SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Regular Session i June 22, 2015

ACTION REQUIRED: Unless corrections or additions to the minutes are noted, they will be considered approved as presented by unanimous consent.

5. MEETING MINUTES

Attached for your consideration please find copies of the Board of Supervisor’s meeting minutes from:

1. Budget Workshop, April 15, 2015 2. Budget Workshop, April 22, 2015 3. Regular Session, May 26, 2015

Mrs. Smith is still working on minutes from your Budget Hearing of May 18 - these will be included in next month’s agenda.

April 15, 2015

At a budget workshop meeting of the Southampton County Board of Supervisors held in the Board Room of the Southampton County Office Center, 26022 Administration Center Drive, Courtland, Virginia on April 15, 2015 at 6:30 PM.

SUPERVISORS PRESENT

Dallas O. Jones, Chairman (Drewryville) Ronald M. West, Vice Chairman (Berlin-Ivor)

Dr. Alan W. Edwards (Jerusalem) Carl J. Faison (Boykins-Branchville)

Glenn H. Updike (Newsoms) Barry T. Porter (Franklin) S. Bruce Phillips (Capron)

SUPERVISORS ABSENT

OTHERS PRESENT Michael W. Johnson, County Administrator (Clerk)

Lynette C. Lowe, Deputy County Administrator/ CFO Beth Lewis, Director of Community Development

Amanda N. Smith, Administrative Assistant

OTHERS ABSENT Julien W. Johnson, Jr. Public Utilities Director

Richard E. Railey, Jr., County Attorney

Chairman Jones called the budget workshop to order. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Faison gave the invocation. Chairman Jones states I will call the speakers that will come before us tonight. First, we will have Ms. Hattie Francis. Ms. Hattie Francis addressed the board. Good evening and thank you chairman, vice-chairman and members of the board for allowing me to be here tonight. I am with Smart Beginnings Western Tidewater. I am the Executive Director and we have requested $25,000 for the fifth consecutive year. We are a cooperative organization that works with local developments, the school systems, and local agencies. Please note those local agencies in Southampton County are Southampton County Department of Social Services, Southampton County Public Schools, Southampton Memorial Hospital, The Children Center, Paul D. Camp Community College, Western Tidewater Community Services Board, and Western Tidewater Health District. The sheet that I have given you tonight is a community snapshot from 2009 – present. We were established in 2009 and this is the type of community that we are working with. The snapshot includes different risk factors that children 0 – 9 years old come into contact with. Our goal is to better prepare children to enter into school healthy and ready to learn. Our target population is 0 – 9 years or birth until about third grade. In 2009, that was 2091 citizens; in 2013, that was about 2,000 citizens as well. That is the amount of rising students we are working to reach in Southampton. The facts are the more risk factors a child comes in contact with the more likely they are to repeat a grade. In Virginia, $78 million is spent yearly for K-3rd grade retention. A child repeating a grade cost $10,793. Additional support for children who has failed to meet their literacy benchmarks costs $643 per student. It is our goal to reach these students before they get to the school system to help them so they are more successful and these costs are not incurred by the state and the school system. Currently, with our Virginia Star Quality Initiative program we only serve one Head Start in Southampton and that is at the Children Center located in Courtland. It is our goal in 2016 to increase the number of head starts and pre-K centers in Southampton; as well as daycare centers and home centers. We also plan to revamp our parent workshops. If we can reach the parents, than hopefully we can also reach those young citizens. We also hope to begin a strong collaborative relationship with local pediatricians to reach those unborn citizens. I am grateful for Southampton’s support for the past five years and I am very hopeful for your continued support in

2

April 15, 2015

the future. Do you have any questions? Chairman Jones states any questions from the board members? Supervisor Updike states you mention you plan to increase services in Southampton. Where are the plans; what concrete plan? Don’t just tell me you are planning something in the community and … Ms. Hattie Francis states we already have parenting workshops but they are located primarily in Franklin as opposed to having some parent workshops hosted in Southampton so we can actually reach Southampton’s population easier and have a better location for them to come to. Also the Virginia Star Quality Initiative program is already in place. We have twelve sites. We have to locate other sites in Southampton agreed upon by our board and then they have better quality services, given professional development services, which then in turn, give them a greater contact and better ability to teach the small children. Supervisor Updike states I still would like to see concrete plans. Ms. Hattie Francis states as far as concrete plans we want to add two centers in Southampton. Supervisor Updike states but where, when, and what? Ms. Hattie Francis states as soon as we can find ones that will agree. That is as simple as saying here you go and we will go sign up and immediately will receive 30 hours of monitorial and technical assistance. That is paid for through our services and none out of Southampton’s pocket. We have a special grant for that. Chairman Jones states anyone else? Thank you Ms. Francis. Ms. Hattie Francis states thank you. I also want to remind everybody about breakfast that you all are invited to on Wednesday April 22nd at 8:30 and we have the Vice-President of Huntington and Ingalls speaking on early childhood education. Chairman Jones states thank you very much. Next is Mrs. Amanda Jarratt. Mrs. Amanda Jarratt addressed the board. Good evening Chairman Jones and members of the Board of Supervisors and Administrator Johnson; I am Amanda Jarratt, President and CEO of Franklin/Southampton Economic Development. As you all know we are 501C3 formed in 2005 to be the lead agency in Economic Development representing both Southampton County and the City of Franklin. We were formed to maximize resources and eliminate duplicative marketing efforts. We are continuing to strengthen our relationships with our strategic partners including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance, and the Port of Virginia. We continue to maintain momentum from previous years in terms of industrial growth. At this point Enviva and Curtis Contracting are both fully operational. Hampton Farms is currently hiring and will be opening soon. In 2014, we worked 28 industrial projects; two of which were successful for this Franklin/Southampton region including the High Grounds Services graduation from the Franklin Business Incubator and the announcement that Providence Agriculture will construct a manufacturing facility in Pretlow Industrial Park. Here to date, we have had eight new projects open and have posted several site visits and several more scheduled in the upcoming weeks. We are continuing to push forward to facilitate new investment and job creation in Southampton County. Not only do we focus on industrial development, we also continue to offer support services and professional development opportunities to our distinct businesses. Once a month we offer free courses to our local business owners and we pay the regional dues for the Franklin/Southampton community to provide free counseling from the small business development center once a month. We have seen this program grow rapidly in recent months and hope to only continue to see it grow. We have also been able to finally kick-off our micro loan program made possible through the SunTrust Foundation and through a partnership with the Franklin/Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce and Paul D. Camp Workforce Development Center. We actively visit existing industry, matching them to available resources, and providing assistance as needed or requested. The Franklin Business Incubator continues to be successful and currently has 22 businesses and this is really a resource for all of Hampton Roads. Several Southampton County residents own and operate businesses located in that facility as well.

3

April 15, 2015

Tourism is also something that falls under our umbrella. It has been difficult to have a huge focus on this in the past due to limited resources and staff, but we have kicked off a social media campaign and are working with our strategic partners including rebuilding the relationship with the Virginia Tourism Corporations so that our local assets that we currently have can be highlighted and represented. For fiscal year 2015/2016 we are requesting the same contribution as we have in the past fiscal year. We are still able to leverage private dollars for economic development at this point, but that is only due to the joint relationship between Southampton County and the City of Franklin and your expressed support for economic development. We thank you for the support. We thank you for your cooperation with the City of Franklin and our private sector partners. I appreciate my working relationship with each of you and hope to only strengthen the relationship between FSEDI and Southampton County. I can answer any questions you might have. Chairman Jones states any questions for Mrs. Jarratt? Supervisor Phillips states I would like to say thank you for what you are doing. The county is realizing some benefits. Chairman Jones states a job well done. Mrs. Amanda Jarratt states thank you. Have a good evening. Chairman Jones states next is Ms. Jenny Bailey. Ms. Jenny Bailey approached the board. Good evening. Members of the board my name is Jenny Bailey and I am the new director at the Blackwater Regional Library. Before I begin, please note I brought you a copy of Blackwater Regional Library’s new long range plan. In it you can see the exciting strategy that we have for all of our libraries including the Walter Cecil Rawls branch in Courtland through 2019. I have also attached my business card in case you have any questions about this plan in the future. I am not planning on speaking about the great things the Courtland library does because the patrons and your citizens are going to do that for me. Please see that I have included a sheet with their names and addresses in the handouts I have given to you. These patrons were asked why they love their library and the reason they see it as an essential service. At this time Ms. Jenny Bailey presented a video of local citizens stating why they love their library and why they see it as an essential service. Ms. Jenny Bailey states I know you see your library as indispensable and I know that you all are able to hear the voices of your patrons, young and old, rich or poor, and of all backgrounds when they say they appreciate that you keep your library fully funded. Thank you for your continued support and I welcome any questions. Chairman Jones states anyone have any questions? If not, thank you. Ms. Jenny Bailey states thank you. Chairman Jones states next is Ms. Ashley Green. Ms. Ashley Green addressed the board. Good evening and thank you for allowing us to be here tonight. I am the Director of Development with Western Tidewater free clinic. First of all I want to say thank you. You are one of the municipalities that have supported us since our inception in 2007 and that means a lot. With your support, we have grown and increased our patient base. We have served 3700 patients in over 90,000 visits since our inception. You have been a part of every bit of that. Our request this year is based on a formula we use for all municipalities. We ask for 20% of our operating expense which is $1.5 million, $1,494,000 to be exact, and divide it equally among the municipalities we serve. We serve our residents in Western Tidewater which includes Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, Franklin and Suffolk. That is 1400 square miles. Any patient that is a resident and is uninsured and meets the 200% at or below federal poverty level income standards are eligible to be patients with Western Tidewater Free Clinic. Your percentage in Southampton County of our total patient base is 13%. That is our request, $38,865 and that is how the math happens. That is 13% of the 20% of our overall budget. Just to give you an update on how we are specifically serving our Southampton County residents. In calendar year, which

4

April 15, 2015

starts our fiscal year, 2014 of our 1234 medical patients; 160 of those were Southampton County residents. The cost to operate per patient is $1,153.00. So, in this case with Southampton County medical patients that is $184,480 when you breakdown the math for the cost of serving those patients. We also have a dental clinic as well as medical care that we offer. We also had 165 dental patients from Southampton County. That was 182 visits for them. Our patients in many cases had not received medical care until very late in the game, so these are not just annual visits. We would like to get to that. That would be our goal. Our goal would be to not exist but at this point that is not where we are so our patients come for ten plus visits a year. That is how the visits track out to over 90,000 in 7 ½ years. We find, as many of us know as Western Tidewater residents ourselves, that lack of transportation is a problem for us. What have we done to try and improve that; so far we have set up visits in Franklin at this point. We want to go into every area of our service area so that we are at least twice a month providing eligibility appointments for our patients. That is one visit they have to make to our clinic. By providing outreach, we try to bring an appointment to our patients as best as we can. Those appointments are at the Franklin Cooperative Ministry at this time. We saw that as a need and we saw that as a way to at least start reaching over our 1400 square mile radius. We have started that and we screen 20 – 25 patients a month with those eligibility appointments. The other bonus for us and it is not an answer for everything by any means, is the I-Ride program. It does have pickup points and helps our patients to receive the services they need by being able to meet those I-Ride transportation buses. We try to schedule appointments or any diagnostic visits around the schedule of I-Ride for those residents in our outlying areas. Our diagnostic treatment and specialty appointments are tied in with Sentara Obici. Predominantly our location is in Suffolk. We have tried really hard to leverage our dollar; meaning your dollar. For every dollar donated, we stretch that into almost $7 in services. Again, that is through volunteers, specialty referral partners, and our diagnostic partners. We have over 200 volunteers that help us run and we could not do that without the community support. As I mentioned before, the cost per patient per year is about $1,100.00. Our cost per visit per year runs about $88 right now. The best way to tell our story is a story. I would like to share a story of one of our patients and residents of Western Tidewater. Janice knows firsthand that Western Tidewater Free clinic is a health home. We became her home in 2014. She was 49 when she came to us extremely ill. She was battling multiple health problems including diabetes, dangerously high blood pressure, and she had suffered two strokes which led to her unemployment. She suffered the strokes while she was employed. She lost her job, lost her health insurance, and ultimately wasn’t getting any medication or health care so she turned to Western Tidewater Free Clinic. This story could be used as an introduction to most of our patients’ stories. Immediately Janice received the necessary medications to reduce the risk of another stroke. She was quickly enrolled in the women’s health program at the clinic and she received a mammogram. The results indicated a need for a biopsy. It took two months for staff to stabilize her enough to undergo the procedure. While she was preparing for surgery this past December, Janice learned her biopsy results were negative and her blood pressure had started to improve. She had nine visits to the clinic in three months. She is currently on ten medications. We also have a pharmaceutical program through the pharmacy partnerships that we have. Next step was the extraction of several teeth. I mentioned earlier we have a dental clinic. The critical condition of her oral health has directly impacted her medical health and to get her stabilized enough to undergo those extractions is the next step in Janice’s journey. The entire clinic team is providing Janice with coordinated care to ensure her overall condition continues to improve. It is the support of donors, referral partners, and volunteers that Janice has received and is still receiving this life saving treatment; her diagnostic testing, her nutrition education, and her dental care. Like so many clinic patients, she faces multiple barriers to good health including untreated chronic illnesses, low income, and lack of transportation. There are medical providers that have listed Janice as an active partner in her own care. We are grateful to you for believing in our vision. Everyone deserves a health home offering comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate care. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Chairman Jones states any questions from any board member? Supervisor Updike states I have one. With the time you have spent with your clientele, how much effort has been given to get them health insurance; to try and get them insurance through the marketplace? Ms. Ashley Green states well actually most of our patients can’t afford the marketplace health insurance I think you are referring to with the new federal program. They actually can’t afford that insurance. It would be great to have them all insured but at this point most of the people we serve are 150% below the federal poverty level and they are not able to afford that marketplace

5

April 15, 2015

insurance. Chairman Jones states any other questions? Thank you. Ms. Ashley Green states thank you and I appreciate it very much. Chairman Jones states next we have Dr. Alvera Parrish. Dr. Alvera Parrish addressed the board. Chairman Jones, Vice-Chairman West and all of the members of the Board of Supervisors we say good evening to you. First of all we would like to say thank you for this opportunity to present to you some highlights of the budget for Southampton County Public Schools as we go forward for the FY 2016 school year. I do want to start off before I begin the presentation is to say to each of you that leading up to this time of the budget process we have had a very good collaborative interaction with the budget liaison committee and with this board and we just appreciate the support that the board has given and how you have worked collaboratively with our school board in support of the school system. Tonight what I would like to do since we have already given and submitted the budget to the board and we have shared some of the more specific pieces with the board at your retreat we are going to give the highlights of the budget that the school system has requested for the FY 2016 school year. First of all I want to point your attention to the first slide that is here which is a collage of photographs of our students being interactive as we are preparing them to go out into the world to become those productive citizens that I have heard many of the previous speakers talk about as we look at them being able to be a contributor to society. That is what we want to do in Southampton County Public Schools. Our mission statement is here as we have shared with you before; through the combined efforts of our staff, students, families, as well as our community to ensure a quality education in a safe environment that will prepare students to be successful learners and productive citizens in this society; and society as we know it is ever-changing. One of our main focuses as a school division; of course we have to start where the child starts and that is as soon as we can embrace that child through our doors and within our walls. So, early literacy is one of our main focuses as we start working with our children very young. We just want to share a few of those photographs that reflect our staff, teachers, parents, and our various community representative and leaders who have worked with our students from various perspectives. One of the things we are very proud of is our accreditation. We have six comprehensive schools; four of those schools are fully accredited and two are accredited with warning in the area of reading. So, we have had a place of very specific focus on the area of reading going forward. You can see this is another example of how board members are not only supportive as a board but individually supportive in the schools as they participate in the various activities that are held in the school. This gentleman is from another country, Mr. West. There is laughter in the room. Dr. Alvera Parrish states each year he comes and support the school in Read Across America Day. We have parents that are coming in and working with the students. I wanted to share this because we are one community. We are a small rural area but so goes the schools; you have heard me say this many times before, so goes the community. So, we have to work hand in hand with the resources that are available. Our doors are open for parents to come in and be a part of their children’s education. Odyssey of the Mind is another example of resources and experiences that we expose our students to with the programs that are made available to elementary students early on to experience higher level thinking skills and exert their energies in working as a team, again preparing them for the world to come as well as they move from Elementary School, to Middle School, to High School they are learning how to think on higher levels which is the required level in college as well as in a lot of the jobs that are in Corporate America. This is Nottoway Elementary students here. A lot of school divisions only have one team for Odyssey of the Mind, but we are proud to say we have an Odyssey of the Mind team at each of our Elementary Schools and in some cases they have more than one team. That is the Nottoway team; this is the Odyssey of the Mind team for Capron. These students are very bright as they continue to explore opportunities to learn in various ways. If you look here, we have one at Meherrin Elementary as they explore various ways of how to address the arts and explore various reading comprehensive skills that they can experience at different levels beyond knowledge but looking at application, evaluation, and synthesis. Here is the Riverdale Elementary team. All of these teams of students just recently competed with over 180 teams across the state. Our students were not second to any and we are just very pleased and proud of the product and representation of Southampton County

