[A. Call to Order (6:00 pm)]
[00:00:02]
DO WE HAVE ANY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY NEED FOR ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION.
OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE WILL BE LED IN THE INVOCATION BY MR. SCOTT HAMMEL.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING HUMBLY IN APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE MERCIES AND BLESSINGS YOU'VE SEEN TO GIVE US IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WEEKS.
LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH MANY, MANY FEELINGS, AS VARIED AS THE SEASONS HAVE BEEN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
WE'VE HAD THINGS TO CELEBRATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE HAD THINGS, TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE THINGS ABOUND BEYOND PRINCE GEORGE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND AROUND THE WORLD.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH EACH ONE OF US TO GUIDE US IN THE DIRECTION YOU'D HAVE US GO.
LORD, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND TO DO THE BUSINESS THAT YOU SEE FIT.
WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE THE DECISIONS OF THIS BOARD THIS EVENING AND HELP US TRY TO FIND THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TAKE, SIR.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU'VE GIVEN US.
IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.
MR. PUGH WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY, AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED IF THERE ARE NO CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES.
FOR DISCUSSION, HEARING ON ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[B. Closed Session]
AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION, SO I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO TAKE US INTO CLOSED SESSION.MR. CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE BOARD HOLD A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711A3 FOR THE DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE OR THE DEPOSITION OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY WHERE DISCUSSION IS AN OPEN MEETING WHERE THE AVERAGE LEAVES AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY SUCH DISCUSSIONS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE PETERSBURG BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT WITH PETERSBURG PERSUADING TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711A5 FOR DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRIAL OR THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING BUSINESS OR AN INDUSTRY WHERE NO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE OF THE BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY'S INTEREST IN LOCATING OR EXPANDING ITS FACILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SUCH DISCUSSION SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE CROSSPOINT BUSINESS CENTRAL AND PERSUADING TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711A8.
FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, SUCH LEGAL ADVICE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE COUNTY SEAL.
I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
I HAVE A SECOND FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
OKAY, WE'LL BE IN CLOSED SESSION FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IF YOU GET OUT OF LINE, I'M GOING TO LEAVE MS. WAYMACK IN CHARGE.
OKAY, WE HAVE BEEN IN CLOSED SESSION AND I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION NOW TO CERTIFY THE CLOSED SESSION, PLEASE. MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION AND CERTIFY THE PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3712D THAT ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM THE OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS AND IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL.
MS. WAYMACK, DID ANYBODY GET OUT AN ORDER? DID ANYBODY GIVE YOU TROUBLE IN THE CROWD? THERE YOU GO.
[C. Business Meeting]
WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? NO.
ALL RIGHT, THE PODIUM IS OPEN.
[00:05:11]
MY NAME IS JOHN BUKOWSKI.I LIVE AT 18890 HALIFAX ROAD, CARSON, VIRGINIA.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND MR. KINGSBURY.
I WANT TO START OFF TONIGHT FIRST BY THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING STATING THAT YOU ARE AGAINST THE REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM THAT WAS BEFORE US FOR A VOTE RIGHT NOW.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WERE WILLING TO STATE YOUR POSITIONS.
I'M ALSO TAKING EVERY PLATFORM I CAN AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY I CAN TO DISCUSS THE TRUTHS OF THIS REFERENDUM.
AND ON MARCH 20TH, THERE WAS AN NBC AFFILIATE INTERVIEW THAT THEY INTERVIEWED DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE DON BYERS, VIRGINIA'S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
AND HE STATED, WE HAVE TO EFFECTIVELY MAKE THE CASE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS SEEMS UNFAIR IN VIRGINIA, IT'S TOTALLY FAIR FOR AMERICA, FOR THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE THAT TAKING BACK THE HOUSE IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING WE CAN DO TO STOP DONALD TRUMP, END QUOTE. SO, MR. BYERS EVEN ADMITS THAT HE'S WILLING TO THROW HIS CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA UNDER THE BUS FOR SOMETHING, SOME BIGGER DREAM OF WHATEVER THAT HE'S AFTER.
HE'S WILLING TO PUT OTHERS OUTSIDE OF VIRGINIA AHEAD OF THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE VOTE FOR AND WHAT WE WANT.
AS CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA, WE WANT OUR VOTES TO COUNT, AND WE WANT THE PEOPLE THAT WE VOTE FOR TO REPRESENT US.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT WITH THIS REFERENDUM AND GETTING IT VOTED DOWN.
FOR HIM TO THINK THAT THEY CAN EVEN GET CONTROL, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF THE HOUSE WITH THIS REFERENDUM, BUT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PRESIDENT IMPEACHED, AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR WHOLE GOAL IS, IS TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT, WHICH WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR OUR COUNTRY.
AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET 60 SEATS IN THE SENATE ANYWAYS.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM FOR THEIR YES VOTE CAMPAIGN, THE MAJORITY OF THEIR MONEY IS COMING FROM, I EVEN HATE SAYING THE WORDS, BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS DISAGREED WITH THINKING THAT THESE GUYS WERE THAT BIG AND THAT POWERFUL.
BUT MOST OF THE MONEY, AND IT'S BEEN ADMITTED BY THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, AND YOU CAN GOOGLE IT AND FIND IT IN SEVERAL ARTICLES.
MOST OF THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE SPENDING IS COMING FROM GEORGE SOROS AND BILL GATES' ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF VIRGINIA.
IN FACT, IT'S EVEN COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S DARK MONEY THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN OUR POLITICS.
SO WHEN I WAS UP HERE PREVIOUSLY STATING THAT THE 10 DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVES WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND THE URBAN AREAS OF VIRGINIA, I TAKE THAT BACK.
THEY WON'T EVEN HAVE CONTROL OF THE 10 DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVES.
GEORGE SOROS AND BILL GATES, THEY'RE SPENDING $20 MILLION TO GET CONTROL OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES.
SO WE WON'T HAVE CONTROL, PERIOD.
VIRGINIA WILL BE CONTROLLED BY PEOPLE IN POWER OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED AS CITIZENS TO VOTE NO FOR THIS REFERENDUM AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T PASS.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IT'S BILL STEELE, 9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD, DISPUTANA.
MR. CHAIRMAN, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE ATTENDED, WATCHED YOU ALL AT YOUR LAST BUDGET MEETING ON THE 17TH, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME IDEAS FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER AS WE CONTINUE WITH OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
FIRST OF ALL, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. PHILIP PUGH.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS BOARD FOR ALMOST 14 YEARS, AND MR. PUGH IS THE FIRST PERSON IN MEMORY TO ACTUALLY SIT UP THERE AND SAY, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY TAXPAYERS NEED RELIEF.
THAT WAS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT, LONG OVERDUE.
SECONDLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO THANK SCOTT HAMMEL AND FORD PUGH.
THOUGH THEY DIDN'T MAKE THAT SAME COMMENT, THEY PROVED AT THAT MEETING BY GIVING YOU PHYSICAL OR GIVING YOU EVIDENCE THAT THIS BUDGET CAN BE CUT AND IT NEEDS TO BE CUT.
AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE TWO FOR TAKING THE ACTION TO ACTUALLY STAND UP, SCRUTINIZE THIS BUDGET, AND DEMAND THAT WE TAKE CUTS THAT WILL REDUCE OUR TAX BILLS.
SO TO THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
THIRDLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU AND MR. PUGH THAT YOUR FIRST TWO BUDGET HEARINGS ON THE BOARD, BOTH OF YOU VOTED TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE.
AT THAT WORKSHOP THE OTHER DAY, IT APPEARED THAT YOU'RE KIND OF HESITANT ON THAT NOW.
THE OPTICS APPEARS TO ME THAT, HEY, YOU VOTED FOR IT TWICE THE FIRST FEW TIMES, KNOWING THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO PASS BECAUSE OF THE TAX AND
[00:10:01]
SPEND BOARD THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME.DID YOU REALLY MEAN IT THAT YOU WANTED TO CUT OUR TAX RATE THEN, OR IS IT NOW THAT YOU'RE IN CHARGE AND HAVE SOMETHING TO DO, YOU'RE WAFFLING? PLEASE STICK TO THAT.
AND, MR. COX, I WANT TO REMIND YOU, IF I MAY, YOU SAT UP HERE FOR TWO YEARS SAYING, I WORK FOR THE TAXPAYER.
SO PLEASE KEEP TO YOUR WORK AND LET'S GET TAX RELIEF.
FINALLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT MR. WEBB, EACH YEAR, HE USES THE SAME JUSTIFICATION OF WHY HE SUPPORTS INCREASING SPENDING AND RAISING, WHICH RAISES OUR TAX BILL.
AND HE IS CONCERNED, AND THERE'S MERIT TO IT, ABOUT WHAT THE STATE WOULD DO.
MY ARGUMENT TO YOU WITH THAT IS, WE SHOULDN'T GIVE A DAMN OF WHAT THE STATE IS DOING TO US.
IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FILL IN THE GAPS.
IF THE STATE WANTS TO SEND DOWN A MANDATE TO US THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO FUND.
SO WITH THAT, I SUGGEST TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, FIRST ONE WOULD BE CUT SPENDING, AND THEN WHEN RICHMOND SAYS, HEY, YOU'RE CUT SPENDING, YOU TELL THEM, HEY, IT'S YOUR MANDATE.
IF YOU WANT TO FUND IT, YOU PAY FOR IT.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHARGE OUR LOCAL TAX RATE OR TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR YOUR MANDATES THAT YOU WANT.
IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO STOMACH THAT, THEN WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, HEY, ARE YOU AFFECTING ME BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FUNDING WHAT THE STATE WANTS? JUST TELL THEM, HEY, IF YOU WANT IT, YOU GO TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, TELL THEM TO RAISE THE STATE-LEVEL TAX RATE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
SPECIFICALLY, WHAT MR. WEBB, YOU TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK, YOU WERE HESITANT TO FUND, TO NOT REFUND THAT $30,000.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? 9807 COUNTY LINE ROAD.
FIRST OF ALL, JOHN SOROS IS THE NAME THAT SHALL NOT BE SPOKEN.
SECOND, GREAT TO SEE MRS. WAYMACK HERE TONIGHT.
I'M REPRESENTING MY OWN OPINIONS HERE.
THEY'RE NOT A PART OF ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION.
AND LET ME COMPLIMENT YOU FOLKS, THE ENTIRE BOARD, ON THE SAVINGS YOU'VE ALREADY FOUND IN THE BUDGET.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED ON THE EFFORT.
IT'S WHY YOU ALL ARE SITTING UP THERE AND I'M STANDING OUT HERE, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO TRADE PLACES WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE ON THAT BUDGET.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS, THOUGH, IF ANYBODY WANTS THIS.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE LEVEL OF DEBT RESERVE WE HAVE NOW IS.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOW, LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO IT AT ALL.
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ADDING A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO IT? I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE RISK-REWARD IS TO EVEN BRINGING THAT THING BACK UP WHEN YOU GET AROUND TO IT.
I'M 100% OKAY WITH CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING INCREASES FOR FIRE, POLICE, SAFETY.
DESERVE TO BE TRAINED AND BE KEPT SAFE.
AND IT'S A LOT EASIER TO KEEP GOOD PEOPLE THAN TO REPLACE THEM.
SO EVERY BIT OF THAT IS WELL WORTH MONEY WELL SPENT.
NEXT, ANYTHING POSSIBLE FOR RECREATION SHOULD COME OUT OF THAT RECREATION BUDGET.
THERE'S A $14,000 LINE ITEM FOR A FOUR-WHEEL ATV REPLACEMENT.
REMEMBER, THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS ON A POLE BARN FOR MORE.
AND THE SOFTBALL FIELDS DOWN THERE.
THEY COULD SPEND $200,000, HAVE $300,000 LEFT TO BUY A FLEET OF ATVS.
HOW ABOUT WE LET THEM DO THAT, RIGHT? NEXT, THERE'S A $30,000 SUGGESTED DECREASE IN VMWARE LICENSING.
MR. FORD PUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY WITH US.
HOW ABOUT WE ASK EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTY? TO CONDUCT A SURVEY OF EXISTING SOFTWARE LICENSES AND ACCOUNT FOR THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE AUTO-RENEWING.
ANYBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE AND ANYBODY UP ON THIS DAIS, YOU KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR ACCOUNTS AND YOU LOOK AT THE NETFLIX AND THE AMAZONS AND ALL THE RECURRING PAYMENTS AND ALL THE ONES YOU'RE NOT USING, IT ADDS UP TO REAL MONEY.
HOW MANY OF THOSE EXIST UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT? I GUARANTEE YOU IT'S SIX FIGURES.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE FIVE ZEROS BEHIND WHATEVER NUMBER YOU RUN UP.
AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET OUR HANDS AROUND THAT.
[00:15:01]
BUT ONE INSTANCE OF IT.ANYONE ELSE? I SEE NOBODY APPROACHING, SO I WILL AT THIS TIME CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[D. Consent Agenda]
WE WILL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE ANYBODY GOT ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED.
I MAKE A MOTION, MR. CHAIR, TO APPROVE.
I HAVE A MOTION DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL.
[E. Presentations]
OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR PRESENTATIONS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MS. MARLENE WAYMACK.WHILE SHE'S COMING UP, I WANT TO SHARE WITH SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
MS. WAYMACK IS THE SOLE LIVING CHARTER MEMBER OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF PRINCE GEORGE.
MS. WAYMACK HAS BEEN A FIXTURE AROUND THE COUNTY AND STILL IS, AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE HAVING HER HERE TONIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN HER ACCOMMODATION.
[00:25:17]
[INAUDIBLE][F. Comments]
[00:26:14]
OKAY, WE WILL MOVE INTO SUPERVISOR'S COMMENTS.TONIGHT I'LL START ON MY RIGHT.
MR. HAMMEL? YES, SIR, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR SHOWING UP THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING INVOLVED.
I KNOW I MADE A COMMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WE HAD A TOPIC THAT CAME UP, AND WE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES AS A NEW MEMBER, I WONDERED IF IT WAS GOING TO TAPER OFF, BUT HONESTLY, IT STAYED RATHER CONSISTENT.
TO MS. WAYMACK'S COMMENT EARLIER, IT'S Y'ALL'S ENGAGEMENT.
IT KIND OF GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF BAROMETER OF WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS.
THERE'S SOME TOPICS UP HERE THAT YOU GET NO FEEDBACK, AND IT'S KIND OF HARD.
WE CAN DO BASED ON WHAT WE THINK MAKES SENSE, BUT EVERYBODY THAT HAS CALLED, TEXTED, SENT EMAILS, THANK YOU.
IF YOU'RE MAD ABOUT SOMETHING, HONESTLY, WE'RE KIND OF THE POINT THAT YOU COME TO.
COME TO EXPECT IT AT THIS POINT BUT I'M HOPING JUST ON A WEATHER POINT AS I MENTIONED ALLUDED IN THE PRAYER HOPEFULLY WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE NORMAL WEATHER IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND NOT 70 DEGREES IN THE MORNING AND SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON SO MR. CHAIR THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. THANKS SIR, MR. FORD PUGH.
SO, I'VE NOTICED I DO A LOT OF PAUSES WHEN I DO MY COMMENTS SO I'VE WRITTEN SOMETHING TONIGHT GOOD EVENING I LEARNED IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS ON THE BOARD IT'S VERY TIME-CONSUMING PRIVILEGE TO DIG IN AND LEARN THE PROCESS OF WORK FOR YOU ALL.
I UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU'VE PLACED IN ME, AND I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED, BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
THE FIRST QUARTER HAS BEEN A BLUR, AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T SCRATCHED THE SURFACE YET OF WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE CAPABLE OF. OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, WITH A HANDFUL OF RESIGNATIONS AND UNPRECEDENTED PARTISAN POLITICS HURTLING TOWARDS US FROM THE STATE, WE'VE FACED EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE AND REAL CHALLENGES IN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME.
WHAT HAS SUSTAINED ME IS THE PASSION THAT I SEE EVERY DAY FROM OUR STAFF WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND MY PASSION FOR ENSURING PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY STAYS GREAT FOR ALL OF YOU.
I'M CONFIDENT AND EXCITED ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PICKING UP THE PACE OF OUR DELIVERY OF OUR OBJECTIVES.
I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IN WHAT OUR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS DOING.
SHE HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER AMIDST THE UNCERTAINTY OF OUR LEGISLATURE AND CONTINUING TO MOVE THE COUNTY FORWARD THROUGH THE UNKNOWNS OF THIS NEW BOARD'S MANAGEMENT STYLE.
OUR CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND FINANCIAL RESTRAINT.
THANK YOU TO OUR FINANCE STAFF FOR THE COUNTLESS HOURS YOU'VE SPENT IN THE OFFICE THIS YEAR.
WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM MANY DEPARTMENTS IS THIS LEVEL OF BOARD INVOLVEMENT IS TRULY UNPRECEDENTED, BUT I THINK ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING RIGHT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR PATIENCE.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, AND WHILE THIS BUDGET MAY BE UNUSUAL COMPARED TO PAST YEARS, REMEMBER THE FINAL PRODUCT IS NOT A REFLECTION OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OR YOUR VALUE.
IT IS SIMPLY A REFLECTION OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME AND WHAT I FEEL WE CAN DO RESPONSIBLY WITH THEM.
AFTER THE BUDGET IS COMPLETE, I WILL BE PIVOTING TO ENSURING MS. PUDLOW HAS ALL THE TOOLS AND TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES ON AN ACCEPTABLE TIMELINE AND AT AN ACCEPTABLE COST TO YOU WHILE MAINTAINING A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
LASTLY, I'D ASK FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR THIS BOARD AND OUR STAFF, FOR THE LITTLE BOY WHO HAD A LAWNMOWER ACCIDENT LAST WEEK, AND FOR THE FIREFIGHTER INJURED FIGHTING THE BRUSH FIRE LAST NIGHT.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DIDN'T KEEP WATCHING, STAY ENGAGED, CALL ME WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU DON'T AGREE WITH AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT AND I AGREE WITH HIM.
THIS JOB, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT TAKES A LOT OF HOURS.
IF YOU EVEN TRY TO DO IT HALFWAY, DECENT, A LOT OF HOURS, A LOT OF FOLLOWUP.
AND I APPRECIATE MR. STEELE'S COMMENTS.
HE COMES AT ME PRETTY HARD ALL THE TIME, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WHAT I'D LIKE EVERYBODY TO KNOW IS WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD IT TAKES
[00:30:01]
ABOUT A YEAR TO GET GROUNDED, ESPECIALLY IF YOU COME FROM A CORPORATE WORLD.COUNTY BUDGETS AND CORPORATE BUDGETS ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOU GOT SOMEBODY TO PUT A HAMMER DOWN AND KNOW YOUR FAMILY.
SO WE CAME ON IT WAS A FOUR CENT TAX INCREASE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
TOOK US SIX YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WHERE WE'RE AT THE POINT THAT WE TOOK IT FROM 86 TO 82 WHICH IS BACK WHERE IT WAS BEFORE WE DID THE ORIGINAL FOUR CENT TAX INCREASE.
THEY DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WERE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY THE CITIZENS AND KEEP THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD AND KEEP EVERYTHING STABLE.
SCHOOLS IS ALSO RIGHT UP THERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS COST, AND COST IS CONSTANTLY GOING UP.
WE STARTED LOOKING INTO THINGS AFTER THAT.
BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE PANDEMIC, WE PULLED A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP THE SCHOOL BUY MATERIALS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AND KNOWING THAT THE SUPPLY CHAINS COULD GET MESSED UP TRYING TO BUILD A SCHOOL ON TIME AND GET IT ON TARGET RIGHT SO IT COULD OPEN ON TIME.
WE'VE ALSO WHICH I GOT BERATED AND A GENTLEMAN SPOKE UP AT A COUPLE OF MY FORMS AND ADMITTED HE WAS THE ONE WHO DID IT FOR ACCUSING ME WHEN I PROPOSED A TWO CENT FOR APPARATUS AND ONE CENT FOR THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE JUST SPENT 1.5 IN APPARATUS THAT WAS A I MEAN SEBAS THAT WERE EXPIRED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS THINKING FORWARD SO WE COULD TRY TO PUT MONEY TO THE SIDE, UNADULTERATED.
THAT MEANS IT'S A FULL TWO CENT TO FULL ONE CENT, OKAY, SO WE COULD TRY TO GET IN A POSITION TO PAY FOR STUFF, KNOWING IT WAS GOING TO COME BACK AROUND IN SO MANY YEARS.
ALL RIGHT, SINCE THEN, WE ALSO PICKED UP THE ROLLING STOCK FOR THE COUNTY.
NOT EVERYTHING, NOT UTILITIES, BUT THE COUNTY ROLLING STOCK.
AND THEN WE ALSO PICKED UP FOR THE SCHOOL BUSES, WHICH WAS FOUR SCHOOL BUSES.
WE PAID CASH, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE REASON WHY WE PAID CASH FOR ALL THIS STUFF TO START WITH.
THE OTHER THING I LEARNED AFTER I'D BEEN ON THE BOARD A COUPLE YEARS, AND IT WASN'T MR. STOKES, IT WAS SOMEBODY PRIOR, THEY BELIEVED IN BONDING EVERYTHING SO YOU CAN GET A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF, BUT YOU WEREN'T LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST YOU WERE PAYING ON THAT NOTE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
NOW, I'M CONSERVATIVE, VERY CONSERVATIVE.
I DON'T LIKE TO BUY ANYTHING IF I CAN'T PAY CASH FOR IT UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE IT, OR I'M GOING TO KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
I'M JUST NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND DO IT AND THEN JUST HOPE EVERYTHING FALLS THROUGH.
I'LL SKIP, SO DON'T GET TOO LONG WITH IT.
I'LL SKIP TO THE THING ABOUT THE MANDATES, THE UNFUNDED MANDATES.
IT'S NICE TO SAY THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK YOUR INTENT IS TO SIT HERE AND TELL ME YOU THINK I'M GOING TO TELL THE STATE WHEN THEY SAY, WE CALL IT UNFUNDED MANDATES OR MUST-DOS, TO GIVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
2% INCREASE, OKAY, OR THE BONUS THAT MAY COME LATER IN THE YEAR, OR SOME OF THESE OTHER MANDATES THAT COME OUT, BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE IRREVERSIBLE EFFECTS ON AIR FUNDING THAT COMES FROM THE STATE LEVEL.
THE SECOND THING IS, MY OPINION IS, MY JUST COMMON TERMINOLOGY IS, BE LIKE ME STANDING IN FRONT OF A JUDGE AND HIM GIVING ME A SPEED TICKET, AND I TELL HIM, GO TAKE A HIKE, I AIN'T YOU GO PLAY IT.
PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE MY LICENSE EITHER THAT OR PUT ME IN JAIL FOR CONTEMPT.
THAT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN WITH ME, GUYS.
IF THE LEGISLATORS CAN'T HANDLE IT AT THEIR LEVEL, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO TAKE THAT FIGHT ON AND PENALIZE AND OR HURT Y'ALL MORE BECAUSE WHAT Y'ALL DON'T KNOW IS HOW IT CAN IMPACT US FOR FUNDING.
MS. DRURY'S GROUP IN YEARS PAST HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB TELLING US WHERE WE'RE AT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT THE FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT THE BORROWING RATE WE'VE GOT.
WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND GET WITH THE TWO FIRE ENGINES AND THREE AMBULANCES, YOU USED MOST OF THE TWO CENT AND ONE CENT, BUT WE WERE SHORT.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND GET THAT AND PAY FOR THOSE CASH.
FIRE ENGINES ARE A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS BY ITSELF.
AMBULANCES ARE RIGHT AROUND $4.53, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OKAY? THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED.
WE ALSO INCREASED THE SENIOR CITIZENS LEVEL AS FAR AS THEIR TAX BREAK.
I GOT A CALL FROM A LADY WHO JUST LOST HER HUSBAND, FIXED INCOME, THE BUDGET'S JUST BEEN APPROVED.
NOT A THING I COULD DO, BUT I PROMISED TO LOOK AFTER IT THE NEXT YEAR WE CAME BACK UP.
WE JUST RAISED IT TO ALMOST 49, WHICH PUTS IT UP HIGHER.
WE'RE STILL NOT AS HIGH AS CHESTERFIELD AND SOME OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, BUT IT'S CLOSER.
WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR POLICE FIRING EMS, WE'RE NOT AT THE TOP OF THE CHAIN.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP HAVING THE TURNOVER THAT MR. FORD PUGH JUST SPOKE ABOUT, BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING ANYWHERE FROM $8,000 OR $18,000 TO TRAIN POLICE OFFICERS OR FIRE AN EMS PEOPLE, HAVE THEM COME WORK SIX MONTHS, AND THEN GO TO WORK AT CHESTERFIELD.
GOD FORBID, NEXT DOOR, WHERE THE CASINO'S GETTING READY TO COME UP.
[00:35:01]
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO COMPETE WITH CHESTERFIELD, BUT WE'VE GOT TO STAY UP THERE SOMEWHERE, AND THAT'S WHY I'M REAL CONSERVATIVE.WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I COULD BE WRONG, AT LEAST 280 COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CITIZENS.
SO THEY'RE JUST LIKE YOU, EXCEPT THEY DEPEND ON THEIR PAYCHECK COMING FROM HERE.
AND THAT'S WHO I TRY TO LOOK AFTER AS WELL AS LOOK AFTER FOR Y'ALL.
WHEN WE FIRST CAME OUT WITH THE ASSESSMENTS, WE HAD PLANNED ON TRYING TO LOWER THE TAX RATE AGAIN BECAUSE THE CAR ASSESSMENTS WERE COMING BACK DOWN.
WE TOOK THE CAR TAX FROM $4.25 TO $3.90.
IT HAD BEEN $4.25 EVER SINCE I'VE LIVED IN THIS COUNTY DAMN NEAR, AND WE TOOK IT TO $3.90.
SO WE DIDN'T LOWER IT, BUT WHEN WE COME OUT OF THE ASSESSMENTS, BECAUSE THAT WAS SUCH A DEBACLE, WE MADE A DECISION, AND I WAS WARNED FROM THE FINANCE LADY AND MR. STOKES AT THE TIME, THAT WAS A HELL OF A RISK.
BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT SOME OF THESE ASSESSMENTS THEY HAD, ESPECIALLY ON SOME OF THE BUSINESS AND ALL, THEY WERE JUST SO FAR OUT OF WHACK, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A FINANCIAL WIZARD TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THEM AND TELL THEY WERE SCREWED UP.
SO WE PUT A STAY ON IT, ALL RIGHT? WHEN YOU GO FURTHER FROM THAT, AND I'LL FINISH UP WITH THAT, FURTHER WITH THAT, WE'D ALREADY FELL BEHIND A YEAR BECAUSE WE PULLED BACK JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE PANDEMIC AND DIDN'T DO HARDLY ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BARE MINIMUM.
