERE WERE 10% ERROR JUST IN THE ONES THAT I HAD FOUND THAT ONLY DEALT WITH LAND.
THERE'S NUMEROUS ERRORS, AND WE NEED TO GET THE FOUNDATION OF THIS CORRECT BEFORE WE SET THE TAX RATE.
I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF YOU ALL ABOUT THESE TAX RATES.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE THEM HIGH SO THAT IT GIVES YOU THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE YOU COVER THE THINGS THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE.
I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO GET THESE RIGHT.
THAT IS THE MOST IMPERATIVE THING TO GET DONE IS TO GET THE ASSESSMENTS CORRECT BEFORE ALL SET THE TAX RATE, BECAUSE IF IT'S WRONG, IT'S GOING TO BANKRUPT THE COUNTY, AND WE CAN'T KEEP GOING THROUGH THESE STRUGGLES AND EXPECT TO MAKE IT. THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
>> AGAIN, I WILL ASK IF IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
>> JAMES KELLER, 13 57 BUTLER BRANCH.
I HADN'T INTENDED TO SPEAK AT THIS PART OF THE HEARING, BUT FOLLOWING THE LAST SPEAKER'S COMMENT ON THE DIFFERENCES IN THE PROBLEMS, APPARENTLY IN THE ASSESSED VALUES.
I WANTED TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT A CHART THAT WAS SHOWN TO THE BOARD AT THE APRIL 8 MEETING WHERE THERE WERE NEIGHBORHOODS LISTED.
THERE WAS A PERCENTAGE COLUMN SHOWN FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD REQUESTED IN FORMAL REVIEWS, AS WELL AS A FIGURE THAT INDICATED WHAT THE CHANGES WERE.
NOW, THERE WAS NO SIGN ON THE CHANGES, SO WE DON'T WHETHER 14% WAS AN ABSOLUTE VALUE, SOME UP, SOME DOWN.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GRANTED THAT.
BUT TO A LARGER POINT, THE CONTRACTOR PRESENTED THAT INFORMATION AS SUCH THAT IN HIS OPINION, TWO OR 3% RESPONSE RATE FOR INTERNAL REVIEW SHOWED THAT, PEOPLE WHO MAYBE WERE KIND OF HAPPY, AND THEY'D BE A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THE RATE WENT TO EIGHT OR 9%.
I THINK ONLY ONE OR TWO NEIGHBORHOODS SHOWED THAT EIGHT OR 9% AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS OF THAT.
FIRST OFF, PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN THAT IN THESE TWO TO 3% NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE FOGGIEST IDEA HOW TO GO ABOUT AND CHALLENGE THEIR ASSESSMENT.
THEY MIGHT FEEL INTIMIDATED BY DOING SUCH.
WE HEARD AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, ATTENDED BY MR. WEBB AND MR. PUGH THAT SOME PEOPLE FEARED RETALIATION FOR QUESTIONING THAT.
FINALLY, SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE A PRIVATE APPRAISAL MADE.
I CHALLENGE THAT CONCLUSION THE CONTRACTOR MADE THAT THOSE LOW PERCENTAGE RATES INDICATED THAT PEOPLE WERE HAPPY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WILL ASK AGAIN, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR PUBLIC INPUT INTO THIS PUBLIC HEARING? I SEE NO ONE ELSE MOVING THIS WAY, SO I WILL CLOSE NOW THE, ARE YOU COMING UP TO SPEAK, MA'AM? JUST WANT TO I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL NOW RETURN THE PUBLIC HEARING BACK OVER TO THE BOARD.
AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS, THERE'S NO ACTION FOR US TO TAKE TONIGHT ON THIS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR A QUESTION FOR MS. JURY, AT THIS TIME, YOU CAN SURELY ASK IT.
IS THERE ANY BOARD MEMBER THAT HAS ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT?
>> YES, GO AHEAD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M GOING TO BREAK PROTOCOL.
WE DON'T NORMALLY MAKE THIS BACK AND FORTH.
I'LL PHRASE THIS QUESTION TO MS. JURY.
I THINK THERE WAS A TIME THAT WE HAVE LOWERED TAXES, BOTH PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IN MY TEN-YEAR TENURE, I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
THAT STATEMENT WAS IN ERROR BECAUSE WE WENT FROM 86 TO 82, WENT FROM FOUR, AND A 2:45 N. THAT WAS WITH THE PRIOR BOARD. THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS AND MAKE SURE I'M HEARING IT IN THE SAME WAY.
THE $0.82 TO ADVERTISE IS JUST THAT. IT'S $0.82.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF A PENNY IS UNTIL WE GET OUR ASSESSMENTS STRAIGHT,
[01:00:04]
ISN'T THAT CORRECT, EVERYBODY?>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE A 4.2 MILLION DOLLAR WINDFALL, OR THAT'S WHAT THE TAXES ARE GOING TO BE.
IT MIGHT BE LOWER. IT MIGHT BE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE UNTIL WE GET THE NUMBERS BACK.
THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE WE'RE ADVERTISING AT $0.82.
THAT WAY WHEN WE GET THERE AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS THE FINAL NUMBER, THEN THIS BOARD CAN DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE FUNDING AND HOPEFULLY LOWER THAT TAX RATE.
AM I RIGHT IN THAT STATEMENT, MR. CHAIR?
>> YES, SIR. WE ADVERTISED $0.82, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE BY LAW, ONCE WE ADVERTISE, WE CAN NEVER GO HIGHER THAN THE NUMBER WE ADVERTISE.
BUT AS MR. PUGH STATED, THE 4.2 WAS BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS THAT WE WERE GIVEN FROM VISION FOR US TO EVEN BEGIN OUR BUDGET STUFF.
NOW WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, WE WON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS UNTIL WE GET SOMETIME IN THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY THAT WILL HAVE BETTER NUMBERS.
AT THAT TIME, THIS BOARD WILL MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THE FINAL NUMBERS TO BE OR AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, WHETHER OR NOT WE STAY AT THE 82 OR WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN'T DO ALL OF WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO.
THOSE WERE JUST CHOICES WE MADE TO PUT TOGETHER AN INITIAL BUDGET.
YES, SIR, YOU ARE VERY CORRECT WITH THAT STATEMENT.
MR. COX OR MS. WAYMACK, EITHER ONE OF YOU TWO.
>> MS. WAYMACK, YOU CAN GO FIRST?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, AGAIN, THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME REAL CLOSE LOOKING AT, AND WE'RE IN A PICKLE RATE NOW, BUT HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEE OUR WEIRD OF IT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
>> THAT'S ALL WE NEED FOR TONIGHT, CORRECT? ON THIS TOPIC?
>> YES, SIR. THAT PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING, THERE IS NO ACTION THAT'S REQUESTED.
>> SO WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS ESTABLISHING THE TAX LEVY FOR REAL PROPERTY, LEVIES FOR TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS.
>> YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX RATES FOR FY2026.
THE COUNTY'S INTRODUCED FY2026 BUDGET WAS PRESENTED ON MARCH 11, AND THE INTRODUCED BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED, AS YOU INDICATED, MR. BROWN, FOR BOARD CONSENSUS ON RECOMMENDED SPENDING PRIORITIES, USING ESTIMATES THAT WE HAD IN HAND AT THAT TIME.
THE INTRODUCED BUDGET INCLUDED NO CHANGE IN THE REAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY, MANUFACTURED HOME OR MACHINERY, AND TOOLS TAX RATES, THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE ESTIMATED FOR FY2026 FROM ESTIMATED HIGHER ASSESSED REAL PROPERTY VALUES.
THOSE VALUES WERE PROVIDED BY A THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTOR VISION GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS IN COOPERATION WITH OUR ASSESSMENT TEAM.
THE FY2026 BUDGET, AS WAS INDICATED IN THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING WAS $80.1 MILLION AND INCREASED BY 8.27% OR $6.1 MILLION OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
A SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON MAY 13.
THE FULL INTRODUCED BUDGET, AGAIN, IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, AND BOARD DOC'S ATTACHMENT RECAPS THE INITIATIVES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
A PUBLIC HEARING ADVERTISING THE INTRODUCED TAX RATES WAS ADVERTISED IN THE PROGRESS INDEX, ALSO APPEARING IN THE APRIL 8 EDITION.
THE BOARD GAVE THE AUTHORITY FOR THAT ADVERTISEMENT ON MARCH 13.
THE ADVERTISED TAX RATES WERE $0.82 FOR REAL PROPERTY, NO CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR RATE RATHER.
PERSONAL PROPERTY AT $3.90 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE, NO CHANGE IN THE TAX RATE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR, MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX AT $1.50 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE, AGAIN, NO CHANGE AND MANUFACTURED HOME, SAME AS REAL PROPERTY AT $0.82 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
WE ARE REQUESTING ACTION ON THE TAX RATES FOLLOWING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
AGAIN, FY2026 REAL ESTATE TAX RATE,
[01:05:02]
2025 TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, MANUFACTURED HOME, AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX BY RESOLUTION AT THE RATES INDICATED BELOW.IF THE BOARD POSTPONES ACTION ON REAL PROPERTY AND MANUFACTURED HOMES, WE DO REQUEST APPROVAL OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATES SO THAT THE BILLS THAT WILL BE GENERATED AND DUE JUNE 5.
THOSE TWO PARTICULAR PROPERTIES, MACHINERY AND TOOLS, AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, THE TAX RATE YOU SET NOW IMPACTS THE BILLS THAT ARE DUE ON JUNE 5.
CONVERSELY, THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT YOU ARE SETTING WILL APPLY TO BILLS DUE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THE FIRST OF WHICH THE FIRST HALF IS DUE DECEMBER 5, AND THE SECOND HALF IS DUE JUNE 5 OF 2026.
THOSE REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS, PART 2, THAT FOLKS WILL PAY ON JUNE 5 OF THIS YEAR RELATE TO LAST YEAR'S ASSESSMENT, WHICH DID NOT CHANGE FROM CALENDAR YEAR 2023 OR FY24.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
BUT AGAIN, WE ARE ASKING FOR ACTION IN PARTICULAR ON PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS, IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO POSTPONE ACTION ON REAL PROPERTY AND MANUFACTURED HOMES.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. JURY BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT? I'LL START ON MY LEFT.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO GAUGE HOW MUCH PERSONAL PROPERTY HAS BEEN ADDED TO THAT? BECAUSE THE VALUES REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED FOR THE PART.
>> THE VALUES HAVE ACTUALLY DECLINED.
I SHOWED A POWERPOINT AT A PRIOR WORK SESSION THAT RECAPPED.
THAT VEHICLE VALUES ARE DOWN AS IS BUSINESS FURNITURE AND FIXTURES, THE TWO LARGEST SOURCES.
>> OKAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS NOW OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE.
AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY INPUT INTO THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW, AND I THINK YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE, STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO GO FIRST? [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]. WILLIAM STEEL.
>> THEY SAW YOU MOVING SO FAST, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SLOW YOU DOWN, SIR.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BILL STEEL, 991 COUNTY LINE ROAD, DISPUTANTA.
AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO CUT THE TAX RATE.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR BECAUSE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. WEBB HERE, FOLKS, IF YOU NOTICE, I KEEP SAYING REDUCTION OF THE TAX BILL, NOT THE TAX RATE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THE TAX RATE IS.
YES, IN 2022, WE DID LOWER THE TAX RATE, BOTH CAR TAX RATE AND THE REAL ESTATE.
IT'S A TRUE STATEMENT. YOU LOWERED THE TAX RATE, BUT YOU RAISED THE TAX BILL.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN LOWER THE TAX RATE DOWN TO 1%, BUT IF IT'S GOING TO RAISE MY TAX BILL, AND FOR THE NINE STRAIGHT YEARS, YOU HAVE RAISED THE TAX BILL, NOT THE TAX RATE.
IN 2022, YOU RAISED THE OPERATION BUDGET UP $6 MILLION THAT COSTS THE TAXPAYER MORE.
THE RATE REALLY IS NOT THE ISSUE, IT'S ARE YOU REDUCING A RATE, BUT STILL RAISING THE TAX BILL OF THE INDIVIDUAL? YES, ASSESSMENTS GOING TO GO UP, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE MY TAX DOLLARS TO GO UP.
BUT YOU GOT TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE NOT RAISING PEOPLE'S TAX BILLS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, ARE YOU CREATING A BUDGET THAT'S TAKING MORE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET? YES, FOR NINE STRAIGHT YEARS, YOU HAVE CREATED A BUDGET THAT TOOK MORE MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS THAN GAVE BACK TO THE CITIZENS.
AGAIN, YES, YOU DID DROP THE TAX RATE, YOU YOU DID DROP THE CAR TAX RATE, BUT IT STILL WAS AN INCREASE.
YOU STILL CHARGED US MUCH MORE.
IN THAT YEAR 2022, YOU HAD TO CUT THE TAX RATE DOWN BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SO OVERTAXED OF THE POPULATION BECAUSE OF ALL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MONEY YOU GOT, YOU HAD NO CHOICE.
DON'T SIT HERE AND TRY TO COME ACROSS AND SAY, OH, LOOK AT WHAT WE DID, WE LOWERED YOUR TAX RATE.
YES, YOU LOWERED THE TAX RATE, BUT IT STILL WAS TO THE POINT WHERE YOU RAISED THE PERSON'S TAX BILL.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS.
WE'VE GOT TO CUT THE SPENDING TO CUT THE TAX BILL, THE MONEY THAT WE PULL OUT TO PAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
[01:10:01]
IT IS TOO MUCH.AGAIN, MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND ME.
YOU DID DROP THE TAX RATE, YOU DID TALK TO TAX BILL, BUT YOU STILL RAISED THE TAX BILL ON THE PROPERTY OWNER BY $6 MILLION IN THAT PARTICULAR YEAR SINCE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
AM I CLEAR? I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO CUT THE SPENDING TO CUT THE TAX BILL, THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING TO THE GOVERNMENT, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
IF IT MEANS DROPPING THE TAX RATE DOWN TO 75 CENTS, SO BE IT, AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT RAISING THE PERSON'S TAX BILLS.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS.
DON'T BLAME US BECAUSE YOUR ASSESSMENTS WENT UP, YOU'RE PAYING MORE TAX DOLLARS, BECAUSE OF THE ASSESSMENTS.
THE ASSESSMENTS ARE GOING TO SAY, DON'T BLAME US, WE DON'T SET THE TAX RATE.
YOU PLAY THIS LITTLE GAME WITH EACH OTHER, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING THE MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND.
WE'VE GOT TO CUT SPENDING SO WE CAN CUT THE TAX BILLS THAT WE ARE PAYING TO THE GOVERNMENT.
DOES THAT HELP CLEAR THAT UP, MR. CHAIRMAN?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 2 ON THE TAX RATE?
>> JAMES KELLER, 1357 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CAR TAX, I WONDER WHAT'S THE RATIONALE FOR SETTING THE RATE AT $3.90 PER 100? IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE DID THAT NUMBER COME FROM? I ALSO WONDER WHAT IT'S BASED ON.
I WONDER IF SOMETIMES IF THE RATE ISN'T REVERSE-ENGINEERED TO PRODUCE AN AMOUNT OF MONEY DESIRED BY THE COUNTY.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED NOT TO FIND ANY SUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR TAX ON OUR COUNTY WEBSITE.
I WAS ALSO DISAPPOINTED NOT TO FIND ANY HISTORICAL DATA ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET THE CAR TAX REPRESENTS.
I WONDER WHAT COUNTY SERVICES DOES THE CAR TAX REVENUE SUPPORT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR TAX, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR TAX AT THIS LEVEL, WHAT PROGRAMS WOULD WE NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT? NOW, I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ON TARIFFS.
WE'RE ALL FACING THE PROSPECT OF TARIFFS.
TARIFFS ARE A TAX ON PRETTY MUCH ALL IMPORTED GOODS, INCLUDING VEHICLES.
CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HEAR REPEATEDLY OUT OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, TARIFFS ARE NOT PAID BY THE COUNTRY EXPORTING ITS GOODS TO US, TARIFFS ARE PAID BY THE AMERICANS CONSUMER BUYING THAT TRUCK OR CAR.
THE ASSESSED VALUE FOR APPLYING THE CAR TAX SHOULD NOT INCLUDE THE ADDED COST OF A TARIFF BECAUSE THE TARIFF IS A TAX.
OUR CARS AREN'T ASSESSED BY THE VALUE WITH THE STATE TAX THAT'S IMPOSED ON THAT, NEITHER SHOULD THE VALUE OF OUR CARS BE ASSESSED ON THE VALUE BASED ON THESE TARIFFS.
INCLUDING THE ADDED COST OF AN IMPORT TARIFF ON THE VEHICLE, ASSESSMENT WOULD BE FORM OF DOUBLE TAXATION.
FINALLY, GIVEN THE EXPECTED DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAXES THIS YEAR, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO PROVIDE SOME MUCH-NEEDED TAX RELIEF TO OUR COUNTY'S TAXPAYERS BY: ONE, EXCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF THE IMPORT TARIFFS ON THE ASSESSED VALUE OF OUR VEHICLES, AND TWO, REDUCE THE CAR TAX RATE BY 25%, SUCH AS THE CURRENT $3.90 PER 100 WHEN LOWERED BY 25% OR 98 CENTS PER 100 BECOMES A TAX RATE OF $2.92 PER 100.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE MOVING THIS WAY, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND RETURN THE MATTER BACK OVER TO THE BOARD.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? I HAVE ONE, BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL EVERYONE IS FINISHED BEFORE WE MOVE TO ANY ACTION.
>> MS. BETSY, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS? IT'S DOWN, CORRECT?
>> THE VALUES OF THE VEHICLES ARE DOWN.
>> I WAS LOOKING FOR IT IN THE LAST MEETING.
WE'RE NOT TAKING IN ANY MORE MONEY [OVERLAPPING] 82 CENT, CORRECT?
>> FOR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX?
>> NO, SIR. WE ARE BUDGETING LEVEL ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 12 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
[01:15:01]
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT MS. DRAKE, YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE VALUES OF THE VEHICLES ARE GOVERNED BY WHAT?
>> THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE ASSESSES THE VALUES OF VEHICLES, AND THEY ARE USING A STANDARD VALUATION, I BELIEVE IT'S THE BLUE BOOK VALUE.
I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT TERMINOLOGY OR THE EXACT STANDARD THAT THEY USE, BUT IT IS A COMMONLY USED ASSESSMENT METHOD.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MOST OTHER LOCALITIES ARE USING THE SAME METHOD.
>> I ONLY ASK BECAUSE I'M REALLY TAKEN OFF GUARD BY THE COMMENT ABOUT WE'RE FACTORING IN TARIFFS.
I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD THAT BEFORE, AND I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IS BEING FACTORED IN, BUT, AGAIN, I'M NOT THE EXPERT.
>> WE ALL KNEW DURING COVID, USED CAR VALUES WENT OUT THE ROOF.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY'VE FINALLY BEEN COMING BACK DOWN.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT ACTION YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING ON THE TAX RATES TONIGHT, PLEASE.
>> JUST FOR BOARD MEMBER INFORMATION, THERE ARE TWO RESOLUTION VERSIONS IN YOUR PACKET.
VERSION 1 INCLUDES ALL OF THE TAX RATES THAT WERE SHOWN, REAL PROPERTY, MANUFACTURED HOMES, PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS.
VERSION 2 ONLY INCLUDES MACHINERY AND TOOLS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
>> THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO SELECT ONE OR THE OTHER.
IF YOU CHOSE TO POSTPONE ACTION ON REAL PROPERTY, YOU WOULD WANT TO ACT ON VERSION 2 TO ALLOW FOR TIME TO SEND THOSE BILLS THAT WILL BE DUE JUNE 5TH.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO GO WITH VERSION 2, MR. BROWN.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE RATE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND WE WOULD ALSO ESTABLISH THE RATE FOR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAXES SO STATED.
BASED ON THAT, WE WILL NOT BE DETERMINING REAL ESTATE OR MANUFACTURER HOME RATES TONIGHT.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THIS IS NOW THE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 3.
IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE TO REVISE WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION FEES.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN.
>> MR. STOKE AND MS. [INAUDIBLE].
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW WATER AND SEWER RATES.
FIRST, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW WE SET THESE.
WE LOOK AT OUR RATES EVERY SINGLE YEAR, MAKE SURE WE'RE GENERATING THE PROPER REVENUES TO COVER THE EXPENSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THE DEPARTMENT ANALYZES THOSE COSTS, THE POTENTIAL COSTS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR BASED ON WHAT WE'RE PAYING TODAY, AND TRY TO ADJUST OUR RATES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GENERATING THOSE PROPER REVENUES.
THIS YEAR, WE ARE PROPOSING A 3% INCREASE IN THE WATER USER CHARGES AND A 1% INCREASE IN THE SEWER USER CHARGES.
THE IMPACT ON OUR USERS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, 90% OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, AND THEREFORE, WE'LL NOW SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT IMPACT IS A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THE AVERAGE BILL WOULD INCREASE BY LITTLE OVER $5 PER BILL.
WE ALSO ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MINIMUM MONTHLY CHARGES, A 5% INCREASE FOR RESIDENTIAL METERS, AND 10-20% PERCENT INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM CHARGES FOR METERS THAT ARE OVER ONE INCH.
NOT LISTED ON THIS SLIDE, THE PERCENTAGE FOR THE MINIMUM CHARGES ON THE SEWER SIDE ARE ALSO GOING TO INCREASE UP TO ABOUT 45%.
I'LL SHOW YOU THAT HERE IN A MINUTE AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO MAKING PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RATE BLOCKS OR TIERS FOR OUR METERS THAT ARE ONE AND A HALF INCHES IN SIZE OR GREATER.