6

April 15, 2015

as they go outside the roads and the fields of Southampton County. They represent their community very well. We also have representation of our students in our Middle School and across k-12 in the various arts knowing that the SOL’s is not the only thing that we try to give our students opportunities and experiences in; this is the Middle School Chorus. You can see there are a number of students there. That piano and risers that are there were all bought with grant monies. So, we have the support of community people that are helping us to be able to implement the programs for the students as well. Our Junior BETA Club is an academic club that is held at the Middle School. Those students are able to go and compete with other Junior BETA CLUB students across the state of Virginia. . We even have a President that was elected this year. This is just our second year participating in the BETA competition and we have a President as well as a Secretary that was elected last, and a President that was elected this year. This young man was elected President of the State BETA Convention. We are very excited about the work that we do in Southampton County Public Schools. We have a dedicated staff, teachers, administrators, and our board that is committed to preparing our students for college or the world of work. As we are working with our students, we have a very specific focus going forward and have made some major accomplishments in those areas. As we are preparing students through the use of technology for various fields that may be of interest to them. As you can see there, they are continuously competing even throughout the secondary levels. We have a comprehensive dual enrollment program in course offerings through Paul D. Camp Community College. Our students are able to explore those opportunities and in many cases save parents at least a year or two of tuition going into college because of their ability to be able to take these dual enrollment courses. Our CTE program prepares our students for the world of work; as we said the world of work or college/university level experiences going forward. You can see here that our students are not into the CTE programs that are outdated but very much up to date. That is our agronomics class and we had that particular program demonstrated at our school board meeting. I believe Mr. Porter was there for that demonstration. It is amazing to see how those students interact and how the students are able to talk about the entire process that comes into play with that. Again, our culinary arts students and their program and how they are working towards being able to be ready for the world of work as well as the opportunity for many of our students to become industry certified; and we are very pleased with the number of students who are. These are just a few pictures of some of the programs and some of the experiences that students are involved in. Our ultimate goal is graduation which prepares them for that first step in the real world and we know how competitive it is in the real world. Therefore, we have put together a budget request that reflects the resources that are needed for us to be able to continue to provide those experiences for the students of Southampton County. We are very pleased with the accomplishments of our students and the accomplishments of our schools and the accomplishments of our staff. We just wanted to share with you very briefly as we reflect on when we were at the retreat back in March. We do thank you for the opportunity to come share with you in that type of setting where we could interchange in an informal manner. The budget request that came forward to you at that time and submitted to the Board of Supervisors asked $851,832 in local funding. That was the request at that time. The request included the following reductions: 5 Elementary teaching positions, IT Technician position, an Instructional Support position, a Custodial position, our Cortez Math lab was reduced by two schools, reduced on-line professional development, and one student slot for the supplemental program called SECEP for FY 2016 to get it down to this $851,832. However, after the dialog with you at the retreat we went back and looked at the budget even more from the information you shared with us concerning where you were with revenue. So, this is just a reflection of that $851,832. This is the local state categorical operating budget that we presented to you at that retreat regarding what the categories were. This is the information you were provided on the 10th of March. As we went back and looked at how we could reduce the local request even more, one of the issues that came to us, and we had dialogue about was a change in the projected ADM. At present the state’s projected ADM for Southampton County Public Schools is at 2536. What we have done is gone back and addressed the numbers that are allowable from the state to develop a local projected ADM. The state revenue with an ADM of 2536 is at $16,398,258. The state revenue with our adjusted local projected ADM at 2575 will be $16,606,846 which means an estimated increase in state revenue of $208,588 for the operating budget. Going forward, with that adjusted local projected revenue of $208,588, that has been included here for our adjustments for the FY 2015-2016 budget. We start with this adjusted projected ADM. Another adjustment we made was the computers for the reading program for $60,000. Next is the Compensation Supplement effective January 2016 for 1.5% is $179,348. The two elementary teacher positions we reduced further for $99,600. We reduced one secondary teacher position for $70,453. The attrition from custodial retirement is $8,685. The technology department was reduced by $5,000. The special education contracted services was reduced by $11,615. Site improvements in the

7

April 15, 2015

operating budget were reduced by $10,000. That gives us a total of $653,289 in reduction. The previous local increase request for local funding was at $851,832 as I have said to you before. The adjusted local increase request is at $198,543. So, the projected percentage increase in local revenue request that we are making is 1.73%. Just to give you a summary of FY 2015-2016 budget reductions; as we look at the reductions that were brought forward to you at the retreat and the reductions that we added after we went back and made additional adjustments. We are now at the reduction of seven elementary teacher positions, one secondary teacher position, one custodian position, one information technology technician position, instructional program reductions and they are listed here and I addressed them previously but I will say them again; that is inclusive of special education contracted services, reading program, Cortez math program in those two schools, one student slot in supplemental program, and online professional development program. The technology reduction is the $5,000 I spoke of in the previous slide and the operations department is the $10,000 I spoke of in the previous slide. We know that this board has been very supportive. This Board of Supervisors has been supportive of the school system. You have been a collaborative board of Southampton County School system. You have been an actively involved board of the Southampton School system. I just want to show that we recognize that you are present in various events and activities and supporting us in the various things we are trying to put forward to add to the lives of these children; so it doesn’t go unseen. We appreciate and recognize the collaboration. We appreciate and recognize the support you have given us and we recognize where you are as a Board of Supervisors in this county, elected officers. However, in our position and in my position particularly, I must ask if you please consider and make sure you give us every consideration and I know you will to help us to continue to provide those services for our students so we can continue to prepare our students to be those successful learners and productive citizens in an ever-changing society. We are opening doors for our students. We want to be able to help them be equipped as they go on to college and the world of work. In order to do that, we have to be able to have the resources to do so. We have to be able to expose our students so they can be able to compete and develop at the levels that they need to develop in order to be those contributing members of society. Right now our current ADM is at 2607 students who are the children of 2607 citizens of Southampton County and I know they want the best that we can provide for their children and I believe that you do too. Thank you. Any questions?

8

April 15, 2015

9

April 15, 2015

10

April 15, 2015

11

April 15, 2015

12

April 15, 2015

13

April 15, 2015

14

April 15, 2015

15

April 15, 2015

16

April 15, 2015

17

April 15, 2015

18

April 15, 2015

19

April 15, 2015

Chairman Jones states are there any questions for Dr. Parrish? Thank you very much. Mr. Garner you may come up. Chief Carl Garner addressed the board. Good evening. As you all know my name is Carl Garner, Chief of Ivor Volunteer Fire Department and President of Southampton County Fire and Rescue Association. I am here representing over 300 well trained and dedicated Fire and EMS volunteers that protect the citizens of this county 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I would also like to thank you for inviting us to your budget retreat. I think it was very informative on both sides and I hope we can continue that working relationship. The Fire and Rescue Departments understand the financial strain placed upon the County this year and we fully support your decisions as it relates to funding for Fire and Rescue regarding the proposed budget. Thank you for all of your support that you have given us and we hope that we can continue the outstanding working relationship that we have with you. Even with the contribution from the County, the Fire and Rescue Departments depend largely on general donations and fundraisers to ensure that we are able to provide the valuable service that we do. With that said, I would like to share a few facts with you and the citizens that are in attendance here tonight. In 2014, we had a total of 2,797 calls for help; that is Fire and EMS. That was up 5.7% from 2013. The total fire calls were 926; that was up 9.3% as it relates to 2013. Total EMS calls 1,871; that was up 3.9% from 2013. Of those EMS calls, the County Volunteer Departments responded to 1,554 of those calls. That was up 5.6% from the previous year. The City of Franklin Fire and Rescue, which does cover a majority area in the Newsoms District, had 285 calls which is up 5.9% from the previous year. Mutual aid calls that came in from other EMS agencies, which include Greenville, Waverly, and Windsor were 32 calls for 2014. That is down 46.7% from the previous year. That means we are depending less on mutual aid and answering the calls ourselves with the volunteers that we have. Calls that were not answered for 2014 from our Volunteer Departments was at 47. That doesn’t mean the call went unanswered, it just means it went unanswered by that first run department. That was down 29.9% and is proving that the additional ALS coverage that we put in on weekends and the additional dedication of our volunteers is working. We have reduced the amount of calls in our first run area that has gone unanswered. What are the benefits of our volunteers contributing? Real quickly, I have estimated that we have spent 17,873 man hours in answering these calls in 2014. That is 49 man hours per day that our volunteers spend away from their families, friends, and workplace. EMS had 7,684 of those man hours. Fire had 10,186 man hours. We estimate in 2014 alone the savings created by volunteers in just wages was over $7.9 million. That is $7.9 million that the tax payers did not have to pay. That equates to .51 cents on your real estate rate that the volunteers saved the tax payers of this county. As always, the dedicated volunteers will continue to be here for the visitors and the citizens of this fine County. We want all of you and everyone in this room tonight to rest easy knowing we have some of the best trained responders in the state that are willing to put their lives on the line to protect your property, your business, and your family and friends. Thank you. Chairman Jones states thank you Mr. Garner. Do any of you have any questions for Mr. Garner? Does anyone have anything they want to say? Anything else the board would like to do tonight? Supervisor West states I would like to make one general comment. Thank you Dr. Parrish; I think you have made an outstanding effort to be practicable and we are facing budget restraints and last year we had less restraints and was able to respond favorably. Even with that, we increased the tax rate by .02 cents. That was to help our Fire and Rescue last year and thank you Mr. Garner for explaining that to us. I am a reasonable person. I will call on every person in the county; every citizen to be a volunteer. The schools need volunteers, number one. That goes a long way to show those young people that you care about them. It won’t hurt you to learn a little bit. I have never read a Dr. Seuss book in my life, and I have never been so tongue twisted. But, with that being said it was fun and I would do it again next year. I think you have made reasonable request; each one of you from the library right on to Smart Beginnings. I am pleased with your willingness to work with us. I want to work with you as well. I am not prejudging and I don’t want to be accused of “his mind is made up.” I want to follow this process out. Chairman Jones states thank you Mr. West. Anyone else? Supervisor Faison states I would like to thank all of the speakers here tonight. You’re coming up and talking points out what valuable services you offer to this county. We are blessed that we have people who will be involved and work towards that. It would be great if we had the money to be able to supply everything that everybody needs, but all of the board members will certainly do the

20

April 15, 2015

best that we can. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Porter. Supervisor Porter states I would like to thank you all for coming and showing your interest in the budget. I would like to thank all of the associations and the groups; especially the schools for what you do for the County. We do recognize how important you are and we recognize the contributions that you make and what you do for us. Like the other board members, I wish we had unlimited funds and we could give you twice of what you ask for but like Mr. West said I am going to try to do the best I can for all of you; see how we can play this process out over the next six weeks. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Updike. Supervisor Updike states I don’t have anything to add to what the rest of the board I said. We will do what we can. Also, we have to look after the taxpayers in the County. Just a reminder, this is an election year. Don’t expect the pocket book to be open too wide because citizens will rebel. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Edwards. Supervisor Edwards states we are going to give you everything we have and that is it. Whatever we have is yours. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Phillips. Supervisor Phillips states I would like to thank everyone who came tonight. Dr. Parrish we do realize you have had a significant reduction in state funds. The savings that have come from the volunteers, the County realizes how significant in both the time they donate as well as the cost that potentially could come to the County. It is a difficult situation. Last year we were enjoying a flush of money that came in from our two new businesses. We will do the very best we can with what we have moving forward and we thank everyone for coming. Chairman Jones states thank you board members. If that is all we will meet next Wednesday. Before I close is there any person out there that has anything they would like to say. This is not a public hearing but if you have a question about anything that you have heard you may ask them if you like. If not, this meeting is adjourned. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. __________________________________ Dallas O. Jones, Chairman __________________________________ Michael W. Johnson, Clerk

21

April 22, 2015

At a budget workshop meeting of the Southampton County Board of Supervisors held in the Board Room of the Southampton County Office Center, 26022 Administration Center Drive, Courtland, Virginia on April 22, 2015 at 6:30 PM.

SUPERVISORS PRESENT

Dallas O. Jones, Chairman (Drewryville) Ronald M. West, Vice Chairman (Berlin-Ivor)

Dr. Alan W. Edwards (Jerusalem) Carl J. Faison (Boykins-Branchville)

Glenn H. Updike (Newsoms) Barry T. Porter (Franklin) S. Bruce Phillips (Capron)

SUPERVISORS ABSENT

OTHERS PRESENT Michael W. Johnson, County Administrator (Clerk)

Lynette C. Lowe, Deputy County Administrator/ CFO Amanda N. Smith, Administrative Assistant

OTHERS ABSENT

Julien W. Johnson, Jr. Public Utilities Director Richard E. Railey, Jr., County Attorney

Beth Lewis, Director of Community Development

Chairman Jones called the budget workshop to order. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Faison gave the invocation. Chairman Jones states Mr. Johnson I will turn it over to you. Mr. Michael Johnson states I don’t have anything planed Mr. Chairman. As you know, you have had the first draft for a couple of weeks. We had the department presentations last week. We can go through this any way you would like. Some years we have gone department by department; some years you all have looked at it much broader than that. So, I am open to your direction as to how you would like to look at it. Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen, what do you want to do here? You want to try to go through each item? They have it to the bare bones. Supervisor Porter states I have gone through it pretty thoroughly and basically each department is getting roughly the same amount of money they got last year. In most cases they have additional expenses that they have to absorb within those funds. I don’t see any areas where we could cut any significant money. As I have mentioned to some of you, the only department that is getting less money this year than in the past is the schools. They are getting significantly less. I have been through what they have done and they have real cuts. They have cut programs and they have cut teachers and they are asking for more money than we have in our draft budget. If they don’t get that, then they will be cutting four more teachers. I know it is a big pill to swallow, as I mentioned I am willing to raise taxes one cent in order to give them another $150,000 so they only have to cut one more teacher instead of four more teachers. I would like to find the money somewhere else but I can’t find the money anywhere else. I know it is not real popular; it is not popular with the board; it is not going to be popular with people who pay taxes, but I think it is the right thing to do. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Faison. Supervisor Faison states I certainly heard what Mr. Porter said and I agree with it. I don’t see where we can find any more money in the budget in our present situation. As I was saying a while ago, the schools are more impacted than any other department that we work with. That is because

22

April 22, 2015

so much is being cut from the state funding they receive. We need to do something for our children because unless we do something for the children now it is going to impact the future of this county. What Mr. Porter mentioned about the one cent raise in taxes, I would go along with that. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor West. Supervisor West states I am going to take the opposite side. I know we use the argument over and over that it is going to impact the children’s future, and it does to some degree; the teachers and the programs. If you assume that we are on top right now with the school programs and the school financially needing this additional money. I was impressed with the reduction from $851,832 to $198,543. However, we do not have the cash available. It is not coming in through new taxes. It is not coming in through any new revenue; sources other than the fact that you have to go directly to the tax payer. Tax payers in general have been quiet to me. However, when I say something they say well I know you are going to raise the taxes. It is always the same source. Last year we were able to fund everyone in their request and unfortunately we increased taxes two cents. Like I said, I didn’t like that but none of the less we saw a need for the people with Fire and Rescue. But, tonight if the schools were able to reduce the request from $851,832 to $198,543 I am hoping and asking the Superintendent and the Finance personnel there to reduce more in a way that is less impact. I mentioned the last time John, and I think I read an editorial today in the paper. You said surely fund the schools and surely find $200,000 that can be given to the schools. I mentioned last time about volunteerism. I hope you will volunteer. I hope you are going into the reading programs. I hope you are there for the neighborhood and helping out in that way. I hope you are a citizen that is willing to help out and willing to give back to the community instead of just saying cut something else and give it to the schools or do it some other way. There are many ways that we can help the schools. Volunteers are very important in the schools. Will that solve the problem? I don’t know, but I am not inclined to give one penny or increase the budget one bit tonight. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Updike. Supervisor Updike states I have been through and have looked at every single number and every single item in here. I have several questions I would like answers too. The first one is the county audit; you quoted and said you had bids for five years contract for $20,000. Under here, and I don’t have the page number, it is $36,000. Why is there a significant increase if we already have a contract? Mr. Michael Johnson states let me double check that. I don’t think it is a significant increase. Supervisor Updike states you said the cost last year was $20,000… Mr. Michael Johnson states I don’t think I said it was $20,000. Mrs. Lynette Lowe states no it was like $27,000. Supervisor Updike states well if it was $27,000 now it is $36,000. Mrs. Lynette Lowe states no it is not $36,000. Do you know what page you are looking on? Mr. Michael Johnson states $30,500; page 30. Mrs. Lynette Lowe states the piece of it that went up; the state is making everyone have a VRS audit also, and that additional cost that you are seeing is for that piece of the additional audit that has to be done. Supervisor Updike states okay. Mr. Michael Johnson states the budget last year was $28,000. So, it is $2,500 higher than that. Mrs. Lynette Lowe states and they quoted us a steady price for all five years; the price will not go up any as far as the $28,000 Mike is talking about. Chairman Jones states Mr. Updike what is your other question?

23

April 22, 2015

Supervisor Updike states it is just minor details. Most of the services that are provided like Head Start, Senior Citizens, and all of these other things people are coming in and asking funds for, they are basing it on the population; but I am looking at the services provided to the County citizens. The percentage of services that we get out of it is a lot less than the amount of funds they are requesting. I have been here three years, and they are good programs, but each time Head Start states they are going to bring more to Courtland and the surrounding areas; that has been three years and each year they make the same comment. I am concerned that these organizations are not doing a very good job. But, the services we get from these organizations; the percentages are way down. Supervisor Porter states which ones are you talking about specifically? Mr. Michael Johnson states Head Start is the Children’s Center showing on page 30. You funded them at $6,000 last year and $6,000 again this year. Supervisor Updike states I am not talking about the increase or decrease, I am talking about the actual services that are provided to the County people; the one that was here at the last meeting planning to expand in Southampton. Mr. Michael Johnson states you are talking about Smart Beginnings. Supervisor Phillips states that and the clinic is what I think he is talking about. Supervisor Updike states the clinic too. Supervisor Porter states as far as the clinic we never give them anywhere near what they want. They want like $38,000 but we give them around $9,000. I think we get the value from that $9,000. Supervisor Faison states with those programs, I think a lot of what you have said is just your perspective. I have worked with a lot of kids that these programs impact and I know as far as the Free Clinic a lot of those kids use that Free Clinic. They just don’t have the money for insurance and they don’t have the money to go to the doctor. So, that makes a big difference in the lives of the kids that I work with. As far as Head Start, I can see where they certainly reach out to a lot of kids in the County. So, I think those organizations are doing a good job. Supervisor Updike states I didn’t question what they are doing. I am questioning their services in relation to their budget in the amount of their request. I can’t do anything about it this year but I think it needs to be looked at further. Another area is the Water and Conservation Services request. I think we are not getting our fair share of return on investment. Forestry is also in that same category. Mr. Michael Johnson states Forestry is mandated. Supervisor Updike states well the only thing I know that we get out of it is a listing of the vegetable growers in the County. Mr. Michael Johnson states well they did a cost share on all of the oil recycling containers that are at our lease sites. That came through Soil Conservation. Chairman Jones states alright do you have something else? Supervisor Updike states yes; I would like to request that you review money like for the County Fair; I think that money should be earmarked for a youth program. I think we have $4,500 or something like that. Mr. Michael Johnson states $4,275.00. Supervisor Updike states I am rounding the figures off. I can’t remember all of those figures. I think it should be earmarked for the youth. The fairgrounds get revenue from the gates. Anything for the youth, they have to go out and beg and still can’t get sufficient funds. I think that money should be earmarked for the youth programs.