WE WERE STILL SHORT-STAFFED IN FIRING EMS. NOW, THE MAJORITY SAID EIGHT.
TWO PREFERRED SIX, BUT THEY WERE NEEDED, AND WE'RE STILL SHORT-STAFFED, ALL RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE TAXES BECAUSE WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE PEOPLE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET YOU TO AGREE WITH ME.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT FACTOR IN WITH ALL THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH EQUIPMENT AND THINGS GOING ON, EVEN FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT MATTER, BECAUSE 86.4% ON MOST EVERYTHING, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE WITH SURREY AND HOPEWELL.
86.4% OF THAT IS STATE MONEY, OKAY? I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE TO TRY TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM SOMETHING THEN I DON'T KNOW WHICH FAMILY REALLY NEEDS IT AND HURT PEOPLE.
THAT WOULD BE AN INTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCE IN MY OPINION, NOT UNINTENTIONAL.
UNINTENTIONAL IS DOING SOMETHING THAT'S IGNORANT AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, TAKING MONEY, I'VE SAID BIRD IN HAND, WE'RE TWO IN THE BUSH.
SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE YEARS AGO, WE HAD SOMEBODY FROM FIRE AND EMS, CHIEF COME TO US AND GAVE US A PROPOSAL, AND I CAN DIG DEEP IN MY FILES AND FIND IT, BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT BY THE NIGHT.
SELL US ON SOMETHING AND SAID THE AMBULANCE FEES WOULD PAY FOR IT.
WE RAN IN A HOLE AND HAD TO GO TO THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER IT.
YOU BURN ME ONCE, YOU AIN'T GOING TO BURN ME TWICE.
I'M NOT A PROPONENT OF PUTTING A BUDGET TOGETHER AND COUNTING ON MONEY THAT I'M NOT GUARANTEED TO HAVE.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU PROMISE ME A CHECK NEXT WEEK.
UNTIL I GET THAT CHECK AND I MAKE SURE IT'S GOING TO CASH, I AIN'T SPENDING IT.
YOU HAVE FAULT WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO, BUT THAT'S MY MINDSET.
I WILL ECHO EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS UP HERE TONIGHT, FROM MR. WEBB'S ON THE MONEY SITUATION TO THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, I TOO WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. STEELE.
MR. STEELE AND I HAD A CONVERSATION AT THE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST THE MORNING AFTER THE ELECTION, AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO KEEP HIS EYE ON ME, AND I TOLD HIM, PLEASE DO SO.
AND BELIEVE ME, WHEN WE SET UP HERE AND MAKE THE DECISIONS WE MAKE, THEY'RE HARD TO MAKE.
AND I'LL TELL EVERYBODY VERY SIMPLY, I'M A TAXPAYER IN THIS COUNTY TOO.
SO WHEN YOU ALL PAY TAXES, I'M PAYING TAXES.
MY TAXES WENT UP THIS PAST YEAR A LOT.
BUT IF I COULD CUT THEM A NICKEL TODAY, I'D CUT THEM.
WOULDN'T BE NO HANDS DOWN, NO PROBLEM.
I WOULD BE GLAD TO DO IT, BUT WE JUST ARE NOT IN A TIME THAT WE CAN DO IT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COMING FROM RICHMOND THAT WILL PROBABLY RESULT, AND I KNOW NOBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO HEAR THIS, ABOUT A $0.10 TO $0.12 TAX INCREASE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST FOR THE COUNTY.
YOU CAN SHAKE YOUR HEAD NO, BUT WE'VE RUN THE NUMBERS.
BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN DO, AND YOUR COMMENTS IS WHAT GUIDES US, SO PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, SUPERVISOR COMMENTS.
NO, I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET TONIGHT.
I ECHO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS TONIGHT.
A VERY IMPRESSIVE MR. PUGH SPEECH.
THAT WAS VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER.
I WANT TO SEND OUT A SPECIAL THANKS TO MS. WAYMACK.
SHE WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN I GOT ELECTED AND SHE HELPED ME OUT NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN I, YOU KNOW.
HAD A QUESTION OR CONCERN SHE WOULD ALWAYS ANSWER THE PHONE AND GIVE ME HER ADVICE AND SHE ACTUALLY GAVE ME A BOOK WHEN I FIRST STARTED AND THAT WAS
[00:40:02]
ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HER AND WISH HER THE BEST AND THAT'S ALL I GOT MR. CHAIR.THANKS SIR SORRY I FORGOT YOU THERE. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIR THIS EVENING I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN IT'S MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO GET A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, INCLUDING TAXPAYERS.
BUT ON MARCH 17TH, A SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED FOLLOWING AN ARMED HOME INVASION AND ABDUCTED AN INFANT.
OUR FAST RESPONSE AND ACTIONS FROM THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS INTERCEPTED THE SUSPECT.
SUSPECT'S VEHICLE WAS IT WAS LEAVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO THAT'S HOW FAST THEY WERE ABLE TO RESPOND.
TWO SEMIOTIC STOLEN WEAPONS WERE RECOVERED.
AND THEN THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND WITH THE INFANT, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE ABDUCTEE'S ARMS. HE WAS EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE AND RESISTED COMMANDS BEFORE BEING ARRESTED.
IN THE END, THE UNHARMED INFANT WAS EVALUATED BY FIRE AND EMS AND RETURNED TO THE MOTHER SAFE.
AND SO JUST WHAT AN HONOR TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO AND CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO SUCH AN INCIDENT AND SAVING THE LIFE OF A CHILD HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED AND ALL OF THOSE WILLING TO BE INVOLVED FOR ANY INCIDENTS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I HAVE JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
ON MARCH 31ST, WE DO HAVE A PRINCE GEORGE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUDGET WORK SESSION.
I WON'T HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING IS ON APRIL 14TH.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING,
[G. Public Hearings]
SIR.ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE INTO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
MR. KINGSBURY, THE FIRST ONE WILL BE THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF PRINCE GEORGE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, SUPERVISORS.
OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING RELATES TO A LEASE AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER THAT WAS STARTED MARCH 26, 2019 BY THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF PRINCE GEORGE.
THAT LEASE EXPIRES ON MARCH 24TH OF THIS YEAR.
IN ORDER TO LEASE THE REAL PROPERTY WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ACCORDING TO LAW.
THE WOMEN'S CLUB WOULD LIKE TO RENEW THEIR LEASE FOR THIS ROOM.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A CHANGE TO THE LEASE.
THE NEW LEASE WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME TERMS AS BEFORE, BUT WOULD RUN FROM MARCH THE 25TH THROUGH MARCH 24TH OF 2027 WITH A RENEWAL OPTION OF TWO SUCCESSIVE THREE-YEAR TERMS. HOWEVER, THEY WANT TO PROPOSE A LEASE TERM OF JUNE 1ST, 2026 THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2027.
WITH THE RENEWAL OPTION OF TWO SUCCESSIVE THREE-YEAR TERMS, BUT ALSO WITH A WAIVER OF THE OPERATIONAL CHARGES FOR APRIL AND MAY OF THIS YEAR.
OKAY, IF NOT, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYBODY WANTS TO COME TO SPEAK ON IT? GOOD EVENING, BOARD.
MY NAME IS SARAH MARSTELLER, AND I RESIDE AT 6911 SANDPIPER LANE, PRINCE GEORGE, VIRGINIA.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, AND I'M SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
OUR CLUB WAS FORMED IN 1955, AND THE CLUB IS CURRENTLY A 501C3 DESIGNATED CLUB.
AFFILIATED WITH THE GENERAL FEDERAL OF WOMEN'S CLUB, VIRGINIA CHAPTER.
BEFORE MARCH 26, WHEN WE WERE GIVEN A SPACE IN THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER, OUR CLUB, EXCUSE ME, OUR CLUB, ON OUR CLUB, I'M SORRY, I'M VERY NERVOUS.
WHEN WE WERE GIVEN A SPACE IN THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER, OUR CLUB WAS DEPENDENT ON THE CLUB MEMBERS TO HOUSE OUR CLUB RECORDS, COLLECTING DONATED ITEMS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THE CLUB.
IN ORDER TO HAVE OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, THE CLUB WAS DEPENDENT ON OTHER, I'M JUST MESSING THIS UP.
THE CLUB WAS DEPENDENT ON OTHER ENTITIES WITH MEETING SPACES SUCH AS THE NEW LIBRARY OR THE FIRST FLOOR MEETING SPACE AT THE PRINCE GEORGE SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING.
A FEW YEARS AFTER THE NEW LIBRARY WAS OPENED, THEY CHANGED THEIR POLICY ON THE USE OF THE MEETING SPACE AND THAT USE HAD TO BE DURING PUBLIC HOURS OF THE LIBRARY.
[00:45:02]
START AT 6 30 P.M.SOME MEMBERS HAVE TIME TO GET THERE AFTER LEAVING WORK.
WE MOVED OVER TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES MEETING SPACE FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER THAT, AFTER WE COULD NO LONGER USE THE LIBRARY.
IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME THAT WE HEARD ABOUT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER ALLOWING ORGANIZATIONS TO USE AN EMPTY CLASSROOM TO HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS.
THIS BUILDING HAD JUST BEEN RECENTLY RENOVATED FOR PUBLIC USE AND IT WAS AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD USE FOR A MOSTLY VACANT BUILDING TO HAVE SOME OCCUPANTS.
WE WOULD BE GOOD STEWARDS OF NOT ONLY OUR DESIGNATED SPACE, BUT ALSO OF THE BUILDING AS A WHOLE.
PARKS AND RECREATION WAS RENOVATING THE GYM AND ADDING AN EXERCISE ROOM.
THE PG FOOD BANK WAS GIVEN SPACE TO CALL HOME TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THEY CAN SERVE.
AND SOON AFTER US, THREE MORE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS CAME TO CALL CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER THEIR HOME, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO FIVE LEASED SPACES AS OF JANUARY 2026.
HAVING A SPACE WITH NO MONETARY OBLIGATION MEANS WE CAN GIVE 100% OF WHAT WE COLLECT AND FUNDRAISE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
EACH YEAR, WE GIVE AT LEAST ONE, IF NOT SEVERAL, SCHOLARSHIPS.
TO THE GRADUATING PG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.
WE MAKE DONATIONS ON AN ANNUAL ROTATION TO EACH LIBRARY FACILITY IN PRINCE GEORGE.
ANNUAL DONATIONS TO PG ANIMAL SHELTER, FIRE AND EMS MUSEUM, PG PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION, PG FOOD, FOOD BANK, FOOD BANK, FIRST RESPONDERS DAY, TEACHER DAY, PROJECT LIFESAVER, PG HERITAGE MUSEUM, PG SCHOOLS BACK TO SCHOOL, BACKPACK AND SUPPLY DRIVE.
DRIVE AND THE PG TAINTURE'S CLOSET.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE CLUB HAS PRESENTED 11,000 TO SCHOLARSHIPS.
MEMBERS HAVE CLOCKED A TOTAL OF 3,262 HOURS AND MAKE CASH DENOTIONS.
FOR THE SAME PERIOD, MEMBERS MADE IN KIND DONATIONS OF TIMES AND SUPPLIES AT $15,375 THAT FURTHER ATTACHED THE PROJECTS.
NOW, YOU'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB.
I GET NERVOUS, AND I HAVE BRAIN FOG, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER TO HAVE THE ALTERNATE LEASE TO START WITH OUR PHYSICAL YEAR.
CONSIDER MAYBE NOT ASKING FOR AS MUCH RENT THAT YOU ARE ASKING.
AND I JUST SAY THAT WE DO A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ALL THAT WE COLLECT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? ANOTHER ONE APPROACHING.
REED FOSTER, 7031 LAUREL SPRING ROAD.
I WANT TO BRING YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THESE LADIES.
THEY'RE CALLED THE PURPLE SHIRTS BACK WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD BECAUSE THEY WERE AT EVERY BOARD MEETING.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE CITIZEN'S EAR WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
ANYWAY, THAT'S MY HISTORY LESSON.
MY MOTHER WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE PRINCE GEORGE WOMEN'S CLUB.
WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE CHARGING BY THE SQUARE FOOT FOR RENT
[00:50:02]
FOR THESE ROOMS. I WANT US TO BE FAIR IF WE ARE CHARGING RENT BY THE SQUARE FOOT.MR. WEBB, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE AMERICAN LEGION WANTED TO LEASE IT? AND YOU SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LET THEM HAVE IT AT HALF PRICE? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMERICAN LEGION IS PAYING NOW, BUT YOU WERE A STRONG ADVOCATE TO GET THE AMERICAN LEGION IN THERE AT A REDUCED RATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REDUCED OR NOT, MR. REED.
WELL, ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS THIS. I THINK WHAT Y'ALL ARE CHARGING IF WHAT I AM TOLD IS TRUE, AT $3 A SQUARE FOOT, THESE LADIES AND OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU ARE RENTING TO IN THERE, AS THEY EXPLAINED, THE LADY DID A VERY NICE JOB OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE PUT BACK IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THEY DON'T NEED TO BE DOING FUNDRAISERS TO PAY RENT.
WHEN THAT SCHOOL WAS TURNED OVER TO THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE.
WE PUT A ROOF ON THAT SCHOOL SO WE COULD USE IT, CONTINUE TO USE IT, AND LOOK WHERE IT IS NOW.
BUT WE DON'T NEED TO BE CHARGING CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HELPING OUR YOUTH, OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS, AND OTHER THINGS.
WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT LETTING THESE PEOPLE IN THERE AT A REASONABLE RATE BECAUSE THEIR TIME AND MONEY NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED TO BE PUT BACK INTO THE COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE? I JOINED THE WOMEN'S CLUB.
THEY HAD A PURPLE SHIRT THAT FIT ME, APPARENTLY.
THE WURRITON CLUB HAD SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA WITHIN THE LAST MONTH ABOUT ELIMINATING THEIR FEES FOR THEIR BARBECUES AND CHICKENS AND COOKOUTS.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT? YOU DON'T REMEMBER SEEING IT? I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I REMEMBER SEEING IT ON THE AGENDA.
IT WAS A REFERENCE TO SCOTT PARK.
WAS IT APPROVED? YEAH, $120 PER EVENT? YES.
HOW ABOUT WE OFFER THEM THE SAME DEAL? ENOUGH SAID.
YOU'VE ALREADY SET THE PRECEDENT.
IT'S A PRETTY EASY DECISION IN MY MIND BECAUSE I WANT THAT PURPLE SHIRT.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M NEVER GOING TO GO INTO LADIES.
I'M MARRIED ONCE SO I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
BUT JUST TO REFRESH WHAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS SAYING AND MR. WEBB, AGAIN, AS ASTUTE AS YOU ARE, REMEMBER WHEN THE AMERICAN LEGION CAME UP AND YOUR WORDS WERE, WE HAVE TO BE FAIR WITH EVERYBODY.
AND YOU PREDICTED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP AND ABSOLUTELY YOU'RE RIGHT BECAUSE HERE IT IS NOW.
IF WE LET ONE GROUP REDUCE, WHICH WE DID, NOW WE GOT ELECTED.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHILE I RESPECT EVERYBODY AND YES, I APPLAUD THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE BUILDING.
ARE WE GOING TO PUT THAT ON THE TAXPAYERS? I UNDERSTAND THEY DO GOOD WORK.
EVERYBODY HELPS THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE A GREAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY THE BILLS.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO PAY THE BILLS? THE TAXPAYERS OR OUR GROUPS? CAN WE REDUCE IT? MAYBE.
I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT.
I FIGHT FOR THE TAXPAYERS, AND WE HAVE TO BE FAIR.
ANYONE ELSE? I THINK I HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE.
GRANDMOLES COME IN THIS SIZE AND THIS FLAVOR.
[00:55:01]
LANE.COMMUNITY SERVICE PAYS BACK NOT JUST FROM WHAT WE GIVE IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO PEOPLE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, HOW MANY KIDS ARE DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE? HOW MANY KIDS ARE GETTING READY FOR ACTIVITIES THAT THE WOMEN'S CLUB AND THESE OTHER CLUBS ARE DOING? THEY'RE REACHING OUT.
THEY'RE GIVING PEOPLE THINGS, POSITIVE THINGS TO DO.
TEACHING PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU TURN AROUND AND SAY YOU HAVE TO GIVE AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR SPACE, THAT YOU ARE INVESTING IN PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY AND OUR CHILDREN AND GOOD ACTIVITIES THAT ARE WHOLESOME.
NOT ONLY INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN, THEY'RE INVESTING IN THEIR SENIORS AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.
I DON'T WANT TO PAY ANY MORE TAXES THAN ANYONE ELSE, AND EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS LIKE THEY GO UP.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD PAY FOR.
HOPE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS BRING TO US.
YOU KNOW WHAT HOPE TURNS INTO? HOPE BY ITSELF IS NOTHING BUT A PEP RALLY.
THESE PEOPLE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT, AND THEY BRING FAITH.
WE HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR WILL COME TRUE.
AND THESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS DO IT NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES, THEY DO IT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY TURN AROUND, I'M HERE IN A PURPLE SHIRT TONIGHT BECAUSE, ONE, I'VE GOT A SPOUSE THAT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.
BUT I'VE BEEN IN THIS COUNTY SINCE 1997.
COMMUNITY SERVICE IS WHERE IT'S AT.
WE NEED TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO HELP, INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS AND DO THINGS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU'VE GOT A HOW MANY MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET? AND IF YOU SAVE $2,000 PER ROOM PER YEAR IN THAT ROOM, AND YOU ADD THAT UP AND YOU DIVIDE THAT BY HOW MANY HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE IS IN, THESE PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING MINIMUM WAGE.
SEEING NO ONE APPROACH, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ACTION.
BOARD MEMBERS, THOUGHTS? WE'LL TAKE IT.
HAD ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE COST.
I THINK WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THESE TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING.
I BELIEVE THIS CURRENT LEASE IS FOR $1,902 A YEAR, IF I HAVE THE RIGHT LEASE PULLED UP.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE COST PER ROOM, IT WAS AT $1,381.
YOU GUYS CALLED ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT.
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO NUMBERS IS ABOUT $521.
AND SO JUST AS A STARTING POINT, I WOULD ASK IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST IN AT LEAST GOING TO THE COST, BEING THAT IT'S A 501C3.
THEY'RE DOING GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT OUR $3 PER SQUARE FOOT IS BASED ON.
BUT BASED ON OUR, I THINK IT'S, I BELIEVE IT'S OUR PRECEDING 12 MONTHS, THAT NUMBER WOULD AT LEAST COVER COSTS.
BUT I'M OPEN TO FURTHER DISCUSSION BESIDES THAT.
SO I JUST OFFER THAT FOR DISCUSSION.
YES, THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO MILITARY, BUT I THINK I'VE ALWAYS STATED IN EVERY MEETING, WHATEVER WE DO, IT NEEDS TO BE FAIR AND CONSISTENT FOR EVERYBODY.
TO MR. STEELE'S POINT, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO WHO PAYS FOR WHAT.
WE ALSO HAVE OTHER ROOMS IN THAT BUILDING THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR, RIGHT, WRONG, OR DIFFERENT.
YOU GOT A MEETING ROOM FOR FIRING EMS, YOU GOT A STORAGE ROOM FOR FIRING EMS. I'VE BEEN TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS OUT THERE.
I THINK YOU STILL DO, RIGHT, CHIEF? SO YOU GOT AT LEAST TWO ROOMS AND A CLASSROOM.
THE TAXPAYERS ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR IT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE QUITE AS HIGH AS, BECAUSE I GUESS IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO BREAK IT DOWN AND SPLIT IN HAIRS, YES, YOU GOT HEAT AND HEAT.
[01:00:01]
HVAC, RIGHT? SO THERE IS A COST THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THAT ROOM 30 DAYS A MONTH.SO MY SUGGESTION IS THE BEST I THINK WE COULD DO TO BE FAIR, AND WE'VE GOT OTHER ONES COMING UP.
SO IF YOU ALL DON'T AGREE, SOMEONE NEEDS TO SPEAK UP, OR WE JUST DON'T DO IT.
BUT WE CHARGE A BARE MINIMUM TO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S COMING BEFORE US TONIGHT.
NOW, IF THAT'S JUST FOR HOW MANY HOURS THEY MIGHT SPEND FOR WHEN THEY'D ACTUALLY BE USING THE LIGHTS AND THE HVAC EQUIPMENT TO OFFSET THAT COST, TO ME, MR. STEELE, THE ROOF IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN THAT BUILDING.
I MEAN, TO ME, THAT'S MY PROPOSAL.
THAT'S THE FAIREST THING TO DO, FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS FOR THE AMOUNT OF HOURS THAT THEY'RE IN THERE.
AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO DUCK.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT LESS, SCOTT, THAN WHAT YOU CAME UP WITH, I'M SURE, BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO SPLIT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
I'M SPLITTING IT JUST BASED ON THE TIME THEY'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING IN THE ROOM.
SO IF IT'S TWO NIGHTS A MONTH, IT'S TWO NIGHTS A MONTH.
THE FLIP SIDE TO THAT IS, FOLKS, THAT ROOM IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY ELSE, OR AT LEAST THEY HAVEN'T BEEN UP TO THIS POINT.
AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME, AS LONG AS EVERYBODY ELSE IS AWARE OF THAT.
BECAUSE WE'RE LEASING THE ROOM TO Y'ALL, SO THAT'S Y'ALL'S ROOM, JUST LIKE I THINK IT'S THE EASTERN STAR OR SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN THERE, AND THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP IN THERE.
SO THEY CAN PUT YOUR STUFF IN IT, THEY CAN LOCK THE DOOR, REARRANGE FURNITURE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
OTHER COMMENTS? YES, SIR, MR. CHAIR.
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT, I THINK WE NEED TO HONOR WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE WITH THE REDUCED RATE.
I SPOKE TO A COUPLE MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB WHEN THEY CAME UP AT ONE OF OUR LAST MEETINGS AND THEY ACTUALLY SENT AN EMAIL AND THEY TOUCHED BASE ON IT TONIGHT ALONG WITH OTHER CITIZENS ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
ME PERSONALLY, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE US TONIGHT AS WELL.
MR. J-PAUL HIT IT ON THE HEAD.
THESE COMMUNITY GROUPS, THEY'RE TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY, AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO DO GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THIS BOARD WANTS TO DO IS, DO WE SAY, OKAY, DO WE PUT HOW MUCH GOOD DO YOU DO ON IT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO OVERACHIEVE.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD PUT A VALUE ON THAT.
DO WE SAY, HEY, Y'ALL UNDERWROTE 10 GRADUATIONS THIS YEAR OR DID A COMMUNITY EVENT BECAUSE THEY HELPED WITH.
ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ANYTIME WE NEED ASSISTANCE, THEY'RE THERE TO HELP.
THEY'RE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY.
YOU KNOW, I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF WHAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED TO DO TO HELP THEM OUT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAT AND AIR CONDITION THIS BUILDING, REGARDLESS IF SOMEBODY'S IN THAT ROOM OR NOT.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, PIPES ARE GOING TO BUST.
THE BUILDING'S, THE ASSET'S GOING TO GO DOWNHILL.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT ASSET REGARDLESS.
WELL, EVEN SUMMER MONTHS, YOU KNOW.
WE'VE GOT FIRE AND EMS DOWN THERE.
SO I'M LEANING TOWARDS THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S APPLICABLE FOR THEM I'M GOING TO SUPPORT.
AND IF THIS BOARD DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT, THEN I WILL DIG DOWN DEEP AND TRY TO HELP THEM OUT.
YOU DIDN'T MENTION A NUMBER, SO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? MR. KINGSBURY, WHAT DID THEY RECOMMEND? THEY WANTED A LEASE TERM FROM JUNE 1ST, 2026 TO MAY 31ST OF 2027, WITH APRIL AND MAY OF THIS YEAR BEING REDUCED FREE.
SO THEY AGREED TO THE REGULAR SQUARE FOOTAGE RATE, BUT THEY JUST WANTED APRIL AND MAY FREE.
SO THAT'S NOT WHAT I OFFERED UP? NO.
I'M OKAY WITH WAVING THE TWO MONTHS, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HEAT AND COOL THE BUILDING ANYWAY.
BUT THEY DO DO A LOT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
I KNOW I SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE.
HELL, I GOT A COUPLE OF LADIES THAT BRING DOWN THE STREET FROM ME.
WHAT WOULD IT BE? FIGURE IT OUT FOR A QUICK SHOT.
CONNIE, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
HOW MANY NIGHTS DO YOU ALL MEET OUT THERE SO WE DON'T BELABOR THIS?
[01:05:05]
OKAY, SO GO ONE NIGHT A WEEK, ONE NIGHT A MONTH AMOUNT.I MEAN, YOU WOULD BE AT FIVE HOURS A MONTH AT THAT POINT.
SOMEBODY MAKE ME A MOTION ON WHAT YOU WANT.
NOW, WHEN YOU MAKE THE MOTION, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN AGREEMENT.
IT'S GOING TO BE FAIR AND CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
MR. CHAIR, THE ONE WAY I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY ACROSS LEASE AGREEMENTS, RIGHT NOW IT'S CALCULATED AT $3 A SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS $1,902.
IF YOU WENT TO $2 A SQUARE FOOT, IT WOULD PUT US SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF $600 CHEAPER.
IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $1,200.
WHAT IF YOU GO A BUCK AND A HALF? I'VE GOT TO FIND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
CLEAR, IF YOU WERE AT 634 TIMES $1.50, YOU ARE AT $951.
BUT THE IDEA BEING IS IF YOU LANDED AT A PER SQUARE FOOT, THAT WOULD BE, YOU JUST APPLY IT TO ALL, RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE THE EASIEST WAY THAN TRYING TO QUANTIFY OTHER THINGS, HOW MANY NIGHTS A WEEK, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S ALL THAT'S THOUGHT I'M OFFERING.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT $200 A YEAR? I JUST GOT TO REMEMBER ALL THE GROUPS.
WHAT ARE THEY CURRENTLY PAYING, MR. KINGSBURY? NOTHING.
ARE THEY GETTING THE ROOM FOR FREE NOW THAT WE'RE CHARGING THEM, OR ARE THEY PAYING SOMETHING? I THINK THEY'RE PAYING SOMETHING CURRENTLY.
YOU'RE NOT, RIGHT? OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
SO THE POLICY WAS CHANGED AND I SEE JANUARY 1ST OF 2023.
SO NOW WE'RE JUST GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WHEN THE LEAST IS UP.
BUT SO WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER JUST CHANGING THE POLICY AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO THE THREE PARTIES TONIGHT, HOW MANY OTHER ROOMS ARE WE RENTING? FROM THE DIAGRAM, ALMOST ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SIX PLUS.
I SEE ARE ALL THE ENTITIES NON-PROFITS? MOST OF THEM APPEAR TO BE.
MR. HAMMEL, FIGURE A DOLLAR IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
A DOLLAR EVEN WOULD BE $634 A YEAR.