AGAIN, THE COLLECTIVE CHANGES THAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE OR PROPOSING HERE WILL
[01:20:05]
GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $242,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN FISCAL YEAR 26.JUST TO SHOW YOU WHAT THESE CHANGES LOOK LIKE.
THIS IS THE MINIMUM MONTHLY CHARGES.
ON THE VERY FIRST COLUMN OF THIS TABLE, YOU CAN SEE THE METER SIZES AND MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE OUR CURRENT WATER MINIMUM CHARGES BASED ON THOSE METER SIZES, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT SEWER CHARGES IN THE FOLLOWING COLUMN.
THEN AS YOU MOVE TOWARDS THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED MINIMUM CHARGES FOR WATER, AS WELL AS THAT PERCENT CHANGE.
AS YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER, YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED SEWER MINIMUM CHARGES AND THOSE PERCENT CHANGES AS WELL, AND WHAT THOSE RANGE IS UP TO.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A 5% INCREASE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AND ANYWHERE FROM 10-20 ON THE WATER AND A 20-45% INCREASE, I KNOW IT SAYS 40, BUT A 45% INCREASE ON THE SEWER MINIMUM CHARGES.
THEN WE HAVE OUR COMMODITY CHARGES, THIS IS OUR CHARGES PER THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER USED.
WE ARE CHANGING THOSE TIER BLOCKS FOR OUR METERS THAT ARE ONE AND A HALF INCHES IN SIZE OR GREATER.
YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, THE METER SIZES IN THE FIRST COLUMN, MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT, OUR CURRENT RATE BLOCKS, AND AS WE MOVE TO THE RIGHT, WHAT OUR PROPOSED RATE BLOCKS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
JUST AN EXAMPLE LOOKING AT THAT SECOND ROW OF THAT ONE-AND-A-HALF-INCH METER, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY CHARGING 4.05 FOR THE FIRST 8,000 GALLONS USED.
WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THAT TIER DOWN FROM 8,000 TO 6,000, AND WE'LL BE INCREASING THE RATE FROM 5.05 TO 4.17, WHICH REPRESENTS A 3% INCREASE IN THE WATER USER CHARGES.
YOU CAN SEE WE'RE MAKING CHANGES FOR EVERY SINGLE BLOCK ABOVE THE ONE-AND-A-HALF-INCH METER, PRIMARILY IMPACTING OUR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS.
OUR CURRENT SEWER RATE IS 9.36 PER 1,000 GALLONS.
WE DON'T HAVE TIERS OR BLOCKS FOR OUR SEWER RATE, IT IS A CONSTANT RATE FOR PER 1,000 GALLONS USED, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THAT BY 1% TO 9.46 PER 1,000 GALLONS.
WE ALSO ARE REQUESTING A CHANGE IN OUR FLAT RATE SEWER, THOSE ARE OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE EITHER SERVED BY A PRIVATE WELL OR A PRIVATE WATER SYSTEM SUCH AS VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER OR [INAUDIBLE], AND WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT WE INCREASE THAT BY $1.50 PER BILL.
FINALLY, WE'RE MAKING PROPOSED CHANGES TO OUR CONNECTION FEES FOR ANY NEW CUSTOMERS COMING IN THAT PRIMARILY THROUGH NEW SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED NEXT YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE WE'LL HAVE AN INCREASE IN OUR WATER AND SEWER CHANGES GOING FROM A MINIMUM OF $4,800 TO 5,200 FOR WATER AND FROM 5,200, SEWER, TO 5,400.
AGAIN, THE REST OF THE METER SIZES ARE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE VOLUMETRIC FLOW OF EACH METER, SO THERE IS A CALCULATION THAT SETS THOSE IN PLACE.
OUR PRIOR METER CONNECTION FEES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER FOR SOME OF OUR LARGER METERS.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING IN BOLD IS CHANGING ON THIS TABLE.
THOSE THAT AREN'T IN BOLD ARE NOT CHANGING.
PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY ABOVE THAT VOLUMETRIC FLOW NUMBER.
SINCE SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY PAID THAT NUMBER, WE DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS PROPER TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER WHEN OTHER FOLKS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAYING THAT AMOUNT.
>> FINALLY, IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER, AS I MENTIONED, THEY MAKE UP OVER 90% OF OUR CUSTOMER BASE, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER DOES USE ABOUT 5,000 GALLONS A MONTH, WE BILL EVERY TWO MONTHS.
FOR A BILL THAT GOES OUT TO OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS THAT USES 10,000 GALLONS OVER THAT TWO MONTHS, THEY WILL SEE A CHANGE IN THEIR WATER BILL OF APPROXIMATELY $2 AND 60 CENTS.
THEY WILL SEE A CHANGE IN THE SEWER SIDE OF $2 AND 48 CENTS.
OVERALL, FOR THE COMBINED WATER AND SEWER, IF THEY HAVE A COMBINED ACCOUNT, MEANING YOU USE BOTH WATER AND SEWER FOR THE COUNTY, YOU WOULD SEE $5 EIGHT CENTS INCREASE IN THE BILL OR A LITTLE OVER $30 PER YEAR.
AGAIN, I ALREADY MENTIONED WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR OUR NON METERED SEWER CUSTOMERS AN INCREASE OF $1 AND 50 PER BILL OR $9 PER YEAR.
FINALLY, THE CODE OF ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES OUR USER CHARGES.
THEREFORE, BEFORE WE CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADDRESS THOSE AMENDMENTS.
OUR FISCAL YEAR 26 UTILITY BUDGET INCLUDES THAT INCREASE OF ORDER AND USER CHARGES TO GENERATE THOSE NECESSARY REVENUES.
THESE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE JULY 1 OF THIS YEAR.
[01:25:01]
ON THIS PAGE, YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE SECTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE AMENDED.THE FULL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT WAS PROVIDED IN THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED OVER THE LAST MONTH, AND WE ARE REQUESTING AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT THE BOARD TAKE ACTION TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCE TO MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS EFFECTIVE JULY 1.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING OR AFTER.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HOLTON? I START TO MY LEFT.
>> MR. HOLTON, GOING BACK TO SLIDE 2, IT SAYS A 5% INCREASE FOR RESIDENTIAL METERS, 10, 20% FOR ONE INCH AND LARGER METERS.
BUT YET IN YOUR COMMODITY CHARGE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE CHANGING 583 QUARTER, AND ONE INCH, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE MINIMUM MONTHLY CHARGES?
WE ARE CHANGING THE MINIMUM MONTHLY CHARGES FOR ALL METER SIZES.
>> THAT'S WHAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE VERIFY. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GENERATE $242,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES, ACCORDING TO THIS SLIDE THAT'S UP RIGHT NOW.
IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS, ARE YOU GOING TO BE NEGATIVE $242,000?
>> WE WON'T BE NEGATIVE. OBVIOUSLY, WE'D HAVE TO MAKE SOME CUTS IN OUR PLANNED EXPENSES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
>> THIS $242,000 IS GOING TO SERVICE THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE PAYING IT, NOT OTHER PROJECTS?
>> THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE EARMARKED FOR, SAY, IF A RESIDENT OF BRICKHOUSE LANDING OR BIRCHVIEW ESTATES HAS A WATER MAIN BREAK, THAT MONEY GOES TO THEM AND NOT TO FUTURE GROWTH AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, OR DOES IT ALL GO INTO A GENERAL FUND?
>> THESE FUNDS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE RATES PRIMARILY ADDRESS THE MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, NOT CAPITAL EXPANSION, BUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR SYSTEM.
THERE ARE SOME BIGGER TICKET ITEMS SUCH AS REPLACING LARGE PUMPS.
OR REPLACE AN ENTIRE PUMP STATION IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, IF IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS LIKE WE JUST DID WITH PUMP STATIONS 9 AND 10.
THERE ARE SOME LARGE CAPITAL EXPENSES.
BUT WE DON'T ADDRESS IT IN THE RATES FOR CAPITAL EXPANSION.
WE DO HAVE RESERVES AND OTHER ITEMS THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO FOR THOSE ITEMS. BUT TYPICALLY THOSE WILL GO THROUGH THE DEBT SERVICE.
>> MY QUESTION IS, THAT $242,000, YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH GOT IT EARMARKED IN YOUR BUDGET FOR REPLACEMENT OF AN OLD PUMP, THINGS LIKE THAT.
ONCE THOSE THINGS ARE DONE, THAT RATE COULD BE DROPPED IF NEEDED, CORRECT?
TYPICALLY, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT LINE ITEMS THAT WE TRY TO SPAN YEAR OVER YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLES.
WE DON'T REPLACE ALL OF OUR VEHICLES IN ONE YEAR.
WE TRY TO REPLACE ONE A YEAR OR TWO A YEAR.
IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE SOME LARGE EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE.
[INAUDIBLE] AND A NEW VALVE MAINTENANCE TRAIL THAT WE'RE REQUESTING TO BE ABLE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY OR DO THE JOBS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE DOING.
>> THAT'S ALL I GOT RIGHT NOW, MR. JAMEY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND ANSWER.
>> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS NOW FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 3.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THIS SHOULD BE PERTINENT TO SPECIFICALLY THIS TOPIC FOR PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 3.
WELL, VIRTUALLY, YOU SAID YOU HAD NO ONE?
>> YES, MR. BROWN. I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE.
I'LL GO BACK AND WATCH THE VIDEO, BUT I BELIEVE I LEFT THE MUTE ON THE MICROPHONE THE FIRST TIME THAT WE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING, SIR, SO I'D BE HAPPY TO WRITE A PUBLIC APOLOGY, BUT THAT'S MY USER ERROR, SO I I'M NOT POSITIVE, BUT I DON'T THINK I UNMUTED THIS ON TEAMS. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY PRESENT, SIR.
>> MISS KNOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY THAT HAS SIGNED UP WITH YOU?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THERE ANYONE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC INPUT INTO THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
I'LL ASK AGAIN, ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS? GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN AND BOARD.
[01:30:01]
MY NAME IS SARALYN HICKAM.I WAS REALLY HOPING MY HUSBAND WAS GOING TO BE HERE TO DO THIS, BUT HE HAS NOT MADE IT, I'M 11400 TARBE ROAD.
YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE WATER AND SEWER RATE AND THE TAX RATE.
I HAVE NO WATER PRESSURE IF I SHOWER AT THE SAME TIME, THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWERS.
SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT I'M GOING TO PAY FOR MORE OF SOMETHING I HAVE LESS OF.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BROUGHT FORWARD TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, NOT THIS EXACT ADMINISTRATION, BUT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, AND NOTHING'S CHANGED.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE MY SEWER AND MY WATER.
MY HUSBAND IS FAR MORE ELOQUENT THAN I AM, BUT YOU'RE GETTING ME OFF THE CUFF, AREN'T YOU LUCKY? I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF THE FACEBOOK STUFF GOING ON, AND I'VE APPRECIATED A LOT OF THEIR INPUT BECAUSE I'M NOT VERY EDUCATED ON ALL OF THIS STUFF.
