[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS NOW 6:00 PM.
[A. Call to Order (6:00 pm)]
IT'S TIME FOR OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.WE'LL START WITH THE ROLL CALL.
>> MRS. WAYMACK IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. MR. COX.
>> NEXT, WE'LL HAVE OUR INVOCATION.
[B. Business Meeting]
I WILL DO THE BOARD'S INVOCATION TO BE FOLLOWED BY MR. PUGH, WHO WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING JUST SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO MEET YET FOR ANOTHER TIME.
HEAVENLY FATHER, BE WITH US THIS EVENING AS WE DISCUSS THE MATTERS OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
WE ALSO ASK YOU TO WRAP YOUR LOVING ARMS OR PROTECTION AROUND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR FIRE, OUR EMS, OUR POLICE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WATCH OVER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AS EACH PERSON IS DEFINITELY GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR NAME THIS EVENING. AMEN.
>> LET'S SEE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE NEXT THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
WE WILL FOLLOW THROUGH THE AGENDA, AND WE'LL MAKE NECESSARY THINGS AS WE GET THERE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH 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. NEXT, WE WILL GO INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS WHERE YOU'LL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND YOU CAN SPEAK AND BRING UP ANYTHING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION, EXCEPT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS PART OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.
THOSE WILL HAVE THEIR ALLOTTED TIME WHERE YOU CAN SPEAK ON THAT.
AGAIN, THE STIPULATION TO SPEAK IS YOU EITHER HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY OR OWN PROPERTY HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
IF YOU'RE IN ANOTHER AREA, BUT YOU OWN PROPERTY HERE, THEN YOU CAN SPEAK.
MRS. KNOTT, HAS ANYONE REGISTERED WITH YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> IS THERE ANYONE HERE IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME? PLEASE APPROACH THE DIAS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT POWELL'S CREEK.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S STILL ON THE AGENDA OR NOT TONIGHT, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
THEY APPARENTLY WANT AN EXTENSION TO THEIR 36 MONTH SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2022 FOR THE SOLAR INSTALLATION.
IF THIS APPLICANT, SOLVENT RIDGE, ARE THEMSELVES ASKING FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION CASE TO BE REOPENED FOR A TIME EXTENSION, THEN LET'S TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
WE, THE TAXPAYERS, HAVE LEVERAGE, AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THIS BOARD AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO LEVERAGE US AND PROTECT US FROM FUTURE FINANCIAL DISASTER.
THE SOLAR PLAN DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BY NOW HAVE INCLUDED AN OVERVIEW OF DECOMMISSIONING THAT PROJECT IN 30-40 YEARS ACCORDING TO THEIR TIME FRAME.
INCLUDING DISMANTLING, REMOVAL OF FACILITY, SUBSEQUENT RESTORATION OF LAND, SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED COST OF REVENUES.
A DECOMMISSIONING BOND IS REQUIRED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY FOR THE PROJECTED LIFE OF THE PROJECT, RENEGOTIATED, AND UPDATED FOR INFLATION OVER TIME.
TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE HOOK FOR END OF LIFE COSTS OR IN THE CASE OF THE OPERATION BEING SOLD OR THE BUSINESS FOLDING, WHICH IS NOTORIOUS IN THAT INDUSTRY.
NONE OF THESE REQUIRED PERFORMANCE BOND DETAILS HAVE BEEN LISTED IN THE POST DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
IF WE ASSUME INFLATION RATE IS 3% FOR FIVE YEARS,
[00:05:04]
A MILLION DOLLAR DECOMMISSION COSTS YOU A 1,200,000.THE BALANCE IS ON THE TAXPAYERS.
IF FOR 30 YEARS, IT'S NOT RENEGOTIATED OR UPDATED FOR INFLATION, A MILLION DOLLAR DECOMMISSION BECOMES 2.2 MILLION.
THAT'S 1,200,000 TO THE TAXPAYER OF THIS COUNTY, OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
IF AFTER THREE YEARS SUMMIT RIDGE IS NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE 36 MONTHS, THE COST ESTIMATES AND DETAILS OF THE DECOMMISSIONING AND SURETY BOND SHALL BE UPDATED AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS, QUOTE-UNQUOTE.
THAT'S THE TERMS THAT THEY SIGNED.
>> IF THEY'RE GOING TO REOPEN THIS THING TO RENEGOTIATE A TIME FRAME, IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO IT OURSELVES.
THE FOOT DRAGGING DEMONSTRATES AN UNACCEPTABLE LACK OF CONCERN FOR THIS COUNTY, ITS CITIZENS, OUR KIDS FUTURE, OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, AND A POTENTIAL IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE STOPPED IF THEY CAN'T PROVE THEY'RE SERIOUS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
>> BILL STELE, 9921, COUNTY LINE ROAD.
VERY QUICKLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M JUST GOING TO ECHO THAT WITH THE POWELL THING.
WE NEED TO NOT LET THAT SPECIAL EXEMPTION GO THROUGH.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS WHOLE THING STARTED ANYWAY.
WE ALL WELL KNOW VERY WELL THAT TWO, THREE YEARS AGO WHEN ALL THE HIDDEN AND UNDERCOVER WORK WAS DONE FOR THESE SOLAR PLANTS THEY WEREN'T PROPERLY ANNOUNCED AND PROPERLY LOOKED AT BY THE CITIZENS.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE OF THOSE THREE.
LET'S JUST END IT. WE'RE REDOING THE POLICY NOW.
WE NEED TO SUSPEND EVERYTHING UNTIL WE COME UP WITH OUR FIRM POLICY, NO EXCEPTIONS.
I KNOW THE BOARD LOVES TO GIVE SPECIAL EXEMPTIONS OUT, BUT THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
IT'S NOT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO CITIZENS WON'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT, SO JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW, AS YOU DISCUSS IT LATER ON TONIGHT, IT NEEDS TO STOP.
PUT AN END TO IT AND LET'S MOVE ON WITH GETTING OUR POLICY IN CONCRETE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD THAT.
THEN, LASTLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS JUST BILL STELE SPEAKING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU-ALL FELT WHEN YOU DROVE INTO OUR BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AREA TODAY.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PUT POLITICAL SIGNS UP, BUT THAT'S A TRAVESTY OUT THERE. I'D BE EMBARRASSED.
I AM EMBARRASSED FOR OUR COUNTY, SOMEONE COMING INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND SEEING ALL THOSE POLITICAL SIGNS HALFWAY FALLING OVER, LAYING ON THE GROUND, NOT SET UP THE SAME NAMES, 1,000 TIMES.
I DON'T NEED TO SEE A MILLION SIGNS.
I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT, BUT, MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. STOKE, SURELY WE CAN POLICE THAT UP A LITTLE BETTER AND MAKE OUR BUILDING LOOK HALFWAY PRESENTABLE.
ANYWAY, JUST A THOUGHT TO CONSIDER, NOT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD THIS EVENING? GOOD EVENING, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING. RICK TUTTER [PHONETIC]. I WAS TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING I THOUGHT WAS BROKEN.
I MESSED THIS REALLY UP. 9750, BLACKWATER FARM LANE, DISPUTANTA.
I DO WANT TO SECOND THAT I AGREE WITH THEM.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EXTEND THAT.
I THINK WE'VE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH, AND I THINK THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS STARTING TO FIGURE OUT SOME THINGS ABOUT SOLAR, AND I THINK THERE'S A PLACE FOR SOLAR.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD EAT UP FARM LAND.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO TO PREVENT IT, THEN I SAY, PREVENT IT.
REALLY, WHAT I CAME UP HERE FOR WAS TO TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT PRIVATE ROADS.
WHEN JULIE WAS HERE, THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PRIVATE ROAD ORDINANCE SAID THAT IF YOU HAD TWO LOTS THAT TOUCHED A PUBLIC ROAD, YOU COULD HAVE THREE LOTS BEHIND THEM, EVEN THOUGH VDOT WANTS THAT TO USE THAT ROAD, SO TECHNICALLY FIVE USE IT, YOU COULD STILL PUT THREE LOTS BEHIND IT.
MR. BALDWIN AT NO FAULT OF HIS OWN, HIS INTERPRETATION IS DIFFERENT, IN THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THOSE TWO LOTS NOW COUNT AGAINST YOUR THREE.
IN ESSENCE, IF YOU HAVE 15 ACRES BEHIND IT, YOU ONLY GET A 15 INSTEAD OF THREE FIVES.
I THINK THAT INTERPRETATION IS, I WOULDN'T SAY MISTAKEN BECAUSE I THINK THE ORDINANCE OPENS ITSELF UP TO BE INTERPRETED BOTH WAYS, BUT I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD ON SOME OF THESE THINGS ON COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, THAT PRIVATE ROADS DEFINITELY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OF YOU-ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY ON THIS.
YOU COULDN'T DRAG ME OUT OF THERE.
IF I CAN FIND A WAY TO DO IT AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN MY LIFE, AND I KNOW THAT MY GREAT NEPHEW IS GOING TO INHERIT IT AT SOME POINT, AND I KNOW HE'S GOING TO KEEP IT, I'M GOING TO PUT A CEMETERY BACK THERE.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. I LIKE WHERE I'M AT.
IT'S PRIVATE, IT'S SIMPLE, JUST THE WAY IT WORKS, BUT A LOT OF US DO.
WE PREFER TO LIVE THAT WAY, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD.
[00:10:02]
YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO CAME IN WHEN LEON HUGHES WAS THE ZONING DIRECTOR, GOING WAY ON BACK,2004, I THINK.THEN SHARON CAME ALONG, AND DOUGLAS MILES WAS TERRIBLE ABOUT THIS TOO.
PEOPLE COME IN YELLING, COMPLAINING, SCREAMING, AND HOLLERING, AND THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO FIX THE PRIVATE ROAD.
WHEN WE SELL THEM A PRIVATE ROAD, WE GIVE THEM A ROAD MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.
IT'S REQUIRED BY LAW THAT WE DO THAT.
WHEN THEY CLOSE, THE LAWYER GOES OVER THE ROAD MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THEM.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE BUYING INTO WHEN THEY BUY INTO IT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING FOR FREE, OR THEY'RE JUST IGNORANT.
TAKE YOUR PICK ONE OR THE OTHER.
WHY WOULD YOU CLOSE DOWN WHAT I THINK IS A VALUABLE PART OF REAL ESTATE OR EVEN CONSIDER TAKING AWAY THE PRIVATE ROAD? OR LET'S STEP ONE STEP FURTHER, WHY BE INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE STANDARDS OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR A PRIVATE ROAD? BECAUSE THAT JUST MAKES YOU, AS A COUNTY, I WOULDN'T SAY LIABLE, BUT TO BLAME, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN WHEN THE RAIN WASHES IT OUT OR WHEN THEY HAVE TO PUT GRAVEL DOWN, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT BUILT TO THE RIGHT STANDARD.
THE MOMENT YOU LEAVE A STATE-MAINTAINED ROAD, VDOT LOSES ALL RESPONSIBILITY, WE NEED TO LOSE IT.
IF I DON'T BUILD THE ROAD AS A DEVELOPER THAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO LIVE BACK THERE ON, THAT'S GOING TO BE REFLECTED IN WHAT I CAN GET FOR THE LAND, SO ULTIMATELY THERE'S NO REASON.
WHEN THOSE PEOPLE WALK IN AND THEY START COMPLAINING, I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT THE FOLKS IN THE ZONING OFFICE, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN THERE, ALL OF THEM, LOOK RIGHT AT THEM AND SAY, YOU BOUGHT ON A PRIVATE ROAD, IT'S A PRIVATE ROAD, JUST LIKE YOU DO WHEN THEY TRY TO ENFORCE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS.
THE COUNTY NEEDS TO WASH ITS HAND OF THAT, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO ELIMINATE THE PRIVATE ROAD WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> JAMES KELLER, 1357 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
BY LAW, PROPERTY OWNERS IN THIS STATE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW HOW THEIR REAL ESTATE PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS WERE CALCULATED.
BY LAW, PROPERTY OWNERS IN THIS STATE ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO A, QUOTE, WRITTEN EXPLANATION OR JUSTIFICATION FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY'S ASSESSED VALUE, UNQUOTE.
SINCE LATE MARCH OF THIS YEAR, I'VE MADE SEVERAL REQUESTS TO OUR COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND TO THE COUNTY'S CONTRACTOR FOR THIS INFORMATION.
AT LONG LAST, MOST OF THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
IT ARRIVED BY USPS ON MAY 3RD, THREE DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR FILING MY APPEAL, A LOT OF GOOD THAT LATE ARRIVING INFORMATION DID FOR ME WHEN FILING MY APPEAL, AND HAVING MADE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR A, QUOTE, WRITTEN EXPLANATION OR JUSTIFICATION FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PROPERTIES ASSESSED VALUE PER VA LAW 58.1-3331, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE IT.
ONE OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY'S CORE VALUES IS TRANSPARENCY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW OUR REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS WERE CALCULATED, HASHTAG FAIL.
THE MATERIALS PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACTOR, ASSESSMENT WORKSHEETS FOR BUILDINGS AND LAND PLUS 60-PAGE DOCUMENT GENERALLY FAIL TO EXPLAIN AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE AND EXAMPLES HOW PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY ASSESSMENTS WERE CALCULATED.
THESE MATERIALS ALSO FAIL IN A NUMBER OF INSTANCES TO DEFINE THE WORKSHEET PARAMETERS USED TO CALCULATE THESE ASSESSMENTS.
THERE'S NO DEFINITION OF WHAT SIZE ADJUSTMENT MEANS, HOW IT WAS DETERMINED OR HOW IT'S APPLIED.
THERE'S NO DEFINITION OF WHAT ENHANCED AREA MEANS, HOW IT WAS DETERMINED NOR HOW IT'S APPLIED.
NO DEFINITION OF WHAT EFFECTIVE AGE MEANS, NO DEFINITION OF WHAT PERCENT GOOD MEANS, NO DEFINITION OF WHAT RCN MEANS.
ALL THESE THINGS APPEAR ON THE WORKSHEETS, NO DEFINITION OF WHAT RCNLD MEANS.
NO EXPLANATION WHY THE TOTAL ADJUSTMENT TO THE BASE LAND COSTS IS SUDDENLY INCREASED BY 30%.
NO EXPLANATION HOW DEPRECIATION IS SUPPLIED OTHER THAN, QUOTE, RELIES UPON THE APPLICATION OF COMPUTER MODELING TECHNIQUES.
THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR THAT DESCRIPTION IS HAND WAVING, AND THERE'S NO WARM FUZZY LEFT HERE.
NO EXPLANATION WHY A 30-YEAR-OLD BUILDING HAS DEPRECIATED OVER 20 YEARS ONLY.
WHETHER INTENDED OR NOT, THE CONTRACTOR SUPPLIED MATERIALS, IN MY OPINION, ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF PASSIVE AGGRESSION.
APPARENTLY, WE'RE JUST EXPECTED TO ACCEPT THIS WOO AND PAY THE BILL.
TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS SERVICE WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
DON'T YOU THINK WE DESERVE BETTER? THE LAW SAYS WE DO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR, BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE A RESPONSE BACK ON THIS ONE.
IF ANYBODY WATCHED OUR LAST MEETING,
[00:15:03]
WHERE WE HAD VISION HERE, EVERYONE SAW THE QUESTIONS THAT WE PRESENTED TO THEM.THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THEM ON IT.
THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT COULD PROVIDE THOSE WORKSHEETS AND STUFF BECAUSE THEY WERE THE LICENSED ASSESSOR.
YES, THEY STILL HAVEN'T DONE GOOD IN THE EXPLANATION, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THAT.
WE HAVEN'T FINISHED TRYING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH VISION TO GET THIS RESOLVED, BUT PLEASE, BY NO MEANS, THE COUNTY IS NOT SITTING ON THEIR HANDS.
WE ARE NOT IGNORING THE SITUATION.
WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS AS QUICK AS WE CAN, WORKING ALSO WITH MR. HORN AND HIS OFFICE IN THE LOCAL ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE HEAR YOU.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT STRAIGHT.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN FIX OVERNIGHT. YOU ARE RIGHT.
YOU JUST GOT THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE VISION DIDN'T SEND IT OUT UNTIL RECENTLY.
THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT COULD PROVIDE YOU THE WORKSHEETS BECAUSE OUR OFFICE DID NOT DO THE ASSESSMENTS.
ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK?
>> JUSTIN NOBLIN, 8724 CENTENNIAL ROAD.
I DID WANT TO THANK Y'ALL AND REITERATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID AFTER HIS SPEECH.
THAT'S WHAT I INTENDED TO SAY.
>> SORRY, DIDN'T MEAN TO SEAL YOUR THUNDERS.
>> NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL. WE DO HAVE TREMENDOUS ISSUES STILL WITH THESE ASSESSMENTS.
I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH SEVERAL OF Y'ALL, AND DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT Y'ALL WILL HAVE THESE MEETINGS AND LISTEN AND COMMUNICATE WITH US AND WORK WITH US AND ASK ADVICE FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS.
IT SHOWS A LOT OF FAITH IN THE CITIZENS AND CARE FOR YOUR COUNTY, AND I DO VALUE THAT TREMENDOUSLY.
WHILE I SAY THAT, THERE STILL ARE TREMENDOUS ISSUES THAT WE HAVE POINTED OUT, AND THAT IS A CONCERN WITH Y'ALL'S PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, AND I WON'T TOUCH ON THOSE BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THOSE DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT THE FOUNDATIONAL VALUES WHEN YOU BUILD A HOUSE, NO MATTER HOW WELL YOU BUILD IT, IF THE FOUNDATION IS FLAWED, THE HOUSE IS GOING TO FALL DOWN.
OUR FOUNDATION IS STILL TREMENDOUSLY FLAWED ON THESE ASSESSMENTS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CODES ARE ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.
THE VALUES ON THEM ARE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY INCORRECT ON NUMEROUS SITUATIONS.
WE STILL HAVE THE ISSUE WITH DEFAULTS BEING CHANGED WITH BUILDINGS BEING CHANGED, AND AGAIN, I'M JUST REITERATING WHAT I'VE ALREADY CONVEYED TO Y'ALL, AND Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY SAID Y'ALL WILL DILIGENTLY WORK ON AND JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, PUBLICLY PRAISE Y'ALL FOR THE EFFORT OF GETTING THIS RIGHT.
IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS UNDERTAKING, AND I KNOW THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN A CRITIC.
I'VE BEEN ONE OF THE PROBABLY MOST VOCAL FOR Y'ALL, BUT I DO LIKE TO GIVE Y'ALL PRAISE WHEN IT'S DUE.
I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS RIGHT BECAUSE THE COUNTY NEEDS IT.
>> JAMES PARTON, 10225, BRIGHTON DRIVE.
I'M UP HERE AS EVERYBODY ELSE IS ABOUT THE ASSESSMENTS, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A GOOD ASSESSMENT.
IN 2020, MY LAND WAS ASSESSED WAY TOO HIGH.
MOST OF IT IS A VALLEY THAT GOES DOWN TO A CREEK THAT FEEDS HOWELL'S CREEK OUT TO THE JAMES RIVER.
I CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITH THAT LAND THAT WOULD CAUSE RUNOFF INTO THAT.
WITHIN A WEEK, SOMEONE FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE CAME OUT, WALKED THAT PROPERTY WITH ME.
WITHIN ANOTHER WEEK, I GOT A LETTER.
MY PROPERTY WAS REASSESSED WITH ONLY TWO ACRES BEING USABLE LAND.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO AN ASSESSMENT, FEET ON THE GROUND, RESPONDING TO THE CITIZENS.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A POOR JOB IN SUPPORTING OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WITH STAFF AND MONEY.
I KNOW WE PEOPLE GOT MONEY BECAUSE I WENT AND LOOKED ON THE WEBSITE, LOOKED UP WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE BEING PAID, AND THE HIGHEST I FOUND WAS $158,000.
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT FOUR OR FIVE ASSESSORS IN THAT OFFICE AND SAVE YOU FROM THE HEADACHE YOU HAD THIS YEAR.
[00:20:04]
AS MUCH AS YOU PAID VISION, HOW FAR WOULD THAT HAVE GONE HAVING OUR OWN ASSESSORS? I JUST IMPLORE THE BOARD TO EXAMINE THAT AND KNOW WE DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT WE GOT THIS YEAR.THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO HAVE OUR OWN PEOPLE HERE LOOKING AFTER US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> AGAIN, I'LL REITERATE, THAT'S BEEN STATED A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO.
AFTER THE LAST SITUATION THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE IN OUR LOCAL ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WHO IS LICENSED BY THE STATE TO DO ASSESSMENTS.
THAT'S THE REASON WE ASSUMED THAT THE COMPANY THAT OWNED THE SOFTWARE COULD DO THE PROPER ASSESSMENT.
WE WILL HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE VERY SOON AS HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW OFTEN WE'RE GOING TO ASSESS AND WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO DO IT LOCALLY OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THIRD PARTY.
THAT WILL BE THE TIME WE'LL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, BUT THIS WAS NOT JUST LET'S JUST DO IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT THE LOCAL OFFICE TO DO IT.
WE DID NOT HAVE THE PERSONNEL IN THE OFFICE WHO WERE LICENSED TO DO THIS. YES, SIR.
>> I MOVED TO PRINCE GEORGE IN THE '60S, AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS COMING AROUND AND IT SAID, VOTE FOR ME.
I'M GOING TO DO THIS, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
I SAID, "HOW ABOUT WATER?" THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME AGO IN THE '60S.
I DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT A WELL.
I GOT GOOD WATER, BUT I LOOK OVER IN COUNTIES LIKE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, I DON'T SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO GOT WELLS LIKE I GOT.
SOMEBODY TELL YOU SOMETHING, THEY NEVER GOT BACK WITH ME.
NOBODY EVER GOT BACK WITH ME AND GAVE ME AN ANSWER.
IF I HAD GOT AN ANSWER, IT'D BEEN DIFFERENT.
SAY, WE AIN'T GOING DO THAT FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN DIFFERENT, BUT THEY IGNORED ME.
THE OTHER COUNTIES SEEMED TO ME LIKE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY COMES FAR BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING PARKS AND RECREATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I LIVED IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY A WHILE.
I KNOW THEY JUST SEEMED TO HAVE DOUBLE THE STAFF WE GOT.
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IS A BIG COUNTY, COVERS A LOT OF TERRITORY, BUT I DON'T SEE WHAT IN THIS COUNTY, AND I'VE BEEN PAYING MY TAXES AND ALL THAT.
LIKE I SAID, I COME HERE IN '60S, BUT YEARS AGO, I GOT A THING ON A BOAT.
I'VE BEEN PAYING TAX ON THAT THING QUITE A FEW YEARS.
I CALLED AND TOLD HIM, I SAID, "YOU CHARGED ME X AMOUNT ON THIS THING.
THIS THING IS 15 YEARS OLD." THE LADY SAID, "WELL, AIN'T NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT." I SAID, "WELL, YOU CAN COME DOWN HERE AND LOOK AT IT." SHE SAID, "NO, WE'RE TOO BUSY.
WE AIN'T GOT NOBODY OUT THERE CAN CHECK ON STUFF LIKE THAT." I SAID, "ALL RIGHT." I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? JUST TAKE IT TO THE DUMP OR WHATEVER." BUT THEN SHE GOT BACK WITH ME LATER ON, AND SAID SHE'S GOING TO TAKE IT OFF MY RECORDS.
SHE FINALLY CALLED UP WITH ME, I RECKON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE MOVING THIS WAY OR MAKING THEIR WAY.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE WILL NOW GO TO.
>> HI. I'M SORRY I JUST WALKED IN.
I LIVE AT 13415 QUEEN STREET, DISPUTANTA, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE FOR TRASH AND GRASS.
>> THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THAT'LL BE HELD TONIGHT, AND DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, THERE'LL BE A TIME FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO COME UP AND SPECIFICALLY SPEAK ON THAT SUBJECT.
[00:25:03]
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME THAT IS?
>> WE WILL BE GETTING TO IT HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BOARD MEMBERS.
[C. Consent Agenda]
LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE.>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH AND SECOND BY MR. COX THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS SO STATED.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. NOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR SUPERVISOR COMMENTS,
[D. Comments]
AND I'LL START TO MY RIGHT WITH MR. PUGH.I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I KNOW STAFF IS WORKING WELL AFTER WE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THE COMPLAINTS WE'VE RECEIVED FROM Y'ALL FROM VISION, THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK THEY'RE WORKING ON A PLAN TO FIX THOSE ISSUES.
I YET AGAIN, SAY, IF SOMEBODY FEELS LIKE SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT, PLEASE STILL REACH OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOME BUDGET STUFF COMING UP, I BELIEVE.
>> 21ST. PLEASE COME OUT FOR THAT.
LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING YOUR TAX DOLLARS ON.
PLEASE BE A PART OF IT. PLEASE REACH OUT.