24

April 22, 2015

Supervisor West states well that is a personal choice. Supervisor Updike states well I can ask for your consideration. I am just asking it to be looked into and thought about. Chairman Jones states alright, you have anything else. Supervisor Updike states under Cooperative Extension I noticed you have educational expenses. The state provides the expenses for education and training. To me this is a duplicate. I think it is about $300 but nether-the-less I don’t think it is necessary. It is already being subsidized by tax payers. Before they can go any place or use the County’s money, they still have to get money from the state. Mr. Michael Johnson states it is $750.00 which I think represents our 1/3 share; the state and the federal picks up the other 2/3 out of a total budget of about $2,300. Chairman Jones states alright do you have something else? Supervisor Updike states I will thumb through it some more. Chairman Jones states while you are thumbing through, we will go ahead. He called on Supervisor Edwards. Supervisor Edwards states I thought about this a lot and I agree with Mr. West. There are some things about the process that has upset me for a couple of years; the process of trying to establish a football dynasty again. They had a chance to hire a coach at $6,000 a year; a very good coach. What we have now we are paying over $80,000 a year if you look at insurance and everything else. That is two teachers. Now what are you going to do? Do you want a football dynasty or do you want to teach school. I have talked to teachers over there and the teachers say we don’t need more teachers. We need more free time to teach. They are filled up day after day after day with busy work. Four teachers is not going to make any difference; any difference at all. I think they need to go ahead and say we are down four teachers, we are going to make up the difference, we are going to have to do some things differently, and hope things are better next year. You can’t keep going with this; I need four more teachers. The teachers are not the problem. They have an 80, 90, $100,000 football program over there that nobody is saying anything about. That really gripes me. They had a good coach for $6,000 and everything the gentlemen get, I don’t care how good he is, and I have nothing against him personally but that is two teachers. Supervisor Porter states I don’t like that either but the funds to pay that coach doesn’t come out of our funds. It is grant money and consequently even though I may not like the fact that they pay that guy that much, it doesn’t affect any money we give them or any money they get from the state. That is not really… that is kind of an extraneous matter to go with. One other thing, it is not that they need four more teachers; they don’t want to cut four more. There is a difference when you are cutting teachers and adding teachers. They are not adding any teachers. They are trying to avoid cutting four more teachers. Supervisor Edwards states well I think we have to take a stand somewhere. I am just as much for education. I spent 2/3 of my life in school somewhere and I know education is important but if we keep letting the state knuckle us under year after year; nobody knows about it; nobody writes about it; nobody complains about it. All we do is knuckle under and say okay here are four more teachers. Where is the end going to be? It has to get to a place where something breaks. Believe me if they get rid of four more teachers it is not going to be any different over there. It is not going to be any worse. I talk to these teachers every day. I talk to English teachers, I talk to the Agriculture teacher, and I talk to the teachers that are engaged in sports. Supervisor Porter states and I talk to the Math and Science teachers and they are stretched. Having been a math teacher, I can empathize with them and I think we are shirking our responsibility if we let them cut any more teachers than they absolutely have to cut. Chairman Jones states is that all? Supervisor Edwards states that is all. I have spoken my piece. I think they can do perfectly well

25

April 22, 2015

with whatever cuts they have just like the rest of us; just like any business does. It happens to you, it happens to me every year. It happens to everybody here who is a farmer or in business. If you have to make a cut, you have to make a cut. You have to do what you have to do. Every year, if you are a poor farmer you can’t just keep throwing money at it and hoping that you are better next year. I don’t think cutting four teachers is going to have one hill of beans to do with the quality of education. Supervisor Porter states it is cutting four more teachers. They are already cutting six I believe. Supervisor Faison states when teachers are cut you have the same number of students. You have fewer teachers teaching the same number of students. We talk about how swamped the teachers are now with work; if we cut four of them out, those students have to be redistributed among the teachers that are remaining. It is just a greater burden and something is going lacking and some of us going lacking is what can be offered to these students. If we don’t do something for our students they will be our problem later on. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Phillips. Supervisor Phillips states the Average Daily Membership has fallen by what number? Was it 150? The Average Daily Membership has fallen and it is expected to fall again this year. Supervisor Edwards states so if it is falling why do you need more teachers? Supervisor Phillips states bingo. Supervisor Edwards states you were just telling me about the classes and what he said just hit me too. If your number of students are falling why do you need more teachers? Where is the rationale there? Where is the sense there? They have less in each class, but are saying I need more teachers. Supervisor Porter states they have already cut six and now they are standing to cut four more. They have already cut a bunch of teachers. Supervisor Edwards states if the population is falling they may need to cut four more teachers. Supervisor Phillips states there are additional cost coming in. We are going to have to replace all of the voting machines. That is going to cost us $35,000 this year over a five year period. We are still funding the school buses which was a hole that the school board has gotten into and couldn’t seem to get out of. We have put money back in the reserve. Supervisor West states we didn’t put money back; we didn’t take any out. Supervisor Phillips states not this year but last year we did. My daughter-n-law teaches at Capron. I talked to school teachers and this Cortez math program, if I have ever heard anything that they don’t like it is that. It is a boondock. Now, they have cut that out of two schools this year already. Supervisor West states for what reason do you know? Supervisor Phillips states well I really don’t. It seems like we are trying to analyze how the school board runs. Supervisor Edwards states many of the teachers say they can’t teach it. Supervisor Phillips states because the answer is in the program; when they go into the math lab the answers are wrong. The children do the problem right and put in the right answer the machine tells them they are wrong. When they try to correct it… talk to a math teacher anywhere in the system. You will get an ear full; it is like pushing a button then step back. We have the pay scale study still pending. Our employees are waiting with some hope for a pay raise. I am not sure where we are going to find that. It may have to be in the next year’s budget. Again, I am not going to speak on all of the concerns that I feel, but I don’t see the money and I am not in favor of raising taxes. Did you ever come up with the number on the… Mr. Michael Johnson states I can tell you the state estimate for FY 2016 is 2536. Dr. Parrish has

26

April 22, 2015

gone back and adjusted that number up by 38 students with full confidence those students will be in the system in September next year. We have factored that additional state revenue in for those 38 additional students to an ADM of 2575. Now, I don’t have it right in front of me but my recollection was your FY 2015 budget had approximately 113 more. Supervisor Porter states the actual number for this year is 2607. Supervisor West states what is the state’s payment for each student? Supervisor Edwards states 2607 is what actual number? Supervisor Porter states 2607 is the actual ADM for the current school year. Not budget; we budgeted approximately 2700. Supervisor West states so 7 times 4 could be 280,000… Supervisor Porter states it is $6,000 per student. Supervisor Phillips states but if the students are not in the school? I am trying to understand where those numbers… Average Daily Membership is… the number of students in the schools is what generates the number of teachers that are necessary to teach. Correct? Supervisor Porter states it is a step function. For instance, if you get 15 students you need a teacher. You don’t need another teacher until you get to 30. Once you get to 45 you need another teacher. You have a teacher teaching anywhere between 15-30 kids depending on the class, but once you get to 30… and in some of the lower grades the number is 22 or 23 that you have to add another teacher. But, looking at high school if you have 28 kids in the class with one teacher and say four of those kids left because you raised tuition, you still need that teacher. You don’t lose a teacher because those four kids left. That is what has happened. Mr. Michael Johnson states to get back to your question Ronnie the extra 38 students generated an average of 5460.41 per student in additional state aid. Supervisor West states thank you. Supervisor Updike states let me ask another question. It concerns me that we are jacking these numbers up and down. There is going to be a shortfall if we don’t reach those expectations. I would much rather go with the state’s estimate and you have extra for the schools than to expect a bigger payout from the state and you never get it. That is about $150,000 short of money. Mr. Michael Johnson states but that is a different direction than you gave them the night of your retreat. Supervisor Updike states I realize that. Supervisor Porter states the thing with it is the way they arrived at the extra 38 students; they actually went back and looked at who is graduating, and who is coming into kindergarten and first grade and tried to get a number that they felt like was a good number. Mr. Michael Johnson states they actually have gone to daycare providers and asked how many kids they will have starting kindergarten next year. Supervisor Porter states the reason they are comfortable is because the state thinks what happened to our schools last year, having 100 kids leave because we raised out of district tuition, is going to continue this year. So, they factored in another 100 kids leaving not realizing why they left. They don’t look at why they left they look at the trend. I feel like the state has underestimated the ADM because they have given improper weight to these 100 kids that left due to tuition increases. We are not going to have another 100 students leave this year because of tuition increase. Supervisor West states well I am going to go back to what Mr. Updike said. I agree with what you said and I am not saying we put the pressure on the schools to adjust their numbers; however, at the end of the day they felt that it was important to do to try and get this thing to work from

27

April 22, 2015

$851,832 to $198,543. With that being said, I think we as a board would have to guarantee that minimum number. Whatever it is; 2638 or whatever that number is. I would think we would have to guarantee our part of $5500 for each one of those students if it is under that number. Supervisor Updike states that is what I am saying. Supervisor West states I would be willing to do that as a guarantee to say that is a minimum. But, what I am not saying if you have more than that guaranteed ADM that you have to give that back. No; I am saying if there is a time for an adjustment you can add a program or you can change something. You have the additional money because you have more kids. That is your money. Now, I am going to go back to what Mr. Porter and I had talked about a time or two. In the past, I think some of these ADMs were underestimated over the years under prior administration; not this board, school board. That being underestimated, at the end of the year there was a windfall of money left over where it came in from the states that was kept out of our knowledge from September, October, until coming back to the board and saying can we get that $1.3 million; can we get this or get that. I am saying that was part of the surplus that was built up in there. I am trusting the schools to do the right thing and I think she told us the truth. I don’t think she is fudging, cutting, or doing anything else. My only issue is are we going to increase the taxes because I see it $152,000 is one penny and $198,000 is the number that she needs; $37,000 is the number we have to add to the $198,000. So, now we are at $235,000 and approaching two pennies and now you are talking $300,000 and that is just in case something else comes up. We are between a rock and a hard place; a catch 22. I still don’t like to go to the tax payer because I hit him last year for two pennies. We said, and please correct me Mr. Johnson because I am not trying to use your name un-carefully. An average house in Southampton County is valued at roughly $150,000. Is that correct? Supervisor Phillips states yes roughly. Supervisor West states so you are affecting the tax rate increase… Supervisor Porter states $15.00. Supervisor West states $15.00 no, that would be on $100,000. Supervisor Porter states no it is $15.00 on $150,000. It is one cent on $150,000 and that is $15.00. Supervisor West states yes you are right. I am sorry, but that is what we are asking from each person. Supervisor Porter states the average person. Supervisor West states the average person. Obviously the better the house, the more expensive and so forth. It is a matter of do you want to have an increase or not? Mr. Updike you can look and find $300.00, $200.00; you can find a thousand here and a thousand there but it takes 198 of them to get that $198,000. We either do it or we don’t. Supervisor Updike states I agree with that but the thing of it is these things that I have mentioned is cumulative over the years. An amount of $300.00 over 10 years you are looking at $3,000.00. You have to look at every penny because when times are tight each department… travel expenses, education, fees, etc. In times like this it is not time to travel to conventions and things like that. It is time to reduce it. Supervisor West states that is not our position to tell someone how to spend their money. Years ago this board gladly went to Homestead in the fall and we enjoyed the experience of meeting other Supervisors in other counties and people that were in situations similar to ourselves. Well, we had a negative input to come onto the board three years ago and it has become an embarrassment to say where have you all gone; you don’t show up to anything; you don’t go to any of these things. It becomes, in a nice way of saying things, an embarrassment for Southampton County because we didn’t participate because we had to cut every penny; squeeze every penny. You are wasting your money. You are doing this and you are doing that. I hope we have gotten passed that Mr. Updike. I want us to get passed that, but I want to say tonight I haven’t heard you say should we give a penny to the schools. You have kind of gone all around it. Are you yay or

28

April 22, 2015

nay on the additional one penny for the schools? That is what I want to hear from you. Supervisor Updike states it is a nay. Supervisor West states it is a nay. Supervisor Edwards states the one thing in this country and in our government we have this idea of and habit of if there is a problem throw some money at it and that will fix it. Sometimes you have to stop throwing the money. Whatever the problem is, they need to fix it. There is a problem here that they need to fix and throwing money at it again is not going to fix it. It will be the same problem next year and the year after that. Supervisor Porter states I think your metaphor is misplaced here Dr. Edwards because the problem is a money problem. It is not a problem that needs to be addressed like discipline. It is not a problem that needs to be addressed like performance. It is a money problem and that is what we are dealing with. It is something you either have to add money to or cut money from and you can’t approach it like you are trying to in your metaphor. Supervisor Updike states the money problem is this. You have heard it before and this is my socialism showing. I think the administration, the workers, and the teachers should be on two different scales and to give a cross the board 3% salary increases. Dr. Parrish probably gets $154,000 and a school teacher making $40,000 will get $1200.00. She will get four times as much as a school teacher and the cost of living like food, gas, and housing is almost identical. The system needs to be changed. Where is the money going to? It is going to the higher paid officials. Supervisor Porter states Mr. Updike we have no control over what your issue is there and the fact that I don’t believe if they give a 2% increase it necessarily goes to the Superintendent. I believe that she has a contract that specifies her salary that has to be voted separately by the board. The only raises the teachers are getting are the ones specified by the General Assembly which is going to be 1.5% starting January 1st. It is totally funded by state revenue. We can do nothing about that and we get no benefit from it. We are not giving any money for teacher raises or anybody raises. Supervisor Updike states that is not the question. The teachers get no raises; you want to give it to administration. I want to give it to the teachers. Supervisor Porter states that has nothing to do with our current dilemma. We are wasting time talking about that. Chairman Jones states there is nothing we can do about that. Supervisor Updike states there is always something you can do about it. Chairman Jones states no you can’t do anything about that. Supervisor Porter states unless you want to give the school system more money and say give it only to the teachers; you want to raise the taxes a nickel and just give the teachers a raise and not give the principals or anyone else a raise. Supervisor Updike states if they change the system I might would consider that. Chairman Jones states alright what are we going to do? Supervisor West states I am ready to make a motion. Chairman Jones states alright has everybody had their say? Is everybody satisfied? Supervisor Porter states before you make your motion I would like to make my motion because I am sure my motion will be defeated. I want to go on record saying, I would like to propose that we publish the budget as presented plus one additional cent tax increase with the money going to the schools. Supervisor Faison seconded the motion.

29

April 22, 2015

Chairman Jones called for the vote. Supervisor Porter and Supervisor Faison voted yes. Supervisor West, Supervisor Updike, Supervisor Edwards, and Supervisor Phillips voted no. The motion did not pass. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor West. Supervisor West made a motion for the proposed budget to go to public notice and public hearing advertising the budget as already presented with the same facts and figures you have given us; 77 cents and no tax increase this year. Supervisor Edwards seconded the motion. Chairman Jones called for the vote. Supervisor West, Supervisor Updike, Supervisor Edwards, and Supervisor Phillips voted yes. Supervisor Faison and Supervisor Porter sustained. The motion was passed. Mr. Michael Johnson states we had a workshop scheduled next Wednesday night based on our calendar as the deadline to finalize the draft budget. Since you have reached consensus already, my assumption is you want to cancel next Wednesday’s meeting. Supervisor Edwards states yes. The next meeting will be… Mr. Michael Johnson states you have a regular meeting next Monday and the budget hearing is not until May 18, 2015. Chairman Jones states May 18, 2015 is the public hearing at the High School? Mr. Michael Johnson states yes sir. Mr. John Burchett states Dallas are you going to give me a chance to say something? Chairman Jones states yes sir come on up. We will hear you. Mr. John Burchett states I appreciate it. I hear what you all are saying. Ronnie, first I will address what you addressed to me. The volunteers that go to the schools are great; fantastic. But let me tell you what, you can take 100 John Burchetts and put them up there and it wouldn’t make one decent teacher. It is a great supplement and it helps the kids know that somebody cares about them. It does not work as far as replacing teachers. Now, Bob Parker’s wife before they pulled their kids out of public schools and put them in private school, she was there every day. She spent all day there and that was great. She was a big plus. Supervisor Phillips states was she like a teacher’s aide? Mr. John Burchett states no. I don’t think she got paid if that is what you mean. She was there all day long. Every time I was there she was there. That kind of person volunteering, yes. But if you take 100 John Burchetts…. It is just cold hard facts. Supervisor West states you don’t know that Mr. Burchett. You could go to the library and read to these children one on one. Take 30-45 minutes and go read to them. Mr. John Burchett states how many days did you go? Supervisor West states pardon me? Mr. John Burchett states how many days did you spend? Supervisor West states just one. Mr. John Burchett states I wouldn’t even mention it if that was all I did. I wouldn’t even have mentioned that. You went and had your picture taken and that was great and I appreciate that but I wouldn’t use that. But anyway, Dr. Edwards I want to address what you said. I really can’t believe it. You think you can take eleven teachers out and it not make a bit of difference. I think you have

30

April 22, 2015

lost touch or forgot. Supervisor Edwards states I am not following your numbers. I don’t know where you are getting your numbers from. Mr. John Burchett states Dr. Parrish came up at the last meeting and stated seven teachers and another person and now you are saying it will take four more. That is what Barry said; four more teachers without any increase. That is a total of eleven. I can’t even fathom how you could think it wouldn’t hurt anything. But that is what you are saying. There were a lot of complaints about the school board and concerned citizens and there were some changes made on the school board. Mr. Worsham and Dr. Modlin were the last two. There was another one too. Supervisor Phillips states Jim Pope. Mr. John Burchett states yes Jim; I have talked to Jim and Mr. Worsham but I haven’t talked to Dr. Modlin. These people spend a lot of time and they are all concerned. I know Mr. Worsham he was down on the school board. Now, if you talk to him he said they worked hard on this budget and he has changed his attitude the way he felt about Dr. Parrish. He said she is a top notch administrator and as far as her pay; you can pay a Superintendent $60,000 a year but what are you going to get. You are talking about administering a $30 million budget and you are going to complain because she gets $135,000 a year. To me, I want a top notch person spending $30 million of my money. The new members and the members that were already there worked hard on this budget and to me you are not supporting them. I can’t quite understand and I am going to make this quick because I am ready to go home too. A few simple things; I can’t understand why you won’t even consider what I came up with and I am glad you didn’t because if you had of done it you would have already taken this money and wouldn’t be able to do it now. This $200,000; the three garbage days. If we took one of those days out, a 12 hour day would save $78,000. If you don’t want to take one day, split the days up. Have them open from 7 am to 11 am and from 3 pm to 7 pm. You can have that every day and still save 1/3 of the budget. We can’t do it every year but we can give the school board a little time to decide on what they are going to do. When you have enrollment dropping there will be cuts every year. The other place I think we could get the rest of the money; I look at this every year and it makes my blood boil; the detention in the Sheriff’s department and they get every penny they ask for. I look through the budget every year and it goes up. If my math is right based on what I have been told what the average inmate population is which is about 100 is $31,000 a year. I look at the list of employees. I think there is 36 or 40. There are a bunch of deputies that are detention officers. There are always people leaving. If we just cut two of those positions that would save two teachers. If we just level funded the detention and not give them any extra money including this $38,000 in the building fund for the cafeteria. Let them go one more year without a new stove or whatever they are doing. I don’t know what they are doing. Mr. Michael Johnson states they are fixing the roof. I don’t think it can pass accreditation. Mr. John Burchett states that is another thing. How much money are we going to keep pouring into that place to keep it up to standard for the state? Chesapeake or one of those cities just closed one of their facilities and had to go with the Regional Jail because they couldn’t pass state accreditation. If you go to the Sheriff and tell him you are not going to give him any more money; you will have to make it with what you have. I don’t know why you won’t even think about it. You will cut eleven teachers without even batting an eye, but you won’t cut anything from these guys that aren’t worth a darn. Supervisor Edwards states you don’t have any idea how many teachers they need, but you are telling me we are cutting eleven teachers. That is what bothers me. You have no idea either. Mr. John Burchett states no I don’t. Supervisor Edwards states okay so how can you make a judgement then. Chairman Jones states gentlemen calm down. Mr. John Burchett states we have to go by what they tell us. We have to have some faith in what they say. What are you going to do when the scores are down because they can’t teach them? Dallas, I know you don’t vote but I would like to hear what you think?