EVERYBODY LIKE THAT? THEREFORE, WE'RE GOOD.
IF WE GIVE YOU IT TO A DOLLAR, THAT'D BE 634 A YEAR.
IS THAT FINE? ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? YES, SIR.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF IT WAS REDUCED TO THAT.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND GET A PART-TIME JOB OR NOTHING.
OR YOU CAN, YOU CAN FARM MR. FOSTER OUT THERE.
WHAT WAS THE LAST PERSON THAT WE GAVE A REDUCED RATE TO? WHAT WAS THAT? I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE WERE USED TO. BUT THAT WAS SO LONG AGO, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS, PHILIP.
IT WASN'T THAT THIS THING JUST GOT PROPOSED HERE A WHILE BACK.
AND I'M ALMOST WONDERING IF WE DON'T GO BACK AND REVIEW THE POLICY OR WHAT WAS CHANGED PERSONALLY.
BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT OF LINE HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE FOOD BANK COMING UP AS WELL, AND I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT.
WELL, IF THE AMERICAN LEGION COMES OVER.
IF THEY COME UNDER, THEY GET AN INCREASE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE BOARD, IT'S GOT TO BE FAIR FOR EVERYBODY.
SO THE LADIES SAID THEY'RE FINE WITH THE DOLLAR.
IS SOMEBODY INTERESTED IN PUTTING A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THAT? MAY I ASK THE ATTORNEY SOMETHING? YES, SIR.
SIR, IF WE WERE TO WAIT ON THESE.
TO WORK ON POLICY, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WAS NECESSARILY WHAT MR. PUGH WAS INSINUATING.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ANY OF THESE LEASES GO PAST DATES.
[01:10:05]
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A NEW PUBLIC HEARING.YEAH, WHICH WE'VE ADVERTISED IT THE SAME WAY WE DO THIS.
JUST UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMIC OF THAT.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
THEN IF WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON SOMETHING TONIGHT AND THEN WE DECIDE TO CHANGE THE POLICY, WE CAN GO BACK AND RETROACT IT, CORRECT? OR DO WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING? I RECKON SO.
THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE SET TONIGHT, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
AND BECAUSE WE NOTICED THAT WHATEVER TERM YOU COME AT TONIGHT IS FINE, BUT ANYTHING ELSE, I WOULD RECOMMEND CHANGING THE POLICY, DEALING WITH THE POLICY, AND THEN RENEGOTIATING ON HAVING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WITH EVERY LEASE THAT'S COMING UP.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT ANYWAY.
CAN I MAKE A SAMPLE MOTION? IF WE WERE TO ACCEPT $1 PER SQUARE FOOT, 634 SQUARE FEET, AND MAKE IT PAYABLE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE LEASE, YOU GET YOUR LEASE ENACTED.
YOU GIVE US TIME TO WORK ON THE POLICY.
IF WE CHANGE THE POLICY TO CHANGE THE RATE, CHANGE IT AT THE NEXT.
IF YOU REPEAT THAT, THIS IS TO MAKE ONE DOLLAR SQUARE FOOT, 634 SQUARE FEET PAYABLE ON MAY 31ST, 2027.
YOU HAVE TO DO IT JUST FOR YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS HEARING WITH THIS GROUP.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO AVOID THE TWO MONTHS THEY ASKED FOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WE OFFER AN AMENDED LEASE WITH THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF PRINCE GEORGE FOR THE AMOUNT OF $1 PER SQUARE FOOT ON A 634 SQUARE FOOT ROOM, WHICH WOULD TOTAL $634 PAYABLE TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY ON MAY 31ST, 2027.
I THINK WITH THE RATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE'RE WAIVING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
I HAVE A SECOND FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
ALRIGHT, MOVING TO THE NEXT ONE.
THAT'S THE HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE.
Y'ALL GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR THE OTHER ONES? OKAY, GOOD.
ALWAYS GLAD TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
ALL RIGHT, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR A LEASE WITH ST.
JAMES LODGE, NUMBER 128, AND HELENA CHAPTER, NUMBER 110.
THEY'VE BEEN LEASING A ROOM AS WELL IN THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER SINCE APRIL 1ST, 2019.
WE HAVE TO HOLD THIS PUBLIC HEARING IN ORDER TO LEASE THIS PROPERTY.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO RENEW THEIR LEASE AS WELL.
THE TERM THAT WAS PROPOSED WAS FROM APRIL 1ST, 2026 TO MARCH 31ST, 2027 WITH A RENEWAL OPTION OF TWO SUCCESSIVE THREE-YEAR TERMS. BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PROPOSE THAT THEIR LEASE START JULY 1ST, 2026 AND RUN THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2027 WITH THE RENEWAL OPTIONS OF TWO SUCCESSIVE THREE-YEAR TERMS AND WAIVER OF OPERATIONAL CHARGES FOR APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.
ANY COMMENTS RIGHT NOW? OKAY, IF NOT, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I RESIDE AT 10682 LEMOORE DRIVE, DISPUTANDO, VIRGINIA.
BROWN AND I RESIDE AT 10682 LEMOORE DRIVE, DISPUTANA AS WELL.
AND WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING, I'M THE SPOKESPERSON FOR ST.
JAMES LODGE NUMBER 128 AND I AM THE SPOKESPERSON FOR HELENA NUMBER 110, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. VICE CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. KINGSBURY AND MS. PUDLOW, GOOD EVENING.
I WANTED TO SAY BASED ON THE PRIOR DISCUSSION, THE REASON WE'RE ASKING FOR THE WAIVER FOR THREE MONTHS IS BECAUSE WE WANT THE LEASE TO RUN THE SAME AS OUR FISCAL YEAR, WHICH RUNS FROM JULY 1 TO JUNE 30TH.
IF IT WAS TO BE NOW, I'M THE SECRETARY, ALL MY MEMBERS HAVE PAID THEIR DUES FOR THE YEAR.
AND SO I CAN'T GO BACK TO THOSE MEMBERS AND SAY YOU NEED TO PAY MORE MONEY BECAUSE.
OUR NEW LEASE WOULD START APRIL 1.
[01:15:01]
PROCESS IN HOW WE CHANGE OUR BYLAWS THAT GOVERN WHAT THE BROTHERS PAY FOR DUES AND OTHER THINGS.SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE REQUESTING THE JULY 1 DATE, AND IT FALLS AT THE SAME TIME ON THE EASTERN STAR FOR THEIR FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAVE GIVEN MONIES TO THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE GIVEN COATS AND GLOVES AND SOCKS AND HATS AND THINGS TO THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS.
WE VOLUNTEER A LOT FOR A LOT OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE HELD UP HERE AT SCOTT PARK ON THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, SOME OF THE SAME THAT THE WOMEN'S CLUB MENTIONED.
SO WE COULD BE AMENABLE WITH $1 PER SQUARE FOOT.
WE'RE PAYING NOTHING NOW, SO TO GO FROM ZERO TO $1,899 BECAUSE OUR ROOM IS 633 SQUARE FEET, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TIMES $3 A SQUARE FOOT.
JUST TO PUT A LITTLE SPIN ON IT, IN THE LODGE, WE PAY $100 A YEAR FOR OUR DUES.
IF WE WERE TO, ON OUR SIDE ALONE, WE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE OUR DUES PER MEMBER TO $240 PER YEAR PER MEMBER.
SO, AGAIN, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR US.
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER WAS ABOUT MAKING IT PAYABLE ON THE LAST DAY OF THAT NEW FISCAL LEASE.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS IF IT'S SET AT ONE FIGURE AND YOU CHANGE THE POLICY AND FOR SOME REASON YOU COME BACK AT $2 A SQUARE FOOT, THEN I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S FAIR THEN TO SAY WE WOULD HAVE TO THEN PAY THE NEW FIGURE DURING THAT FIRST YEAR TERM.
YOU KNOW, IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE YEAR TWO, BECAUSE ONE OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS I WAS GOING TO MAKE IS MAYBE YEAR ONE, WE PAY A DOLLAR PER SQUARE FOOT.
YEAR TWO, WE PAY TWO DOLLARS PER SQUARE FOOT AND WORK, YOU KNOW, STAIR STEP OUR WAY UP TO THAT TOTAL AMOUNT.
THAT GIVES US ALL A CHANCE TO KIND OF STEP INTO THE GROOVE OF NOW HAVING TO PAY FOR THE ROOM.
WE MEET THE EASTERN STARS MEET ONCE A MONTH.
TOTAL BETWEEN THE TWO OF FIVE HOURS THE HEAT AND THE AIR IS MANUALLY CONTROLLED BY A UNIT ON THE WALL SO WHEN IT'S WHEN WE'RE NOT IN THE ROOM IT'S OFF THE LIGHTS ARE OFF SO THE ONLY TIME THAT IT'S TURNED ON IS FOR THOSE UP TO TWO AND A HALF HOURS PER MEETING NIGHT THAT WE'RE PHYSICALLY IN THE ROOM I CAN TELL YOU IF YOU EVER GO BY THAT BUILDING AT NIGHT IT'S LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WELL BEYOND ANYTHING THAT ANY OF US USE FOR ANY OF THOSE ROOMS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, BOARD MEMBERS, THAT WE, ON THE SISTER SIDE, WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
SISTER BERTHA, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, WE WORK WITH HER A LOT.
WE HELP THE FAMILIES DURING CHRISTMAS.
WE'VE DONATED SEVERAL TIMES TO HARRISON, TO MIDDLE ROAD.
THAT'S THE NEWEST SCHOOL, SO TO MIDDLE ROAD AS WELL.
SO WE ARE WORKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AT THE TIME THAT THE FREE LUNCHEON IS GIVEN AT THE CWC FOR THE KIDS THAT HAVE NO OTHER CHRISTMAS, WE DONATE TO THAT AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 100 YEARS.
IT'LL BE 100 YEARS NEXT MONTH THAT THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR HAS BEEN LOCATED IN PRINCE GEORGE.
IF YOU WOULD, MR. BROWN, IF YOU ALL WOULD JUST STEP TO THE SIDE, BEING THAT YOU'RE THE SPOKESPERSONS FOR THE GROUP, WE MAY HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US.
ANYONE ELSE WILLING TO SPEAK OR WANTS TO SPEAK? OKAY.
SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I'LL RETURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
AND, MR. BROWN, IF YOU'LL COME BACK TO THE PODIUM, MA'AM.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET HIM STEAL YOUR TIME THIS TIME.
I'M GOING TO LET HER SPEAK THIS TIME.
ALL RIGHT, BOARD, I'M GOING TO PUT SOMETHING OUT, AND IF Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO IT, THAT'S FINE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO GIVE THEM THE SAME DEAL OF A DOLLAR SQUARE FOOT, GIVE THEM A 15-MONTH LEASE WITH NO RENT DUE THE FIRST THREE MONTHS TO GET THEM ON CYCLE LIKE THEY'RE REQUESTING.
AND FROM THERE, THEY'LL PAY FOR 12 MONTHS AND GET THE FIRST THREE MONTHS WAIVED.
MR. CHAIR, I'VE GOT A QUESTION.
MR. BROWN, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT OR MR. WEBB.
WHEN THE PREVIOUS BOARDS DECIDED TO START RUNNING THESE ROOMS OUT OR LETTING COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORD,
[01:20:02]
COMMUNITY SERVICES USED THEM.WHAT WAS THE INTENT BEHIND THAT? WELL, MR. ASHCRAFT FIRST BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS USING THOSE ROOMS, AND IT WAS NOT ANY COST TO THOSE UNITS.
WHEN IT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD, I RECUSED MYSELF FROM THAT DISCUSSION.
ONE, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN IT, AND TWO, I WAS A MEMBER OF A GROUP THAT WAS MEETING THERE.
SO I STEPPED TOTALLY BACK FROM THAT DISCUSSION.
MR. WEBB CAN PROBABLY ENLIGHTEN MORE ON THE ACTUAL DISCUSSION.
AND I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS, YOU KNOW, THE WAY I'M ASSUMING THE INTENT WAS, WAS TO BUILD THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TO GIVE PEOPLE A PLACE, TO GIVE CITIZENS A PLACE TO GO AND HOLD MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND NOW, YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE TURNING AROUND AND CHARGING THE SAME COMMUNITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FOLKS, BUT EVERYTHING COSTS.
AND WE HAVE PUT A TON OF MONEY IN THAT BUILDING.
NOT THAT Y'ALL ARE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR IT.
THE FIRE SYSTEM ALONE IN THERE TO BRING IT UP TO CODE WAS LIKE 1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S JUST A, THAT'S JUST A FIRE SYSTEM AND A ROOF.
AND IT'S GOT TO BE MAINTAINED.
AND IT WAS, IT'S BEEN WHAT? EIGHT YEARS, AT LEAST SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS FOR THAT.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE FAIR AND CONSISTENT WITH EVERYBODY.
IF THEY'RE AMENABLE TO THE DOLLAR, I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH PAYING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LEASE BECAUSE THAT'S NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO LEASES.
YOU SIGN THE LEASE AND YOU PAY EITHER HALF OR TWO-THIRDS OF IT OR WHATEVER IS REQUIRED BY THE LEASER.
BUT IT'S UP TO THE REST OF THE BOARD.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I ASKED TO PUT THE PAYMENT AT THE END OF THE TERM WAS TO GIVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS TIME TO BUDGET APPROPRIATELY.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT FOR THIS YEAR, SO TO PUT IT ON THE TAIL END OF THEIR FISCAL YEAR.
AND I UNDERSTAND MR. BROWN'S COMMENTS ABOUT WHEN THEIR FISCAL YEAR ENDS, BUT TO KEEP THESE LEASES AS TIGHT AND CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AS POSSIBLE, I WOULD STILL, IF I WAS TO MAKE A MOTION, RECOMMEND THAT IT BE $1 PER SQUARE FOOT PAYABLE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE LEASE.
WHAT WAS THAT, MR. BROWN? OH, YES, SIR.
I MEAN, I THINK OUR GROUP WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE TERM STILL BE IT WOULD START EFFECTIVE JULY 01, OR I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS IT? SO I THINK FOR THE WOMEN'S CLUB, WE TERMED THE AGREEMENT AT THE SAME TIME.
THE NEW ONE PICKED UP TOMORROW.
BUT MR. PUGH, IF I COULD, SIR, LIKE THE OTHER GROUPS, EVERYBODY PRIOR HAS BEEN ON DIFFERENT TERMS BASED ON WHEN.
I KNOW THE AMERICAN LEGION, I THINK THEIRS RUNS NOVEMBER TO NOVEMBER.
THE REASON WE DIDN'T PREPARE FOR THIS IS BECAUSE I GOT A PHONE CALL ABOUT THREE AND A HALF, FOUR WEEKS AGO SAYING YOUR LEASE EXPIRES THE END OF MARCH AND WE NEED TO KNOW IN THREE DAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO RENEW. RIGHT? SO EVEN AT THE REDUCED $1 SQUARE FOOT, YOU WOULD STILL BE ASKING US TO CHANGE THE TERM END FROM MARCH 31ST TO JULY 1ST.
IS THAT TRUE? MARCH? FROM APRIL 1ST. OH, SO THE START? YEAH, THE START DATE, I THINK, OF THE NEW ONE WAS APRIL 1ST, RIGHT? YES. CORRECT.
RIGHT, SO IT WOULD BE FROM RIGHT NOW IT'S APRIL 1ST TO MARCH 31ST. RIGHT.
I'M ASKING FOR, YOU KNOW, JULY 1. OKAY.
AND I THINK THE WOMEN'S CLUB WAS WHAT, JUNE? I MEAN, JUNE WOULD STILL WORK FOR US IF WE'RE MAKING IT PAYABLE AT THE END OF THE LEASE.
I'M SURE EVERYBODY WOULD BE OKAY.
IF IT MADE IT SIMPLER TO DO IT THAT WAY, YES.
I MEAN, IF THEY'RE ALREADY ON DIFFERENT TERMS. I MAKE A MOTION.
WE OFFER A LEASE FOR $1.00 SQUARE FOOT, 633 SQUARE FEET TO ST. JAMES LODGE 128 IN HELENA CHAPTER 110 WITH THE TERM BEING APRIL 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2027 WITH THE RENT PAYABLE ON JUNE 30TH, 2027.
SECOND A SECOND FOR DISCUSSION HEARING ON ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[01:25:02]
MR. PHILIP PUGH? NO.ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING.
CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER LEASE AGREEMENT WITH PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY CHURCH'S OUTREACH FOOD BANK AND CLOTHES CLOSET.
MR. KINGSBURY? MR. CHAIR, SUPERVISORS, THIS LEASE, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING HELD TO LEASE REAL PROPERTY ACCORDING TO LAW.
THE CENTRAL, THEY'RE LEASING AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER AND THE FOOD BANK HAS BEEN DOING SO SINCE APRIL 2015.
THEY ARE PROPOSING THE TERM OF THEIR NEW LEASE WOULD GO FROM APRIL 1ST, 2026 TO MARCH 30TH, 2031.
AT THE END OF THAT FIVE-YEAR LEASE, THEY WOULD HAVE TWO SUCCESSFUL THREE-YEAR RENEWALS.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT, SIR? THE DATES, PLEASE.
THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR LEASE TO BEGIN APRIL 1ST, 2026 AND RUN TO MARCH 30TH, 2031.
AND THEN THEY WOULD LIKE TWO SUCCESSIVE THREE YEAR RENEWAL TERMS AT THE END OF THAT FIRST FIVE YEARS.
ANY QUESTIONS? OR IF NOT, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WANT TO COME AND SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST? PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM OKAY GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND RETURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ACTION MR. KINGSBURY THE FOOD BANK HAD NOTHING IN THEIR AMENDED LEASE ABOUT A COST PER SQUARE FOOT DID THEY I DO SEE AN OPERATIONAL CHARGES SECTION WHERE THEY WOULD BE PAYING $4,137.
SO THAT'S THE $3 PER SQUARE FOOT.
AND THEY'RE LEASING 1,379 SQUARE FEET.
SO THEY'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A LONGER TERM. YEP.
ANY COMMENTS? YOU GOOD WITH EXTENDING THE TERM TO 31? YEAH.
WE'RE LOCKING THEM IN AT A DOLLAR.
WE GAVE THE FRATERNITY AND SORORITY A DOLLAR FOR ONE YEAR.
WE GAVE THE WOMEN'S CLUB A DOLLAR FOR ONE YEAR, BUT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO GIVE THESE ONE DOLLAR FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE A FIVE-YEAR LEASE.
I SAY IT NEEDS TO BE THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AGREE TO A LEASE WITH THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER AND THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY CHURCH'S OUTREACH DOING BUSINESS AS FOOD BANK AND CLOTHES CLOSET FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FOR A DOLLAR SQUARE FOOT.
01,379 SQUARE FEET, BRINGING IT TO $1,379 A YEAR, PAYABLE ON MARCH 30TH, 2027.
OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.
SORRY, THE RENEWAL TERMS. DO YOU WANT TO DO THE SAME? YES.
THEY CAN HAVE TWO THREE-YEAR RENEWAL TERMS AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, JUST AS THE OTHER TWO.
SO YOU'VE GOT THE MOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND? I ALREADY SECONDED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO NUMBER FOUR, SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A REQUEST TO PERMIT THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING DOMINION ENERGY ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION.
WITH AN RA AND R1 ZONING DISTRICT.
RESUMING TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY ZONE ORDINANCE SECTION 90-10315 AND 90-2026 SPRINGSTEIN.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN COX, VICE CHAIRMAN PUGH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MS. PUDLOW, AND MR. KINGSBURY.
[01:30:03]
I'LL AWAIT THE SCREEN TO SHOW THE VISUAL FOR US.ALL RIGHT SO THIS REQUEST IS SPECIAL EXCEPTION SE250005 THE APPLICANT IS CAROLINE DEBRUYL OF HDR INC PROPERTY OWNER BEING VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWERCO AND THIS REQUEST IS TO PERMIT THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING DOMINION ENERGY ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION WITHIN THE RA RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT AND THE R1 LIMITED RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
PURSUANT TO THE TWO LISTED ZONING SECTIONS, AND THIS PROPERTY IS 0.97 ACRES IN SIZE AND IS LOCATED ON ARWOOD ROAD. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INDICATES THE PROPERTY IS PLANNED FOR AGRICULTURE USES.
IT'S PRETTY ZOOMED OUT JUST SO THAT IT CAN SHOW SOME ADJOINING STREETS.
BUT IN THE TOP RIGHT IS AN EVEN MORE ZOOMED OUT VIEW OF WHERE IT IS IN THE COUNTY.
BUT THAT BLUE HIGHLIGHTED RECTANGLE IS THE PROPERTY.
AND HERE WE HAVE THE SATELLITE VIEW CLOSE IN ON THE EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ALREADY SUBSTATION THERE.
AND ZONING MAP WHICH SHOWS IT IS A SPLIT ZONE PARCEL R1 AND RA. AND SURROUNDING ZONING IS R1 AND RA.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INDICATES THE PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES ARE PLANNED FOR AGRICULTURE USES.
AND TO SUMMARIZE THE REQUEST, THE LAND USES AS THE LAND USE AS SPECIFIED IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE ARE LISTED SO THAT THOSE LONG QUOTATIONS ARE THE NAMES IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE, THE FIRST BEING AN RA AND THE SECOND BEING AN R1 FOR WHAT THIS LAND USE WOULD FIT.
AND THEN SOME OTHER KEY DETAILS.
SO EXISTING ON THE SITE CURRENTLY IS AN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION, TRANSMISSION LINE, AND DISTRIBUTION LINES.
WHAT'S PROPOSED IS REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING CHAIN LINK FENCE, INCREASED SPACE BETWEEN THE FENCE AND THE NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE.
AND THEN THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING STATION TO THE EAST AND SOUTH, INCLUDING ONE CONTROL ENCLOSURE, A TRANSFORMER, AND MISCELLANEOUS STEEL SUPPORT STRUCTURES FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICAL WIRES AND EQUIPMENT.
AND THIS IS THE CONCEPTUAL LAYOUT PROVIDED BY THE ENGINEER.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVAL, SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.
I WON'T READ THEM WORD FOR WORD, BUT THE FIRST ONE DEFINES THE LAND USE AS AN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION, AND THE DEFINITION WOULD BE A SUBSIDIARY STATION OF AN ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM CONTAINING TRANSFORMERS, SWITCHES, CONTROL EQUIPMENT, CIRCUIT BREAKERS, AND OTHER ELEMENTS, INCLUDING LINE TERMINATION STRUCTURES.
THE SECOND WOULD BE TO REQUIRE THAT THEY DO A SITE PLAN AND THAT SITE PLAN BE APPROVED PRIOR TO ANY DISTURBANCE OF LAND.
THIRD WOULD BE TO SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORM TO THAT CONCEPTUAL PLAN, WHICH WAS SHOWN ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CONDITIONS HAVE TO DO WITH SCREENING, SO THEY WOULD REQUIRE SCREENING ON ALL ON ALL SIDES OF THE SUBSTATION WITH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STANDARD FOR WHAT'S ON THE NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE FOR COMPARED TO THE OTHER ONES JUST BECAUSE OF CLOSE PROXIMITY OF VEGETATION TO THE POTENTIALLY FLAMMABLE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.
MOVING ON TO THE OTHER RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.
MAINTENANCE OF THE FENCING AND
[01:35:02]
THE SCREENING MEASURES.AS WELL AS THERE WAS A RECOMMENDED CONDITION ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF A KNOX BOX FOR FIRE AND EMS ACCESS.
AND THEN MORE STANDARD CONDITIONS ABOUT OBTAINING ALL REQUIRED PERMITS.
SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD WAS APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.
THE VOTE WAS 6-0 WITH ONE ABSTENTION FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 22ND OF JANUARY.
SINCE THAT MEETING, THE APPLICANT HAS MET WITH FIRE AND EMS WITH BATTALION CHIEF MR. RAMSEY ON MARCH 16TH TO DISCUSS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONDITION REGARDING THE KNOX BOX ACCESS.
AS A RESULT OF THAT MEETING, FIRE AND EMS HAS STATED THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE KNOX BOX SHOULD BE REQUIRED IN A CONDITION.
IF THE BOARD WISHES TO ACCEPT THAT CHANGE AS THE ONLY CHANGE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS, AND THAT CONDITION IS LISTED IN FULL RIGHT THERE, THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED.
SO JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IF THE BOARD WISHES TO MAKE THAT CHANGE BASED ON THOSE UPDATED COMMENTS FROM FIRE AND EMS, ANY MOTION MADE WOULD NEED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT CONDITION IS TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT IS PRESENT IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS UPLOADED PRIOR TO THAT MEETING.
NO WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THIS HEARING AND IT WAS ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS AND A SIGN WAS PLACED ON THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE APPLICANT UP TO SPEAK. YEAH, QUESTION SIR.
CAN I ASSUME BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID, OF COURSE IT'S HIGH VOLTAGE SO I KNOW IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT JUST GOING INTO THE WATER ON. THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE THE GATE LOCKED.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO LEAVE IT OPEN FOR JUST ANYBODY WALKING IN AND NOT KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY'RE DOING.
SO FIRE WOULD STILL RESPOND, BUT WOULD NOT ENTER OR DO ANYTHING UNTIL A REPRESENTATIVE FROM POWER COMPANY GOT THERE? CORRECT.
THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE HERE FROM DOMINION THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEIR SAFETY PROTOCOLS BETTER THAN I WOULD.
I'M JUST SPEAKING BASED ON THE PLANT.
WHEN WE HAVE A TRANSFER OR SOMETHING BELOW, CHESTERFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWS UP.
BUT NOBODY GOES INSIDE THAT AREA UNTIL THE POWER COMPANY GETS THERE? WE GOT THE SAME THING HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
YEAH, THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE DOMINION EMPLOYEE IS AT, I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY WE WOULD WANT FROM THE DOMINION'S PERSPECTIVE IS PROTECT THE PERIMETER.
DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITHIN THAT FENCE UNTIL WE GET THERE.
SO IF THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION FOR YOU ALL.
WE'VE GOT BASICALLY THE SAME POLICY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. GREENSTEIN? ANY COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? MR. GREENSTEIN, IN YOUR DISCUSSION, YOU DISCUSSED THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS PLANNED FOR AGRICULTURAL USES.
COULD YOU FURTHER CLARIFY IF AGRICULTURAL USES INCLUDE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS OR SUPPORTING CONSTRUCTION FOR A SOLAR FARM.
FOR A SOLAR FARM? WELL I CAN READ YOU WHAT THE DEFINITION IN THE CURRENT ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS OF AGRICULTURE.
THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES LAND AREAS IN THE RURAL PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY WHERE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL USES ARE AND SHOULD BE THE DOMINANT LAND USE.
LARGE LOT SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT MAY EXIST WITHIN SOME OF THESE AREAS.