LOOK AT THE BUDGET. IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE SHOULDN'T FUND SOMETHING, IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD FUND SOMETHING, PLEASE CALL US AND LET US KNOW.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT AT THIS TIME.
>> I'D LIKE TO ECHO MR. PUGH'S COMMENTS.
THANKS, EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.
I WANT TO THANK PEOPLE FOR THE PHONE CALLS.
I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL CALL AND SAY, I HATE TO KEEP BOTHERING YOU.
YOU'RE NOT BOTHERING ME. THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR. I'M YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.
I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE, AND I SHARE IN YOUR AGONY WITH THE ASSESSMENTS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. THE WAGON IS MOVING.
IT'S MOVING SLOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
BUT THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE CALLS.
LIKE I SAID, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT, AND AGAIN, JUST A BIG THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR ME.
>> I'LL ECHO THE OTHER TWO BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S NOT WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR, NOT BY A LONG SHOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S HERE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
WE WANT TO BE ACCURATE. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. THAT'S IT.
>> AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
THIS IS GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE BEING ENGAGED.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLING ME.
EVERYBODY KNOWS MY NUMBER OR KNOW HOW TO GET HOLD OF ME.
YOU'RE NOT RESTRICTED TO THREE MINUTES WHEN YOU CALL ANY OF US.
YOU CAN CALL US AND TALK TO US ABOUT THINGS.
I PERSONALLY LIKE THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THINGS AND I GET TO HEAR THINGS AND ABLE TO EXPLAIN SOME THINGS.
WE STILL MAY NOT AGREE AT THE END OF THE PHONE CALL, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO TALK AND SHARE THINGS.
I WILL DEFINITELY ECHO, AS I STATED A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, OR MAY HAVE BEEN EVEN LAST MEETING, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE PLANNED FOR, HOPED FOR, OR WISHED FOR.
WE WANTED ALL OF THIS TO BE RIGHT.
WE'RE IN IT NOW, AND WE HAVE TO FIX IT SO THAT WE'RE RIGHT GOING FORWARD.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO GETTING THIS STRAIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WOULD BE COMMENTS FROM OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. JUST A FEW DATES COMING UP.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH WILL BE THE PRINCE GEORGE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING AT THE PRINCE GEORGE PARKS AND REC COMMUNITY CENTER AT 4:00 P.M.
THIS SATURDAY, THE FARMERS' MARKET CONTINUES WITH THE ANNUAL PLANT SALE AT SCOTT PARK FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM.
ON MONDAY, MAY 19TH IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION.
THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RIGHT HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM BEGINNING AT 5:30 PM.
THE PRINCE GEORGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL BE MEETING MAY 21ST AT NOON IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM OF THE HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING, AND OF COURSE, IT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THE BUDGET WORK SESSION WILL BE HERE WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST IN THE BOARD ROOM AT 6:00 PM. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, WE WILL HAVE OUR VDOT REPORT FROM MR. PAUL HENSON. GOOD EVENING, SIR.
>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CHAIRMAN BROWN.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA TO ADD TO THE REPORT THAT WE PROVIDED YOU THIS EVENING.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE GOT GOLF COURSE DRIVE PAID.
[00:30:03]
THAT WAS A BIG PROJECT FOR US.WE ENDED UP GETTING IT TAKEN CARE OF.
WE GOTTEN JORDAN POINT ROAD DONE.
WE'RE ALSO PATCHING POTHOLES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE'VE GOT ALL OF OUR AREA HEADQUARTERS WORKING ON THAT AS WELL AS OUR CONTRACTORS.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE THINGS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, AND WE'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES IN THE WORK ORDERS AS THEY COME IN.
UNLESS THERE'S OTHER CONCERNS OF THE BOARD, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE SECONDARY SIX YEAR PLAN AT THAT.
>> NO, GO AHEAD. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO BRING UP?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR GOLF COURSE DRIVE.
>> I WISH I COULD DO THAT TO EVERY SECONDARY ROAD.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE, BUT IT'S ALL THE WAY OUT TO HINES AND ARWOOD, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE AREA WHERE WE'VE BUILT THE NEW HOUSES RIGHT THERE ON THE OLD GOLF COURSE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TREE ROOTS APPARENTLY HAVE GROWN ON THE ROAD, AND WE'VE GOT SOME POTHOLES THROUGH THERE.
IF YOU COULD JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE SECTION FROM PAMPAS TO PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOTTEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MY PHONE RIGHT NOW FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I SPOKE TO.
TAVERN ROAD DOWN BY THE S CURVES RIGHT IN THE 4,100 BLOCK.
I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY BEEN A YEAR AGO, THERE WAS SOME SIGNAGE PUT OUT.
GOT A CALL FROM A GENTLEMAN TODAY STATING THAT WHEN HE PULLS OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, A LOT OF CARS ARE COMING UP REAL CLOSE TO HIM.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN PUT A SIGN OUT THERE THAT MAYBE SAYS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WATCH FOR TURNING VEHICLES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I'M NOT SURE IF A SPEED STUDY NEEDS TO BE DONE.
JUST MAYBE PUT YOUR EYES ON IT AND SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.
>> DO YOU HAVE A PACIFIC ADDRESS THAT I CAN LOOK INTO?
>> I CAN GIVE IT TO YOU, 4101.
>> ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE SAYING THEY HAVE SOME SIGHT DISTANCE ISSUES?
>> YES, SIR. IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO SPEED BECAUSE THERE'S SOME CURVES RIGHT THERE AT THAT PART OF THE ROAD.
ALSO, THE SIGN AT JEFFERSON PARK AND MIDDLE ROAD FELL DOWN.
IT'S LIKE THE ASPHALT GAVE AWAY.
IT'S LIKE THE ANCHORS AREN'T LONG ENOUGH FOR THE MERGE SIGN THAT'S UP THERE.
>> HE SAID HE THINKS SOME ONE HIT IT.
>> IT'S ABOUT THE THIRD ONE THEY'VE HIT.
>> I THINK IT JUST BLEW OVER. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT IT.
LOOKS LIKE THE WIND JUST BLEW IT RIGHT OVER BECAUSE THE ASPHALT PEELED OFF AND THE SIGN DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
>> THE ONE BEFORE GOT RUN OVER BECAUSE IT WAS TORE ALL TO PIECES.
I THINK THE WIND JUST BLEW IT.
THEN ALSO ON SANDY RIDGE, JUST BEFORE THE MEADOWS, THERE'S A COUPLE POTHOLES THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED, AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OF SURFACE POTHOLES THAT NEED LOOKING AT AS WELL. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
>> I'LL ECHO MR. COX ON THANK YOU FOR A GOLF COURSE.
WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS ON THAT ROAD THAT ACTUALLY EMAILED TO US AND SAY, YEAH, IT'S DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, THE EXPECTATION CAN'T BE THAT EVERY ROAD IN THE COUNTY LOOKS LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE THOSE TYPE FUNDS.
>> IT'S A RARE OCCASION THAT WE GET TO PAVE A SECONDARY ROAD, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO IN THAT SITUATION.
>> YES, SIR. UNDERSTOOD. I'M JUST GOING TO BRING THIS UP.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS YET, BUT THIS IS UP AT THE DOG BONE.
THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM 460 DOWN COURTHOUSE COMING INTO THE DOG BONE.
I KNOW MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN IN THAT DOG BONE AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX TIMES, AND THE PEOPLE COMING STRAIGHT DOWN COURTHOUSE OBVIOUSLY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY BECAUSE THEY WILL LITERALLY ALMOST NOT STOP AT ALL TO COME INTO THE CIRCLE, EVEN WITH CARS THAT ARE ALREADY IN.
I MENTIONED. THEY PROBABLY WILL IGNORE IT IF THERE WAS A YIELD SIGN OR SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T SEE IT THE OTHER WAY, WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM THE ADMIN BUILDING INTO COURTHOUSE.
>> I DON'T SEE IT BEING FROM THE TWO SIDE ENTRANCES.
IT'S MAINLY THAT MAIN ENTRANCE, THE MAIN COMING INTO THE CIRCLE FROM 460 DOWN COURTHOUSE INTO THE DOG BONE.
I WAS COMING THROUGH THE OTHER DAY AND THERE WAS ALMOST A COLLISION.
IF THE PERSON THAT WAS IN THE CIRCLE HAD NOT STOPPED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH RIGHT THERE.
>> I UNDERSTAND, SIR. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SIGNAGE UP THERE, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN LOOK AT IT.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PACIFIC SIGNAGE TOO THAT WE USE FOR ROUNDABOUTS.
IT INDICATES THAT YIELD CONDITION, BUT I'LL GET OUR CONSTRUCTION GROUP AND OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING MISSING OR ANYTHING WE CAN [INAUDIBLE].
>> I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THAT CIRCLE A LOT AND HAVE SEEN SOME NEAR CRASHES ALREADY.
>> IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES IS GETTING PEOPLE TO YIELD FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE ROUNDABOUT.
[00:35:03]
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT WE DON'T WANT ACCIDENTS EITHER.>> MR. BROWN, I GOT ONE MORE THING TO ADD.
>> MR. HENSON, ON THE DOG BONE, THE WORK IS COMPLETE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
>> ON BULL HILL ROAD, COMING FROM 46 0 TO COURTHOUSE, THERE'S STILL A ROAD WORK AHEAD SIGN MOUNTED ON A POST.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THEY JUST PULLED EVERYTHING, AND THAT'S ONE THEY FORGOT BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO HURRY UP AND GET OVER THERE, BUT IF YOU COULD CHECK ON THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
>> I CAME THROUGH IT, I PROBABLY JUST IGNORED IT.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM HERE'S UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[E. Public Hearings]
THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE UNDER OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS IS A VDOT SECONDARY SIX-YEAR PLAN.>> GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY SECONDARY SIX-YEAR PLAN.
ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM TELE FEES OF AMOUNT OF $89,523 THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2026 THROUGH 2031, GIVING US A TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDS OF $537,138.
THAT'S THE ONLY FUNDING THAT'S IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, AND THAT FUNDING IS DEDICATED TO THE ROUNDABOUT AT MIDDLE ROAD AND JEFFERSON ROAD.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THE ALLOCATIONS IN THE FISCAL YEARS 2026, 2027, AND 2028 TO MAKE UP A DEFICIT WE HAVE IN THAT PROJECT.
THAT PROJECT WILL BE FULLY FUNDED WITH THOSE.
THEN IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, WHICH ARE 2029, 2030, AND 2031, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE THE 89,000 IN CHANGE TO THE BALANCED ENTRY ACCOUNT, WHICH WILL GIVE YOU APPROXIMATELY $270,000 IN THAT ACCOUNT AT THE END OF THE SIX-YEAR PERIOD.
THAT'S THE ONLY ITEMS ON THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN ANSWER THEM AS WELL.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, AT THIS TIME, DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HENSON?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL NOW BE OPENING THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EITHER SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS SECONDARY SIX-YEAR PLAN, YOU CAN COME UP.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FIRST, AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME ON THE SECONDARY SIX-YEAR PLAN.
>> RICK TUTTERTON [PHONETIC], 9750 BLACKWATER FARM LANE.
I'M WONDERING, IS THIS FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR NEW PROJECTS ONLY, OR DOES THIS AFFECT US ON MAINTENANCE OF OUR SECONDARY ROADS AS WELL? IS THAT THE BUDGET FOR BOTH, OR IS IT JUST THE BUDGET FOR THESE PROJECTS? THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.
>> WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE TO ANSWER THAT FOR YOU.
>> JIM QUEST, 9807, COUNTY LINE ROAD.
IF A NEW ROUNDABOUT IS THE ONLY NEW PROJECT IN SIX YEARS, HOW DOES THIS JIVE WITH THE COMP PLAN WE'RE PAYING FOR? DOES A COMP PLAN ADDRESS ANY GROWTH AT ALL? THERE'S NO NEED FOR A ROAD, NOTHING? IT'S VERY HARD TO BELIEVE.
I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS WHOLE COMP PLAN THING AND ITS ABILITY TO NOT LOOK FORWARD INTO THINGS LIKE 9,000 NEW PEOPLE COMING TO A CASINO ACROSS OUR BORDER.
SURELY, THERE'S AN INTERSECTION OR A STOP LIGHT THAT NEEDS TO GO UP.
HOW IS THERE NOTHING IN THE VDOT PLAN FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS? THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS HERE.
MR. BILL STELE [PHONETIC], COUNTY LINE ROAD.
MR. CHAIRMAN, SINCE IF THERE'S A CHANCE TO GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WE NEED SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT HINES ROAD? I THOUGHT WE HAD IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN OR SOME TALK ABOUT MAKING AN INTERSECTION AT HINES ROAD.
WHAT I'D HOPE WE WANT TO AVOID IS ANOTHER QUEEN STREET INCIDENT.
WE'RE PAYING A FORTUNE FOR QUEEN STREET THAT NOBODY WANTS.
BOTH THIS BOARD AND VDOT SAY, THE OTHER PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR QUEEN STREET.
[00:40:03]
STILL DON'T KNOW WHO'S ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR QUEEN STREET.I DO KNOW WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY.
THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THERE.
THEY JUST FINISHED MOVING ALL THE TELEPHONE POLES OUT, SO I'M GUESSING QUEEN STREET WILL BE WORKING HERE SHORTLY, BUT CORRECT ME.
I THOUGHT WE TALKED ABOUT HINES STREET TOO, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
MAYBE WE CAN GET A LITTLE CLARIFICATION ON THAT, AGAIN, WITH THE INTENT OF TRYING TO AVOID THE FIASCO THAT RESULTED IN QUEEN STREET.
I JUST SHARED THAT SINCE WE'RE TAKING THAT A TIME.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK HERE IN THE ROOM AT THIS TIME? MS. PUTLO, IS THERE ANYONE ON VIRTUALLY TONIGHT?
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE IS NO ONE ON VIRTUALLY THIS EVENING.
>> MRS. KNOTT, YOU DON'T HAVE A LIST OF ANYBODY ELSE?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'LL INVITE MR. HENSON BACK UP IF HE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED BY SOME OF THE CITIZENS.
NOT CONCERNS, BUT QUESTIONS, EXCUSE ME.
>> SURE. THE FIRST QUESTION I HEARD WAS, DOES THE SIX-YEAR PLAN INCLUDE MAINTENANCE? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF OUR NORMAL MAINTENANCE FUNDING.
THIS IS JUST NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT NO FUNDING FOR ANYTHING ELSE? I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, VDOT DOES NOT SELECT THE PROJECTS.
THE COUNTY SELECTS THE PROJECTS.
VDOT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROJECT SELECTION.
WE ASSIST THE COUNTY IN FUNDING THE PROJECTS THEY SELECT TO PLACE IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
IT IS NOT VDOT'S CHOICE WHICH PROJECTS WE'RE FUNDING.
NOW, WE DO WITH SOME FEDERAL PROJECTS, LIKE BRIDGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE DO NOT SELECT THE PROJECTS THAT GO IN THE PLAN.
THAT WOULD ALSO ACCOUNT FOR SAYING HINES ROAD.
IF HINES ROAD WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN, THEN THERE WOULD BE A PROCESS TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TOWARD THAT PROJECT.
ALSO, JUST AS A GENERAL NOTE, JUST BECAUSE VDOT DOESN'T FUND THE PROJECT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE BUILT.
IT COULD BE A LOCALLY ADMINISTERED PROJECT, SO THE COUNTY HAS THE ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT PROJECTS THAT AREN'T IN THEIR SIX-YEAR PLAN.
THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING MECHANISMS AS WELL, BUT THE ONLY PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED BY THE FUNDS THAT ARE IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN ARE THE ROUNDABOUT AT MIDDLE ROAD, AND THEN THE REMAINDER OF THAT TO BE PLACED IN THE BALANCED ENTRY FEE ACCOUNT.
>> MR. WEBB, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS.
I'M LOSING THE CATCH PHRASE HERE, BUT HINES ROAD ALONG WITH QUEEN STREET, THOSE WERE?
>> I HEARD THE MENTION OF QUEEN STREET.
QUEEN STREET WENT THROUGH A COMPETITIVE FUNDING PROCESS AT THE RICHMOND DISTRICT, WHERE ALL THE LOCALITIES IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT COMPETE FOR THE AVAILABLE FUNDS.
WE FULLY FUNDED THE QUEEN STREET PROJECT, RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION, THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING, THE FIELD INVESTIGATION, THE CONSTRUCTION.
WHEN WE AWARD A SMART SCALE PROJECT, IT'S FULLY FUNDED.
IT'S NOT LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS WHERE A PROJECT MIGHT SIT ON THE SIX-YEAR PLAN FOR 15 YEARS TRYING TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH FUNDS WHERE IT COULD BE CONSTRUCTED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A MECHANISM IN THE PAST WITH VDOT FUNDING TO COMPLETELY FUND THE PROJECT, BUT THE SMART SCALE PROGRAM COMPLETELY FUNDS THE PROJECT FROM DESIGN TO THE END OF CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ANY OF OUR OTHER FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE HAD.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE HINES ROAD ONE WAS SMART SCALE AS WELL.
>> IT DIDN'T RANK HIGH ENOUGH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK.
I JUST KNOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY.
>> IT DIDN'T RANK HIGH ENOUGH WITH THE APPLICATIONS.
>> YES, SIR. THAT DOES HAPPEN.
>> BUT IT'S NOT TIED TO THE SIX-YEAR PLAN TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
>> IT'S NOT TIED TO THE SIX YEAR PLAN.
>> IT WAS NOT IN THE COUNTY'S REQUEST FOR PROJECTS IN THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
>> YES. BOARD MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
>> IF WE WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE SIX-YEAR PLAN, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT?
THEY'VE ALREADY HELD THEIR PUBLIC HEARING AND EVERYTHING ON THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
YOU CAN ANSWER THAT, OR MR. STOKE. HE WAS ASKING IF YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE SIX YEAR PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN AT THIS TIME.
>>I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT I WAS PRESENTING THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE DONE.
>> I KNOW THAT WE AMEND THE SIX-YEAR PLANS EVERY YEAR.
[00:45:04]
WE CALL IT A SIX-YEAR PLAN.YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT IT.
IT JUST WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED UNTIL THE NEXT REVIEW OF THE SIX-YEAR PLAN.
>> WE EITHER HAVE TO HAVE A FUNDING FOR IT, OR WE HAVE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR IT OR TRY TO GET IT THROUGH SMART SCALE.
THEN IT'S GOT TO BE RANKED WITH ALL THE OTHER SURROUNDING LOCALITIES THAT ARE COMPETING FOR THE SAME DOLLARS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? I NEED SOME ACTION ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE.
I'M SORRY. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, RETURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE?
>> I MOVED TO APPROVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH TO APPROVE THIS SECONDARY SIX-YEAR PLAN.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NOT REALLY A QUESTION, THIS IS A STATEMENT.
MR. CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO POSSIBLY, NOT IN THE NEXT MONTH, BUT LATER DOWN THE ROAD, MAYBE SIT DOWN AND HAVE A WORK SESSION ON POSSIBLY ADDING OR LOOKING AT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AREAS WHERE INTERSECTIONS OR SOMETHING NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
>> MRS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WE HAVE IS FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF A LITTLE OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN FUND BALANCE, AND THIS IS MRS. [INAUDIBLE] WHO'S GOING TO BE PRESENTING THIS?
>> YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE AND, MR. RARD, AND ALL THE PUBLIC WHO HAS ASSEMBLED.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I'LL WAIT FOR THE POWERPOINT TO LOAD.
THE ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AS YOU MENTIONED, MR. BROWN, IT TOTALS JUST OVER $2,082,000.
THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED AN UPDATED CARRYOVER REQUEST FROM FUNDS LEFTOVER AT THE END OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2024, ON MARCH 17TH.
THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DECEMBER 10TH, CONFIRMING THE AUDITED BALANCES THAT WERE REMAINING AT THE END OF FY 2024.
THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAD ACTUAL REVENUES OVER ACTUAL EXPENDITURES THAT WERE OVER $3,077,000.
TO DATE, YOU HAVE ALREADY RE-APPROPRIATED OVER 913,000 FOR PURCHASE ORDERS, ONE OF WHICH WAS FOR A VERY LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN ALSO $82,000 IN NOVEMBER TO SHORE UP A DEFICIT IN THE FORMERLY COMBINED HEALTH INSURANCE FUND.
THE REMAINING BALANCE OF CARRYOVER THAT IS SITTING IN FUND BALANCE FOR THE SCHOOLS IS OVER 2,082,000, AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED THE MAJORITY OF THAT FOR CARRY FORWARD.
THEY DID REQUEST USE FOR A NUMBER OF CAPITAL PURCHASES AND PROJECTS, INCLUDING AWNINGS, VEHICLES AND SCHOOL BUSES, SOFTBALL FIELD LIGHTS, SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS, ROOFING IMPROVEMENTS AT LL BEAZLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FIRE PANEL UPGRADES AT CLEMENTS, NORTH ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA LIGHTS AND STAGE CONTROLS, AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OR CAPITAL SCHOOL STUDY.
LIGHTS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM, BASEBALL SCOREBOARD, TRANSPORTATION SOFTWARE UPGRADE, MOWERS AND A TRACTOR, SECONDARY SMART BOARDS, AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FRONT DOOR AT J.E.J MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ALL OF THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE HOUSED WITHIN THE COMBINED COUNTY SCHOOL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, IF APPROVED.
THEY WERE GROUPED TOGETHER SIMILAR ITEMS TO CREATE MULTIPLE NEW ACCOUNT CODES WITHIN THE CIP FUND, AND TWO EXISTING ACCOUNT CODES OF SCHOOL BUSES AND ROOFING EXISTED.
A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED WHEN A BUDGET AMENDMENT EXCEEDS MORE THAN 1% OF YOUR CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET.
THAT THRESHOLD FOR FY2025 IS 1.626 MILLION,
[00:50:02]
AND THE BOARD DID AUTHORIZE ADVERTISEMENT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 8.IT APPEARED IN TWO EDITIONS OF THE PROGRESS INDEX, ONCE ON APRIL 22, THE SECOND TIME ON MAY 6.
THE IMPACT OF THIS APPROPRIATION, IF APPROVED, WILL RESULT IN USE OF FUND BALANCE THAT EQUATES TO 1.35% OF CURRENT YEAR BUDGETED EXPERIENCE.
IT WILL ALLOW FOR COMPLETION AND PURCHASES AS REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE AUDITED FUND BALANCE FIGURE AT THE END OF FY2024 WAS 50.758 MILLION OR 37%.
OF PRIOR YEAR EXPENDITURES, 33% OF CURRENT YEAR BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
TO DATE, YOU HAVE ALREADY APPROPRIATED 6,095,000 IN FUND BALANCE.
THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS FOR GRANT RE-APPROPRIATIONS PURCHASE ORDERS, BUT THE LARGEST AMOUNT WAS FOR FIRE APPARATUS.
IF THIS APPROPRIATION REQUEST IS APPROVED, THE BALANCE WOULD BE $42.58 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE OR 27.7% OF YOUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
YOUR POLICY THRESHOLD IS 12.5%.
THAT FIGURE IS SHOWN THERE, BUT YOU TARGET RETAINING AT LEAST 15%, AND YOU WILL EXCEED THAT AFTER THIS APPROPRIATION IS APPROVED, IF IT IS APPROVED.
FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET CHANGE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THERE IS A DRAFT RESOLUTION INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, MISS GREY. DOES ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS GREY WHERE WE OPEN FOR PUBLIC INPUT?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE NOW OPENING THIS PUBLIC HEARING UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT OR INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.
YOU'LL AGAIN HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME UP AND SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.
YOU'LL COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, AND YOU'LL BE GIVEN THE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MRS. KNOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP?
>> NO ONE STILL HAS JOINED VIRTUALLY?
>> IT'S JUST HERE WITHIN THE ROOM.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING? IF SO, PLEASE COME UP AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME, PLEASE?
>> JAMES KELLER, 13 57 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
I CAN'T SAY I'M VERY WELL VERSED IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED HERE AND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT IT SOUNDS A LITTLE SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? FOR WE TO GET CLOSE TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE STILL GOT MONEY LEFT.
WE START SPENDING IT. NOT REALLY ON STUFF THAT WE NEED, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO SPEND IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO IDENTIFY FOR THAT LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE UP THERE.
HOW MANY OF THESE ARE NEED, AND HOW MANY OF THESE ARE SIMPLY NICE TO HAVE.
I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT CONSIDERATION, WHAT THE NEED OF THESE LINE ITEMS ARE.
DO WE REALLY NEED THEM? OR IS IT JUST BE NICE TO HAVE?
>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME? I SEE NO ONE ELSE COMING FORWARD.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND RETURN THE MATTER BACK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY STATEMENTS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> MR. CHECKER, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MR. COX, THAT THE BOARD WOULD APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF THE $2,082,056 FUND BALANCED TO BE USED AS WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN THIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MISS KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. THE THIRD ITEM WE HAVE FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE REQUIREMENTS AS TO TRASH, TALL GRASS, AND CLUTTER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, MISS ARARD.