31

April 22, 2015

Chairman Jones states I am for the schools period. I have always been for the schools and I am still for the schools. If it was a tie, I would have voted for the school. Mr. John Burchett states I want to see you guys vote against it. Don’t make it unanimous that you passed this budget. Make it so I can say only these two supported the schools. Please don’t pass this thing unanimously because that means all of you are for it; for the huge cuts that are being made. One more quick thing; the School Board and Dr. Parrish are going to have to make some hard decisions. Like the football program; Barry I didn’t know it was funded by grants. I did not know that. Do we need three elementary schools? I tell you what with facilities there will have to be some hard choices if enrollment keeps going down. When they start cutting them out of your district I think you are going to hear some people complain; especially if you cut the football program. But, anyway, I appreciate it. I will be up there on May 18th. I won’t say a whole lot because it is a done deal. Chairman Jones states what you said about the three that wasn’t for the budget. It wouldn’t make any difference because it has passed because four people voted for it. Regardless of how we feel it was still passed by the board; period. Mr. John Burchett states right but a 4-3 vote means everybody doesn’t agree. Chairman Jones states we don’t agree all of the time but if four says yes than it is yes. Anyway you go with that it is still the board that does it. Mr. John Burchett states alright well I appreciate it. Chairman Jones states alright and thank you. Mr. Vick do you have anything? Mr. Joe Vick states thank you all for the work that you do. I also want to thank you for taking the lead with cleaning up the Nottoway River. That is something for those of us that live on the river is a great concern. I do appreciate all of the work that the Sheriff department has done. I do have to agree with John on the detention budget. I have been looking at that for years. We spend a quarter of a million dollars to feed prisoners in Southampton County; just to feed them. It could be to the point of getting out of hand. I don’t know. I haven’t compared it to other areas. It does seem like a good amount of our Public Safety expense is holding prisoners. That may be something to ask the Sheriff to look at. I think John also has a point too about recording the votes 4-3. It is an election year as you all may suspect. People may be interested in that. I don’t think there is anyone here to report the votes. Last thing I would say is at your next public hearing expect to hear a lot from the schools. You guys have a hard job. Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen anything else before we close. Supervisor West states I am going to repeat one thing that Mr. Johnson said. If we raise the tax rate one cent tonight we don’t have to continue and we could vote it down but we can’t increase it at the public hearing without another public hearing. It’s .77 cents; if we keep it there and we have a public hearing and there is a convincing argument in any way that you want to increase it you can’t do it at that time. We have to come back to a work session and re-advertise it for a public hearing to go to .78 cents. Supervisor Porter states let’s not play games. If you don’t have any sincere belief that you are opened minded enough to consider the .78 cents, let’s not play charades. Let’s not do that. Chairman Jones states alright any other comments? Now is the time. We are not going to meet again until May 18th. Supervisor Faison states I have nothing to say. Chairman Jones states Bruce do you have something to say. It looks like you have something on your mind. Supervisor Phillips states I am going to get with Mike. I think the numbers for the teachers… I want to make sure that is a good number. I don’t remember Dr. Parrish saying eight.

32

April 22, 2015

Mr. Michael Johnson states what she showed you last week in her presentation on page 14 at the top. She told you they had already made these reductions; seven elementary teacher positions and one secondary teacher position which are a total of eight. She has already cut out of the budget one custodial position, one information technology technician position, made reductions to the instructional program, technology department, and the operations department. If you flip back to page 13, at the bottom she showed you what those numbers equate to. Supervisor Phillips states I see that. It is a real tool to use your numbers and equate it into teaching positions. That really jerks at your emotions. It was school buses. You can’t send your children up and down the highways on buses that are going to break down. We have funded the school buses and we are funding them again this year. I believe $198,000; like I said this Math program, every person I have ever talked to in the school system talks about it. They talk about the football program. They are going to have football. If we had the money I would be more than happy to put it there. Chairman Jones states alright anything else? Anybody have a change of heart? Supervisor Updike states I don’t have a change of heart but I want to make it clear that this budget is not for July through November. It is for the year. It is not for six months until after election. I don’t want to see on November 10th everything thrown out the door. Mr. Michael Jones states the budget is set. Your tax rate is set and your revenues are coming in. Chairman Jones states when has that happened Mr. Updike? The only thing that we have done is stuff that we had to do. Supervisor Updike states you didn’t have to do it. Chairman Jones states okay if it is raining in your house every day are you going to let it stay that way? Supervisor West states Mr. Updike I don’t think it is a political election issue. Forgive me but I am still stuck on the fact that even with $1.3 million we still gave a two cent increase last year on the tax rate. That affects the average person. There are a lot of people that are struggling in this County. It is getting more and more difficult to pay out for tax bills and the $200 waste management fee. It affects people in a bad way. I just think there isn’t but so much water that can be dug out of an old well and if you keep on going to the same well it is going to run dry. We are all looking at a couple of things that are coming up. Next year you are going to get less money from Enviva and less money from AMAC. You are going to get less and less. How are you going to make up the shortfall unless you have new business?

33

April 22, 2015

Supervisor Porter states that is the key Mr. West. I think we don’t look down the road enough to where we can continue to market and entice new businesses to come. In order to do that, we have to provide the right environment, the right facilities, and the right situations. I don’t think everybody on the board and in the county feel that way. We have all of this not in my backyard mentality; let’s put it somewhere else. If we don’t change our attitude; you are talking you can’t afford it, we won’t be talking about a .78 cent tax rate. In ten years we are going to be talking about $1.50 tax rate if you don’t have real duration in your industry. If you have to wait until you are hit with $1.50 tax rate to get that point across it is going to be a sad situation. You are exactly right; the only way we can keep the taxes at the current level is to get more industry. We are moving towards being business friendly but we still have too many people who say I am business friendly if I don’t have to participate. That is not going to work. Everybody has to work together. We have to lead by example on this board and we have to show we are open to businesses because they are our life line. Chairman Jones states alright, any other comments before we close. Okay, so we are all set for May 18th. That will be our public hearing. We still have our regular meeting on Monday night. If there is nothing else this meeting is adjourned. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m. __________________________________ Dallas O. Jones, Chairman __________________________________ Michael W. Johnson, Clerk

34

April 22, 2015

****THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK*****

35

May 26, 2015

At a regular meeting of the Southampton County Board of Supervisors held in the Board Room of the Southampton County Office Center, 26022 Administration Center Drive, Courtland, Virginia on May 26, 2015 at 6:00 PM.

SUPERVISORS PRESENT Dallas O. Jones, Chairman (Drewryville)

Ronald M. West, Vice Chairman (Berlin-Ivor) Dr. Alan W. Edwards (Jerusalem)

Glenn H. Updike (Newsoms) Carl J. Faison (Boykins-Branchville)

Barry T. Porter (Franklin) S. Bruce Phillips (Capron)

SUPERVISORS ABSENT

OTHERS PRESENT Michael W. Johnson, County Administrator (Clerk)

Lynette C. Lowe, Deputy County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Julien W. Johnson, Jr. Public Utilities Director

Beth Lewis, Community Development Deputy Director Richard E. Railey, Jr., County Attorney

Amanda N. Smith, Administrative Assistant

OTHERS ABSENT Chairman Jones called the meeting to order. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Faison gave the invocation. Chairman Jones stated that the first item on the agenda is a closed session. Mr. Michael Johnson stated it is necessary for this Board to now conduct a closed meeting in accordance with the provisions set out in the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the following purpose:

1) In accordance with Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3), Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of approximately 60 acres of real property for conservation and recreation purposes, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body; and

2) In accordance with Section 2.2-3711 (A) (5), Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community; and

3) In accordance with Section 2.2-3711 (A) (7), Consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by the public body regarding specific legal matters associated with an Agreement with David J. Fowler, dated April 16, 2015.

4) In accordance with Section 2.2-3711 (A) (7), Consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by the public body regarding specific legal matters associated with removal of construction and demolition debris from the former H.P. Beale Packing Plant.

A motion is required to convene a closed meeting for the purposes described above. Chairman Jones asked if he could get a motion to go into closed session.

36

May 26, 2015

Supervisor Edwards made a motion to go into closed session. Supervisor Faison seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones called the meeting back to order. Mr. West at this time will you read the certification resolution? Supervisor West states yes sir and read the certification resolution to go back into open session.

RESOLUTION OF CLOSED MEETING

WHEREAS, the Southampton County Board of Supervisors had convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and

WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 (D) of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Southampton County Board of Supervisors hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed and considered by the Southampton County Board of Supervisors.

Supervisor West made a motion to adopt the certification resolution. Supervisor Faison seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states we are now back in open session. We did not do anything that was not on our agenda and we did not take any action at all. First of all I would like to say good evening and thank you all for coming. We will now go to citizen comment period. Mr. Larry Whitley addressed the board. Good afternoon, I am Larry Whitley and I live in the Jerusalem district. I have been here all of my life; Dr. Alan Edwards is my supervisor. I just wanted to thank you Supervisors and other County leaders for running the County more efficiently than it has been in the past years. I certainly like to thank you for proposing a flat tax rate and thank you all for lowering the debt. I think it is a lot less than the $71 million that we had several years ago. I also like to thank you for not doing the same thing when a county employee needed to be replaced not long ago. You all were smart enough and exercised the wisdom to contract this job out and it should be a big tax savings to the County. I just want to thank you all for a job well done. I know you get chewed out all the time; everybody gets tired of it. You probably have a lot more things that you would rather be doing and I am sure you would rather be spending more time with your family. I just want to thank you all for what you have done in the past and looking forward to your work in the future. Thank you. Chairman Jones states thank you. Anyone else? Mr. Joe Lomax addressed the board. Sir I just want to ask a question. My name is Joe Lomax, VDOT Residency Administrator. If I have a citizen that wants to talk about a road should they wait for the secondary six year public hearing? Mr. Michael Johnson states yes. Mr. Joe Lomax states okay, I just wanted to make sure. I also have additional information on highway matters if you would like to have it this evening. Thank you. Chairman Jones states alright if there is no one else Citizen Comment period is closed. We will go

37

May 26, 2015

to the minutes. Anyone have any problems with any of the sets of minutes? If not the minutes will stand approved. We will go to Highway Matters. Mr. Michael Johnson states Mr. Chairman, item A under Highway Matters is an update on Route 460. Despite VDOT’s notice of termination to US 460 Mobility Partners for Route 460 construction, field work activities within the 17 miles of the proposed new alignment will continue through this summer, with the expectation of obtaining a Record of Decision (ROD) and environmental permits by the summer of 2016. VDOT has scheduled a Rt. 460 project status meeting on May 28 at Windsor High School which will include detailed maps of the 17 mile project corridor, and where technical and environmental representatives will be available to answer questions. Chairman Jones states any questions or comments? Okay let’s go to item B. Mr. Michael Johnson states item B is just for your information. You see a copy of correspondence from the Transportation Commissioner Kilpatrick that I received on April 23rd the Board’s request to prohibit through-truck traffic on Rose Valley Road between Enviva Way and Dogwood Bend Road was approved. VDOT has a erected the permanent notification signs and restriction is now legally enforceable on that section of highway. Chairman Jones states okay, let’s go to item C. Mr. Michael Johnson states item C, again just for your information, I talked to Mr. Kee late last week and he indicated they would be starting the improvements on Statesville Road and Cypress Bridge Road last Thursday. I am not sure of the status of those improvements. Do you have anything Joe? Mr. Joe Lomax states we actually did work out there and according to Bill we should have the sub-base in and be finished with the asphalt by close of business tomorrow. Chairman Jones states alright, thank you. Let’s go to item D. Mr. Michael Johnson states item D; we have talked about this the last couple of months but you see in your agenda packages for your consideration a copy of a resolution requesting that Champs Drive be added to the secondary system of state highways and further requests VDOT to improve the street to the prescribed minimum state standards. Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen I need a motion. Supervisor Porter made a motion to approve the attached resolution. Supervisor Phillips seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to E, Monthly Concerns. He called on Supervisor West. Supervisor West states Mr. Lomax; our church attempted to pick up trash on the sides of the roadway on 614 in Zuni across from the Blackwater River. That was this past weekend. To make a long story short, there is this old witch vine that has grown up into the sign that says Adopt a Highway and cleaned by Tucker Swamp Baptist Church. That grass is about tall as you and me. It is literally 3 feet or more tall. It is just impossible to pick it up. I called and spoke to Ben and he is talking about contractors doing certain work and didn’t have the contractors working and didn’t have the agreement in place and you know you knew this was going to happen. I mean it is June now and I would really like to have it cut. When you do, one of the problems that occurs, so much grass and accumulated tall weeds go back into the ditches and fills them back up and then you go through the cycle again; poor ditches, you need to dig them out. You know where I am going with that. Thank you for what you do. I think you are on potholes pretty good. Any extra money between now and June 30th? Mr. Joe Lomax states no sir, but I may be able to help you out with a couple of things. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Faison. Supervisor Faison nodded his head no.

38

May 26, 2015

Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Edwards. Supervisor Edwards states I have a couple of easy things. Route 646 at the top of the hill the ditches there are so full that the water is running over into the farmer’s field off the front of his house. Those ditches need to be cleaned out all the way down to Burgess. They are in pretty bad shape particularly on the right hand side coming down. Water stands there all the time. That has always been a problem. Flaggy Run road going towards the dump; the first big curve towards the left and then you go up the hill towards the dump. There is no ditch on the left hand side and water stands right up there. I think that is a safety hazard for people going to and from the dump. The ditches on both sides are full of debris. They are not draining. Mr. Joe Lomax states okay. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Updike. Supervisor Updike states on Sands Road, the asphalt on the bridge has broken up. There is about a 3 or 4 inch pothole on the bridge. When you hit it with your vehicle’s tire it is pretty rough on it. A lot of those roads down in our area need patching. I have had several requests or complaints at least. This is a major problem for our entire county I guess. When you are going through the woods the trees have grown over and the limbs are hitting the tractors, trailers, and knocking peanuts off of the trailers when they go down the roads. I was wondering if they need some tree trimming. Since you have been using the sling blade for cleaning out ditches, the ditches are coming closer to the pavement. This is considered long-term but these ditches have to be pushed back towards the hills. It is impossible to travel and get off on a hard service road anymore. You don’t have a shoulder. Then, there is separation of pipes; it is terrible and getting worse every day. You are going to have to do something about it and that separation by the house has been there at least three months. We have a lot of road problems down our way. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Porter. Supervisor Porter states I don’t have any monthly concerns but I do have one comment. I hear from some people that the contractors on the Highway 35 Bridge are supporting the businesses in Courtland. Then, I talked to some of the vendors in Courtland and they say they don’t see much business. I was talking to one today and he said oh yes they bought a few bottles of water but that is about all they bought. I would like to ask the highway department to please ask the contractors to support the businesses in Courtland a little bit more. Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir. I want to say Thursday at noon we will meet with them and the Business Panel so I will bring that up then. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Phillips. Supervisor Phillips states good evening Mr. Lomax. I would like to thank you for the repairs done on Old Place Road. I see a lot of new asphalt out there. I would like to further question you on the tree trimming. Back in the winter, Jerry made a comment that you were buying a machine that could trim the overhanging limbs from trees that have grown out over the road so when we move cotton pickers or grain combines; is that machine still in the county and available? Mr. Joe Lomax states we just received it. It goes on the side of a tractor and it is for isolated locations where we are having trouble and we have to get crews trained for safety due to OSHA. That is why they haven’t used it. I don’t want to put them out there until they have been trained and make sure they know how to use it. We have one for Capron and one for Waverly and we have to share it. That is why it’s for isolated instances. For long road cuts that will be added to our contract for cutting because our guys are not what you would call experts with it. Supervisor Phillips states so you would hire a tree trimming company. Mr. Joe Lomax states we already have one for the district. That comes out of our district office and we provide routes for the Supervisor and send them in based on our allocation. We talk to the Superintendents and they tell us which routes they feel like they want to trim based on traffic volume, complaints, and the existing conditions. We are getting ready to start a new fiscal year so

39

May 26, 2015

it’s around that time for the new funding to start up. So this is the perfect time for us to start getting some of those routes in. We can’t trim them all and spend everything trimming trees for the whole year and not do anything else but the two saws give us a chance to go out and take care of specific issues. We just took care of one on Unity Road. A gentleman came to the office about a month ago about it and we didn’t have anything to really cut it with. But, we came up with a plan to use a pole saw to cut those limbs because we didn’t want to wait a month for a contractor. That is what those saws are for. We just received them a couple of weeks ago and we should be deploying them very soon. Supervisor Phillips states thank you; one further comment. You and I have looked at this place. Out on Carys Bridge Road where the two high water mark signs are on the Sebrell side of Carys Bridge there is no shoulder there. I followed a tractor trailer through there yesterday afternoon. If he had met another truck or any other vehicle there is no way they could pass. Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir you are right. We have a lot of roads like that. We are going to have to upgrade that and it’s probably one of those roads we need to put on the six year plan I would think. Supervisor Phillips states okay. I was just thinking… Mr. Joe Lomax states I can have someone go look at it again and tell me if there is some form of threat regarding safety. If so, maybe the County can apply for specialty funds. Something for safety improvements, but that would entail purchasing right-of-way because you don’t have enough room. Supervisor Phillips states it is similar to what Mr. Updike was addressing. There is no shoulder. If we are moving grain or something or a tractor trailer happens to travel that road and he meets someone, somebody is going to have to back up. There is just not enough room for two to pass right there. Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir. Supervisor Phillips states we will get together again. Mr. Joe Lomax states we have to stay within our right-of-way when widening it. Supervisor Phillips states but it is the same footprint all the way through there. It’s just like what he said. Someone has gotten stuck there and there is no shoulder. Mr. Joe Lomax states I will have to look at it and see what we have there. Let’s start with that. Supervisor Phillips states okay, thank you. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Faison. Supervisor Faison states about two weeks ago I expressed some concerns I had on Route 665 and VDOT came out and addressed those and even addressed some things I didn’t report because they found them once they got out there. I think what Mr. Updike was saying is very true. All of those secondary roads in the county…. we had a rough wet winter. There are some places now that are small but unless something is done to them they will become large. Mr. Joe Lomax states we have had two rough winters actually. We are focusing on the biggest roads with the most cost. There are a lot of secondary roads that need more than just a patch. Some of them need to be resurfaced. We can go out there and put hot mix in those spots but some of those you are talking about probably need a full coating of surface treatment. If it breaks down too much, then we need to do patchwork before we do the full surface treatment. I would expect my Superintendents to be monitoring those roads, taking notes, and getting back with us so that we can revise our plan to adjust that. We will talk about that at the staff meeting because I am hearing it from too many people that some of our secondary roads need some addressing. Chairman Jones states on Highway 58 east about a quarter mile from the store coming this way in the south lane; there is a pot hole. I hit it every time I come through.