FUTURE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PROPERTIES IS NOT ENCOURAGED.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR RIGHT NOW.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'M GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP ELECTRONICALLY, SO WE'LL LET THAT PERSON SPEAK FIRST.
[01:40:01]
MR. QUIST, YOU CAN GET SOME ELECTRONIC FIRST.ALL RIGHT, MR. GOODMAN, IF YOU'D STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
OH, YOU'RE ON MUTE, MR. GOODMAN.
15201 JAMES RIVER DRIVE, JUSTIN GOODMAN.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK MY LORD AND SAVIOR FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE MY BIG FEAR, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT LONG-TERM PLANS ARE, WHAT THE LONG-TERM GOALS ARE BEHIND THESE ADVANCEMENTS.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES NATIONWIDE IS THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 15 YEARS AGO THAT HAVE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, AND EVEN ONE CLOSE TO HOME, HANOVER.
SO THEY HAVE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH POWER COMPANIES THAT HAVE SET THE PACE FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW IS INSTALLING THE DATA CENTER.
THEY'RE REALLY FIGHTING FOR IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE WISE TO LOOK INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, BUT IT IS PROPOSED THAT THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE SOME OF THE FORMER, YOU KNOW, OFFICIALS THAT KIND OF PUSHED FOR THAT STUFF 15, SO YEARS AGO, ARE KIND OF IN TIES WITH THE COMPANIES THAT ARE NOW, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISHED TO DO THESE DATA CENTERS.
SO REALLY THE LONG-TERM GOAL, LIKE, I REALLY LIKE ASKING WHAT THE USAGE ARE.
SO IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T SAY THAT IT'S NOT UNLESS I WAS MISHEARING THAT.
SO CLARIFICATION, YOU KNOW, SOLAR FARMS, IT'S GOING TO BE TRULY THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR LANDSCAPE.
AGRICULTURE IS REALLY WHERE WE'RE AT.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE SOLAR FARMS. THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS, ESPECIALLY WE HAVE EVEN LOCALLY, VIRGINIA TECH JUST PUT OUT A REALLY GOOD THING IN REGARDS TO EROSION.
WE'RE IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.
WE REALLY NEED TO QUESTION THE TRUE INTENTIONS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
ERIN BROCKOVICH, THE WHOLE WORKS.
AND I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, A VOTE TO NO UNLESS THERE'S MORE TRANSPARENCY ON THE DAMAGING OF HEALTH EFFECTS.
AND THE COMPANY HAS TO ADMIT IT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE RESEARCH IS THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MY TIME.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE NO UNLESS THEY WILL COME, YOU KNOW, MORE TRANSPARENCY.
THE SUBPLASTLY, I DON'T HAVE A TIMER, BUT LIKE THE SUBSTATION ALREADY THAT'S BY BRANCHESTER IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.
YOU KNOW, THE READINGS THAT I GOT FROM THAT, I'M NOT EVEN PUTTING THEM UP BECAUSE IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.
YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO SEE MY READINGS.
YOU FEEL THE VOLTAGE SURGING THROUGH YOUR BODY WHEN YOU'RE BY THESE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE NEED TO CONTROL WHAT WE DO.
ALL RIGHT, MR. GOODMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
OKAY, MR. QUIST, NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP ELECTRONICALLY, CORRECT? GO AHEAD, SIR.
JIM QUIST, 9807 COUNTY LINE ROAD.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR DOMINION, BUT I'VE ASKED THAT VERY QUESTION.
THIS IS A SUBSTATION, NOT THE HIGH-VOLTAGE LINES, OKAY? I ALSO ASKED, THANK YOU FOR PROMPTING THE QUESTION ON THE ZONING, IS THIS EXPANSION OR THIS UPDATE DUE TO SOME FUTURE NEED FOR A SOLAR CONNECTION IN THAT AREA.
AND I'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM DOMINION UP HERE AND HAVE THEM ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT I'M SATISFIED THAT THIS IS AN EQUIPMENT UPGRADE FOR REASONS OF GOOD ENGINEERING PRACTICE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE IT.
AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, YOU CAN TAKE THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE IT.
ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO ONE APPROACH, I WILL ASK THE DOMINION REP TO COME FORWARD.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
[01:45:02]
HAVE FOR ME.I WORK FOR DOMINION ENERGY IN THEIR SITING AND PERMITTING TEAM, AND THIS IS MY PROJECT.
YES, MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO ASK.
ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IN THE PACKET IS THAT THE PHRASING CHANGES BETWEEN DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF IT.
IT TALKS ABOUT MODERNIZATION, BUT IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT EXPANSION.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO KIND OF THE THE INTENT BEHIND WHAT THE UPDATE IS? SO THE REASON WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF THE SUBSTATION IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING OUTPUT.
IN USING THE MODERN EQUIPMENT IT TAKES UP MORE SPACE IS SIMPLY THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THIS SUBSTATION WAS BUILT IN LIKE THE 1950S, 1960S ERA AND AS YOU, YOU KNOW, SEE WITH VEHICLES FROM THAT ERA THEY'VE CHANGED VASTLY TO THE VEHICLES YOU SEE NOW. IT'S THE SAME THING WITH ANY OTHER KIND OF MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT.
SO THE TRANSFORMERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW TRANSFORMERS, SAME VOLTAGE, NEW TECHNOLOGY.
IN ADDITION, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT A CONTROL ENCLOSURE, IT'S THE SAME KIND OF RELAYS THAT WE HAVE NOW, ONLY THE RELAYS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE ARE ALL MECHANICAL.
THEY HAVE TO BE OPERATED BY A PHYSICAL HUMAN BEING IN PERSON MAKING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
WHEREAS WHEN WE PUT IN THE CONTROL ENCLOSURE, IT'S ALL CAN BE REMOTELY OPERATED BY OUR OPERATIONS CENTER.
IT GIVES THEM GREATER VISIBILITY, WHICH ULTIMATELY HELPS THE RESILIENCY OF IF WE HAVE A MAJOR STORM LIKE SOME OF THE CRAZY WEATHER WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY, IT MAKES IT A LOT FASTER FOR THEM TO GET EVERYBODY BACK ON. I KNOW WE'VE WE'VE I THINK WE HAD HEARD FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE'VE HEARD SOME QUESTIONS THIS EVENING.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT COMES DOWN.
DOES ANYTHING IN THIS MODERNIZATION INCREASE THE ABILITY TO PUT POWER UP TO THE LINE? THIS DOES ALLOW FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL FLOW JUST BY THE NATURE OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTENT IN THIS AREA.
IT'S NOT SERVING A PARTICULAR SOLAR FARM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT IS TRULY JUST WHAT THE NEWEST AND GREATEST VERSION OF THESE SUBSTATION TECHNOLOGIES IS. DOING THAT JUST MAKES FOR, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU WERE TO PUT ROOFTOP SOLAR ON YOUR HOUSE AND DECIDED THAT YOU WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT, WHATEVER YOU DON'T USE, BACK ON THE GRID.
RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT GRID IS NOT BUILT TO HAVE THAT BIDIRECTIONAL FLOW.
THIS ALLOWS OUR OPERATIONS CENTER TO MITIGATE THAT BIDIRECTIONAL FLOW.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW, MR. CHAIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WOULD A ONE-MONTH EXTENSION ON THIS REQUEST MEASURABLY HURT YOU? WE DO HAVE SOME CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES THAT ARE FAIRLY TIGHT FOR THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT IS PART OF THE GRID TRANSFORMATION LEGISLATION THAT CAME FROM THE STATE, AND SO THE FUNDING FOR IT ALSO CAME THROUGH THAT, AND SO THERE ARE SOME STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION-RELATED TIMELINES TO THE SPEND FOR THIS.
IT WOULDN'T BE MAYBE OUR FAVORITE THING EVER, BUT IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT SO THAT THE PROJECT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
MR. KINGSBURY, IF WE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION ON THIS TONIGHT, WOULD WE HAVE TO RE-ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN? NO, YOU WON'T.
YOU CAN TABLE IT TO ANOTHER MEETING DATE.
I'LL BRING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION THAT WITHIN ROUGHLY 80 YARDS OF THIS SUBSTATION UPGRADE THERE WAS A ZONING CASE SPECIAL EXCEPTION SE-19-11 APPROVED NOVEMBER 10TH 2020 WHEN I RAN OUT OF FINGERS AND TOES I WAS AT 849 ACRES AND THAT SPECIAL EXCEPTION WAS TO PERMIT A LARGE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY IN AN RA RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE USE OF A 60 MEGAWATT SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY.
THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, WHILE I WOULD LOVE FOR DOMINION TO BE ABLE TO UPGRADE THEIR SUBSTATION, IS THAT THIS PROJECT HAS NOT MOVED FORWARD SINCE THAT SPECIAL EXCEPTION WAS APPROVED BECAUSE THEY HAD INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO SO.
SO MY MOTION WOULD BE TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD GO BACK AND REVIEW THAT SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR REASONS WHY THAT PROJECT HASN'T MOVED FORWARD TO SEE IF ONCE THIS WAS APPROVED, 849 NEW ACRES OF PRE-APPROVED SPECIAL EXCEPTION SOLAR CAME ONLINE.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I'M SORRY MR. CHAIR, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THAT'S BEEN REMOVED.
IT IS ON THE GIS MAP AS AN APPROVED ZONING CASE.
I THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN REMOVED, TOO.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED, MR. PUGH. OKAY.
[01:50:01]
I AM IN SUPPORT OF TABLING THIS 30 DAYS TO CROSS OUR T'S AND DOT OUR I'S, IF THAT'S THE CASE, BUT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED.AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FULL MONTH.
WE COULD DO OUR NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING, AND I THINK THAT WOULD GIVE STAFF ENOUGH TIME.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE STAFF TO GIVE YOU? REALLY JUST A CONFIRMATION THAT THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED.
MR. BALDWIN IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
IF HE COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE AN EASY NIGHT TONIGHT.
IF THE BOARD DOESN'T MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT AND YOU POSTPONE THIS, YOU WILL HAVE TO RE-ADVERTISE.
THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR PLANNING ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE TO ADVERTISE BEFORE THE BOARD CAN MAKE A DECISION.
IF YOU DID IT FOR 30 DAYS, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, WHATEVER THE DATE WAS, BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE FOR THAT.
AS FAR AS THE QUESTION ABOUT THE OTHER SOLAR PROJECTS, WE'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
THE EARLY SOLAR PROJECTS THAT THE BOARD WAS APPROVING ON SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS DID NOT HAVE TERMINATION DATES ON IT.
SO MANY OF THOSE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED HISTORICALLY IN THE COUNTY, LIVE ON AS FAR AS BEING TECHNICALLY ALLOWED.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS OF THAT CASE.
WE DON'T HAVE A SITE PLAN UNDER REVIEW OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE FOR THAT PROJECT. RIGHT.
BUT WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS.
MR. BALDWIN, WHEN WE STARTED TRYING TO CUT BACK ON THE SOLAR, DIDN'T THE PRIOR PLANNING DEPARTMENT LOOK AT THE FACT THAT IF THE SOLAR FARM HAD NOT STARTED, NO MOVEMENT, NO PERMITS OR ANYTHING, IT WOULD GO AWAY? THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION DOES NOT GO AWAY. OKAY.
THE ONES I THINK, AGAIN, I'D DOUBLE-CHECK THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THE ONES FROM BACK IN, I THINK YOU SAID IT WAS LIKE 2020 OR PRIOR, DO NOT HAVE TERMINATION DATES, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE SPECIAL EXAM.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WHEN WE PULLED BACK THAT ANYTHING THAT HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR APPLIED FOR WAS DONE.
YEAH, AGAIN, I THINK THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE HAVE TERMINATION DATES ON THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
THERE'S ALSO TERMINATION DATES AS LONG AS THE SITE PLAN APPROVES THERE'S A TERMINATION DATE ON THE SITE PLAN ITSELF BUT THE ONE YOU'RE REFERENCING I DO NOT BELIEVE HAS AN APPROVED SITE PLAN BUT WE'D BE GLAD TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE CHECK ALL THAT FOR YOU.
MR. CHAIR IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN IT WAS POSTED ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE AS PART OF OUR SOLAR ACREAGE AND THEN WHEN WE REDUCED OUR SOLAR ACREAGE WE REMOVED IT FROM THE WEBSITE SAYING THAT THAT WAS A SITE.
NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK AND REMOVE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION NOW.
ALL RIGHT, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
AND POINT OF CLARITY, SO THEY DON'T CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO RE-ADVERTISE.
COULD YOU GIVE ME THE STATUTE? I WOULD BE GLAD TO.
NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S A FAIRLY RECENT CHANGE IN THE STATE.
THEY DIDN'T USED TO REQUIRE THAT.
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY REQUIRED BEFORE WE CAN TAKE ANY ACTION ON PLANNING ITEMS, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT. A SUBSEQUENT.
DO YOU MIND IF I RECOMMEND THAT? NO. ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO SAY REAL QUICK BEFORE WE DO BECAUSE WE JUMPED AHEAD.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? MR. QUIST, DID I GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO COME UP AND SPEAK.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND TURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD. MR. WEBB.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PROPOSAL FOR CONSIDERATION.
YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY, SCOTT? IF YOU CAN'T, JUST KEEP THE HEARING OPEN.
WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A MOTION AND A VOTE ON IT.
BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK.
TO REVISIT IT NOT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MOTION TO VOTE TONIGHT RIGHT? LET ME SPEAK FIRST.
OKAY. I MEAN YOU'RE RIGHT IN WHICH HERE MY MOTION I'M SUGGESTING WE MOVE FORWARD AND GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT, KNOWING WHAT OUR OPINION IS MR. BOWMAN CAN VERIFY AND IF IT'S NOT SUCH THEN WE'LL DO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO LEGALLY TO PULL IT BACK BECAUSE NOTHING'S BEEN DONE ON IT AND THAT'S WHAT THE INTENT WAS THAT COULD BE ON US BECAUSE I'M UNDER THE SAME IMPRESSION PHILIP IS.
WHEN WE CUT THE ACREAGE BACK, THEY HADN'T STARTED ON ANYTHING.
THEY MADE IT NULL AND VOID RIGHT THEN.
[01:55:01]
I'M GLAD YOU'RE STARTING TO PUT IN DATES ON THEM, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A LEGAL WAY WE CAN DO THAT.IS IT NOT, MR. HANSON? IT'S A LEGAL WAY WE CAN DO THIS.
IF WE SIT UP HERE AND DECIDE TO DO THAT, WE CAN DO THAT, BECAUSE NOTHING'S BEEN STARTED.
I'M TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS PULLING THAT SPECIAL EXCEPTION BACK IF HE DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING.
YEAH, WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? HEARING NO SECOND, THE MOTION DIED.
DO I HAVE ANOTHER MOTION? MAKE IT AGAIN.
WITH THE CONTINGENCY THAT WE PULL BACK THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
SIR? THE KNOX BOX? AMEND WHAT? AMEND THE PLACEMENT OF THE KNOX BOX.
OH, WELL, THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THEIR AGREEMENT OR THE APPROVAL.
REQUEST TO CONDITIONALLY REZONE 43.62 ACRES FROM B1 GENERAL BUSINESS AND R2 LIMITED RESIDENTIAL TO RTH RESIDENTIAL TOWNHOUSE.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
THIS IS REZONING REQUEST RZ250008.
THE APPLICANTS ARE RYAN MARTIN AND JOHN BARKSDALE, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS LIBERTY UNIVERSITY.
THIS REQUEST IS TO CONDITIONALLY REZONE 43 ACRES FROM B1 GENERAL BUSINESS AND R2 LIMITED RESIDENTIAL.
TO RTH RESIDENTIAL TOWNHOUSE, THE INTENT BEING TO DEVELOP A MAXIMUM OF 309 TOWNHOUSE DWELLING UNITS.
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF MIDDLE ROAD AND BRANCHESTER PARKWAY AND IS IDENTIFIED BY SEVERAL TAX PARCELS WHICH ARE LISTED.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INDICATES THE PROPERTY IS PLANNED FOR RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES.
AND HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE HERE IS ALL OF THE AFFECTED PARCELS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A ZOOMED-OUT LOOK AT THE COUNTY.
AGAIN, THIS IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF PRINCE GEORGE AND MIDDLE ROAD.
AND A ZONING MAP WHICH SHOWS THAT THE PROPERTY IS ZONE B1 AND SURROUNDING ZONING IS A MIX OF R2, R3, AND RA.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS DEPICTED ON THIS MAP WHICH SHOWS COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY.
AGAIN, TO JUST SUMMARIZE THE REQUEST, IT'S TO REZONE 43.62 ACRES FROM B1 AND R2 TO RTH, RESIDENTIAL TOWNHOUSE, IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A MAXIMUM OF 309 TOWNHOUSE DWELLING UNITS WITH ENTRANCES OFF MIDDLE ROAD, PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE, AND BRANCHESTER PARKWAY, AND THE LOCATION IS ADJACENT TO THE BRANCHESTER APARTMENTS.
INVOLUNTARY PROFFERS WERE SUBMITTED.
THIS IS THE CONCEPTUAL, THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN, WHICH SHOWS THE PLANNED LAYOUT.
AND THESE ARE THE CONCEPTUAL ELEVATIONS.
[02:00:01]
WITH THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN.ONE IS A LIMIT OF A MAXIMUM OF 309 UNITS.
ONE IS GENERAL CONFORMANCE WITH THE CONCEPTUAL ELEVATIONS.
A REQUIREMENT OF DRIVEWAYS AND FRONT WALKS TO BE HARDSCAPED.
STANDARDS FOR EXTERIOR MATERIALS.
A $3,500 PER UNIT CASH PROFFER.
AMENITIES SUCH AS A DOG PARK, PLAY AREA, BENCHES AND WALKING PATH, PRIVACY FENCE AND LANDSCAPE SCREENING, TURN LANE WARRANT ANALYSIS TO BE SUBMITTED DURING PLAT REVIEW, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION TO MAINTAIN STORM WATER MAINTENANCE AND OPEN SPACE, AND THEN A PROFFER ABOUT SEVERANCE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION ON THIS REQUEST WAS DENIAL.
THE VOTE WAS 5-2 FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY, AND THE REASON PROVIDED WAS, QUOTE, DUE TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S CURRENT CAPACITY AND THE LACK OF PROPER FIRE APPARATUS SUPPORT AND STAFF IN THAT DISTRICT.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS, AND A SIGN WAS ALSO PLACED ON THE PROPERTY.
ONE WRITTEN COMMENT WAS RECEIVED IN THE ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM PRIOR TO THIS HEARING IN OPPOSITION, AND THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD CLERK.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE HIM UP, I BELIEVE HE HAS HIS OWN PRESENTATION.
ANY QUESTIONS, MR. GREENSTEIN? IF THE APPLICANT IS HERE, PLEASE COME UP.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS JEFF GEIGER HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANTS BEFORE YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE OVERVIEW THAT MR. GREENSTEIN HAS PROVIDED.
I'D LIKE TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHY ARE WE HERE, JUST AS A BIT OF AN INTRODUCTION.
WHENEVER WE START LOOKING AT PROPERTY, WHETHER WE'RE THE LANDOWNER OR AN APPLICANT LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE PROPERTY, WE TURN TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS DESIGNATED THIS LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS WITHIN THE AREA OF THE COUNTY THAT YOU DESIGNATE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE 2018 PLAN, IT CALLED FOR TOWNHOUSES AND IN A DENSE SUBURBAN TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS WHAT CAME FORWARD WITH THE PLAN THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERED AND VOTED ON.
WE WERE ALSO WELL AWARE THAT YOU WERE WORKING ON YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AGAIN, DESIGNATES CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTY FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND IN PARTICULAR, MAINTAIN THIS PROPERTY AS KIND OF THAT PORTION OF THE COUNTY WHERE DEVELOPMENT WAS INTENDED.
JUST TO ZOOM IN HERE, THAT SAME MAP POINTING TO THE AREA IN RED.
AND AGAIN FROM THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AN AREA OF THE COUNTY WHERE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES EXISTED.
WITH THAT AREA IN RED WAS DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL AND PROVIDED FOR AGAIN THAT SUBURBAN TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WITH A MIX OF HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THEY WANTED IT COMMUNITY CALLED FOR COMMUNITY ORIENTED PLANNED WITH TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS SMALL SETBACKS EMPHASIS ON STREET FRONT CONNECTIVITY AND COHESION, A MIX OF USES BY PLACING RESIDENTIAL NEXT TO COMMERCIAL, ENCOURAGING COMPACT INFILL DEVELOPMENT AND REQUIRED SIDEWALKS.
AT THE TIME WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS, THIS WAS IN THE WORKS, WAS PUBLIC, AND SO WE VIEWED THAT THIS WAS WHERE THE COUNTY WANTED US TO GO WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND WAS SETTING THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE LANDOWNER.
ON HOW THE PROPERTY WOULD BE USED GOING FORWARD.
ONE THING WE KNEW OUT OF THE GATE WITHIN THE GRAPHIC FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL,
[02:05:01]
IT SHOWED A DESIRE FOR APARTMENTS.WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO APARTMENTS.
INSTEAD, WE WERE LOOKING AT A DENSE TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT AS MR. GREENSTEIN NOTED.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT REQUEST MAY NEED SOME FURTHER WORK AND SO I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TO ASK ON BEHALF OF THE LAND OWNER AND THE APPLICANT TO REMAND US BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS DO AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE LAYOUT.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER, WE HAVE REMOVED ABOUT 100 TOWNHOUSES AND REPLACED IT WITH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS COMING BEFORE YOU IN THIS MANNER BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE PUT THE 2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON HOLD AND ARE CONSIDERING CHANGES FOR IT.
SO WE HAVE REVERTED BACK TO THE 2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH SHOWS THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY ALONG PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE AS BEING ENTIRELY COMMERCIAL.
AND THEN THE REMAINDER PORTION OF THE PROPERTY BEING THAT HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
WE CONTINUE TO SHOW TOWNHOUSES THERE.
WHY TOWNHOUSES? WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOUR ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE, WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYEES FOR YOUR PRIVATE BUSINESSES OR YOUR EMPLOYEES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A NEW HOME.
AND THAT WOULD GIVE US, WE BELIEVE, THAT THE TOWNHOUSES WE CAN OFFER HERE WILL GIVE THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE THAT THE COUNTY COUNTS ON, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS CALLING FOR.
WE BELIEVE THAT WITH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL RECONSIDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN MAY. WE WOULD CONTINUE TO SEEK GUIDANCE FROM YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND FROM YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO FURTHER CHANGES IF YOU CHOSE TO REMAND US BACK.
WE WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SUPER NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BUT ALSO FROM ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE WOULD APPRECIATE FEEDBACK ON WHAT EXACTLY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
KNOWING THE LANDOWNER HAS CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS BASED ON PRIOR GUIDANCE AND PLANNING DOCUMENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS PUT FORWARD, YOUR FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HERE AND HOW THE LANDOWNER'S LAND IS TO BE USED WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE LANDOWNER AND MUCH APPRECIATED.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD PRESENT TO YOU THE UNUSUAL REQUEST TO REMAND US BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION SO WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO WORK WITH YOUR PLANNING STAFF ON AMENDMENTS TO THE APPLICATION.
THAT APPLICATION WOULD THEN GO BEFORE YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION AGAIN AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU HOPEFULLY SOMETIME IN THE SUMMER.
HOW DOES THE BOARD FEEL ABOUT REMANDING IT BACK, OR DO THEY WANT TO DEAL WITH IT TONIGHT? I'M GOING TO ASK FIRST WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE THERE'S NO NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT IF WE'RE GOING TO REMAND IT BACK.
MR. CHAIR, I THINK I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE PUBLIC'S INPUT ON THIS FIRST.
ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT, PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN.
MR. QUIST? MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STARTS IN ABOUT 24 HOURS.
LET'S PLAY A LITTLE GAME HERE, SHALL WE? BECAUSE FRANKLY, IF YOU LOOK UP THEIR PRIOR PLAN, THE ONE THAT THEY'RE ABANDONING FOR THIS, AND YOU GOOGLE THIS PLAN, THE WORD STUPID WOULD POP UP. IT WAS THE MOST IGNORANT THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
TO HAVE 307 HOUSES, 2,030 CAR TRIPS, AS A SECOND EXIT, BOTH DUMPED INTO A FOOD LINE PARKING LOT WITH SHOPPERS, SHOPPING CARTS, CARS, AND GOD KNOWS IF YOU HAVE A STORM EVENT, IT COULD BE UNPLOWED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK OUR POLICE, FIRE, AND SAFETY TO GO THROUGH THAT? NO.
IT WAS THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
I'M GLAD THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF IGNORANCE TO IT.
THIS IS WHERE I INTENDED TO END UP AT THE END OF THE DAY.
FIRST OF ALL, THE COMP PLAN HAS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH ZONING.
THE COMP PLAN IS THE COMP PLAN.
THIS PROPERTY IS ZONED FOR R2, WHICH IS, OH, BY THE WAY, I FORGOT TO ASK.
I'M REPRESENTING ON THIS THE TAXPAYER ALLIANCE, SO I'D ASK FOR THE CLOCK TO BE FIVE MINUTES INSTEAD OF THE THREE.
[02:10:02]
I'VE BEEN GRANTED THE RIGHT TO TALK FOR THAT GROUP TONIGHT, IF WE COULD DO THAT.FIRST OF ALL, R2 IS INTENDED FOR, QUOTE, THAT'S THE CURRENT ZONING, QUIET, LOW TO MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING.
THAT'S IS SUFFICIENT ALONE TO TURN DOWN THIS REZONING REQUEST.
THIS IS NOTHING CLOSE TO QUIET.
THIS IS NOTHING CLOSE TO LOW OR MEDIUM DENSITY.
THAT WAS THE FIRST STRIKE, BY THE WAY.
SECOND PITCH WAS USING THE FOOD LINE PARKING LOT FOR A MANDATORY EXIT BY VDOT.
THE 103 DWELLINGS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM WERE MANDATED TO HAVE THREE EXITS.
THERE'S TWO EXITS ONTO MIDDLE ROAD.
THE THIRD EXIT IS SHARING THE FIRST EXIT, WHICH DUMPS BACK INTO THE BACK OF THE FOOD LION WHERE THE 18 WHEELERS PARK TO UNLOAD.
STUPID STARTS POPPING BACK UP.
THAT'S STRIKE THREE, BY THE WAY.
NEXT PITCH, VDOT RECOMMENDED A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS PROJECT.
THE APPLICANT ARGUES THAT A TIA IS NOT REQUIRED BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE LESS TRAFFIC THAN A BUSINESS USE.
WELL, THIS WOULD BE LESS TRAFFIC THAN AN AIRPORT TOO, BUT AN AIRPORT WASN'T APPROVED FOR THIS, OKAY? HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT TOO IS A DILEMMA.
