Jan 20, 2024 BOS Special Meeting 01-20-2024

LET, LET ME SAY THAT DIFFERENTLY.

I WATCH A LOT OF ELECTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THEY CAN BE REAL NASTY, REAL, REAL BRUTAL, UH, IN LOTS OF PLACES.

KEEP GOING.

UH, AND LASTLY, ACCOUNTABILITY.

UM, BUT I ALSO FIND THAT AFTER THE ELECTION, THERE'S GENERALLY GOOD FEELINGS, RIGHT? WE, WE, WE JUST VOTED FOR THIS PERSON.

WE WANT THEM TO SUCCEED.

I HOPE THAT, UM, FEELING EXTENDS FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE.

I'VE ALSO WATCHED AROUND VIRGINIA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, THAT, THAT'S THAT REALITY.

LOOK, I JUST VOTED FOR CHARLIE, HE'S A GOOD GUY.

HE'S OUR MAN.

AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, AND YOU BECOME, YOU WERE THE PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AGO YOU WERE THE HERO.

NOW PEOPLE WERE SAYING, THAT GUY'S A JERK.

I'M GONNA THROW THAT BUM OUT TOO.

I CAN'T SAY HOW THAT HAPPENS.

IS THAT FAIR? PROBABLY NOT.

DOES IT HAPPEN A LOT? ABSOLUTELY.

I SAY ALL THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN, UH, EFFECTIVELY SOME, HOPEFULLY, EFFECTIVELY COMBAT THAT REALITY IS TO REALLY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

UH, IT CAN MEAN EVERYTHING FROM, UH, FACEBOOK, LIVEING, EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DO.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT.

BUT THAT IS A THING THAT, UH, PEOPLE DO, UH, TO, UH, MORE TRADITIONAL OLDER SCHOOL WAYS OF, OF, UH, COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR VOTERS THROUGH NEWSLETTERS AND FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS.

AND JUST CONSTANTLY BEING IN TOUCH WITH EVERYBODY, LETTING 'EM KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING, WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

UM, THE REASON THAT PEOPLE TURN, I FIND, IS A LOT OF TIMES THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

UH, SO THE MORE THAT YOU CAN ENGAGE PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THE THE BETTER IT'S GONNA BE FOR EVERYBODY, MOST OF ALL, FOR Y'ALL.

FOURTH, UH, IS BEING A FIDUCIARY.

AND THIS IS A, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, IT'S KIND OF, IT TAKES A MINUTE TO WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND IT.

BUT IN SHORT, IT MEANS WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN SELF-INTEREST.

BUT WHEN YOU COME TO A ROLE LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PUT EVERYBODY ELSE'S INTEREST BEFORE YOUR OWN.

UM, I THINK, UH, I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY PRETTY BEAUTIFUL CONCEPT.

UH, AND IT'S ONE THAT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR COUNTRY TO THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC.

UH, YOU SEE HERE IN THE WORDS OF THE, UH, DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, UH, THAT TO SECURE THE RIGHTS THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IN.

GOVERNMENTS ARE INTERESTED, DERIVING THEIR POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

THE WHOLE REASON THAT YOU ARE HERE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, AND THE WHOLE REASON THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IS HERE AS YOU SUPPORT, UH, IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THIS INCIDENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THIS IS, UM, SO JUST DIGGING INTO IT A LITTLE DEEPER, BEING A FIDUCIARY MEANS, UM, MANAGING OTHER PEOPLE'S ASSETS EFFECTIVELY.

UM, IT MEANS HAVING A LOYALTY TO THE COUNTY FIRST AS OPPOSED TO YOURSELF TO YOUR OWN BUSINESS INTERESTS, TO YOUR OWN FAMILY'S INTERESTS.

UM, DUTY OF IMPARTIALITY, NOT BRINGING, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GONNA BRING YOUR OWN POINT OF VIEW TO EVERYTHING YOU DO, UH, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT IS AND RECOGNIZING WHAT THAT IS, IS IMPORTANT.

UM, WE ALL WORK FOR SOMEBODY.

AND THE FIVE PEOPLE IN THE FRONT HERE ALL WORK FOR, UH, THE 25,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN GLAND COUNTY.

UM, YOU GOTTA GET A DUTY THOUGH, AT NUMBER FIVE, PROVIDING OVERSIGHT.

UM, THE, THE, THE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE TEAM HERE OF WORK, THEIR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CARRY OUT THE POLICIES THAT YOU ALL SET.

ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST ROLES IS TO HIRE THEM, IS TO HIRE HIM AND ASK HIM TO HIRE A TEAM.

UM, AND THEN IN THAT PROCESS TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

UM, AND IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, THE ONLY WAY THAT I'VE FOUND YOU CAN DO THAT IS TO LAY OUT A SERIES OF KPIS.

KEY PERFORMANCE, .

THERE'S LOTS OF NAMES YOU CAN PUT ON THIS, BUT WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC TASKS, UH, THAT YOU ASK HIM TO DO? HOW ARE YOU GONNA KNOW HE'S DOING? WHETHER HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB OR A BAD JOB? HOW ARE YOU GONNA KNOW WHAT'S WORKING WELL? WHAT'S NOT WORKING WELL? WHAT NEEDS INCLUDED? UM, BACK TO THE EARLIER POINT ABOUT, UH, DEMONSTRATING TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, WE SEE LOTS OF CITIES AND COUNTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY CREATING DASHBOARDS, CREATING, UH, ONLINE TOOLS.

[00:25:01]

ONCE THEY'VE LAID OUT THOSE KPIS, THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VISUAL WAY TO DISPLAY THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING.

WHAT'S WORKING WELL, WHAT NEEDS HELP, AND SHOWING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THESE, UH, FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND LASTLY, UH, THE BIGGEST ONE IS SETTING THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION.

UH, WHERE ARE WE GOING? HOW ARE WE GONNA KNOW, UH, IF WE'RE POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT A LOT OF BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS, A LOT OF ELECTED BODIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, FALL SHORT ON ACHIEVING THIS MOST FUNDAMENTAL GOAL FOR A COUPLE REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, UH, THAT WE SEE IS THE NOTION THAT GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH.

UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

UM, IT IS HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS.

IT IS HARD TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND SAY, WE WANNA GO OVER HERE.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH ON ITS OWN.

IT'S ALSO HARD BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SCREW IT UP.

IT'S ALSO HARD BECAUSE YOU MIGHT PICK THE WRONG DIRECTION.

IT IS ALSO HARD BECAUSE, UH, WE'LL TALK MORE THIS AFTERNOON.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME BIG TRENDS HAPPENING IN THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE AFFECTING GOLIN, THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT GLIN THAT WE MIGHT NOT, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO SEE THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT IF WE DON'T, UH, FIGURE THAT OUT AND PREPARE FOR IT, WE MIGHT WAKE UP IN FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS AND DISCOVER THAT WE'VE DONE PASSOVER.

HERE'S THE OTHER REASON.

THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS OFTEN FALL SHORT ON THINGS.

THIS CHART TOOK ME A MINUTE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE'VE ALL BEEN TRAINED IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES.

WE GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO DO.

HOW DO YOU SORT IT OUT? OUT? CORPORATE TYPES WILL TELL YOU, YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND THINGS ARE URGENT OF THE OUT.

UM, I WOULD ARGUE BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AROUND VIRGINIA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE GOVERNING BOARD TO OPERATE.

PROBABLY IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM TO OPERATE.

YOU KNOW, IF WE GET SIX INCHES OF SNOW, UH, COMING TOMORROW, WE NEED TO HAVE THE WHOLE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM READY TO BE DEPLOYED TO, TO DEAL WITH THAT.

THAT'S NOT A POLICY MAKING ISSUE.

THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH Y'ALL.

YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE TELLING THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, GET THE TRUCKS OUT ON ROUTE SIX AT SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB.

SO WE WOULD ARGUE THAT A PLACE WHERE AN EFFECTIVE POLICYMAKING BOARD OUGHT TO WORK IS RIGHT HERE.

REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT QUITE AS URGENT.

FIGURING OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING AS ACCOUNTING AND HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THERE IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IN THIS JOB.

PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT, I WOULD ARGUE.

IT'S NOT URGENT.

IF YOU MAKE A STRATEGIC DECISION TODAY, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

HONESTLY, IF YOU WAIT A WEEK, IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF GOING WHERE WE NORMALLY THINK THERE WORKS, AND REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO AS A, AS A COUNTY.

FIGURING OUT WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNTY, AND WHAT'S OUR JOB AS THE POLICY MAKING WORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.

UH, WE'RE GONNA, UH, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR PRIMARY GOAL HERE TODAY, AS VIC SAID AT THE BEGINNING, IS TO START TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.

UH, FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LONG-TERM VISION IS, THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

UM, AND THAT STARTS WITH NUMBER ONE, COMING TO SOME AGREEMENT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND THEN FIGURING OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE'VE GOTTA RECOGNIZE THAT THAT WILL BE INFLUENCED AND HOW WE GET THERE WILL BE INFLUENCED BY INTERNAL DRIVERS.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE STAFF IN JUST A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT THAT'S, WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE.

AS WELL AS EXTERNAL TRAININGS.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MOSTLY THIS AFTERNOON.

THOSE ARE SIX HAT, SIX ROLES, SIX RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE SEE EFFECTIVE BOARD SUPERVISORS DEMONSTRATING.

WHAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, TO UNDERSTAND, TO

[00:30:01]

REMEMBER, TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT THE HEART OF THAT AT THE CENTER OF THAT IS TRUST.

TRUST BETWEEN EACH OF THE FIVE OF YOU.

TRUST BETWEEN THIS GROUP, THIS PANEL, THIS BOARD, AND YOUR CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR, UH, TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, REALLY PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT.

TRUST, HOPEFULLY AMONG THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN GOON BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY, CHURCHES, AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU WANT THEM TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON AMONG THIS BOARD AND AMONG THIS TEAM AND SAY, I MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEM, BUT I TRUST THAT THEY'RE POINT THE OBJECTION THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOU LOSE THAT KIND OF DOESN'T MATTER.

ANYTHING ELSE AFTER THAT? ALRIGHT, THAT'S SETTING THE STAGE, THAT'S TALKING ABOUT, UM, KIND OF ROADS AND RE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

UM, I LIKE TO THINK OF THIS AS WE ARE ALL DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

UM, AND WE'VE EACH GOT A LANE TO BE IN THE BOARD'S, GOT A LANE, THE ADMINISTRATOR'S GOT A LANE, CONSTITUENTS HAVE GOT A LANE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'RE ALL DRIVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AT ROUGHLY THE SAME SPEED.

ALL NEXT, WE'RE GONNA TURN TO, UH, SOME OF THOSE INTERNAL ISSUES THAT ARE SHAPING OUR CURRENT STATE AND THE FUTURE.

I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO VIC AND HE'LL, UH, SET THAT UP, TALK TO SOME OF OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THEN KEEP, WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PART OF IT.

WE'LL HAVE LUNCH, AND AS A REMINDER, WE'LL HAVE LUNCH FOR THE BOARD MEMBER, CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, CHICK-FIL-A AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, BUT WE'LL HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

SO WHAT I'M GONNA GONNA MENTION NOW ARE ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE AND IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO USE THE BOARD.

THOSE, THOSE PRINCIPLES, THOSE TENANTS THAT WE'VE STAFFED IN, HAVE INTERPRETED PLAY.

AND THROUGH THE YEARS, STAFF HAS OPERATED UNDER A NUMBER OF THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, UH, OR TENANTS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF 'EM.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE CONCEPT THAT GROWTH IN THIS COUNTY SHOULD BE 85, 15.

THE CONCEPT, THE VALUE OF GROWTH SHOULD BE 70 30 CONCEPT.

WE MUST MAINTAIN A, A TRIPLE, TRIPLE CONCEPT THAT OUR, OUR BUDGET FOCUS WISE IS GONNA BE FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION CONCEPT THAT NATURAL GROWTH CAN PAY FOR OUR FUTURE NEEDS.

THE CONCEPT THAT OUR CIP IS ONLY FUNDED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT 25 YEAR PLANS NOW, WE'VE ADDED CONCEPTS ABOUT GROWING GRACEFULLY.

DON'T MAKE A SHORT TIME KEEP G IN RURAL, UH, ROADS DON'T KEEP UP WITH DEMANDS.

AND THESE ARE ALL CONCEPTS THAT, THAT WE OPERATE UNDER.

AND, AND IT KIND OF PUTS US INTO THE SANDBOX THAT WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN.

UM, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY 85, 15? IS THAT 85 ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY? OR IS THAT 15 IN ONE PART OF COUNTY? UM, WHEN WE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA BE LIKE SHORT PUMP, WELL, WHAT, WHAT DO WE WANT LOOK LIKE? THESE ARE THINGS STAFF HAS TO OPERATE.

SO, SO THIS IS, ARE SOME OF THE TENANTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO, TO START CLARIFYING, THEN PUT SOME DEFINITION TO THAT SO STAFF CAN GO OUT.

SARAH CAN GO OUT AND FIND THE KIND OF GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED SO WE CAN GENERATE THE NECESSARY REVENUE SO WE CAN PAY FOR THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION THAT THE BOARD WANTS US TO PROVIDE.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THESE PRINCIPLES AND TENANTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO START THAT PROCESS OF BETTER DEFINING WHAT THEY MEAN AND, AND WHAT THIS BOARD IS LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH.

ALL OF Y'ALL ARE JUST ELECTED.

THE CITIZENS HAVE GIVEN YOU A, A LOT OF FEEDBACK OVER WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE THIS CANDIDATE BECOME.

THE STAFF .

WELL, YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WE DO OPERATE UNDER THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.