40

May 26, 2015

Mr. Joe Lomax states okay, there will be somebody out there tomorrow. Chairman states alright, are there any other concerns? Mr. Joe Lomax states I have some updates on some projects. First, the bridges on Burdette Road, we are going to be doing some work on that bridge in the next two weeks. State forces, 657, over Sweet Swamp are mostly calk replacements. Supervisor West states what are you doing on Burdette Road. Mr. Joe Lomax states we are doing emergency pipe replacement so we are going to have to close that road again. We did a temporary replacement but now we are bringing the contractor in to take those three pipes out and replace all three. Route 616, Proctors Bridge, we have a camber replacement and that should be coming by late June. Route 614, Seacock Chapel, you have super stretcher replacement in August by State forces. Supervisor West states wait a minute; Route 614, where about? I know next February, the replacement of that bridge, but that is on Route 635. Mr. Joe Lomax states this is a maintenance project. This is when we will go in and replace the decks and everything. I got this information from the bridge engineer. He must have some maintenance money so right now they are taking care of scabs, decks, and some substructures. Supervisor West states it is just a little small short bridge. Mr. Joe Lomax states right. Once he finish working on that he is going to hit Route 651 over by Vicks Mill pond and that should be done by the middle of October. We are going to do some scabbing on the bridges on Highway 58, over Nottoway Swamp through 2016. We are going to do some additional scabbing on Route 653 over the Nottoway River. That is Carys Bridge Road. Both of those will be contracted out through 2016. We do have a replacement project over the 663 flat swamp. That is through 2016. Route 189 over the Blackwater River; the temporary repairs are complete. We have a design moving towards the preliminary field inspection December 2015 with a 35 foot clearance as requested by the county. We are still working on the construction funds. We don’t know if we are going to get that. Sometimes bridge money comes up when you least expect it; some other states won’t have anything ready, we plan on being ready. I want to say that is about $17 million but I need to go back and recheck that. That 35 foot height is what the county requested so it can be matched to bridges on either side. On Route 35 over to Tarrara Creek that project is schedule for advertisement August 2016 which is next summer. You will have to do a detour there. Route 308 to Three Creeks; the preliminary special meeting is in July. Advertisement in 2020 pending funds and then we have to update Route 635 over the Norfolk Western Railroad. That is moving towards Monroe and we still don’t have designated construction funds yet, but we will be ready; getting the design in the preliminary phase. Supervisor West states we are being told it will be closed February 2016. Mr. Joe Lomax states well we are going to try and get something done. Supervisor West states thank you. Mr. Joe Lomax states we decided to try and replacement it. Supervisor West states great. Mr. Joe Lomax states the Courtland interchange; I haven’t talked to the project manager but it looks like we did get the okay from the CORPS. As I know right now it is scheduled for advertisement fall 2015. By the time of advertisement and construction we should be finished with this other one. They had gotten delayed because of some Army Corps things, so that is back on. The Courtland Bridge here is still on schedule. They are going to start setting beams in June. Estimated completion date is November 30, 2015. We are going to start paving. Rhodes Brothers will be here after July 4th. That was the remaining of what was scheduled and I think the majority of that work is in Courtland. Then we have Curtis starting a new schedule sometime in July.

41

May 26, 2015

Supervisor West states are you talking about what paving is being done? Mr. Joe Lomax states no we are going to start contract paving like we did down Route 35 to Courtland last year. We have some things we have to do in Courtland and our allocations are not as high as they were. Contrary to what some people think our paving scores on our primary routes are better than my sister residencys. So, when the money is tight, they focus on the lower scores and hopefully next year we will get more. It’s like anything else. Your scores have to go down to get the majority of the funding. That is district maintenance money. I talked to Tim and Ben this morning about mowing. Just a quick update; he started out east on Highway 58 working north. He has been digging out bad spots in Boykins on Route 35 in preparation for asphalt. This year they cut the ditches in the Sedley area on Route 641. He rode on Route 622 in Ivor. Most of the cutting has been on Route 643, 720, and 625 and he will be starting on Route 725 this week. He will have the contractor working on pot holes as soon as possible. As soon as they finish up at Bridge Road. We do have some issues on Route 616 end. We have sections on Route 616 that needs to be paved in the middle, but not the entire route contrary to what the citizens would like to have. Tim’s area; he is actively mowing secondarys in Ivor, Sebrell, and Courtland. This week he will be mowing in Capron, Drewryville, and Adams Grove. If he can, weather permitting, he will start working in Little Texas. He said he has replaced numerous culverts in the Capron area. The two largest ones were Davis Lane and Indian Woods Trail. We have put maintenance stones down in excess of 6,000 tons in the last two months. Those are some of the things the gentlemen have been working on. Any issues you stated have been noted and I will go back and talk to the guys about taking care of these issues. I will take any comments if you have them. Supervisor Phillips states your comments made me think of something. Route 653; right there at JP Simmons shop driveway and my son’s house. The road has washed out at a culvert. They have come in and put orange paint on both sides of the culvert. I am sure that culvert is slated for replacement but I just didn’t hear you. They have put stone in there so that it won’t cave in but what they have done is blocked the culvert that goes under the road. Mr. Joe Lomax states I would expect Tim to take care of that, but I will bring it up at our next staff meeting. Supervisor Phillips states thank you. Mr. Joe Lomax states you said JP Simmons. Supervisor Phillips states I can’t think of the address but there is a little cinderblock house at the end of the driveway and it is 100 yards down from that. It has already been painted on the road. It has orange and white paint. Chairman Jones states thank you Mr. Lomax for your update and we appreciate what you are doing for us. Alright, we will go to number seven, appointments. Mr. Michael Johnson states item A, Mr. Chairman is the Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. Board of Directors. You see correspondence from Mrs. Jarratt seeking nominations for that board. Their organizational bylaws provide that the Board of Supervisor will submit a slate of three nominees, one of which will be elected by FSEDI to serve. Mr. Harrell Turner is currently the Southampton County representative. He is eligible for reappointment and has expressed a willingness to continue if he nominated, but we also need to nominate two more individuals as well. Supervisor Faison states I spoke with Mr. Turner and he said he would be happy to serve and looks forward to it. I will go ahead and make a motion to nominate Mr. Harrell Turner. Chairman Jones states I need a second on that. Supervisor West seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states now we have to get two other names. Does anyone want to nominate someone from their district? Supervisor West would you like to nominate someone from your district?

42

May 26, 2015

Supervisor West states sure, I can take on that responsibility. Do these three names have to be submitted at one time? Mr. Michael Johnson states yes. It is okay, we can wait. If it is submitted next month, that will be fine. We already have one that you have approved tonight. If you want to wait and do the other two next month I will wait before I submit it. Chairman Jones states any member that would like to volunteer to nominate someone will be fine. Supervisor Phillips states this person is the one that represents Southampton as the entire county. Chairman Jones states right. Supervisor Faison states but he will be nominated from the slate of three names that will be turned in. Supervisor Phillips states right; just for clarification. Mr. Turner served faithfully for a number of years. Chairman Jones states anyone else willing to take that on. Supervisor West states we have to submit three don’t we. Chairman Jones states yes we have to submit three. You are going to submit someone and Carl already has someone. Supervisor Updike you want to submit somebody? Supervisor Updike states okay I’ll try. Chairman Jones states Supervisor Porter can you think of anybody? Supervisor Porter states I will ask around. Chairman Jones states okay that is three and should be enough. Okay, let’s go to item B. Mr. Michael Johnson states item B Mr. Chairman is the Blackwater Regional Library. You see correspondence from Ms. Jenny Bailey who is the Library Director informing me that Mrs. Bernadette Whitley’s term on their Board of Trustee will expire on June 30, 2015. Because Mrs. Whitley has already served two complete terms, she is ineligible for reappointment. That board meets nine times annually on the third Wednesday of the month at 3:00 p.m. They rotate their meeting locations among the member communities in the service area which includes Franklin, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, Sussex County, and Surry County. Also representing Southampton County on that board is Mrs. Susan Gillette from the Capron District and Ms. Barbara Hoskie from the Newsoms District. Mr. Chairman we need you to appoint a Board member to seek a successor to nominate next month. Chairman Jones states Dr. Edwards would you like to get someone from your district? Supervisor Edwards states I will bring someone to nominate next month. Chairman Jones states alright. We will go to number eight, reports; Financial Report, Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control, Litter Control, Treasurer’s Report; Mr. Britt. Mr. David Britt addressed the board. Good evening. As of right now, we have started our collection efforts on delinquent taxes. We have signed up over 350 people into payment plans. Starting this month we will begin putting DMV stops on people’s accounts as well as doing tax liens. With that said, I will give the numbers of where we were a year ago versus where we are this year on real estate and personal property. Currently this year we still have $1,040,000 outstanding on personal property which is a 96.3% collection rate. One year ago we had $957,000 outstanding which was a 96.18% collection rate at that time. As far as real estate, last year we had $740,000 outstanding which is a 99.44% collection rate. This year we have $680,000 which is a 99.5% collection rate. Currently with the solid waste, one year ago we had $76,000 outstanding for 2012

43

May 26, 2015

and $276,000 for 2013. Currently, 2012 has been reduced to $49,000, 2013 is $139,000, and 2014 is $327,000. We will start doing warrant and debts soon to collect on those. Are there any questions? Chairman Jones states are there any questions for Mr. Britt? If not, I thank you sir. Mr. David Britt states thank you. Chairman Jones states Building Permits, Cooperative Extension, Solid Waste Quantities, Personnel, Mr. Johnson. Mr. Michael Johnson states no personnel items to report Mr. Chairman. Chairman Jones states Shared Services Committee, Supervisor Porter. Supervisor Porter states we have a meeting tomorrow night. We haven’t had a meeting since the last meeting so we have nothing to report. Chairman Jones states okay, let’s go to number nine, financial matters. Mr. Michael Johnson states item A Mr. Chairman is consideration of your fiscal year 2016 annual budget. You see a copy of the synopsis of that budget in your agenda package. You had your public hearing last Monday night. That total budget is $55,799,534 which is 0.85 percent less than last year’s budget $56,277,423. Chairman Jones states okay, I need a motion to adopt this fiscal year 2016 budget. What are we waiting on? Supervisor West states I am waiting to hear what is going to happen. Chairman Jones states do you want to talk about it? Supervisor Updike made a motion to adopt the FY 2016 annual budget as attached. Supervisor West seconded the motion. I would also like to discuss it too. Chairman Jones states okay let’s discuss it. Supervisor West states obviously it is a split decision and obviously it hurts the schools. We have no new money to offer anyone this year without raising the real estate or personal property tax. So, the option is to raise taxes, the only source, or keep it like it is. The undue burden then falls on the school system; the cuts, the associated needs that the school have. I have voted both times not to increase the budget because we do not have the money. I am going to maintain that tonight. I want to let you know my feelings on this. It is difficult to make a motion and support this but the citizens and the tax payers of Southampton County have paid and continue to pay and we keep drawing from that well and it really is difficult for a lot of people. So, let the ones that have pay; that sounds nice but I am not one who says take from this one to give to that one. I find that difficult. We all earn what we earn. I am sorry and we really can’t come back and look at this. This is a one-time shot. Chairman Jones states yes, this is it. Supervisor West states I just wanted to express my opinion. We have a motion and a second to approve the budget as presented with no increase. Any comments? Supervisor Edwards states the only comments I have is he is right. We gave all of the money we had away. There is one thing that people really need to know. When election comes up for your state, the cuts are coming from the state. If you look at the last four or five years, the state has been cutting like this and we have been trying to go up like this and we have gone up as high as we can go. We have made up the difference every year and you get to the point where you can’t make up the difference. The officials continue to preach about education yet they continue to cut what they give our local schools. I would ask you, when the time comes up in November, state legislators are

44

May 26, 2015

running for office, look at their record on how they voted on school things and vote them out if they are not going to support the schools. We are not the bad guys. We have sacrificed every year. We have come up with the money every year and now our pockets are empty. It’s the state level where this problem exists. Chairman Jones states any other comments? Supervisor Porter states if you have been to the last couple of budget meetings many of you know my feelings and they are quite strong. I don’t like to say there is a good guy and a bad guy. We all have to live with what we do. It is true that the state has cut the money but sometimes you have to look at who suffers when they cut the money and I think it is the kids that suffer, the schools that suffer, and the community that suffers. The community will have a harder time educating the kids to be the productive citizens we need them to be. I said last time it makes me sad and it does make me sad because sometimes I feel like I can sacrifice a little bit more to help out and I don’t think it’s wrong to ask others to sacrifice a little more. I wasn’t asking for a whole lot. I was asking a little to save a few teachers. I was in the minority and I accept that and I know we need to pass a budget because we need to get on with business, but I wanted to echo something that other people have said. We have to get more revenue in the county and the only way to get more revenue in the county is to more aggressively and more friendly pursue businesses. We have to do the right thing to make people want to come here. We talk out of different sides of our mouths. If we don’t get business friendly, we are going to have to raise taxes and it won’t be just one penny. It is going to be lots of pennies. When I look out and see the attitude we have now with a lot of people in the county and the anti-business of I want to keep it all the same; I look at ten years from now and I see a real estate rate of $1.50 and that scares me. That doesn’t make me sad, that scares me. We have to pull together and support the people who are out there trying to help us attract good businesses that pay for good jobs and pay the taxes that we need to provide the services and treat the schools like the schools should be treated. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Faison. Supervisor Faison states I supported a one cent tax increase. The reason I did it is because I know the schools need the support I would have loved to have seen us give. I understand the situation we are in and I certainly don’t look forward to paying more taxes; nobody does. We are right when we say those funds that are cut by the state certainly do hurt, but our schools are Southampton County schools. They are not Virginia schools and so in Southampton County, we need to look out for Southampton County kids. I understand the reluctance for not raising taxes, but we have to have priorities and our votes state those priorities. My priority is and will always be with the schools. Chairman Jones states any other comments? Supervisor Phillips states I would like to thank Dr. Parrish for working with us. I think we are building a better relationship than we have ever had with the school system. We are developing a better relationship and we are working with you. Dr. Parrish made the comment about business in this county. We need to add to the base of businesses in this county. We have to be selective. We have to put them in the right place and not cost the county more. I think we are trying to live within our means and I think that this board will work very hard at the next budget, but for this year I think the budget is where it will be. We thank everyone for their input. Chairman Jones states are there any other comments? If not, I have a motion and a second on the floor. Chairman Jones called for a vote which passed unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to item B. Mr. Michael Johnson states item B, Mr. Chairman, is an ordinance that will establish calendar year 2015, fiscal year 2016 tax rates. I will be willing to read those rates if you would like. Chairman Jones states there are no changes so we are fine. Supervisor Updike made a motion to adopt the attached ordinance establishing calendar year 2015, fiscal year 2016 annual tax levy.