BUT FOR HIM TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY HE WANTS TO INCREASE EVERYTHING BY 5%, HE WANTS MORE MONEY.
MR. PUGH SAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT THE 242,000.
WELL, YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR CUTS FIRST BEFORE YOU WANT MORE MONEY FROM THE REST OF US, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ALL OUR CUTS BECAUSE YOU ALL WANT MORE MONEY FROM US.
>> YOUR COMMENTS NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO ME, MA'AM.
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC HEARING, WHEN YOU COME UP, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR, NOT TO ANY STAFF MEMBER.
THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO ASKING YOU NOT TO DO THAT PLEASE.
>> WHATEVER DEPARTMENT'S ASKING FOR IT OR WHATEVER, THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR CUTS FIRST.
>> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. PLEASE, NO CLAPPING, FOLKS.
IT CAN BE PRETTY GOOD, BUT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT, SIR.
WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS BASED ON OUR BYLAWS.
OUR BY LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THAT.
I TOO LIVED IN RIVERS EDGE FOR 15 YEARS AT ONE POINT AND SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO THAT.
HALF OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE WATER PRESSURE IS LOW.
I DO UNDERSTAND HER FRUSTRATION, BUT I ALSO CAN APPRECIATE FRANK'S STANCE HERE AND HIS PRESENTATION.
I DO VALUE THE FACT THAT, LIKE MR. HAM HAD ASKED FROM OUR ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY GIVE THE COST TO THE CITIZEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE FRANK HAS LAID THAT OUT VERY PLAINLY AND VERY EASY FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND.
WE DO HAVE A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTY WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS FAR AS THE CONNECTION FEES, I REALLY DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THEM.
I BUILD IN THIS COUNTY AND OUR WELL AND SEPTIC TANKS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD WITH JUST A SIMPLE CONNECTION FEES WITH A $600 INCREASE ON THOSE.
I'VE EXPERIENCED 100% INCREASE ON WELL AND SEPTICS.
THIS SMALL INCREASE FOR CONNECTION FEES, TO ME, DOESN'T SEEM UNREASONABLE AT ALL.
THE 242,000, IF IT'S EARMARKED FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON EXISTING, THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.
I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR SOME OF THE CITIZENS, AND I HATE AN INCREASE IN TAXES IN ANYTHING, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A NECESSITY FOR SOME OF THESE INCREASES SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE OUR COUNTY.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY TO FIX THINGS THAT FULLY BREAK.
TO ME, THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE THAT IS GOING TO BE DESPERATELY NEEDED, AND EVERYTHING FRANK HAS PRESENTED UP TO THIS POINT THAT I'VE WATCHED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SEEMS VERY INTELLIGENT AND NEEDED FOR THE COUNTY.
I APPLAUD HIM AND THANK YOU ALL FOR Y'ALL'S TIME AND RECOMMEND THAT Y'ALL DO THIS ACTION, IF YOU WOULD. THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AT THIS TIME?
[01:35:07]
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, SCOTT HAMEL, 3963 DOE RUN ROAD.
I'D SECOND THE COMMENTS MADE UP TO THIS POINT, AND I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE INCLUSION OF THE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
I DO FIND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SPEAKING OF WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE PRICES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM CURIOUS ON AND I KNOW THIS FITS THE CROWD HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF RESIDENTS HERE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE GET BEFORE THE VOTE TONIGHT, BUT THE IMPACT OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF GROUPS IN RICHMOND THAT I FOLLOW THAT REALLY TRACKS A LOT OF THINGS LIKE SMALL BUSINESS RESTAURANTS IN THE RICHMOND METRO AREA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE REALLY MARKING WAS THE INCREASE OF JUST THE SMALL LITTLE EXPENSES THAT ADD UP.
A LOT OF THOSE TABULATIONS SHOWED WATER AND SEWER COSTS.
AS MR. NOBLIN HAD NOTED, THE ONE THING I DO APPRECIATE IS UNDERSTANDING THAT EXTRA DOLLARS IS GOING TO GO TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
BUT ALSO, LIKE I SAID, LIKE TO KEEP IN MIND, WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY NICE SMALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS RIGHT HERE NEARBY THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THESE RATE CHANGES.
THOSE CONNECTION FEES COULD BE A CONSIDERATION FOR SOME NEW SMALL BUSINESSES COMING TO THE AREA.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS COSTS.
WE WANT TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE.
WE'VE GOT SOME PLANS FOR SOME BIG THINGS COMING, TOO, BUT THE IMPACT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS, A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLAR A YEAR CAN FOR SOME OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES BE A BIG IMPACT, BUT I DID WANT TO KNOW THE APPRECIATION FOR THE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, I FIND THAT TO BE VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? NOT SEEING ANYONE COMING FORWARD.
I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND RETURN THE MATTER BACK TO THE BOARD.
ARE THERE ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE A COMMENT, STATEMENT.
I HAVE ONE AT THE END BEFORE WE TAKE ANY ACTION.
>> YES, SIR. GO AHEAD, MR. PUGH.
>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS WATER PRESSURE ISSUE?
>> RIVERS EDGE IS A COMMUNITY WELL SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT TIED TO OUR CENTRAL SYSTEM, AND THE PRESSURE IS BUILT ONLY BY THE WELL PUMPS THEMSELVES.
MAJORITY OF OUR OTHER SYSTEMS HAVE BOOSTER PUMPS THAT BOOST UP THE PRESSURE ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS.
IT DOES HAVE LOWER PRESSURE PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THAT ISSUE.
THE PUMPS HAVE TO COME ON ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE.
>> THAT BELONGS TO US, CORRECT?
>> WHAT WOULD IT COST TO BRING IT TO FOUR?
>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ACTUALLY TO EXTEND OUR CENTRAL SYSTEM, AS YOU KNOW, ALREADY OUT TO ROUTE 10, TO JORDAN ON THE JAMES AND BEACHWOOD.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR GRANT FUNDS TO EXTEND IT AN EXTRA MILE DOWN TO RIVERS EDGE IN LIEU OF TRYING TO INCREASE THE ONSITE BOOSTER PUMPS AND STORAGE OUT THERE, WHICH COULD BE JUST AS COSTLY.
EXTENDING IT AND TYING IT INTO THE CENTRAL SYSTEM WOULD BE THE LOGICAL THING TO DO.
>> I'LL GET WITH YOU LATER JUST TO GET A IDEA OF THE PRICE DIFFERENCE AND LONG TERM JEVITY AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
BUT IT'S REALLY A COMMENT FOR THE BOARD.
WITH TAXES AND ALL THAT, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TOY AROUND BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE A ONE TIME EXPENDITURE? AM I CORRECT IN THAT STATEMENT WITH WHAT THE MONEY'S BEING USED FOR?
>> IT'S NOT JUST A ONE TIME EXPEND.
THESE ARE COSTS THAT WOULD OCCUR ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME ONE TIME RE OCCURRENCES IN EACH BUDGET, BUT WE JUST ALWAYS HAVE A SEPARATE RE-OCCURRENCE.
IT MAY BE SLIGHTLY MORE, SLIGHTLY LESS.
>> WELL YOU TOLD ME WE WERE GOING TO BUY SOME TRAILER TO DO WORK.
>> FOR THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET, YES, WE DO HAVE A NEW BACK OR A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WE'RE TRYING TO REPAIR.
>> TO ME, THAT'S A ONE TIME EXPENDITURE OVER 10 YEAR PERIOD.
TO ME, THAT COULD BE A GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE TO KEEP THE TAXES OFF THE CITIZEN, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS BOARD FEELS ABOUT THAT.
THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, MR. CHAIR. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
THE ONE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE, AND THIS WAS A PRACTICE THAT WAS ALLOWED BACK IN THE PAST.
IF YOU REALLY ONLY KNEW THE NUMBER OF LIVING AREAS THAT WE'VE HAD WHERE THEY WERE BEING MAINTAINED BY WELLS.
I'LL TELL YOU, WHAT'S JAMES RIVER GROUP OUT THERE?
>> JORDAN POINT BEACH [OVERLAPPING].
>> JORDAN POINT. YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE HOMES OUT THERE.
THEY USED TO BE ON LIKE A COMMUNITY WELL.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WATER PRESSURES AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
[01:40:02]
WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD WITH GETTING FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP GIVE US GRANTS OR GIVE US MONIES TO WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN THEM NOW CONNECTED TO THINGS LIKE AMERICAN WATER AND OTHER BETTER WATER SUPPLIES.THANK YOU, MR. PUGH FOR ASKING THE QUESTION BECAUSE IF HE HADN'T ASKED THAT QUESTION, THE YOUNG LADY THAT STOOD UP AND SPOKE, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, SIR, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH HER.
THAT IS CONCERNING, BUT I'VE HEARD NOW THAT YOU'RE ALREADY AWARE OF THAT.
THAT STILL MAY NOT ADDRESS, FOR AS LONG AS SHE'S BEEN DEALING WITH THIS.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT IT TONIGHT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT.
BOARD MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ACTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, HERE NOW, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF OUR UTILITIES.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS AS IT IS.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MS. WAYMACK THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS CHANGE TO THE RATE OR WE'RE MODIFYING THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS THE RATES SPECIFIED IN IT TO THE RATES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MISS KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 4.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S HAD ALL THE ACTION ON PLEASE.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY CODE BY ADDING A SECTION RELATED TO THE FEES AND ADOPTION FEES RELATED TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND WE'LL START WITH CHIEF EARLY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
WE DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REDUCTION IN OUR ANIMAL ADOPTION FEES, AND ALSO DISCUSS THE REQUIRED STERILIZATION PROCESS, AND ASSOCIATED COST.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE WITH ME.
I'VE GOT LIEUTENANT CHARLIE SANTILLI WHO'LL BE STEPPING UP HERE IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM.
HE'S BEEN SUPERVISING ANIMAL SERVICES ON AN INTERIM BASIS AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR HIM WHEN I SAY THIS EXPERIENCE FOR HIM HAS BEEN CHALLENGING AND ENLIGHTENING AND THIS IS NOT WHAT HE SIGNED UP FOR, BUT HE'S BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
WE'RE SEARCHING FOR A PERMANENT ANIMAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE LIEUTENANT SANTILLI HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AND DOING WHAT HE CAN TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS CAPACITY.
ALSO, I HAVE CAPTAIN MIKE TABER.
HE'S A DIVISION COMMANDER, ANIMAL SERVICES FALLS UNDER HIS COMMAND AND ALSO, WE HAVE ADOPTION COORDINATOR MISTY COBB AND DEMANDA GRIFFITH IN THE AUDIENCE, OUR ANIMAL PATROL OFFICERS.
OUR STAFF ARE AMONG THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ANIMALS, OUR CITIZENS, AND DOING RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S EVIDENT BY THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE THAT WORK AT THE SHELTER, VERY PASSIONATE PEOPLE ABOUT ANIMALS, AND WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PASSIONATE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING MAY NOT BE RIGHT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY AND BUY THE ANIMALS.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION GENERATED FROM THIS AGENDA ITEM ON, OF COURSE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLACES AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CLARIFY SOME OF THAT DURING THIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LIEUTENANT SANTILLI TO GO THROUGH A POWERPOINT HERE TO HOPEFULLY PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. HOW YOU DOING, LIEUTENANT?