WE'RE FUNDED PRIMARILY THROUGH, UH, TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LED.

UM, THE LAST INCREASE OF PROPERTY TAXES WAS 16 YEARS AGO.

UH, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES WERE LOWER 25% THIS YEAR.

UM, THE GROWTH IN OUR REVENUE STREAM, IT'S ORGANIC.

IT'S BASED ON A COMBINATION OF NEW GROWTH MIXED WITH GROWING VALUES IN EXISTING PROPERTIES.

OUR REVENUE STREAM IS DEPENDENT COMPLETELY ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY OF THE RECESSION IN 2008, SOLD IN PROPERTY VALUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DECREASED IN SOME CASES UP TO 30% WHEN COVID HIT PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED IN SOME CASES 20% PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, GENERALLY, THEY DECREASE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS VEHICLES AND, AND EQUIPMENT DEPRECIATES.

[00:35:02]

WHEN COVID HIT, THEY STARTED GOING UP IN VALUE.

PAST TWO YEARS, WE SAW AN INCREASE IN REVENUE FOR THAT.

AS A, AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE COLLECT VERY FEW FEEDS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ALLOWED TO THAT WE DON'T, UM, EXAMPLE MEAL TAX IF YOU DON'T COLLECT THOSE.

SO I SAID THAT THIS IS, I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE TENANTS THAT WE HAVE OPERATED UNDER IS ESSENTIALLY THE STOOL WITH A SINGLE LEG TAXES.

WE, WE OPERATE OFF THE TAXES AND IN A GREAT ECONOMY WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS, BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THAT SINGLE LEG OF THAT STOOL, IT ALL COMES UNBALANCED.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT STAFF LOOKS AT AND SEES.

AND, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

WE WE HIT TO THAT NOW, NOW WE'RE HOPING GONNA GET A LITTLE MORE, WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE ALL THIS TODAY, BUT WE'LL START THE PROCESS.

SO I'M KIND OF LAID OUT.

THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT, THAT THE STAFF WRESTLE, WRESTLES WITH IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES IT MEAN.

AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, JAMIE, TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT SHE AND HER STAFF SEES AND, AND, AND WOULD LIKE SOME CONVERSATION ON.

SO JAMIE, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, VIC.

UM, MOST OF YOU KNOW WHO I AM.

I INTRODUCED MYSELF EARLIER, BUT FOR KIDS WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE, I'M JAMIE SHERRY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

TODAY, I'M GONNA TALK, UM, SHARE SOME OUR, UH, DEVELOPMENT TRENDS THAT WE'RE SEEING AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IS FACING.

AND THEN I'M GONNA GIVE A VERY HIGH OVERVIEW OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

VIC ASKED ME TO, TO KIND OF TOUCH ON SOME THINGS.

UM, IT'S VERY EARLY IN THE SESSION, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE MIGHT BE WANTING TO BE AWARE OF.

BUT BEFORE I START THAT I DID WANT TO DO A VERY QUICK INTRODUCTION TO MY DEPARTMENT.

THE REASON IS, IS 'CAUSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS A, UH, A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT REALLY ANYBODY STARTS OFF WITH AN IDEA OR HAS A DREAM TO BUILD A HOUSE OR A BUSINESS, OR REALLY DOES GO THROUGH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER THAT IS THE FACE OF THE DEPARTMENT.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REORGANIZED THE, THE, THE, THE BUILDING SO THAT IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP.

UM, PEOPLE COME IN, THEY CAN GET PERMITS, THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS, PAY THE UTILITY BILL.

UM, SO YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY IS THE CASE.

WE ALSO HAVE BUILDING INSPECTIONS.

UH, THEY ARE THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY REVIEW CONSTRUCTION PLANS, REVIEW PLANS, AND, UM, ACTUALLY DO THE INSPECTIONS.

UH, SO THEY CAN HAVE, UM, THE BUILDING SAFE.

UM, ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND DEVELOPMENT OF THE, UH, COUNTY MUTUAL IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL IN PART BECAUSE IT'S VERY WET.

SO NOT ONLY DO THEY DEAL WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT AND STORM WATER, UM, UM, EROSION CONTROL, BUT THEY ALSO DEAL WITH A LOT OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING.

THAT'S WHO AS A BOARD YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE THE MOST.

UM, WE'RE THE MOST FORWARD FACING OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY, UM, IN, IN LAND PLANNING AS WELL AS, UM, GOING THROUGH PUBLIC HEARING PROCESSES SO YOU ALL CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON LAND USE.

AND LASTLY, WE ALSO HAVE A TRANSPORTATION, UH, DEPARTMENT OF ONE PERSON, UM, WHO, UH, IS A RELATIVELY NEW POSITION.

I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA GET TO KNOW AUSTIN VERY WELL, AUSTIN BOY, UH, THROUGH ALL THE, UM, THE TRANSPORTATION WORKSHOPS.

SO HE'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE AS TO, UM, WHAT HIS ROLE IS AND WHAT YOUR ROLE IS IN TRANSPORTATION.

SO, UM, WHY, WHAT DO WE DO AND WHY DO WE DO IT? SO THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF BRIDGELAND COUNTY.

UH, THIS IS DONE BY ADMINISTRATING THE CODE SUCH AS ZONING AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES, STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE, UM, AND ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, REGULATIONS THROUGH DEQ.

AND I TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IS REALLY THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S SAFE AND FOLLOWING THE RULES SO THAT THERE'S NO ACCIDENTS AND PEOPLE DON'T DIE.

AND PEOPLE CAN LIVE A LIFE WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING O OTHERS IMPOSING ON THEM.

UM, WE'RE OFTEN LOOKED AT AS OBSTACLES.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT WE REALLY, OUR IN INTENTS THAT OUR INTENTION IS REALLY TO, UM, PROTECT THE HEALTH SIDE, SAFETY, WELFARE.

UM, WE ALSO AS A DEPARTMENT, FACILITATE AND PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.

I MENTIONED OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

WE DO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PLANNING.

UH, I, UH, LAY DECISIONS ARE MADE THROUGH PUBLIC HEARING PROCESSES.

UM, WE'VE REVIEWED PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT AND ISSUE BUILDING, BUILDING PERMITS, KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.

OKAY, SO MOVING ON, I'M GONNA START

[00:40:01]

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE TRENDS.

SOME OF IT IS GONNA BE VERY OBVIOUS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE, UM, TRENDS THAT ARE, UH, DEVELOPMENT TRENDS THAT WE'RE SEEING SO THAT YOU ALL CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS POPULATION.

SO, UH, STATING THE OBVIOUS WE'RE GROWING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE, THE 2020 NUMBER IS OUR DECENNIAL CENSUS.

AND THEN THE CENSUS ALSO COMES OUT WITH AN ESTIMATE EVERY COUPLE YEARS.

SO, 2020 ESTIMATES SAY THAT WE'VE GROWN 5% AS FAR AS POPULATION GOES.

I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BOX.

UM, 2022.

IT'S JUST KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE WERE AT THAT DAY.

UM, 18 AND UNDER AT ABOUT 16%, OVER 65, ABOUT 25%.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO RATHER THAN PULL OUT NUMBERS AND, AND, AND GET REALLY DOWN INTO THE, UM, YOU KNOW, INTO A CHART IN FRONT OF YOU, WHAT I DID IS I WENT AHEAD AND I BENCHMARKED ALL THE SURROUNDING LOCAL, HOW I LOOKED AT, UM, PALATAN, HANOVER, EVEN CHESTERFIELD AND .

JUST KIND OF SEE WHAT THAT ANOMALY, YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS ANY DIFFERENCE WITHIN ALL OF THEM.

BASICALLY FOR ALL OF THOSE LOCALITIES, YOU COULD FLIP THE .

THEY'RE ALL ABOUT, UH, 25, LIKE 23 TO 25, UM, UNDER 18 AND OVER 65 WITHIN TEENS.

SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF OPPOSITE.

SO WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS THAT WE ARE AN OLDER COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GETTING OLDER.

UM, WHY DID THAT, WHY IS THAT HAPPENING? WELL, IF, UH, UH, THE COST OF LAND AND HOUSING IS VERY EXPENSIVE, INLAND COUNTY, AND WE HAVE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF, UH, 55 AND OLDER AND CONTINUING CARE FACILITIES LOCATE HERE IN MECHANIC.

SO IT'S VERY POPULAR.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, LOTS OF NEW FOLKS ARE COMING, BUT THERE ISN'T AN EFFECT THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF KEEP IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS.

FEWER YOUNGER PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WILL, ARE UNABLE TO MOVE HERE 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND, UM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I THINK, UH, BOTH SARAH AND EDDIE, UH, WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS IN THEIR, UM, IN THEIR PRESENTATIONS.

BUT NOT ONLY DOES, YOU KNOW, OLDER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE HEALTH ISSUES.

IT'S NATURAL.

UM, AND I THINK THAT IT'S PUT A BURDEN A LITTLE BIT ON, UM, FIRE RESCUE.

OTHER THINGS ARE, SARAH'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WORKFORCE, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT AND, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.

I MEAN, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

IT ALSO IS FOR, UH, AN IMPACT ON JUST YOUR, YOUR DAY TO DAY.

IT IMPACTS US DIRECTLY AS FAR AS, UM, HIRING HERE IN THE COUNTY FOR TEACHERS AND PLANNERS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

AND I THINK EDDIE CAN ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OLDER PEOPLE WROTE CHECKS, THEY WERE VOLUNTEERS.

SO IT PUTS A BIG STRAIN ON OUR VOLUNTEERS, UM, VOLUNTEERS AS WELL BACK.

SO FOR HOUSING, AS DAN STATING THE OBVIOUS, OUR HOUSING IS INCREASING.

UH, BETWEEN THE, THAT SAME TIME PERIOD, 2020 TO 2022, WE INCREASED OUR HOUSING UNITS BY, UH, 6% APPROXIMATELY.

THIS IS ALL CENSUS DATA.

UM, GOOD PORTION OF THE COUNTY IS OWNER OCCUPIED.

UM, ABOUT 15%, UH, BEING RENT CHARGED.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS, UH, I MENTIONED BEFORE THE COST OF HOUSING, THE AVERAGE VALUE IS OVER, UH, 400,000 FOR A HOUSE OR, AND A, UH, MORTGAGE IS ABOUT, UH, JUST SHY OF $2,000 ON AVERAGE.

UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING ARE PAYING JUST A LITTLE BIT BELOW THAT.

SO IT IS ABOUT, WHAT, $1,500? CORRECT.

AND SO I, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THERE'S THE WEST CREEK, UM, APARTMENT, I LOOKED ON THEIR WEBSITE, AND THAT'S THE LOWER END OF EACH OF THEIR, UM, LIKE OF EACH OF THEIR APARTMENTS.

THAT'S THE LOWER END.

YOU CAN GET A LOT HIGHER.

SO ONCE AGAIN, THE EFFECT OF THIS IS, UM, IT'S CHALLENGING TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TO MOVE TO THE COUNTY.

JUST TALKING ABOUT OVERALL DEVELOPMENT TRENDS.

UH, WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

WE COULD FILL THE ENTIRE EAST END WITH HIGH DENSITY APARTMENTS HOUSING IF WE WANTED TO.

WE GET, OH, ON THE WRONG SIDE.

IS, UH, BECOMING A VERY POPULAR PLACE TO MOVE.

MORE TIME.

OH, THERE WE GO.

UM, YEAH, WE GET CALLS ON A DAILY BASIS, PEOPLE WANTING TO, UM, REZONE PROPERTY FOR A HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING.

UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO HAVE, WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AS FAR AS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT, UM, IT, IT, IT'S NOT AS, IT'S NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE DESIRE TO BUILD HOUSING HERE.

UM, SO WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS? SO CENTRAL VIRGINIA

[00:45:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE RETIREES, LOTS OF PEOPLE FROM PLACES WHERE IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT COME DOWN HERE.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A LOW HOUSING INVENTORY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

SO THERE'S BUILD A HOUSE, PEOPLE WILL FILL IT, AN APARTMENT, UH, BILLING, PEOPLE WILL FILL IT.

UM, WESTERN HENRIK IS ALSO BUILT OUT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE'RE GETTING, UM, THE CALLS FOR CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT.

MOST OF IT IS FOR HOUSING.

THERE'S A PROMISE OFTENTIMES RELATED TO IT WITH, YOU KNOW, OH, COMMERCIAL WILL BE COMING SOON.

AND IT'S, UM, MOSTLY HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

SO THE CAUSE OF THE LIMITED, UH, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, UM, COVID REALLY DID CHANGE THINGS.

UM, BUT THERE WAS AN INCREASE ONLINE, UM, ACTIVITY UP TO COVID.

BUT AFTER, UM, COVID WHEN EVERYBODY WAS LOCKED IN FOR THOSE MONTHS, UH, WE ALL ONLINE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HABIT HAS, HAS NOT COMPLETELY CHANGED.

UM, AND SARAH CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT THE ROOFTOPS ARE NEEDED FOR COMMERCIAL.

YOU'LL HEAR THAT OVER AND DEVELOPER THAT YOU TALKED TO, BUT I THINK SARAH CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

AND LASTLY, BANKS ARE NOT LENDING COMMERCIALLY RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S BEEN A RISE IN, UM, AND INTEREST RATES AND THE, THE BANKS NOT LENDING THAT, THAT IS CAUSING, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOWDOWN AS FAR AS, UM, OUR, OUR DEVELOPMENT GOES.

BUT IT, IT'S REALLY, UM, I I'M THINKING THAT IT'S PROBABLY MORE TEMPORARY AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND, WHAT THE EFFECT OF THIS IS.

SO MORE HOUSING, UH, LESS, UH, COMMERCIAL INTEREST.