YOU CAN'T SAY ON THE ONE HAND IT'S ZONED FOR BUSINESS AND THIS WILL BE LESS TRAFFIC THAN BUSINESS AND THEN REFUSE TO PROVIDE THE TIA.
156 AND MIDDLE ROAD IS A DISASTER.
TRY TO GET OUT OF THAT STOP SIGN AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE WISHING THERE WAS A FOUR-WAY STOPLIGHT, RIGHT, THREE-WAY AT LEAST.
THIS THING REQUIRES A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, IT REQUIRES A STOP ANALYSIS, AND IT REQUIRES A STUDY ON THE IMPACT TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE THIS IS 04,000 CARS A DAY, 2,000 CARS A DAY COMING OUT OF THIS THING.
A THOUSAND IN, A THOUSAND OUT FOR EACH OF THE PROPERTIES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 2,000 TOTAL FOR THE TWO OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS ONE DOES BUT THIS ONE ALSO WOULD REQUIRE A TIA. OUR OWN STAFF HAS SAID.
WITHOUT THE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, THE IMPACT ANALYSIS, STAFF SAYS THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS DENIAL.
I WOULD STICK WITH THAT FOR ANYTHING GOING FORWARD.
THIS AREA IS ALREADY CONGESTED.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A LOT MORE SO.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO GO COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES IN OUR NEW COMP PLAN, HOW MANY TIMES ARE THE WORDS CONTROLLED, STRATEGIC, OR MANAGED GROWTH USED? I'LL SAVE YOU THE TIME BECAUSE I DID IT.
YOU CAN HAVE ADOBE COUNT WORDS AND PHRASES.
I GOT TWO MORE MINUTES, RIGHT? NO, WE OUGHT TO GIVE YOU THE TWO. OH, SHOOT.
CONTROLLED, STRATEGIC, MANAGED.
PLEASE VOTE NO, DENY THIS REQUEST.
THEY WANT TO START OVER, LET THEM START OVER.
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHAT, TWICE, THREE TIMES? AND WE'RE HERE NOW.
HOW ABOUT WE INVITE THIS VERY CAPABLE COMPANY? EMERSON HAS DONE SOME MAGNIFICENT DEVELOPMENTS.
HOW ABOUT WE INVITE THEM TO PARTNER WITH US? HOW ABOUT WE SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BUT PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS? HOW ABOUT, AND I'M ALMOST DONE, WE INVITE MR. EMERSON AND HIS TEAM TO COME JOIN US, HELP MOVE THIS COUNTY FORWARD.
HE'S HAD GREAT SUCCESS, HE'S MADE A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE COULD CERTAINLY USE THE PARTNER.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WIN-WIN SITUATION HERE.
I HOPE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
MY NAME IS BRIAN COLLINS, AND I LIVE AT 6481 HEATHER WAY, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS IF YOU LOOK ON THAT MAP, I'M DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THAT AREA.
I'M A RETIRED MILITARY, AND I'M A RETIRED NURSE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MS. WAYMACK FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SO I KNOW HER IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'M FROM OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND, BUT I CHOSE TO LIVE HERE.
SO I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ONE
[02:15:02]
WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT I HAVE CONCERNS.MY DAUGHTER JUST BOUGHT A TOWNHOUSE FOR RYAN HOLMES.
ROUTE 10 SO I KNOW HOW NICE THESE PLACES ARE GOING TO BE MY MAIN CONCERN IS WHEN HE WENT FROM 309 TO SOME ANOTHER NO NUMBER HE DIDN'T MENTION. HOW MANY IS IT GOING TO BE THERE? AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS FOR THE SCHOOL THAT JUST OPENED AND THERE'S NO DAYCARE SINCE THE JAMES CENTER CLOSED MANY YEARS AGO, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO THE TRAFFIC I LIVE RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER HEATHER WAY WHEN YOU COME IN THERE I SEE EVERYTHING THAT GOES BY. SO ALL I'M ASKING THEM TO DO, COME UP WITH A NUMBER THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, ALL THE WHATEVER IS GOING ON OVER THERE.
AGAIN, I'M NOT AGAINST PROGRESS.
BUT AGAIN, WE NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE TRAFFIC.
WHAT BUSINESS? I'VE SEEN SO MANY BUSINESSES OPEN AND CLOSE RIGHT THERE BESIDE THE FOOD LINE OVER THE YEARS.
WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO FOR US? AND AGAIN, THE POPULATION THAT EMS. AGAIN, I'M HEALTHCARE.
WE GOT TO LOOK AT EVERY AREA OF THAT PLAN AS WE GO ALONG, NOT JUST HOW MANY NICE, BEAUTIFUL TOWNHOUSES WE'RE PUTTING ACROSS THE STREET.
I LOVE THE ONE MY DAUGHTER'S IN, BUT AGAIN, LET'S MAKE IT RIGHT IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM IN THERE.
HOW MANY? YOU WENT FROM 309 TO WHAT? THANK YOU.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A POINT OF ORDER HERE BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE UNFAIR ABOUT ALL THIS.
YOU KNOW I'M PART OF THE TAXPAYER ALLIANCE, AND YOU'VE GIVEN THE TIME FOR THAT ORGANIZATION, AND ONE PERSON IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO SPEAK FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION.
I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON TOP OF THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SAY A QUICK MENTION ON BEHALF OF BILL STEELE, NOT BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL WILL INTERPRET THAT, SO I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MAY I SPEAK AS A REGULAR PERSON? EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW THAT I'M ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORGANIZATION.
YOU'RE SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN, GO AHEAD.
BILL STEELE, 9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD.
A VERY SHORT MYTH, I THINK ALL THIS IS IRRELEVANT.
I THINK THE PLANNING BOARD MADE IT CLEAR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES, FIRING EMS RESOURCES TO SUFFICIENTLY SUPPLY THIS PROJECT.
THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH TO STOP IT IN ITS TRACKS, NOT WASTE ANYBODY ELSE'S TIME GOING FORWARD.
WHEN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY GETS THE RESOURCES.
EMS AND FIRE PARTICULARLY, THEN IT CAN COME BACK.
BUT IT SURELY IS A CLEAR, THE PLANNING COMMISSION REALIZES THAT THEY MADE A QUICK STATEMENT.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE STORY.
MY NAME IS THOMAS BROWN II, 13607 SUNNYBROOK ROAD, SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE.
FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS MAP AND HEARD ABOUT THIS.
MY CONCERN IS THAT LOOKING AT THE QUANTITY OF UNITS IS A BIG QUESTION, WHICH HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.
ALSO, I DON'T SEE ANY COMMON AREA FOR PLAYGROUNDS.
I DON'T SEE A COMMUNITY CENTER.
PEOPLE HAVE BOATS, TRAILERS, CAMPERS.
WE NEED AN AUXILIARY PARKING AREA AND ALSO THE STREETS.
I KNOW WE ALL HAVE AT LEAST TWO CARS.
ON STREET PARKING, YOU'VE GOT A CAR ON EACH SIDE OR A VEHICLE ON EACH SIDE.
CAN OUR SCHOOL BUSES GET IN THERE? CAN OUR EMERGENCY EMS GET IN THERE? WE NEED TO HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO EGRESS AND EXIT AT ALL TIMES.
OKAY, ANYONE ELSE? MY NAME IS SETH TILLER.
I'M 4400 OLD G ROAD, NORTH PRINCE GEORGE, VIRGINIA.
MAN, NO, NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I GREW UP IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
I REMEMBER GOING DOWN RUFFIN ROAD.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK BOTH WAYS. YOU CAN JUST GO ON.
NOW I GOT TO REALLY SPEND SOME TIME AND WAIT MY TURN TO GET ON RUFFIN ROAD.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT 156 IS LIKE.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE JUST WELL ENOUGH ALONE, AND EVERYBODY SAID THAT.
JUST BECAUSE INFRASTRUCTURE LOAN? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND THEN ON THE SECOND NOTE IS, DO YOU KNOW WHY PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY IS SUCH A GREAT COUNTY AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO DEVELOP AND COME TO PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY? IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE RURAL.
WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR YEARS.
[02:20:01]
WAS UP HERE AND HE SAID FIVE ACRE LOTS.I WANT THE ELBOW ROOM WHERE IT COMES TO FREEDOM.
I'M NOT HAVING TO SEE MY NEIGHBOR IN HIS NUISANCE DOG.
I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS A DISASTER READY TO HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY.
ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? YOU STILL HAVE MR. GOODMAN ON? HANG ON, HAVE HIM HOLD FOR A MINUTE.
MR. BUKOWSKI? JOHN BUKOWSKI, 18890 HALIFAX ROAD.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT THINGS BESIDES THE AMENDMENT.
I'VE LIVED A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES, 20 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, I'VE BEEN IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT STATES, AND I LOVE THE 2045 PLAN, THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AHEAD, AND YES, THIS AREA IS PROJECTED FOR DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DEVELOP IT TODAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE TO HAVE EMERGENCY SERVICES, WE HAVE TO HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE READY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT ANYWAYS.
AND AT THIS POINT, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOMS AND TEACHERS FOR THE STUDENTS.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FIRE AND EMS FOR IT TO BRING IN INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO PUT THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND PROTECT THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE? WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AND THEN DEVELOP IT.
I LOVE MY FIVE-ACRE LAND, A FIVE-ACRE LOT.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THE COUNTY IS FUNDED, AND THERE IS CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A METHODICAL WAY AND AN EDUCATED WAY.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS AREA OR PRINCE GEORGE IS READY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT CAME THROUGH, A LOT OF PLACES ARE BUILDING THESE TOWNHOUSES, AND THEY'RE NOT BEING SOLD.
THEY'RE BEING RENTAL UNITS, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND LOOK INTO ALSO.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE, THE INTENT OF THESE UNITS GOING TO BE PUT ON THIS PROPERTY? THANKS, SIR.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, MR. GOODMAN? YES, AM I ROLLING? YES, SIR. COOL.
JUSTIN GOODMAN, 15201 JAMES RIVER DRIVE.
I, TOO, GREW UP IN MARYLAND, WALDORF.
I USED TO COME DOWN HERE TO VISIT MY FAMILY.
SO MY WIFE AND I CHOSE TO RAISE OUR FAMILY HERE.
SO I'VE BEEN VISITING BRANCHESTER ACTUALLY PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SEEING THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE FRONT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT MATCH WHAT'S THERE.
SECOND THING IS, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE TAX REVENUE.
THAT'S HOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED.
HOWEVER, WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE BECAUSE THE THINGS WEREN'T DONE, YOU KNOW, 10, 15 YEARS AGO AND THEY DIDN'T PLAN SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS, WE ARE IN A, WE COULD DEFINITELY PAY FAST TRACK.
BUT I WOULD TOTALLY SHOOT THIS ONE DOWN.
YOU KNOW, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, NOT AS HIGH DENSITY.
EVEN IF YOU PUT A ROUNDABOUT, I THINK THAT'S IN THE VDOT PLAN BY FOOD LION POSSIBLY.
SO EVEN WITH THAT, IT'S REALLY, IT IS AN EXTREMELY BUSY STREET.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN POSSIBLY EXPAND MIDDLE ROAD.
YOU HAVE THAT WINDY AREA DOWN.
I USED TO LOVE SEEING THAT HORSE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A HORSE DOWN THE RAVINE BY THE CREEK ON MIDDLE ROAD, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE'RE EXTREMELY BEHIND IF WE WANT TO DO THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I DO THINK WE NEED JUST IN THE RIGHT SPOTS.
ALSO, IF YOU DRIVE IN THAT NEW NICE TOWNHOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY HAVE ON 156, YOU CAN'T EVEN PARK ON THE STREETS.
SO THE PLANNING REALLY, I DON'T THINK IS, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T FIT WHAT WE HAVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE HAVE LARGER VEHICLES.
WE HAVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND IT JUST DOESN'T FIT AND IT JUST WON'T FIT.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO SAY NO, BUT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO COME BACK ONCE WE ARE
[02:25:02]
IN A DIFFERENT AREA, BUT THAT TRACK SHOULD DEFINITELY STAY SINGLE FAMILY HOME, YOU KNOW, NICE SIZE LOTS, NOT FIVE ACRES, BUT THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.IF I'M STILL ON THERE, IT'S KIND OF MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, SO. YES, SIR, YOU'RE STILL WITH US.
OKAY, ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, HEARING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND RETURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ACTION.
DO WE GET REBUTTAL TIME? YES, SIR.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO JUST LET ME SPEAK FOR A MOMENT.
I DO THINK I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO SAY TO JUST HELP RESET SOME OF THE COMMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE FIRST SPEAKER UP I'VE BEEN CHATTING WITH HIM WE WILL REACH OUT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION IRREGARDLESS OF YOUR ACTION TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE USE HERE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE THE LANDOWNER WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. WE'RE HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE RENTAL.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT FOR-SALE PRODUCT HERE.
WE BELIEVE THAT MORE FOR-SALE PRODUCT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY AT A PRICE POINT THAT, AGAIN, YOUR ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE CAN AFFORD.
THERE'S A DIAGRAM IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER.
ONE OF THE THINGS VDOT WANTED US TO DO WAS SHOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE WIDE ENOUGH STREETS FOR PARKING ON THE STREETS.
WE WERE ASKING FOR MORE TIME AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO FINISH THAT WORK.
WE WILL CONTINUE THAT WORK IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMAND US BACK.
BOATS, RV PARKING, I'M GOING TO SUBMIT TO YOU, YEAH, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, MOST OF YOUR CITIZENS WOULD WANT THAT.
BUT THERE IS A SEGMENT THAT DOESN'T.
AND WE DON'T DESIGN EVERY COMMUNITY TO MEET, WE DESIGN COMMUNITIES TO MEET DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE MARKET.
THERE'S A SEGMENT OF THE MARKET THAT IS LOOKING FOR THIS CLOSE, WALKABLE, CLOSE-KNIT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS ENVISIONED WITHIN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND WE'D LIKE TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE AND WALK TO THE FOOD LINE AND WALK TO ADDITIONAL SHOPPING WITHOUT HAVING TO GET IN THEIR CAR.
THESE ARE HOA CONTROLLED, AND THERE WOULD NOT BE THOSE BIG BOATS OR CAMPERS OR TRAILERS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T PROVIDED FOR THEM, AND THEY DON'T BELONG IN THIS TYPE OF HOUSING.
YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF YOUR BUSINESSES IN THE FOOD LION CENTER COME AND GO.
WHEN THESE RETAILERS LOOK AT WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, THEY LITERALLY DROP A PIN AND DRAW A CIRCLE AROUND IT.
AND THEY SAY, HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE WITHIN THAT CIRCLE, AND HOW MUCH INCOME DO THEY HAVE? AND THEY MAKE THEIR DECISIONS ON WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY BASED ON THE CIRCLE.
IT'S NOT FAIR, BUT IT'S WHAT THEY DO.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT, I DO THINK INVESTMENT IN THIS PROPERTY WILL GENERATE MORE REVENUE.
HOPEFULLY IT'S A BLEND OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.
AS WE HAVE PUT FORWARD, THAT WITH MORE REVENUE, YOU CAN ACHIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER GOALS THAT WERE MENTIONED TONIGHT IN TERMS OF EITHER FUNDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS USING YOUR BUILDING AND MAINTAINING THE BUILDING OR PROVIDING A TAX CUT.
HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE, IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
WITH THAT, AGAIN, I WOULD APPRECIATE CONSIDERATION OF A REMAND BACK SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE PROJECT.
THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I NEED TO KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO REMAND IT, OR ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I'VE GOT SOMETHING READY, AND IT'S ON, IT'S ON THE PLAN THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US, SO IT'S NOT ON REMANDING.
I KNOW I CAN APPRECIATE THE HOMEWORK BEING DONE ON OUR IN-PROGRESS COMP PLAN THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED YET.
[02:30:03]
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON SOME OF THOSE DESIGNATIONS ON THINGS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.AND SO WHILE I CAN'T APPRECIATE THAT CURRENTLY THIS DOES SHOW THAT, WE HAVEN'T.
I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF DIRECT EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, AS I'M SURE MANY OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE, OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS THAT ECHO SIMILAR SENTIMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD THIS EVENING.
I JUST, AND I WENT BACK AND PULLED IT.
I WENT BACK AND PULLED A STRATEGIC PLANNING CONVERSATION WE HAD A FEW MONTHS AGO.
IT WAS OUR Q3 UPDATE, AND IT WAS AROUND FIRE EMS ISSUES.
AND SO THIS IS OUR REPORT, IT'S OUT ON BOARD DOCS.
IT SAYS CONTINUED RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AND THE PROJECTED IMPACT OF THAT GROWTH ON FIRE AND EMS SERVICES WILL RESULT IN DELAYED RESPONSE TIMES, INCREASED RISK TO PROPERTY DAMAGE, INCREASED HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, INABILITY TO MEET GROWING DEMANDS AT CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL, INCREASED RISK TO COMMUNITY AND FIREFIGHTERS, DECREASED CONFIDENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY DELIVER SERVICES.
IT TALKS ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WITH INCREASED TRAFFIC VOLUME, WHICH I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT WAS MENTIONED AS WELL, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2,000 TRIPS A DAY.
INCREASED VOLUME COMBINED WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND CARGO TRANSPORTED THROUGH PRINCE GEORGE VIA ROAD, RAIL, WATERWAYS, IF NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED, WILL RESULT IN HEIGHTENED PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS TO THE COMMUNITY.
INCREASED CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT REQUIRE SPECIALIZED SERVICE RESPONSE, CONSUMPTION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR A SINGLE INCIDENT, HEIGHTENED RISK.
KIND OF GOES ON LATER TO TALK ABOUT IF NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK TO THE PROPERTY, LOSS OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY, INCREASED RESPONSE TIMES.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT OUR STAFF ARE TELLING US TODAY.
AND I THINK IN PAST CONVERSATIONS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT STATION 5 AND ITS CURRENT STAFFING MODEL IS ALREADY STRETCHED WITH THIS AREA.
THIS IS OUR HIGHEST DENSITY AREA ALREADY, AND WE DON'T HAVE THIS SORT OF DEVELOPMENT EXCEPT FOR AROUND THE CORNER.
I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE THE TOWNHOMES DOWN THE STREET, BUT THAT'S BEEN IN THE PAST.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SERVICE, AND I KNOW I'VE EXPRESSED THAT IN THE PAST, BUT WE HAVEN'T.
IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING.
WE'RE HAVING MEETINGS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A FEW CALLS HERE RECENTLY.
LUCKILY, IT WASN'T DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S SOME TRYING CALLS WE'VE GOT GOING ON, AND I'M CONCERNED THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT STRESS ON THAT SYSTEM.
I KNOW WE'D LIKE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR TAX BASE, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS WOULD BE AT A COST.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE UP TO LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF STAFFING, AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? NO COMMENTS, MR. CHAIR, BUT MY SUGGESTION IS WE UPHOLD WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM NOW.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2027 COUNTY INTRODUCED BUDGET.
YES, YOU'RE DOING WHAT IS ACTUALLY DENIED.
ALL RIGHT, I DO WANT TO BACK UP.
WE DO HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC HEARING.
I KNOW THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT HAVE BEEN BACK THERE WAITING FOR US.
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF 1.839781 AND CARRYOVER FUNDS REQUESTED FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL PURCHASES AND PROJECTS.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN COX, BOARD MEMBERS.
MS. PUDLOW, MR. KINGSBURY, AND ALL ASSEMBLED.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, THE SCHOOL DIVISION CAME FORWARD TO YOU AT A JOINT MEETING ON FEBRUARY 18TH AND ASKED FOR CONSIDERATION OF REAPPROPRIATION OF OVER $1.8 MILLION IN EXCESS FUNDS LEFT OVER FROM FY25.
THE TOTAL EXCESS FUNDS WERE $2.64 MILLION, AND TO DATE, $805,108.97 HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED, LEAVING A BALANCE OF $1,839,781.
APPROPRIATIONS TO DATE WERE FOR PURCHASE ORDERS OF JUST OVER $80,000, AND AN APPROPRIATION WAS MADE IN SEPTEMBER TO REPLACE MODULAR UNITS AT
[02:35:02]
BEASLEY ELEMENTARY AND TO ADDRESS SOME EROSION AT J.E.J.MOORE IN THE AMOUNT OF $725,000.
THE SCHOOL BOARD PROVIDED A LISTING TO THE BOARD AT YOUR JOINT MEETING IN FEBRUARY.
THAT LISTING HAS CHANGED, AND I DO HAVE A COMPARATIVE SLIDE, A COUPLE OF SLIDES UP.
BUT THESE WERE THE CHANGES MADE TO THAT INITIAL LIST, AND THIS IS A COMPARATIVE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST AND THE AMENDED REQUEST THAT WAS RECEIVED ON MARCH 11TH BY EMAIL.
SO, CURRENTLY, THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ASKING FOR REAPPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,839,781 TO REPLACE A SECTION OF THE ROOF AT N.B.
CLEMENTS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FOR $900,000, TO PURCHASE SOME WET WELL SEWER PUMPS AT HARRISON ELEMENTARY, $70,675 TO REPLACE.
LIBRARY CARPETING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, $47,000.
SOUTH ELEMENTARY WET WELL SEWER PUMPS FOR $25,000.
AND SOME MODULAR REPLACEMENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE AMOUNT OF $347,106.
THE REMAINING $450,000 THEY WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE IN A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE GUIDELINES FOR THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, BUT I KNOW THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS INDICATED THAT A COMMITTEE WOULD WORK ON SOME GUIDELINES AT A FUTURE DATE.
BUT THAT IS THE UPDATED REQUEST.
AND, OF COURSE, WHEN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, ANY BUDGET AMENDMENT, EXCEEDS 1% OF THE CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET, A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, SECTION 15.2-2507.
YOU DID AUTHORIZE ADVERTISEMENT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
AND IT APPEARED IN THE PROGRESS INDEX ON MARCH 10TH AND MARCH 17TH.
I DID CONFER WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SINCE THE INITIAL LISTING HAD CHANGED.
IT DID NOT CHANGE MATERIALLY ENOUGH TO NECESSITATE RE-ADVERTISEMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THE IMPACT, IF APPROVED, WOULD, OF COURSE, REDUCE YOUR FUND BALANCE BY $1.8 MILLION.
WHICH IS 1.14% OF CURRENT YEAR BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
AN INCREASE OF THIS APPROPRIATION WOULD ALLOW THE SCHOOL DIVISION TO MAKE THOSE REQUESTED PURCHASES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THIS JUST PROVIDES SOME CONTEXT OF WHAT OUR AUDITED FUND BALANCE WAS IN FY25, 51.5 MILLION.
AND TO DATE, YOU HAVE MADE APPROPRIATIONS OF 3.283 MILLION.
LEAVING $48.2 MILLION PRIOR TO CONSIDERING THIS REAPPROPRIATION.
IF THIS APPROPRIATION IS APPROVED, YOUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE $46.376 MILLION OR 28.7% OF YOUR CURRENT YEAR MEASURABLE EXPENDITURES.
ANY QUESTIONS, MR. RUI? YES, SIR.
NOT FOR MR. RUI, THOUGH. OKAY.
PROBABLY GOING TO BE MR. BARNES.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MS. PUDLOW, MR. KINGSBURY.
DID PAINTING ANYMORE? IS THAT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE? SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, SIR.
THE PAINTING IT MORE WOULD BE INSIDE, BUT WE HAVE TAKEN THAT OFF THE BOARD WITH THIS CURRENT PROPOSAL.
I GET THAT, BUT IT'S INSIDE, LIKE IN CLASSROOMS OR WHATEVER? AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, YES, SIR.
EXTERIOR CLASSROOMS, THE WALLS WHERE THE KIDS CHANGE CLASSROOMS ARE WORN DOWN.
UP IN THE MOORE, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT HAS VERY HIGH SUNLIGHT AREAS, AND THEY'RE PEELING PAINT.
IF YOU DON'T LOOK UP, YOU DON'T SEE IT, BUT IT'S 28 YEARS OF WEAR AND TEAR.
THE TWO CONTRACTORS THAT WE GOT BIDS FROM LAST YEAR TO GET A BUDGETARY NUMBER FOR IT INDICATED THAT THE PROPER PRIMER PROBABLY WASN'T USED TO CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT IS INTERIOR PAINTING, YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, THE SECOND ONE IS THE HVA UNIT, THE MINI SPLIT FOR SOUTH HARRISON IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WHERE ARE THOSE UNITS? THEY'RE IN THE CAFETERIA, OBVIOUSLY.
WE STILL HAVE THREE SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTY THAT HAVE NEVER HAD AIR CONDITIONING IN THE KITCHENS, EVER.
SO LET ME ASK YOU A DUMB QUESTION.
[02:40:01]
ITEMS REALLY WOULD POSE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHEN THE STUDENTS WERE NOT IN SCHOOL? JUST CURIOSITY WHY YOU ALL CHOSE TO DEFER THOSE.AND IF YOU DEFER THEM, WHEN DO YOU PLAN ON COMING BACK AND GETTING THEM? WELL, ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON OUR CIP LIST FOR SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONING.
THE AIR CONDITIONING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS INCLUDED WITH THE THREE-YEAR PLAN THAT THE BOARD HELPED US FUND OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE SUMMERS, AND WHEN THE BIDS CAME IN, THE BUDGET WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING IN THE KITCHEN.
OUR BOARD DECIDED TO COME AFTER THE JOINT SESSION, PUT SOME MONEY ASIDE FOR FUTURE ENDEAVORS, FUTURE PROJECTS, WHETHER IT BE FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS OR A NEW SCHOOL OR THE PLANNING PROCESS OF A NEW SCHOOL OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND WE CHOSE TO START FROM THE BOTTOM, FROM THE TOP UP, WITH THE CLEMENTS ROOF BEING THE MOST EXPENSIVE, BUT ALSO THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT ON THIS LIST.
THE WET WELL SEWER PUMPS ARE HALT BUSINESS IF THEY GO BAD.
TWO OF OUR THREE SCHOOLS ON WELL WATER THAT WE PUMP SEWAGE.
WE WERE ASKED TO MAKE SOME CUTS TO LEAVE SOME MONEY IN THE FUND, AND THOSE WERE THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE.
ASKED BY WHO, YOUR BOARD? YES, SIR.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, THEN THE ITEMS I JUST IDENTIFIED WILL NOT COME BACK THIS YEAR.
UNLESS THERE'S SOME FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH YOU ALL OR THROUGH OTHER FUNDS, NO, SIR, THEY SHOULD NOT BE.
THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE OTHER FUNDS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE RIGHT NOW, AND BETSY, EXCUSE ME, MR. DRURY, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WOULD BE WE DO HAVE SOME FY24 ROLLOVER MONEY THAT'S STILL IN THE CAPITAL FUNDS.
IT'S SAVINGS, BUT IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THESE PROJECTS.