>> DO I HAVE 3 MINUTES? [LAUGHTER]
[00:55:01]
>> YOU'RE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'RE TAKING A MINUTE AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS ITEM TO THE BOARD TONIGHT FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IS TO ALLOW STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TELL SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO CITIZENS WHEN THEY CALL AND HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, THAT PROPERTY THERE, WHICH IS NOT IN PRINCE GEORGE.
THAT'S EITHER A COMBINATION OF CLUTTER AND GARBAGE, AND WE REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE IS TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, BUT ALSO TO PROTECT THE HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU HAVE OVERGROWN WEEDS AND GARBAGE MIXED IN TOGETHER, YOU CAN HAVE RODENTS, SNAKES, FLEAS, MOSQUITOES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, NESTING IN THE WATER INSIDE OF THINGS.
IT'S NOT JUST AESTHETIC, IT IS ALSO FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A GRASS AND WEEDS ORDINANCE.
THE NEW PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS SIMILAR TO THAT.
THE GRASS AND WEEDS HEIGHT HAS BEEN LOWERED FROM 15 INCHES TO 12.
TWELVE INCHES IS A STANDARD MEASUREMENT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
MOST OF THE TIME, I DON'T THINK THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF GOES OUT THERE WITH A RULER, AND IF IT'S 12 AND AN EIGHTH, THEY WRITE A LETTER.
IT'S USUALLY PROBABLY 15 INCHES.
IN ADDITION, THERE'S A CHANGE FROM A CIVIL PENALTY TO A CRIMINAL PENALTY.
I RECOMMEND THAT CHANGE BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE TEND TO JUST VIEW A CIVIL PENALTY AS SOMETHING THEY CAN JUST GET AWAY WITH NOT PAYING, OR IT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
A CRIMINAL PENALTY WHEN YOU GET THE NOTICE SERVED ON YOU, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO COME TO COURT, AND THEN YOU'RE FINED WITH A PENALTY.
THAT'S I THINK PROVIDES A GREATER INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE UPKEEP ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THEN, OF COURSE, THE THIRD BIG CHANGE IS THAT TRASH, GARBAGE, REFUSE, LITTER, AND CLUTTER HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT IS TRASH, GARBAGE, REFUSE AND LITTER? THOSE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF IT.
I HAVE SEEN PROPERTIES LIKE THAT IN PRINCE GEORGE.
THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY AN EXAGGERATION.
IF YOU'VE GOT TWO BAGS OF LEAVES SITTING OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM TO THE LANDFILL OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT? THAT IS NOT SOMETHING UNLESS THEY SIT THERE FOR SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR AND THE BAG BREAKS AND STUFF IS FALLING OUT OF IT.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO GO AFTER.
IN TERMS OF TRASH, IT'S GOING TO BE TRASH, AND IT WILL BE A PRONOUNCED EXAMPLE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE STAFF LOOKING TO JUST NITPICK ANYONE ABOUT TRASH.
THE BULK, I WOULD SAY, OF THE COMPLAINTS WE GET ARE ABOUT TRASH.
THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT ADDRESSED.
WHAT IS CLUTTER? THE LAST TIME THAT I PRESENTED, I GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR SAYING THAT CLUTTER IS LIKE PORNOGRAPHY.
NOW I KNOW THE WORD TO SAY TO GET PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION.
BUT THAT PHRASE COMES FROM SUPREME COURT JUSTICE POTTER STEWART, WHO SAID IN A PORNOGRAPHY CASE THAT "YOU CAN'T DEFINE IT, BUT I KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT." THAT IS A COLLOQUIALISM FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T DEFINE,
[01:00:01]
BUT YOU DEFINITELY KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.I WOULD SAY THAT THOSE PICTURES ARE EXAMPLES OF CLUTTER.
THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN TRASH AND CLUTTER.
THEY A LOT OF TIMES TEND TO OVERLAP.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCED AS YOU HAVE TOO MANY LAWN ORNAMENTS OR AGAIN, SOMETHING NITPICKY, STRICTLY FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES.
YOU CAN SEE IN BOTH OF THESE PHOTOS WHERE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT PROPERTY CAN BE HARBORING.
I THINK WE NEED TO REPLACE THE BATTERIES.
WHY APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? THERE'S A MYTH OR A MISTAKEN BELIEF THAT STAFF CAN ADDRESS TRASH AND GARBAGE NOW.
WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS GIVE US THE ACTUAL RIGHT TOOL TO ADDRESS IT.
I THINK WHAT STAFF HAS DONE UP UNTIL THIS POINT IS TO TRY TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND GET THEM TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS.
BUT THE PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW US, LIKE MOST OTHER LOCALITIES TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS UNSAFE SITUATIONS IN PEOPLE'S YARDS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO? NOT REALLY.
NO. THIS IS WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SAID THAT LOCALITIES CAN USE TO ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE CUT THEIR GRASS, KEEP THE TRASH OFF THE YARD AND GET RID OF CLUTTER.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE.
IF THE BOARD DOESN'T APPROVE THE ORDINANCE, THEN I JUST WANT THERE TO BE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEN THE STAFF WILL NOT HAVE A MEANS TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE ADDRESSING REALLY BAD CIRCUMSTANCES.
THANK YOU. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
I'M ALSO AVAILABLE AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THIS ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, SAY A CITIZEN IS IN DISAGREEMENT.
HOW DID THEY GO ABOUT DISAGREEING? WOULD THEY CONTACT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? WOULD THEY GO TO COURT? WOULD THEY SEE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR? HOW DO THEY IF THEY DON'T THINK THE LAW MOORE IN THEIR SIDE YARDS A PROBLEM, OR THEIR TRACTORS OR FARM EQUIPMENT OR WHAT HAVE YOU?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY FIRST OF ALL, ANY CASE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON BEYOND, LIKE A LETTER AND TALKING TO THE PEOPLE, WHICH IS ALWAYS WHAT HAPPENS FIRST.
I GO OUT AND I PHYSICALLY LOOK AT THE PROPERTY, AND I PHOTOGRAPH THE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T THINK THEIR PROPERTY LOOKS THAT BAD.
THEY'RE USED TO SEEING IT THAT WAY.
I AM HAPPY TO TALK WITH THOSE PEOPLE, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT'S MAYBE THE 1% OF CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT I'VE EVER DONE.
USUALLY, IT TAKES A JUDGE TO SIMPLY ORDER THE PERSON TO CLEAN IT UP.
THAT'S USUALLY WHAT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT USUALLY BE CONVINCED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM.
I HAD A CASE IN ANOTHER LOCALITY WHERE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HAD BUILT A HOUSE FOR A LADY, AND HER BUSHES WERE OVERGROWN.
SHE HAD ALL THINGS ON THE FRONT PORCH, AND SHE HAD A REFRIGERATOR, WASHING MACHINE AND A DRYER ON HER BACK PORCH.
CODE COMPLIANCE GUY WENT OUT THERE AND HE'S LIKE, "WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS."
[01:05:01]
SHE'S LIKE, "YEAH THAT'S FINE. I AGREE." THEN WHEN DISCUSSIONS OCCURRED ABOUT COULD IT POSSIBLY BE DONE IN A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS? SHE SAYS, "NO I'M GOING TO FIX ALL THOSE APPLIANCES, AND THEN I'M GOING TO SELL THEM.THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD APPLIANCES.
THEY'D BEEN ON THAT BACK PORCH FOR PROBABLY TWO TO THREE YEARS." PEOPLE ARE NOT AWFUL.
THEY JUST ARE NOT REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> THAT'S GOING TO LEAD INTO MY NEXT QUESTION.
IS THIS VISIBLE FROM THE ROAD? IS IT COMPLAINT BASED?
>> YES, WE ARE COMPLAINT BASED.
I WOULD SAY 90 I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD ONE IN PRINCE GEORGE THAT WASN'T VISIBLE FROM THE ROAD.
>> WELL, JUST THE REASON I ASK IS YOU MENTIONED BACK PORCH.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE MANY BACK PORCHES FROM THE ROAD.
>> WELL, SEE, THAT'S FINE. [LAUGHTER].
>> QUESTION. DO WE PUT INTO THE LITERATURE? IT'S WHAT YOU SEE FROM THE A SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE.
>> BY LAW CODE COMPLIANCE CAN GO UP IN THE DRIVEWAY TO THE SIDEWALK AND KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL THAT THEY CAN DO.
THEY CAN'T GO RUMMAGING AROUND IN THE YARD.
I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE A NEIGHBOR COMPLAINED ABOUT ANOTHER NEIGHBOR, AND THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BACKYARD, BUT YOU COULD ONLY SEE IT THROUGH THE COMPLAINING NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
>> IN THIS INSTANCE THAT I HAD, THERE WERE BARRELS OF CHEMICALS LEAKING.
AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH WARRANT WAS OBTAINED TO ASCERTAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
I THINK THAT WE WOULD REALLY TREAD CAREFULLY ON A BACKYARD, EVEN IF WE DID SEE IT JUST BECAUSE THEN THAT'S REALLY A FIGHT BETWEEN NEIGHBORS, AND WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT.
WE REALLY LOOK AT THE OVERALL HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE.
>> TWO MORE, THEN I'M GOING TO YIELD MY TIME BACK TO THE CHAIR.
WHAT'S SOMETHING A CITIZEN CAN DO TO SAY, COMBAT IT? CAN THEY PUT A FENCE UP? CAN THEY PUT A PRIVACY FENCE UP WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE IT FROM THE ROAD AND THEY GET TO MAINTAIN THEIR TREASURES, THEIR TRASH, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT?
>> I GUESS, OR THEY COULD PUT IT IN A SHED.
>> THEN THE FINAL QUESTION I'VE GOT, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON HAVING A BOARD OR A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF A COUPLE OF CITIZENS, AN ATTORNEY, PLANNING DIRECTOR, OR MAYBE EVEN A BOARD MEMBER TO SAY IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T FEEL THAT THEIR PROPERTY MEETS THE STANDARDS THAT THE COUNTY IS SAYING, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THAT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, WHERE THEY CAN APPEAL TO THEM INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO A JUDGE AND SAY, HEY, IS THIS 1936 FARMA TRACTOR, I'M GOING TO FIX UP, I'VE HAD FOR 20 YEARS, A PROBLEM OR NOT? IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD PUT IN THE ORDINANCE?
>> IT IS SOMETHING YOU COULD PUT IN THERE.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY STRONGLY DISAGREES, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM ANYWAY AS A BOARD MEMBER.
THEN IT WOULD BE PROPER FOR YOU TO TALK WITH MR. STOKE AND MAYBE THE STAFF PERSON FROM CODE COMPLIANCE.
I SAY THAT I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT BECAUSE THEN THAT MAKES YOU PART OF THE PROCESS, AND IF THEY CAN'T BE SATISFIED, YOU'VE OPENED YOURSELF UP TO BEING SUED.
A JUDGE IS GOING TO BE VERY EXACTING THAT THE COUNTY HAS A REALLY BAD SITUATION.
IF WE GO TO COURT WITH SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY NOT THAT BAD, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE JUDGE IS NOT GOING TO FIND IN THE COUNTY'S FAVOR.
BUT SOMETIMES THAT IS NECESSARY, LIKE I SAID, THAT PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ATTACHED TO THEIR POSSESSIONS, AND THEY MAY NOT REALIZE HOW IT LOOKS OR THE THREAT THAT IT POSES EVEN TO THEM.
>> I THINK IT IS JUST A STATEMENT.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT SOME VALIDITY AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME PROPERTIES THAT CAUSE ISSUES,
[01:10:02]
BUT I THINK BY MAKING A GENERALIZED ORDINANCE LIKE THIS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO PUT SOME UNNEEDED ATTENTION ON SOME CITIZENS THAT DON'T DESERVE IT, OR FOR INSTANCE, A HAY FIELD THAT IS ABOVE 12 INCHES THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T KNOW AS A HAY.>> IT'S NOT GOING TO APPLY TO ANY AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY.
>> FOR INSTANCE, I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I HAVE A FOUR-ACRE HAY FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE.
IT'S NOT LABELED AS AGRICULTURAL.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WOULD GET A CITATION FOR THAT.
>> UNLESS I MADE MY NEIGHBOR MAD.
WELL, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, SO I YIELD MY TIME BACK TO THE CHAIRMAN.
>. DOES ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER HAVE A COMMENT?
>> ONE THING THAT YOU COULD DO IS JUST HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS WHERE MS. PUDDLO OR MR. STOKE HAS TO APPROVE ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION BEFORE THAT PROCEEDS.
WE DO GET THE SITUATIONS WHERE WE CAN TELL IT'S TWO NEIGHBORS THAT DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER AND ONE'S TRYING TO STICK IT TO THE OTHER.
WE DON'T GET INVOLVED, WE DON'T TAKE SIDES.
WE APPLY THE CRITERIA CONSISTENTLY TO EVERYONE.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE A CASE TO COURT THAT ISN'T REALLY BAD.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE ARE NOW OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT PORTION.
AGAIN, YOU'LL COME FORWARD, AS ALWAYS, YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS PUBLIC HEARING? YES, SIR.
>> I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FIRST TO THE PUBLIC.
I DIDN'T EVEN PLAN TO COME TO THE NIGHT'S MEETING, SO I'M SPEAKING A LOT.
>> RICK TUTTERTON, 9750 BLACKWATER FARM LANE.
WHILE I BELIEVE THERE'S A NEED FOR AN ORDINANCE OF THIS NATURE, I THINK THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TABLED.
THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS I THINK WE NEED TO EXPLORE SOME OTHER THINGS IN THIS MATTER.
PHILLIP'S ALL OVER WITH SOME OF THE THINGS ABOUT POTENTIAL FARM ISSUES THAT COULD COME UP.
YOU MENTIONED THAT AG IS NOT GOING TO BE APPLIED TO IT.
YOU LIVE IN A DAY AND AGE WHERE YOU HAVE FARMS OR HOMESTEADS, CHICKENS.
LET'S BE REAL CANDID ABOUT IT.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD COME UP IN THIS ORDINANCE.
THAT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE, BUT THE CITIZEN FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE AND IN MANY ISSUES, THEY MIGHT.
MY QUESTION IS, WHO'S THE DECIDING FACTOR ON WHAT MAKES THIS A CRIMINAL SITUATION? AGAIN, ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS SITUATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SAYS WE NEED AN ORDINANCE OF THIS NATURE IS RIGHT OVER THERE, I GUESS WILLIAMS STORE NEXT TO THE TRAILER PARK, THAT I THINK WAS EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE CLEANED UP.
IF YOU'RE RIDING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOMEBODY'S GOT OVERFLOWING TRASH DUMPSTERS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T PAID THEIR FEE, I GET THAT, BUT CRP FIELDS, CERTAIN TOOLS THAT FARMERS WOULD USE THAT MIGHT BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
I UNDERSTAND AG IS NOT APPLYING, BUT IT NEEDS TO CLEARLY STATE THAT IN THIS ORDINANCE BEFORE IT'S ADOPTED.
>> IT DOES. THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME HERE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS IS YOU GOT SOME ELDERLY, AND YOU GOT SOME POVERTY.
YOU GOT SOME SITUATIONS THERE WHERE THEY'VE LIVED THE WAY THEY'VE LIVED THEIR WHOLE LIVES, AND YOU'RE GETTING IN A REAL, REAL TOUGH AREA.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO HELP SOME FOLKS LIKE THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS AREN'T GOING TO HAVE THE MEANS.
I KNOW AT MY AGE, AND I'M STILL A YOUNG MAN, I CAN'T LIFT WHAT I USED TO LIFT.
IF I ASK AN 80-YEAR-OLD TO MOVE A WASH MACHINE OFF HIS PORCH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND SOME LOCAL CHURCH GROUPS OR VOLUNTEERS.
WE NEED TO DO SOME THINGS TO GET THEM IN.
I JUST WOULD AND IT'S MY FAULT I HAVEN'T READ THIS ORDINANCE.
I'D LIKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE NEED TO BE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THIS.
AGAIN, I THINK PHILLIP IS ALL OVER, SOME OF WHERE THE ISSUES COULD COME UP.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY GET HURT BY THIS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHY I STRUGGLE WITH GOVERNMENT HAVING CONTROL OF ANYTHING.
I HAVE A SUBDIVISION OVER IN CLONAL HEIGHTS, WHERE WE HAD BUILT FOUR HOUSES ON A STREET WITH A CREEK THAT RUNS BEHIND IT.
WE GOT NEW PEOPLE IN, YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I'M NOT AGAINST YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT OFTEN THEY WANT TO ESTABLISH THEIR POWER.
WE HAD ALREADY BUILT FOUR HOUSES ON THE CREEK, AND THEY SAID THAT I HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINEER WRITE A LETTER SAYING THAT NONE OF THE FLOW FROM THAT CREEK WAS GOING TO GO INTO SWIFT CREEK, AND I ASKED THEM, HAD THEY LOOKED AT THE MOUNTAIN OF DIRT.
YOU CAN SEE IT FROM 95 BETWEEN THE SUBDIVISION AND SWIFT CREEK, AND THEY LAUGHED AT ME.
I SAID, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE INSTALLED DIVERSION PIPE THAT WAS PUT IN IN
[01:15:06]
1956 THAT WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING RAN OFF INTO SWIFT CREEK AND THEY LAUGHED AT ME.MY BUILDER HAD TO SPEND $500 ON A CREEK THAT ALREADY HAD FOUR HOUSES ON IT TO BE ALLOWED TO GET HIS BUILDING PERMIT BECAUSE THEY HAD A NEW STAFF MEMBER, MUCH LIKE THE INTERPRETATION I MENTIONED EARLIER.
I WANT TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THIS AND WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THAT JUDGMENT CALL CAUSE IF YOU'RE PICKING SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE IT THAT WANTS TO ESTABLISH THEIR POWER, AND THAT COULD BE OLD AND YOUNG, YOU GOT AN ISSUE. I THANK Y'ALL.
I KNOW BECAUSE I GOT IT CAUSE MY GRASS WAS LONG.
THE PEOPLE WHO CUT IT LAST YEAR DIDN'T COME BACK.
TOOK ME THREE DAYS TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, THREE DAYS FOR THE MAN TO COME BACK OUT.
HE TOLD ME THAT IN HIS JURISDICTION THERE IS AN ORDINANCE, AND THE CHARGE IS $450 TO COME OUT AND CUT YOUR GRASS DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG THE PROPERTY IS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR MEDICAID.
WE HAVE FOOD BANKS THAT ARE CLOSING.
I KNOW MY JOB IS FEDERALLY FUNDED.
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL HAVE JOBS COME OCTOBER 1.
SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE WRONG TIME WITH PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT MONEY AND EVERYTHING TO DO IT.
PLUS, IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, TALL GRASS.
PLEASE CORRECT THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT FURTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.
THEN IT ALSO SAYS TRASH OR DISCARDED MATERIALS.
NOW, I DID GET ONE OF THESE ONCE.
I HAD THREE BAGS OF CLEAN LAUNDRY.
I TOOK OUT OF MY CAR IN THE MORNING, CAME HOME THAT NIGHT, AND I HAD A CITATION.
THEY WERE ONLY THERE FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS.
BUT IT SAYS BACK HERE, TRASH OR DISCARDED MATERIALS.
THE COUNTY CODE REQUIRES PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS TO KEEP ALL EXTERIOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FREE FROM DISCARDED MATERIALS, TRASH DEBRIS, LITTER, AND GARBAGE.
IF I HAVE TRASH ON MY PROPERTY, YOU MAY TAKE ME TO COURT.
AS THE OTHER GENTLEMAN SAID, WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE OLD? WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED? WHAT IS THE COUNTY DOING TO HELP THEM? LAST TIME YOU SPOKE ON IT, YOU SAID IT WAS COMPLAINT DRIVEN.
THERE ARE TWO PROPERTIES I HAVE PASSED FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS IN PRINCE GEORGE.
ONE OF THEM HAS ABOUT 10 CARS IN THEIR YARD.
ANOTHER ONE HAS CARS, LAWN MOWERS, REFRIGERATORS, EVERYTHING.
OBVIOUSLY, NO ONE HAS MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THAT.
IF THIS IS COMPLAINT DRIVEN, LIKE YOU SAID LAST TIME, NO ONE'S STILL GOING TO MAKE A COMPLAINT.
I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, ABOUT THE FIELD.
I HAVE A FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE.
I DO MINE BECAUSE OTHERWISE, MY NEIGHBOR COMPLAINS.
THE SAME THING, THE BACK PORCH AND THE BACKYARD.
MY NEIGHBOR CAN SEE IT, BUT IT'S NOT VISIBLE FROM THE ROAD.
WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY? WHO IS GOING TO DO ALL THIS? ARE YOU CONTRACTING IT OUT? ARE YOU DOING IT IN-HOUSE? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INSPECTOR GO OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE GO CUT IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INSPECTOR GO OUT TO FOLLOW UP.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE IN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TO SEND THE BILL, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO GET THE MONEY.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TO SEND ANOTHER BILL OUT.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE MORE AND MORE DUTIES, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND SAY, WELL, THEY NEED ANOTHER GRASS MOWER.
THEY NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP IN THE BUSINESS OFFICE.
>> BARBARA AMMONS, 2221 JAMES RIVER DRIVE.
I WOULD BE AGAINST SUCH ORDINANCE.
THE SAME AS THIS YOUNG MAN SAID.
I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ELDERLY.
I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE COUNTY FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, AND WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED OUR PROPERTY, WE HAVE A WHOLE ROW OF TELEPHONE POLLS, POWER LINES ON OUR PROPERTY.
THEY MOWED IT DOWN WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
THEN THEY SAID THEY ONLY COME EVERY FIVE YEARS.
NOW THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING THE WORK,
[01:20:02]
BUT THE WEEDS, THE GRASS, IS LIKE TREE SIZE.NOW MY CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS HOW MANY SNAKES ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THERE.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR CITIZENS, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR THE POWER COMPANY? BECAUSE I SEE THEM NOW CUTTING AROUND POLES AND EVERYTHING, BUT FIVE YEARS? TO ME, THAT'S A DANGER FOR MY FAMILY, BECAUSE IT'S ON OUR PROPERTY.
THEN I WOULD BE AGAINST SUCH AN ORDINANCE BECAUSE CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR SOMEBODY DIDN'T CUT THEIR GRASS OR THAT IT.
IT'S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LITTLE LIKE HOA, WHICH I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY PROPERTY.
ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT BEING OUT HERE IN THE RURAL AREA, I CAME FROM THE CITY, IS THAT YOU DO HAVE THAT LIBERTY, AND YOU DO HAVE THAT FREEDOM.
BUT I HAVE NOTICED BEING OUT HERE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY PILE UP A LOT OF THINGS IN THEIR YARDS, WHICH THEY DO.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REASONABLE AS FAR AS I THINK SOMEONE HAD SAID A PERSON'S UPBRINGING OR WHAT THEY LIVE WITH ALL THEIR LIVES.
WHO'S GOING TO SET THOSE RULES? LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS RURAL AREA, ESPECIALLY I'M ON THE SURREY LINE, A RURAL AREA WHERE I LIVE BECOMING A LITTLE HOA-ISH.
I JUST WOULD NOT AGREE WITH SUCH AN ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> DIANA BELL, 203 RENE STREET HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE.
WE GREW UP HERE AT 9327 OLD STAGE ROAD.
I ACTUALLY OWN THAT PLACE, WHICH Y'ALL WILL SEE ME AGAIN IN A LITTLE BIT.
IF I WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE, I'M GOING TO DO IT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ACCOUNT TO ANYBODY IF I WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OUT IN MY YARD.
Y'ALL SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME TO ME AND SAY, YOU GOT TO CLEAN UP YOUR YARD.
IF IT LOOKS OKAY, IF I'M KEEPING IT OKAY.
IF YOU DON'T WANT SNAKES, IF YOU DON'T WANT BUGS, IF YOU DON'T WANT CREEP YOUR CRAWLEYS, GO BACK TO THE CITY.
I'M SORRY. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
YOU DON'T SNAKES, YOU DON'T WANT BUGS, GO BACK.
EVERYTHING ELSE, IF YOU'RE NOT THERE TO PROVIDE HELP, THEN DON'T PUT THE ORDINANCE DOWN.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THE ORDINANCE IN, PROVIDE HELP.
PERIOD. MY MOM, WHEN SHE WAS IN HOPEWELL, WHEN MY DAD DIED, DIDN'T HAVE HELP.
>> I'M WALTER ARCHER, 1477 BRICKHOUSE DRIVE, DISPUTANTA, VIRGINIA.
TO ME, IT'S LIKE ONE OF THEM SAID, IT'S A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, IN THE COUNTY, I BOUGHT LAND.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, THEY WERE STARTING SUBDIVISIONS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE DUMBEST THING GOING.