IF WE LET THIS TO CONTAINER, AS YOU SAID, IN THAT NATURAL STATE WHERE THE RESIDENTS COME IN, IT REALLY DOES PUT A THREAT ON OUR LAND USE GOAL, UM, OF 85 15.

THIS ISN'T A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, WHERE IT CALLS FOR 85% OF THE COUNTY TO RETAIN THE RURAL ENHANCEMENT AREA.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IT IS A GOOD PORTION OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT SHOULD, UH, SHOULD GO.

THERE SHOULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, LARGER LOTS, UM, FARMING ACTIVITIES, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE OCCASIONAL, UM, SERVICE RELATED, SO THAT THOSE HAVE THINGS IN, IN THAT PART OF THE AREA, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT MEANT FOR THE HIGH DENSITY, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT FOR, UM, PARTICULARLY FOR HOUSING.

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONSTRUCTION TRENDS.

SO, UM, ON THE CHART, UH, HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT TOO HARD TO SEE, BUT I'LL, I'LL KIND OF, UH, TALK YOU THROUGH IT.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN BUSY.

I KNOW EVERYBODY'S PROBABLY TIRED OF HEARING LIKE, OH, WE'RE SO BUSY IN, IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE NUMBERS KIND OF SHOW HERE, UH, 2018 TO 23, THAT'S WHAT THE CHART IS.

2018 IS THE, UM, GOLDEN ROCK COLOR ON THE BOTTOM.

IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO 23 AT THE VERY TOP OF THOSE CHARTS.

OVERALL, UM, WE, WE'VE JUST BEEN SETTING RECORDS MONTH AFTER MONTH, YEAR AFTER YEAR, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AND WHY I BRING THIS UP, UM, WELL FIRST OF ALL, THE, THE SECOND FIVE, IT DOES KIND OF TELL THE TALE.

2021 WAS OUR HIGHEST NUMBER OF, UH, BUILDING PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED.

UH, THAT'S A 53% INCREASE FROM 2018 AND THE AMOUNT OF, UH, INSPECTIONS AND, UM, PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED.

UM, SO, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TREND CURRENTLY IS TO DIP DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

IF YOU GO TO THE, THE HIGHEST, UH, BAR, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DECREASE BETWEEN, UM, 21, 22 AND 23.

BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BAR CHART AND YOU GO STRAIGHT DOWN TO 18, WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR WHERE NORMAL WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

SO WE ARE STILL, STILL GOING VERY, VERY STRONG.

UH, SO THE REASON FOR THIS DECREASE IS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, INTEREST RATES HAVE SLOWED THINGS AND THE BANKS ARE NOT COMMERCIALLY LENDING THE EFFECTS OF THIS INITIALLY, UH, DROPPED IN SOME OF THE REVENUE.

WE'VE HAD REVENUE, UM, VERY HIGH REVENUE IN, UH, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

THERE WILL BE A, A SLOWING EFFECT OF THAT, BUT I THINK, UM, PRE-APPLICATION WOULD INDICATE, UM, I HAVE A BAR CHART THAT'S EVEN MORE, UM, DAUNTING BECAUSE, UH, IT SHOWS HOW MANY PRE-APP APPLICATIONS ME AND MY STAFF MEET WITH.

IT'S VERY HIGH.

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PRE-APP APPLICATIONS THAT COME INTO US.

SO AS THINGS, UH, NORMALIZE AND THE RATES GET, UH, YOU KNOW, EITHER LOWERED OR PEOPLE USED TO, PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA WANT TO BILL AND DO THINGS.

UM, WE'RE GOING BE VERY BUSY AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT, SO MOVING ON TO THE LEGISLATION.

UM, MR. CARTER, UH, CARPENTER ASKED ME TO KIND OF GO OVER SOME OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL CAN

[00:50:01]

BE LOOKING FORWARD TO.

I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS LISTED.

UM, IT'S VERY EARLY IN, UH, GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I THINK WE'RE TWO WEEKS INTO IT.

UM, THERE ARE LOTS OF BILLS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.

UM, LOTS OF TREE CONSERVATIONS, UM, LIKE, UH, CONSERVING TREES WHILE DURING DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS, UM, DATA CENTERS.

THERE'S A MILLION, UH, BILLS OUT THERE, THERE IN DATA CENTERS RIGHT NOW.

SO THOSE ALL POTENTIALLY COULD, UH, HAVE AN IMPACT.

BUT I DID WANT TO BRING UP A COUPLE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE NOTABLE.

UM, THERE IS THE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENT THAT'S GONNA BE COMING FORWARD.

UH, LAST YEAR WE DID HAVE A PUBLIC NOTICE, UM, REQUIREMENT, UH, THAT WAS CHANGED AND WE IMMEDIATELY, UM, CHANGED OUR ORDINANCE TO CHANGE.

LIKE WHATEVER THEY COME UP WITH THIS YEAR IS, UM, WE WILL NOT HAVE TO DO A, UM, AN ORDINANCE EVENT BECAUSE WE SAID STATE CODE, BUT IT IS STILL CONCERNING.

WE STILL NEED TO, UH, WEIGH IN ON IF THAT NOTICE IS GOING TO GIVE, UH, CITIZENS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE, IN THE PROCESSES FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PLANS.

UM, THEN ANOTHER INTERESTING, UM, UH, THERE WAS A COUPLE BILLS FOR SOLAR, UH, PARTICULARLY AS IT PERTAINS TO, UM, CITING AGREEMENTS AND HAVING CITING AGREEMENTS BEING, UM, NEGOTIATED WITH THE SEC AS OPPOSED TO WITH THE LOCALITY, UM, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE, UH, THE CERTAIN MEGAWATT, UM, OR, UM, THAT'S PARTICULARLY WITH BATTERY, UH, STORAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD HAVE NO SAYING THIS.

THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST IN GENERAL, UH, THE, THE WHOLE SOLAR PUSHING OF DOING THIS AND, AND GETTING THE, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKING LESS AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE LOCALITY HAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR, UM, LEGISLATURE IS NOW, UM, UH, IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE RULED BY THE SAME PARTY.

SO THAT SAME PARTY, UH, THE LAST TIME THEY WERE IN IN, UM, POWER, THEY SET A LOT OF, UH, ENERGY GOALS AND THEY MAY NOT BE MEETING THOSE.

SO THEY'RE REALLY GOING STRONG ON, ON SOME OF, UH, ON SOME OF THE SOLAR AND, AND, UM, RENEWABLE ENERGY ITEMS. OKAY.

SO THEN MOVING ON, WE HAVE MY LAST SLIDE.

I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.

UM, WE NEED STRONGER TOOLS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT, UM, TO MANAGE AND MANAGE GROWTH AS WELL AS TO PROTECT THE RURAL AREAS.

WE HAVE OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ORDINANCES, UM, THAT HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY, I THINK VERY WELL OVER, UM, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT, UM, THERE'S MORE AND MORE PRESSURES COMING IN FOR DEVELOPMENT.

UM, I DO HAVE A SLIDE THAT I DO WANT TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL.

GO BACK.

UM, WE TALKED ABOUT PRESERVING THE RURAL, UH, PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY.

WE MAY NOT BE GETTING A LOT OF, UM, REQUESTS FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS OUT THERE, OR EVEN LARGE, UM, UH, SUBDIVISION NECESSARILY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN READ IT ON THE CHART.

UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP, THE TOP IS, UH, THAT IS RIGHT NUMBER OF SINGLE FAILING DWELLINGS IN THE RURAL ENHANCEMENT AREA.

AND THE LOWER ONE ARE THE SAME, BUT FOR THE DESIGNATED GROWTH AREA.

AND IN SOME INSTANCES, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE THIRD QUARTER, UM, ON THE BOTTOM IN GREEN, YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS GROWTH AREA AND THE ROLE ENHANCEMENT AREA, THE NUMBERS REALLY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.

UM, I DO THINK THAT THAT WAS IN PART TO, UM, THE INTEREST RATES BEING SO LOW THAT A LOT OF OUR OLDER SUBDIVISIONS KIND OF REVIVE THEMSELVES.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ISSUING PERMITS ON THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HADN'T SEEN, UH, DEVELOPMENT ON IN YEARS.

UM, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DEVELOPERS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT ORDINANCE.

UM, AND WE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER AT A LATER DATE.

BUT, UM, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO, TO GET PROPERTY OUT THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A RESIGNING PROCESS.

LEMME GET BACK TO THIS.

UH, SO BACK TO MY CHALLENGE CHALLENGES.

SO I'VE MENTIONED THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A CHALLENGING WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND I MENTIONED HOW BUSY WE ARE.

UM, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY HEAVY LOAD WORKLOAD.

WE'VE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD FEW STAFF POSITIONS IN OUR OFFICE.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

I DON'T KNOW.

UM, I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT, YOU KNOW, MUTUAL ONE VERY, VERY FAR AWAY, UM, FOR OUR BUILDING FOLKS, WE HAD, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BOOM IN, IN CONSTRUCTIONS.

AND SO PEOPLE WERE CHOOSING TO WORK FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE, DEVELOPING SIDE AS OPPOSED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT SIDE.

UM, IT, IT IS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

WE'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH

[00:55:01]

VIC AND, UM, CLIFF NOW ON COMING UP WITH, UM, WAYS TO ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO COME WORK HERE.

I MEAN, FORTUNATELY THE GAS PRICES ARE LOW RIGHT NOW, LOWER RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD IF THEY GO UP, THAT IS A MAJOR IMPACT TO ANYBODY WHO'S TRAVELING IN.

AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE COST OF HOUSING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND WORK IN, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T MOVE HERE, YOU KNOW, SO IT IS JUST ONE OF THE, THE CYCLES THAT WE KIND OF DEAL WITH, UM, DIFFICULTY STAFFING.

WE'RE OUT OF OFFICE SPACE.

UM, YOU'LL HEAR THIS PROBABLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UH, UM, OFF ALL OF THE COUNTY OFFICES WE'RE KIND OF BUSTING AT THE SCENE.

SO WE'RE THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT IT MAKES IT KIND OF HARD TO ACTUALLY BRING STAFF ON OR KIND OF STICKING THEM IN LIKE CLOSETS AND CUBBIES THAT ARE CHARGED.

AND THEN LASTLY, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF HAVE, WE HAVE THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE NO PERSON.

UM, AND UM, REALLY WE DO HAVE A, A CHALLENGE TO, FOR CITIZEN PERCEPTION OF STAFF.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH THAT'S COME IN.

IT'S SCARY.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, UH, WE NEED TO REALLY BUILD UP THAT TRUST AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE INVOLVED AND, AND THINGS ARE TRANSPARENT, UH, SO THAT, THAT WE CAN, UH, REALLY BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I GO BACK TO THAT WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE'RE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND WE LOOK AT OUR ORDINANCES, WE LOOK AT OUR PLANS, WE LOOK AT THAT.

AND SO OUR JOB IS TO IMPLEMENT THOSE AND TO, TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE AND PUBLIC, UH, WELFARE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.

I HOPE IT WASN'T TOO LONG.

IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS V OR DO WE WANNA MOVE ON? YEAH, YEAH.

IF ANYTHING REALLY JOGGED THE ONE, THE BOARD MEMBERS.

JONATHAN, I I JUST HAD ONE CLARIFICATION.

SURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, I, YOU SAID THAT YOU NEED STRONGER TOOLS IS I'M A HUGE FAN OF WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER, BUT IT'S, I SAW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

YEAH, WE DO.

UM, I CAN, I CAN GIVE MORE SPECIFIC, WELL I CAN GIVE EXAMPLES.

I THINK ONE OF THE ONES I HAD AT THERE, IT'S NOT, SO THERE IS, UM, OUR ORDINANCES, UM, WE HAVE OUR, UM, WHAT IS IT CALLED? OUR, UM, OVERLAY DISTRICTS.

AND WE, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, PEOPLE I ASK ALL THE TIME, WHY IS THERE A RED, UM, BUILDING IN THERE OR WHY IS THIS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T DO CERTAIN THINGS, UM, THEY CAN GET BUILT.

AND SO THAT, THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE ORDINANCE SIDE.

WE, WE, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH, UH, THE BOTH MR. UH, WATERS AND MR. SCHAUER HAVE GONE THROUGH A SERIES OF, UH, ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

I THINK WE'RE CONTINUING.

SO I THINK THOSE WILL IMPROVE.

UM, BUT PLANNING, UM, I MENTIONED THE NEED TO PROTECT THE RURAL AREA AND TO HAVE QUALITY GROWTH, WE NEED THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO JAMIE, BAD TOOLS.

YOU'RE TALKING LEGISLATIVE TOOLS, NOT HARDWARE, NOT PROGRAM.

THANK LEGISLATIVE.

NO, UH, WE DON'T NEED, WE DO NEED THOSE THINGS, BUT WE CAN BUDGET FOR THOSE THAT THE, UH, , THE OTHER THINGS ARE, ARE, ARE REALLY OUR POLICY TOOLS AND OUR ORDINANCES.

SO YOU DO, YOU NEED BETTER POLICIES FROM US.

IF YOU, UM, HAD TO PINPOINT ONE, THEN COURSE YOU PICK ONE, UH, THAT COULD BEST ADDRESS THE DIFFICULTY IN STAFFING AND RESOURCES, WHAT WOULD IT BE? OKAY.

OH, I'M SORRY SIR.

NO, JUST TO DOVETAIL ON WHAT CHARLIE JUST SAID, UM, THE HOUSING BARRIER, FINANCIAL BARRIER COST BARRIER IS VERY REAL, BUT YET WE NEED THE VERY BEST STAFFING WE CAN GET.

OF THE CHANGES IN IN, IN WHAT WE DO FOR EMPLOYEES.