MINOR SAVINGS FROM SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT IN THE PAST WE HAVE ASKED TO COMBINE INTO NEW PROJECTS, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING TO COME BACK AND FUND ANY OF THESE.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC.
IF YOU'VE GOT 20-SOME YEARS OR WHATEVER YOU SAID, AND YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO IT NOW WHILE YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IT, WHY ARE THEY NOT GOING TO DO IT NOW? I WOULD ASK THEM.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS? I'M SORRY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR CUTTING YOU OFF.
CAN I TAKE IT FIRST? THIS DECISION CAME AFTER THE JOINT SESSION WHERE THE 311 FUND, I BELIEVE IT WAS, WAS DISCUSSED AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE SOME MONEY IN THERE FOR MONEY IN A SEPARATE FUND FOR POSSIBLY A FUTURE SCHOOL PROJECT.
WELL, YOU COULD STILL LEAVE MONEY IN THERE AND GET THESE ONES THAT NEED TO BE DONE WHEN THE KIDS ARE NOT IN THE SCHOOL.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
MR. COX, BOARD MEMBERS, MS. PUDDLE, MR. KINGSBURY.
YES, AFTER I JOINED SESSION WITH MR. WEBB, I THINK IT WAS A DISCUSSION HAD ABOUT PUTTING MONEY AWAY TOWARDS THE NEW SCHOOL.
AT THAT TIME, MYSELF AND TWO BOARD MEMBERS HAD THAT CONVERSATION AND IT FELT LIKE THAT FOR ME THAT IF WE DIDN'T PUT ANY MONEY AWAY THAT IT MAY ONLY BE ONE PROJECT OUT OF THAT.
SO WE WENT BACK AND HAD A DISCUSSION WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND MR. BARNES THAT WE NEEDED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PROJECTS.
SO THAT WE COULD PUT MONEY INTO THIS FUND FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
AND THEN AT THAT TIME, IF WE DO HAVE EXCESS ROLLOVER MONEY FROM THIS YEAR, WE WOULD COME BACK AND ASK FOR THAT MONEY TO BE PUT IN SO WE CAN FINISH THOSE $450,000 WORTH OF PROJECTS.
ON TOP OF WHAT, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THE MONEY TO DO SOME OF THESE NOW.
SO THE $450,000 THAT'S THERE NOW IS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AFTER OUR JOINT SESSION, MR. COX, MR. PUGH, YOU GUYS CAN HELP ME IF I'M WRONG, WAS SUPPOSED TO GO IN THAT 311 FUND FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SHOWING THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS TRYING TO PUT MONEY AWAY TOWARDS A NEW SCHOOL.
MY ONLY THING I WILL SAY TO THAT IS CONCERN FROM A COUPLE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE SCHOOLS WE GOT AND WE CAN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT A SCHOOL THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD FOR THREE TO FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW THAT'S GOING TO COST 60 MILLION DOLLARS. YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR ASSETS THAT'S THE MAIN REASON I BRING THE CONCERN UP WITH THOSE TWO THOSE THREE FOUR ITEMS RIGHT THERE REALLY NEED TO BE DONE WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AND IF THEY NEED TO BE DONE THEY NEED THEY OUGHT TO BE DONE NOW WE SHOULDN'T PLAY A SHELL GAME WHICH AND THEN WE WANT TO PUT MONEY IN 311 FUN.
IF WE CAN MANAGE IT, BUT THERE'S OTHER WAYS OF MANAGING OTHER THAN TRYING TO PLAY A NICKEL DIME LIKE THIS HERE, IN MY OPINION.
MR. COX, MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES, SIR.
SO THAT 311 FUND THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THAT MEETING, IF WE NEEDED TO DO THOSE PROJECTS, 450,000 IS PUT IN THE CIP, AND WE NEED TO DO THOSE THREE PROJECTS OVER THE SUMMER WHILE IT'S OUT, WE CAN USE THAT MONEY IN THERE TO DO THOSE PROJECTS, IS THAT CORRECT? WE HAVEN'T SET THE PARAMETERS UP FOR THAT ACCOUNT YET.
[02:45:01]
WASN'T THAT WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE CHAIR? WE WERE TOLD THAT.SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'M JUST GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE AND SAY THIS.
AGAIN, WE DON'T TELL YOU ALL HOW TO SPEND YOUR MONEY, BUT I WOULDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE FUND THIS YEAR.
GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO, AND WE CAN START TO FUND NEXT YEAR.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.
THE MONEY IS THERE IF THE BOARD AGREES TO GIVE IT TO YOU ALL.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING YOU, WE DO ALL THE PROJECTS WITH THE 1.8 THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE START THE 311 FUND NEXT YEAR WITH CARRIER MONEY IF WE HAVE THAT.
BUT, AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.
WELL, I MEAN, MONEY IS BACK TO THE ALLOCATED TO YOU ALL.
YOU'LL HAVE TO APPROVE IT TO COME BACK.
SO WE'D BE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO DO IT THAT WAY THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK OVER HERE AND ASK FOR THE OTHER 450 TO FINISH THOSE PROJECTS.
JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
I UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO TRY TO PUT A 311 FUND.
THAT LITTLE BIT RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO BE A DROP IN THE BUCKET, AND LOOK AT FOUR OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FOREGO WHEN THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO DO IT IS THE SAME TIME YOU'RE DOING THE ROOF, WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOMS ALL THE TIME, AND THE CAFETERIA WORKERS ARE IN THE CAFETERIAS.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW HOT IT IS IN THOSE KITCHENS WITHOUT THESE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE A.C.
IN THOSE KITCHENS WITH THE OVENS AND ALL THAT UNTIL HERE RECENTLY.
OTHER COMMENTS? YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? YES.
A LOT OF COMMENTS, A LOT OF THOUGHTS. LET'S SEE.
I HAVE A CONCERN THAT HAS ARISEN SINCE WE HAD THE JOINT MEETING, NOT ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE JOINT MEETING AT ALL.
IN FACT, I THOUGHT THE JOINT MEETING WENT WELL.
WE'VE GOT A BUDGET COMING UP THAT RIGHT NOW, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S FUNDED, WE'RE LOOKING AT A $700,000 SHORTFALL CURRENTLY.
IS THAT RIGHT? DEPENDING ON WHICH MODEL FUNDS FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
WE HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION TOMORROW EVENING, AND THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED TOMORROW.
I THINK DR. LYLE AND HIS TEAM IS COMING BACK WITH SOME OTHER OPTIONS TOMORROW EVENING TO HAVE THAT LEVEL FUNDING COMING ACROSS TO YOU APRIL 1ST.
AND THEN WE'LL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE STATE DOES, WHICH WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT'LL BE.
IT COULD BE JULY 1ST BEFORE WE HEAR ANYTHING AND THEN COME BACK TO REDO THAT BUDGET AND ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET.
I GUESS THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE TALKED TO ANYBODY ABOUT.
SO IT'S JUST BECAUSE THAT WE ATTENDED THAT MEETING LAST WEEK.
YOU GUYS WENT PRETTY WELL INTO YOUR BUDGET AS WELL AS I'D SEEN.
WE'VE GOT 1.8 SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF US.
I'M NOT SURE, I'M SURE THERE IS WAYS THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO SPEND THAT 1.8 AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GET GUIDANCE ON THAT.
MY CONCERN IS THE SHORTFALL THAT WE'RE STARING AT.
WE'VE GOT MONEY HERE WAITING AND I KNOW IF YOU PUT IT IN THE FUND BALANCE YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND THAT ON RECURRING EXPENSES.
BUT TO SPEND ALL OF IT, I UNDERSTAND THESE PROJECTS MAKE SENSE.
ALL THESE PROJECTS I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A CASE FOR.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE $700,000 BUDGET SHORTFALL.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REALLY IS EVEN ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT THAT, BUT THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE THOUGHTS.
LYLE GO INTO THAT PART OF IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE TOO MUCH INFORMATION UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT BECAUSE I'M SURE THE CITIZENS WANT TO COME HEAR IT.
I'LL LET DR. LYLE SPEAK TO THAT.
SO, YEAH, LIKE MR. ELY SAID, MY TEAM AND I, WE HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AFTER THAT LAST BOARD MEETING, AND WE HAVE GUTTED OUR BUDGET.
SO WE HAD TO GO IN AND FIND THAT $700,000 TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'RE PROPOSING TOMORROW NIGHT THAT WE WILL COMPLETELY REMOVE ANY HSA CONTRIBUTION BY THE SCHOOL DIVISION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT INCREASED HEALTH CARE INSURANCE, AND THE RECOMMENDATION SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE HSA CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE WE WERE GIVEN A 23.4% INCREASE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND THAT PRESENTATION WAS TOUGH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
I GUESS THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY HAVE AN ANSWER.
THAT WILL BE TOMORROW NIGHT'S DISCUSSION, I'M SURE.
THAT'S JUST SOME OF WHAT I THINK ABOUT.
WHEN I SAW THAT COME ACROSS, I LIKE THE MOMENTUM WE HAD
[02:50:01]
IN THE JOINT SESSION.I FELT LIKE THAT WAS MOMENTUM WE HADN'T NECESSARILY SEEN BETWEEN TWO BOARDS IN SOME TIME.
NOT SAYING BOARDS IN THE PAST HAVEN'T GOT ALONG, BUT I JUST FELT LIKE WE HAD A POSITIVE MOMENTUM.
AND SO TO ME, THE $450,000 ON THE SCHOOL'S END WAS THAT STEP.
AND THAT WAS A POSITIVE THING, I FELT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING WILLING TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GETTING THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DONE IS A BIG THING, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE GET THAT DONE, AND I UNDERSTAND FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M AT INTERESTED.
MR. CHAIR, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE SUPPORT FOR.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MR. CHAIR, I'VE GOT A COUPLE.
I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT SCOTT SAID.
I THINK THAT MEETING, WE WENT OUT OF THAT MEETING WITH A GREAT UNDERSTANDING, AND THE SCHOOLS COME BACK AND SHOWED THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO COMMIT TO DOING SOME THINGS.
MR. ELY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UNTIL THE COMMITTEES MEET TO DECIDE HOW THAT FUNDING IS SPENT, I THINK THE MONEY IS THERE.
THAT IF THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, I THINK THIS BOARD WOULD GO, HEY, Y'ALL HAD SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPEN.
THAT THAT MONEY COULD BE REALLOCATED UNTIL THAT COMMITTEE MEETS AND MAKES THE PARAMETERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY WORK TOGETHER AS A JOINT AND BRING IT BACK TO BOTH BOARDS.
THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION ON THAT.
MR. BARNES, IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS, PLEASE DO.
THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, A CIP, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS THINGS WE WANT TO IDENTIFY THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE EVENTUALLY.
THEY'RE NOT A PROBLEM TODAY, BUT THEY MAY BE A PROBLEM FIVE YEARS, TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, SIX YEARS.
AM I CORRECT WHEN I MAKE THAT STATEMENT? OKAY.
SO, AND THIS IS BASED OFF OF, YOU ALL HAVE ONE THROUGH A THOUSAND OF NEEDS TO BE DONE TO LESSER NEEDS PROBABLY, AND THEN OUT OF THE MONEY YOU HAD, YOU PICKED OUT WHAT YOU COULD DO.
AM I CORRECT? I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IT'S A HARD YEAR FOR EVERYBODY.
I'M KIND OF IN AGREEANCE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH WHAT THEY BROUGHT OVER HERE TO COMMIT TO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO FUND.
AND IF YOU KNOW TWO MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, LET'S SEE WHAT THEY CUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS IT? LET'S SAY THE GRADUATION STAGE, SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, FALLS APART, WHATEVER, BECAUSE I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE REPLACING THE WOOD ON IT, RIGHT, AND GETTING BY.
YOU KNOW, IF WOOD GOES UP TO $1,000 A SHEET, THEN, HEY, IS IT CHEAPER JUST TO BUY THE STAGE? YOU KNOW, I'M IN SUPPORT OF SUPPORTING WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR WITH THE REDUCTIONS.
OTHER COMMENTS? SO COMING OUT OF THE JOINT SESSION, YOU KNOW, PAST BOARDS HAD MOVED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OVER TO CATEGORICAL FUNDING.
THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE SPENDING THEIR MONEY MORE EQUITABLY ACROSS CATEGORIES.
IN LIGHT THAT THE PAST THREE YEARS WE'VE HAD A CARRYOVER OF SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO THIS AMOUNT, IN THE JOINT SESSION, YOU KNOW, THE THOUGHT WAS, YOU KNOW, LET'S TAKE SOME OF THE CARRYOVER MONEY AND PUT IT AWAY FOR A SCHOOL.
WE HEARD WE HAVE ISSUES WITH BEASLEY.
WE'VE HEARD WE'VE GOT SECURITY CONCERNS ABOUT BEASLEY.
311 FUND AND SET ASIDE SOME MONEY.
THE ESSENCE OF THE FUND 311 WAS TO ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PUT WHATEVER THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD PUT AWAY FOR A FUTURE SCHOOL BUILDING AND THEN THE COMMENT THAT I'VE MADE IN THE PAST IS IF THE SCHOOL WAS WILLING TO PUT SOME FOR CONSTRUCTION THIS BOARD WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT THE LIKE AMOUNT FROM OUR FUND BALANCE IN FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WEIRD ANALOGY BUT THIS IS PUTTING AWAY LUNCH MONEY TO PAY THE MORTGAGE BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SHOW WE ARE WILLING AND THE OTHER BOARD IS WILLING TO PUT MONEY AWAY.
NOW, IN LIGHT OF MR. WEBB'S COMMENTS, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I'M NOT PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, HE WOULD ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THE MOORE PAINTING AND THE CAFE HVAC BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WOULD BE OUT OF THE FACILITY AND THAT WOULD HELP KEEP THE FACILITY UPGRADED.
SO, IF I'M IN LINE, I WOULD PUT FORWARD A MOTION THAT THE $450,000 BE REDUCED TO $300,000, THAT WE KEEP $300,000 IN THE 311 FUND, THAT THEY BE ABLE TO TAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN $300,000 AND $450,000 AND COMPLETE THE CAFE HVAC INSTALLATION AND THE MOORE PAINTING AND COMPLETE THE REST OF THESE PROJECTS THAT THEY ALREADY HAD PLANNED.
I THINK THAT KEEPS THE ESSENCE OF THE 311 IDEA.
I THINK IT GETS THEM SOME CONSIDERABLE MOMENTUM TOWARDS FIXING THEIR FACILITIES, AND WE CAN COME BACK LATER AS A BOARD AND WORK OUT THE LONG TERM OF THE 311 AND BEASLEY FUNDING. I
[02:55:05]
WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. THAT'S THE MOTION? AND I'LL SECOND IT.WELL, WE GOT TO STILL GO THROUGH PUBLIC HEARING. NO. OKAY. IS THE SCHOOL BOY ARE THE SCHOOL MEMBERS PRESENT AMENABLE TO THAT. BUT OR THEREFORE SORRY BUT I WOULD THINK THAT YES WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT. TWO OF THEM'S CONCERN WAS WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE'VE GOT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE, WHICH I WAS RELUCTANT TO EVEN GO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REDUCING IT.
BUT I WENT TO DR. LYLE AND MR. BARNES AND HAD THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF THE JOINT SESSION AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE JOINT SESSION WENT.
AND WE GOT MOMENTUM OUT OF THAT, AND I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT WHEN I GOT THERE THAT NIGHT, I WAS VERY CONCERNED I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO GO BUT WHEN I LEFT THERE I THINK ME AND MR. COX TALKED ME MR. COX SAT IN THE LAST JOINT WORK SESSION AND IT DID NOT GO LIKE THAT SO I CERTAINLY AGREE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO I THINK THE NEXT ONE IN SEPTEMBER OR WHATEVER WHEN WE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS BUT JUST PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE GOT IT TOO AND MR. FORD PUGH, I APPRECIATE YOUR MOTION TO HELP US WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
I'LL, IT'S NOT PART OF THE MOTION BUT JUST, I THINK WE HAVE CONSENSUS THAT IF YOU COME UP WITH A GOTCHA, THE $300,000 CAN BE MOVED BACK.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, HEARING NONE.
MR. GOODMAN ON THE PHONE? LET'S LET HIM TALK FIRST.
MR. GOODMAN, YOU'RE WITH US? I AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THIS, I GUESS, WILL BE THE FINAL ONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S DEFICITS AND STUFF, WE FIND OURSELVES IN A CULTURE THAT WE REWARD, YOU KNOW, POOR PERFORMANCE AND THINGS WITH, YOU KNOW, REWARDS.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY SCRUTINIZE EVERY DOLLAR MOVING FORWARD THAT WE ARE GIVING OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MAD AMOUNT OF FRAUD THAT IS BEING EXPOSED IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE.
I'M NOT ACCUSING ANYONE IN OUR COUNTY OF THAT AT ALL, BUT I WOULD JUST SCRUTINIZE EVERYTHING.
IT IS THEIR SCHOOLS TO RUN, BUT IT IS THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS THAT GO THERE.
IN REGARDS TO THE PAINTING, DEPENDING ON WHEN THAT PAINT WAS PUT ON, IF IT HAS EVER BEEN REMOVED, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LEAD-BASED PAINT, THE FUMES PROBABLY AREN'T HEALTHY FOR THE KIDS.
YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO DO THAT.
WHEN THERE ARE NO CHILDREN, WE SEND OUR CHILDREN TO MOLD-INFESTED SCHOOLS.
THERE ARE COMPLAINTS IN THE REAL ESTATE WORLD, BANKS WON'T LEND.
MONEY ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, YET WE SEND OUR CHILDREN TO THESE PLACES.
WE ARE IN A DIRE SITUATION WITH OUR SCHOOLS.
WE'VE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, HE TALKED TWO ISSUES ON THAT, BUT WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO FIX WHAT WE HAVE.
THE KEY ELEMENT IS WE MUST SCRUTINIZE EVERY DOLLARS THAT IS SPENT.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO VERIFY THESE ESTIMATES, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS COOL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO.
THEY JUST SIGN, SIGN THAT PAPER THAT COMES AND, OH, HERE'S THE INVOICE, HERE'S THE INVOICE, HERE'S THE INVOICE.
OVERSIGHT HAS BEEN LACKING FOR YEARS NATIONWIDE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON HOW TO RULE MY LIFE, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY NO PAINTING WHEN THE KIDS ARE THERE.
AND I THINK THE 300 HOLDING FOR THE NEW SCHOOL IS A GREAT IDEA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOARD, AND HAVE A BLESSED EVENING.
OKAY, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR HERE TO ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BILL STEELE, 9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD.
I HAD A BIG PRESENTATION READY TO GO, BUT MR. FORD PUGH, ONCE AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN, EXCELLENT IDEA.
YOU'VE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, I THINK, TO BOARD WITH, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE FACT THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE DO HERE.
WE'RE SHOWING HOW WE WORK WITH THE BOARD.
WE'RE SHOWING HOW WE WORK WITH YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
AS MR. QUIST SAID, I CAN'T DO A BETTER JOB THAN YOU'RE DOING.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE UP THERE.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
[03:00:02]
YOU LISTEN TO US.I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO VOTE EVERY WAY THAT I WANT.
I'M NOT THE KING OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY AS MUCH AS I DID IN THE ARMY, NOT MANY GOVERNMENTS DO THIS.
THANK MS. BETSY FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DOES AND HER STAFF.
AGAIN, MR. FORD, EXCELLENT MOTION.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, HEARING NO MOVEMENT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND MOVE IT BACK TO THE BOARD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE DO THE MOTION? OKAY, WITNESS APPEAL.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE AMOUNT, I THINK.
SO THE CAFETERIA PAINTING WAS JUST OVER $50,000, I BELIEVE.
CAN YOU GET US THAT BACK CLIFF? SO WE CAN, SORRY.
SO, YES. ALL RIGHT. MR. MORRIS.
THE $150,000 FLAT IS PERFECTLY FINE. THE HVAC WAS ACTUALLY DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE THE BUDGET BALANCE.
SO MAKING IT A $150,000 IS PERFECTLY FINE.
OKAY, I'M GONNA GET IN THE WEEDS FOR A SECOND.
I'M GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE QUOTE TENT FILM FOR WHATEVER ISSUES YOU'RE HAVING WITH THE PAINT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT FALLING OFF AGAIN IN ANOTHER 20 YEARS BUT SO I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CARRYOVER REQUEST FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD WITH THE UPDATED RECOMMENDATION THAT $300,000 OF IT BE RETAINED IN A CIP SLASH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR MATCHING BY THIS BOARD, AND IF THE SCHOOLS COME BACK TO US WITH A CATASTROPHIC ISSUE, WE WILL REAPPROPRIATE THE $300,000 TO THEM TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? THAT'S A LONG MOTION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A LONG MOTION.
CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS? MR. PUGH, WHEN YOU SAID FOR MATCHING BY THE BOARD, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO ALSO PUT $300,000, OR IS THAT NOT WHAT YOU MEANT? THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.
WHEN DID WE AGREE TO THAT? WE DIDN'T.
I HADN'T HEARD THAT DISCUSSED.
COME ON, LET'S DO ONE THING AT A TIME.
LET'S GET THE GUARDRAILS AND FIGURE OUT HOW THE HELL WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK.
THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.
IT'S $300,000 ABOVE WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.
YEAH OKAY MAKING SURE I UNDERSTOOD ALL RIGHT THEN I RETRACT THAT MOTION PUT FORTH A NEW MOTION THAT WE ALLOW THEM TO CARRY OVER THE ENTIRE $1,839,781 AND HOLD 450,000 OF IT, EXCUSE ME, 300,000 OF IT FOR SCHOOL CIP FUTURE PROJECTS OKAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[H. Reports]
MR. HAMMEL? YES.NOW, MS. PUDLOW FOR THE BUDGET.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS EVENING I'M PRESENTING THE FY27 INTRODUCED BUDGET.
THE PRESENTATION AND BUDGET DOCUMENTS FOR THE FY27 BUDGET WILL BE POSTED AND AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND BOARD DOCS FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S MEETING.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PROPOSED OR INTRODUCED BUDGET, I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO HIGHLIGHT AN AREA FROM OUR BUDGET MESSAGE THIS YEAR.
TAXES ARE A LIFELONG INVESTMENT IN GOVERNMENT AND THE CONTINUATION OF A NATION BUILT BY HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE.
ENTRANCE INTO THE FY FISCAL YEAR 2027
[03:05:02]
BUDGET DISCUSSION IS PREDICATED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY COMMUNITY ARE HARD-EARNED, GIVEN BY THE HANDS OF HARD-WORKING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE AN INHERITANCE OF A SAFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITY.ADDITIONALLY, THE DISCUSSION IS ALSO BUILT ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AS STATED BY THE BOARD THIS EVENING, IS BUILT UPON THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HARDWORKING COUNTY EMPLOYEES COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THESE COMMUNITY PRESERVING FUNCTIONS.
BEFORE WE GO OVER THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO OVER SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FY26 BUDGET SO THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING CHANGES PROPOSED FROM FY27 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. I WILL DO THIS AS FAST AS I CAN.
SO FOR THE CURRENT YEAR REVENUES ARE PROVIDED HERE, ALL FUNDS INCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, SCHOOL FUNDS, CAPITAL FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE FUNDS, AND THE UTILITY FUNDS.
THIS IS TO ENSURE A STARTING POINT, AGAIN, TO KNOW THE CHANGES.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS HERE FROM THIS YEAR'S CURRENT BUDGET REVENUE SLIDE INCLUDE A LARGER REVENUE SOURCE SOURCES FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES $52 MILLION FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR A TOTAL REVENUE AMOUNT OF OVER $79 MILLION.
THE SCHOOL FUND PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE ARE STATE FUNDS AT OVER $66 MILLION AND COUNTY CONTRIBUTIONS AT $19 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF OVER $99 MILLION.
AND FINALLY, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE UTILITY FUND RECEIVING MOST REVENUE FROM LOCAL COLLECTIONS AND TAXES, INCLUDING USER FEES JUST OVER 8.5 MILLION DOLLARS.
ALL OF THESE FUNDS TOGETHER TOTAL AFTER TRANSFERS JUST OVER 172 MILLION DOLLARS.
AND AGAIN THIS COMPLETE BUDGET FROM FY 2025 AND 26 CAN BE FOUND ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE.
THE EXPENDITURES FOR FY 2025 AND 26, AGAIN THE CURRENT YEAR EXPENDITURES, THIS DOES COVER ALL OF THE FUNDS, SAME FUNDS I JUST WENT OVER.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EXPENDITURES.
INCLUDE $35.6 MILLION FOR WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
THE SECOND LARGEST PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND IS BEING TRANSFERS, DEBT PAYMENTS, AND DEBT RESERVES AT $27.6 MILLION.
THE SCHOOL FUND EXPENDITURES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR SHOW A TOTAL OF $82.3 MILLION FOR WAGES AND BENEFITS, FOLLOWED BY $5.97 MILLION FOR MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND MISCELLANEOUS.
A TOTAL OF ALL OF THESE EXPENDITURES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AFTER TRANSFERS IS $172.04 MILLION.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BUDGET FOR FY26 MET STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS OF BEING A BALANCED BUDGET.
AGAIN, THE CURRENT YEAR FY2025 AND 26 ADOPTED GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE LARGELY FUNDED BY REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAXES AT 43%, FOLLOWED BY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AT 16%, STATE REVENUES AT 14%, AND OTHER LOCAL TAXES AT 10.7%.
SOME NOTES ON AREAS DISCUSSED HERE FOR DEFINITIONS.
OTHER LOCAL TAXES INCLUDE THINGS LIKE LODGING TAXES, SALES AND USE TAXES, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAXES.
BANK STOCK TAXES, RECORDATION AND WILLS.
OTHER LOCAL REVENUES INCLUDE REVENUES FROM FEES, RECOVERIES, PERMITS, PLANNING FEES, RECREATION FEES, FINES AND FORFEITURES FROM COURTS SUCH AS SPEEDING TICKETS, RENT, AND EMS TRANSPORTATION FEES.
AND THEN STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUES INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE COMP BOARD FUNDING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND HOUSE BILL 599 FUNDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CURRENT YEAR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES SHOW THE LARGEST EXPENSES FOR THE GENERAL FUND ARE SALARIES AND BENEFITS AT 45%, TRANSFERS TO SCHOOLS AT 24%, OPERATING EXPENSES AT 16%, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CAPITAL OUTLAY, COUNTY DEBT SERVICE RESERVES, AND SCHOOL DEBT SERVICE RESERVES AT 3%.
THE EXCEL TABLE SHOWS BIFUNCTIONAL AREAS, EXCUSE ME, ONE OF THOSE WAS 5%, SO I APOLOGIZE.
THAT'S THE COUNTY DEBT SERVICE RESERVE.
EXCEL TABLE SHOWS BY FUNCTIONAL AREA SOME NOTES, AGAIN, ON DEFINITIONS THAT APPLY HERE.