45

May 26, 2015

Supervisor Faison seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to item C. Mr. Michael Johnson states item C, Mr. Chairman, is an ordinance that establishes the water, sewer, and solid waste fees for fiscal year 2016. There are no changes in any of those fees from the previous fiscal year. Chairman Jones states okay I need a motion for that one. Supervisor Phillips made a motion to adopt the attached ordinance establishing the water, sewer, and solid waste fees for fiscal year 2016. Supervisor Porter seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to item D. Mr. Michael Johnson states item D is an appropriation resolution which appropriates $91,782.29 in revenue from various sources to Southampton County Public Schools. Chairman Jones states I need a motion for that. Supervisor Edwards made a motion to approve the attached appropriation resolution for the School Fund. Supervisor West seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to item E, paying the bills. Anyone have any problems paying the bills? If not, I need a motion to pay the bills. Supervisor West states the bills have been audited, looked at, and appropriately evaluated. At this time I make a motion that we authorize payment of the monthly bills. Supervisor Edwards seconded the motion to pay the bills in the amount of $945,502.75 to be paid by check numbers 142070 through 142466. The motion carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to number 10, update on the Courthouse Security Project. Mr. Michael Johnson states Mr. Chairman, at your April 2013 meeting you all authorized PMA Architecture to proceed in preparing plans and bid documents for Courthouse Security Improvements that include an expanded lobby, controlled entrance, and electronic security system/equipment. In addition to that, you also ask him to prepare an alternate bid to provide for a transfer switch and 150KW generator that is capable of powering the entire facility. PMA anticipates completion of the bid documents next month and with the Board’s approval, prepare to move forward with receipt of bids by mid-August. Mr. Jeff Stodghill from PMA Architecture is here tonight to provide you all with a project update and to get your direction on pursuing advertisement for bids. Mr. Jeff Stodghill addressed the board. Good evening Mr. Chairman and members of the Board; since that report two vacancies on the judicial bench have been filled. I have now completed going back and meeting with the presiding judges in the Circuit Court, General District, and J&DR Court. We have met with the Clerk of Court, Commonwealth’s Attorney, and the Sheriff. We have a sense at this point the basic security system as we designed it and present it to your staff. We are ready to go ahead and complete the documents. We are here to ask that you authorize us to proceed with bidding. We would like to put those documents out in July and come back mid-August with the results and hopefully we will be able to award it at that point. You asked for an alternate bid on the transfer switch and an alternate bid on the generator. So, we are going to proceed on that. Since the last round of meetings there have been several things that have been requested. In summary, the Circuit Court judge pointed out that the benches in the Clerk areas in the District Court and the Circuit Court are not handicap accessible and he is correct about that. It is not in our scope of work to address that. You can deal with it at any point in the future but I

46

May 26, 2015

wanted to report it. If you decide to address that now we can take a look at that and work it into the scope of work. Bullet proof glass was requested in additional areas by the Commonwealth Attorney and Clerk of Court. When you go into the office the glass that faces the Colonnade, the parking lot, and the courtyard area, those areas that are open and accessible are their main concerns. That element would be additional as well. My job is to throw that out to you as a concern. We have looked at it. We can replace the windows and glass. Bullet proof glass is fairly expensive. I can proceed if it is your desire to do it. I can get you an alternate price on what it would take to deal with that. Those are some items for your consideration. One minor detail; I am going to have to get with the County Administrator and get an asbestos survey prior to doing any work to make sure there is no asbestos in place that would be disturbed by the work that we have to do. That is a technicality that has to be done properly. Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen you have heard Mr. Stodghill. Supervisor West states I have a couple of questions. This concern is where we have agreed to finance this thing over ten years. We have set aside $73,000 in the current budget. I see Franklin pays 23% of that. Mr. Michael Johnson states they reimburse us. We pay it and they reimburse us. It runs almost two fiscal years behind before you get it. Supervisor West states so the balance is $590,275 so that is $56,000 a year is where I am going instead of $73,000. Here is my point. We are talking about construction needs for handicap safety; is it a more reasonable time to look at this now while all of this is going on? Help me to understand it. Mr. Jeff Stodghill states the way the Americans with Disability Act reads the local government is under a separate chapter and you have to make accommodations to others for any of the services that you provide to the public. For example, if there was a juror or a witness that has to take the witness stand then the County would have to provide an accessible way for those persons to access the witness stand or be able to sit in the jury box. It also reads that local government is required to make accommodations for its staff members. What that means, right now you are not in violation but if the judge was to develop some sort of handicap you would have the obligation immediately to address it. You can make accommodations possibly in the easiest way but you are not going to have a lot of time if that situation develops. There isn’t any planning in knowing a disability is coming. Someone could break a leg; there are other disabilities. I bring it up to you so you may have the opportunity to do that while the doors were out; make some changes to the bench. Now would be a good time to do that. Supervisor West states I don’t think we could quite ever prepare for the eventuality of everything happening. Supervisor Faison states if it is not done during construction and we have to put it in place later, would it be more difficult at that time? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states it would probably be about the same amount of work whether you do it now or you do it later. Your opportunity now is to get it done and put it behind you. The other thing is if one of the judges develops a disability you are not going to have the luxury of time to react to it. Supervisor West states you know money is of the essence and we just explained that to the schools. I am going to have some difficulty spending this money now. Chairman Jones states are there any other comments? Supervisor West states he said due to the type of local government that we are, we are in compliance at the present time. If an incident was to happen we would have to adjust to it very quickly. Chairman Jones states the money would have to come from somewhere. Supervisor Faison states if we don’t do it now, how much of a difference would it be to do it later

47

May 26, 2015

with the design? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states I can’t give you a picture of certainty with that. I am here tonight to report to you what they are asking permission to do in addition to what you have already agreed to. If you want me to look at that I can come back with a better idea of what is involved. Supervisor Porter states do you have any idea whether it would be a $5,000 cost or a $50,000 cost? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states it is probably between $50,000 and $100,000. Supervisor Faison states so if we were to not get the bullet proof glass now, how hard would it be to replace them at some point? Would that cause some structural change? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states upgrading the glass to bullet proof glass can be done at any time. The only difference is right now you would have a contractor on site and later on you would have to pay again to place that contractor on site. Supervisor Edwards states so we are in compliance now with these things we are discussing? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states the bullet proof glass is something that they have asked for. The offices are open and accessible to the road and parking lot. If you were to design those offices today, you wouldn’t put them there and you certainly wouldn’t put them there with all of that glass opened to the public. Supervisor West states so you are requesting to move forward with the original work. The second thing would be for us to direct to you tonight to take a look at your associated cost for bullet proof glass and handicap accessibility. Is that correct? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states that is correct. Supervisor West states I say we move forward with the original glass. Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen, what do you want to do? Supervisor Edwards states I make a motion we go ahead and look at it. Supervisor Phillips states in other words get an estimate. Supervisor Edwards states find out what we are up against. Supervisor Phillips states I thought we were authorizing him to advertise the work that he has done up to this point. I don’t see including the handicap accessibility in the courtroom with this current bid. I don’t see how it can be done in a timely fashion. Then, the bullet proof glass is a security concern but before we authorize it to be bid upon, we need to know how much it will cost. Supervisor Edwards states that is what we are asking him to look at. Supervisor Phillips states I thought it was being added to… Chairman Jones states no we are not adding anything to it. Supervisor Phillips states okay, then I would be in favor of it. Supervisor Porter states what would it cost you to go back and re-engineer these items? Mr. Jeff Stodghill states I didn’t come tonight with those figures. Chairman Jones states you can go ahead and get bids for the work you have already done for us. We need to go ahead and get a motion for that. Then, these add-ons you can let Mr. Johnson know so we will know what we need to do. Is that alright with everybody? Supervisor Edwards motioned that we proceed with the original bid.

48

May 26, 2015

Supervisor Phillips states and give us an estimate of what his services would cost to assess the value of the bullet proof glass and the handicap accessibility. Chairman Jones states we have a motion to proceed with bidding the project. I need a second. Supervisor West seconded the motion. Supervisor Faison states if we proceed with what we are saying now, when he comes back and gives us a price are we going to have to rebid again? Mr. Michael Johnson states we are not bidding until July. He will be finishing up the bid documents between now and then. Chairman Jones called for a vote which passed unanimously. Chairman Jones states number eleven, public hearings. Mr. Michael Johnson states our first public hearing tonight is a Zoning Map Amendment for Charles B. Guynn Jr. This public hearing is held pursuant to Section(s) 15.2-1427 and 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended to consider a request by Charles B. Guynn, Jr., for a zoning map amendment from A-1, Agricultural, to CM-2, Conditional General Industrial for a 20.92 acre parcel known as Tax Parcel 92-9G. The property is located directly north of 30493 General Thomas Highway, Franklin, VA. It is located approximately 440 feet east of the intersection of General Thomas Highway (SR 671) and Delaware Road (SR 687) in the Courtland Planning District and the Franklin Voting and Magisterial Districts. The notice of public hearing was published in the Tidewater News on May 10 and May 17, 2015 and all adjacent property owners were notified as required by law. Following its public hearing on April 9, 2015, the Southampton County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the request that included only the expansion of the scrap business. The application was subsequently amended to include a number of additional uses which Mrs. Lewis will discuss with you in just a moment. After conclusion of the public hearing, the Board of Supervisors will consider the comments offered this evening and will proceed to approve, deny or defer action on the request. Mrs. Beth Lewis, Secretary to the Planning Commission, will provide introductory remarks after which all interested parties are invited to come forward and express their views. Mrs. Beth Lewis addressed the board. The applicant owns Franklin Disposal and Recycling; it is located at 30493 General Thomas Highway which is next to the SPSA Transfer Station on Route 671. The current business is just under nine acres. He owns an additional 21 acres north of that. It is a separate piece but it abuts it. He would like to expand his current business and perhaps consider other businesses. The Planning Commission had a public hearing and there was a unanimous recommendation of approval to amend the zoning to Conditional General Industrial. Since that time, as permitted by the zoning ordinance, the applicant has added a few other uses that he would like to consider. All of them are permitted uses so they don’t need a conditional use permit. The second public hearing tonight will be a Conditional Use Permit request for the expansion of his scrap business and all of the uses he has under consideration that is the only one that requires a Conditional Use Permit. The other uses that he has added for consideration are building materials storage and sales, open or enclosed but not manufacturing or steel fabricating or junk storage, galvanizing or plating, grain and peanut drying, storage and feed milling, peanuts, buying, storage, and processing, structural iron and steel fabrication, and water well drilling establishment. These are all general industrial uses. Many of them are already existing or something like that along Route 671 so they are not out of the ordinary for that stretch of General Thomas Highway. The property has had a land use designation of Industrial since at least 1988 Comprehensive Plan. I don’t have one that is older than that, but it has had an industrial designation for a long time. To the rear of this property, in the past ten years there have been two churches and a couple of houses built back there. When those churches and homes were built back there, those properties also had industrial plan designation too. When those churches and homes were built the owners should have expected industrial use would come to this property because it has been in an Industrial Plan designation since at least 1988. Notices were sent to all abutting property owners. I have had no telephone calls and no abutting property owners spoke at the Planning Commission meeting. The request for the following use is the only requested use that requires a Conditional Use Permit. It would be what is defined in the zoning ordinance as a junk

49

May 26, 2015

yard, open or enclosed, storage of junk, subject to special development standards, but not a dump heap. This request is the only one of his proposed businesses that would require a Conditional Use Permit. The zoning ordinance does have special development conditions for industrial uses including landscaping, parking, where the material is stored, buffering, etc. The property is served by General Thomas Highway. In this area, General Thomas Highway has recently been improved. The local VDOT office confirmed that no traffic impact analysis will be required for any of the proposed businesses because the businesses are not expected to generate an additional 5,000 vehicle trips per day. General Thomas Highway is four lanes with a turning lane; that area is as wide as it is going to get. So, there aren’t any more improvements that could be done. This property is currently in forestry use. It is relatively flat. Development standards will require erosion and sediment control measures during any land disturbing including clearing and construction, and stormwater management measures after construction. The property is served by existing overhead power lines and is served by a private well and septic system as well. I can answer any questions and Mr. and Mrs. Guynn is here as well. Chairman Jones states any questions for Mrs. Lewis? There were no questions and Chairman Jones proceeded to open the public hearing. Mr. Ash Cutchin addressed the board. I recommend you accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation and approve it. Mrs. Amanda Jarratt addressed the board. Good evening my name is Amanda Jarratt with Franklin Southampton Economic Development. I am here tonight in support of Mr. Guynn’s application for a Zoning Map Amendment. We have been working very closely with the Guynns over the past few months. This is a prime opportunity to partner with a private property owner who is looking to expand development of commercial and industrial uses in Southampton County. So, we would ask that you approve this application tonight. Thank you. Chairman Jones states thank you. Anyone else? There was no response and the public hearing was closed. Chairman Jones states what do you say board? Supervisor Porter made a motion to accept the Planning Commission recommendation and approve the zoning map amendment. Supervisor Edwards seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to 11B. Mr. Michael Johnson states item 11B, Mr. Chairman, is a follow-up public hearing associated with the same piece of property. This public hearing is held pursuant to Section(s) 15.2-1427 and 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended to consider a request by Charles B. Guynn, Jr., for a Conditional Use Permit to expand an existing scrap metal business, known as "junk yards, open or enclosed, storage of junk, subject to special development standards, but not a dump heap", as noted in Sec. 18-313(25) of the Southampton County Code. The 20.92 acre parcel is known as Tax Parcel 92-9G and is located directly north of 30493 General Thomas Highway, Franklin, VA. It is located approximately 440 feet east of the intersection of General Thomas Highway (SR 671) and Delaware Road (SR 687) in Franklin Voting and Magisterial Districts. The notice of public hearing was published in the Tidewater News on May 10 and May 17, 2015 and all adjacent property owners were notified as required by law. Following its public hearing on April 9, 2015, the Southampton County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the conditional use permit. Mrs. Lewis is here again to provide some introductory remarks after which all interested parties are invited to come forward and express their views. Mrs. Beth Lewis states the zoning ordinance defines this scrap metal business that Mr. Guynn has as junk yards, open or enclosed, storage of junk but not a dump heap. There was a question at the Planning Commission meeting as to what a dump heap is. A dump heap is household trash. This is not for household trash. This is for recyclable metals. There was a question at the Planning Commission meeting about stormwater run-off. Mr. Guynn stated he has a concrete pad for the

50

May 26, 2015

materials that are brought in. They are separated and stored on the pad and then moved out. They are not spread around the property where he would have stormwater run-off into the ground or abutting properties. The County stormwater requirements prohibit stormwater to run off of his property onto other properties. It was brought up at the Planning Commission meeting once Mr. Guynn’s business opened up how it helped clean the county up. I believe Mr. Guynn said he paid out the first year he was open around $6 million to people for their scrap they were bringing. So, that was a lot of cleaning up that was done in Southampton County and the surrounding areas. That was good for his business and it was good for the people who were benefiting from that. Most of the Planning Commission members have had contact with this business over the years and they have found it to be well run and well taken care of. I will be glad to answer any questions. Chairman Jones states any questions? There were no questions and Chairman Jones proceeded to open the public hearing. Mrs. Amanda Jarratt states again Amanda Jarratt with Franklin Southampton Economic Development. I just want to state for the record that we very much support this application for a Conditional Use Permit. They run a very fine business in the county and we would like them to have an opportunity to expand that. It is an opportunity to also open the door for a spinoff industry that we would very much like to pursue. So, we ask that you approve this application tonight. Thank you. Chairman Jones states thank you. Anyone else? There was no response and the public hearing was closed. Chairman Jones states what do you say board? Supervisor Edwards made a motion to accept the Planning Commission recommendation and approve the Conditional Use Permit. Supervisor Faison seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to item C. Mr. Michael Johnson states item C is our third and final public hearing. That is being held pursuant to § 33.1-70.01, Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended to receive public comment on the Priority List for Proposed Improvements to the Secondary and Unpaved Roads of Southampton County and the FY 2016 Secondary and Unpaved Road Construction Budget. The notice of this public hearing was published in the Tidewater News on May 3 and May 10, 2015. After conclusion of this public hearing, the Board of Supervisors will consider the comments offered this evening and will adopt a resolution establishing its priorities for improvements to secondary and unpaved roads. At this time, I’ll ask Mr. Joe Lomax to provide a brief overview of the Priority List and the FY 2016 Construction Budget, after which we’ll be pleased to receive public comment. Mr. Joe Lomax addressed the board. First of all, we have the estimated program allocations for fiscal years 2016-2021. We have scheduled advertisement dates for the county as far as any projects we have. You can see for fiscal year 2016, which is the first budget year, those numbers we know we will get; everything else are projections and are subject to change. We have on average $147,120 for unpaved roads and $57,890 for TeleFee. If you add everything up over the next six years, you have about $1.3 million; $965,929 specifically goes towards unpaved roads. So, if we do rural rustics over the next couple of years, we have some already on the agenda and you may be able to get a few things done. The first priority is going to be UPC 104631 Route 728, Guy Place Road. The advertisement date for that is 7/1/2019. In the beginning that was set up for rural rustic which would cost approximately $400,000 but we recommended that you go with full construction for that. The previous issue I had, there is little to no drainage on that road in some places as well as the surrounding areas. We did do some work on that road this year and it has held up pretty good versus last winter where we lost part of the road for a couple of weeks. We still have some work to do on that, but that would take on average a lot more funding under regular construction then the pave in place type of work. You don’t have right-of-ways, you don’t have utilities; You are pretty much paying for cleaning ditches, replacing a few pipes, put down three

51

May 26, 2015

coats of surface treatment, and go. Right now we still have that under regular construction. The next priority is a paved road, UPC 57327 Route 646, Governor Darden Road. I looked at the history of that road. That road was considered a federal route. We needed some money to put on the federal bridge at the time and the bridge down there was the main project. The project started at the bridge and went 2.5 miles back. The rating on the bridge has been maintained. It has been updated. Right now it has a sufficiency rating of 81. If it goes below 80, at that point it will be subject to rehabilitation funds. If it gets a little lower than that it will be due for replacement. I don’t think it will be ready for replacement in the next few years. You and I had talked about it; keeping that project in there because it is a major cut-through. I think we should keep the project and move it back making the project from the Courtland town limits as far as 2.5 miles. Do an estimate on that, and figure out how much we will need and make that our next priority for paved roads. Right now it is still priority number two. Advertisement date 2017, but we have to get additional funding for that. We can’t use unpaved money on this paved road. Priority number three, UPC 1787 Route 654, Rawlings Road. We are going to pave the existing road. We plan on doing that next spring. We may be able to move before that with states forces. I didn’t really want to but it is a short piece and I think we can get it done a lot sooner using state forces as opposed to bidding it out. That is where we are on those. So, I am asking this board to adopt this plan. Everything is contingent upon funding. Also I have had a call from people who have asked to add an extra road to the priority list. You may hear from a couple about that tonight.

52

May 26, 2015

Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen, any questions about the priority list? Supervisor Phillips states Mr. Lomax, I have a question. From my understanding, your department’s new policy is if there is no funding available for a project then that project doesn’t get a place on your list. Mr. Joe Lomax on the priority list, it does; just not on the plan. The six year plan itself. Supervisor Phillips states okay, but the old priority list which included Buckhorn Quarter Road, Warrique Road; that list is still… Mr. Joe Lomax states that list is still there. This is just what has showed up. At one point everything was on the six year plan. Then, we changed the policy and said if it can’t be funded within the six years it can’t be on the plan, but we can leave it on the list. We call it the priority list for each locality. Supervisor Phillips states for example, when Rawlings Road comes off, do we have to go back and re-prioritize to see who comes up on… but we have to have the funding to get them up on what we just saw right.