EVERYBODY MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME MAILBOX, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME COLOR SHUTTERS, THEY HAVE TO PAINT.
BUT IN TODAY'S WORLD, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, YOU WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY ELSE HOW TO LIVE, THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD MOVE.
I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE ALL MY LIFE.
DON'T COME OUT THERE AND TELL ME.
BUT WHAT SHE SHOWING IN THE PICTURES, I'VE NEVER SAW IN MY LIFE, SO I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WE'RE STEPPING OVER THE LINE.
LIKE YOU SAY, REFRIGERATOR ON A BACK PORCH, IF I'M OLD AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME A LONG TIME TO FIX IT, NOW I'M GOING TO BE A CRIMINAL BECAUSE OF THAT.
MY THING IS, IT SAYS RIGHT THERE, THREATEN THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW ONE PERSON THAT WAS THREATENED BY THE SAFETY AND THE WELFARE OF SOMEBODY HAVING TRASH IN THE YARD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN IT. I GOT TO SAY, TURN IT DOWN, BOYS.
[01:25:02]
I'M AT 3619 UNION BRANCH ROAD.
LIKE EVERYONE SAID, PROVIDE HELP.
IN PRINCE GEORGE, WE PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
WE PAY FOR WATER, WE PAY FOR TRASH, FOR THEM TO PICK MY TRASH UP.
IF I CAN'T GO TO THE LANDFILL, WE PAY OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WE PAY OUR CAR TAXES, WE PAY.
THE ECONOMY IS UP THE HILL NOW.
I DON'T SEE, IF WE ARE PAYING, WHY YOU CAN'T PROVIDE TRASH SERVICES FOR US.
WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO PAY? ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS, I HAD MY NEIGHBOR WITH A GRINDER PUMP THAT TAKES ALL OF THE BOWEL MOVEMENTS, BUT MY NEIGHBORS MESSED UP.
I CALLED THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT WAS MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND THAT WAS BOWEL MOVEMENTS, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
THE COUNTY CAME OUT AND TOLD HER TO FIX IT OR WHATEVER THEY DO.
MY PROBLEM WAS, THEY DIGGED A TRENCH ON MY PROPERTY TO LET THE WASTE OUT AND THEN USE MY GRAVEL TO SPREAD IT OUT THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED.
I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES ASKING THEM, CAN YOU PLEASE PUT MY GRAVEL BACK.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOCK ON MY DOOR ASK ME COULD THEY DO THIS THING OR WHATEVER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, PROVIDE THE HELP.
WHEN YOU HAD THAT SEPTIC TANK, THAT IS BOWEL.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRASH [INAUDIBLE]. I JUST REST MY CASE ON THAT.
>> MICHAEL MATON, 821 JOHNS ROAD, CARSON.
I GUESS MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT WITH THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE, IF I ASKED 10 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHAT'S CLUTTER, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE ME 10 DIFFERENT ANSWERS.
TO ME, TO PUT THAT IN AN ORDINANCE IS JUST LUDICROUS BECAUSE IT'S LEFT UP TO THE OPINION OF THE PERSON TRYING TO ENFORCE IT.
I FEEL LIKE I LIVE IN A TWILIGHT ZONE THAT I CAN POSSIBLY BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED FOR CLUTTER.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS.
THE OTHER THING IS, YOU SAY YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE ROAD OR THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, BUT WHAT IF YOUR HOUSE IS CADDY CORNER TO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE IT COMES IN? WHEN YOU PULL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THE BACK, NOT NECESSARILY THE FRONT.
THEN, THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD HIDE SOMETHING WOULD POSSIBLY BE OFF TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
IS IT OKAY IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE ROAD, IF YOU HAVE BINOCULARS? OR IS IT OKAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE BINOCULARS AND YOU'RE JUST STANDING THERE LOOKING WITH YOUR OWN EYES? TO ME, IT'S SO VAGUE OF A LAW.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE PROBLEMS. I DO. I SEE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN BETTER WITH MORE SPECIFIC RULES AND GUIDELINES. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M WILLIAMS STEEL, COUNTY LINE ROAD.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. DRUDGE IS TRYING TO DO HERE.
I GUESS WHAT I'M CONFUSED ABOUT IS, WE ALREADY HAVE AN ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE OF 54-24 AND 54-28, 24 AND 28.
THEY ALREADY PRETTY MUCH ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS. I GUESS I'M CONFUSED, WHY DO WE NEED TO ADD SOMETHING ADDITIONAL WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE IT? IT ALREADY CLEARLY SAYS 15 INCHES OF GRASS.
IT'S CLEAR, BELOW TWO ACRES ABOVE.
THE LAW IS ALREADY PRETTY CLEAR.
I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. HESS SAID.
WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES.
Y'ALL DO ENOUGH TO GET US ON THAT.
MAYBE IF WE WANT TO RE-LOOK AT WHAT'S ALREADY THERE AND REFINE IT A LITTLE BIT.
MAYBE THAT'S THE BETTER WAY TO GO INSTEAD OF INSTITUTING A WHOLE NEW ORDINANCE.
DOES WHAT WE HAVE WORK? I THINK IT DOES, AS MS. DRISCOLL SAID.
I DID FILE A COMPLAINT ON TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON ARWOOD ROAD.
IT TOOK 45 DAYS, BUT AFTER 45 DAYS, THE ONE THAT HAD THAT ABANDONED TRAILER, LITERALLY, I COUNTED AT LEAST 3,000 BAGS OF TRASH, HE DID CLEAN ALL THAT UP.
THE OTHER PROPERTY SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, HE'S IMPROVING THAT, LOOKING GOOD.
THE THIRD PROPERTY STILL HAS THE JUNK CARS IN FRONT OF IT, BUT BABY STEPS.
[01:30:05]
I GUESS MY POINT HERE BEING IS, LET'S NOT BEAT THE DEAD HORSES.MAYBE WE WANT TO POSTPONE THIS, AS IT WAS SUGGESTED, RE-LOOK AT WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS AND SEE IF WE CAN REFINE THAT A LITTLE BIT WITHOUT REINVENTING THE WHEEL.
I JUST OFFER THAT FROM, I REMEMBER MY CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CLASS AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
WORDS MEAN SOMETHING, AND WE HAVE WORDS IN HERE, SO MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO FINE TUNE IT, MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER ON EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK?
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. LEYLA MYERS, 8711 SECOND COURT, DISPUTANTA, 23842.
THIS IS VERY VAGUELY, POORLY WRITTEN.
A LOT OF WORD ARE SIMPLE, JUST GENERALIZED STUFF.
WHAT IS EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME? LIKE THE LADY SAID, SHE HAD THREE BAGS OF CLEAN LAUNDRY ON HER PORCH.
I REGULARLY HAVE SOMETHING ON MY PORCH BECAUSE IT'S BEEN POSTED AS FREE TO PICKUP, FRONT PORCH PICKUP BECAUSE THAT'S COMMON THING THESE DAY.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE WAITING ON YOU TO COME TO GET IT, BUT IT'S GENEROUS FOR YOU TO DONATE SOMETHING.
I'VE GIVEN OUT CHILDREN SCHOOL BOOKS, STUFF.
I'VE GIVEN UP CLOTHES. I'VE GIVEN UP A DISHWASHER.
I HAD A DISHWASHER SITTING ON MY FRONT PORCH. IT WAS FOR PICK UP.
IF THE PERSON DOESN'T SHOW UP THE FIRST DAY, DO I CANCEL MY DONATION TO THEM? NO. I'LL JUST EXCUSE THEM AND SAY, JUST COME WHENEVER YOU CAN, THE BEST YOU CAN DO.
IT'S A VERY COMMON THING THESE DAYS THAT PEOPLE LEAVE STUFF ON THE PORCH, AND THE POSTING IS FREE FOR PICK UP ON THE FRONT PORCH.
CLOTHING, BOOKS, DONATIONS, EQUIPMENT FREE ON PORCH TO PICK UP.
THE PUNISHMENT BEING UPGRADED FROM CIVIL TO CRIMINAL, CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT COMES TO MIND.
WHO'S THE ARBITER? WHO'S THE DECIDER? WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A COMMISSION ON THE BOARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A PERSON DECIDING AND DETERMINING THAT TO TAKE IT TO THE JUDGE.
WE HAD ISSUE WITH BAD AND OLD VERIZON POLLS ON THE ROAD ENDANGERING US FOR YEARS.
NOBODY IN THE COUNTY BOTHERED UNTIL THE CITIZENS REPORTED IT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY ENDANGERING US, BAD ROADS, OLD POLLS.
THE LAST TIME THE COUNTY TRIED TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, WE DID SEE WEIRD MAKESHIFT FENCES PUT UP IN FRONT YARDS TO GET AROUND WITH THE IN THE PUBLIC VIEW LANGUAGE.
VERY VAGUE, VERY BROAD, VERY UNCLEAR.
IT'S WRITTEN. PLEASE DON'T PASS IT. THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> JAMES KELLER, 1357 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
I PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT ALL THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE HAD TO SAY.
THEY'VE MADE MANY FINE POINTS.
I OPPOSE THE PROPOSAL AS IT'S BEEN PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
I FOUND THAT DISPLAYING IMAGES FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY WAS VERY PREJUDICIAL.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE IN THE COUNTY? WHAT IS REALLY THE PROBLEM WE'RE DEALING WITH? WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO SEE PICTURES THAT AREN'T FROM THE COUNTY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE? HIGHLY PREJUDICIAL.
THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE DO SOMETHING SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE SHOULDN'T BE PRETEXT FOR PUNISHING EVERYONE.
BECAUSE AS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, THERE'S A LOT OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
ONCE YOU GET CAUGHT IN THE COGS OF A GOVERNMENT ACTION, TAKES SOME TIME, CAN OFTEN TAKE SOME MONEY TO GET OUT OF, AND A LOT OF STRESS AND ANXIETY.
THAT'S SOMETHING NOBODY NEEDS.
ANOTHER POINT OUT THAT AS THE PRESENTER MAY HAVE MENTIONED, THAT CLUTTER IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
RIGHT THERE, THAT MEANS IT'S VERY SUBJECTIVE.
WHAT COULD BE CLUTTER TO YOU, COULD BE ART TO SOMEONE ELSE.
WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE? NOW, WE CAN TAKE SOME GUIDANCE FROM DRESS CODES.
I SPEAK DRESS CODES FROM SPENDING MANY YEARS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO WEAR SOMETHING THAT WAS UNSAFE, AND YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO WEAR SOMETHING THAT WAS DISRUPTIVE.
BY UNSAFE, THAT MIGHT MEAN WEARING A CHAIN IF YOU'RE OPERATING AROUND MACHINERY.
YOU'RE WEARING A CHAIN, BUT YOU'RE AROUND MACHINERY.
THAT'S DANGEROUS. YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT.
OR DISRUPTIVE, LIKE WEARING A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS, KILL ALL THE FILL IN THE BLANK. YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT.
WE NEED SOME COMMON SENSE HERE.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS AS TO REALLY WHAT MOTIVATED THIS CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE.
MAYBE I MISSED THAT DURING THE PRESENTATION.
I'M NOT SURE. BUT IS THIS REALLY A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED AS HAS BEEN PROPOSED TONIGHT.
AGAIN, I SAID I OPPOSE THIS PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED AND I URGE THE BOARD TO VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING?
[01:35:06]
SEEING NO ONE MOVE THIS WAY, I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND RETURN THE MATTER BACK TO THE BOARD.BOARD MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AT THE END BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DECISION.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO EVERYBODY HERE, IF I HAD BEEN ASKED, WHICH I WAS NOT, ABOUT THE PICTURES SHOWN, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AGREEMENT WITH SHOWING EXAMPLES FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN PRINCE GEORGE BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, THIS IS A PRETTY TIGHT COMMUNITY, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
DEPENDING ON WHO'S IN THIS AUDIENCE, YOU COULD HAVE SHOWN A PICTURE, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN YOUR HOUSE, AND EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KNOW WHO IT WAS, EVEN IF THEY COULDN'T PUT YOUR NAME TO IT.
I WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT BEING VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS DONE ON PURPOSE.
I THINK IT WAS DONE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
LIKE I SAID, I WAS NOT ASKED, BUT IF I HAD BEEN ASKED, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD HAVE PROMOTED, NOT USING PICTURES FROM PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AT A PUBLIC MEETING LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S BEING TELEVISED. THANK YOU.
I'VE SEEN PICTURES IN THE COUNTY.
THERE IS A NEED FOR AN ORDINANCE OR STRENGTHENING THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT AND ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD HERE TONIGHT.
>> MR. COX, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> BASICALLY, AGAIN, THANK EVERYBODY FOR SPEAKING BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PUBLIC FEELS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND REWORK SOME STUFF AND BRING IT BACK AGAIN, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I'LL ECHO WHAT MR. WEBB SAID BECAUSE I DID HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND WE AGREED THAT IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE TO USE PICTURES OF PROPERTIES HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
WE ACCIDENTALLY PUT SOMEONE'S PROPERTY UP WHEN WE WERE DOING THE ASSESSMENT STUFF AT ONE TIME AND IT WENT CRAZY BECAUSE PEOPLE IDENTIFIED WHO IT WAS.
THEN THAT PERSON STARTED GETTING CALLS ABOUT WANTING TO KNOW IF THEY WANTED TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY FROM SCAMMERS OUTSIDE OF THE STATE.
WE HAVE ACTIVE CASES GOING ON TODAY, AND I DON'T FEEL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE TO HAVE PUT ANY OF THOSE UP BECAUSE SOMEONE, WHETHER IT'S YOU IN THIS ROOM OR SOMEONE STREAMING IT AND WATCHING THE LIVE STREAM, WILL IDENTIFY IT.
GUESS WHERE IT'S GOING TO END UP AT? ON FACEBOOK.
IT'S GOING TO CREATE A SITUATION THAT IS NOT BEING RESPECTFUL TO PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE TO USE EXAMPLES OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, AND I WILL DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT TO THE VERY END.
I ALSO WANT TO CLEAR UP, THERE IS AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE ALREADY, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT ADDRESS.
THERE IS THE 15 INCHES OF GRASS HEIGHT.
THIS IS RECOMMENDING FOR IT TO BE REDUCED DOWN TO 12.
YES, THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING IN THERE SOLID ON CLUTTER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
TYPICALLY, IF SOMEONE COMPLAINS AND WE GO OUT AND WE TALK TO THEM, MOST PEOPLE WILL WORK TO GET IT CLEANED UP.
BUT IF THEY DON'T, WE REALLY CAN'T ENFORCE IT.
THAT'S WHY THIS IS ASKING TO BE ADDED.
I AGREE THERE'S A LOT HERE THAT WE NEED TO RE-LOOK AT, BUT THERE IS A REASON.
WE DON'T RIDE AROUND IN THE COUNTY LOOKING FOR ISSUES.
IF SOMEONE CALLS AND REPORTS SOMETHING, WE DON'T JUST GO OUT AND WANT TO CRIMINALLY CHARGE PEOPLE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OR CIVILLY CHARGE THEM RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.
USUALLY, THIS WHOLE PROCESS COULD TAKE A YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S A BACK AND FORTH.
THERE IS AN ACTIVE ORDINANCE AND STATE CODE IN PLACE ON NOP VEHICLES.
IF IT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE HIGHWAY, IT DOESN'T HAVE A VALID REGISTRATION AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A VALID INSPECTION STICKER, YOUR VEHICLE CAN BE TAGGED AS AN NOP VEHICLE AND IT HAS TO BE MOVED.
IF IT'S NOT MOVED, WE CAN HAUL IT AWAY, AND WE WILL SEND THAT PROPERTY OWNER THE BILL.
IF THAT PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T PAY THE BILL, WE CAN TAKE THEM TO COURT AND PLACE A LIEN ON THINGS TO RECOUP THE COUNTY'S MONEY FOR WHAT WE SPENT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY, THERE ARE THINGS IN PLACE ALREADY.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE WAY WE HAVE IT RIGHT NOW IS THE OPTIMAL WAY, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE SITTING HERE THINKING UP, WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT TO HURT EVERYBODY? WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, IF THERE'S SOMEONE THAT COMPLAINS AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, THEN WE JUST HAVE TO TELL THEM, SORRY, CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE IN HERE THE NEXT MEETING.
[01:40:04]
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BALANCE IT ALL OUT.I AGREE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS SO FAR.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO RE-LOOK AT SOME THINGS AND TALK ABOUT IT MORE.
WITH THAT SAID, BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL JULY 8TH MEETING.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. COX AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH THAT WE WOULD POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL OUR JULY 8TH MEETING FOR THIS MATTER TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD.
WE WILL HAVE TO RE-ADVERTISE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING FOR JULY 8TH, SO YOU'LL STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE SOME INPUT.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE BACK WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THAT.
WELL, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS?
>> NOT REALLY QUESTION. JUST A STATEMENT.
IF SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE OR WATCHING TONIGHT HAS A RECOMMENDATION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN INCORPORATE IT. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IS ON THE FISCAL 2026 BUDGET. MRS. DORY.
>> YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR FY 2026 INTRODUCED AND ADVERTISED BUDGET.
THE INTRODUCED BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD ON MARCH 11.
THE BUDGET THAT WAS INTRODUCED, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WAS $80,143,093.
IT DID REPRESENT AN 8.27 INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THE TOTAL BUDGET, ALL FUNDS THAT WAS INTRODUCED, WAS 170,000,749, AND IT REPRESENTED A 5% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR TOTAL BUDGET.
AFTER THE BUDGET WAS INTRODUCED, THE SCHOOL DIVISION RECEIVED UPDATED INFORMATION ON STATE REVENUES.
THE BOARD, BY CONSENSUS, AGREED TO ADVERTISE A HIGHER BUDGET.
THEIR STATE REVENUES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 1.97 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
AGAIN, THE ADVERTISED BUDGET WAS HIGHER BY 1.97 MILLION THAN WHAT WAS INTRODUCED.
THIS SLIDE, ALONG WITH ALL OTHERS, CONTAINS A NOTE THAT SAYS THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER OVER 700,000 IN REDUCTIONS DUE TO LOWER REAL PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICE PROPERTY VALUES PRIOR TO YOU ADOPTING ON MAY 27.
THOSE REDUCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED AND PUBLICLY DISCUSSED ON NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 21.
THIS IS A PIE CHART OF THE BUDGET AS IT WAS INTRODUCED AND ADVERTISED.
THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET DID NOT CHANGE FROM INTRODUCTION.
THE LARGEST COMPONENT IS SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSFER OF LOCAL FUNDING TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION THAT SUPPORTS THEIR OPERATIONS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AS WELL.
WE ALSO MAKE TRANSFERS TO THE DEBT FOR BOTH COUNTY AND SCHOOL DEBT SERVICE.
16% IS OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES IS 4.3%, AND 3.1% IS EXPENDED ON CAPITAL OUTLAY.
REVENUE IS THE LARGEST GENERAL FUND SOURCE IS REAL PROPERTY TAX, FOLLOWED BY PERSONAL PROPERTY, ALONG WITH OTHER TAX REVENUES.
STATE REVENUES REPRESENT 14% AND FEDERAL 3.1.
THIS IS A PIE CHART THAT DEPICTS THE FUNCTIONAL AREA OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THE LARGEST COMPONENT IS OTHER END TRANSFERS, THAT IS COMPRISED AGAIN OF THOSE GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS THAT I MENTIONED, ALONG WITH SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT DO NOT FIT NEATLY WITHIN ANY OF THESE FUNCTIONAL AREAS.
I WILL SPEND MORE TIME ON THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.
BUT AGAIN, FOLLOWING OTHER END TRANSFERS, THE LARGEST COMPONENT IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOLLOWED BY SOCIAL SERVICES, OPERATIONS IS 6%.
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES ARE 7%, AND ADMINISTRATION REPRESENTS 2% OF THE BUDGET.
PUBLIC SAFETY, AGAIN, IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET WAS 21.2 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 3.3 MILLION OVER THE CURRENT FY 2025 BUDGET.
AGAIN, THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRIOR TO ADOPTION,
[01:45:02]
BUT THAT IS COMPRISED OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE NMS, THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER, ANIMAL SERVICES, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.THAT BUDGET IS SUPPORTED BY SOME STATE FUNDING.
HOUSE BILL 599. REVENUES COME IN FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE DO RECEIVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER GRANT FUNDING, AND OUR FIRE AND EMS DEPARTMENT DOES BILL FOR MEDICAL TRANSPORT, MOSTLY TO INSURANCE COMPANIES.
SOCIAL SERVICES IS INTRODUCED AT 7.2 MILLION AND IS 412,000 HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THAT IS LARGELY SUPPORTED BY STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUES, ESTIMATED AT 4.6 MILLION.
THE LOCAL SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IS JUST OVER 2.6 MILLION.
OPERATIONS, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF GENERAL SERVICES, THE GARAGE, AND RECREATION, IS 5,038,000, AND THERE IS A 1.78% INCREASE INTRODUCED.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS OUR CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICE AND OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT IS INTRODUCED AT 1.9 MILLION, 17% OVER THE CURRENT YEAR, LARGELY DUE TO TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET, AND PERMIT AND PLANNING FEES ARE ESTIMATED AT 669,000 FOR FY 2026.
ADMINISTRATION IS 1.8 MILLION, A 2% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR.
FINANCIAL SERVICES IS 3.6 MILLION INTRODUCED, WHICH IS A 7.5% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR.
THAT IS THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, AND IT.
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ARE 5.3 MILLION INTRODUCED.
IT IS AN 11.69% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THOSE OPERATIONS ARE SUPPORTED BY STATE FUNDING FROM THE COMPENSATION BOARD AT 2.1 MILLION DOLLARS, AND WE ALSO RECEIVE FINES AND FORFEITURES, WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES PLAY A PART, RECREATION TAXES, SHERIFF, CLERK, AND COURT FEES, TOTALING 579,000 THAT SUPPORT THOSE OPERATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME GRANT FUNDING IN THAT FUNCTIONAL AREA.
AGAIN, THE LARGEST COMPONENT IS OTHER THAN TRANSFERS.
THOSE OFFICES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY ARE THE REGISTRAR.
THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURT, THE MAGISTRATE COURT SERVICES, DRUG COURT OR RECOVERY COURT, OUR VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AND FARMERS MARKET.
WE DO RECEIVE SOME STATE FUNDING FOR THOSE OPERATIONS AND GRANT FUNDING THAT IS OUTLINED HERE.
WE DO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO REGIONAL AND OTHER ENTITIES, AND THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE OVER 4.1 MILLION FOR FY 2026.
THOSE ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TO RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL.
GREATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD, OUR REGIONAL LIBRARY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION.
OUR GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS ARE 27.9 MILLION AS INTRODUCED.
THOSE ARE 737,000 HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THE LARGEST GENERAL FUND TRANSFER IS FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS AND TEXTBOOKS, AND INTRODUCED THAT WAS 19.27 MILLION.
DEBT AND DEBT RESERVES ARE ANOTHER 6.5 MILLION.
OUR CAPITAL FUND TRANSFERS ARE MADE FOR VEHICLES, FOR SCHOOL BUSES, FOR APPARATUS, AND FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT, AND THOSE TRANSFERS, AS INTRODUCED, ARE 1.5 MILLION.
WE ALSO MAKE TRANSFERS TO OUR RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY.
WE WILL BE MAKING A TRANSFER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND THROUGH OUR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX FOR EXPANSION, FOR ONE INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS THAT IS NEW FOR FY 2026.
WE ALSO MAKE A 141,000 DOLLAR TRANSFER FOR A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOR OUR ANNUITY PROGRAM FOR OUR COUNTY VOLUNTEERS.
AGAIN, ALL OF THESE AMOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH REDUCTIONS THAT THE BOARD WILL CONTEMPLATE NEXT WEEK.
OUR TAX RATES AS INTRODUCED WERE $0.82 FOR REAL PROPERTY.
PERSONAL PROPERTY REMAINED AT 3.90, MACHINERY AND TOOLS AT $1.50, AND MANUFACTURED HOMES AT $0.82.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD, AND SOME OF THE TAX RATES WERE ADOPTED ON APRIL 22.
MACHINERY AND TOOLS, AND PERSONAL PROPERTY WERE APPROVED, BUT REAL PROPERTY AND MANUFACTURED HOMES WERE POSTPONED UNTIL THIS EVENING, AND WE'LL BE CONSIDERED AGAIN FOR POSSIBLE ADOPTION OR POSTPONEMENT.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, DID HIRE VISION GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS TO COMPLETE REASSESSMENTS.
[01:50:03]
THEY PROVIDED ESTIMATES TO STAFF IN FEBRUARY THAT WE USED TO PREPARE THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.UPDATES WERE PROVIDED IN MAY, AND WE DISCUSSED WITH THE BOARD LAST WEEK ON MAY 6.