SO THE PAY IS ONE THING AND, AND WE CONSIDERED SOME INNOVATIVE APPROACHES THAT SAYS MAYBE, AND I KNOW THIS IS OFF THE WALL, BUT UM, MAYBE SUBSIDIZING THE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS FOR A WHILE.

AND, AND IF I MAY, BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOU SAID THAT CARLOS STARTED TO SMILE 'CAUSE WE ARE HEAVILY ENGAGED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS NOW OF, OF WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT WE COULD ADD RIGHT ON? WE HAVE A VERY VANILLA KIND OF, OF, OF, OF A SYSTEM WHERE YOU COME TO WORK, YOU GET A PAYCHECK AND YOU GET BENEFITS.

AND THE STANDARD'S BEEN FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE TO GET THOSE POSITIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE VACANT FOR A YEAR AND, AND TO RAISE THE PAY.

IT STILL DOESN'T GET ONE PERSON, TWO PEOPLE APPLIED AND THEY'RE EVEN QUALIFIED FOR IT.

SO WE ARE VERY HEAVILY ENGAGED RIGHT NOW THAT WITHOUT, WITH A, WITH A DESIRE TO AT LEAST START PRESENTING TO THE BOARD SOME, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OF SOME

[01:00:01]

SO WE CAN BETTER TRACK IN WAYS THAT WE CAN INCENTIVIZE HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.

ONCE A POSITION IS DETERMINED THAT IT'S A CRITICAL POSITION, IT'S HARD TO FILL.

THAT MAY GIVES US MORE TOOLS SO WE CAN USE TO TRY TO BRING SOMEONE IN.

THANKS.

SARAH BURLEY, ECONOMIC DIRECTOR.

UM, GRANT MENTIONED KPIS AND DATA, UM, WITH SOME OF THESE TOOLS AND RESOURCES WE NEED THAT ARE NOT HUMAN BASED .

CAN YOU, IS IT EASY ENOUGH TO PUT A FTE STAT NEXT TO THEM? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF WE ENHANCE THIS, THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF A QUARTER FT A HALF FTE BECAUSE THAT'S THE HARDEST PROBLEM.

SOMETIMES THE FTES ARE A YEAR, TWO YEARS IN THE FUTURE, BUT YOU CAN GO BUY SOFTWARE, YOU CAN BUY MACHINE, YOU CAN BUY THESE THINGS.

RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE SOME TOOLS THAT WE, WE ACTUALLY USE OUT ON CALL, UM, STAFF THAT WE CAN BRING ON AND STUFF.

BUT I THINK, LIKE COMPREHENSIVELY, I DON'T THINK WE'VE REALLY, UM, REALLY DELVED THAT DEEP INTO IT.

I MEAN, WE, WE, UM, ONE OF THE THAT WE HIRED CONSULTANTS AND, UM, I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LONG TERM ANSWER.

I HOPE IT'S NOT.

WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT CAN DO THOSE JOBS AND, BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S MATTER.

JUST, THANK YOU.

GREAT JOB.

NEXT.

UM, I'M GONNA MOVE THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO'S SEE WHERE I'M, UM, UH, SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME AND FOR THE PUBLIC HERE I AM SARAH WORLEY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HERE FOR GLAND COUNTY.

AND, UM, TODAY I'M GONNA GIVE YOU KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE TOP CHALLENGES AND ISSUES THAT I SEE FACING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GLAND COUNTY.

UM, SO JUST FOR FUN THOUGH, I KIND OF WANNA KNOW HOW ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN CLASSES ON HAVING, LIKE, CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS.

I KNOW SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE DO DO THAT.

LOAN PROGRAMS, FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS TO SHOW SUPPORT TO OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES.

UM, SO HOW ABOUT HAVING A CHALLENGING CONVERSATION WITH FIVE OF YOUR BOSSES? YEAH.

SO IT'S A LITTLE DAUNTING.

UH, BUT I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT, UM, SOME OF WHAT I TOUCH ON TODAY MAY BE CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD OR MAY CHALLENGE SOME OF YOUR PREVIOUSLY HELD BELIEFS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN UCHIN COUNTY.

BUT I FEEL THAT THIS INFORMATION TODAY IS VITAL TO UNDERSTANDING HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN A, IN A PLANNED, SUSTAINABLE MANNER.

SO, THAT BEING SAID, FIRST I JUST KIND OF WANNA LEVEL SET, UM, AND, AND REVIEW OUR VISION HERE TO ATTRACT, CULTIVATE, AND RETAIN DIVERSE BUSINESS IN BUTLAND COUNTY BY PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE ALSO PRESERVING OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE.

AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET INTO THAT LATER.

UH, WE DO THIS THROUGH FOUR, UM, KIND OF WAYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDA, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF, UH, RECRUITMENT OF NEW BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION OF OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES, TOURISM AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

SO, WITH THAT KIND OF UNDERSTANDING, I'M GONNA HIT INTO OUR CHALLENGES HERE.

THE FIRST ONE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A VERY BUSINESS FRIENDLY CLIMATE.

SO BUSINESSES WANT CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY.

SO ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES AND STAFF ACTIONS SHOULD REFLECT THAT GLAND IS FOR BUSINESS.

SO WHETHER THAT'S, UH, PLAN REVIEW ON TIME, OR TIMELY RESPONSES TO PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS COUNTYWIDE.

UM, BUSINESSES WANNA KNOW THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY.

NIMBYISM IS A DETERRENT TO HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT WANTS TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED.

AND WHEN THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT WANTED, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HERE EITHER.

MM-HMM, .

SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, UM, CREATIVE INCENTIVES TO OFFSET OUR HIGH PRICE OF LAND.

SO, UH, FLEXIBILITY AND FEES, PERMIT TIMELINES OR OTHER KIND OF SMALL INCENTIVES THAT CAN GO A LONG WAYS TO SHOW OUR BUSINESSES THAT LIN IS FOR BUSINESS.

UM, THOSE COULD BE, UH, MAYBE, UM, A LOWER UTILITY RATE FOR HIGH WATER CUSTOMERS.

MAYBE A BUSINESS NEEDS A ONE-OFF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE THE MONEY MAKE SENSE FOR THEM.

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, SUPPORTING EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE IN THE COUNTY.

SO ONE WAY COULD BE TO EMPOWER THE EDA WITH FUNDING FOR GRANTS, REVOLVING

[01:05:01]

SO THESE ARE JUST SOME IDEAS AND SOME ENHANCEMENTS THAT I FEEL, UM, WOULD HELP US KEEP MORE OF A BUSINESS FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.

SO THE NEXT KIND OF CHALLENGE THAT WE DO FACE, WE HAVE LIMITED INDUSTRIAL LAND AND SITES AVAILABLE.

INDUSTRIAL, NOT COMMERCIAL, NOT RETAIL, NOT SERVICE.

THOSE ARE LIMITED AS WELL.

BUT REALLY INDUSTRIAL IS WHERE YOU'RE GETTING YOUR REVENUE PRODUCING, UM, UH, TAX BASE FROM.

SO RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE 25,000 SQUARE FEET OF INDUSTRIAL ON THE MARKET.

WE ONLY HAVE 8,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL ON THE MARKET.

I DO HAVE SOME VACANT ZONE LAND SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS THAT ARE NOT ON THE MARKET.

UM, GOOD NEWS IS THAT WITH THE PROVEN, UH, CRESCENT, WE DO HAVE 370,000 UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.

AND, UH, NINE LOT NEW INDUSTRIAL, UH, SUBDIVISION COMING IN, UH, UH, WILL, UM, AND PONY FARM.

SO THOSE THINGS WILL HELP.

UM, AND THEY WILL GET FILLED PROBABLY VERY QUICKLY ONCE THEY'RE BUILT.

UM, THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES, SO WE HAVE WEST CREEK, WE HAVE A LOT OF ZONE LAND IN WEST CREEK, BUT IN 25, 15, 25 YEARS WHEN IT'S FULL, WHAT THEN, WHERE WILL OUR NEW REV REVENUE GENERATING DEVELOPMENTS GO? UM, THE NEXT KIND OF THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS ALSO, UH, RESIDENTIAL ENCROACHMENT ON PRIME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAND.

UH, THERE WAS RECENTLY A SUBDIVISION APPROVED OFF OF HOCKETT ROAD DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM WEST CREEK.

SO IF I GO TO PUT AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY IN WEST CREEK, IT'S GONNA BE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A HOUSE.

UM, THERE'S A PROPOSAL ON ROCKVILLE ROAD, UH, THAT'S COMING UP FOR YOU GUYS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM CRIME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO, UM, POLICIES, IF YOU WILL, THAT THAT I FEEL THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF.

UM, NEXT, UM, UH, KIND OF CHALLENGE IS A NEED FOR A MORE DIVERSIFIED TAX BASE.

SO, CAPITAL ONE ACCOUNTS FOR 2.63 OF THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE COUNTY.

OUR HQ OPERATIONS AND CAP ONE MAKE UP 52% OF EMPLOYMENT IN GLAND COUNTY.

AND THE SAME MAKE UP 73% OF OUR GDP.

SO THAT'S HUGE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THOSE OPERATIONS CEASE? WHEN COVID FIRST HIT, I WAS TERRIFIED.

I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT OFFICES WERE GONNA DO.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE GONNA SHUT DOWN.

WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO GLAND'S ECONOMY? MM-HMM.

UM, SO HOT OFF THE PRESS OVER THERE IS OUR 2024 REAL ESTATE RATIO.

UH, MS. DAVIS, THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S GONNA GIVE YOU A FULL UPDATE IN FEBRUARY ON IT, BUT WE'RE AT 1865 FOR COMMERCIAL AND 81 35 FOR RESIDENTIAL.

SO THAT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR DESIRE OR PREVIOUSLY BOARDS DESIRED, 70 30.

UM, SO HOW DO WE INCREASE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAND, UM, INDUSTRIAL LAND IN THE COUNTY? ONE WAY COULD BE THAT THE COUNTY AND THE EDA WORKING TOGETHER COULD MAKE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT BUSINESS LOCATION AND EXPANSION HERE IN THE COUNTY, IN MY INDUSTRY, WE CALL IT BUSINESS READY SITES.

UM, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN THE COUNTY TO MAKE OUR LAND MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT.

WEST CREEK, WE HAVE 1700 ACRES OF INDUSTRIAL ZONE LAND IN WEST CREEK.

WE HAVE TRUNK WATER AND SEWER LINES GOING IN THERE.

BUT THERE'S, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME WATER AND SEWER LINES GOING IN.

THERE'S DUE DILIGENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THERE'S REASONS WHY THAT LAND HAS NOT YET DEVELOPED.

UM, THREE OFF ROAD IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE, UM, AT, AT ON ASH, BUT IT IS A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD, NO WATER AND SEWER.

I CAN'T, I CAN'T GET A BUSINESS TO GO IN THERE.

THEY'RE JUST NOT GOING TO.

UM, IT'S TOO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS PLAZA DRIVE.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW, BUT THERE'S EIGHT ACRES OF VACANT, COMMERCIALLY ZONED SHADOW OF THE WATER TOWER.

'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO WATER.

IT'S BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR.

UM, I MEAN, THERE COULD BE OUTSIDE CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO WHY IT'S NOT FILLED, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I KEEP HEARING IS BECAUSE IT NEEDS WATER.

UM, IN ADDITION, IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA, THERE'S 14,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT'S NOT CONNECTED TO SEWER.

SO THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF SOME THINGS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY, IF THEY MADE INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE EDA, COULD DRIVE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

UM, SO, UM,

[01:10:02]

THE EDA AND THE COUNTY COULD INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE FROM SOME PRIVATE SITES.

AND EVENTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE.

OUR EDA IS PURCHASING LAND FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, SITE READINESS OR BUSINESS READY SITES, JUST SO YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE COMPETITIVELY.

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SITE READINESS ROADMAP.

UM, AND IT'S KIND OF AN INDUSTRY STANDARD.

AND SO, UM, IF YOU'RE AT A TIER ONE, YOU BASICALLY, UH, THE LAND IS PROBABLY ZONED AFTER CULTURE.

IT'S WOODED, YOU KNOW, NO BARN SEWER TO IT.

UM, TIER FIVE MEANS THAT LIKE PERMITS ARE IN HAND, BUSINESSES CAN START DEVELOPMENTS, UH, NEXT WEEK IF THEY NEEDED TO.

SO WEST CREEK IS AROUND A TIER TWO, OUR COMPETITION AND OTHER, UH, LOCALITIES IN THE RICHMOND AREA OR AT A TIER FOUR.

SO COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES, WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING TO LOCATE, THEY LIKE HUGE ONE.

THEY THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE MONETARY SENSE FOR THEM TO COME HERE.

UH, IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR THEM TO GO DOWN TO WHITE OAK OR NORTH FOR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UH, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME, UM, AND INVESTMENT.

SO, UH, JAMIE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WORKFORCE.

UM, FROM MY STANDPOINT, WORKFORCE IS THE NUMBER ONE DRIVER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROJECTS.

UM, SO A COMPANY IS GOING TO LOOK AT THE REGION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THE WORKFORCE THAT THEY NEED, UM, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA DAB DOWN INTO THE LOCALITY.

UM, AND IN SOME INSTANCES THEY CAN PULL WORKFORCE FROM OTHER LOCALITIES.

BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY IS GETTING SLIMMER AND SLIMMER AS MORE COMPANIES LOCATED IN THE RICHMOND REGION.

THE WORKFORCE IN THE RICHMOND REGION IS GOING TO THOSE COMPANIES.

UM, GOLIN DOES HAVE AN AGING POPULATION AND AN OUT MIGRATION OF OUR YOUNGER TALENT.