53

May 26, 2015

Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir. The County can decide to put whatever road they would like in the priority list. The County can also decide to move the list around. We did it for Guy Place, but it doesn’t go onto the plan until funding is available. You decide what type of project you want to build; is it a dirt road, do you want to build rural rustic which is like a pave in place, or do a full blown construction where we buy right-of-way, easements, move utilities, and have a full road design. Supervisor Phillips states and that is what you are proposing for Guy Place? Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir. I have to propose that because spending the money to add stone, water is still going to sit on top of the road and we will still be battling long-term issues on that road. It just depends on what you want to do. A quick resolution; keep it in the plan as a rural rustic and have it done and hope it doesn’t create too many maintenance problems or do it the right way and wait on funding. That is a decision that the board has to make. I just wanted to make that point. Not every road is a great candidate for rural rustic. Supervisor Phillips states the 2019 date for Guy Place Road, is that realistic or do you think that will be moved back? Mr. Joe Lomax states that would not be realistic with full construction. Supervisor Phillips states it would not be. Mr. Joe Lomax states no sir. We see $1.3 million for the next six years; $965,929 for unpaved roads. The estimate based on what I know could be as high as $3 million. Supervisor Phillips states could you give me an estimate as to how far that would push that road project back? Mr. Joe Lomax states I can’t estimate allocations. Supervisor Phillips states well yes that is like a crystal ball. Mr. Joe Lomax states right so I really can’t say, especially for secondary six year money. Next year we could get a great amount of funding or we may not. Supervisor Phillips states it is kind of like the bridge money right now. Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir. Supervisor Phillips states did you say approximately $400,000 would put it in rural rustic. Mr. Joe Lomax states that was last year’s estimate, about $400,000. Supervisor West states Mr. Lomax I am going to support your idea because I think you know more about what can be done. I trust you and not necessarily VDOT’s plan. That being said, I want you in the back of your mind to think about Warrique Road coming in from Broadwater Road. The trucks throw dust up there every day of their lives. Mr. Joe Lomax states there are two sections of Warrique Road that needs to be done. Supervisor West states I am talking about coming off of Broadwater Road coming into Warrique Road going down to the end on the left. Mr. Joe Lomax states I know what you are talking about. Supervisor West states I want you to come in there and extend a couple of hundred yards to cut down some dust for all of those people that are soaking and covered in it every day of their life because trucks are cutting through that road on an everyday basis, because going into Ivor; and I am responsible because I asked the Sheriff to run radar in that area. These truckers are getting wise to that and they are trying to avoid it. That being said, it is a big problem for the residents on Warrique Road.

54

May 26, 2015

Mr. Joe Lomax states Warrique Road is already on the priority list. Supervisor West states priority is a good word. Thank you. Mr. Joe Lomax states this won’t be the end of this tonight because the board will have to decide where to spend the allocation. We have “X” amount of issues and we have “X” amount of funding. Supervisor West states well it needs to be extended. You already have rock and tar out that far; a couple of hundred yards would do miracles. I have no idea what a 200 yards would cost. By the way, you have already improved part of it. Mr. Joe Lomax states the question is can we improve the road with maintenance money? Supervisor West states okay see what you can do. Thank you. Chairman Jones states any other questions? Supervisor Phillips states I have another question concerning Guy Place Road. Joe, for it to be on this list there must be some money for Guy Place already appropriated. Mr. Joe Lomax states yes I believe so. It’s a small amount. Supervisor Phillips states like $400,000; that would get it paved? Mr. Joe Lomax states we talked about this last year. I gave you a full estimate. The estimate showed what it would cost to do it one way and what it would cost to do it like this. But, I will move forward if that is what the board wants to do. Supervisor Phillips states your report shows what your estimate of the current project close-out would be at 3.5. It says reconstruction without added capacity is at 275. It’s like some of these other projects; it’s a calculated decision to either do some of the work like on Warrique Road. Mr. Joe Lomax states Warrique Road doesn’t have… Supervisor Phillips states what you are trying to do is control the dust but what we are trying to do is keep the road from going all to pieces in the winter time right? Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir and if we didn’t have that happen we could build the road up with stone and that actually held up this year. Supervisor Phillips states alright, thank you. Chairman Jones states alright anything else? Supervisor Updike states yes and that is we need some maintenance money, some improvement money for Statesville Road since about 5 years ago gps put it on the map. Tractor trailers are taking that road from North Carolina to Route 35 to Interstate 95. They are tearing that road up. That entire stretch is being torn to pieces. That curve on Statesville Road not only needs to be improved but the truck traffic needs to be limited. But something needs to be done to improve the conditions. Mr. Joe Lomax states that is the reason we do work sessions throughout the year because patterns change, economics change. If that is something that the board decides to do than we need to put it on the list and then decide if that is one we want to do. Statesville Road along there is a long road. That is a lot of money we talking; far exceeding the budget that we are looking at tonight. We can plan for the future but you are not going to have instant success because you could be talking about $10 million. Supervisor Updike states just because it is a long road doesn’t mean you can’t do a little bit at a time; a little bit now and a little bit later but don’t just kill it because it is a long road. That is what I am saying.

55

May 26, 2015

Mr. Joe Lomax states okay. You have hundreds of miles of roads in the county and you have to start somewhere. Statesville Road isn’t the only road in the county. It doesn’t even hold the most traffic in the county. I would say the busiest secondary is between Route 616 and Route 671 and those are in decent shape. You have Route 628 that has a lot of traffic coming from Wakefield. That has never been widened past the 15 foot perspective, but if that is what the board wants to do we will direct our forces and attention to that. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Porter. Supervisor Porter states I have nothing. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Faison. Supervisor Faison states I have no problem with the plan he has submitted. Chairman Jones proceeded to open the public hearing. He states is there anyone for or against this priority list. Mr. William Grant addressed the board. Good evening sir and good evening ma’am. I am going to be very brief and to the point. My wife has something but I am going to be very brief. I am a Vietnam veteran. Ever since 1992 the state widened the road. That means the people that own the property had to agree. I have been there all of my life during the time I was in the military. Right at the moment the road needs to be paved immediately. The reason for that, you have Perdue trucks that come down there; you have buses tearing up the road. I can’t open up my windows. I have a C-PAC. I have health problems. I go back and forth to the VA Hospital every day. I have post-traumatic stress syndrome and I have to come home and can’t open my windows, can’t run my air conditioner, I can’t hardly breathe. I have been complaining until I am complained out. I agree with Mr. West. All of this dust I am eating every night. Dust in my mouth. It is not right. I have complained and complained and complained. During the process of the time you had a motor grader out there and somebody hit it and tore it all to pieces. I took it upon myself and let the motor grader turn around in my yard due to a safety hazard. I didn’t complain about the trucks or anything like that. I only ask for a little bit. The dust is kicked up all in my face; constantly all of the time; 18-wheelers running. I have a video. I don’t have it tonight, but I can find it somewhere of the 18-wheelers coming down to and from; to and from. I sat on the road and the dust kicks up right there. How can you live if you can’t open your windows? How can you live if you can’t turn your air conditioner on? My entire house is filthy. What else am I supposed to do? Do I suppose to continue to live like this day in and day out? You have paved part of the road; you paved part of Bowers Road for the simple reason, it would help the motor grader. If you look at it now, you have a little patch of asphalt a short distance. When the rain come, with all of the pot holes you can’t even get to your destination. You drop down the hill, there is a great big opening right there. They have been patching it and patching it and patching it for the last fifteen years; or more than that. You’re talking as far as money is concerned and everything like that, I agree with Mr. West and I agree with all of these gentlemen here; something has to be done. What is most important? You are talking about your livelihood and your health. That is very important. What do I suppose to do? I need some answers and I need them quickly. Thank you very much and may God bless you. Chairman Jones states thank you. Mr. William Grant asked his wife if she would like to speak. Mrs. Elaine Grant states no. Mr. William Grant states I would like some comments please. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor West. Supervisor West states this is Mr. Porter’s road I think. Do you know where it is? Supervisor Porter states no. Supervisor West states Black Creek Road, Bowers Road. You know what I call the new road to the hospital.

56

May 26, 2015

Supervisor Porter states Woods Trail. Supervisor West states yes and Joyners Bridge, down the hill, up the hill, then over the hill. He is over there on the right hand side; Johnny Scott’s butterbeans at the back. It’s about a mile. Mr. William Grant states I would say approximately from the trailer to the cinderblock house is approximately 200 feet. I would say approximately a quarter of a mile. Supervisor West states I have gone over here many of times and seen it and see the dust flying. I know what you are talking about. Mr. William Grant states it is really terrible. Then they say, they ordered some stuff to keep the dust down. Okay, when are you going to get it? It has to be gotten from somewhere. Supervisor West states generally we call in and VDOT is good at putting down some sort of chemical mix to suppress the dust. We need to be reminded of that regularly; me or Mr. Porter. Mr. William Grant states sir I have been going down there constantly and every year talking about that. All they say is we don’t have any funds. They will come down there and say well I can’t come down here with a water truck. You know what I have to do. I have a deep well. It’s a little section where I take my water hose and spray it so I am doing everything I suppose to do. I am letting the equipment turn around and everything. What is it going to take before someone really pays attention to it? I thank this gentleman over here, Mr. Johnson; he jumped on it right away. For the last two weeks he has been working on it faithfully; cleaning out the ditches and things. There is a little section where you made a decision not to kick it over into our yard and I appreciate that very much. But, at the same time soon as I got in touch with the right person this gentleman jumped on it immediately. For the last two weeks he has been doing something towards that. Chairman Jones called on Mr. Joe Lomax. Mr. Joe Lomax states sir I am that somebody that had all of that done. We sent the guys out there to start working on it. I have a contractor that does calcium chloride. I will find out tomorrow when he is coming. That is something we don’t maintain ourselves; that high volume chemical. Temporarily for dust we will get that out there. We have several other roads we will have done as well. In the meantime, we have to determine whether or not that is one of the roads we need to add to our priority list. As far as I know, I have never seen that road on the list. I have heard people say it may have been on there some time ago and taken off, and that may be the case. But, right now the list I have doesn’t have Bowers Road, 738, on it. We need to at least start by putting that on the priority list if that is what the board would like to do. Mrs. Elaine Grant states I would like to say something. Back in 1982 is when it was requested to have the right-of-way. Mr. Arline took the order for this road to become a state road. Again, state vehicles and everything comes down there. At that time, I have a paper that was left at home, but my mother-in-law and father-in-law has passed but I see where they had signed a paper that said they would take care of this matter when they made it a state road. So, we took it for granted that this has been in the works for years. We just didn’t know until recently when we started finding out what was really going on. It is nothing that has just came up. It has been pending for years. Thank you. Chairman Jones states thank you. Mr. Lomax, can you take care of the dust? Mr. Joe Lomax states yes sir. I will also look in the archives to see the history on that road. To see if I can find the information that Mrs. Grant has so I can see what she got. Chairman Jones states okay. Chairman Faison states when he takes care of the dust by putting these chemicals on it, how long does it fix that? Mr. Joe Lomax states it usually lasts a season. If you put it down now, it should last until the fall. It makes the road look oily. I can’t recall sending the calcium chloride truck over there, but it

57

May 26, 2015

wouldn’t have lasted this long. Mrs. Elaine Grant states those 18-wheelers coming in and out of there carrying those chickens constantly. Whatever they do to the road, it is destroyed soon after. Chairman Jones states the chemicals he is going to put down there will do a better job then what it has been doing. Mr. Joe Lomax states we have to take care of the dust first. We will take care of that. Mrs. Elaine Grant states will we be considered for the six year? Would we be put on that list at least? Chairman Jones states Mr. Porter that is in your district. Supervisor Porter states that is a board decision. Chairman Jones states I understand. Supervisor Porter states what we need is a list of all of the unpaved roads. I know there has been some complaints about the unpaved portion of Delaware Road as well. Mrs. Elaine Grant states I do have a petition here where people have signed. Chairman Jones states okay. Mr. Joe Lomax states I will soon be working on workbooks that will have everything in it that the board will need including all of the unpaved roads; the funding, the past year’s plans, the priority list, maps and the whole nine. We are almost finished with them and that will come right into play with making future decisions about the unpaved roads. Chairman Jones states okay, thank you. Anyone else? Supervisor West states Mrs. Grant I know there are so many more roads that are like that and I am sorry. Mrs. Deborah Goodwyn addressed the board. Good evening, Deborah Goodwyn; I think the question is how does a citizen get a road on the list? If you have an unpaved road, what is the process for getting that road on the six year list? So, in your workbook if you could help us understand what citizens have to do to make sure that the road is included on that list would be appreciated. Chairman Jones states whatever district they are in, they need to contact their Supervisor. Supervisor West states that is step one and then it needs to be brought to the board and then the board will make the decision. Chairman Jones states alright, anyone else? There was no response and the public hearing was closed. Chairman Jones states okay gentlemen, what do you want to do about this priority list. Supervisor West states things need to be in place for July 1st, does it not? Is that correct? Mr. Joe Lomax states yes. We need a resolution in the Central Office by June 18th for this upcoming fiscal year. Mr. Michael Johnson states what you really need the resolution to address is the approval of the budget which is fixed. You don’t have any control over what that is. Then, there is the actual plan itself which are those roads that have money placed on them which were the three roads that were on the presentation. What I would suggest is we have a special workshop or devote a significant

58

May 26, 2015

part of a future meeting to do a transportation discussion to talk about this priority list. Even though these roads may not have any money on them right now, there needs to be a clear understanding of what the priority and the sequence in addressing them will be. As you know, this year you have two unpaved roads you are going to begin to address. One of them, Mr. Lomax mentioned he would do with his own forces, Rawlings Road. It is a small project. It is less than $100,000. That one will come off the list. Guy Place is the next one on the list. We have to have this discussion. You have $965,929 over the next six years. You have a $1.3 million project. You could spend all of your money on that project over the next six years and you still wouldn’t have enough to complete that one road. So you would have the discussion, how much do we want to put towards Guy Place; how much do we want to put towards Bowers Road; how much do we want to put towards Buckhorn Quarter Road; and you can begin to make those kinds of decisions. Chairman Jones states Mr. Lomax when you get the list let Mr. Johnson know so we can all take a look at it and talk about it. Mr. Joe Lomax states okay, no problem. Chairman Jones states is that alright with everyone? Mr. Joe Lomax states Mr. Johnson is right. Somewhere between those bigger projects and those smaller ones, and the lower allocations; sometimes you have to take some low maintenance streets like a Rawlings Road and like a Bowers Road; something that you can get done quickly because you have the funding for it. It is just a thought. Chairman Jones states this is the first time I have heard anything about this particular road. Supervisor West states and the bigger projects like Guy Place Road eats up all of the money and we don’t have any money really; $900,000 on a $1.3 million project. That is where we are standing and then the little ones get put off. Then, they cut the funding again next year on us and it is constant. Supervisor Phillips states I think we need to move forwards with what we have tonight. If we can get Rawlings Road off of the list then we can say we have at least accomplished something. Chairman Jones states then we can put something else on the list. Supervisor Phillips states I just want you all to remember Guy Place Road got to the point where school buses couldn’t get down the road. The people could not drive. It is a road that cuts through between Ivor Road and Wakefield Road and they could only get in one way and that was difficult. Chairman Jones states but this is the first time I have heard about Bowers Road. Supervisor Phillips states I understand and I have heard this gentleman’s comments as well. But, if we have the money for Rawlings Road and we are ready to move on that it would be helpful as well. Chairman Jones states okay gentlemen I need a motion for the priority list. Supervisor Porter states I don’t think we have any choice with the timing right now except to approve the priority list we currently have in front of us. We can change it in the future. I think the key is we all need to understand the magnitude of what we need to do in the county. I think until we understand all of these roads and place them in some priority and get some idea of the cost, I don’t think we will be able to accomplish very much. We don’t have enough money to do everything we need so we need to pick the ones that will give us the benefit. I am afraid money is just going to get tighter the way things are going. I move we approve the budget and priority lists for secondary and unpaved roads while we continue to work on understanding the magnitude of the situation for all roads in the county. We need to get all of the unpaved roads together so we know what they are. I know where Bowers Road is now but I didn’t know that was a state road to be honest. I thought it was a private road because it was just back there to that farm. Mr. William Grant states since 1982 it was a state road, but the main thing is you have other people back there. It is a farm back there. There are 18-wheelers; you have Perdue back there.

59

May 26, 2015

With Perdue back there, you have 20 to 30 18-wheelers back there kicking up dust. I am telling them to slow down. Turn the other shoe around. We have other people down there, but I just so happen to sit in the center of it. Make a decision based on if it was you and your health. So, in other words, something has to be done. What do I suppose to do? Up and move? Supervisor Porter states no but immediately what we have to do is address the dust problem. We have to get that under control. Every time you have a dust problem, you can actually get a work order from VDOT for them to go back out. Mr. William Grant states I have been doing that sir. This gentleman says he recognize this or whatever. Everybody goes back there and gets caught. I don’t see why you are just finding out now. Supervisor Porter states it has never been brought to my attention. I don’t know how many of these roads exist. We added one to it tonight. Mr. Joe Lomax states we have at least 20 miles of dirt road in this county. Supervisor Porter states it is not a matter of one road or two roads, it’s a bunch and we have to get it under control. Supervisor Faison states this is being addressed tonight. It’s just not being addressed with any pavement. It is being addressed with the chemical solution which will hopefully be better than the water solution. Chairman Jones states alright I have a motion; is there a second? Supervisor Phillips seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to number 12, Comprehensive Plan Update. Mr. Michael Johnson states as you are aware, following a public hearing at its regular meeting on March 12, the Planning Commission unanimously moved to recommend approval of the 2015-2025 Comprehensive Plan Update; a full copy of which was transmitted to each Board member for review last month. Where we are at right now, once this Board is comfortable with that draft plan it does need to be advertised for public comment again before the Board acts. Since last month, I have been contacted by two board members that had some suggestions and revisions. If it is okay Mr. Chairman I would like to share what they were. Chairman Jones states go ahead.