THE REASSESSMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WITH BOARD OF EQUALIZATION APPEAL OPPORTUNITIES REMAINING AVAILABLE.
REAL ESTATE AND PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUES WILL BE LOWER THAN WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
AGAIN, YOU WILL CONSIDER OVER $700,000 IN CUTS PRIOR TO ADOPTION, POSSIBLY MORE IF THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE IS LOWERED BELOW $0.82.
INITIALLY, OUR GROWTH IN REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES WAS ESTIMATED AT 4.2 MILLION OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THE VALUE OF $0.01 WAS 420,000, AND OUR EQUALIZATION RATE WAS $0.73.
MAY 5 UPDATES SHOWED A DECLINE IN THOSE VALUES, AND THE INCREASE IS NOW ESTIMATED AT 3.6 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR, OR 585,000 LESS THAN WHAT WAS INTRODUCED.
THE VALUE OF A PENNY DROPPED BY $4,000, AND THE EQUALIZATION RATE IS A PENNY HIGHER AT $0.74.
THIS IS JUST A SLIDE THAT DEPICTS AN ESTIMATED IMPACT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, OR REAL PROPERTY OWNER, IN THE COUNTY AT VARIOUS VALUES.
IF YOUR PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY VALUED AT 300,000 TO THE FAR RIGHT, THESE ARE THE UPDATED FIGURES.
IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY IF YOUR INCREASE WAS THE AVERAGE 10.8%, SOME ARE HIGHER, SOME ARE LOWER.
IT IS $266 ANNUALLY OR $22 A MONTH.
IF YOUR PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY 500,000, AND YOU DID REALIZE A 10.8% INCREASE IN YOUR VALUE, THAT WOULD BE $443 ANNUALLY OR $36.90 PER MONTH.
AGAIN, THESE ARE INTENDED TO BE EXAMPLES.
IT IS GOING TO VARY PROPERTY OWNER TO PROPERTY OWNER.
THERE IS NO GROWTH IN PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES OR VALUES.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THIS SLIDE, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE ON BOARD DOCS.
MOTOR VEHICLE VALUES ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO WHAT THEY WERE LAST SPRING, 99,000 HIGHER TAXES, LESS THAN 4,000 MORE THAN WHAT THEY WERE LAST SPRING.
FOLKS THAT OWN THE SAME VEHICLE THAT THEY DID LAST SPRING WON'T SEE HIGHER TAXES.
MOST AGAIN, THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES OR VALUES.
THIS SLIDE DEPICTS OTHER INCREASES IN GENERAL FUND REVENUES, GOING FROM THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS TO THE LOWEST, AND AREAS WHERE WE EXPERIENCED REDUCTIONS.
SOME OF THE HIGHER INCREASES ARE NEW FOR FY 2026 INTEREST ON OUR BANK ACCOUNT.
WE CHANGED BANKS JANUARY 1, WHICH WILL GENERATE NEW REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY.
MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX IS TARGETED TO INCREASE ALONG WITH SOCIAL SERVICES, STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUES, WHICH ARE EXPENDITURE-DRIVEN.
COMPENSATION BOARD AND HOUSE BILL 599 REVENUES ARE ESTIMATED TO INCREASE, COMPENSATION BOARD WILL INCREASE.
HOUSE BILL 599 WILL REMAIN FLAT WITH WHAT WAS INTRODUCED.
WE WILL LOSE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER GRANT FUNDING FOR THREE SROS.
WE ARE ALSO LOSING ONE OPERATION CEASE FIRE GRANT THAT WAS HOUSED IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES DEPICTED TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE SLIDE.
PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUES WILL BE LOWER THAN THEY ARE THIS YEAR AND REDUCED BY 350,000 FROM WHAT WAS INTRODUCED TO THE BOARD ON MARCH 11.
MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX WILL BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT IS SHOWN HERE AND WHAT WAS INTRODUCED.
WE WILL SEE A SMALL GAIN IN OUR VICTIM WITNESS GRANT REVENUES, AND OUR COMP BOARD FUNDING WILL INCREASE, MOSTLY RELATED TO NEW POSITIONS THAT THE COMP BOARD FUNDED.
HIGHLIGHTS OF SPENDING, PROVIDING INCREASE TO OUR COUNTY WORKFORCE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALITY EMPLOYEES, BASELINE ADJUSTMENTS FOR FOLKS PROVIDING A STEP INCREASE TO BRING FOLKS' EXPERIENCE LEVELS TO JUNE 30 OF 2025, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT INCREASES FOR QUALIFYING POLICE OFFICERS.
ALSO PROVIDING A 5% MARKET INCREASE ON THE SCALE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE OFFICERS,
[01:55:05]
AND FIREFIGHTER MEDICS, AND A 3.5% SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR NON-PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES.ALSO PROVIDING AN INCREASE FOR OVERTIME AND PART-TIME WAGES IN AREAS WHERE WORKLOAD STRAIN IS PRESENT.
PROVIDING AN INCREASE TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, THAT INCREASE WILL BE SHARED WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
IT IS AN 11% INCREASE TO BOTH THE COUNTY AND EMPLOYEES.
SIXTEEN AND A HALF ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND-SUPPORTED POSITIONS WERE INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET, THE LONE SHARE WITHIN THE FIRE AND NMS DEPARTMENT.
THE INTRODUCED BUDGET ADDED A DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, ADDED A TRAINING CAPTAIN, EIGHT FIREFIGHTER MEDICS, AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST WITHIN FIRE NMS. IT ADDED AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST, LARGELY TO ADDRESS SOME DEQ REQUIREMENTS, A SENIOR PLANNER, TO ADDRESS WORKLOAD STRAIN, A KENNEL ATTENDANT, TO ADDRESS HIGHER ANIMAL INTAKES, A SOCIAL SERVICES MANAGER 4, TO ADDRESS, AGAIN, HIGH WORKLOAD VOLUME AND SUPERVISION, STRAIN, TOO MANY DIRECT REPORTS TO ONE SUPERVISOR.
IT ALSO CONVERTS A PART-TIME ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION TO FULL-TIME AND ADDS A REGIONAL SIX-CIRCUIT STAFF ATTORNEY.
IT CONVERTS A POSITION THAT IS IN HOPEWELL CURRENTLY, A LAW CLERK TO AN ASSISTANT COUNTY OR STAFF ATTORNEY, AND PRINCE GEORGE WOULD TAKE OVER AS FISCAL AGENT FROM HOPEWELL IF THIS IS APPROVED.
THERE WERE SOME RE-CLASSIFICATIONS, BOTH MARKET DRIVEN AND DEPARTMENT REQUESTED, INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET, WITHIN THE BUDGET, BUDGET MANAGER 6 TO A BUDGET MANAGER, RECOVERY COURT COORDINATOR FOUR TO FIVE, FLEET MANAGER, A LEGAL ASSISTANT TO A LEGAL ASSISTANT ONE AND TWO, OFFICE MANAGERS TO MANAGER 1, WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CONVERTING A PLANNER TO A PLANER 1, A PLANNER 2 TO A PRINCIPAL PLANNER, MAKING THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER MANAGER, A DIRECTOR, AND MAKING A FIRE NMS LOGISTIC OFFICER TO A CAPTAIN OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND MAKING THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ELECTION.
INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET WAS A HIGHER TRANSFER FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS.
IT IS 1.2 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT FY 2025 CONTRIBUTION, WHICH WOULD BRING THE TRANSFER TO 19.27 MILLION.
AGAIN, THE BOARD MIGHT CONTEMPLATE A REDUCTION WITH LOWER EXPECTED REAL PROPERTY REVENUES, BUT THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
FOR SCHOOLS, THERE IS ALSO A CAPITAL TRANSFER TO PURCHASE UP TO FOUR SCHOOL BUSES AT JUST OVER HALF A MILLION.
THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS A TRANSFER TO THE DEBT FUND FOR 2.7 MILLION IN SCHOOL DEBT PAYMENTS.
TOTAL TRANSFERS TO AND PAYMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION REPRESENT 28% OF THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
THE ADVERTISED BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS 99.27 MILLION, ALL FUNDS, WHICH ARE THEIR OPERATING FUND, THEIR GRANT FUND, THEIR SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, AND TEXTBOOK FUNDS.
THE ADVERTISED BUDGET IS 5.57 HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THERE WILL BE A $611,000 REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO THE DEBT FUND FOR FY 2026 DUE TO A DECREASE IN THE DEBT PAYMENTS BETWEEN FY25 AND 26 AND A REDUCTION IN THE CONTRIBUTION FOR DEBT RESERVES.
THERE ARE NO PROPOSED NEW GENERAL FUND-SUPPORTED CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR COMPLETION IN FY 2026 THAT WILL REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT.
OUR RATING WITH MOODY'S AND S&P REMAIN AS THEY WERE, AA2 AND AA+.
THE COUNTY WILL MAKE CAPITAL VEHICLE AND SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES USING GENERAL FUND RESOURCES.
THEY WILL NOT BORROW TO MAKE THOSE PURCHASES.
WE WILL MAKE OUR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR APPARATUS AND FIRE [INAUDIBLE] EQUIPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNTY ORDINANCES.
AGAIN, THE BOARD ALWAYS HAS THE OPTION OF USING FUND BALANCE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN LIEU OF BORROWING.
JUST SOME INFLATIONARY INCREASES ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE, AND/OR NEW ITEMS.
[02:00:02]
TRANSFER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NEW DUE TO A MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REBATE, AND THAT REBATE IS FUNDED BY HIGHER MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REVENUES.TRANSFERS TO OUR OTHER AGENCIES DID INCREASE, ALONG WITH THE COST OF SUPPLIES, POSTAGE, TELEPHONE SERVICES, NET OF SOME REDUCTIONS THAT WERE REALIZED IN FUEL.
CONTRACTED SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE, ALONG WITH TRAINING TRAVEL, THE COST OF VEHICLES, PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL SERVICES, AND MEDICAL SERVICES.
SOCIAL SERVICES PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUNDING WILL ALSO INCREASE, BUT THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY RECOVERED FROM THE STATE.
THESE NEXT SLIDES PROVIDE THE PRICE TAGS FOR PUBLIC VIEW.
I'M NOT GOING TO COVER THESE IN DETAIL. YOU'RE WELCOME.
BUT THEY DO PROVIDE THE PRICE TAGS OF ALL THE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
WE TRY TO RUN A TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH A LOT OF DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE BUDGET YEAR-OVER-YEAR.
THIS DESCRIBES AN INCREASE TO SCHOOLS AND AN ELIMINATION OF SOME ONE-TIME FUNDS THAT WERE LAID OUT THIS YEAR, AND AN INCREASE IN OUR PUBLIC RADIO SYSTEM MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
THIS AGAIN JUST PROVIDES INFORMATION ON INFLATIONARY AND OTHER INCREASES IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, ALONG WITH THIS SLIDE, AND SOME REDUCTIONS.
SOME BRIEF COMMENTS ON PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THERE ARE 4,675 PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY CUSTOMERS.
THIS SHOWS RESIDENTIAL, THE NUMBER THAT ARE WATER AND SEWER, WATER ONLY, SEWER ONLY.
THE CURRENT OR THE INTRODUCED FY 2026 BUDGET IS 11.7 MILLION, 8.6, AND THAT OF INTER-FUND TRANSFERS WITHIN THE UTILITY FUNDS IS 282,000 HIGHER OR 3.4% MORE THAN THE CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET, PRIMARILY DUE TO INFLATIONARY INCREASES AND COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT INCREASES AS WELL.
THEY DID CALL FOR AN INCREASE IN THE UTILITY RATES, A 3% INCREASE IN WATER USER CHARGES, 1% SEWER USER CHARGES, AND SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO MINIMUM AND RATE BLOCK CHARGES.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE UTILITY INCREASES WAS HELD ON APRIL 22, AND THOSE RATES WERE APPROVED, RESULTING IN INCREASED REVENUE ESTIMATES OF ABOUT 242,000.
THE RESIDENTIAL IMPACT IS ABOUT [NOISE] $30.48 FOR A 10,000-GALLON USE PER BILLING CYCLE.
AGAIN, THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS WERE NECESSARY TO COVER OPERATING INFLATIONARY INCREASES, TO PURCHASE NEEDED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND MAINTAIN EXISTING ASSETS.
DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS FOR FUTURE UTILITIES CAPITAL PROJECTS WERE ESTIMATED AT $30 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS, OR 1.85 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST, PAY, AND BENEFIT INCREASES FOR EXISTING UTILITY EMPLOYEES.
AGAIN, THE SAME STEP AND COST OF LIVING SCALE ADJUSTMENT, THE SAME HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE, AND RECLASSIFICATIONS FOR FOUR PUBLIC UTILITY EMPLOYEES ARE SHOWN HERE.
THERE ARE CYCLICAL REPLACEMENTS FOR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND CAPITAL REPAIRS WITHIN THE UTILITY BUDGET.
SOME WATER LINE REPLACEMENTS, WATER METER REPLACEMENTS, [NOISE] ANNUAL TANK MAINTENANCE, WATER METER REPLACEMENTS, AND WE SWAP IN AND OUT ANNUALLY, VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PURCHASES.
THIS IS A SLIDE THAT SHOWS ALL OF OUR OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT INCLUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY OUR MEALS TAX, THE TOURISM FUND, WHICH IS FUNDED BY PART OF OUR LODGING TAX.
PART OF THE LODGING TAX ALSO COMES TO THE GENERAL FUND, OUR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS FUND, WHICH IS RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY THAT SERVES NOT ONLY PRINCE GEORGE BUT HOPEWELL AND SURREY AS WELL, OUR LENGTH OF SERVICE ANNUITY PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS, OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THE COUNTY SHOWS THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM IN OUR BUDGET.
THE SCHOOL DIVISION IS THE FISCAL AGENT, BUT IT IS AN IN-AND-OUT FOR THE COUNTY.
OUR SPECIAL WELFARE FUND FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, AND OUR STORMWATER FUND, WHICH IS TARGETED FOR ELIMINATION IN FY 2026 WITH THE ELIMINATION OF THE STORMWATER FEE.
[02:05:03]
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE TOTALS AS INTRODUCED AND AS ADVERTISED, 172.7 MILLION ADVERTISED, 10 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR.THAT DOES INCLUDE THE HIGHER PROJECTED SCHOOL STATE REVENUES.
THE INCREASES IN THIS TOTAL BUDGET ARE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, 6.1 MILLION, $5.2 MILLION INCREASE IN THE SCHOOL FUNDS, UTILITY FUNDS OF 282,000, AND A CHANGE OF 410 IN INTER-FUND TRANSFERS.
AGAIN, THE BOARD WILL CONTEMPLATE REDUCTIONS AT NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET WORK SESSION OF OVER 700,000.
THIS SLIDE REVIEWS THE PRE-BUDGET WORK SESSIONS THAT THE BOARD HELD, THE PIVOTAL DATES THAT YOU HAVE DONE SOME BUDGET WORK, AND HAVE HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS RELATED TO THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE.
AGAIN, THE ADDED MAY 21 WORK SESSION IS SHOWN HERE, AND THE TARGETED DATE FOR ADOPTION OF YOUR BUDGET IS TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT ON MAY 27.
YOU MAY NOT ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING ON YOUR BUDGET.
THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED TWICE, ONCE ON APRIL 24TH, AND ON MAY 1ST IN THE PROGRESS INDEX.
BUT AGAIN, THE BUDGET THAT YOU ADOPT WILL BE LOWER THAN WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS DREY?
>> BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING UP, JUST A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
WHAT YOU'VE JUST SEEN TONIGHT IS THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THAT BUDGET WAS ADVERTISED A WHILE BACK.
AS YOU HEARD MISS DREY MAKE SEVERAL REFERENCES, WE ARE HAVING TO REDUCE OVER $700,000 OUT OF THIS BUDGET THAT WAS JUST SEEN TONIGHT.
AS SHE STATED, WE'LL BE MEETING ON MAY 21, WHICH IS NEXT WEDNESDAY TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET CUTS.
THEN WE WILL COME BACK ON THE 27, AND WE WILL DISCUSS THOSE BUDGET CUTS AS PART OF THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
AS SHE STATES, THERE'S NO ACTION FOR US TONIGHT ON THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES AND PARTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT WAS ADVERTISED WITH ALL THOSE POSITIONS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, BUT [NOISE] THERE ARE CUTS COMING TO THE BUDGET.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING UP FOR PUBLIC INPUT AS TO THE ADVERTISED BUDGET.
AT THIS TIME, THE RULES ARE THE SAME AS THE PRIOR PUBLIC HEARINGS; THREE MINUTES, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, SO YOU CAN COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME, PLEASE.
>> PROMISE THIS IS MY LAST TIME.
RICK TETTERTON, 9750 BLACK [INAUDIBLE] LANE.
>> TO THE PUBLIC, I DON'T WANT TO SEEM LIKE I'M SPEAKING DOWN TO YOU WHEN I SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE BECAUSE THIS ROOM'S FULL OF HIGHLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE, BUNCH OF THEM MORE INTELLIGENT THAN I'LL EVER BE.
BUT I DO THINK WATCHING SOCIAL MEDIA AND HEARING SOME COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS SOME CONFUSION WITH THE PUBLIC AND ASSUMING THAT HIGHER ASSESSMENTS MEAN HIGHER TAXES.
WITH THE EQUALIZATION RATE, THE BOARD CONTROLS WHAT THE TAXES ARE.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT AS THEIR PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, WILL FEEL IT.
BUT A LOT OF THAT, I BELIEVE, IS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN MISSED FOR MANY YEARS ON WHAT THE ACTUAL VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY IS.
I WORK IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, I HAVE FOR 29 YEARS.
I'LL HUMBLY TELL YOU THAT IN 10 YEARS TIME, MOST HOMES HAVE DOUBLED IN VALUE.
IF YOUR ASSESSMENT IS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT IT WAS IN 2015, YOUR ASSESSMENT IS WRONG.
I DON'T AGREE, AS I'VE DISCUSSED WITH SOME MEMBERS AND DISCUSSED PUBLICLY WITH A LOT OF THE WAYS THAT THEY'VE GONE ABOUT IT.
I DO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE LOCALIZED INPUT.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME HIGHLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN MY CAREER FIELD, AND I'LL VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP ANY WAY THAT I CAN, THAT CAN SIMPLIFY SOME OF THESE NUMBERS AND HELP VISION TO ACTUALLY BECOME MORE ACCURATE IN WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE I DON'T THINK A COMPUTER ALGORITHM CAN DO THIS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE LOCAL EXPERT INPUT TO HANDLE THIS.
THE ONLY OTHER WARNING THAT I'LL GIVE TO THE PUBLIC, I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF THEM.
I ALWAYS HEAR PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK SAYING EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE THIS [NOISE] RESTAURANT? WHY DON'T WE HAVE THIS GROCERY STORE? WHY DON'T WE HAVE THAT?
[02:10:01]
ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE FORMULAS THEY FOLLOW.IF YOU WANT A NICER GROCERY STORE OR ANOTHER GROCERY STORE, THAT'S POPULATION-DRIVEN, SO YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT ASPECT IN ORDER TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.
THE SERVICES DON'T COME FREE, AND THE SERVICES ARE BUDGETED MUCH LIKE IT SHOULD BE WITH A GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
LEGO'S COMING, AND I SEE THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR LEGO.
I SAID IN 2005, WHEN I RAN FOR THIS POSITION BEFORE, I CAME UP, AND THANK GOD THAT I DID NOT WIN.
IF WE DO NOT PAY AND PUT A LONG-TERM PLAN IN PLACE FOR THE ITEMS THIS COUNTY NEEDS, AND THAT'S PUBLIC SERVICES, THAT'S EMERGENCY SERVICES, THAT'S POLICE, THAT'S SEWER, THAT'S WATER, THAT'S ROADS, THAT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS, IF WE DON'T PLAN NOW, IN 10 YEARS, WE'LL PAY DOUBLE WHEN IT'S MANDATORY THAT WE DO THOSE THINGS.
YOU ALL CAN FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH WE'RE PAYING.
QUITE FRANKLY, FIGHTING SOME OF THESE THINGS AND TRYING TO SAY YOU'RE CONSERVATIVE AND THAT YOU'VE CUT TAXES ACTUALLY TELLS ME YOU'RE NOT CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE, NOT YOU GUYS, BUT THE PRIOR BOARDS DID NOT PLAN FOR THE LONG TERM, OR WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE FEELING AS MUCH PAIN AS WHAT THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO FEEL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.
>> MY NAME IS GREG SIMMS. I REPRESENT THE IFF 4994 OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
I BELIEVE WITH THE GROUP, I GET FIVE MINUTES AS OPPOSED TO THREE.
>> YES, SIR. YOU'LL BE GRANTED THE FIVE MINUTES TONIGHT. YES, SIR.
>> ALSO, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO GIVE EACH ONE, IT'S A SPEECH THAT I'VE PREPARED AND GIVE TO YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY, IF IT'S OKAY IF I APPROACH TO GIVE IT TO YOU?
>> HERE'S A COPY FOR THE RECORD.
>> I SEE IT HERE SO YOU CAN SEE IT IF YOU WANT TO.
>> [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE PUBLIC SPEAKING, SO I'LL BE READING DIRECTLY FROM WHAT I'VE WRITTEN.
>> MY NAME IS LIEUTENANT GREGORY SIMMS. I'M A CAREER FIREFIGHTER IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE PRESIDENT OF IFF LOCAL 4994.
I'VE SERVED THIS COUNTY SINCE 2007, AND IN THAT TIME I'VE WITNESSED TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND CHANGE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE ONE THING HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH OUR COUNTY'S GROWTH, AND THAT'S THE FIRE TEAM STAFFING AND RESOURCES.
OUR CALL VOLUME HAS BEEN CLIMBING YEAR AFTER YEAR.
IN 2020, PRINCE GEORGE RESPONDED TO 4,410 CALLS BY 2024, THAT NUMBER HAS RISEN TO 5,179 CALLS AND INCREASED ROUGHLY WITH 18%.
DESPITE OVER 5,100 EMERGENCIES A YEAR NOW, OUR DAILY STAFFING REMAINS MINIMAL.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE JUST EIGHT FIREFIGHTERS ON DUTY, ONLY TWO PER STATION ACROSS FOUR STATIONS TO COVER THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
FOR A PERSPECTIVE THAT'S EIGHT PEOPLE TO COVER NEARLY 300 SQUARE MILES AND ABOUT 50,000 RESIDENTS.
THESE EIGHT RESPONDERS PERFORM DUAL ROLES.
IF AN AMBULANCE GOES OUT ON A MEDICAL CALL, ITS STATION FIRE ENGINE IS LEFT UNSTAFFED.
IF THERE'S THE FIRE ENGINE THAT RESPONDS, THEN THE AMBULANCE IS LEFT UNSTAFFED.
THIS DUAL-FUNCTION MODEL IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER WHEN CALL VOLUMES ARE HIGH.
I WANT TO SHARE A RECENT INCIDENT THAT UNDERSCORES THAT DANGER.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE COUNTY.
IN THE FIRST 22 MINUTES OF THAT FIRE, WE HAD TWO FIRE ENGINES ARRIVED ON SCENE.
ONE CREW WAS A CAREER STAFF, AND ONE WAS VOLUNTEER, TOTALLY JUST FIVE FIREFIGHTERS FOR A STRUCTURE FIRE.
FIREFIGHTERS BEGAN BATTLING THE WORKING FIRE AND WAS JUST SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
TRAGICALLY, THE HOUSE WAS A LOSS.
WE JUST DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL, EVEN SUFFICIENT WATER SUPPLY ON SCENE TO STOP THE FIRE.
FIRST, WITH THOSE LIMITED RESOURCES WERE TIED UP AT THE FIRE, THREE SEPARATE EMS CALLS CAME IN FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH NO PRINCE GEORGE AMBULANCES FREE TO RESPOND, THOSE 911 CALLS HAD TO BE ANSWERED BY AMBULANCES FROM NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES.
THESE WERE NOT MINOR CALLS, ONE WAS A CRITICAL CARDIAC EMERGENCY, AND YET THAT AMBULANCE TOOK 30 MINUTES TO ARRIVE ON SCENE FROM THE INITIAL CALL FROM AN OUTLYING JURISDICTION.
BY THE TIME THE PATIENT REACHED THE HOSPITAL, IT WAS OVER AN HOUR HAD PASSED FROM THE INITIAL 911 CALL.
I ASK YOU TO PUT YOURSELVES IN THAT FAMILY'S SHOES FOR A MOMENT, A HALF AN HOUR OR MORE WAIT FOR AN AMBULANCE DURING A CARDIAC EVENT.
[02:15:01]
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY HAS A PROUD HISTORY OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS DATING BACK TO 1957.WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR SERVICE.
HOWEVER, AS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA, RELYING SOLELY ON VOLUNTEERS IS NOT FEASIBLE, AND FOR THE VOLUME AND COMPLEXITY OF EMERGENCIES WE NOW FACE.
OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE JOBS, FAMILIES, AND THEY AREN'T ALWAYS AVAILABLE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKDAYS.
IT'S A NATIONAL TREND THAT VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER NUMBERS ARE DECLINING.
IN 2010, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 768,000, BY 2020, THAT NUMBER HAS FALLEN TO 676,000.
>> BECAUSE A MODERN LIFE LEAVES PEOPLE WITH LESS FREE TIME AND THE IMMENSE COMMITMENT THAT'S REQUIRED OF FIREFIGHTING.
PRINCE GEORGE'S CAREER STAFF NOW RESPONDS TO OVER 90% OF ALL CALLS, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER COUNT ON VOLUNTEERS TO BE THERE TO COVER EVERY CALL ACROSS A COUNTY OF THE SIZE.
THIS IS NOT A FAILING OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.
IT'S REALITY OF OUR TIMES AND OUR GROWING POPULATION.
GIVEN THE SITUATION, I'M URGENTLY ASKING YOU TO PRIORITIZE FIRE AND MS FUNDING IN THE COUNTY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IS IN A TIGHT SPOT FINANCIALLY.
WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE RECENT REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT CHALLENGES AND THE PRESSURE TO LIMIT TAX INCREASES.
WE NOW FACE TOUGH CHOICES TRYING TO BALANCE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS DIFFERENT.
IT'S THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO KEEP ITS CITIZENS SAFE.
WHEN A HOUSE IS ON FIRE, SOMEONE IS IN A CARDIAC ARREST OR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, WE CANNOT WAIT FOR BETTER TIMES AND JUST HOPE THAT THE NEIGHBORING JURISDICTION WILL COVER IT FOR US.
EVERY MINUTE OF DELAY, ANY SHORTAGE IN STAFFING CAN LITERALLY COST LIVES OR PROPERTY.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU AS CLEAR AS I CAN THAT CURRENT STAFFING IS NOT SAFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS AND FAMILIES.
>> WE'RE ASKING FOR THE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR THE TRAINING CAPTAIN.
THAT'S REITERATED IN THERE, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR THE DEPUTY POSITION.
AS ALWAYS BUDGETING IS CONCERNED, I KNOW THAT SOME MIGHT ASK, CAN WE AFFORD THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT I'D ASK IN RETURN, CAN WE NOT AFFORD TO? OBVIOUSLY, I'M GOING OVER MY TIME A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I'LL JUST SAY ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I'M THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THIS DEPARTMENT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 18 YEARS.
I'VE RESPONDED TO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE SITTING IN THIS AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.
THIS COUNTY DESERVES, AND THE PEOPLE DESERVE THE SAME RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACCOMMODATIONS THAT OTHERS DO.
HOPEWELL, CHESTERFIELD, PETERSBURG, I JUST ASKED THAT YOU TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT, AND I APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> YOU ARE ALL HAPPY ABOUT THAT. GOOD EVENING.
JIM QUEST, 9807 COUNTY LON ROAD.
FIRST, THANKS, MS. DORY FOR TRANSPARENCY.
COMING FROM CHESTERFIELD COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS.
IT'S A NOVEL CONCEPT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
MR. STOKE, WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE LATER IS, YOU ALREADY GOT AN EMAIL.
WE TALKED ABOUT GETTING ME SOME DATA ON THE LEGO THING.
I APPRECIATE THAT QUICK RESPONSE.
FIRST, THOUGH, I WANT TO SAY THE FIRE EMS SAFETY ADDITIONS.
IN MY MIND, LOOKING BACK AT THE JOB THAT CHIEF TAYLOR DID AS A TEMPORARY SEAT, AND THAT THING IS JUST AMAZING YELMAN'S WORK.
CATCHING UP FOR TEN YEARS WORTH OF CATCH UP ON PERSONNEL AND FIRE AND EQUIPMENT, AND THE HOUSING IS JUST TOP OF THE LINE.
IT'S GOT TO BE DONE. FIRST JOB OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO KEEP THE COUNTY PEOPLE SAFE.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TO KEEP US OUT OF WARS AND FIGHT THOSE.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING AMAZING WORK.
THEY NEED THOSE HEADCOUNTS. I HIGHLY INCURRED.
THE REAL TOPIC I CAME UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS LEGO AND THE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS.
IF I EVER PROPOSED A PROJECT TO MY CLIENTS OVER 45 YEARS, WITHOUT A RETURN ON INVESTMENT CALCULATION, I'D HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF A MEETING.
NOW, LET'S JUST SAY I WAS NEVER LEFT OUT OF ANY MEETING AFTER 45 YEARS.
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THE STATE EDA WORKED WITH PG TO SECURE THE LEGO WAREHOUSE PROJECT AND APPROVED $2.5 MILLION GRANT FROM OPPORTUNITY FUND TO ASSIST PRINCE GEORGE WITH THIS PROJECT.
MY QUESTION IS, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS FOR LANDING IT, THAT JOBS ARE NEEDED.
BUT I'M CURIOUS AS TO THE REMAINING AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT REQUIRED BY US, THE TAXPAYERS, THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
[02:20:03]
IF THEY'RE ASSISTING US, WHAT'S OUR NUT? WHAT ARE WE PUTTING IN? WHERE IS THAT IN THE CURRENT BUDGET? WHAT'S THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON THAT? WE'VE HAD SOME HISTORICALLY BAD INVESTMENTS OF 10 YEARS OF FREE THIS AND FREE THAT, AND THEY LEAVE AFTER NINE YEARS.WHERE'S THE ROI ON LEGO? I THINK WE DESERVE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO OUR CITIZENS? INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION, TAX FREE PERIODS, AND MACHINERY TOOLS, WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP IN THE CURRENT COM PLAN? I KNOW YOU ALL ARE SICK HEARING ABOUT ME AND THIS COM PLAN.
WHERE IS THIS? THREE HUNDRED JOBS COMING IN THIS COUNTY IS A BIG DEAL.
LOSS OF REVENUE OVER TIME IS A COST.
IT'S A PRICE TO BE PAID BY US THE CITIZENS.
WHAT IS THE PAYBACK PERIOD? AGAIN, MR. STOKE, THANK YOU FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE TO THE EMAIL.
I'VE RECEIVED NO ANSWERS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE IT IS IN THE BUDGET.
IT'S GOING TO COST US SOMETHING.
THAT 2.5 MILLION OR WHATEVER IT IS COMING FROM THE STATE AID FREE.
I'M SURE WE'RE KICKING SOMETHING IN.
WHAT IS IT? PLEASE GET US SOME ANSWERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING ITEM?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE MY LAST TIME, BUT WE'LL SEE THAT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAY BE JUMPING THE GUN, SO BEFORE I START, I'M GOING TO ASK, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WHEN YOU ALL FINALIZE THE BUDGET? YES OR NO ANSWER.
>> I WILL THAT ANSWER HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER.
>> YES. WE WILL BE HAVING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET PER SE.
>> WELL, LET ME JUST DO THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A TAX DISCUSSION RATE COMING UP FOR THE NEXT ITEM.
THERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THERE.
BUT THEN WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ON TAX RATE PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET AGAIN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TO THE BUDGET BEFORE WE CAN ADOPT THE BUDGET.
>> IT'S NO POINT IN MAKING COMMENTS?
>> YOU CAN MAKE COMMENTS THERE AND MAKE COMMENTS HERE.
>> YOU ALL HEAR FROM ME ENOUGH. HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT? LET ME JUST GO AHEAD AND JUST SUMMARIZE, BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON INFORMATION THAT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW YET.
AS A TAX PAYING CITIZEN, I BELIEVE, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOOK AT THE FINAL BUDGET AND MAKE MY COMMENTS ON THAT.
ASSUMING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE CUTS, AND I'M SURE THEY ARE GOING TO BE CUTS ON THIS, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH THE BASICS.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW, MONTHS OR SO, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT OUR THREE MEETINGS THAT WE NEED TAX RELIEF NOW.
YOU'VE HEARD THAT THERE'S EXCESSIVE BLOAT IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
ALL I'VE SEEN ON THIS PRESENTATION IS ADDING IT'S BALLOONING THAT BLOAT EVEN FURTHER.
I KNOW YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT FURTHER ON.
AS AN OVERTAX PROPERTY OWNER, I LIKE MANY CITIZENS THAT YOU REPRESENT, HAVE OFFERED YOU MANY SUGGESTIONS ON THINGS THAT YOU CAN CUT.
I CAN'T GO INTO DETAIL NOW BECAUSE, OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
BUT EACH OF YOU WERE PROVIDED AMPLE DATA THAT SHOWS, BASICALLY, ON MANY SITUATIONS, THIS COUNTY FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, AND BONUSES ARE REALLY WAY AHEAD OF A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES, CONSIDERING THE 21 COUNTIES THAT WE HAVE.
I SENT YOU THE DATA THAT I DID FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PIECE ON THAT, SHOWING THAT WE'RE WAY ABOVE THE MEDIUM ON THAT.
THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO DEAL WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP THROWING MORE MONEY AT THAT BY HIRING AND DOING THE BLOW.
WE ALSO MADE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO YOU THAT WE NEED TO BETTER USE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE ALL KNOW VERY WELL THAT DESPITE WHAT THEY SAY, WE HAVE CHASED THE VOLUNTEERS OUT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT RESPECTING THEM THE WAY WE SHOULD BE.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE THAT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
I THINK THE VOLUNTEER AND ALL THE PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD WITH THE LAST TWO YEARS OF VOLUNTEERS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, THAT THERE IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
THERE'S A WAY OF COORDINATING EFFORTS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WE DON'T NEED A DOZEN THOUSAND PIOS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY.
EXAGGERATING HERE, WE'VE GOT THREE PIOS.
WE CAN COMBINE A LOT OF THINGS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL WILL BE TALKING ABOUT OVER THAT, ESPECIALLY AT THE WORK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOVERNMENT IS GETTING TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THIS COUNTY.
FOR THE SIZE OF OUR COUNTY, WE DON'T NEED ALL THE BUREAUCRACY. WE NEED TO CUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID, WHY CAN 91 COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA DO ONE MAJOR SERVICE, AN IMPORTANT SERVICE THAT WE ALL HAVE.
[02:25:01]
WHY CAN 91 COUNTIES DO IT WITH ONE AGENCY, BUT NOT PRINCE GEORGE.WE HAVE TO HAVE THREE AGENCIES TO DO WHAT OTHER COUNTIES DO WITH ONE.
OUR POPULATION IS LESS THAN 100,000, SO ARE THESE OTHER 91.
THEY'RE DOING IT? WHY CAN'T WE DO IT? AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE WORKSHOP.
IN CLOSING, AFTER NINE YEARS OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS TAX BILLS INCREASING.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YES, YOU CUT THE TAX RATE ONCE, BUT THAT EFFECTIVELY RAISED OUR TAX BILL ANYWAY.
AFTER NINE STRAIGHT YEARS OF THAT, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TAX RELIEF.
WE NEED TO DO SOME SERIOUS CUTTING, AND WE NEED TO DO IT ON THIS BUDGET.
AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WHEN I JUST DID THE NUMBERS, 80,000 IS THE OPERATION BUDGET NOW, 57,000 JUST SIX YEARS AGO.
A 38% INCREASE OVER SIX YEARS IN SPENDING.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU HAVE A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SAYING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING?
>> JAMES KELLER, 1357 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
I'LL START OFF BY STATING THE OBVIOUS.
COUNTY BUDGETS DO NOT HAVE TO INCREASE MERELY BECAUSE THE ASSESSED VALUES OF PROPERTIES IN THE COUNTY HAVE INCREASED.
IF ANYTHING, RISING REAL ESTATE PROPERTY VALUES SHOULD RESULT IN A DECREASED TAX RATE.
MORE SPENDING BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEAN TAKING MORE MONEY FROM PROPERTY OWNERS WHO, BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OWN ADMISSION, SHOULDER MORE OF THE BURDEN OF FINANCING THE COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT THAN DO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
IF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NEEDS MORE MONEY TO SPEND EXPANDING COUNTY SERVICES OR ON THEIR PET PROJECTS, THEN PLEASE DO MORE.
MUCH MORE TO GROW THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE AND GIVE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS SOME LONG OVERDUE TAX RELIEF.
AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, A NATIONWIDE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN LOOMS LARGE LATER THIS YEAR, FROM THE RISK OF A SELF INFLICTED RECESSION.
MORE LOCAL PRIVATE SERVICE JOB LOSSES ON TOP OF JOB LOSSES ALREADY EXPERIENCED AT THE AREA'S FEDERAL FACILITIES, HIGHER INTEREST RATES BECAUSE US TREASURIES ARE NO LONGER SEEN BY GLOBAL INVESTORS AS A SAFE HAVEN THAT THEY USED TO BE, AND RISING RETAIL PRICES DUE TO ILL CONCEIVED TARIFF RELATED SHORTAGES AND OPPORTUNIST BUSINESS INTEREST.
THE YALE BUDGET LAB PREDICTS TARIFFS ON IMPORTED GOODS WILL COST A TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY $2,800 MORE.
JUST YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED CONGRESS IS ON TRACK TO INCREASE MEDICAID COPAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES IN THEIR EFFORT TO EXTEND TAX CUTS TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM THE LEAST.
THE LATEST DATA FROM 2023 FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY REPORTS 33% OF ALL PRINCE GEORGE CHILDREN RECEIVE MEDICAID BENEFITS, AS DO 20% OF ALL FAMILIES, 17% OF ALL ADULTS, AND 10% OF ALL SENIORS.
THE ADDED COST OF TARIFFS ON EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS, COUPLED WITH A DOUBLE DIGIT COUNTY TAX INCREASE ARE POISED TO DO SOME REAL HARM TO MANY COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND NOW FACED WITH A 4% DECREASE IN THE REVISED REVENUE EXPECTED FROM THE FY '26 COUNTY WIDE PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS, MORE THAN A FEW AREAS OF POTENTIAL CUTS WERE IDENTIFIED AT LAST WEEK'S BUDGET WORKSHOP.
PUTTING PENCIL TO PAPER REVEALED MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE VITAL COUNTY SERVICES WHILE TRIMMING THE FAT.
AS GOOD STEWARDS OF COUNTY TAX DOLLARS, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHAT CONSTITUTES MUST HAVE EXPENSES VERSUS LUXURY NICE TO HAVE EXPENSES.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO INCREASE SPENDING JUST BECAUSE ASSESSMENTS HAVE INCREASED SO DRAMATICALLY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING? SEEING NO ONE ELSE COMING THIS WAY, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND RETURN THE MATTER BACK TO THE BOARD.
BOARD MEMBERS, ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, AGAIN, THERE IS NO ACTION FOR US TO TAKE.
WE WILL HAVE A MEETING ON THE 21ST, WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS BUDGET CUTS.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE WILL NEED TO COME BACK ON THE 27TH.
AS PART OF THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET, WE WILL BE COMING BACK AND DISCUSSING
[02:30:02]
THESE BUDGET CUTS THAT WE DECIDE FROM THE 21ST AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS, THERE'S NO ACTION FOR US TO TAKE TONIGHT ON THIS MATTER. EVERYONE OKAY?
>> I'M TRYING TO GET MYSELF CAUGHT UP HERE. HANG ON.
IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 2026 TAX LEVIES FOR REAL PROPERTY.
>> YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON TWO SPECIFIC TAX RATES, YOUR REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE, AND YOUR MANUFACTURED HOME.
AGAIN, THE COUNTY'S INTRODUCED BUDGET WAS PRESENTED ON MARCH 11.
IT WAS DEVELOPED FROM BOARD SPENDING PRIORITIES.
IT INCLUDED NO CHANGE IN THE RATES FOR ANY OF OUR TAX RATES, REAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL, MANUFACTURED HOME OR MACHINERY AND TOOLS.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE DUE TO HIGHER ASSESSED REAL PROPERTY VALUES.
THE VALUES WERE UPDATED IN MAY AND WERE DISCUSSED WITH THE BOARD, AND THOSE VALUES DID DROP.
THE GENERAL FUND INTRODUCED BUDGET AS PRESENTED ON MARCH 11 IS $80,143,093, AN 8% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THE BOARD DID HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL OF THE TAX RATES PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ON APRIL 22, WITH THE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATES BEING APPROVED THAT EVENING.
YOU POSTPONED ACTION ON THE REAL ESTATE AND MANUFACTURED HOME RATES UNTIL YOU RECEIVED UPDATED OUR REAL PROPERTY ESTIMATES.
A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING HELD THIS EVENING ON REAL ESTATE AND MANUFACTURED HOMES TO ALLOW ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE RATES.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET WAS JUST HELD.
AGAIN, THE PROPOSED BUDGET TOTALS 80,143,000.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN THE TRANSFER TO SCHOOLS FOR THEIR OPERATING AND TEXTBOOK FUNDS, STEP INCREASES AND MARKET AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS ON THE SCALES, AND THE ADDITION OF 16.5 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES, 11 WITHIN FIRE AND DMS, ONE WITHIN THE BUILDING OFFICIALS OFFICE, ONE IN PLANNING, ONE IN ANIMAL SERVICES AS A KENNEL ATTENDANT, ONE SOCIAL SERVICES MANAGER, CONVERTING A PART TIME COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FULL TIME AND A REGIONAL STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT, WHOSE COSTS IN PART WILL BE BILLED TO OTHER SIX CIRCUIT LOCALITIES.
PHASE 3 OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ORDINANCE UPDATES ARE A PAYMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO MAINTENANCE ANNUAL CONTRACT, AND OTHER INFLATIONARY INCREASES IN CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.
AGAIN, REDUCTIONS WILL BE MADE PRIOR TO ADOPTION.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED ONCE IN THE PROGRESS INDEX ON MAY 6 FOR THESE TWO TAX RATES AT $0.82.
>> AGAIN, THESE TWO SLIDES OR TWO COMPARISONS DEPICT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES PROVIDED BY VISION IN FEBRUARY, COMPARED TO THE UPDATES THAT WERE PROVIDED ON MAY 5TH.
THE EQUALIZATION RATE WAS 73 CENTS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED.
IT INCREASED TO 74 CENTS WITH LOWER REAL PROPERTY VALUES.
THE GENERAL FUND REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE GROWTH WAS INITIALLY ESTIMATED AT 4.2 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF A PENNY, 420,000.
UPDATED ESTIMATES FROM VISION DID RESULT IN A DROP OF THAT INCREASE IN REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES FROM 4.2 MILLION TO 3.65 MILLION OR $585,000.
THIS IS THE SAME SLIDE THAT WAS SHOWN DURING THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT SHOWS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF IMPACTS TO REAL PROPERTY OWNERS AT VARIOUS CURRENT LEVELS, AND THE AVERAGE INCREASE UPDATED IS DEPICTED TO THE RIGHT WITH THE GREEN SHADING.
THE RATES APPLY NOT ONLY TO YOUR REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES, BUT THEY ALSO APPLY TO PUBLIC SERVICE TAXES AND MANUFACTURED HOMES.
THE VALUES OF BOTH REAL PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICE TAX CORPORATIONS WILL BE BELOW THOSE AMOUNTS THAT WE INITIALLY INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
THERE IS NO CHANGE IN MOBILE HOME OR
[02:35:01]
MANUFACTURED HOME TAX ESTIMATES OR VALUES AT THIS TIME.AGAIN, THESE CUTS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT YOUR UPCOMING WORK SESSION.
THE DROP IN REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES IS 585, STILL A GROWTH, BUT THERE IS AN OVERALL DECREASE IN PUBLIC SERVICE TAXES BASED ON VALUES THAT ARE ASSESSED BY THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION.
IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO TAKE ACTION THIS EVENING, THERE IS A DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS TO ADOPT BOTH THE REAL PROPERTY AND MANUFACTURED HOME RATES AT 82 CENTS.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS JOY?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 5 FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TAX RATE FOR REAL PROPERTY AND MANUFACTURED HOMES.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC, YOU CAN COME FORWARD AND SPEAK.
YOU'LL BE HAVING THE THREE MINUTES AS THE OTHER PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
I'M NOW OPENING UP THIS SECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, OPEN FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO FIRST.
I'LL GO FIRST, YOUR CHOICE. THANK YOU.
JAMES KELLER, 1357 BUTLER BRANCH ROAD.
THE PERSONAL EXAMPLE, THE TAX RATE FOR MY HOUSE, WHERE I WOULD PAY THE RATE.
THE SAME TAXES I PAID LAST YEAR IS 67 CENTS PER 100.
IF THE COUNTY ADOPTS ITS EQUALIZATION RATE OF 74 CENTS, THEN OUR PROPERTY TAX GOES UP BY DOUBLE DIGITS.
IF THE COUNTY ADOPTS THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 82 CENTS, THEN OUR PROPERTY TAX GOES UP BY 22.4%.
JUST BECAUSE OUR HOME HAS BEEN ASSESSED BY A CONTRACTOR'S ESOTERIC COMPUTER-ASSISTED MASS APPRAISAL MODEL, INSTEAD OF ONE BASED ON MORE REALISTIC COMPARABLE SALES METHOD TO BE WORTH MORE FAIR MARKET MONEY, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE OF US LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON TAXES OR ANYTHING ELSE.
LIKEWISE, JUST BECAUSE A COMPUTER MODEL HAS DECIDED OUR HOME IS WORTH MORE FAIR MARKET MONEY, DOESN'T MEAN THE COUNTY SHOULD SEE THIS AS HAVING MORE MONEY TO SPEND AS IT PLEASES.
LET'S NOT FORGET, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WORK FOR US, THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS.
WE PAY THE BILLS, SO WE'RE ENTITLED EFFECTIVELY TO CALL THE SHOT.
TONIGHT, TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I SAY, STAY FAR AWAY FROM THE TAX RATE OF 82 CENTS PER HUNDRED.
>> YES, MA'AM. COME ON UP, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. ANGELINE JONES AT 3619 UNION BRANCH ROAD.
>> COULD YOU PULL THAT MIC DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
>> ANGELINE JONES AT 3619 UNION BRANCH ROAD.
>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT OF MY PROPERTY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE 23 YEARS.
I HAVE DONE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT ON MY HOME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE LINGUAL, OR THE LANGUAGE, OR THE TERMINOLOGY OF HOW YOU'RE BASING THE TAXES.
IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE FIRST PARAGRAPH THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TWICE A YEAR TAXES.
LET ME GO AHEAD. IT SAYS, "IN ACCORDING WITH THE RICHMOND CODE OF VIRGINIA, 8.133, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE ABOVE REFERENCE, PARALLEL FOR THE FY26, JULY 1ST, '25, THEN JUNE 30, '26, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY ACCUMULATING REAL ESTATE TAXES PAYMENTS THAT WOULD BE DUE DECEMBER THE 5TH," BECAUSE I PAID MY TAXES MORE LIKE IN MARCH, I BELIEVE.
>> I'M GOING TO ADDRESS YOU ONCE YOU FINISH. I WILL WHEN WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LINGUAL OF WHAT ARE YOU-ALL DOING, AND HOW YOU'RE ASSESSING OUR HOME FOR THE VALUE.
>> YOU ARE GIVING US THE PUBLIC INPUT AT THIS MOMENT.
>> THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M ASKING.
HOW DID YOU GET THIS ASSESSMENT? WHO DID THE ASSESSMENT? I GOT THIS IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY.
[02:40:01]
THE MEETING IS TODAY, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO BRUSH UP, STUDY, CALL A PARALEGAL TO EXPLAIN IT, TO BREAK IT DOWN TO ME. I'M JUST CONFUSED.>> I WILL EXPLAIN IT. ONCE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, I WILL ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. YES, MA'AM.
>> RESTATE YOUR NAME JUST FOR THE RECORD.
>> IT'S DIANA BELL, AND IT'S 9327 OLD STAGE ROAD. I MIGHT GET UPSET.
>> TAKE YOUR TIME. DO WE HAVE A TISSUE UP HERE AT THE DESK? I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY UP HERE.
[BACKGROUND] I DON'T MEAN TO CUT ACROSS YOU, BUT YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT US YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
>> I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.
IT'S THE SAME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
MY GRANDMA WAS [INAUDIBLE], WE WERE HERE 1890S, SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PRINCE GEORGE PEOPLE.
NOW, FOR SOME LITTLE BOY ON THE PHONE TO GO, I'M LOOKING AT IT ON GOOGLE MAPS, IT'S 88% MORE.
INSTEAD OF $1, I'M GOING TO BE PAYING $1.88 TO PRINCE GEORGE, AND TAXES.
FOR YOU GUYS TO SIT UP HERE AND THINK ANY OF THIS IS OKAY, THERE'S SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG.
MINE, IT SHOWS 88% INCREASE, 88% STRAIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD.
I WILL PUT IT IN WRITING, BUT 88%.
I'M AT 20221 JAMES RIVER DRIVE IN SPRING GROVE.