THERE IS AN INSUFFICIENT HOUSING STOCK ACCOUNTING EMPLOYEES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND OF OUR CERTIFIED WORKFORCE.

UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE UP HERE THE, THE GRAPH HOW MEDIAN AGE AND PERCENT OF POPULATION AGE AND HOW MUCH IT HAS GROWN OVER THE LAST 10 TO 12 YEARS.

UM, AND, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMMUTER DATA DATA THERE, UM, IT, AND BEAR WITH ME 'CAUSE IT'S A, IT'S , IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONVOLUTED, BUT, SO WE'VE GOT, UM, 19,500 PEOPLE COMMUTE INTO GOOCHLAND COUNTY EVERY DAY.

83% OF THOSE ARE AGED 16 TO 54.

SO PRIME WORKING NEEDS, WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME IS THAT EITHER THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN GOLAND OR THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN GOOCHLAND, BUT THEY WORK HERE.

THEN WE HAVE 9,003 IN OUR 65 PEOPLE COMMUTE OUT OF GLAND.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND A JOB HERE.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING OUT, UM, TO WORK.

SO IF WE COULD FIX THAT RATIO, 'CAUSE THERE'S A MIXED MATCH, AND GET MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE, THAT IS AN IDEAL ECONOMIC SITUATION.

SO IN COMPARISON, HANOVER, SO OURS IS 8.6% PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.

HANOVER COUNTY'S AT 23 CAN WRITE HERE AT 29 AND CHESTERFIELD'S AT 37.

SO, UM, TREND THERE, UH, THE NEXT KIND OF, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TREND OR CHALLENGE, UH, IS THAT WE ARE NOT PART OF REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS NOW, UM, I'M JUST BRINGING THIS TO, TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR AWARENESS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT A DECISION HAS TO BE MADE TODAY OR EVEN IN THE NEXT YEAR, UM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO START THINKING ABOUT.

THERE IS A, A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION CALLED THE GREATER RICHMOND PARTNERSHIP.

GRP, THEY DO INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC LEAD GENERATION AND REGIONAL MARKETING, UH, CHESTERFIELD, CITY OF RICHMOND, HANOVER, AND HEN REGULAR MEMBERS, THEIR ANNUAL DUES ARE 385,000 A YEAR.

SO I DID SOME MATH ON THAT.

AND WE MAKE A BREAKEVEN, ROI AT A $50 MILLION PROJECT.

SO IF WE WERE TO PAY THOSE DUES AND WE LANDED A $50 MILLION PROJECT, IT BASICALLY WOULD THE TAX REVENUE IN THE TCSD, THE TAX REVENUE FOR THAT WOULD OFFSET THE COST OF THE DUES.

ANYTHING ABOVE 50 MILLION WOULD BE REVENUE IN OUR POCKET.

UM, RIGHT NOW I RELY ON THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL BROKERS AND SITE SELECTORS FOR LEAD

[01:15:01]

GENERATION.

I HAVE GRPS LEAD GENERATIONS AND PROJECT NUMBERS.

I HAVE MY PROJECT NUMBERS, WE CAN GET INTO IT IF YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

UM, THEY DO A LOT MORE LEAD GENERATION THAN I DO.

UH, THE NEXT KIND OF REGIONAL GROUP IS THE RICHMOND REGIONAL TOURISM CORPORATION.

THEY HAVE A LARGER FOOTPRINT IN THE RICHMOND REGION.

UM, THEIR SERVICES INCLUDE MARKETING THE REGION AND EVENT RECRUITMENT AND VISITOR RECRUITMENT.

UM, THEIR COST PER YEAR IS AN ESCALATED OVER FIVE YEARS.

SO YOU START AT 20, YOU END AT 50.

UM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO GIVE AN ROI, UM, ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS, IT, IT'S VISITOR DRIVEN, RIGHT? SO WE PAY THEM TO MARKET, UH, THE REGION.

BUT HOW MANY OF THOSE VISITORS ARE ACTUALLY GONNA COME TO GLAND? THAT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.

UM, SO, UH, BUT I WILL SAY THAT ONE SPECIFIC DISADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEING A MEMBER IS THAT GLAND BUSINESSES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY EVENT PROMOTION OR RECRUITMENT.

SO IF THEY RECRUIT A MAJOR SPORTS TOURNAMENT, UM, TO THE RICHMOND REGION, DRIVE SHACK IS NOT BEING ADVERTISED TO THEM AT ALL IN ANY OF THEIR PROMOTIONS.

NOTHING.

SO THEY, PEOPLE COMING IN MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW THAT DRIVE SHACK IS IN THE REGION, DO A GOOGLE SEARCH.

UM, SO WE HAVE HAD BUSINESSES REQUEST US TO JOIN RRTC.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LARGER POLICY DECISION.

BUT WE DO, UM, HAVE AN OPTION THAT I THINK MAY BE GOOD, UM, BEING THAT WE COULD EMPOWER THE EDA TO PROVIDE MARKETING GRANTS DIRECTLY TO THOSE BUSINESSES IN LIEU OF JOINING THE RRTC.

SO THERE ARE WAYS AROUND, UM, NOT BEING IN REGIONAL GROUPS IF WE SUCH IS.

SO TO JUST KIND OF WRAP UP HERE IS A REAL LIFE VIEW OF ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, UH, WHEN MY BRAIN STARTS, UH, TO GO FOR, UH, HUGE LOAN OPPORTUNITIES.

SO WHAT DOES KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT? UM, COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING.

UH, SO IN 25 YEARS WE HAVE A LOT OF 55 PLUS COMMUNITIES.

UH, WHO'S GOING TO FILL THOSE COMMUNITIES IN 55 YEARS? ARE WE PLANNING FOR THAT IMPACT? WE HAVE SCHOOLS FOR THAT IMPACT.

UM, CENTERVILLE AND OUR DESIGNATED GROWTH AREA, THE CENTERVILLE PLAN WAS NOT APPROVED.

WHAT, WHAT IS CENTERVILLE GOING TO BE? UM, LACK OF EXISTING BUSINESS READY SITES AND PLANNING FOR FUTURE INDUSTRIAL LAND.

THE LACK OF OUR TAX BASED DIVERSITY TO WITHSTAND ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, LACK OF OUR HOUSING DIVERSITY FOR A ROBUST WORKFORCE.

AND THEN FINALLY, UH, KEEPING GLAND BUSINESS FRIENDLY TO SHOW THAT GLAND IS IS FOR BUSINESS.

SO, UH, THAT KIND OF WRAPS UP MY FORMAL REMARKS.

HAPPY TO DIVE INTO DETAILS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

SO I'M, I'M A MISS IT KNOWING THIS, BUT NOT KNOWING IT.

BUT SEEMS TO ME YEARS AGO WE HAD AN EXCELLENT VIDEO ON BEAUTIFUL GOOFING AND WE HAD KEPT THAT UP TODAY THAT YES.

THAT'S A GOOD MARKETING TOOL.

IT'S, WE DID ONE, UM, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND THEN WE JUST DID ANOTHER ONE THIS YEAR.

WE DID, SIR.

THANKS.

THANKS FOR THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION.

THE QUESTION THAT JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME IS, WHY AREN'T THESE SITES BUSINESS RATE? WHY AREN'T THESE LANDOWNERS GETTING THESE SITES READY? IT MAKES IT MORE VALUABLE.

THESE PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ONTO THIS LAND.

WHY ARE WE SAYING THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO COME IN AND GET THEM READY WHEN THE BUSINESSES AREN'T? I DUNNO THE ANSWER TO THAT .

THAT'S A FAIR ANSWER.

I CAN'T WAIT TO GIVE ONE.

IS IT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING IT.

SO, UH, OTHER SURROUNDING RESTRICTIONS WELL UNDERSTOOD.

BUT OUR COMPETITION IS DOING THAT.

THE LAND IS GETTING PUT.

SO AS YOU SAW, HOW MANY OF THE BUSINESS PARKS WERE TWO TIERS AHEAD OF US? AND, AND OUR POLICY HAS BEEN NOT TO THAT.

IT IT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY.

THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR PROPERTY.

UM, THE POINT THE STAFF IS MAKING IS THAT OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE IS DEPENDENT ON THE OUTCOME OF THESE PROPERTIES TOO.

AND SO IF THEY'RE NOT DOING IT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO EITHER ENCOURAGE THEM, HELP THEM TO SUPPORT THEM, FOR THEM TO DO IT, PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH THE RESOURCES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE IN THE FREE MARKET, OR IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE? SO WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THE COUNTY HAS TO DROP $30 MILLION ON THIS, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING.

AND, AND WE'RE WELL BEHIND OTHERS.

GREAT.

TO ME IT'S UNREALISTIC FOR US TO THINK WE'RE GOING TO FILL RETAIL MARKETS, WE'RE GONNA FILL SOLAR.

THAT'S A MUCH BETTER ANSWER.

SINCE THIS IS CALLED A STRATEGIC DISCUSSION, I'LL SAY, UM,

[01:20:01]

I MEAN, SOME, SOME OF THESE OPTIONS JUST AREN'T THERE FOR US TO PULL OFF THE SHELF.

UM, IF YOU HAD TO SAY WHAT'S THE, WHAT ARE THE ONE OR TWO KEY ONES, UM, THAT COULD HELP DRIVE THIS ROAD, UM, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE, I MEAN, INDUSTRIAL SEEMS TO JUMP OFF THE PAGE.

ARE THERE OTHERS? YEAH, UH, DEFINITELY.

UM, ANY TYPE OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

SO WHETHER THAT'S, AND, AND INDUSTRIAL IS A BROAD TERM.

SO THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM UM, MANUFACTURING.

UM, MANUFACTURING HAS A GOOD TECH BASE.

UM, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE REVENUE, BUT THERE'S MACHINE AND TOOLS INSIDE THAT BUILDING THAT, THAT WE CAN TAX.

UM, SO THAT DATA CENTERS IS ALSO A VERY, ANOTHER LIKE, IT'S CONSIDERED INDUSTRIAL.

IT'S ANOTHER HIGH REVENUE DEVELOPMENT, UH, GENERATOR.

UM, THE NEXT, UH, OUTSIDE OF INDUSTRIAL WOULD BE RETAIL, COMMERCIAL.

UM, BECAUSE IT GETS PEOPLE SPENDING MONEY IN GLAND COUNTY TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, COULD WE, AS A SMALLER COUNTY, WE HAVE TO REALIZE OUR PLACE IN THIS WHOLE YEAH.

DYNAMIC AS A SMALLER COUNTY.

COULD WE BE, BE HOPED TO SAY GLAND IS IS FOR BUSINESS, BUT ALSO THIS IS WHAT WE DON'T WANT.

AND CLARIFY.

SO WE ARE MAKING A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE OF, YOU KNOW, SAVE YOUR TIME, DON'T SPEND A MONTH DO DOING DILIGENCE ON GLAND.

THIS IS STUFF THAT WE JUST DON'T WANT.

AND WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT STRATEGICALLY.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO, UH, WHAT JAMIE WAS TALKING ABOUT, SOME TOOLS THAT SHE NEEDS.

SO RIGHT NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CENTERVILLE PLAN, THERE IS BUSINESS ZONE, LAND, ANYTHING CAN GO THERE.

GAS STATIONS, AUTO PARTS, STORES.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT IN OUR VILLAGE.

MAYBE WE WANT WINE SHOPS, CHEESE SHOPS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MORE QUAINT AND NICHE.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE TOOLS TO SAY WE DON'T WANT THIS, WE WANT THIS.

UM, SO SARAH, I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

SO ARE YOU GUYS IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF THE LARGER BUSINESSES IN , LIKE CONSISTENTLY? OH YES.

CONSISTENTLY.

WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST, WE CALL IT BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM.

RIGHT? OKAY.

AND SO WHAT'S THE CONSENSUS FOR SAY, CAPITAL ONE? WELL, OBVIOUSLY LUCK THEM ISN'T GONNA RELOCATE, BUT I MEAN, BUT I IMAGINE THAT BUSINESSES TALK TO OTHER BUSINESSES MM-HMM.

NOT NECESSARILY VENDORS, BUT ARE WE DOING ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO, YOU KNOW, WORD OF MOUTH, ATTRACT TRACK OTHER BUSINESSES AS WELL? MM-HMM.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT WHEN I TALKED TO OUR MAJOR, UM, CORPORATIONS AND HEADQUARTER OPERATIONS, THEY LOVE BEING IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY.

'CAUSE IT'S A, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO WORKFORCE BEING THE NUMBER ONE DRIVER OF BUSINESS LOCATIONS.

UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HAPPY WITH CURRENT POLICIES AND TAX POLICIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY, UM, WHAT THEY DO WANT IS, UH, MORE HOUSING STOCK 'CAUSE THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE HAVING TO LIVE ELSEWHERE AND COMMUTE IN.

AND SO THAT PUTS STRESS ON TRANSPORTATION.

AND UM, YOU KNOW, SO IF THEIR EMPLOYEES AREN'T HAPPY, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO SPEND 25 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES IN THE CAR EVERY DAY, UM, WHEN THERE'S WORK FROM HOME OPTIONS, , UM, SO A MORE ROBUST HOUSING STOCK AND MORE ROBUST RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES IS WHAT I HEAR FROM THEM.

SO WHEN THEIR EMPLOYEES DO COME IN, THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO DROP OFF THEIR KIDS OR THEIR LAUNDRY OR GO OUT TO EAT IN SERVICES, RIGHT? GET GAS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT I HEAR FROM THEM.

EMPLOYERS CAN SOMETIMES CHERRY PICK THE THINGS THEY WANT TO ASK FOR.