THE ADMINISTRATION LINE COVERS OR ENCOMPASSES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND HR.
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LINE INCLUDES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CODE COMPLIANCE AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
FINANCIAL SERVICES LINE INCLUDES THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, FINANCE, AND IT.
THE OPERATIONS LINE INCLUDES THE COUNTY GARAGE, GENERAL SERVICES, PARKS AND RECREATION, STREET SIGNS, ALSO KNOWN AS COUNTY ENGINEERING, REFUSE DISPOSAL FOR CLEAN COMMUNITY DAY, SOME MOWING AND
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CONVENIENCE CENTERS, AND THE CENTRAL WASTE MANAGEMENT DISPOSAL.SOCIAL SERVICES LINE JUST COVERS SOCIAL SERVICES.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY LINE ENCOMPASSES POLICE, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, FIRE AND EMS, ANIMAL SERVICES, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THE OTHER LINE ENCOMPASSES THE REGISTRAR'S SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT.
GENERAL DISTRICT COURT, MAGISTRATE, VICTIM WITNESS, RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL, CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION, LIBRARY, COURT SERVICES, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CONTRIBUTIONS, GREATER REACH, CSB, LIBRARY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THAT'S JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA TECH, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, FARMERS MARKET, RECOVERY COURT, AND THE SOAR GRANT.
TRANSFERS LINE INCLUDES SCHOOLS AND DEBT FUND TRANSFERS AND RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY, OR RCJA, AND THE CAPITAL FUND FOR VEHICLE AND BUS PURCHASES AND APPARATUS.
THE CONTINGENCY LINE, IT DOES, THIS IS NOT FUNDED, EXCUSE ME, CONTINGENCY IS FUNDS THAT EXCEED THE EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE, SO IT'S A SMALL CUSHION IN THE BUDGET.
EXCUSE ME, I APOLOGIZE, I SKIPPED A SLIDE.
SO I'M DEFINING ALL OF THOSE NOW, WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM LATER BUT JUST SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THOSE LINES.
OKAY, SO FOR HIGHLIGHTS BEFORE WE GET INTO THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET, I DO WANT TO COVER SOME HIGHLIGHTS QUICKLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR AND WHAT TAXPAYERS ARE RECEIVING FOR THEIR INVESTMENT INTO THE COUNTY.
THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT WAS REBUILT AFTER DROPPING DOWN TO ONE EMPLOYEE, SO THAT TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO TRAIN AND REVIEW PROCESSES AND GET UP TO SPEED SO WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL FY28 REASSESSMENT.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CODE COMPLIANCE COMPLETED 524 BUILDING INSPECTIONS AT A 20% FAILURE RATE, SO LOTS OF SAFETY PREVENTION MEASURES THERE.
THEY ISSUED 1,589 PERMITS, COLLECTED $609,000 IN FEES, JUST OVER, DEALT WITH 301 CODE COMPLIANCE CASES AT A 99% RESOLUTION.
CLERK OF THE COURT COMPLETED, JUST KNOW THIS IS NOT ALL OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
YOU CAN'T FIT THOSE ON THE SLIDES.
THIS IS JUST WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NOTE.
THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT COMPLETED 4,846 LAND RECORDING TRANSACTIONS, 1,475 CIVIL CASES AND CW PERMITS, AND 814 CRIMINAL CASES OF FELONY AND MISDEMEANORS.
THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE'S OFFICE PROCESSED 31,657 PERSONAL PROPERTY ACCOUNT BILLS, AND THEN 2,120 BUSINESS LICENSES WERE ISSUED AND 1,845 TAX RELIEF APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED.
THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DID, THEY PROCESSED 611 FOIA REQUESTS.
THESE ARE STATE-MANDATED AND HAVE TO BE RESPONDED TO WITHIN FIVE DAYS, SO THAT'S QUITE A VOLUME.
COURT SERVICES, COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR WAS CERTIFIED TO TEACH ANGER MANAGEMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE EDUCATION.
THIS STARTED OR ALLOWED THEM TO START TWO NEW PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN INITIATED TO ADDRESS PROBLEM AREAS IN THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION.
RECOVERY COURT WAS GRANTED TWO, GIVEN TWO GRANTS, RESULTING, APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED TWO GRANTS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL FUNDING OF OVER $314,000.
THEY ALSO HAD A GRADUATION RATE OF 86% COMPARED TO THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE OF 57.9%, SO THAT'S EXCEPTIONAL.
THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS AND CONDUCTED TRAINING SESSIONS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING AND EXTENDED THAT OUT TO VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
FOR RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS, THEY WERE RECOGNIZED REGIONALLY FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TRANSITIONED BANKS, RESULTING IN INTEREST EARNINGS BEING REALIZED FOR THE CITIZENS, CONTINUED TO OPERATE WITHIN THE POLICY, ENSURING A CONTINUATION OF THE AA BOND RATING, AND RECEIVES THE 15TH ANNUAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE ASSOCIATION GFOA BUDGET AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE, AND THE GFOA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AMONG THE MANY OTHER ACTIONS THAT YOU CANNOT LIST ON THIS SLIDE, THEY ISSUED 14,088 AP CHECKS AND ACH PAYMENTS WERE PROCESSED, 8,579 PAYROLL CHECKS WERE PROCESSED.
OUR FLEET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT COMPLETED 1,537 WORK ORDERS.
THEY INSTALLED 8,967 PARTS AND COMPLETED 760 PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS.
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OUR GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT COMPLETED 1,686 WORK ORDERS AND ALSO HAD AN ADDITIONAL 300 CALL-IN REQUESTS AND INITIATED A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE OLD NORTH ROOF PROJECT.OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT HAD 1,795 HELP DESK TICKETS COMPLETED.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THEM.
THEY ALSO COMPLETED OFFICE PHONE UPGRADES TO VOIP CONVERSIONS FOR MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT COMPLETED 949 ZONING PERMITS, 57 PLANNING CASES WERE PRESENTED, 24 REZONING CASES WERE PREPARED, AND 28 PUBLIC MEETINGS, ALONG WITH UPDATING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND MANY OTHER ACTIONS.
RCJA HAD 6,328 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS PERFORMED IN LIEU OF JAIL TIME.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL DOES CHARGE $57 PER DAY PER INMATE.
OUR REGISTRAR'S OFFICE HAD 01,840 NEW VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS.
THEY DID 1,198 TRANSFER-INS AND 01,402 TRANSFER-OUTS.
OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMPLETED 17,289 CIVIL PROCESSES.
THIS IS UP 7,000 IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
THEY HAD 457 COURT SESSIONS, AGAIN, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS.
OUR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HAD 6,520 ACTIVE ADULT SERVICE CASES, 3,229 FAMILY SERVICE CASES, AND THEY HAD 347 CPS REFERRALS.
OUR TREASURER'S OFFICE COMPLETED 29,050 UTILITY BILLS WERE PROCESSED AND THEY ALSO PROCESSED 19,500 REAL ESTATE BILLS.
OUR UTILITIES TEAM COMPLETED 03,177 811 UTILITY LOCATOR TICKETS, IMPLEMENTED AN AMI METER READING PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE CUSTOMER BILLING PORTION.
THEY BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON MAJOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THE RIVER ROAD PUMP STATION, RIVER ROAD MAIN TRANSMISSION WATER MAIN, A 24-INCH WATER LINE UNDER THE APPOMATTOX RIVER.
THEY COMPLETED REHABS ON PUMP STATIONS 9 AND 10.
AND COMPLETED SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE AND REHAB ON ALL OF THE ELEVATED WATER TANKS.
THEY ALSO COMPLETED A STATE-MANDATED LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S TOO MUCH TO MENTION ON THE SLIDE.
OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RECEIVED 4,412 911 CALLS.
OUT OF THOSE, 4,383 WERE ANSWERED WITHIN 10 SECONDS.
AND OUR HR DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTY'S WORKFORCE.
THEY ALSO MODERNIZED THE APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM THROUGH NEOGOV.
THEY PERFORMED AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE PAY STUDY IN-HOUSE, SAVING THE COUNTY MONEY.
THEY ALSO WON THE HEALTHIEST WORKPLACE IN VIRGINIA FOR AN EMPLOYER OUR SIZE FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEARS, WHICH IS A BENEFIT TO EMPLOYEES AND AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT HAD 32 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THEY WORKED 10 LEAD GENERATION EVENTS OR ATTENDED THEM.
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ANNOUNCED CREATED 305 JOBS AND $366 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
OUR FIRE AND EMS RECORDED A TOTAL OF 10,918 HOURS OF TRAINING ACROSS ALL FIRE AND EMS DISCIPLINES.
THEY ESTABLISHED A NEW PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGED BY TWO VOLUNTEERS.
THEY GRADUATED NINE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTS FROM A 26-WEEK RECRUIT ACADEMY.
THEY COMPLETED 80 NFP PHYSICALS AND SENT 12 VOLUNTEERS TO FIRE SCHOOL AND 10 VOLUNTEERS TO EMT SCHOOL.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE REACCREDITATION WITH VIRGINIA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION.
THEY ACHIEVED 100% COMPLIANCE WITH ALL STATE STANDARDS.
AND THEY HAD MAINTAINED A HIGH RESPONSIVENESS TO VIOLENT CRIMES AND HIGH-LEVEL OFFENDERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
I DO WANT TO NOTE ON THE 100% COMPLIANCE WITH STATE STANDARDS, THERE ARE 400 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
115 OF THOSE ARE ACCREDITED, AND IT IS VERY RARE TO GET A 100% COMPLIANCE WITH ALL STANDARDS.
THE FY27 BUDGET CONSENSUS BY THE BOARD INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FOCUS AREAS AND AREAS OF AGREEMENT.
THERE WERE NO REAL ESTATE REASSESSMENTS.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST WHAT WE'RE OPERATING IN AS AN ENVIRONMENT, BUT THERE WERE NO REAL ESTATE REASSESSMENTS FOR FY25.
SO FY25 REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT VALUES WILL BE USED FOR BILLING WITH ANY TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AND NEW CONSTRUCTIONS BEING ADDED.
WE PREPARED THE INTRODUCED BUDGET WITH A ONE CENT REDUCTION IN THE REAL ESTATE RATE.
THAT BRINGS THE RATE TO 81 CENTS.
THE CURRENT YEAR'S RATE IS 82 CENTS.
WE MAINTAIN THE CURRENT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE OF $3.90, AND WE DEVELOPED A CONSERVATIVE BUDGET THAT MAINTAINS SERVICE LEVELS.
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WE PROVIDED STATE-REQUIRED PAY INCREASES FOR STATE-SUPPORTED EMPLOYEES AND COMPENSATION BOARD-FUNDED CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES.THE FY27 PROPOSED REVENUES OF $80,431,527 IS AN INCREASE OF $961,636, THAT'S 1.21% OVER FY26.
SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS FOR THIS SLIDE WE ALREADY WENT OVER, BUT AGAIN YOU CAN SEE HERE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX ENCOMPASSED THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUES FOR FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET, FOLLOWED BY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, STATE REVENUES AT 14%, AND OTHER LOCAL TAXES AT 10%.
THE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES WILL DECREASE AGAIN BY $416,000 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET DUE TO PROPOSED DROP IN REAL ESTATE TAXES FROM $0.82 TO $0.81.
THIS IS KEEPING PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AT $3.90.
THERE IS A TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR MAY 12TH OR WILL BE APRIL 28TH.
THERE IS A THE REDUCTION IN BY ONE PENNY RESULT IN AN AVERAGE COST SAVINGS FOR INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OWNERS OF ANYWHERE RANGING FROM $34 TO $50 PER YEAR ON THEIR ANNUAL BILL.
YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT'S BASED ON THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THEIR HOMES.
AND THERE ARE NO CHANGES, AGAIN, NO CHANGES TO PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, SO THAT WILL BE LEVEL FUNDED AT $12 MILLION.
THIS SLIDE IS A SUMMARY OF THE TABLE OR INFORMATION ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
I DO WANT TO SAY PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUES OR HOW WE TAX OUR PUBLIC ENTITIES, IT ALSO IS IMPACTED WITH THE RATE DECREASE.
THAT DOES ENCOMPASS COLUMBIA GAS, DOMINION ENERGY, PG ELECTRIC, VERIZON WIRELESS, AND T-MOBILE, NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILWAY, AND THIS MATCHES OUR REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.
REVENUE CHANGES, INCREASED INTEREST ON REVENUES FROM THE INVESTMENTS MADE A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET AT $700,000.
HIGH-LEVEL CHANGES FROM THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR REVENUES INCLUDE $230,000 IN SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER GRANTS, $224,000 IN THE SOAR GRANT FOR RECOVERY COURT, SOCIAL SERVICE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND REVENUES INCREASED BY $172,000 BASED ON HIGHER EXPENDITURES.
THE LOCAL IMPACT ON THIS LATER ON IN THE BUDGET WILL BE $12,664.
THE OPERATION CEASEFIRE GRANT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT IS $167,000 AN INCREASE.
AN IN-HOUSE MEDICAL TRANSPORT FEE IS INCREASED BASED ON PROJECTIONS FOR GOING TO A THIRD-PARTY BILLER, INCREASED BY $160,000.
THERE WAS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INTEREST ON BANK ACCOUNTS BY $101,000 DUE TO SWITCHING BANKS.
REVENUE DECREASES IN THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDE REDUCTION IN SOCIAL SERVICES STATE AND FEDERAL ADMIN REVENUES BY $223,000 DUE TO FEDERAL REDUCTIONS.
THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN GRANT FUNDING FOR OPERATION CEASEFIRE GRANTS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BY $169,000 DUE TO THESE GRANTS EXPIRING AND THE VACANT POSITIONS BEING ELIMINATED.
WE SAW A POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATION CEASEFIRE GRANT EXPIRE LEADING TO A REDUCTION BY $93,000 AND THIS WAS MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY, IS NOW COUNTY FUNDED.
THE INTRODUCED BUDGET EXPENDITURES ARE BALANCED WITH REVENUES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW.
AGAIN, $961,636, OR A 1.21% INCREASE.
IT'S GREATER THAN THE FY26 BUDGET FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF $80.4 MILLION.
THE LARGEST EXPENDITURES HERE FOR FY27 INTRODUCED BUDGET INCLUDE 45% FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
23% FOR TRANSFERS TO SCHOOLS, OPERATING EXPENDITURES AT 16%, COUNTY DEBT RESERVES AT 4.6, DEBT SERVICE AND RESERVES AT 4.7% AMONG THOSE LISTED ON THE SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURES BROKEN OUT BY FUNCTION.
SO AGAIN, SAME DOLLARS, JUST DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
OF NOTE HERE, THE LARGEST EXPENDITURES FOR FY27 INTRODUCED BUDGET IS TRANSFERS AND CONTINGENCIES AT $27.1 MILLION, FOLLOWED BY $21.7 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AGAIN, DEFINITIONS WERE GONE OVER HERE EARLIER ON WHAT FALLS UNDER THESE CATEGORIES.
FUND BALANCE, THE COUNTY'S POLICY IS 12.5% OF EXPENDITURES.
THAT INCLUDES TOTAL EXPENDITURES, MEANING SCHOOL
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FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE FUNDS, EXPENDITURES.IT'S PROJECTED TO BE $20,731,254 FOR FY27 AS INTRODUCED.
JUST A NOTE, FY25 FUND BALANCE WAS 35.9% OF ACTUALS, AUDITED AT $51.5 MILLION, AND THE PROJECTION FOR JUNE 30, 2026 IS $46 MILLION, OR 27.7% OF THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
I DO WANT TO ANSWER A QUESTION THAT WAS POSED EARLIER, BUT ALSO WANTED TO NOTE IT.
ANYWAY, WE DID DISCUSS THIS DURING EARLIER BUDGET HEARINGS, BUT OUR CURRENT POLICY OF 12.5% MAY BENEFIT THE COUNTY TO RELOOK AT THAT.
ACCORDING TO A PRIMARY CREDIT AUDIT DATED NOVEMBER 20TH BY S&P GLOBAL RATINGS FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, THIS IS LOCATED ON PAGE 5 OF THAT, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY WAS NOTED AS HAVING A VERY STRONG BUDGETARY FLEXIBILITY.
AND NOTED THE STRENGTH OF MAINTAINING, THIS IS DUE TO STRENGTH OF MAINTAINING RESERVES WELL ABOVE 30% OF EXPENDITURES.
AND THEN ACCORDING TO A MOODY'S 2020 CREDIT OPINION, THIS IS ON PAGE ONE OF THAT OPINION, AVAILABLE FOR FOIA FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS, NOTED FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE OF OUR BOND RATING OF AAA, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED MATERIAL TAX-BASED CONTRACTION AND ANOTHER ONE OF TREND OF OPERATING DEFICITS AND NARROWING RESERVE LEVELS.
SO WHILE WE LOOK GOOD AMONG OUR REGIONAL PEERS, WHEN WE GO OUT TO BOND, WE ARE COMPARED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE.
AND AGAIN IN THE S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, WE WERE HIGHLIGHTED AT THE 30% AS A COMPLIMENT THROUGHOUT THAT REPORT ON OUR CREDIT RATING OR BOND RATING.
GENERAL FUND NEW POSITIONS INCLUDE ADDITION OF ONE FULL-TIME DEPUTY SHERIFF, ONE PART-TIME REGULAR DEPUTY SHERIFF, ONE POLICE RECORDS CLERK, AND ONE ANIMAL SERVICES KENNEL ATTENDANT.
EMPLOYEE RECLASSIFICATION, THIS INCLUDES REQUESTED AND MARKET-DRIVEN POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS.
WE ARE RECLASSIFYING ACCORDING TO THE PROPOSED OR INTRODUCED BUDGET, A POLICE LIEUTENANT TO CAPTAIN, ANIMAL SERVICES ADOPTION COORDINATOR TO MANAGER ONE, ANIMAL SERVICES KENNEL ATTENDANT TO ADOPTION COORDINATOR, MARKET REGRADE FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, THAT'S THREE OF THEM.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST 3 TO OFFICE MANAGER FOR THE GARAGE.
FY27 GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
INCLUDED IN THE FY27 INTRODUCED BUDGET FOR COMPENSATION INCLUDES PROVIDING A STEP INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES TO BRING EXPERIENCE LEVELS TO JUNE 30, 2026, AND ADVANCED POLICE OFFICERS AND THE CHIEF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE THROUGH CAREER DEVELOPMENT WHO HAVE MET THESE REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING A 1% COST OF LIVING OR COLA SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL PAY SCALES ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND 2% SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPUTIES TO MEET THE COMPENSATION BOARD MINIMUMS. PROVIDING WHICHEVER IS HIGHER OF A MANDATED 2% STATE PAY INCREASE FOR STATE-SUPPORTED LOCAL EMPLOYEES AND COMPENSATION BOARD-FUNDED CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES, OR PLACEMENT ON THE APPROPRIATE STEP WITH A 1% COST-OF-LIVING SCALE INCREASE, LIKE OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES.
AND FUNDING A PORTION OF A 4.3% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS SHARED WITH EMPLOYEES.
4.3% OF THIS IS BEING ABSORBED BY THE COUNTY AND 4.3% IS BEING ABSORBED BY THE EMPLOYEES.
THE GENERAL FUND COST TOTAL FOR HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES WAS $143,923.
THE COUNTY CHOSE TO PASS IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET $26,037 TO EMPLOYEES.
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE PROPOSED FY27 COUNTY BUDGET PROVIDES OVER $19 MILLION.
IN LOCAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AT THE SAME LEVEL AS FY26.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES A CAPITAL TRANSFER TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF FOUR SCHOOL BUSES.
THIS TOTALS $624,000, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $81,000 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS $2.2 MILLION IN SCHOOL-RELATED DEBT SERVICE.
THE TOTAL TRANSFERS TO AND PAYMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE $21.9 MILLION.
AND REPRESENT 27.32% OF THE COUNTY'S FY27 INTRODUCED GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THE TOTAL INTRODUCED FY27 SCHOOL BUDGET, ALL FUNDS INCLUDED IN THE COUNTY'S FY27 INTRODUCED BUDGET, IS $103.1 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF $4.03 MILLION, WHICH IS 4.07% OVER THE FY26 ADOPTED BUDGET OF $99 MILLION.
THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS USED SENATE VERSION FOR STATE REVENUE ESTIMATES, WHICH IS $1.9 MILLION LESS THAN THE HOUSE VERSION.
THEY WILL AWAIT FINAL FY27 STATE REVENUES ESTIMATES AND HOPE TO ADD UP TO $1.9 MILLION
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MORE IN STATE REVENUES PRIOR TO ADOPTION.DEBT SERVICES, THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO THE DEBT FUND IS $6.05 MILLION FOR FY27, WHICH IS $522,000 LESS.
THE REDUCTION IN GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND RESULTS FROM A DECREASE IN PAYMENTS OR DEBT PAYMENTS FALLING OFF IN FY27.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THERE ARE NO BUDGETED CONTRIBUTION TO DEBT RESERVES THIS FY AS PROPOSED.
THE ONLY POTENTIAL CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE COMPLETION IN FY27 THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT IS NEW STATION 6.
THE BOARD COULD CONSIDER THE USE OF ACCUMULATED DEBT FUND RESERVES OF $4.4 MILLION PLUS FOR NEEDED CAPITAL PROJECTS AT STATION 6, SUCH AS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
AND PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY'S RATING WITH MOODY'S IS AA2, AND OUR RATING WITH S&P IS A AA PLUS.
OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE CAPITAL VEHICLE AND SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES USING AVAILABLE GENERAL FUND RESOURCES INSTEAD OF BORROWING FUNDS, AND THESE FUNDS ARE SET ASIDE FOR THESE PURPOSES THROUGH TRANSFERS TO THE CAPITAL FUND.
CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE MADE TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO FULLY DEVOTE TWO CENTS OF REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES FOR FIRE AND EMS APPARATUS AND ONE CENT FOR FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT ACCORDING TO COUNTY ORDINANCE 74.4 AND 74-6.
THE BLUE SHADED AREAS ON THIS LIST ARE FOR PERSONNEL COSTS.
THESE ARE, AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING OVER A RECAP.
THESE EXPENDITURES SHOW EMPLOYEE COSTS THAT INCLUDE A STEP INCREASE, A MARKET AND COLA SCALE INCREASES, BASELINE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO A CHANGE IN THE EMPLOYEE COMPLEMENT, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND GROUP LIFE RATE REDUCTION, OR VRS AND GTL, HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES, DECREASES IN PART-TIME WAGES, CAREER DEVELOPMENT INCREASES FOR POLICE AND COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE'S OFFICE, AND ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ARE BEING PROPOSED IN EMPLOYEE RECLASSIFICATIONS.
AGAIN, JUST TO RECAP, CHANGES FOR EXPENDITURES.
MAJOR INCREASES INCLUDE RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL, SOCIAL SERVICES, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INCREASES.
HOWEVER, THE LOCAL IMPACT OF THIS IS ONLY $12,000 AS THE STATE COVERS $172,000 OF THE INCREASE.
INCREASES TO CONTRACTED SERVICES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THESE INCLUDE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO TYLER MUNIS, ASSESSOR'S OFFICE PLATFORMS, AND MANY OTHER FIRST RESPONDER PLATFORMS. INCREASES IN OPERATION C SPIRE NON-SALARY GRANT EXPENDITURES FOR EQUIPMENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND INCREASES IN TRANSFERS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR SCHOOL BUSES.
AND I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PARKS AND REC ATV VEHICLE WAS ON THE CHOICE, IT WAS NOT FUNDED, ACCORDING TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
CONTINUATION FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE OF NOTE, THIS SLIDE IS ONE NEW RCJA.
INCLUDES ONE, IT'S A NON-GENERAL FUND FUNDED POSITION.
SO AGAIN, FROM THE SPECIAL FUNDS, IT IS ONE NEW RCJA PART-TIME PROBATIONARY PRETRIAL TECHNICIAN BEING ADDED.
SO THAT'S A STAFFING INCREASE THAT WAS NOT ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, BUT IT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT HITS, JUST NOT THE GENERAL FUND.
IT'S UNDER A DIFFERENT FUND SOURCE IN THE BUDGET.
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO RECAP.
DECREASES, WE DID SEE DECREASES IN FY27 PROPOSED BUDGETS.
SOME NOTES OF THE LARGER DECREASES HERE INCLUDE REDUCTION IN GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS TO DEBT FUND BY $522,000.
AGAIN, DUE TO DEBT FALLING OFF, DECREASES IN TRANSFERS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY $183,000 DUE TO A REDUCTION IN ENTERPRISE ZONE REBATES.
DECREASE OF $115,000 PER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR ZONING AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES, WHICH WE WILL REVISIT AS A ONE-TIME EXPENSE OUTSIDE OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION.
THE UTILITIES ENTERPRISE FUND IS WHAT WE'LL GO OVER NEXT.
THE OVERALL BUDGET IS $178,000 MORE THAN FY26.
THE ENTERPRISE FUND IS SELF-SUPPORTED.
IT SERVES 4,740 CUSTOMERS AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A VARIETY OF CUSTOMERS THAT FALL UNDER DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
SOME ARE WATER AND SEWER BOTH, SOME ARE WATER ONLY AND SOME ARE SEWER ONLY.
WE ALSO HAVE RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
THE TOTAL INTRODUCED UTILITIES BUDGET FOR FY27 IS $9.3 MILLION NET OF INTERFUND TRANSFERS.
AN INCREASE IN WATER SEWER RATES IS
[03:35:01]
PROPOSED FOR FY27.OVERALL PROPOSED INCREASES TO THE AVERAGE USERS BILL OF 10,000 GALLONS PER BILLING CYCLE ARE ESTIMATED AT $8.73 PER BILL.
A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE INCREASES BY TYPE, AN INCREASE OF 2.5% IN WATER USER CHARGES ALONG WITH AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM WATER CHARGES AND RATE BLOCK ADJUSTMENTS ARE PROPOSED FOR FY27.
THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY $1.15 PER BILL FOR THOSE WHO USE 10,000 GALLONS OR LESS PER BILLING CYCLE.
AN INCREASE IN 8% ON SEWER USER CHARGES TRANSLATES TO AN IMPACT OF $7.57 PER BILL.
THE HIGHEST IMPACT OF THESE INCREASES WILL BE ON COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS.
THIS IS THE LAST PHASE OF A THREE-PHASE MULTI-YEAR PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A STANDARD METHODOLOGY BASED ON VOLUMETRIC WORK.
FLOW FOR SETTING MINIMUM USER CHARGES FOR LARGER METERS BASED ON VOLUMETRIC FLOW OR PIPE SIZES.
INCREASES FOR METERS LARGER THAN ONE INCH, WHICH MOST RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE LOWER THAN AN INCH, IS BETWEEN 10 AND 40 PERCENT INCREASE IN MINIMUM WATER CHARGES AND 10 AND 57 PERCENT INCREASES IN MINIMUM SEWER CHARGES.