>> GOOD EVENING BOARD. AGAIN, MY NAME IS LIEUTENANT SANTILLI.
I WORK WITH THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE PRESENTATION YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IS OUR PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE ADOPTION FEES.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO COME UP IN FRONT OF YOU.
CURRENTLY, AS YOU KNOW, OUR ADOPTION RATES RIGHT NOW THEY'RE SET AT $100 FOR A DOG AND $75 FOR A CAT.
CURRENTLY OUT OF 13 LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, WE ARE TIED WITH THE NUMBER ONE HIGHEST ADOPTION FEE WITH RICHMOND CITY BEING AT $100.
OUR GOAL TODAY IS TO REDUCE THESE ADOPTION FEES AND BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER SHELTERS AROUND US AND TO HAVE PEOPLE COME TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AND ADOPT ANIMALS FROM US.
PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE SHOPPING FOR ANIMALS, AND WE JUST WANT TO BRING THEIR ATTENTION TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
>> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. YEAH, I'M SORRY, I LEFT HIM HANGING ON THIS.
APOLOGIZE. [LAUGHTER] I THINK WE GET CAUGHT UP WHERE YOU'RE AT ON THE POWERPOINT.
[01:45:03]
>> PUSH THAT BUTTON, I APOLOGIZE.
>> AGAIN, CURRENTLY, WE'RE SITTING AT $100 FOR A DOG AND $75 FOR A CAT.
WE'RE TIED WITH THE NUMBER ONE SPOT OUT OF 13 LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WITH THE HIGHEST ADOPTION RATES RIGHT NOW.
OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE OUR ADOPTIONS, SAVE OUR COUNTY, CITIZENS, OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, PUT THIS EXPENSE BACK ON THE ADOPTER.
LET US SAVE MONEY FOR VET EXPENSES AND MAKE OUR OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.
PRIOR TO JANUARY 2023, WE ADOPTED AT A MUCH LOWER ADOPTION RATE, AND WE UTILIZED THE STERILIZATION AGREEMENT.
OUR ADOPTION RATE SAT AT $10 BACK THEN.
JANUARY 2023, PRIOR MANAGEMENT, THEY MADE A DECISION TO INCREASE THE ADOPTION RATES TO 175.
BACK THEN, THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE.
WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONTRACT WITH A VERY CLOSE LOCAL VET THAT OFFERED REALLY GOOD PRICING FOR SPAYS, NEUTERS, RABIES, BORDETELLA, DISTEMPER, AND ALSO THAT COVERED POST MEDICAL SURGERY MEDICATION FOR THE ANIMAL ONCE THEY WERE SENT HOME.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THIS CONTRACT AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S 2025 VERSUS 2023 VET FEES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES HAVE INCREASED DRASTICALLY.
THIS PRACTICE, CURRENTLY, IT'S JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE'RE SPENDING AN AVERAGE OF OVER $200 ON AN ANIMAL FOR STERILIZATION.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHART ABOVE, IF YOU SEE COLONIAL HEIGHTS, PRINCE GEORGE, PETERSBURG, HOPEWELL, CHESTERFIELD, AMELIA, WE SIT TIED WITH RICHMOND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW.
PETERSBURG, THERE IS NO ADOPTION FEE.
COLONIAL HEIGHTS, THEY SIT AT $10, HOPEWELL $10.
I BELIEVE THE NEXT HIGHEST IS SURRY AND GOOCHLAND.
THEY'RE AT $90 FOR A DOG, 75 FOR A CAT.
EACH ONE OF THESE AGENCIES THAT YOU SEE ABOVE US, THEY UTILIZE A STERILIZATION AGREEMENT UNDER VIRGINIA CODE 3.2-6574.
THIS VIRGINIA CODE REQUIRES THE ADOPTER TO PAY FOR THAT STERILIZATION ONCE THE ANIMAL LEAVES THE SHELTER.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT IF THE ANIMALS SIX MONTHS OR YOUNGER, OR IF THE VET RECOMMENDS DON'T DO IT FOR WHATEVER REASON FOR THE VET'S HEALTH.
UNDER OUR CURRENT PROCESS, WE'RE HAVING TO DRIVE TO A CLINIC THAT'S ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR AWAY.
WE'RE DOING THAT FOUR TIMES A DAY UP AND BACK, UP AND BACK.
THAT'S A LOT OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY ON FUEL.
WE'RE DRIVING THESE LARGE F150S.
WE'RE HAVING TO DO THAT TWICE PER WEEK FOR THESE STERILIZATIONS.
SOMETIMES THIS RUNS PAST 4:00 PM WHICH COST THE COUNTY OVERTIME FOR THESE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS MAKING THESE RUNS.
IN 2024 ALONE, OUR TAXPAYERS PAID $44,500 IN JUST STERILIZATIONS ALONE.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE COST OF FUEL AND WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLES.
SO $44,500 JUST FOR SPAY AND NEUTERS ALONE IN 2024.
FOR OUR ADOPTIONS IN 2024, WE MADE $30,000.
THAT STILL PUT US IN A $14,500 DEFICIT.
THIS DEFICIT, WE COULD HAVE USED THAT MONEY FOR BUILDING RENOVATIONS, KENNEL EQUIPMENT, MEDICATION, VET BILLS.
WE COULD HAVE USED THAT MONEY FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
OUR NEWLY PROPOSED ADOPTION FEE, WE WANT TO DO $25 FOR A DOG, $25 FOR A CAT, FLAT FEE OF $25.
WE WANT TO RETURN TO UTILIZING OUR STERILIZATION AGREEMENT THAT WE DID PRIOR TO 2023, WHICH GIVES THE ADOPTER 30 DAYS TO COMPLETE THAT STERILIZATION.
IF THEY'RE YOUNGER THAN SIX MONTHS, THEY CAN OBVIOUSLY WAIT TILL THE ANIMALS MATURE ENOUGH.
DURING THE ADOPTION PROCESS, THE ADOPTER IS GOING TO GET A VOUCHER FROM US.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A VOUCHER THAT REDUCES THAT SPAY AND NEUTER COST AT A LOCAL VET THAT WE'VE SET UP A CONTRACT WITH.
WE WILL ASSIST WITH MAKING THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND ASSIST THEM ANY WAY WE CAN.
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO USE OUR VET, THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT 24 CLOSE LOCAL CLINICS THAT WILL OFFER THAT REDUCED SPA NEUTER FEE FOR THE ADOPTER.
IF THE ANIMALS NOT STERILE IN 30 DAYS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO SET UP PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, WE'RE GOING TO SEND CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THE ADOPTER.
IF IT TAKES, WE'LL SEND AN OFFICER OUT TO THEIR RESIDENTS, AND WE'LL SPEAK TO THIS PERSON.
OUR FINAL ACTION WOULD BE SWEARING OUT A SUMMONS FOR VIRGINIA CODE 3.2-6574 THAT REQUIRES THAT PERSON TO GET THAT ANIMAL STERILIZED.
[01:50:02]
I'VE MADE CONTACT WITH OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS OR I'M SORRY, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I'M SORRY, OUR COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEY ARE ON BOARD WITH US DOING THAT.I'VE SPOKEN TO JOHN BATEMAN, AND HE AGREES THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, WE DEFINITELY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP ANY TYPE OF VACCINATIONS FOR THESE ANIMALS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEDICATE, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE VACCINES FOR OUR ANIMALS.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO GIVE OUR ANIMALS THAT WE INTAKE, BORDETELLA, DISTEMPER, THE FELINE FIV, AND A RABIE SHOT.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO GIVE THAT FOR THE ANIMALS.
IN CONCLUSION, OUR PROPOSAL, WE BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO SHIFT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE TAXPAYERS BACK OVER TO THE ADOPTERS.
THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO USE THAT $75 THAT THEY'RE SAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR SPAY NEUTER OR TO PAY FOR FOOD OR WHAT OTHER EXPENSE THEY WANT TO USE THAT MONEY FOR.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE ADOPTION WORLD AND IMPROVE OUR OVERALL OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES.
THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE ADOPTIONS THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO BETTER CARE FOR OUR ANIMALS AND OUR SHELTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD, MS. WAYMACK.
>> WHO'S GOING TO BE GIVEN THE VACCINES?
>> WHICH VACCINES, THE RABIES, BORDETELLA, DISTEMPER?
>> FOR RABIES, A VETERINARIAN HAS TO GIVE THE RABIE SHOT.
ANY OTHER VACCINES SUCH AS BORDETELLA, DISTEMPER, THE FELINE FIV, AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER WILL GIVE THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THEY'LL BE TRAINED TO DO THAT?
>> YES, MA'AM. THEY'RE ALREADY TRAINED TO DO THAT.
>> QUESTION. YOU SAID WE'VE GOT AN AGREEMENT WITH THE VET?
>> WHAT COST WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE ADOPTER?
>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT SPAY AND NEUTER COST.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE ANIMAL; THE ANIMAL'S WEIGHT, THE MEDICAL CONDITION OF THAT ANIMAL, THE AGE OF THE ANIMAL. IT VARIES.
>> THE CERTIFICATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE, CAN YOU SAY IT REDUCE COSTS BY 25%?
>> SURE. IT'S GOING TO REDUCE IT MORE THAN 25%.
THAT $75 THAT THEY'RE SAVING IS GOING TO PAY FOR MORE THAN HALF THE SPAY AND NEUTER SO IT'S GOING TO HELP OUT A LOT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC, BUT SAY A PERSON AGREES TO DO THIS AND FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY DON'T, YOU'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH ALL THE TRANSACTIONS OF FOLLOWING UP WITH THEM AND GIVING THEM SUMMONS?
>> YES, SIR. THE SUMMONS IS GOING TO BE THE VERY LAST THING THAT WE DO.
WE'VE HAD TO DO THAT IN THE PAST, ONE TIME IN 2022, OUT OF FIVE YEARS OF RESEARCH, WE'VE ONLY HAD TO DO THAT ONE TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PHONE CALLS FIRST, TRY TO GET THE PEOPLE ON THE PHONE.
WE ARE GOING TO SEND THEM AN EMAIL.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEND THEM A CERTIFIED LETTER BEFORE REACHING TO THE SUMMONS.
>> AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE SUMMONS THEN IT BECOMES CIVIL?
>> YES, SIR, IT'S A CIVIL PENALTY OF $250.
>> WELL, YOU CAN'T ANSWER THAT YOU'D BE A MIND READER.
>> IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING, JUST TURN THE DOG LOOSE OR BRING THE DOG BACK AND TURN THEM BACK IN?
>> WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? I'M SORRY.
>> IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING, IT WINDS UP ON YOUR DOORSTEP OR OUT HERE LOOSE SOMEWHERE, IF THEY JUST BRING THEM BACK AND TURN THEM IN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT AT THAT POINT.