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT MY PAPERWORK HERE.
IT SHOWS THAT MY CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR IS GOING TO BE 31.10%.
I DO SEE WHERE IT SAYS IT'S HYPOTHETICAL, BUT I JUST NEED MORE CLARITY.
I'M JUST HERE TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THIS. THAT'S IT.
>> AGAIN, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I CLOSE.
>> I UNDERSTAND. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MY COMMENT.
>> NO I THANK YOU FOR ASKING YOUR QUESTION, THEN I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO ADDRESS ONCE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> YES, MA'AM. BUT I WILL ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION.
>> BILL STEEL, COUNTY LINE ROAD.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MY LAST TIME'S UP. [LAUGHTER] THIS IS IT, GUYS.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'VE HEARD BACK HERE.
AGAIN, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE CUTTING AND ALL THAT, AND WILL LIKELY COME DOWN.
WITH ALL HONESTY, I JUST DON'T TRUST THE BOARD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOWER THE TAX RATE.
[02:45:03]
EIGHTY TWO CENTS IS OUTRAGEOUS.YOU DO MAKE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, AS THE SIXTH HIGHEST TAX COUNTY IN THE 21 COUNTY REGION.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE NEED TO BE THAT HIGH.
WE'RE PAYING TOO MUCH OF IT, PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
WE NEED TO LOWER THIS TAX RATE DOWN SO WE HAVE MEANINGFUL RELIEF IN TAX BILLS.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WANT TO PUT THE TAX RATE AT, LOWER THE TAX BILLS.
TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO CUT THE SPENDING, SO YOU CAN REDUCE THIS 82 CENTS.
IT IS WAY TOO HIGH, WAY OUT OF LINE.
IT'S BEEN NINE STRAIGHT YEARS NOW YOU HAVE INCREASED OUR TAX BILLS.
LET'S THIS YEAR, REDUCE THAT NUMBER DOWN SO PEOPLE CAN GET SOME RELIEF.
THAT'S IT. GOOD NIGHT, AND APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORKING.
>> I DON'T ENVY YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW THAT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> I CLAIM THE TITLE AS THE SECOND BIGGEST PAIN IN THE BUTT. NEVER MIND.
[NOISE] GOOD EVENING. JIMMY QUIST, 1907 COUNTY LINE ROAD.
I'M HERE WITH A CAUTIONARY TALE.
FROM THE ASSESSOR'S WEB PAGE, "YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT THE VALUATION DETERMINED BY VISION IS ERRONEOUS.
IT WAS NOT ARRIVED AT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED APPRAISAL PRACTICES." THE IDEA THAT EACH TAXPAYER MUST PROVE THEMSELVES INNOCENT IN THIS PROCESS TO THE ASSESSOR IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.
REMEMBER LAST TIME I ASKED ABOUT METHODOLOGIES? SIXTY PAGES OF REGULATIONS WRITTEN BY A VENDOR, NOT THIS BOARD.
NOT VOTED ON BY THIS BOARD, NOT APPROVED BY THIS BOARD, NOT APPROVED BY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
SIXTY PAGES OF TAX ASSESSMENT.
REGULATIONS. HERE'S THE CAUTIONARY TALE.
WITHOUT MAKING THESE PUBLIC WITH TIMELY NOTICE, THE COMPLEXITY AND DATA IS BEING USED TO PROSECUTE THESE ASSESSMENT INCREASES.
WE ARE BEING FORCED TO USE A SYSTEM BASED ON PEOPLE PROVING THE ASSESSOR WRONG, WITHOUT KNOWING THE METHODS THAT WERE USED AGAINST US.
THEY DIDN'T PUBLISH THIS UNTIL AFTER THE DATES CLOSED.
NOBODY KNEW WHAT A RANCHER WAS VERSUS A CONTEMPORARY HOME.
YOU COULD NOT EFFECTIVELY COUNTER THE ASSESSMENT.
I CALL THAT A BREACH OF CONTRACT.
THEY EFFECTIVELY CHARGED US. HERE'S WHAT IT'S LIKE.
IT'S LIKE GOING UP TO COURT, HAVING THE JURY SEATED AND THEN FINDING OUT WHAT YOUR ALLEGED CHARGES ARE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES.
A VENDOR WRITING RULES AND REGULATIONS, ELEVATING THEMSELVES.
THEY MADE THEMSELVES THE POLICE, THE PROSECUTOR, THE JUDGE, AND THE JURY, WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.
AGAIN, 60 PAGES OF REGULATIONS, RULES OR PROCEDURES WITHOUT A HEARING OR VOTE BY YOU.
THIS IS THE 2025 VERSION OF THE BOW TIE IDIOT.
WE HIRED VISION TO FIX THIS CESSPOOL, AND HERE'S WHAT THEY DID.
THEY WROTE A POLICY MANUAL THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO SOLE SOURCE THEIR SOFTWARE FOR ETERNITY.
WHO ELSE CAN USE THESE RULES AND MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD? NO ONE. YOU CANNOT REVERSE ENGINEER WHAT WE PAID THEM TO DO.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO CONTRACT WITH VISION FOREVER, UNLESS YOU WANT TO REWRITE THIS SOFTWARE THAT THEY WROTE.
HERE'S MY OFFER, JUST LIKE LAST YEAR.
I APOLOGIZE, I'M GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE EXTRA SECONDS.
>> JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, GIVE OUR TEAM THE SPREADSHEET DATA THAT YOU GAVE US WITH THE PRIOR ASSESSOR.
WE LL FIND THE ERRORS, AND I PROMISE YOU THAT.
THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT SMART, THEY JUST THINK WE'RE STUPID.
HOW ABOUT WE WITHHOLD FINAL PAYMENT TO THIS VENDOR UNTIL THEY COMPLY WITH REASONABLE AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTS? IT'S OUTRAGEOUS, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE US FOREVER TO FIX THIS.
IF YOU'RE NOT CUTTING THE BUDGET NOW, YOU'LL CUT IT NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REDUCTIONS FOUND. THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING?
[02:50:04]
I SEE NO ONE COMING FORWARD, SO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE TAX RATE.
THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS $0.82.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WHAT YOUR ASSESSMENT WAS.
BECAUSE THE COUNTY, WE DIDN'T DO THE ASSESSMENT.
THE ASSESSMENT WAS DONE BY A CONTRACTOR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SUPPLY YOU WITH THE WORKSHEETS AND STUFF THAT SAID HOW THEY GOT TO YOUR ASSESSED PROPERTY.
WE HAD A PORTION OR SOMETHING THAT WAS SET UP TO WHERE YOU COULD DO AN INFORMAL APPEAL WITH VISION, AND THAT DATE HAS NOW PASSED.
NOW WE'RE IN THE PERIOD WHERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CHALLENGE THEIR ASSESSMENT WOULD PUT IN AN APPLICATION FOR WHAT WE CALL THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
THAT APPLICATION PROCESS WAS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE MAY 30TH.
WE EXTENDED IT LAST MEETING TO JUNE 30TH, GIVING EXTRA TIME.
MR. HORN, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP, SIR? THE GENTLEMAN THAT IS STANDING UP RIGHT NOW WORKS IN OUR LOCAL ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
MR. HORN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO HIS OFFICE.
THERE'S SO MANY FACETS OF THIS THING THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.
THERE COULD BE FACTUAL DATA, MEANING YOUR SQUARE FOOTAGE IS WRONG, MEANING HOW THEY FROM AN AERIAL PERSPECTIVE, JUDGE SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE THE TRUTH, MR. HORN, THEY CAN UPDATE FACTUAL DATA, AND THEY CAN WORK WITH A VISION TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, THE 88% I HEARD OR YOUR NUMBERS THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH HIS DEPARTMENT'S LOCAL ASSESSOR'S OFFICE HERE TO HELP YOU ADDRESS.
NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STATEMENT THAT YOU GOT, THIS IS FOR THE FISCAL 26 REAL ESTATE.
THE REAL ESTATE BILL IS SPLIT UP INTO TWO PAYMENTS.
THE FIRST PAYMENT IS DUE DECEMBER 5 OF THIS YEAR.
THE FISCAL YEAR STARTS JULY 1.
SORRY. I WAS GOING TO SAY JANUARY, JULY 1.
YOU WILL MAKE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT DECEMBER 5 OF THIS YEAR.
THE SECOND PAYMENT IS DUE IN JUNE OF 2026.
THE REAL ESTATE BILL THAT'S DUE THIS JUNE IS FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT YOU PAID HALF OF IT PROBABLY IN DECEMBER.
THAT'S WHEN YOU WERE ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IT SAID ON THAT STATEMENT, I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING IN MARCH, BECAUSE THE WAY OUR SYSTEM IS, YOU PAY YOUR FIRST HALF OF YOUR REAL ESTATE BILL IN DECEMBER, THEN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OF THE FIRST YEAR, THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THAT, YOU PAY THE SECOND HALF OF THAT BILL IN JUNE, AND THEN YOU ALSO PAY YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY LIKE YOUR CAR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT YOUR REAL ESTATE IS DUE TWO TIMES.
THAT'S I'VE LIVED IN THIS COUNTY ALL MY LIFE.
THAT'S THE WAY THE BILLS WERE SPLIT UP TO BE PAID AS FAR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
OF COURSE, WHEN I WAS A KID, I WASN'T PAYING THEM.
AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER BEING AN ADULT, THAT'S HOW THAT BILL HAS ALWAYS BEEN BROKEN UP.
BUT I WILL SAY TO ANYONE, IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN OVER THE ASSESSED VALUE OF YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY, THE GENTLEMAN THAT I ASKED TO STAND UP, MR. HORN, WILL DEFINITELY BE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK WITH.
HE HAS DIRECT CONTACT WITH VISION AND CAN ADDRESS ANY ISSUES WITH VISION.
EVEN IF YOU FILL OUT THE BOE APPLICATION, AND THEY GET IT RESOLVED, THEN YOU WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE TO COME TO THE BOE HEARING.
THAT DATE HASN'T BEEN SET YET BECAUSE WE JUST SHIFTED EVERYTHING OUT.
THE ACTUAL HEARING DATE HAS NOT EVEN BEEN SET, BUT AT LEAST THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOT ENDED UNTIL JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR.
I'M HOPING I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS ON.
[02:55:03]
BUT AGAIN, WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT THE ASSESSED VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY.ONCE YOU HAVE THAT ASSESSED VALUE CORRECT, THEN WE ESTABLISH HOW MUCH IT IS PER 100 THAT YOU PAY IN TAXES.
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THAT HAS BEEN $0.82 PER 100.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ESTABLISHING OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
BOARD MEMBERS, WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS BEFORE.
I MAKE THE STATEMENT, BUT I WOULD ASK THIS BOARD TO MOVE OR TO MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS DECISION UNTIL MAY THE 27TH.
MOVED, WE WOULD ALSO RE-ADVERTISE AGAIN FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW, HERE'S THE REASON WE'RE SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SETTING A TAX RATE TONIGHT.
HAVING A BUDGET WORK SESSION ON WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK, WHERE WE REALLY COULD CHANGE WHAT ESTABLISHED WHAT THE TAX RATE IS FOR BUDGET PURPOSES.
LET'S JUST SAY IF ON WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK, WE SAY, WE ALL AGREE IT SHOULD BE $0.81, AND WE HAD SAID IT TO BE 82 TONIGHT, THEN ON MAY THE 27TH, WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK FIRST AND RESEND WHAT WE DID ON TONIGHT.
THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO IT THAT WAY.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING TO POSTPONE THIS, RE-ADVERTISE THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM MAY 27.
BY THEN, WE'LL KNOW WHAT ALL THE REDUCTIONS ARE, WHERE WE WANT TO LAND TAX RATE, AND ALL OF THAT.
NOW I'M SORRY, GENTLEMEN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT, BUT NOW I'LL TAKE THE MOTION IN SECOND, PLEASE.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND BY MR. COX THAT WE WOULD POSTPONE OUR DECISION ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING, RE-ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING, AND COME BACK ON MAY THE 27TH.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MS. NAGHT WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, Y'ALL.
>> NOT IF I STEP OUT FOR A SECOND-USE RESTROOM.
>> SHOULD WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU WANT A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS?
>> THE BOARD WILL BE IN RECESS FOR 5 MINUTES, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
NO PROBLEM, SIR. THE BOARD HAS RETURNED FROM THEIR FIVE MINUTE RECESS, AND WE'LL START BACK UNDER REPORTS,
[F. Reports]
AND THE FIRST REPORT WE HAVE IS SPEED BUMPS AND HUMPS FOR SCOTT PARK. MR. ROXALL.>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN.
BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE, AND MISS HERARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SCOTT PARK AND SPEED H HUMPS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE RECENTLY PAVED SCOTT PARK, AND THE ROAD GOING INTO SCOTT PARK AND THE PARK AND THE PARKING LOT, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
EVERYBODY'S REALLY APPRECIATED IT.
WHAT IS A SPEED PUMP? WELL, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SPEED HUMP AND A SPEED BUMP.
AS A TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICE USED TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEED TYPICALLY FOUND ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND LOW TRAFFIC AREAS.
THEY ARE DESIGNED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLES TEN TO 15 MILES PER HOUR, ENHANCING SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
SPEED HUMPS ARE USUALLY THREE TO 4 " HIGH AND JUST AROUND 40 " WIDE.
THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RECOMMENDS SPEED HUMPS ARE PLACED ANYWHERE 260-500 FT APART TO ACHIEVE SLOWER VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
SEE THAT NICE LITTLE DRAG WAY WE GOT THERE IN SCOTT.
SCOTT PARK IS USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR YOUTH SPORTS. DISK GOLF.
IT RUNS ALL ALONG THAT ROAD RIGHT THERE.
FREQUENTLY WE GET DISCS OUT ON THE ROAD.
THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE THAT WALK THEIR DOGS UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD.
IT'S QUITE BUSY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IT'S ALSO THE ACCESS TO FREE TIME ADVENTURES.
PARKS AND RECREATION HAS RECEIVED
[03:00:01]
NUMEROUS CITIZEN COMPLAINTS CONCERNING VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, SPEEDING DOWN THE NEWLY PAVED ROAD.AGAIN, SPEED HUMPS ARE DESIGNED TO LIMIT TRAFFIC SPEED 10-15 MILES PER HOUR.
LIMITING TRAFFIC TO THE SPEED, WILL STILL PERMIT FLUID TRAFFIC FLOW TO EVENTS WHILE STILL PROMOTING SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPEED HUMPS AND SPEED BUMPS ARE A LOT MORE SEVERE.
YOU ALMOST HAVE TO PRETTY MUCH COME TO A STOP TO USE THEM.
THIS AT LEAST ALLOWS TRAFFIC FLOW.
FROM THE DIAGRAM THAT WE HAD, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, WE HAVE AN EXISTING SPEED BUMP, WHICH IS RIGHT BESIDE THE CONCESSION STAND AT THE SOFTBALL FIELDS THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A GREAT LENGTH OF TIME.
WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS WE PUT FIVE SPEED HUMPS.
THEY WILL BE SPACED APPROXIMATELY 400 FOOT APART.
THE FIRST SPEED HUMP WOULD BE RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO THE GATE GOING INTO SCOTT PARK.
FOLLOWED BY SPEED HUMPS EVERY FOUR, 400 FEET, AND THEN ANOTHER SPEED HUMP BETWEEN THE PARKING LOT AND THE CURVE BY TREE TIME.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPEED HUMPS.
THERE'S VULCANIZED RUBBER SPEED HUMPS, WHICH ARE MADE RECYCLED RUBBER.
THEY'RE GUARANTEED FOR AROUND 15 YEARS.
THERE'S A WARRANTY ON THEM FOR 15 YEARS.
I GOT A COST FROM THAT, WHICH WAS $11,177.78.
THEN YOU CAN ALSO GO WITH ASPHALT SPEED BUMPS WHICH WERE 11,650, AND THAT INCLUDES THE LINING, PUTTING THE MARKINGS ON IT.
FIRST OF ALL, I AM REQUESTING A CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EITHER IF YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE IN EITHER THE RUBBER OR THE ASPHALT.
IF GRANTED, I WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR A JOHN RANDOLPH RESPONSIVE GRANT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A 25% MATCH FROM THE COUNTY.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH JOHN RANDOLPH AND THEY SAID THAT THIS WOULD MEET THEIR PARAMETERS.
THEY WOULD NEED A LETTER OF INTENT BY JUNE 2, AND THE AWARD WOULD COME OUT.
IF WE WERE CHOSEN, IT WOULD COME OUT I BELIEVE 1 DECEMBER. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. IF WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE WITH INSTALLING.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PREFER, YES.
I WOULD NEED TO CHECK THE PARAMETERS OF IT.
I BELIEVE THERE'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN PUT IT IN AND THEN YOU'RE REIMBURSED AT THAT TIME.
>> BECAUSE DECEMBER WOULDN'T ADDRESS THIS YEAR'S SEASON WOULD IT.
>> CORRECT. IF YOU DECIDE TO GO THE RUBBER ROUTE, GENERAL SERVICES HAS SAID THEY WOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THOSE DOWN AND INSTALL THEM.
THE ASPHALT ONE IS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE COMPANY COMES IN AND DOES IN LINES.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY PREFERENCES?
>> I WOULD PREFER TO GO ASPHALT. IT'S MORE PERMANENT.
TO ME, THE ONES WHEN YOU PUT DOWN THE VULCANIZED RUBBER, YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL FORUM TO BE PULLED UP.
SNOWPLOW GOES THROUGH AND HITS THEM. THEY'RE GONE.
ASPHALT WOULD STILL GET DAMAGED, BUT IT WOULD WITHSTAND A LOT MORE.
>> I WAS LEANING THE OTHER WAY AT FIRST, BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE RUBBER ONES WOULD BE LESS DAMAGE TO A VEHICLE THAT WOULD HIT IT HARD VERSUS THE ASPHALT.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE LONGEVITY.
I'LL GO WITH THE ASPHALT AS WELL.
YOU HAVE A CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> I WILL PUT IN A LETTER OF INTENT,
[03:05:02]
AND I WILL BRIEF YOU ALL WHEN I HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.>> THIS NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A RESOLUTION FOR SCHOOL CATEGORICAL BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, $338,479.13.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. I'M REALLY TRYING TO CLOSE UP EARLY.
HOW ABOUT THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT? SORRY ABOUT THAT, MAN, I WAS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S SO LATE IN THE EVENING, I WILL GO THROUGH THIS QUITE QUICKLY.
IT WAS POSTED TO BOARD DOCS, AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
IT'S A QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31.
GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE ON TARGET.
OF COURSE, HALF OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS STILL DUE IN JUNE, AS IS ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
WE ARE VERY SIMILARLY POSITIONED TO LAST YEAR.
THIS NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES JUST A VISUAL OF GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
YOU DID APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR SCHOOL CARRYOVER FUNDING AT YOUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING.
THE FUND BALANCE UPDATED FIGURE IS 42.8 MILLION.
SOME OUR SALES TAX IS A LITTLE BIT SLUGGISH, BUT REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE.
THE SECOND HALF IS DUE JUNE 2.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE DUE IN JUNE.
I DID SHARE WITH THE BOARD IN AN EARLIER PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET UPDATE THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX VALUES ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THEY WERE LAST SPRING, BUT WE THINK WE WILL BE ON TRACK TO MEET OUR REVENUE TARGET.
THERE ARE NO ALARM BELLS THAT WOULD INDICATE, WE NEED TO CURTAIL SPENDING.
THE 49% IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY BUDGETED FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS BASICALLY USING YOUR FUND BALANCE.
THAT LARGEST DRIVER ARE THE SCHOOL CARRYOVER ITEMS AND THE AMOUNTS YOU APPROVED EARLIER IN THE FISCAL YEAR FOR FIRE APPARATUS PURCHASES.
SIMILAR STORY WITH GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
WE ARE BELOW THAT 75% MARK, WHICH IS WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE ON MARCH, THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR.
AGAIN, THERE ARE NO RED FLAGS.
WE ARE RUNNING A SURPLUS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THE DEFICIT AND OPERATIONS LAST YEAR.
OUR WATER AND SEWER BILLING IS STILL BELOW THAT 75% MARK, BUT THERE IS I BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON A BILLING SITUATION WITH ONE LARGE CUSTOMER, THAT PROBABLY IS A DRIVING FACTOR POSSIBLY FOR THAT AMOUNT BEING BELOW THAT 75% LEVEL, BUT WE ARE RUNNING A POSITIVE.
SAME IS TRUE FOR NON-OPERATING UTILITIES AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
WE ARE IN A POSITIVE NET POSITION OVERALL IN THE UTILITY FUND.
THIS IS A LISTING VERY DIFFICULT TO READ.
STATION 8 IS DONE, ELECTRICAL UPGRADES. THAT IS GOOD.
FUEL FOCUS IS ESSENTIALLY COMPLETE, WITH SOME ONGOING INSTALLATION OF THE VEHICLE BARCODES FOR FUEL FILL-UP MONITORING.
PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT, AGAIN, IS COMPLETE.
THERE IS SOME SNAP INTEREST REMAINING AND YOUR SERIES 2019 BONDS.
THE STATION 6 RFP FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY IS ALMOST COMPLETE, AND WE HOPE TO GET THAT POSTED NEXT WEEK.
I'M STILL WITHOUT A PURCHASING OFFICER, SO I HAVE SOME PART-TIME HELP, BUT WE ARE COORDINATING THAT PROJECT.
WE DO HAVE SOME UNEXPENDED CAPITAL FUNDS AVAILABLE, POSSIBLY FOR OTHER PROJECTS.
YOUR CIRCUIT COURTROOM RENOVATION DID COME IN UNDER BUDGET.
HOWEVER, MR. STOKE, WE ARE AWARE OF ANOTHER SITUATION IN THE COURTHOUSE WHERE WE MAY NEED TO USE THOSE FUNDS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME MONIES LEFT FROM WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT STUDY OR FEASIBILITY OF A SECOND CONVENIENCE STATION THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PROJECT.
THERE IS A UTILITY FOOD LINE WATER SYSTEM HAD A SMALL SURPLUS REMAIN.
BUT WE ARE RUNNING A DEFICIT WITH THE TEMPLE AVENUE TANK AND PUMP, LARGELY RELATED TO EASEMENTS.
[03:10:04]
MR. HALTON AND I WILL BE BRINGING A SOLUTION TO TRANSFER PROBABLY SOME OF HIS CASH RESERVES FROM THE UTILITY FUND, TO ADDRESS THAT DEFICIT.THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DID APPROVE SOME TRANSFERS AT A RECENT MEETING TO MOVE SOME FUNDING TO ROOFING PROJECTS, AND THEIR HVAC PROJECT IS NEAR COMPLETION, WITH ONLY RETAINAGE PENDING AT THIS POINT.
ARPA FUNDING, JUST A BRIEF UPDATE.
WE DID COMMIT THE FUNDING AS REQUIRED.
THIS SLIDE DEPICTS THE USES OF THOSE FUNDS.
THOSE FUNDS HAVE LARGELY BEEN USED FOR UTILITY CAPITAL PROJECTS, 6.7 MILLION IN THE BLUE SHADING OF THE TOTAL RECEIVED OF 7.449.
THOSE FUNDS HAD TO BE COMMITTED OR OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024, AND THEY WERE, AND THEY MUST BE FULLY EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31ST OF 2026.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT OCCURS.
OUR LODGING TAX IS OVER 100,000 LESS THAN IT WAS THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR, PROBABLY DUE TO RENOVATIONS ONGOING AT TWO OF OUR HOTELS IN THE COUNTY.
BUT WE ARE RUNNING A POSITIVE OVERALL DESPITE THAT SHORTFALL, AND WE DO THINK WE WILL MEET THAT $850,000 TARGET FOR LODGING TAX.
MEALS TAX SUPPORTS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND, AND WE ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL IN COLLECTIONS TO WHERE WE WERE THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
WE ACTUALLY ENDED THE YEAR WITH OVER 1.85 MILLION IN MEALS TAX REVENUES, AND WE'LL LIKELY END IN THE SAME POSITION.
WE ARE RUNNING IN THE NEGATIVE PRIMARILY DUE TO MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REBATE THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR A LARGE UPGRADE FOR ONE INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS.
PROFFERS ARE AVAILABLE UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR QUARTER OR YEAR-END LAST YEAR.
NO PROFFER AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.
WANTED TO GIVE THE BOARD A BRIEF UPDATE ON OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDS CUMULATIVELY, AS OF MARCH 31ST, $265,780 IN OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDING FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES HAS BEEN COLLECTED, AND THERE IS AN APPLICATION FOR A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP GRANT THAT WAS SUBMITTED WITH YOUR PERMISSION, AND WE ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR SOMETHING LATER THIS MONTH RELATED TO THAT, BUT WE WILL LARGELY USE THE BULK OF THAT MONEY FOR A MATCH FOR THAT COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP GRANT, IF IT IS APPROVED.