HOW MUCH, I MEAN, WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE MOVING IN TO GO WORK AT CAPITAL ONE OR OTHER BIG EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTY, THEY ALL RAVE ABOUT HOW IT'S, IT MIGHT, THEY MIGHT BE DRIVING 20 MINUTES NOW, BUT IT'S A HECK OF A LOT BETTER THAN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

HECK, A LOT BETTER THAN, I MEAN, HOW MUCH THEY COULD SAY, OH YEAH, WE WANT, WE WANT YOU TO BUILD UP YOUR RESIDENTIAL STOCK TO FIX THIS PLAN.

I VIEW IT AS, ARE WE BETTER THAN THEIR NEXT BEST OPTION? AND FOCUSING MORE, YOU KNOW, THAT LEADS US TO SAY, OKAY, RESIDENTIAL STOCK HAS TO TAKE MAYBE A BACKSEAT RIGHT NOW WHILE WE FOCUS ON THE MORE, UH, PRESSING ISSUES TO GOOCHLAND COUNTY THAT'S COUNTY SPECIFIC RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST BROAD MACRO STUFF.

I, I MEAN, I I SEE YOUR POINT, RIGHT? THAT, THAT A BUSINESS COMING IN IS ALWAYS GONNA SAY GET US HOUSES WITHIN FIVE MILES OF OUR CENTER.

RIGHT? SO,

[01:25:01]

SO IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE WORKERS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA STAY.

AND IF I COULD JUMP IN, WHEN SARAH AND I WENT AND VISITED WITH EACH ONE OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS THAT WAS ISSUE, WHICH CAME UP WITH EVERY ONE OF 'EM IS CONVENIENCE OF HOUSING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN EMPLOYERS ARE STUCK ON, EMPLOYEES ARE STUCK ON 2 88, UM, IN, IN A WRECK ON THE INTER INTERSTATES.

AND THAT CAME UP WITH EVERY ONE OF 'EM ACROSS THE BOARD HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE NOT IN COMPETITION WITH RICHMOND FOR THEM.

WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH AUSTIN, WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH ORLANDO.

AND WHAT DO THOSE REGIONS OFFER? AND, AND SO, SO THAT'S WHAT WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, I THINK I'M SAYING IF YOU HAD A WISH LIST, YOU WISHFUL SEVEN THINGS AND SO FORTH, DO YOU SEE OUR POLICY? AND LEMME TELL YOU, I LOVE THE RULE AGRARIAN ASPECT OF GLAND COUNTY.

THAT'S WHY, WHY MY FAMILY CAME HERE AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.

BUT I ALSO LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE.

WE'RE, BUT ARE WE AT A CROSSROADS WHERE WE SHOULD BE EVALUATING IN OUR POSITION OF 8 5 15 RULE AND IF WE MAINTAIN THAT, IS THAT THAT GOING TO REALLY RESTRICT US IN OTHER AREAS OF MAYBE WEAKENING FOR THIS COUNTY? AND SHOULD WE DO A STUDY ON THAT? I, I'M, I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE GIVE UP ANY OF OUR BEAUTIFUL LAND AND, AND SACRIFICE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND WIN A BATTLE AND LOSE A WAR IN THE LONG RUN.

RIGHT? SO IDEALLY THE 15 WOULD EQUAL 30, RIGHT? SO THE 15% THAT WE WANNA DEVELOP FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE WILL EQUAL 30% TAX REVENUE BASE.

I'M NOT SURE WE'RE THERE.

UM, IT, BECAUSE THE FEAR IS WE HAVE NOT HAD COMPANIES LOCATE IN AREAS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT IN INDUSTRIAL LARGE REVENUE PRODUCING COMPANIES RIGHT.

IN QUITE SOME TIME.

AND SO I THINK, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE KINDA ALLUDED TO EARLIER, IT'S, IT'S TERRIFYING.

MAYBE WE'RE WE'RE MAKING POLICY DECISIONS THAT MIGHT LEAD US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION OR WE MAKE POLICY DECISIONS THAT THAT SAVE OUR FUTURE.

BUT I THINK THAT, UM, IF WE CAN DRIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN NOT DEVELOPED, UH, IN OUR GROWTH AREA, I'M NOT SAYING THIS CORRECTLY, WEST CREEK FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE ALREADY DESIGNATED, WE'VE ALREADY DESIGNATED.

CORRECT.

UM, IF WE COULD GET MORE REVENUE GENERATING DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE AREAS, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY KEEP THE 85 15 AND MY, MY HUMBLE, BUT SO IT'S IN, IS INTERESTING YOU ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH FOR THE LAST, YOU KNOW, COUPLE YEARS IS WHY SHERIFF, THIS IS THE FIRST PRESENTATION I'VE EVER SEEN IN ROI FROM TIME.

SO YES, YES, YES.

MORE OF THAT.

SO I WANT TO, I WANT SAY, IS 85 50, IS THAT THE RIGHT MIX? LIKE WHAT, WHAT ARE GROWTH TARGETS? AND, AND IF, IF WE DO THAT, WHAT DOES THAT GET US? UM, I, WE'VE JUST HAD, I'VE JUST HEARD THESE NUMBERS.

I NEVER, I'VE NEVER HEARD THE JUSTIFICATION FOR 'EM WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SIX FOOT DISTANCING GOAL.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN WHERE WE TRY TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS DISASTERS, BOTH MANMADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND BE RESILIENT TO RECOVER FROM THOSE.

THANK YOU SIR.

VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

SO GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

UH, EDDIE FERGUSON, UH, FIRE RESCUE CHIEF.

WE DID, UH, THE, THE WHOLE CONCEPT HERE THIS MORNING HAS BEEN TEAMWORK.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DEPLOY THE, THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, UH, TEAM CONCEPT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PRESENT TO YOU HERE THIS MORNING AND MAKE SOME, UM, SOME POINTS.

I'LL TELL YOU, I THINK IT'S A GREAT SEGUE THAT WE COULD GO, UH, FOLLOW, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HEARD THAT, UM, AND SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.

WE SEE ALL THIS AS OPPORTUNITIES, UH, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE NEW SERVICE AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO MEET THOSE ADVANCE GOLAND COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.

UM, WE ARE, UM, A FIRE RESCUE ORGANIZATION.

WE PROVIDE FIRE, EMERGENCY, MEDICAL, UH, SERVICES AS WELL AS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PIECE IS THE PART OF THE

[01:30:01]

AND SO WE ARE A VERY, UH, ALL HAZARD TYPE DEPARTMENT.

NOT ONLY, UH, FIRE AND EMS, BUT ALSO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LOOKING AT OUR MISSION, VISION AND UH, VALUES.

OUR VISION IS, IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AS A COMBINATION DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF BOTH VOLUNTEER AND CAREER MEMBERS WORKING TOGETHER ON THE SAME TEAM SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER THAT, THAT SERVICE.

UH, GOING FORWARD.

LOOKING AT OUR, UH, CALLS FOR SERVICE, UM, WE HAVE, IF YOU NOTICE OUR CALL NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED BY OVER A THOUSAND CALLS IN THE LAST, UH, FIVE YEARS.

UH, ABOUT 80% OF OUR NUMBERS ARE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE CALLS, AND ABOUT 20% OF THOSE ARE FIRE CALLS.

BUT THE THING THAT I WOULD POINT OUT TO YOU, BETWEEN 2022 AND 2020 THREE'S CALL NUMBERS.

OUR NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY FLAT, BUT I'LL POINT OUT THAT OUR NUMBERS IN 2023 CLIMBED UP, EVEN THOUGH THANK GOODNESS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE HIGH VOLUME CALL WEATHER GENERATOR EVENTS LIKE THE SNOWSTORM IN JANUARY OF 22, THE TORNADO IN JUNE AND THE COURTHOUSE OF 2022, AS WELL AS THAT COAL SNAP WE HAD BACK AROUND CHRISTMAS IN 2022.

SO WE MADE UP FOR THOSE CALLS BY THE INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WHAT'S IMPRESSIVE ABOUT THAT IS THAT WE, WE SAW 209 MORE AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS IN 2023.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S THE, THE CREW, UM, TRANSPORTING A PATIENT TO AN AREA HOSPITAL EITHER IN RICHMOND OR CHARLOTTESVILLE, UH, AND THAT CREW IS OUT OF POCKET, BUSY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

WE ARE SEEING, OUR HOSPITALS ARE BUSY.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF IN ALL CASES.

AND IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR AN AMBULANCE TO GO INTO A HOSPITAL AND HAVE TO WAIT UP TO THREE HOURS FOR A BED.

UH, WE REFER TO THAT AS WALL TIME.

THAT'S A VERY HOT TOPIC IN THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMUNITY IN THE RICHMOND AREA, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE NATION.

WE LOST A UNIT, UH, TO I BELIEVE AN AREA HOSPITAL FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, UM, LAST WEEK.

AND SO THAT IMPACTS US BECAUSE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTS, WHETHER THEY'RE VOLUNTEER OR CAREER THAT ARE ON THOSE AMBULANCES, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO GO TO THE NEXT CALL.

AND THAT IS, UH, ABSOLUTELY CONCERNING TO US.

WE LOOK AT, UH, RESPONSE DISTRICTS AND LAST YEAR, I'M JUST SPEAKING IN APPROXIMATE AVERAGES, YOU KNOW, PLEASE DON'T HOLD ME TO THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT LOOKING AT, UH, THE CVILLE RESPONSE DISTRICT WHERE ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH HAS OCCURRED, THERE WERE ABOUT 1,260, APPROXIMATELY 1,260 INCIDENTS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T SHOW HOW MANY TIMES THAT FIRE STATION IN CENTERVILLE WENT OUT THE DOOR.

'CAUSE THEY NOT ONLY COVER THEIR DISTRICT, BUT THEY SUPPORT THE OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND THERE WERE OVER 1600 RESPONSES.

AND WE DID NOT INFLATE THAT NUMBER BY SAYING THREE VEHICLES WENT TO THE SAME CALL, OVER 1600 RESPONSES IN THE VILLE AREA TO, TO ANSWER CALLS IN THE COUNTY MANNEQUIN WAS ABOUT 1100.

AND, YOU KNOW, SIR, OUR SLOWEST STATION WAS GOING OUT THE DOOR WAS 700 TIMES.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE FEELING THE, UH, WE'RE FEELING THE IMPACT OF THIS.

WHILE WE SEE IT AS OPPORTUNITIES, WE CERTAINLY, UH, FEEL THE IMPACT FROM THAT.

OF COURSE, UH, ALL OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT, WE THINK OBVIOUSLY ADDS TO OUR CALL VOLUME, BUT IT'S ALSO, UH, OUR AGENT POPULATION, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL GROWTH DEVELOPMENT, THE WAY IT'S SPREADING ACROSS, UH, THE EAST END OF THE COUNTY, UH, THE AGE RESTRICTED COMMUNITIES, MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS, JUST, UH, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE THIS, UH, SESSION TODAY BECAUSE JUST LOOK AROUND.

WE ARE IN A FIVE STORY, UH, HOTEL.

UH, WE HAVE SHELTER IN ARMS NEXT DOOR, WE CALLS GOING OUT NOW, THANK YOU IN, IN THE 85% AREA, UH, WHICH IS, UH, GOOD FOR, FOR, UM, FOR US HERE.

BUT YOU LOOK AT SHELTER IN ARMS NEXT DOOR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING ABOUT 30 CALLS NEXT DOOR A MONTH AT SHELTER IN ARMS, UM, THE APARTMENTS.

BUT AVERY POINT, I'M JUST GONNA CALL IT LIKE I SEE IT, AVERY POINT IS REALLY CONCERNING US BECAUSE WE BELIEVE AIR AIR PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS SAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO RUN ABOUT 500 CALLS A YEAR TO AVERY POINT.

AND WE HAVE BENCHMARKED THAT WITH, UH, AIR OUR PARTNERS OUTTA STATE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR FACILITY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US THAT THEY'RE SEEING, UH, TOO.

AND WE'RE ALREADY GOING THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, 2020 PLUS, UH, TIMES A MONTH, UH, TODAY.

SO ALL OF THIS, UH, WITH THE, THE ROOFTOPS

[01:35:01]

AND SO FORTH, WE ARE SEEING, UH, WE ARE SEEING OUR RESOURCES ARE BEING PULLED IN MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

BUT THE COMMON THEME HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO PRETTY WELL AS AN ORGANIZATION FOR THAT, FOR THE FIRST CALL.

WE USUALLY CAN HANDLE THAT SECOND CALL WHEN WE GET TO THE THIRD CALL, THEN RESOURCES ARE STARTING TO SHIFT ACROSS THE COUNTY AND OUR RESOURCES IN THE WEST END, WHICH IS VERY IRONIC BECAUSE IT USED TO BE JUST THE OPPOSITE.

THEY ALL RUN TO THE EAST END BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TO BACKFILL FOR CENTERVILLE AND MANNEQUIN ENCLOSURES.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, WITH, WITH OUR CALL, OUR CALL VOLUME AND THE WAY THAT IT'S, UH, THE WAY THAT IT'S CHANGING.

SO AS A FIRE RESCUE CHIEF, UM, YOU KNOW, I, OUR FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IS A LARGE ORGANIZATION.

WE HAVE ABOUT 160 VOLUNTEERS, ABOUT 77 CAREER EMPLOYEES, ABOUT A HUNDRED AUXILIARY MEMBERS.

AND WE COULD PROBABLY MOVE THAT NUMBER HIGHER WITH THEIR LIFETIME MEMBERS WHO WHO HAVE RETIRED FROM, BUT ARE STILL MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ARE CITIZENS.

AND I AS FIRE RESCUE CHIEF, I HAVE TO ASK YOU, AND I HAVE LEARNED THIS AND DURING MY TENURE, I HAVE TO ASK YOU FOR WHAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS, TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS.