>> IF IT'S NOT STERILE, WE'LL SWEAR OUT A SUMMONS THROUGH THE MAGISTRATE FOR NOT STERILIZING THAT ANIMAL.
YES, SIR. I'VE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, AND THEY ALL HAVE A REALLY GOOD SUCCESS RATE.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T ENVY YOU BEING IN THIS POSITION AT ALL.
IT'S VERY TOUGH ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING YOU DID ASK FOR, RIGHT?
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IF WE CAN GIVE A CERTIFICATE TO THE PERSON ADOPTING THE DOG, WHY ISN'T IT THAT WE CAN'T USE A CERTIFICATE TO GET A BETTER RATE IF WE'RE DOING THE SPAY AND NEUTERING?
>> THEY DO GIVE US A DISCOUNTED RATE.
THESE CLINICS LOOK AFTER SHELTERS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE BINDS THAT THE SHELTERS ARE IN.
THESE CLINICS CARE FOR THE ANIMALS A LOT.
THEY DO GIVE US REDUCED RATES AND WE WANT TO GIVE THAT TO THE ADOPTER ALSO.
[01:55:03]
THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT.THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT, THEY WILL DO IT.
>> I CAN UNDERSTAND THE POINT IF THE DOG OR IF THE PET OR ANIMAL IS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, AND THEY WANT TO ADOPT.
THEN I CAN UNDERSTAND US GIVING THE PERSON ADOPTING THE ANIMAL THAT CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THE ANIMAL CAN'T GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
BUT TO ME, IF THE DOG OR THE ANIMAL IS MORE THAN A COUPLE YEARS OLD, OR THEY'RE AT A CERTAIN AGE, OTHER THAN THE COSTS BEING PASSED ON TO THE ADOPTER, I'M NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHY IF WE'RE GETTING A DISCOUNT RATE.
I KNOW, MY DOG JUST GOT NEUTERED ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO AND I CAN TELL YOU, I PAID CLOSE TO 600 BUCKS FOR THE NEUTERING AND I THINK HE HAD TO GET TWO OTHER TESTS DONE, WHICH WERE NOT HUGE TESTS.
MY CONCERN WOULD BE IS SOMEONE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT IS NOW LETTING THE ANIMAL GO IN THE COMMUNITY, OR THEY'RE BRINGING THE DOG BACK IN OR THE PET BACK IN TO TURN THEM IN TO GIVE UP THE ANIMAL, AND THEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT VICIOUS CYCLE.
>> I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE ADDITIONAL WORK ON STAFF TO HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THESE THINGS, FOLLOW THROUGH WITH PEOPLE.
DID YOU GET IT DONE? WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NINE OUT OF 10 WON'T GET IT DONE, BUT THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT FOLLOW THROUGH AND I GUESS WHERE MY CONCERN IS RIGHT NOW IS, I THINK WE HAVE A COMMITMENT NOT ONLY TO THE ANIMALS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SO I'M REALLY NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO OR NOT.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU OR IF WE COULD ONE, GET THE REDUCED FEES, TWO IF WE COULD GET PEOPLE TO HELP VOLUNTEER TO MAYBE HELP TRANSPORTING ANIMALS BACK AND FORTH.
I THINK THIS COMMUNITY IS REALLY READY TO STEP IN AND HELP IF WE LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE NEED THE HELP.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHERE I'M LEANING, BUT I JUST HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
>> I UNDERSTAND. TO ADDRESS ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS, RIGHT NOW, OUR ADOPTION FEE IS AT $100 FOR A DOG.
>> I HAVE IN MY HAND AN EXAMPLE FROM COLONIAL HEIGHTS VETERINARIAN CENTER THAT WITH THEIR VOUCHER, K9 CASTRATION SITS RIGHT AT $100.
THAT'S FOR 45 POUND DOG, IT'S $100 FOR NEUTER.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE ADOPTER, HERE'S THE RULES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW.
WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT ALL THEIR INFORMATION, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL.
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR JOB, VETTING THESE ADOPTIONS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, HEY, YOU ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STERILIZATION.
>> I HAVE 24 LOCAL LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS THAT WE'RE GOING TO OFFER.
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO USE THAT VET FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY CAN GO TO ANY VET THAT THEY'D LIKE.
WE'RE GOING TO OFFER THEM THESE 24 LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS THAT ARE IN THIS REGION.
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER USED TO USE THESE ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THEM WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.
>> YES, SIR, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR DOING THAT HOMEWORK AND HAVING THIS INFORMATION.
I CAN TELL YOU, AS A PET OWNER, IF I'M GOING TO COME THERE AND PAY 100 BUCKS, I'M GOING TO BE ON TOP OF THINGS.
>> BECAUSE THAT'S AN INVESTMENT.
THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING SMALL IN MY EYES.
IF THEY PAY $25, YEAH, THEY MAY REALLY LIKE THAT DOG.
I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY'S NOT COMMITTED, SO I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND MAKE A BROAD STATEMENT, BUT THAT'S ALL.
>> I UNDERSTAND. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THE TAXPAYERS PAID $44,500 FOR THESE SPAY AND NEUTERS.
62% OF THOSE ANIMALS DON'T EVEN LIVE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
WE'RE PAYING FOR PEOPLE'S SPAY AND NEUTERS WHO DON'T EVEN RESIDE IN PRINCE GEORGE.
THESE ANIMALS LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THEIR OPTION.
WE WANT TO PUT THAT MONEY BACK IN THE TAXPAYER'S POCKET AND GIVE THESE ADOPTERS $75 TO SPEND TOWARDS THIS $100.
[02:00:04]
>> POINT WELL TAKEN. YES, SIR.
>> QUICK QUESTION. YOU SAID $44,000.
HOW MANY ANIMALS DID THAT SPAY AND NEUTER LAST YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THAT FIGURE.
THE NEXT QUESTION I'VE GOT, YOU SAID WE'RE DRIVING TO RICHMOND CURRENTLY?
>> YOU SAID WE USED TO GET A REALLY GOOD DEAL NEXT DOOR AT THE VET? HAVE WE TRIED RENEGOTIATING OR TALKING OR BRIDGING THAT GAP?
>> I JUST STAYED IT AT A LOCAL VET.
THAT OPTION IS NO LONGER THERE.
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO WORK ON GETTING THAT OPTION BACK SOMEHOW, WHETHER IT'S BOARD MEMBERS OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE IT COSTS THE TAXPAYERS.
OUT OF THE OTHER SHELTERS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ADOPTION FEE, ARE THEY PAYING THE SPAY AND NEUTER COSTS?
>> THE THREE THAT I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO, CHESTERFIELD, GOOCHLAND, AND RICHMOND.
CHESTERFIELD SITS AT $60 FOR AN ADOPTION.
ALTHOUGH THEY DROP THEIR FEES DOWN TO $10, IF THE DOG IS OLD OR IF THE DOG HAS SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL CONDITION, THEY DROP THAT FEE 60-10.
THEY STILL COVER IT. GOOCHLAND COVERS IT, AND RICHMOND COVERS IT.
>> OUT OF THOSE SHELTERS WITH LOW FEES, HOW OFTEN ARE THEY FULL?
>> THEY'RE NOT ALL FULL. I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR SHELTER RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT 95%.
THAT'S A LOT. WE'VE MADE A LOT OF GOOD PROGRESS.
THAT'S A LOT BETTER THAN WHERE WE WERE SITTING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
WE'RE DRASTICALLY GETTING BETTER THAN WHERE WE WERE.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 95%, SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER SHELTERS.
I'VE DONE TOURS OF THEM, I'VE WALKED THE GROUNDS, BUT IT CHANGES CONSTANTLY.
>> HAVE WE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT MAYBE IF WE KNOW WE'RE AT 90% ON OUR KENNELS, MAYBE HAVING A POP UP FREE ADOPTION DAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO GET SOME OF THESE ANIMALS ADOPTED INTO LOVING HOMES?
>> YES, SIR. WE DID DO SOME RESEARCH.
I FOUND OUT THAT BACK IN 2023, WE DID RECEIVE AN AGREEMENT TO DO A REDUCED ADOPTION FEE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE ARE GOING TO START DOING THAT.
>> YES. THIS ISN'T AN END ALL BE ALL.
WE ARE STILL GOING TO SPAY AND NEUTER SOME OF THESE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.
IF IT'S A MEDICAL CONCERN AND WE GET A VET'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WE NEED TO DO IT WELL BEFORE ANY ADOPTION, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
IF WE GET A CHANCE TO GO TO AN ADOPTION EVENT, AND, YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT THIS DOG IS HIGHLY ADOPTABLE, IT'S YOUNG, IT'S VERY FRIENDLY, AND WE WANT TO TAKE IT TO THAT ADOPTION EVENT, AND THEY REQUIRE ALL THE ANIMALS ON SITE TO BE STERILE, WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT STERILIZATION.
WE WANT THAT ANIMAL TO GO TO A GOOD HOME.
>> I'M ASSUMING RIGHT NOW YOU-ALL ARE DOING BACKGROUND CHECKS WHEN YOU-ALL ADOPT DOGS OUT, CORRECT?
>> MY QUESTION IS, YOU SAID OVER, I THINK IT'S 66%, MAYBE, AND I MIGHT BE WRONG ON THAT NUMBER.
>> 62% OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY ARE ADOPTING THESE DOGS?
>> HOW WILL THAT MAKE IT GETTING A WARRANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DID IT IF THEY DON'T LIVE IN THIS COUNTY? IS IT GOING TO BE EASY? IS IT GOING TO BE DIFFICULT?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY EASY.
>> THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.
>> I WANT TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> I REMEMBER BACK TO THE DAYS LONG AGO WHEN WE HAD PACKS OF DOGS ROAMING IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
THEY WERE PETS THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED BY FOLKS WHO JUST NO LONGER WANTED TO CARE FOR THEM.
I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF ENCOUNTERING ONE OF THOSE PACKS ONE DAY.
THEY WERE ALL PETS, AND THEY HAD TWO PUPPIES WITH THEM.
I WAS IN MY GARDEN AND SIX DOGS CAME OUT OF THE WOODS AND WITH THEM, WERE TWO PUPPIES.
THEY HAD BEEN BREEDING WHEREVER THEY WERE LIVING.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THESE PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR DOGS AFTER YOU GIVE THEM AWAY.
>> OF COURSE. THAT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
>> HANG ON. GET MY ATTENTION FIRST, SIR, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BROWN FOR GIVING ME THE FLOOR. I APOLOGIZE.
IT WAS THERE ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE. I'LL CIRCLE BACK.
>> YOU CAN HOLD THERE. IT'LL COME BACK AROUND PROBABLY.
>> I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU, MR. BROWN.
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT, BUT I DO NEED TO ASK OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY A QUESTION.
[02:05:02]
WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AND YOU CAN TELL ME IF THIS IS PROPER OR NOT BECAUSE REALLY THIS IS CHIEF AND LIEUTENANTS THING.WHEN WE NORMALLY DO PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE HAVE WHERE LIKE, STAFF AND THEN THE APPLICANT PER SE.