OUR HEALTH INSURANCE FUND IS AT 1.3 MILLION COMPARED TO 1.7 LAST MARCH.
WE HAVE HAD SOME HIGH CLAIM SITUATIONS FOR THIS YEAR, BUT WE DO HOPE TO END THE YEAR IN A POSITIVE.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, WE DO HAVE AN 11% INCREASE IN PREMIUMS TO IMPROVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FY 2026.
BUT THE BALANCE AS OF MARCH 31 WAS 1.3.
PRELIMINARY AUDIT WORK FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR JULY AND FINAL FOR OCTOBER.
THE BUDGET, OF COURSE, IS IN DEVELOPMENT WITH HOPEFUL ADOPTION ON MAY 27, FOLLOWING AN ADDED WORK SESSION NEXT WEEK.
AS WE PLAN FOR YEAR-END, WE HOPE TO CLOSE OUT THE YEAR BY OCTOBER 1 TO HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT OUR POSITION WAS AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
AS ALWAYS, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD, MA'AM. THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE FROM MS. PUDDLE, OUR DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
>> GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE, AND MS. ERARD.
I'LL BE GIVING YOU THE STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE THIS EVENING.
I WILL BE HONEST. I'LL TRY TO FOLLOW IN BETSY'S FOOTSTEPS AND MAKE THIS A FASTER BRIEFING.
THESE ARE OUR MISSION AND VISION.
THERE'S BEEN NO UPDATES TO THESE SINCE THE LAST BRIEFING.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO PAUSE OR GO BACK ON A SLIDE, BUT I AM GOING TO BREEZE THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
WE'VE REVIEWED THEM QUITE A FEW TIMES.
[03:15:02]
THE CHECK BARKS AND IN-PROGRESS STATUSES ARE BACK.AGAIN, THIS IS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO MAKE THE REVIEW A LITTLE FASTER, SO WE CAN QUICKLY ASSESS, IS THAT GOAL IN PROGRESS.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THERE, BUT WE'LL BE GOING OVER INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROSPERITY, LAND USE DEVELOPMENT, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.
THOSE ARE THE FOUR MAIN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES UNDER THE CURRENT 2022 STRATEGIC PLAN.
AREAS. I WON'T GO OVER AND READ EVERY SINGLE GOAL, BUT I WILL JUST TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THESE AREAS AND HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHANGES.
I DO HAVE SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HERE, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL WATER AND SEWER.
CURRENTLY, THERE'S THE BLACKWATER SWAMP ROUTE 156 REGIONAL PUMP STATION PROJECT THAT COULD GO TO EITHER HOPEWELL OR SUSSEX.
THAT PROJECT IS, I WOULD SAY, WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S BEING PROPOSED FROM MAY 27 FOR THE BOARD TO GET AN UPDATE THERE.
THAT ONE IS, I WOULD SAY, DEFINITELY THE ORANGE EYE IS WARRANTED FOR INDUSTRIAL WATER, BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 400,000 GALLONS OF WASTEWATER AVAILABLE FOR OUR INDUSTRIAL PARKS.
THAT'S THROUGH THE PETERSBURG INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
THE CONNECTION TO HOPEWELL, THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, A SMALLER SECTION IS CONNECTED TO HOPEWELL.
ABOUT A MILLION GALLONS AVAILABLE ON THAT SYSTEM, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL PARK.
SO THE INDUSTRIAL PARK SECTION HAS ABOUT 400,000 GALLONS LEFT FOR WATER, THAT WE HAVE THE RIVER ROAD TANK AND BOOSTER STATION CONNECTION TO THE APPOMATTOX RIVER WATER AUTHORITY, THAT CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED, AND THE TRANSMISSION MAINS CONTRACT WERE AWARDED OCTOBER, SO NOVEMBER 22ND.
THERE IS A STALL ON THIS PROJECT, SO IT'S BEEN AWARDED, BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS AND EASEMENT WORK THAT'S NEEDED PRIOR TO BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S THE STALL THERE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT ON THE INDUSTRIAL WATER, THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 55,000 GALLONS PER DAY AVAILABLE FOR THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS.
BUT IF THE RIVER ROAD TANK AND BOOSTER STATION PROJECT IS COMPLETED, THAT WOULD ADD ABOUT A MILLION.
THAT DOES BRING SOME RELIEF AS FAR AS INDUSTRIAL WATER THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS.
IT ALSO HELPS WITH PRESSURE FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS THAT THE TANK AND BOOSTER STATION CURRENTLY WHEN THEY PULL WATER OFF THE SYSTEM.
THERE ARE A SMALL SECTION OF CUSTOMERS THAT INCREASE OR WHEN THE PUMPS ARE RUNNING, THAT IT DOES TEMPORARILY IMPACT THEIR WATER PRESSURE.
THIS WOULD HELP EXISTING CUSTOMERS AS WELL.
FOR RESIDENTIAL WATER, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS I JUST SPOKE ABOUT HAVE THE SAME IMPACT.
I THINK I WON'T GO OVER ANYTHING THERE.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE JUST GONE OVER.
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. UTILITIES INTERNET.
CURRENTLY, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR SOME BEAD APPLICANTS FOR INTERNET OR BROADBAND AREAS IN THE COUNTY.
I DO HAVE A MAP UP THERE INCLUDED FOR YOU CAN SEE THE GAPS, ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S COMMONWEALTH CONNECTION.COM MAP, AS FAR AS WHERE GAPS ARE FOR INTERNET COVERAGE IN THE COUNTY.
THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT YET ANNOUNCED PROVISIONALLY SELECTED APPLICANTS, SO THAT'S NOT TAKEN PLACE YET, AND THEN THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AROUND JUNE TIMEFRAME FOR THOSE SELECTIONS.
A LOT OF THAT INTERNET COVERAGE WAS THE ORANGE AREAS THAT DO HAVE COVERAGE WERE FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE NOT CURRENTLY PURSUING ANY ACTIONS HERE DUE TO FUNDING FEASIBILITY ISSUES, SO LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY.
WE DO HAVE THE NEW WELL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, EXIT 45.
THEY ARE WAITING FOR A TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES ENGINEERING REPORT.
IT'S AT THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT TO COME BACK FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO UNDERSTAND THE TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT WELL, SO WE CAN ASSESS CAPACITY AND OTHER THINGS REQUIRED.
THERE'S BEEN NO MOVEMENT ON GROCERY STORES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ROOFTOP REQUIREMENTS THERE. TO STILL EXIST.
WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY INTEREST IN THE FORMER CONTINENTAL SITE.
[03:20:04]
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH A BROKERAGE FIRM TO MARKET THAT AND OTHER COUNTY-OWNED SITES.THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN HOTEL ROOMS AVAILABLE AT EXIT 45, SO THE HAMPTON INN JUST ADDED 31 HOTEL ROOMS SO THAT DOES HELP OUR HOTEL'S TAX.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY.
THE WATER UTILITIES DID ONE ASPECT THAT IS COMPLETE HERE IS THAT THE SOUTH POINT BUSINESS PARK FORCE MAIN PROJECT WAS COMPLETED.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE AVAILABLE 400,000 CAPACITY FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER THERE.
NOT THAT THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ADDITION, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S REMAINING.
INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS AREA GROWS.
THIS GOAL WAS PREVIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN BUSINESS STATUS, SO WE'VE REMOVED IT BACK IN PROGRESS, AND WE DID RECENTLY, SINCE THIS WAS PUBLISHED, OBVIOUSLY, LEGOS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOCATING A TWO-MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THAT'S TWO OUT OF THREE, BUT THAT LEGO FACILITY IS A PRETTY BIG ONE, SO PROGRESS THERE.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS PROGRESSING.
THERE WAS RECENTLY A WORK SESSION IN APRIL ON CHAPTER 8, THE LAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHAPTER.
THE ONLY CHAPTERS LEFT IN DRAFT ARE CHAPTER 2, HOUSING, CHAPTER 7, CHAPTER 8 AND USE IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN CHAPTER 9 IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.
THE REST OF THE CHAPTERS ARE AVAILABLE AND APPENDICES FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY WEBSITE.
THESE ARE ONGOING GOALS, CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WE CAN'T SAY WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO DAILY.
SAME THING FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SERVICE CAPACITY.
WE DID HIRE A NEW PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, MS. HANNAH THOMPSON.
I WON'T GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL.
THE REST OF THE BRIEFING, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON CUSTOMER FOCUS PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN SERVICES.
THE REST OF THE BRIEFING, WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THE DRAFT DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PLANS.
I WILL JUST MENTION THE RESPONSIBILITY HERE IN DATA REPORTING.
THIS IS NEW FOR THE COUNTY REPORTING ON THESE THINGS.
YOU CAN DO THE INVERSE OF EVERY ONE OF THESE REPORTS, AND HONESTLY, I'VE WAFFLED BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT TO PRESENT AS A POSITIVE.
WE HAVE 80% OF OUR JOB OFFERS ARE ACCEPTED BY THE TOP CANDIDATE, BUT ALSO THE INVERSE OF THAT IS 20% OF OUR TOP CANDIDATES DO WALK AWAY.
I WILL JUST OFFER THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A FLIP SIDE THAT WE CAN PRESENT ALL OF THIS DATA.
I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT AS WE PRESENT.
ON THIS, I WON'T GO OVER EVERY DATA POINT, GIVEN THAT THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT'S KEEPING EVERYONE FROM GOING HOME.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THIS INFORMATION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT 9% OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES DO WALK AWAY AFTER THE FIRST YEAR. THAT'S A RETENTION.
SEVEN PERCENT OF VACANCIES ARE FILLED WITHIN 60 DAYS.
I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
>> NEXT ONE IS CONTINUING ON WITH HR.
AGAIN, I WON'T GO OVER EVERY DATA POINT HERE, BUT THERE DEFINITELY IS GOOD DATA TO READ.
I WILL TALK ABOUT RISK MANAGEMENT.
THE COUNTY'S RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A 16% JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS FROM ONE DEPARTMENT, SO WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS, BUT CERTAINLY THIS ISN'T WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS FAR AS RISK MANAGEMENT.
UNLESS THE BOARD HAS QUESTIONS, I'LL MOVE ON.
THE DATA POINT IS BASICALLY DISPLAYING SATISFACTION FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND EMPLOYEES WITH HR SERVICES, SO SEEMS THAT IS VERY VALUED IN THE COUNTY BY EMPLOYEES AND DEPARTMENT HEADS.
THIS FIRST YEAR, WE ARE ESTABLISHING A BASELINE FOR MOST OF THEIR DATA POINTS.
WE NEED SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO, SO WE CAN'T SAY WHETHER THEY'RE DOING INCREASE OR DECREASE UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND BASELINE DATA.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS HERE.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT WE ARE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH.
IT'S BROKEN UP BY ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNITY-BASED RECREATION,
[03:25:01]
SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND THERE'S A COUPLE MORE SLIDES WITH THESE.LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, AND I CAN STOP.
>> MORE COMMUNITY BASED RECREATION.
YOU CAN SEE WE DO FOOTBALL, CHEER LEADING, BASKETBALL, SPRING SOCCER, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, WRESTLING, FIELD HOCKEY, AND THEN FALL SOCCER.
THIS YEAR AFTER THESE PROGRAMS ARE OVER, WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE HERE TO THIS DATA AND SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO.
COMMUNITY EVENTS, YOU CAN SEE HOW WE DO THE EASTER EGG HUNT.
WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN, THE PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM.
I DON'T DO ANY OF THE WORK THERE, BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO.
WE'VE GOT THE 5K RUN, CHRISTMAS PARADE, HOUSE DECORATING CONTESTS, CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, AND THEN THE HARVEST FESTIVAL.
THEN YOU CAN SEE RENTALS THERE.
THERE'S DATA FOR DISPUTANTA COMMUNITY CENTER, SCOTT PARK PAVILION, AND TEMPLE PARK PAVILION.
I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS SPORTS TOURISM FROM LAST YEAR, SO WE'LL HAVE UPDATED NUMBERS HERE AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER. FIRE & EMS. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE FIRE CHIEF COMP BRIEF A COUPLE OF THESE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT AGAIN TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN WE'RE REPORTING DATA TO HAVE IT EXPLAINED SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK HIM TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF DATA POINTS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THAT WAS A SAMPLE.
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF, AND I'LL JUST OFFER THAT FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AFTER THE NEXT WEEK, AND WE CAN JUST GO OVER ANY QUESTION SPECIFICS THAT YOU MAY HAVE I WILL JUST SIMPLY POINT OUT THE FAR TOP LEFT IS THE TOTAL SUMMATION OF THE FIRE STATIONS.
THIS IS JUST SHOWING YOU THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME THAT THE METIC TRUCKS ARE OUT OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF DUAL STAFFING.
IF A FIRE TRUCK GOES OUT ON A RUN FOR A CAR FIRE FOR ANYTHING, THEN THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE AMBULANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE.
IT SEEMS SMALL, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE FIRE SIDE, THE EMS RUNS ARE 80% OF OUR RUNS VOLUME OR A CALL VOLUME, AND FIRE RUNS ARE 22%.
YOU'LL EXPECT A SMALLER NUMBER, BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND THAT THIS EQUATES TO 12.5 DAYS OF MEDIC TRUCKS BEING UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH LIMITED AMOUNT OF STAFFING THAT THEY'RE ON THE OTHER APPARATUS.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, WE HAVE GONE 100% OF THE TIME WITH NO INJURIES SO FAR.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS TIME THE CAREER STAT FIRE UNITS ARE OUT OF SERVICE.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE DO RUN MORE EMS CALLS, WHEN AN AMBULANCE GOES ON A RUN, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE FIRE TRUCKS ARE UNAVAILABLE TO RESPOND DUE TO THE DUAL STAFFING.
THIS TOTAL 61 DAYS AND IF YOU ADD THE 12.5 DAYS PREVIOUS, WE HAVE 73.5 DAYS WHEN WE HAVE NO SERVICE AT THE STATIONS.
I WOULD JUST SIMPLY ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF PART OF OVERALL PICTURE.
I'LL REFER BACK TO THESE NUMBERS HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT UNANSWERED CALLS BY ALL THE DIFFERENT STATIONS, STARTING WITH STATION 1, 40%, STATION 2, 10%, STATION 3, 17%, STATION 4, 19%.
AGAIN, THIS IS A MEASURE OF UNAVAILABLE PERSONNEL.
IN THIS CASE, THIS IS THE VOLUNTEER STAFF THAT IS UNAVAILABLE FOR THIS PERCENTAGE AMOUNT OF TIME.
IF YOU ADD THE PERCENTAGE OF TIMES THAT WE ARE UNAVAILABLE ON THE CAREER SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM ON OUR STAFFING NUMBERS.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRACK OF THIS, AND THIS IS A NEW INITIATIVE AND A DRAFT FORMAT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ORGANIZE THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER SO THAT IT'S MORE EASILY RELATABLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IN THE BOTTOM ROW, IT SAYS 0% OF RUNS MISSED.
BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD PLUG IN THE PERCENTAGES THAT WE MENTIONED BEFORE, 17%, 25%, 18% OF UNAVAILABLE TIMES FOR THE CAREER STATIONS TO RESPOND.
IT DOES NOT TAKE A WORKING FIRE TO DECIMATE THE STAFFING,
[03:30:06]
LIKE IT DID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.A SIMPLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH MULTIPLE PATIENTS WILL DO THAT.
PI, MULTIPLE PATIENTS, THERE'S TWO MEDIC TRUCKS, ONE ENGINE, AND ONE BATTALION, THAT'S SEVEN CAREER STAFF THAT RESPONDED TO THAT.
AN ADDITIONAL CALL CAME PRETTY CLOSE AFTER THAT.
WE WERE ABLE TO TURN AROUND ONE OF THE ENGINES, GO BACK AND GET THE MEDIC.
BUT IF THE TIMING HADN'T BEEN CORRECT, WE COULD HAVE BEEN BASICALLY, AGAIN, IN THE SAME SITUATION WITH NO AVAILABLE UNITS TO RESPOND TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND NOT JUST TO SPECIFIC DISTRICTS, OR SPECIFIC STATIONS, OR THE DIFFERENT STAFFING MODELS.
THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO ADD BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE CAREER STATIONS BEING UNAVAILABLE AND THESE NUMBERS FROM THE VOLUNTEER STATIONS.
WE HAVE HAD ZERO INJURIES OR DEATHS AS A RESULT OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS, SO HAS MEET INCIDENTS IN THE COUNTY.
LOGISTICS PROGRAM, YOU CAN SEE 100% OF MEETING THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA OR GOALS, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE WITH 0%.
THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL BECAUSE THAT INCLUDES FIRE EQUIPMENT LIKE SCBA, FIRE TRUCKS, BIG TICKET ITEMS, AND THERE'S TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF LEAD TIMES, INCLUDING UP TO YEARS FOR FIRE APPARATUS, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM, NOT JUST FOR US, BECAUSE WE GOT A PLAN AHEAD, BUT FIRE SERVICE IN GENERAL, IS DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
IT'S 0%, THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
BUT SOME OF THE OTHER NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE HERE DO REFLECT THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT OUR LOGISTICS OFFICER IS PUTTING IN, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TAXING HIM WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL TASK, AS HE'S TAKEN OVER SOME OF THE EMS RELATED ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS.
THE NEXT ONE, ALL 100% IS, THESE ARE A BIG DEAL.
THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY A BIG PART IN OUR UPCOMING ISO REVIEW.
ISO IS AN INSURANCE SERVICE OFFICE.
THEY DETERMINED THE INSURANCE RATES THAT OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES PAY IN THE COUNTY.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LOWER THAT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK.
BUT THIS IS A GOOD START BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY LOOK AT, IT'S A LOT OF RECORD KEEPING FOR LADDER INSPECTIONS, PUMP INSPECTIONS, HOSE INSPECTIONS, ALL THOSE ITEMS, INCLUDING TRAINING RECORDS, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO HAVE ONE DEDICATED PERSON TO TRACK ALL THE TRAINING FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY COMPANY OFFICER TRAINING AND COMPANY LEVEL TRAINING, IS GOING TO BE KEY MOVING FORWARD.
THE LAST ONE, AGAIN, LOGISTICS.
THIS AGAIN, SPEAKS VALUES FOR THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THE PERSONNEL ARE DOING AT THE MOMENT, ESPECIALLY AGAIN, OUR LOGISTICS OFFICER WHO MANAGES A LOT OF THIS.
ALSO, SOME OF THESE FALL ON THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
LIEUTENANT SIMS TAKES CARE OF THAT AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I SHARE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT BETWEEN THE BATTALIONS AND COMPANY OFFICERS THAT PICK UP LITTLE PIECES OF SOME OF THIS WORK.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LAST ONE.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'M AVAILABLE, AS I SAID, SO THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, ON THE INVERSE, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE BRIEFING DATA AND TRACKING, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'VE ARRIVED AT HOW TO PRESENT IT.
BACK TO THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, I WANT TO COMMEND WE'VE HAD VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN THE COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THESE NUMBERS, ANSWER 213 OUT OF 275 CALLS TO GO TO THAT STATION.
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG WIN FOR THE COUNTY.
AGAIN, IT'S PRESENTING INVERSE OF THE NUMBERS, SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH HOW TO PRESENT THAT DATA, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
THESE ONES, I'M GOING TO GO OVER VERY QUICKLY.
PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO STOP.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE OVER AN INITIAL REVIEW AND IS COLLECTING DATA.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY COLLECTS DATA, SO THIS HAS BEEN AN EASY PROCESS FOR THEM.
SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS LIKE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP DATA COLLECTION FROM THE START.
COMMEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING EFFECTIVE DATA PRACTICES.
OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT THEY'LL BE BROKEN UP INTO, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THIS IN DEPTH THIS EVENING.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
[03:35:02]
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM IS BROKEN UP BY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RETENTION AND MARKETING UNDER THE TOURISM, BE COLLECTING DATA THERE.AGAIN, INITIAL REVIEWS STILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS.
ANIMAL SERVICES, AGAIN, ANIMAL SHELTER VERSUS ANIMAL CONTROL DATA COLLECTION THERE.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR ANIMAL SERVICES WILL BE REVIEWED.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER OR THE ECC UNDER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO THAT'LL BE SEPARATED OUT BY OPERATIONS, TRAINING, RECORDS, AND THEN ADMINISTRATION.
I CAN STOP HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVIEW THESE, BUT OUR AREAS WILL BE SEPARATED OUT BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUPPORT.
DEPARTMENT OVERSIGHT IS ANOTHER LARGE ONE.
EXAMPLES LIKE MAKING SURE DEPARTMENTS ARE WITHIN THE APPROVED BUDGET.
I WON'T GO OVER ANY MORE OF THESE.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT WRITTEN IN STONE.
THEN WE'VE ALSO GOT CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SUPPORT.
I KNOW IT'S LATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
UNDER THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS,
[G. Order of Business]
IT'S AWARD OF CONTRACT, A RESOLUTION FOR AN AWARD OF CONTRACT, RECREATION APPAREL. MR. ROCKVILLE.GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN BROWN, BOARD MEMBERS.
PRINCE GEORGE PARKS AND RECREATION SUBMITTED AN IFB FOR RECREATION APPAREL THAT WAS POSTED ON MARCH 31ST AND CLOSED ON APRIL 14TH.
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY RECEIVED ONE RESPONSIVE BID FROM OUR INCUMBENT APPAREL PROVIDER, DISCO SPORTS.
RECREATION STAFF HAS BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY AND RESPONSIVENESS OF THE VENDOR.
PARKS AND RECREATION RECOMMENDS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT AT THE BID UNIT PRICES PROVIDED AND REQUEST BOARD APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO DISCO SPORTS FOR RECREATION APPAREL.
THANK YOU AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ROCKVILLE?
>> WE COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED THAT ONE.
[LAUGHTER] WHO'S GOING TO GET THE MOTION?
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. COX AND SECOND BY MR. PUGH TO AWARD THIS CONTRACT TO DISCO SPORTS.
MISS NOTT WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. NEXT IS A RESOLUTION ON SCHOOL CATEGORICAL BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR FISCAL 2025.
>> YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS REQUESTED FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SOME REQUESTS TO MAKE TRANSFERS BETWEEN THEIR APPROPRIATED CATEGORIES.
AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE BOARD DOES APPROPRIATE THE SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET BY CATEGORY ESTABLISHED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
THEY ARE REQUESTING TO TRANSFER FROM ADMINISTRATION ATTENDANCE AND HEALTH, FROM SALARY SAVINGS, VACANCIES, TURNOVER, ETC.
A HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND TO THE TRANSPORTATION CATEGORY TO ADDRESS PROJECTED SHORTFALLS IN VEHICLE SUPPLIES AND FUEL.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE REQUESTING TO TRANSFER $201,479 AND 13 CENT FROM THE TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY TO OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, AND TO THE CAPITAL OUTLAY CATEGORIES; TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
TO ADDRESS SHORTFALLS PROJECTED WITHIN OPERATING SUPPLIES, UTILITY COSTS, SOFTWARE, AND TO ADDRESS AN EQUIPMENT NEED WITHIN CAPITAL OUTLAY.
I THINK MR. BROWNS AND THE [LAUGHTER] SUPERINTENDENT, DR. LYLE, ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THESE TRANSFERS, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THERE IS A RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKAGE.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YOU GUYS HAVE CHAMPIONED IT OUT ALL NIGHT.
IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD ALLOW YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO, OR IF YOU'RE OKAY, WE'RE READY TO TAKE ACTION.
[03:40:01]
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB, AND SECOND BY MR. COX, THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE SCHOOL CATEGORICAL BUDGET.
TRANSFERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TOLLING, $338,479 AND 13 CENTS.
MISS NOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS A REQUEST BY POWELL CREEK, LLC FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME.
MR. BALDWIN'S GOING TO COME UP BRIEFLY, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A STATEMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. BROWN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY, STATE CODE PROVIDES THAT FOR APPLICANTS WHO'VE RECEIVED A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECT, THIS VALID AS OF JULY 1ST, 2023 TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION.
IF THERE'S A DEADLINE TO THEIR APPLICATION, POWELL CREEK A SUCH A DEADLINE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION.
THEY WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THEIR MAY 27TH AGENDA SO THEY CAN BE HERE TO PRESENT THEIR REQUEST.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE REQUESTS FROM POWELL CREEK, LLC? THEY WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, AND IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD ON OUR MAY 27TH MEETING. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH AND SECOND BY MR. WEBB, THAT WE WOULD POSTPONE THIS REQUEST, AND IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION ON OUR MAY 27TH MEETING.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MISS NOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> MOTION CARRY. GENTLEMEN, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH AND SECOND BY MR. WEBB, THAT WE WOULD ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT THIS TIME.
MISS NOTT WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> DO WE REALLY WANT TO END THE FUN? [LAUGHTER] YES.
>> MOTION CARRIED. MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.