AND THEN THE EXPECTED DOLLAR INCREASE RESULTING FROM THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS IS JUST OVER $503,000.
THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON WATER AND SEWER RATES.
INCREASES WILL BE HELD ON MAY 12TH.
PUBLIC COMMERCIAL USERS WILL AGAIN SEE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASES HERE BASED ON METER SIZES FOR MONTHLY MINIMUM CHARGES.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE IMPACT BASED ON PIPE SIZE OR PIPE DIAMETER WITH THE LARGER PIPES THE LARGER THE FLOW.
SO A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
THE COMMODITY CHARGES WITHIN RATE BLOCKS ARE FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, SHOWING AT 2.5%.
AN IMPACT OF PROPOSED RATE INCREASES.
HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN OF WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN THOSE ESTIMATES OF $8.73 PER BILL.
YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE HERE FROM CURRENT RATES TO THE PROPOSED RATES.
CHANGES FROM $198.18 TO $206.91, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $8.73 PER BILL.
AND A TOTAL OF $52.37 ON AVERAGE PER YEAR.
FOR OUR UNMETERED SEWER CUSTOMERS, IT IS YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASE OF $5.78 PER BILL AND A TOTAL OF $34.65 FOR THE WHOLE BILL FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
FY27 PROPOSED UTILITIES BUDGETS INCLUDES DEBT SERVICE ON FUTURE BORROWING FOR RIVER ROAD TRANSMISSION MAIN OF $1.06 MILLION, AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN BUDGETED DEBT PAYMENTS JUST OVER $797,000, THIS MEANS THERE'S NO DEBT RESERVE FUNDS FOR PROJECTS BEING CONTRIBUTED.
WE RECEIVE MANDATED INCREASES.
WE DID RECEIVE MANDATED INCREASES FROM OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
HOPEWELL APPROVED ON JANUARY 13TH OF THIS YEAR A 40% SEWER INCREASE AND THEN A VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER RATE INCREASE OF 27%.
I DO WANT TO SAY WE HAVE SOME CUSTOMERS IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE DIRECTLY CONTRACTED WITH VIRGINIA AMERICAN.
WE COLLECT THOSE BILLS AND WE PASS THAT DIRECTLY ON TO VIRGINIA AMERICAN AND OTHERS ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONTRACTED SO THESE RATES WILL NOT BE HITTING OUR CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY UNLESS THEY HAVE DIRECT CONTRACTS WITH VIRGINIA AMERICAN.
SOME OF THEM WILL, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, BUT MOST RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WILL NOT BE SEEING THESE RATE INCREASES.
PERSONAL AND WORKFORCE INCLUDED STEP INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES AT A 1% COLA SCALE ADJUSTMENT.
VRS AND GROUP LIFE REDUCTION RATE REDUCTIONS AND HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES OF THE 4.3% WITH A PORTION BEING ABSORBED BY THE COUNTY AND A PORTION BEING ABSORBED BY THE EMPLOYER, EXCUSE ME, THE EMPLOYEE. SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS JUST TO GO OVER THIS, THIS FUND THIS INCLUDES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOURISM COMMUNITY CORRECTION LINK OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM OR LOSS APP IS AN ANNUITY PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS? THIS IS INTEREST EARNINGS AND GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.
THIS IS FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR FIRE AND EMS WITH A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF SERVICE YEARS QUALIFYING FOR THIS SERVICE.
HOMETOWN BENEFITS IS WHO WE USE TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SPECIAL WELFARE FUND AND ADULT EDUCATION FUND.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ON AN INCREASE IN MEALS TAX FUNDING BY $100,000 AND A REDUCTION IN GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE REBATES, RESULTING IN A TOTAL REDUCTION OF $83,000.
TOURISM REMAINS THE SAME AT $850,000.
[03:40:02]
COMMUNITY CORRECTION HAS AN INCREASE OF $56,000, WHICH INCLUDES A NEW PART-TIME NON-GENERAL FUND POSITION FOR PART-TIME PROBATION AND PRETRIAL TECHNICIAN.LASAP HAS AN INCREASE OF $21,000.
SPECIAL WELFARE FUND REMAINS AT $15,000.
AND THE ADULT EDUCATION HAS A DECREASE OF $59,000, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO DECREASE BASED ON FUNDING TRENDS FROM FIVE YEARS MIGHT BE A CONTINUANCE OF THAT.
FY27 INTRODUCED BUDGET TOTALS ARE $177.8 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 3.5% FROM THE FY26 ADOPTED BUDGET.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BY FUND, SCHOOL FUND HAD IT AT $103.1 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 4.07%.
GENERAL FUND AT $80.4 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 1.21%.
UTILITY FUNDS, $9.3 MILLION, 8.21% INCREASE.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME KEY DATES FOR THE BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE MARCH 31ST, AGAIN THE DATE TO RECEIVE TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING AUTHORIZATION.
IN ORDER TO MEET THE APRIL 28TH PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE TAX RATE, THIS APRIL 28TH IS CRITICAL FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATES TO ENSURE KEY DATES AND TIMES ARE MAINTAINED FOR THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE TO ENSURE ANNUAL BILLINGS.
WE MAY AND WE MAY WE HAVE MAY 26 AS A DATE FOR BUDGET ADOPTION PENDING QUESTION QUESTIONS THAT CONCLUDES THE BRIEFING. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MS. PUDLOW.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM AND I WILL REMIND EVERYBODY YOU HAVE 45 MINUTES LEFT IN THE EVENING STATION 6 SITE AND FEASIBILITY STUDY UPDATED COST ESTIMATE, CHIEF CASARES. GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. KINGSBURY, MS. PUDLOW, ALL ASSEMBLE.
WE'RE JUST PRESENTING REAL QUICK THE UPDATED COST ESTIMATING FOR THE PROPOSED SESSION SIX.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GET AGAIN AS WE REQUESTED LAST THE LAST TIME WE PRESENTED THIS SOME DIRECTION BY CONSENSUS IF WE CAN GET SOME ON WHAT STEPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AFTER THIS PRESENTATION.
KATIE ATWATER FROM FGM ARCHITECTS IS HERE.
SHE WILL GO BRIEFLY THROUGH THIS POWERPOINT, AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT.
ALL RIGHT, THIS SHOULD BE PRETTY SHORT.
JUST RECAPPING WHERE WE WERE LAST MONTH.
WE REVIEWED THE STATION LOCATION ANALYSIS, THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT, LOOKED AT TWO SPECIFIC SITES AND A POSSIBLE THIRD SITE AS WELL AS THE ADDITION RENOVATION.
AT THAT POINT, WE WERE LOOKING AT A 12,000 SQUARE FOOT THREE DRIVE-THRU BAY THAT CAME IN AT ABOUT $12 TO $13 MILLION.
BASED ON THE BOARD'S COMMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING, WE HAVE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT THAT MORE CLOSELY, ALIGNING WITH STATION 7 THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED A FEW YEARS AGO.
SO WE'VE REDUCED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FROM 12,000 DOWN TO 08,500.
THAT IS THE STATION 7 FOOTPRINT MINUS ONE APPARATUS BAY BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS PREVIOUSLY.
THE DRAWINGS WERE PROVIDED FOR STATION 7 TO THE COST-ESTIMATING TEAM TO REVIEW NOT ONLY THE OVERALL SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT ALSO THE FIT AND FINISH OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.
AND THE ESTIMATE DOES INCLUDE HARD COSTS ONLY, SO IT DOESN'T INCLUDE DESIGN FEES, PERMITTING, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND ANY ESCALATION THAT WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED DEPENDING ON WHEN THE PROJECT GOES INTO CONSTRUCTION.
SO JUMPING STRAIGHT INTO THE NUMBERS AND THE DETAILED ESTIMATE WAS IN THE PACKET, I BELIEVE THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY.
ALL FOUR OF THESE OPTIONS ARE 08,500 SQUARE FEET.
OPTION ONE IS THE RENOVATION EXPANSION, SO THERE'S A 3,000 SQUARE FOOT APPROXIMATE RENOVATION AS WELL AS 5,500 SQUARE FEET OF ADDITION THAT CAME IN AT A COST OF JUST OVER 8.7 MILLION.
THE OTHER THREE ARE ALL PRETTY COMPARABLE, WHETHER IT'S A NEW STATION ON THE CURRENT SITE, A NEW STATION DOWN THE STREET OR ANY STATION ON THE UNKNOWN SITE.
ALL OF THOSE ARE RIGHT AROUND 9.3 MILLION.
THESE, AGAIN, ARE FROM THE COST ESTIMATE TEAM THAT PROVIDED THE FIRST ESTIMATE THAT HAS A DETAILED ESTIMATE AS WELL.
IN ADDITION, BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED AT THE LAST MEETING, WE WANTED TO REACH OUT TO A LOCAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO KIND OF VALIDATE INDEPENDENTLY OF THIS ESTIMATE.
IT WAS STILL MY TEAM WORKING ON IT, BUT THEY WERE NOT PROVIDED ANY OF THE INFORMATION ON THE COST ESTIMATE.
THEY WERE PROVIDED ONLY THE STATION 7 DRAWINGS.
THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT THAT WE CREATED AND THE TWO FEASIBILITY STUDIES THAT WE SHOWED THE BOARD
[03:45:01]
AT THE LAST MEETING.BASED ON THOSE THEY DID TWO DIFFERENT METHODS.
THERE'S MORE INFORMATION IN THE MEMO THAT I INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.
THE FIRST MODEL WAS BASED ON JUST COST PER SQUARE FOOT OF STATIONS IN THE GREATER RICHMOND AREA.
THAT CAME IN A RANGE FROM 6.8 MILLION TO 12.8 MILLION.
I KNOW THAT'S A HUGE RANGE THAT WAS BASED ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, DIFFERENT SITE CONDITIONS.
DIFFERENT SIZE BUILDINGS ALSO AFFECTS THAT.
THEY WERE ALL KIND OF APPROXIMATED.
MIDPOINT OF THAT IS $9.45 MILLION.
AND THEN THE SECOND MODEL THEY DID WAS MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE BASED ON DIFFERENT BUILDING SYSTEMS. SO IT WAS MORE IN DETAIL BUT NOT QUITE AS DETAILED AS THE COST ESTIMATE WAS.
AND THAT PROVIDED A RANGE OF $8.7 TO $9.2 MILLION.
AND THAT CONTRACTOR, AGAIN, ONE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, NOT A BUNCH OF THEM, BUT THIS ONE CONTRACTOR PROVIDED A RANGE FOR THE PROJECT FOR $8.7 TO $9.45 MILLION WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THAT RANGE OF 9.3.
IT'S PROBABLY ON THE MORE CONSERVATIVE END OF THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT, WITH THE LACK OF DESIGN, WE REALLY ONLY HAVE THOSE KIND OF QUICK SCHEMATIC SKETCHES OF THE CONCEPTS AND THE PROGRAMMATIC SQUARE FOOTAGE AS WELL AS THE STATION 7 PLANS.
THE ESTIMATORS AND THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR ARE BOTH ERRING ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE TO TRY AND GIVE YOU A NUMBER TO BUDGET WITH MOVING FORWARD IF THE PROJECT PROCEEDS.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? SO THIS IS JUST LIKE A ROUGH NUMBER PRETTY MUCH.
SO UNTIL WE SIT DOWN AND SAY OKAY HEY THIS IS HOW BIG THIS ROOM IS GOING TO BE THIS IS THEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND YOU CAN CUT THIS PRICE DOWN EVEN MORE IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME.
OR HOW WE USE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
YEAH SO WE CAN MAKE THE NUMBER MORE SPECIFIC AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE DETAILED ESTIMATE THE COST ESTIMATE PROVIDED ON THE SUMMARY SHEET THERE'S A DESIGN CONTINGENCY NUMBER THAT I THINK IS EITHER 20 OR 25 PERCENT OF THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROJECT.
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN DESIGN AND IT GETS MORE SPECIFIC TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND BIDS, THAT NUMBER GOES FROM 20 OR 25 TO ZERO, AND THAT NUMBER WOULD GET MORE ACTUALIZED BASED ON WHAT IT IS.
MORE LIKELY, SOME OF THAT WILL GO INTO THE BASE NUMBER, AND IT WILL END UP SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE THAT THEY'RE PROJECTING RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, SO I GUESS WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS IF I ALREADY HAVE THE DESIGN FROM STATION 7, WHY AM I PAYING A DESIGN FEE OR ANY OF THAT? I MEAN, WE'RE BUILDING THE EXACT SAME THING WITHOUT A BAY.
I CAN SEE GETTING AN ARCHITECT OR AN ENGINEER, SOMEBODY TO RE-ENGINEER MAYBE THE GARAGE PORTION, BUT THE OVERALL STATION SHOULD BE THE SAME.
YEAH, SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.
THERE ARE SOME, I THINK, MODIFICATIONS POTENTIALLY TO STATION 7 THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD WANT TO MAKE.
MINOR THINGS, NOT MAJOR COST IMPACTS IT WOULD NEED TO BE SITE ADAPTED BASED ON WHATEVER SITE YOU DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF THE ESTIMATES REALLY IS LARGELY ABOUT THE SITE, BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE WHAT THE BUILDING IS.
THE SITE VARIATIONS, WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WHETHER THE UTILITIES THAT SUPPORT THE SITE ARE ADEQUATE OR NOT, THOSE ARE THE BIG COST NUMBERS.
IF YOU HAVE BAD SOILS ON THE SITE, THAT CAN ALSO BE A PRETTY LARGE MAGNITUDE NUMBER.
FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVE, HAVING THOSE PLANS IS HELPFUL.
THEY NEED TO BE UPDATED TO CURRENT CODES, WHICH, AGAIN, WOULD NOT BE A MAJOR COST.
IT WOULD BE MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING CLEARANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TOGETHER.
ENERGY CODES AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE DESIGN THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE NOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE TO GET LOOKED AT.
SO, AGAIN, NOT MASSIVE CHANGES.
IT WOULD NOT BE A MAJOR DESIGN FEE, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.
MR. PUGH, I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THAT THAT, THE DRAWINGS FOR STATION 7 BELONG TO THE ARCHITECT THAT DID THOSE DRAWINGS, AND USUALLY WHEN YOU HIRE AN ARCHITECT AND YOU GET A SET OF DRAWINGS, ARE FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT, UNLESS YOU AT THE VERY BEGINNING, LIKE, CONTRACT THIS TO DO TWO MORE STATIONS OR WHATEVER.
BUT THE ADAPTANCE OF THE SITE DOES CREATE SOME CHANGES AND SOME POTENTIAL NEED FOR A SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTION DESIGN PROCESS.
SO YOU HAVE TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, WE CALL IT, TO BASICALLY GET THE PROJECT OUT TO BID IN ORDER TO GET THE MOST ACCURATE NUMBER. OKAY.
BUT THERE IS EFFICIENCIES HAVING THAT AS A KIND OF BASIS OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTEN THE DESIGN PROCESS.
YOU DO HAVE TO REDRAW IT, BUT YOU CAN KIND OF QUICKLY DO THAT MORE SO THAN THINKING THROUGH IT AGAIN.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS IF THIS BOARD DECIDED AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO SPEND, Y'ALL CAN WORK IN THAT PARAMETER OF THAT AS WELL, CORRECT? YES.
THERE WOULD BE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN OUR TEAM AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON WHAT THE SACRIFICES ARE.
SO IF YOU SAID WE CAN ONLY SPEND $5 MILLION AND WE'RE SAYING WHAT THEY WANT IS IN THE $8 MILLION TO $9 MILLION RANGE, THERE WOULD BE A MAGNITUDE OF CONVERSATION OF WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.
WE'D PROBABLY WANT TO GET MORE OF THE SITE COSTS NAILED DOWN.
AND THEN IT WOULD BE DO YOU TAKE OUT A BAY, DO YOU REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, TO GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.
[03:50:03]
YES, MR. CHAIR. SIR.THE NUMBER IS STILL HIGH TO ME.
I KNOW WE ADJUST THE SIZE DOWN.
I'VE REACHED OUT TO A CONTACT OF MINE, AND SO I'VE GOT NUMBERS FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT JUST BROKE GROUND YESTERDAY, AND IT IS 04,200 SQUARE FEET FOR THE INTERIOR, 4,500 SQUARE FOOT FOR A EIGHT TRUCK BAY, A 900 SQUARE FOOT REAR CANOPY.
IT HAS ALL THE SITE AND LAYOUT ALLOWANCES, SPECIAL INSPECTIONS, SITE WORK, METAL BUILDING, INTERIOR FRAMING, MASONRY FINISHES, WINDOWS, DOORS, MECHANICAL, DRYWALL, CABINETS, FINISHES.
IT'S GOT THE CONTRACTOR'S FEE BUILT INTO IT.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE APPLIANCES, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THIS DOES EITHER IN THESE NUMBERS IF I'M CORRECT.
IT INCLUDES APPLIANCES BUT NOT FURNITURES AND FIXTURES.
AND THIS ONE DOESN'T INCLUDE THE LANDSCAPING EITHER.
AND THIS JUST BROKE GROUND YESTERDAY.
THIS IS A FOUR-BAY FIRE DEPARTMENT PULL-THROUGH.
SO THERE'S NOT LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS IN IT.
SO THERE'S SOME ADJUSTMENT THERE.
MAYBE YOU HAVE FROM FOUR BAYS DOWN TO THREE AND YOU GET SOME LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I CAN'T RECONCILE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR TIMES AS MUCH MONEY.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE THAT'S BEING, THEY JUST BROKE GROUND ON IT YESTERDAY.
IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE, IT'S GOT THE BAYS, IT'S GOT MEETING ROOMS, IT'S GOT KITCHENS, IT'S GOT OFFICES, IT'S GOT A DAY ROOM.
AGAIN, OF COURSE, IT DOESN'T HAVE, IT'S NOT EXTRAVAGANT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S UNDER $2 MILLION.
AND SO I, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I THINK WE COULD NECESSARILY DO IT FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT FOUR TIMES AS MUCH MONEY, I'M STILL HAVING A HARD TIME ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN HASH OUT TONIGHT IN PART OF THIS MEETING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ASSUMPTIONS ON THE GRADE OF MATERIALS ARE PUT INTO THIS.
I KNOW EVERY TIME I SEE THAT WE TALK ABOUT MONEY, WE'VE GOT A PICTURE OF THE CURRENT, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE CURRENT STATION RIGHT NEXT TO IT, RIGHT? ARE WE MEANINGFULLY GETTING AWAY FROM THAT LOOK AND DESIGN? IS IT LOOKING LIKE THE FAIRFAX PICTURES WE'VE SEEN IN THE BROCHURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT? NO.
SO THESE UPDATED ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON THE STATION 7 LOOK.
SIMILAR TO THAT IN TERMS OF FINISHES AND MATERIALS AND QUALITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I HONESTLY CAN'T EXPLAIN THE $2 MILLION NUMBER EITHER.
THAT'S LOWER THAN ANYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN ANYWHERE IN THE VIRGINIA AREA.
I THINK THAT THE $8 TO $9 MILLION IS CONSERVATIVE, LIKE WE SAID BEFORE.
IF YOU HAD SAID THAT STATION, AS YOU WERE DESCRIBING, IT WAS $6 MILLION, I COULD BELIEVE THAT.
$2 MILLION SEEMS ASTRONOMICALLY LOW FOR ANYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
I THINK PART OF THAT LIKELY IS IT PROBABLY WAS A PRE-ENGINEERED METAL BUILDING, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HERE FOR THE EXISTING STATION 6.
THAT CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY ON THE DESIGN END AND THE CONSTRUCTION END IF YOU CAN GET IT TO WORK.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THAT MOST SUCCESSFUL, AND I THINK STATION 7 IS AN EXAMPLE, IS THAT IS FOR THE APPARATUS BAY, AND THEN THE OTHER PART IS WHAT WE CALL STICK BUILT, THAT IS MORE FRAME CONSTRUCTION.
BUT I CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT NUMBER EITHER.
WELL, I THINK ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAVING COSTS, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING METAL PREFAB THAT GOES WITHIN A CERTAIN SIZE, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THE STATION DONE.
I DON'T WANT US TO HAVE A NUMBER THAT MAKES US BALK AND NOT DO IT.
I'M STILL HESITANT AT THE NUMBERS THAT I SEE.
AND THAT'S NOT A CRITIQUE TO YOU GUYS AT ALL.
YOU'VE DEFINITELY GONE BACK AND DONE HOMEWORK.
YEAH, I WOULD SUGGEST WELL, WE CAN I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, OBVIOUSLY, OF THE STATION THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
BUT I BELIEVE GOOCHLAND AND NEW CAMP BOTH HAVE BUILT STATIONS, AND THEY'RE IN THE RANGE OF $6 TO $8 MILLION.
WE'RE LOOKING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING HERE.
MAYBE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE.
NOW, EVEN IF THEY STARTED BREAKING GROUND NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS BID AND WHAT THE COMMITMENTS WERE.
PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE BEING CONSERVATIVE IN OUR NUMBERS IS THAT, AS YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE KIND OF IN DISARRAY AT THE MOMENT.
SO PROJECTING OUT WITH SOME SORT OF ASSURANCE IS KIND OF DIFFICULT GIVEN THE CONTEXT.
SO, YES, MOST OF THE ESTIMATORS ARE GOING TO COME IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE WOULD LIKE.
THE ONLY WAY TO REFINE SOME OF THESE NUMBERS IS TO REALLY GET INTO THE DESIGN PROCESS, NAIL DOWN THE FLOOR PLANS, NAIL DOWN MATERIALS AND COSTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN GATHER A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
I'LL HAVE SOME TIME NEXT WEEK, CHIEF.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AROUND.
I MIGHT BE WILLING TO CATCH UP DISCUSS AND SEE IF I CAN FIGURE OUT ON THE OTHER END WHERE I
[03:55:01]
FOUND THIS WHY THAT COST MIGHT BE SO DIFFERENT.I CAN ALSO MAYBE REACH OUT TO THE CHIEFS AND TRY TO GET A FLOOR PLAN OR GET SOME IDEA OF WHAT THEIR STATION LOOKS LIKE SO WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE THAT IS MORE IN LINE TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE.
OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THANK YOU ALL.
[I. Order of Business]
ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT JUST THE MEETING WITH YOU MR. HAMMEL? IT'LL BE SOMETIME NEXT WEEK I'LL REACH OUT. OKAY.THANK YOU. ALRIGHT WE'LL MOVE INTO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS NOW AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR THE VDM FISCAL YEAR 27 PSAP RESILIENCE GRANT.
MR. BOSSERMAN. GOOD EVENING I'LL KEEP THIS BRIEF BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I'M HERE THIS EVENING SEEKING AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR THE FFLOC 27 PSAP RESILIENCY GRANT. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GRANT IS TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS EFFECTIVE 911 SERVICES IN THE FACE OF EVOLVING CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY. THE GRANT IS FOR $350,000, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, NO MATCH, AND IS REIMBURSABLE OVER A TWO-YEAR AWARD PERIOD.
IN YOUR PACKET, THERE'S SOME EXPENDITURE IDEAS.
THOSE AREN'T CONCRETE, BUT DUE TO THE TWO-YEAR AWARD PERIOD, THERE WILL BE CONTINUED EVALUATION. AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AUTHORITY TO APPLY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YEP. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MR. CHAIR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION AND A BLOCK. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL, PLEASE. WHO IS THE SECOND? MR. HAMMEL. YES, MA'AM.
OKAY, MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM, RESOLUTION APPROPRIATION FROM UTILITIES CASH RESERVES.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $395,000 AND AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE UTILITY EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES BASED ON THE RESUBMISSION.
GOOD EVENING, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MS. PUDSLOW, MR. KINGSBURY. THE UTILITY STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED AGING EQUIPMENT AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S NEEDED. WE'VE REDUCED THE SCOPE FROM THE LAST TIME WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS, AND WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME MORE REFINED PRICING AND COME BACK WITH A REQUEST FOR $395,000 FROM CASH RESERVES TO REPLACE SOME AGING EQUIPMENT AND BUY SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT THAT'S NEEDED FOR US TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ANY THOUGHTS FOR MR. PUGH OR MR. WEBB? I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GETTING TOGETHER AND WORKING ON THIS. WE WENT AND MET WITH STAFF, AND WE WENT OVER A COUPLE THINGS. THEY DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND WAS ABLE TO CUT SOME UNNECESSARY ITEMS OUT. I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOUR WORK ON THAT. ALL RIGHT, DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND. GIVE HIM THE MOTION. WEBB, MOTION.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM, AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A JOINT REPRESENTATION COMMON INTEREST AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES OF HOPEWELL AND ALEXANDRIA AND AQUALAW TO OPPOSE VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY. THANK YOU, SIR. MR. CHAIR, SUPERVISORS, THIS AGREEMENT IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, HOPEWELL, AND THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA TO PROPOSE A RATE INCREASE BY VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER. THEY CURRENTLY SERVE SOME OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR MILITARY BASE AS WELL AS OUR, I THINK, OUR JAIL. AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE REPRESENTATION IS ESTIMATED TO BE $150,000 OUR PERCENTAGE WOULD BE 4% BASED ON OUR USAGE AND POPULATION.
OKAY. YOU HEARD THAT. MR. CHAIR, JUST A QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR THIS. SO THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO SOMETHING AROUND $7,500, I BELIEVE, SIR? NOT GOOD AT MATH, BUT 4%. YES, SIR.
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AND SO THE UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS ABOUT THE INCREASED DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT OUR PAYERS WOULD PAY IN ONE MONTH IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
CORRECT. THEY'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THE RATES TO ABOUT $11 PER MONTH. AND IT'S 770 FOLKS AND SO IN ONE MONTH WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY HAD OUR CITIZENS PAY MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO IN ON THIS FOR. YES SIR. THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MR. CHAIR I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[04:00:01]
MR PHILIP PUGH? YES.OKAY, NEXT ITEM UP IS THE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH MARK M. ESPOSITO, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE STATE OF MARY S.
ESPOSITO AND AUTUMN DEADWELL FOR OVERPAYMENTS OF UTILITY SERVICE FEES.
MR. KINGSBURY? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, SUPERVISOR. THESE TWO AGREEMENTS, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS, RELATE TO TWO CIVIL ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST THE COUNTY FOR OVERPAYMENT OF UTILITY FEES, PARTICULARLY WATER FEE HOOKUPS FROM A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT BILLINGS EACH MONTH FOR WATER SEWER RATES. ONE PARTICULAR CASE, THERE WERE ALREADY PAYMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS MADE, SO THIS SETTLEMENT SAVES US MONEY.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION. SO, MOVED.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE AT THAT POINT TONIGHT.
I HATE TO DO IT, BUT CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? YOU CAN STAY IF YOU WANT. MR. CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I HAVE A MOTION DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
MIC BACK ON. IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M HOLLERING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.