IS IT PROPER TO HEAR ANYTHING IF THE CHIEF AGREES FROM ANY OF THE ACOS OR THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY ARE IN THE SHELTER OR IS NOT PROPER?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE FINE.
>> WELL, I DO NEED TO ASK CHIEF IF THAT'S OKAY WITH HIM BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE PRESENTING THIS TONIGHT.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER THAT QUESTION TO THE LIEUTENANT, BUT I BELIEVE THE LIEUTENANT IS CLEARLY IN FAVOR OF THIS, AND I BELIEVE TWO ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS ARE, ONE IS NOT, ADOPTION COORDINATOR IS IN FAVOR OF IT. AM I CORRECT?
>> WELL, THAT AS A GENERAL STATEMENT HELPS ME OUT, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE PRESENTING, BUT I HAD ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ACTUALLY IN THERE PERFORMING THE DUTIES EVERY DAY, AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I ASKED THAT QUESTION.
>> JUST ONE OTHER QUICK COMMENT, IF I MAY.
>> THERE IS HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDED EITHER WAY.
CALLING UP AND MAKE SURE STERILIZATIONS ARE DONE.
TRANSPORTING ANIMALS TO AND FROM THE VET, THAT'S HUMAN RESOURCES, THAT'S BUDGET, THAT'S MONEY.
I ASKED THE LIEUTENANT, HOW MANY ANIMALS REQUIRE STERILIZATION THAT WE ADOPT.
WE DON'T KNOW THIS, THIS IS NOT A FIRM FIGURE HERE, BUT PROBABLY 25 OR 30% OF THE ANIMALS WE ADOPT ARE ALREADY STERILIZED.
JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. AM I CORRECT IN THAT?
THEY STILL PAY THE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC ON PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 4.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
JUST PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN YOU PLEASE SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT.
TAKE YOUR TIME. WE'RE NOT RUSHING YOU.
>> [BACKGROUND] YEAH. I'VE JUST BEEN SITTING WAY TOO LONG. THIS HAS GOT ME SO STRESSED OUT.
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU-ALL KNOW ME BECAUSE ALL OF YOU-ALL HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE EMAILS FROM ME CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
I WASN'T GOING TO COME TODAY BECAUSE I'VE BUGGED YOU-ALL TO DEATH.
BUT THEN I SAW THE CHANNEL 8 POSTING, AND NOBODY RESPONDED EXCEPT FOR LISA MOSELEY.
SHE MADE HERSELF SOUND LIKE SHE WAS THE THE QUEEN OF ALL SHELTER SUPERVISORS. I'M SORRY.
THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE, LIEUTENANT CHARLIE IS THE KING OF ALL SUPERVISORS.
HE'S AN AWESOME PERSON TO DEAL WITH.
BUT THE REASON IS THAT ONE OF HER COMMENTS WAS THAT WHEN SHE TOOK OVER THE SHELTER IN 2023, THE WHOLE DISCUSSION WAS THAT SHE HAD OVER 100 AND SOME APPLICANTS THAT SHE HAD TO FOLLOW SUIT ON TO SEE ABOUT THE STERILIZATION OF THE ANIMALS.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE CONVERSATION.
I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE SEEN IT OR AT LEAST SPOKEN TO IT.
I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS SINCE AUGUST 12TH.
BY LAW, THEY HAVE 30 DAYS AND THE CIVIL PENALTY COMES INTO EFFECT.
IF THE SHELTER DOES NOT APPLY THE CIVIL PENALTY, THEN THE STATE VET CAN COME DOWN AND DO AN INSPECTION, WHICH WE REALLY HAVEN'T IN THE YEAR OF 2024 DONE WELL WITH INSPECTIONS, AND THEY CAN PROCEED WITH THAT PROCEDURE FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.
AS FAR AS SENDING DOCUMENTS AND PHONE CALL, WELL, YOU CAN MAKE PHONE CALLS AND EVERYTHING.
I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT.
THE SHELTER HAS TO RECEIVE IT AFTER 30 DAYS.
THEY HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO DOCUMENT IT AND RECORD IT IN A RECORD.
AS FAR AS THE LIST OF 24 VETS FOR LOW COST, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT LIST BECAUSE I AM REALLY AN ANIMAL ADVOCATE.
I DON'T KNOW OF 24 VETS IN THE PRINCE GEORGE AREA.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF ANYBODY THAT CAN PAY FOR $100.
I DON'T USE THE SPCA EXCEPT FOR TNR AND CATS.
BUT I KNOW PALS USED TO BE $75, $80, BUT THEY'VE GONE UP.
THEN THERE'S ONE IN GLOUCESTER, AND I JUST SPAYED ONE OF MY FEMALE POODLES AND SHE WAS $225 AND SHE WEIGHED 60 POUNDS.
[02:10:02]
THESE ARE LOW COST CLINICS.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIST THAT THEY'RE SAYING.
MY CONCERN WHICH WAS MENTIONED IS THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PERSON JUST DECIDES, I DON'T WANT THIS ANIMAL, AND THEY LET IT GO AND THEY DON'T SPAY, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY TELL YOU-ALL, IT RAN AWAY, IT DID THIS.
MY TIME'S UP. IT RAN AWAY, IT DID THIS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT FINDING THIS ANIMAL THAT'S GOING TO BE MULTIPLYING BY HAVING PUPPIES RUNNING AROUND.
I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY DROP ANIMALS OUT AT MY HOME, WHICH IS FINE WITH ME.
I HAVE THE KENNELS AND I HAVE THE PREMISE TO DO THAT.
IT'S REALLY SAD THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT TAKEN CARE OF.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC? I WILL ASK, MS. [INAUDIBLE], IS THERE ANYBODY VIRTUAL ON?
>> MR. BROWN, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE VIRTUAL AT THIS TIME.
>> MRS. KNOTT, DID ANYBODY ELSE SIGN UP?
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS TOPIC? NOT SEEING ANYONE COMING FORWARD, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND RETURN THE MATTER BACK OVER TO THE BOARD.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF EARLY, LIEUTENANT SANTILLI, OR CAPTAIN TABER AT THIS TIME?
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A COMMENT.
>> YES, SIR. GO AHEAD, MR. COX.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I AM SCARED TO DEATH ON THE SPAY AND NEUTERING PART.
I CAN TELL YOU, THROUGH MY MOM, SHE TOOK CARE OF A MYRIAD OF CATS THROUGH HER TIME THAT JUST WOULD SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE.
SHE WOULD TAKE THEM, CALL [INAUDIBLE], GET A CERTIFICATE, GO GET THEM FIXED, AND SHE WOULD KEEP THEM THROUGH THEIR LIFE AND TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND THEY JUST SHOWED UP.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THEY WERE PASSING CARDS, [LAUGHTER] GO TO THIS HOUSE.
WHAT WORRIES ME IS THE EXACT THING THAT MS. [INAUDIBLE] HAS JUST SPOKE TO.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET TO THAT 30TH DAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE DOG DISAPPEARED, IT RAN AWAY, OR THE CAT RAN AWAY AND WE HAVE NO WAY TO TRACK IT? I'M ONE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK WE SHOULD SPAY AND NEUTER, AND WE ALSO SHOULD MICROCHIP THEM.
THAT WAY, WE CAN TRACK THEM WHEN THEY DO COME BACK WHERE THEY WENT AND WHO THEY BELONG TO.
BUT I KNOW WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO COST.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN MAKE A COMPROMISE AND MAYBE DROP THE ADOPTION FEE SUM, BUT CONTINUE THE SPAY AND NEUTERING.
LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHAT'S HOLDING ME UP IS THE SPAY AND NEUTERING.
I'M JUST TERRIFIED OF THAT PART. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
>> MR. WEBB, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
>> I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF IT.
I UNDERSTAND AND I EMPLOY YOU-ALL BOTH FOR TRYING TO KEEP THE TAXES DOWN.
IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT, YEAH, IT'S FRUSTRATING THE MONEY THAT GOES OUT OF HERE IN THIS COUNTY.
BUT IT'S ALMOST A NECESSITY AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER.
I'D LOVE TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY, I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BUT I'M JUST WITH MR. COX A LITTLE BIT ON THIS SPAY AND NEUTERING.
IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE IT DONE BEFORE THEY TAKE RECEIPT OF THE ANIMAL? I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WORK THROUGH THAT.
IS THERE A WAY TO GO, HEY, IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY, YOU GET A DOG FOR 75, IF YOU'VE LET OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, YOU GOT TO PAY THIS FOR IT.
I I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS. THAT'S ALL I GOT RIGHT NOW.
>> APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
>> I'M A LITTLE LEERY OF THE WHOLE THING.
I WOULD PROBABLY TEND TO BE OPEN TO, IF WE WANTED TO REDUCE THE FEE SUM, BUT NOT TAKE AWAY THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY PRIOR TO THE PERSON RECEIVING THAT ANIMAL.
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR COMPROMISE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT STOPPING ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
YEAH, THE HIGH PERCENTAGE MIGHT BE GOING OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTY.
[02:15:05]
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO A SITUATION IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY, YOU PAY THIS IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO SIGN UP TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOMEBODY THAT LIVES IN THE COUNTY TO DO IT FOR THEM.THAT TO ME IS ADDING ANOTHER ADMINISTRATIVE NIGHTMARE TO THE WHOLE PROCESS.
I WOULD PREFER IF WE WOULD STEP INTO IT.
MAYBE WE TRY AN OPTION OF REDUCING THE FEE, BUT NOT CHANGING THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
THEN DEPENDING ON HOW THAT WORKS, AND WITH SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE IN MIND WITH GETTING THE ANIMALS OUT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
LIKE YOU JUST SAID, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THE ANIMALS TO AN EVENT AND PART OF SOMEBODY ADOPTING THAT EVENT SAYS THEY HAVE TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, THEN WE WOULD SHOULDER THAT COST BECAUSE NOW WE FEEL BETTER THAT WE'RE GETTING AN ANIMAL ADOPTED.
THAT'S WHERE I PERSONALLY WOULD BE LEANING THAT IF WE COULD FIND A COMPROMISE AND INSTEAD OF GOING FROM 100-25, MAYBE WE GO FROM 100-50 FOR BOTH, BUT WE DON'T CHANGE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
>> MR. BROWN, I GOT ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE ASK ME, DO WE HAVE AN ADOPTION PAGE WHERE WE POST PICTURES OF ALL THE ANIMALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION? I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT IF THERE IS ONE ON THE WEB.
>> NOT ON THE WEBSITE, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR ADOPTION COORDINATORS HERE PRESENT.
SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT WE DO POST ALL OUR ANIMALS AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON FACEBOOK, THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, BUT JUST POSTING PICTURES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANIMAL.
>> IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING MAYBE ON THE WEBSITE, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK MAYBE THAT COULD HELP.
AGAIN, I'M JUST THROWING IDEAS AT YOU.