60

May 26, 2015

61

May 26, 2015

62

May 26, 2015

63

May 26, 2015

64

May 26, 2015

65

May 26, 2015

66

May 26, 2015

67

May 26, 2015

Mr. Michael Johnson states I will start with the future land-use map. This is up in the Ivor area. You can see here the corporate limits of Ivor. This is Route 460. Wakefield is in this direction. Windsor is back in this direction. Supervisor West was a little bit concerned about this piece of property right here which is designated as commercial. So, he asked me where is it and what is it specifically? If you zoom in and look a little bit closer at that piece of property you can see this is Sadler Road right here. It intersects and crosses underneath the railroad and then intersects with Route 460. The area that is showing as a future commercial designation doesn’t even touch Route 460. The area between Route 460 and the railroad is designated as commercial. When you look at a satellite image of the piece of property that is designated this is it. It has a little bit of frontage back out here on Sadler Road. Right adjacent to the electric transmission line, it bisects that particular parcel. The real potential for future commercial use of that property is probably not that great. So, what Supervisor West would like for you to consider is potentially changing that particular piece of property to a designation for future industrial use. I have several of these to go through. Do you want to take comments and discuss them as we go through or would you rather go through the entire thing and then talk about it collectively? Chairman Jones states do you want to comment on this now Mr. West or do you want to wait? Supervisor West states the only point I would make is why is it set aside as commercial and not industrial when everything else is industrial up to it? They seem to have left one little parcel at the end of it and it really makes no difference that I can tell at this point. But, it does open it up for expansion. It doesn’t build anything there, but it is available now. Chairman Jones states any other comments on that? Supervisor Porter states I think that is just a house cleaning thing. I would like to take a few minutes to compliment the Planning Commission and Community Services for the work that they have done. There is a lot of good information in this plan. People can look at it and its purpose is to provide a road map in the future for the county. I think for the most part it does that. I would like to thank those people who did all of the work. We just have a few changes and some things are like this where we just didn’t understand. Chairman Jones states alright any other comments? If not, Mr. Johnson go ahead. Mr. Michael Johnson states the second one we will look at is this Courtland planning area. The first area that caught Mr. Porter’s eye was this area right down here; also designated as a future commercial area. Zooming in a little closer this is the area; this is actually Delaware Road. This is the CSX Railway, General Thomas Highway; of course you can see the Nottoway River right here. When you look at the satellite image of that particular area, it is actually one of the most industrialized areas we have in the county. It is the Solenis/Arkema/Eastman formerly Hercules property. Adjacent to that is the Dominion Biomass Power Plant. Across the street is Green Waste Recycling and this is the proposed Early Trucking Facility located right here. What Mr. Porter thought would make more sense is to change that area to an industrial designation as well. Supervisor Porter states that is what it is. Chairman Jones states right. Are there any other comments on that? Alright, move on to the next one. Mr. Michael Johnson states the next one is in this little area right here. You see these two small commercial designations. Going in a little closer there is a triangular shaped piece right here. Then, there is a square piece right here. These are located between Rose Valley Road and Delaware Road right on General Thomas Highway. Looking at the satellite image and looking at the parcels that is Lee White Trucking, the triangular shaped piece and the square piece is Franklin Recycling you did the Conditional Use Permit for the expansion of that facility tonight. It seems to make a little more sense, rather than have them shown as future commercial that they would be changed to industrial as well. Chairman Jones states okay, that make senses. Is that it? Mr. Michael Johnson states I have a couple more. The next one is this area right here. It is a pretty large area shown as commercial. Zooming in a little bit closer you can see that the boundaries are formed by Route 671, Rose Valley Road, up Delaware Road, cross Southampton Parkway, and

68

May 26, 2015

then it follow some track lines back down here. It also includes this area that backs up to some of the commercial businesses in the City of Franklin. Looking at the satellite image you can see you have Walmart here, Hampton Farms, Birdsong Peanuts, and this is General Thomas Highway. This is the area that backs up to that and the commercial designation seems to make a lot of sense backing up to the McDonalds and Walmart because the access is going to be off of Armory Drive for those parcels. These other areas; I am not so sure that the commercial designation is the best one. If you are familiar with this area, right through here, it is very wet. Water stands in there much of the year and it is the main drainage base coming all the way through Hunterdale and eventually trickles down underneath Route 671 and onto the Nottoway River. The area that we are really talking about is Walt Young’s farm and this farm on the other side of Highway 58 over here. The thought process was maybe it might make more sense in that area to consider changing that to this new designation you have over here on New Market Road called Employment Center Designation. That area along Armory Drive, behind Walmart and McDonalds; leaving that commercial but changing this area to the Employment Center Designation. Supervisor Edwards states I think that makes more sense. Mr. Michael Johnson states the last area is this area right up here. You all know as the Cutchin’s Farm. The current draft plan right now has multiple designations for this area. If you look at the notes right here, the area right along Camp Parkway, but east of Delaware Road, is designated for future retail, but only on a neighborhood scale limited to 40,000 square feet per retail establishment. On the opposite side of Delaware Road, on the west side of Camp Parkway; the area behind that is an area that is density bonus available for age restricted housing. This is on the east side of Delaware behind that initial area of retail development. Then, on the west side of Delaware behind that initial area of retail development is an area that could be some medium density residential. Then, the balance of this track is left as low density single family type residential development. This gives you an idea of the satellite image of that area. You can see Riverdale Elementary is right here; High Street Methodist Church, Camp Parkway, here is Delaware Road. This area here is obviously the City of Franklin, but backing up to the Railroad is Joyner Farm, Joyner Acres, Cypress Manor, and when you get up here you back up to the golf course at the Cypress Bridge Country Club. What Mr. Porter would like for you to consider is changing that entire area as a future employment center but adding this note that it would be limited to business park type development with light industrial, research and development, warehousing and office uses in a campus-like setting as well as corporate enterprises that support the industrial and office development in the surrounding area. Chairman Jones states alright gentlemen, what do you all think of this? Supervisor Edwards states that is a controversial area. I can’t go along with that. That is designated as residential. Supervisor Porter states let me tell you my thinking. We have spent a lot of money bringing infrastructure up there. It is a high value area for the county. I can’t see building 400 or 500 houses up there because we are going to lose $4,000 or $5,000 on every house we put over there. Just a few minutes ago in the meeting we talked about needing to bring businesses in. We don’t have an area where we can bring what I call clean businesses; not dirty businesses, not businesses that create noise, not businesses that create odors, but businesses that are enclosed in nice looking buildings. By putting these restrictions on it, we are building a nice campus like area where we can bring some of the businesses that we want to bring to the community. Right now we are trying to develop a specific local business and we don’t have a place to keep them around here. They have the potential to be a blockbuster company. I hate to see them go away and go somewhere else because we don’t have a place to put them. We don’t have that clean business park that a professional office building wants to go to. We don’t have that area where you can bring a nice food service, clean business. It would be a place you could put a Feridies or even a nicer building because you would have architectural guidelines they would have to follow; and there is an elephant in the room. We know the landowner wants to do something with it and we would be awfully foolish to think we could stop him from developing it. The state is not going to let us do that. Virginia is a property rights state. I don’t want to fight the guy. I want to set boundaries and conditions where he can see that he can have a valuable development without causing a nuisance in the area. I think as long as you work with somebody they will work with you and if you work within restrictions you have a nice development and we all can win. We can get some tax money and we can use that sewer and water; we are close to the gas pipeline in the event that we need to

69

May 26, 2015

run a gas pipeline. I think this could be a win for the county and a win for the landowner, and a win for the residents. Right now, the residents fear about some yard where you are going to be storing storage containers. Somebody asked me why would we approve a storage container yard across from the church? I said what are you talking about? They said well somebody in the know told me that is what the owner wants to do. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I think the owner wants to work with us to develop his land and I think we need to work with him to develop it. This is the first step by us setting our parameters for him to work within. Chairman Jones states alright, any other comments? Supervisor Updike states on this issue right here, the Planning Commission had discussed this thoroughly. The owners and the business gave industrial authorities the privilege of attending and addressing this issue. The meetings that I have attended, I haven’t heard the first one to stand up and say they wanted this land to be changed. Where is the responsibility of the owner to come forth and be honest before the Planning Commission? I think it should go back to the Planning Commission if they want to review it. For us to sit here and cherry pick these items, I don’t like it. The amount of work the Planning Commission has done on this situation and then to destroy it. Send it back and let them have a hearing; let the public have an opportunity to voice their opinion on all of this. Supervisor Porter states the public can voice their opinion on this. We are just making a proposal to the draft plan before we send it out for a public hearing. This is not a final decision. I also want to remind you we are not talking about zoning changes. We are talking about designating where we believe we should be directing growth in the county; where we see an opportunity and a potential for something that could be real beneficial to the county. Supervisor Edwards states we both know this is a very controversial area. This came up before. I have heard from the church and the people that live around there; the communities around there. They are not for that. You want to try and sneak this in is what you are trying to do. Supervisor Porter states I am not trying to sneak anything in. Supervisor Edwards states yes you are. Supervisor Porter states I am hoping to put it out there and up front right now. What I am trying to do is get the information out there of what I am willing to support. I have heard the people from the church complaining to me about what are you going to do with all of this industrial development and I am saying I am not going to go for that. I am not going to vote for anything that will degrade the church. This will not degrade the church. This will set the parameters that the developer/owner has to live within. I hope to demonstrate to him that this is more valuable to him than just putting warehouses there. Supervisor Edwards states the people I have talked to at the church and the people that live in the neighborhood around there are adamantly opposed to it. I think you trying to put this in here like this… this has to go back and be advertised again; go back to the Planning Commission. Everything that was changed up here has to go back to the Planning Commission and come through again. Supervisor Porter states I don’t think so. Supervisor Edwards states I disagree with that. I think you are changing something here; it has to go back through the same channels. Otherwise, these people have no choice. You are taking their choice to say anything about these areas away from them. Supervisor Porter states they can come to the public hearing we are going to have on this for the Board. Supervisor West states the public hearing will take care of it. It will be advertised and it will be an opportunity to come out and express yourself; even the Planning Commission members. Supervisor Porter states I have set down with a couple of people from the church and explained what I was proposing. I don’t think we can ignore the fact that we have a high value area that can

70

May 26, 2015

have high value businesses that are consistent and can conform with the community. If you take that attitude, not in my back yard no matter what the cost or what I deal with, I am talking about that $1.50 tax rate in 10 years. That is going to be here. We have got to work together, both in the residential and the business community to build a better county. When I sat down with some of the people and explained what I was willing to support they said, that is not what they told me and I will have to rethink it. Supervisor Faison states I think what he said is something that is real important. Everybody that looks at that, they are looking at it according to the experiences they have had and the knowledge they have at that moment. Now, we have made some proposals to change the plan. Not just here, but there are others. Any change we make has to go through the same process right? By changing this we are not adding something that we have to do. We are just saying consider this. People may have been looking at it and saying they don’t want any kind of heavy industry in there. So, if we designate it to change to an employment center then we are eliminating any real dirty industry, and maybe the people will consider that. We certainly need to develop as much property as we can for industry and this gives us an opportunity to at least look at it. Supervisor Edwards states I agree with that 100% but it has to go through the right process. It has to be re-advertised with the Planning Commission everything that we change tonight. Supervisor Porter states no it doesn’t. That is not the process. Beth can you… we can change it, but we have to go through a process. We don’t have to redo the entire Comprehensive Plan. Mrs. Beth Lewis states Mr. Railey is the attorney, but that is the purpose of the Planning Commission having a public hearing and sending it in draft form to the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors are still looking at it in draft form so they can make changes to it while it is in draft form and hold a public hearing. You could hold more than one if that is what you chose to do. Then, adopt it at the end with whatever changes have been made. Is that what you understand it to be Mr. Railey? Mr. Richard Railey states I have to concur because I think it would be impossible for this Board to consider every little tweaking you do… and we are not even having a public hearing. We are just developing a draft that goes to a public hearing. Any time you change a comma, you would have to send it back if that was the case. I don’t see it that way. I will say this, if you want to send it back because you had a problem with it you could. I don’t see any requirement to advertise the statue of changes. The housekeeping changes you are making to send it back. I will stand by that. Mrs. Beth Lewis states and that is why it is in draft form at this point. You can look at it at this point it is written in pencil. This is the point where changes are made. Just like Mr. Guynn’s request earlier this evening. He made changes between the Planning Commission meeting and the Board of Supervisors meeting because the Planning Commission recommendation was in draft form and the Board of Supervisors makes the final decision. Supervisor Edwards states so you are saying we don’t need a public hearing? Mr. Richard Railey states no, you are going to have a public hearing. Supervisor Porter states this is what we are going to send out for a public hearing. Supervisor Faison states we may want to give a clear rationale as to why we are making the decisions that we are making. I think it is important that everybody understands the reason for them. Chairman Jones called on Supervisor Phillips. Supervisor Phillips states in reviewing I have one further question. I had brought this to Mike’s attention today. I would like to add this; the Comprehensive Plan as it deals with the Drewryville community shows an industrial corridor on either side of Highway 58. I was at the Planning Commission meetings during those discussions and Commissioner Keith Tennessee I think has a vision that if we are going to show people that Southampton County is opened to business… it currently comes from the County line as far as Route 308 which is currently the road we call Southampton Correctional Road. I would ask that we would also advertise to extend out on either

71

May 26, 2015

side of Highway 58 from Route 308 to the edge of the Capron voting district which would be right at the Nottoway River. That way it is showing people… it is not going to change the residents that are in that, but what I want to see is that run right through Capron and into the Courtland area. To show we are open to business and it is a business corridor. Chairman Jones states I don’t have any problem with that. That would be fine. Supervisor Phillips states okay. I would just add that and I think the public hearing that we will have will test the waters and it will give the people a chance. I went to every public meeting that the Planning Commission hosted in all the different localities. They were not well attended. I think this will give the people in the County another opportunity to look at this. We told the school board tonight that we want to bring business in the proper locations into this community to help fund the school system. I think this is a good step in that direction. Mrs. Beth Lewis states you see on this map, from the Greensville County line all the way through the edge of the Drewryville community area already noted as planned industrial on both sides of Highway 58. Then the Drewryville community area has commercial designation then it starts back up with industrial from… Supervisor Phillips states from Capron to the town limits. Mrs. Beth Lewis states it doesn’t go that far. Right now it just goes to the intersection where you turn… Supervisor Phillips states that is Route 308. Mrs. Beth Lewis states yes. Supervisor Phillips states I would like to see… Mrs. Beth Lewis states you want to see it the rest of the way? Supervisor Phillips states let’s say to the Capron town limits and then pick up again after the Capron town limits. Mr. Michael Johnson states and then how far past the Capron town limits? Supervisor Phillips states certainly to Meherrin Road. We just added the permit for the convenience store right there at Meherrin Road. Mrs. Beth Lewis states it is hard to see on this map but that already has a commercial designation in this plan. So you would take it from the edge of Drewryville to Capron and then skip the Capron town limits and pick up here and go to here on both sides. Supervisor Phillips states yes on both sides. Supervisor Porter states I think that is good because I believe with what they did with Route 460 you are going to see Highway 58 become the new road and you are going to see that road develop and it will probably be in 10 to 15 years be interstate quality. That will be an even higher traffic road than what it is now. Supervisor West states I agree. Supervisor Porter states so this makes sense to be able to attract businesses there. Supervisor Edwards states I think that is fine. I think that is a good idea. Chairman Jones states to talk about the area out there by the church and the school, I heard at the public hearing when the facility first came here, we don’t want 700 houses out there. This change will make it where you won’t have 700 houses out there. I heard that loud and clear that you did not want 700 houses out there in that area. Am I right Mr. Railey? Mr. Richard Railey states you are right.

72

May 26, 2015

Supervisor Porter states which would mean another school… Chairman Jones states right and an employment center makes more sense than having those houses. Mr. Richard Railey states you still need to understand what the process is. Chairman Jones states I understand that. Mr. Richard Railey states what you are doing is tweaking now. You will go to public hearing and whether you adopt what Mr. Porter is suggesting or not is up for grabs at the public hearing. Chairman Jones states right and I understand that. Supervisor Porter states what we are saying this is what we are advertising for a public hearing. Mr. Richard Railey states that is correct. Supervisor Porter states these proposals are to change the draft plan which we are going to submit for the public hearing. Mr. Richard Railey states you can vote it up or vote it down. Chairman Jones states and I was just commenting on what I heard at the public hearing when they first came in. They did not want 700 houses out there. Mr. Richard Railey states I would also point out and I think you all understand the process… you still need a vote tonight to go to public hearing as amended. Supervisor Porter states that is right. I will make a motion to advertise the amended Comprehensive Plan for public comment before the final consideration. Supervisor Edwards seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Jones states let’s go to number thirteen, miscellaneous. Mr. Michael Johnson states nothing special here Mr. Chairman. There are a number of environmental notices, foreclosure notices, items of correspondence, and some articles of interest for your information. I can answer any questions if you have any. Chairman Jones states alright do we have any late arriving matters? Mr. Michael Johnson states no sir. Chairman Jones states anything else to come before this board. Supervisor West states I want to comment on something tonight that I observed. Mr. Faison told me a long time ago that he may not agree with a vote but once the Board makes a decision on a vote it becomes his vote. He exhibited that tonight. I know we had a split vote and thoughts on the budget for the upcoming year; particularly for schools. All of us were torn by that situation. But I heard the final vote Mr. Porter and I heard the final vote Mr. Faison and I appreciate us working together. I appreciate us working together to tweak what we need in order to have businesses come in. Supervisor Edwards states Mark Twain always said if you have a bunch of people in the room and everybody is thinking the same it probably means nobody is thinking. Supervisor Phillips states Mr. Chairman one final thing. In the correspondence there was a notice that the Ivor Regional Animal Health Laboratory will be closing June 30th. That means there will not be anything close. In other words everything else will be in the valley of Virginia; Shenandoah Valley. I would at least like to let the state know that we would like to see that remain. We have four in the western part of the state and there will be none in this part of the state. That laboratory

73

May 26, 2015

can do water tests, test animals for disease; there are a lot of diseases in the mid-west in our turkey and chicken population. I think it is a bad move and I would ask this board to consider asking Mike to write a letter to the state asking to reconsider. Supervisor West states Amen brother. Chairman Jones states do the rest of the board members feel the same. They collaboratively stated yes. Chairman Jones states Mr. Johnson can you write a letter and let them know we do not appreciate that and would like it to stay like it is. Mr. Michael Johnson states yes sir. Chairman Jones states alright is there anything else? If not, I need a motion to adjourn. Supervisor West made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Edwards seconded the motion which passed unanimously. There being no further business for tonight the meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m. ______________________________ Dallas O. Jones, Chairman _____________________________ Michael W. Johnson, Clerk

74

May 26, 2015

****THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK*****

75