BECAUSE HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, I WORRY ABOUT THAT WE'RE JUST ONE EMERGENCY AWAY OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF IN THE RIGHT PLACES TO HANDLE A CALL.

IF ALL THREE EAST AMBULANCES ARE IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE ST.

MARY'S AND RACO DOCTORS AND A STRUCTURE FIRE COMES IN, IN THIS AREA OR ANY AREA OF THE COUNTY, HONESTLY, THEN AT THAT POINT WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT CALL IN AN EFFICIENT, SAFE MANNER.

AND SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, UM, WE HAVE KIND OF SUMMED OUR PRESENTATION UP HERE TODAY TO COVER THREE MAJOR AREAS, UH, THAT KEEP US UP AT NIGHT.

AND ONE IS STAFFING OUR APPARATUS FLEET AND OUR FACILITIES.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE, UH, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE TODAY.

IF YOU NOTICE, UH, AS TIME HAS GONE ON, THE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IS IN ITS 73RD YEAR OF OPERATION.

IT STARTED IN 1951.

WE WERE A TOTAL VOLUNTEER UP THROUGH THE END OF THE 1990S.

AND WE STARTED TO SEE A DECLINE IN VOLUNTEERS ABLE TO STAFF THE AMBULANCES.

AND SO WE ENGAGED IN SOME CONTRACTUAL SERVICES WITH, UH, SOME FOLKS IN ROANOKE AND THEY PROVIDED US SOME STAFFING FOR OUR AMBULANCES.

AND THAT WENT ON FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

AND IN 2009, 2008 AND 2009, WE STARTED TO HIRE OUR OWN EMPLOYEES MAKING THAT INVESTMENT IN SOMEONE THAT IS GONNA GIVE BACK TO, TO THE COUNTY.

AND SO FROM THERE, OUR STAFF HAS GROW GROWN IN A VERY METHODICAL, CONSERVATIVE, INCREMENTAL INCREMENTS ALL THESE YEARS.

BUT WE ARE AT THE POINT NOW BASED ON ALL OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COUNTY, THAT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED NOT ONLY FOR THAT FIRST EMERGENCY BUT THE SECOND EMERGENCY.

'CAUSE WE'RE SEEING CALL CONSERVANCY GOING UP WHERE WE'RE HAVING MULTIPLE CALLS AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR NUMBERS.

IF YOU NOTICE, UH, A DIFFERENT BREAKDOWN OF OUR RESPONSES, UH, AS COUNTY STAFF, THEY'RE OUR CAREER EMPLOYEES.

COMBINATION CREWS ARE GONNA BE A CREW THAT IS COMPOSED OF CAREER EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO VOLUNTEERS WORKING TOGETHER ON THE SAME UNIT.

AND THEN WE HAVE VOLUNTEER CREWS.

THOSE ARE THOSE RESPONSES THAT ARE HANDLED.

UH, THERE'S UNITS OF STAFF EXCLUSIVELY BY VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL AND VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL ARE MORE AVAILABLE IN 2024 TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRE RESPONSES.

BUT IF YOU NOTICE THAT 80% OF OUR CALLS ARE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AMBULANCE RESPONSES, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF WHO'S HANDLING THOSE RESPONSES.

NOW I DO NOT WANT TO MINIMIZE IN SAYING ANY OF THIS, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A VOLUNTEER WHO ANSWERS A CALL.

BECAUSE EVERY CALL A VOLUNTEER MEMBER ANSWERS IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION AND WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, UH, TONY GORDON, THERE IS A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF MIKE WATKINS.

HE'S OUR CAREER, UM, FIRE RESCUE DEPUTY CHIEF.

SO WE ALL WORK TOGETHER ON ONE TEAM.

WE'RE VERY RESOURCEFUL.

UH, WE TRY TO MAKE EVERYTHING, UH, WORK AND, AND DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAD TO OPERATE WITH.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS, UH, ON THE STAFFING, UH, CHART, YOU KNOW, WE ARE PROPOSING WE NEED FIVE, AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE ON DUTY A DAY AT EVERY FIRE STATION IN THE COUNTY.

WE NEED THREE PEOPLE, WHICH IS ONE LESS THAN THE NATIONAL RECOMMENDATION ON NPA RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF A FIRE ENGINE.

AND WE NEED TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON AN AMBULANCE.

SO WHEN THAT AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS FROM SHELTER IN ARMS TO VCU AND A FIRE CALL COMES IN, WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND AT COMPANY THREE AND SIX

[01:40:01]

AND FIVE OR WHEREVER IT COMES FROM TO HANDLE THE NEXT CALL.

AND THE NEXT CALL COULD BE ANOTHER AMBULANCE CALL.

IF YOU HAD THE THREE PEOPLE, THEN POSSIBLY THEY COULD TAKE THE SECOND AMBULANCE OUT, UH, IF THAT WAS THE NEXT CALL.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF, UH, RESOURCE DEPTH WHEN IT STAFFING WHEN IT COMES TO THIS COMPANY TWO AND COMPANY EIGHT.

UM, I GUESS I SHOULD, UH, CLARIFY WHERE COMPANY EIGHT IS.

COMPANY EIGHT IS, UH, IS GONNA BE OUR NEW SANDY HOOK FIRE STATION, WHICH I'LL TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT COMPANY TWO ENCLOSURE IS A, IS A VERY NICE, CLEAN, NEAT, SMALL FOOTPRINT FIRE STATION, BUT THEY WON'T ACCOMMODATE THOSE NUMBERS OF FIVE PEOPLE ON DUTY IN THE COUNTY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR LAND SOMEWHERE, UH, ON CARDWELL ROAD, IN THE CROZIER AREA TO REBUILD COMPANY TWO.

SO WE HAVE MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT COMPANY TWO WHEN WE PUT MORE STAFF THERE, WE START TO HAVE ISSUES WITH, UH, THE SEPTIC FIELD, UH, JUST BECAUSE IT'S A VERY SMALL, UH, FOOTPRINT.

SO WE'RE NOT PROPOSING, UH, THE FILE ON DUTY AT COMPANY TWO AND THEN YOU GET INTO EIGHT AND SANDY HOOK.

WE'RE OPERATING OUT OF A BRICK RANCHER.

UH, WHILE IT'S VERY NICE AND IT'S WORKING WELL, IF WE DO THAT TODAY, WE WON'T ACCOMMODATE THOSE HIGH NUMBERS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING THE FIVE PEOPLE AT THE OTHER STATIONS, UH, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF TWO AND EIGHT.

AND OF COURSE I DID PUT A, UH, CHART AT THE BOTTOM, UH, FOR THE FUTURE WEST CREEK FIRE STATION.

UM, WE WON'T HAVE A VOLUNTEER BASE THERE.

IT'LL BE A BRAND NEW STATION THAT IS OPEN.

WE WILL ACCEPT VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION IF IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO PLAN TO STAFF THAT WITH, UH, WITH THE CAREER RESOURCES IN THE BEGINNING.

AND AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER AND SHARE SOME OF THIS, UH, WITH, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF, UH, CHIEF WATKINS, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

THANK YOU SIR.

ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU CHIEF.

UM, THIS IS WHY WE WANT TO TRY TO ARTICULATE AND EXPLAIN WHY THE NEED FOR MINIMUM FIVE PEOPLE ON DUTY PER STATION.

UH, FIRST OFF CURRENTLY SHOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

NOW ONLY 50% OF THE TIME ARE WE HAVING AN ENGINE GOING OUT THE DOOR WITH ADEQUATE STAFFING.

UM, MOST OF THE TIME YOU HAVE A 2.6, THE TANKER REALLY DOESN'T MATTER 'CAUSE THAT COULD BE OPERATED BY A SINGLE PERSON.

BUT THE OTHER APPARATUS NEEDS AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE TO BE EFFICIENT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TASKS THAT NEEDED TO PERFORM ON A FIRE GROUND OR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

UM, WE HAD ACCIDENT NOT TOO LONG AGO WHERE WE HAD AT LEAST FOUR APPARATUS SHOWED UP, OPERATOR ONLY, WHICH LIMITED THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

THESE ARE THE NFPA GUIDELINES.

I'M NOT GONNA REALLY READ THEM TO YOU, BUT HE, HE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THEY ALL RECOMMEND FOUR PEOPLE PER ENGINE.

THE CURRENT MODEL WE USE IS CROSS STAFFING.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF INCIDENT THE CREW HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER THEY'RE TAKING AN AMBULANCE OR A FIRETRUCK.

AND WHEN IT'S A MEDICAL CALL, IT'S VERY OBVIOUS.

BUT IF THEY'RE TAKING THE AMBULANCE, THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR GEAR IF IT WAS ON THE FIRETRUCK AND TRANSFER IT TO THE AMBULANCE OR VICE VERSA.

IF IT'S A FIRE CALL, A FIRE ALARM, WE SEND A SINGLE ENGINE, THEY ALL GET ON THE ENGINE AND GET ON THE ENGINE AND GO.

A VEHICLE ACCIDENT CREATES CHAOS FOR US BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE INFORMATION, WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THE FIRETRUCK OR THE AMBULANCE ON THE, IN THE ADDITION ON THE INTERSTATE, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE ENGINE FIRST.

WHY? 'CAUSE THE INTERSTATE IS DANGEROUS, THAT FIRETRUCK IS HEAVIER, BIGGER, AND SAFER.

UM, SO WE KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CROSS STAFFING AS A CHALLENGE.

CROSS STAFFING IS DONE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, BUT IT IS THE BANE OF EXISTENCE.

ONCE YOU CROSS STAFF, EVEN IF YOU HAVE THREE PEOPLE THERE, YOU MINIMIZE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEXT CALL.

OUR GOAL IS FOR INDEPENDENT STAFFING.

WITH THIS, THIS WILL IMPROVE RESPONSE TIME.

I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MANNEQUIN FIRE STATION.

THE AMBULANCE AND THE ENGINES ARE HOUSED IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THEY HAVE TO MOVE ACROSS THE BAY WITH ALL OF THEIR GEAR TO WHICHEVER UNIT THEY'RE GOING ON.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE STAFF, UM, THE STATION DISTRICT MAY NOT HAVE ANY FIRE COVERAGE UNTIL THE AMBULANCE RETURNED.

THEY MAY HAVE ONE PERSON IN THE BUILDING WHO CAN PROVIDE AN INITIAL RESPONSE, BUT THAT IS AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO MANAGE THAT, UH, THAT THAT PROPERTY.

WE ARE SEEING MORE WALK-IN PATIENTS COMING UP TO THE STATION.

SO SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER THE FIRE STATIONS PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A COMMUNITY RESOURCE.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN EMERGENCY, THEY'RE GONNA STOP AT THAT FIVE FIRE STATION.

THEY'RE GONNA COME UP.

COMPANY 60 COME UP TO COMPANY THREE ALL THE TIME.

IF THE CREW IS OUT ON A CALL, THAT MEANS THERE'S NOBODY THERE TO NECESSARILY TAKE THAT RESPONSE.

AND THEY, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE 'EM TO CALL 9 1 1.

UM, WE HAD AT LEAST ONE SITUATION LAST WEEK WHERE WE HAD TO RESPOND ADMINISTRATION TYPE FOLKS AND THE SANDY HOOK STATION TO COMPANY FIVE.

FOR A PERSON WHO IS A WALK-IN, UM, WE WANNA MAINTAIN THE TWO AND TWO OUT RULE, WHICH MEANS THAT IF WE'RE GOING INTO A STRUCTURE FIRE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE GOING IN, YOU HAVE AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE OUTSIDE.

IN THE EVENT THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS GET IN TROUBLE, THEY CAN INITIATE A ARREST.

UM, WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EXPERIENCE LEVEL.

UM, WE HAVE, IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE WHAT TRIPLED IN SIZE.

SO ALL OF OUR REAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT LEVEL.

HOW MUCH REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE DOES SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN ON THE JOB FOUR YEARS HAVE? IT'S NOT A LOT.

UM, WE'RE WORKING TO GET MORE OFFICERS, MORE EXPERIENCE LEVEL WITH THAT.

BUT EXPERIENCE IS A CHALLENGE IF

[01:45:01]

WE DON'T HAVE A A PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVIDE THAT FRONT SEAT.

AND A FIRETRUCK IS A COMPLICATED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

IT NEEDS AN OFFICER, LEMME PUT IT THIS WAY, RIGHT NOW, THE MOST EXPERIENCED PERSONAL, MOST OF OUR FIRE TRUCKS IS THE DRIVER.

OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT OFFICER IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT WHO CAN MAKE TACTICAL DECISIONS AND BE ABLE TO GUIDE THAT CREW THROUGH, THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE INCIDENT.

UM, IMPROVES OUR SAFETY.

UM, EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH.

WHEN WE HAVE HIGH PRIORITY CALLS, UH, CARDIAC ARRESTS OR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, WE NEED ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.

THE AMBULANCE OFTENTIMES WILL NEED, UH, ASSISTANCE IN LIFTING THE PATIENT OFF THE FLOOR, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO OFTENTIMES YOU'LL SEE AN ENGINE IN A, IN AN AMBULANCE ON A MEDICAL CALL.

'CAUSE WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.

FULL STAFFING REDUCES NUMBER OF STATIONS NECESSARY TO HANDLE A CALL.

IT WILL BE LESS RELIANT ON MUTUAL AID RESOURCES TO THAT POINT.

WE OFTEN ARE PROVIDING MUTUAL AID TO OUR NEIGHBORS.

UM, WE GIVE MORE THAN WE RECEIVE.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE A STRUCTURE FIRE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE UP IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, WE HAD TO PULL BOTH HANOVER AND KO AND HOLLY GROVE INTO MANAGE THAT INCIDENT.