BUT I KNOW I'VE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AS SOON AS WE GET MORE CRUCIAL THINGS FIXED, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY DOING THAT.
>> I THINK YOU'RE RUNNING INTO THE SAME DILEMMA WE ARE WITH THE TAXES AND DEADLINES AND STUFF.
NOT EVERYBODY IS UP ON EVEN USING OUR WEBSITE.
IT STARTS AT A BARE THING OF, DO THEY EVEN HAVE INTERNET ACCESS?
>> I APPLAUD THE THING WITH THE FACEBOOK OR WHATEVER, TWITTER OR WHATEVER.
BUT I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HITTING JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE THOSE FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE?
>> THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
MY THOUGHTS ARE, KEEP IT THE SAME CURRENTLY.
WE'VE GOT THAT ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK TO HAVE FREE ADOPTION DAYS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
MAYBE GO AFTER THAT ASPECT, COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS AND SEE IF THAT HELPED ANY.
IF IT DIDN'T, THEN MAYBE DISCUSS LOWERING THE RATE, IS MY THOUGHT.
>> WELL, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT AS A MOTION.
>> YOU SAID THAT WAS YOUR OPINION.
>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE MAKING A MOTION.
>> I'M LISTENING VERY ATTENTIVELY TO SEE IF THAT WAS A MOTION.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OPINIONS [OVERLAPPING] IS THERE ANYONE WILLING TO PUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DENY THIS TONIGHT AND COME BACK LATER WITH IT IF APPROPRIATE.
>> I'VE GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I NEED A SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MRS. WAYMACK, AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH, THAT WE DENY THIS CHANGE IN THE ADOPTION FEES AND THE STERILIZATION AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT FOLLOW BASED ON THE COMMENTS AND INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED TONIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THERE'S NOT.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? AGAIN, BEFORE YOU CALL THE ROLL, THIS IS TO DENY THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING. MS. KNOTT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS,
[F. Order of Business]
[02:20:01]
AND FIRST THING IS THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE HANDLED BY OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THE REQUEST ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE ANNUAL PPTRA RESOLUTION.
AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, BECAUSE WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR.
PPTRA IS THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT GOES BACK TO GOVERNOR GILMORE AND THE NO CAR TAX.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS FOR CERTAIN DISCOUNTED RATES TO BE APPLIED TO VEHICLES DEPENDING UPON THEIR VALUE.
IN THE RESOLUTION, IT NOTES THAT PERSONAL USE VEHICLES VALUED AT $1,000 OR LESS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A 100% TAX RELIEF.
PERSONAL VEHICLES VALUED BETWEEN $1,001-$20,000 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 35.8% TAX RELIEF.
PERSONAL VEHICLES VALUED AT 20,001 OR MORE SHALL ONLY RECEIVE 35.8% TAX RELIEF ON THE FIRST $20,000 OF VALUE.
IF THE BOARD WOULD PLEASE CONSIDER ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED, I THINK OUR COMMISSIONER WOULD BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. ERARD?
>> JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ON OUR AGENDA, AND IT WAS UNDER CONSENSUS, AND I JUST FELT IT WAS BETTER TO AT LEAST EXPLAIN IT TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOME IDEA OF HOW THIS WAS BEING DONE BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED.
BOARD MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS RESOLUTION.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION READY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MOTION CARRIED. RESOLUTION APPROVED.
NEXT IS A RESOLUTION FOR CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT RENEWAL REQUEST, AND THIS WILL BE DONE BY MR. JABRI.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN, VICE CHAIR WAYMACK, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE, AND MS. ERARD.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PRESENT TONIGHT.
ON FEBRUARY 5TH OF THIS YEAR, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A REQUEST TO RENEW THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT INC, PARENT COMPANY IS HOLLINGSWORTH COMPANIES AND THE COUNTY.
PER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT ORIGINATING FROM OCTOBER 2021, THERE ARE THREE ADDITIONAL FIVE YEAR RENEWAL TERMS. THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES IN OCTOBER 30TH OF 2026.
THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH HOLLINGSWORTH COMPANIES WAS SIGNED ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 1997.
THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPERS OF SOUTHPOINT BUSINESS PARK.
THE HOLLINGSWORTH COMPANIES PROVIDED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY THAT IS WITHIN YOUR PACKETS THAT STAFF VERIFIED FROM THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP THAT IS GENERALLY ACCURATE PER THE STATE, ALTHOUGH THE METHODOLOGY USED TO CALCULATING THE 25 YEAR OPERATING PERIOD IS SLIGHTLY MISCONSTRUED DUE TO THE CALCULATION OF NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION VARIOUS ECONOMIC IMPACTS THAT COULD HAVE HAD ON THOSE BUSINESSES.
ON MARCH 28TH, STAFF HELD A MEETING WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FIRE NMS, UTILITY DEPARTMENTS, AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS THE RENEWAL REQUESTS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
THE HOLLINGSWORTH COMPANIES PROVIDED A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHANGES HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN YOUR PACKETS TONIGHT.
IN CONCLUSION, THERE IS A RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKETS TODAY FOR
[02:25:01]
THE BOARD TO DECIDE ON RENEWING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR TO DECLINE.IF DECLINED, THE NOTICE WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN TO THE APPLICANT WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE.
WE HAVE HERE TONIGHT, MR. TOM WORTHAM, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HOLLINGSWORTH COMPANIES.
HE'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> DOES ANY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. JABRI OR MR. TOM WORTHAM? I'LL START TO MY LEFT.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE THIS BEFORE US.
WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS RENEWAL REQUEST.
THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS BOARD ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> MAY I POINT OUT THAT THE RESOLUTION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED, WHETHER THE EXTENSION REQUEST IS GRANTED OR DENIED, AND SO THE MOTION WOULD NEED TO INDICATE WHETHER OR NOT THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED TO GRANT OR DENY THE REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION.
SINCE THERE ARE THREE PARTIES TO THE CONTRACT, THE COUNTY, THE EDA, AND CONCEPT DEVELOPMENTS, THIS MATTER WAS TAKEN TO THE EDA, AND THE EDA DID NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE EXTENSION REQUEST. THANK YOU.
>> NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.
WE'RE ANOTHER PART, AND THEN WE HAVE CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT IS THE THIRD PARTY IN THIS AGREEMENT. WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE?
>> HEARING NONE, I MOVE TO DENY THE EXTENSION.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB, AND SECOND BY MR. COX TO DENY THIS RESOLUTION ON THIS RENEWAL REQUEST.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> A RESOLUTION FAIL, BUT THE MOTION CARRY.
>> THE RESOLUTION DENYING THE REQUEST.
>> YES. THE RESOLUTION DENYING THE REQUEST.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR THIRD ITEM UNDER ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE INITIATION OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REGARDING SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES.
>> HI. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD [OVERLAPPING] MR. STOKE, MS. ERARD.
THIS ITEM IS BRINGING BACK UP THE TOPIC OF SOLAR FACILITIES.
ON APRIL 8TH, THE BOARD PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO STAFF THAT IT WISHED TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE, SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SOME CHANGES REGARDING WHERE LARGE SCALE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES ARE PERMITTED IN DIFFERENT ZONING DISTRICTS.
THOSE CHANGES THAT WERE DISCUSSED GENERALLY WOULD BE TO REMOVE IT AS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE IN THE ZONING DISTRICTS THAT IT'S CURRENTLY ALLOWED THAT WAY IN AND CHANGE IT SO IT WOULD ONLY BE A SPECIAL EXEMPT USE IN A M3 ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS JUST WHETHER TO INITIATE THAT PROCESS.
IF YOU DO INITIATE THE PROCESS, THEN STAFF WOULD PREPARE A DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND THEN BRING THAT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEN THEY WOULD HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND REVIEW THAT.
THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT AND COMMENT.
THEN IF THAT PASSES, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IT WOULD GO TO THE BOARD, SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. GRAVES ON THIS ONE?
>> YES. WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? WHAT IS THE CHANGE NOW IN THE ORDINANCE?
>> THIS WOULD BE TO START THE PROCESS TO POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE ORDINANCE SO THAT THE LARGE SCALE SOLAR FACILITIES, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN RA ZONING, A1 ZONING, AND OTHER PLACES, THAT WOULD TAKE THOSE OUT OF THOSE ZONING DISTRICTS, SO THEY COULDN'T BE APPROVED THAT WAY IN THOSE ZONING DISTRICTS.
>> THEN THE OTHER PORTION WAS, IT WOULD BE ALLOWED IN M3 ONLY THOUGH THROUGH A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
>> BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT'S M3 BY RIGHT.
[02:30:01]
>> THOSE ARE THE TWO MAJOR CHANGES.
>> COUNTY ATTORNEY, IS THIS A VOTE FOR US TO INITIATE?
>> I WOULD NEED A MOTION ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE FOR OUR ZONING DEPARTMENT TO.
>> I FAILED TO MENTION THAT THERE'S A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD INITIATE THE PROCESS.
INCLUDES THOSE THINGS THAT I JUST SUMMARIZED.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE INITIATE THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THROUGH THE RESOLUTION THAT'S PRESENTED.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. COX, AND SECOND BY MS. WAYMACK THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO INITIATE THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REGARDING SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES, AND IT'S BASED ON THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. NEXT WOULD BE AN INITIATION OF A COMP PLAN AMENDMENT REGARDING SOLAR SITING POLICY.
THIS IS A COMPANION ITEM TO THAT LAST ONE.
YOU HAVE YOUR ZONING ORDINANCE, WHICH IMPLEMENTS YOUR WISHES IN THE FORM OF REGULATIONS, AND THEN YOU HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT INDICATES THE COUNTY'S POLICY, HOW IT WANTS TO PROCEED FOR THE FUTURE.
ALSO, ON APRIL 8TH, THE BOARD PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO STAFF THAT IT WISHED TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS NEEDED TO REDUCE THAT ACREAGE LIMIT THAT'S ALREADY IN THERE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T WISH TO HAVE ANY MORE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVED FACILITIES THAN IT ALREADY HAS.
AS WITH THE LAST ITEM, THERE IS ALSO A RESOLUTION.
IF THE BOARD WISHES TO INITIATE THE PROCESS, THE FORMAL PROCESS, THEN IT CAN ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
IN THAT PROCESS, JUST LIKE WITH THE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN COMES BACK TO THE BOARD AND THE CITIZENS AND EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THE EXACT CHANGES ARE AT EACH STEP ALONG THE WAY.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE CAPPING THE CURRENT AMOUNT THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED TO EXISTING PROJECTS AT THAT NUMBER GOING FORWARD?
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE INITIATE THE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT PER THE RESOLUTION IN THE PACKET.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. COX AND SECOND BY MR. WEBB THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO INITIATE THE COMP PLAN AMENDMENT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. BOARD MEMBERS, I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL WE HAVE ON OUR PLATE FOR TONIGHT.
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE.
>> MR. CHAIR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH AND SECOND BY MRS. WAYMACK THAT WE WOULD ADJOURN AT THIS TIME.
MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.