UM, ADDRESSES VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY, TIME TO MAXIMIZE THE PARTICIPATION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR ISO REPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T GET FULL POINTS FOR WAS OUR DEPLOYMENT MODEL.

DEPLOYMENT MODEL, MEANING HOW WE OPERATE THOSE FIRE TRUCKS.

SO, AND OBVIOUSLY SOME RENOVATIONS ON PROCESS.

UM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF FORD FOR TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM.

GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

SO, UM, AS YOU SEE FROM THE SLIDE, UH, THIS PAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY UM, DID INCREASE OUR VOLUNTEER BASE BY 35 VOLUNTEERS.

NOT ALL OF THOSE MADE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SOMETIMES THINGS COME OUT DURING THEIR BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND MAY PREVENT THEM FROM COMING ON BOARD OR THEY WASN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING OR THEY REALIZED HOW BUSY VOLUNTEERISM IS.

SO THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY ARE VOLUNTEERS.

THEY GO WORK YOUR FULL-TIME JOB AND THEN THEY COME HOME TO GOLAND TO TRY TO SERVE, SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY JUST LIKE I DO.

I GO OUT AND WORK 50 AND 60 HOURS WITH MY FULL-TIME JOB AND I COME TO GOLAND AND WORK FIVE OR SIX HOURS EVERY DAY.

I'M JUST PLAYING .

YOU ACTUALLY DO AT LEAST THAT.

SO THESE, UM, 35 VOLUNTEERS, UM, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY, NOT JUST AT ONE STATION.

WE DO SEE SOME STATIONS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THE VOLUNTEERISM MORE THAN OTHERS.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, COMPANY FOURS, YOU SEE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS THERE AND INCLUDING THIS YEAR, THEY GAINED, UH, VERY FEW PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE THOSE PEOPLE OUT THAT INTO THE COUNTY.

UM, SOME OF THE, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT YOUNGER GENERATION THAT'S MOVING OUT TO THE FAR WESTERN PART OF HOUSTON.

THEY HAVE THE OLDER GENERATION OUT THERE AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE ABILITY TO VOLUNTEER.

THEY DO VOLUNTEER IN OTHER WAYS, BUT NOT ACTUALLY RUNNING FIRE AND RESCUE CALLS AND ALL FIVE BOARD MEMBERS.

I'VE ALWAYS RECRUITING.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS A VOLUNTEER.

SO THIS YEAR, UM, THIS PAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY WERE AWARDED A SAFER GRANT TO TRY TO INCREASE THAT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOLAND COUNTY.

WE ALSO HIRED THIS YEAR A PART-TIME RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION COORDINATOR WHO'S BEEN DOING AN AMAZING JOB RECRUITING PEOPLE, GETTING OUR PROCESSES STRAIGHT.

'CAUSE BEFORE SHE ARRIVED I WAS DOING THAT.

SO, AND THAT'S ON TOP OF MY FULL-TIME JOB AS WELL.

SO I'M GLAD TO HAVE HER BECAUSE SHE IS ROCKING, ROCKING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

UH, EVERY YEAR CAREER AND VOLUNTEER MEMBERS ACTUALLY GO OUT AND ACTUALLY DO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THIS PAST YEAR CAREER AND VOLUNTEER MEMBERS DID OVER 125 EVENTS IN GLAND COUNTY WHERE WE WERE NOT ONLY THERE FOR THE EVENT, BUT WE ALSO TRIED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PEOPLE AT THAT SAME TIME.

THOSE EVENTS INCLUDE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, DAY, FALL FESTIVALS, CAREER FAIRS, YOU NAME IT, WE RAT IT.

SO WHEN WE SHOW UP, IT'S JUST NOT THERE TO DO STANDBY.

WE'RE ALWAYS RECRUITING.

UM, SO WE ALSO PURCHASE SEVERAL WHILE NEW ITEMS. RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, BANNERS, TABLECLOTH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE THE DEPARTMENT, PROMOTE VOLUNTEERISM AND CAREER.

'CAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS RECRUITING FOR CAREER AS WELL.

UH, NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS WHERE WE DID SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.

WE GET ASKED TO GO SPEAK AT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, CITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ALL THE TIME.

SO WE GO IN AND PART OF THAT, THAT SPILL IS, HEY, WE WANT TO RECRUIT YOU, RIGHT? JUST LIKE I JUST DID WITH THE FIVE OF YOU.

AND ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM IS INTERESTED TOO.

UH, WE REDESIGNED OUR BROCHURES THIS YEAR, UM, FLYERS FOR PUBLIC EVENTS TO TRY TO BOOST THE DEPARTMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND WE ALSO ARE REVITALIZING OUR MENTORING AND ONBOARDING PROCESSES SO THAT WE CAN ENGAGE OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR EARLIER IN THE PROCESS AND KEEP THEM INTERESTED WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR GET TO THE GROUND AND SO FORTH.

SO THANK THE NEXT PERSON UP, MR. CHIEF, I'LL LET YOU ADVANCE.

DON'T GO TOO FAR.

UH, WHY DON'T WE NEED SO MANY, UH, UNITS IN THE FIRE STATIONS? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE, UH, WE DON'T HAVE WATER SUPPLY, WE DON'T HAVE FIRE HYDRANTS, BUT IN THAT 15% OF THE COUNTY, SO WE'RE PREDOMINANTLY A RURAL COUNTY THAT HAS TO RELY ON RURAL WATER SUPPLY OPERATIONS FOR STRUCTURED FIRES.

NEXT, WE'LL TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE APPARATUS FLEET.

WE HAVE A VERY LARGE, UH, APPARATUS FLEET THAT SPREAD OVER, UH, SIX FIRE RESCUE STATIONS.

NOW WE HAVE YORK.

UH, AND OF COURSE, UH, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT APPARATUS FOR THE WEST CREEK FIRE STATION.

YOU KNOW, ALTOGETHER, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FLEET ENTRIES, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR DATABASE OR OUR SPREADSHEET, WE HAVE, UH, 73 73 UNITS.

AND THAT COVERS OUR FIRE ENGINES, OUR AMBULANCES, OUR BRUSH TRUCKS, OUR STAFF VEHICLES, OUR UTILITY VEHICLES, OUR TRAILERS, OUR UTVS, UH, ALL OF THAT ADDS UP TO BE 73.

[01:50:02]

WE BRING OUR WATER WITH US ON OUR TANKERS AND SO FORTH.

BUT I GUESS, UM, THE THING I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU IS OUR FLEET IS, UH, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, IT HAS, UH, AN EXPIRATION DATE ON IT.

IT IS AGING OUT.

AND WE BOUGHT, UH, MADE LARGE PURCHASES BACK IN 2002.

WE BOUGHT SIX TANKERS THAT WERE IDENTICAL AND WE BOUGHT SIX NEW ENGINES IN 2006.

AND THEY ACTUALLY, UH, ARE STARTING TO TIME OUT.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS, IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO THAT THOSE DECISIONS ALLOWED US TO BE THE MOST RESOURCEFUL OVER THESE 20 YEARS.

SO THAT WE DIDN'T NEED THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR TODAY.

WE HAD TO DO IT WITH ALL VOLUNTEERS AND HAVING IDENTICAL APPARATUS AND ALL THE STATIONS PROVIDED THE BEST WAY OF EFFICIENCY.

HOWEVER, NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO REPLACE THAT.

UH, YOU CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE FLEET AND NOT MENTION THE REPAIRS.

WE DON'T HAVE A COUNTY GARAGE.

WE DON'T HAVE A CENTRAL FACILITY.

CHIEF GORDON HANDLES ALL OF THE, UH, FIRE APPARATUS REPAIRS, MAKING SURE THEY GET TO THE RIGHT SHOP.

CHIEF WATKINS AND A LOGISTICS OFFICER HANDLES, UH, HANDLES THE AMBULANCES.

BUT HONESTLY, WE ALL HAVE A PART OR A HAND IN, IN FLEET MAINTENANCE.

AND IT GOES TO, UH, MANY DIFFERENT SHOPS FROM, UH, CHESTER, UH, TO ASHLAND.

UH, WE HAVE A MOBILE MECHANIC THAT COMES AROUND AND DOES SOME THINGS IN THE FIRE STATION, BUT OUR APPARATUS AND THEIR VEHICLES ARE VERY SPECIALIZED.

AND WE HONESTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY IN THE FUTURE WE SHOULD LOOK AT SOMETHING, SOME TYPE OF COUNTY GARAGE FACILITY.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT TAKES A LOT TO KEEP THE FLEET ON THE ROAD.

AND WE'RE SEEING UNITS THAT ARE STAYING IN SHOPS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, UH, WAITING ON PARTS.

YOU GUYS KNOW THE STORY WITH THAT.

VEHICLE REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES, UH, FIRE UNITS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, WE'RE RUNNING ONE ENGINE THAT, UH, WAS NEW IN 2001.

UM, OUR TANKERS WERE BOUGHT IN 2002, BUT WE HAVE BOUGHT SOME NEW TANKERS.

WE DID BUY A NEW ENGINE AND SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE HAVE SOME APPARATUS ON ORDER.

AND FPA RECOMMENDS A LARGE APPARATUS FEE ON THE 15 YEAR REPLACEMENT, UH, CYCLE.

UH, OUR AMBULANCES, UM, AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO RE REEVALUATE THIS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF, UH, MILEAGE THAT OUR NEW AMBULANCES ARE RACKING UP.

UH, BUT WE, WE THINK THAT WE CAN USE AN .

SO WE KNOW WE CAN USE AN FOR UP 200,000 MILES, UH, OR 10 YEARS OLD.

WE HAVE UNITS NOW THAT ARE OLDER THAN 10 YEARS OLD.

UH, BUT, BUT OUR NEW AMBULANCES THAT WE JUST GOT OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, I'LL LET CHIEF WA GO NEXT AND HE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, SOME OF, SOME OF THAT CHIEF WATKINS.

ALRIGHT, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING UP THAT, UH, PRIOR TO 2000 AND UH, 2021, WE OPERATED WITH A FLEET OF, UH, OF 10 AMBULANCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH THE SIX PRIMARY UNITS AND FOUR BASICALLY RESERVE UNITS.

SOME OF THOSE STATIONS OPERATED WITH A SECOND, UH, UNIT.

UM, CURRENTLY WE ARE OPERATING WITH A FLEET OF NINE AMBULANCES.

WE HAVE, UH, ONE ON ORDER THAT WE'RE WAITING ON, UH, FOUR.

IT IS NOT PROVIDED TO CHASSIS FOR IT.

UM, AND WE'RE TRYING TO, TRYING TO ROTATE OUT SOME OF OUR OLDER UNITS, UM, TO DO THAT.

BUT CURRENTLY WE HAVE TO STAFF SEVEN AMBULANCES EVERY DAY, INCLUDING SANDY.

SO WE HAD BASICALLY A RELIEF FACTOR OF TWO AMBULANCES.

IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS IN A SIGNIFICANT WRECK OR REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS.

UM, WHERE I KIND OF OUTTA LUCK.

NOW, I WILL SAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE BOARD SUPPORTED US WITH SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO UPGRADE THE EXISTING FLEET.

UM, SO WE HAVE BASICALLY SIX PRIMARY AMBULANCES.

THEY'RE ALL, UM, THE FORD STYLE.

THEY'VE ALL BEEN PURCHASED BASE IN THAT PAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.

UM, BUT THEY ALL RUNNING, THEY'RE WE'RE RUNNING THE WHEELS OFF, UH, TO GO TO UVA OR VCU FROM, UH, THE CENTER OF THE COUNTY IS A, UH, CLOSE TO AN 80 MILE ROUND TRIP DEPENDING ON HOW YOU, YOU LOOK AT IT.

UM, ONE'S ON ORDER WORKING TO ENTER THE SECOND ONE.

UH, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE'RE SEEING WITH AMBULANCES IS WHEN, UH, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS AGO, SIX YEARS AGO, THE AMBULANCE COST LESS THAN $200,000.

NOW IT'S UP TO $380,000 TO PURCHASE THAT AMBULANCE.

UM, SOME OF THAT IS THE SAFETY FEATURES.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, UH, STRETCHER THAT'S RETAINED AND LOCKED INTO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.

UM, WE'RE OPERATING WITH ONLY TWO PEOPLE ON THE AMBULANCE.

SO THERE'S A LOADING SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE ON ALL OF OUR UNITS THAT CAN LIFT UP TO A 700 POUND PATIENT, UM, WHICH HELPS US AND KEEPS US FROM BACK INJURIES.

BUT IT ADDS TO THE COST OF THE VEHICLE THERE.

MM-HMM, .

UM, SO, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT 24 PLUS MONTH DELIVERY TIME.

OUR AVERAGE MILEAGE CURRENTLY IS 111,816.

UM, THE AMBULANCE THAT WE PUT IN SERVICE AT, AT UH, FIVE IN UH, 20 22, 21, 21, YEAH, THINK IT'S 21.

UM, HAS CLOSE TO 80,000 MILES ON IT.

UM, BECAUSE OF THE TRAVEL DISTANCES IT HAS TO GO.

[01:55:01]

SO WHEN I THINK OF AN AMBULANCE, I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ROTATE THAT UNIT OUT SO THAT THE, SO THAT THE MILEAGE GETS BETTER BALANCED OUT ACROSS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THE AMBULANCE.

AND THEN AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA NEED A FLEET OF UP TO 12 AMBULANCES TO SUSTAIN WHAT WE HAVE.

NOW, IF WE'RE GONNA STAFF EIGHT STATIONS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A RELIEF FACTOR FOR THOSE OTHERS.

SO, SO AS THE CHIEF HAS ALREADY ALLUDED TO, I ALSO TAKE CARE OF THE FIRE APPARATUS IN OUR FLEET AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT HERE NOW.

UM, SO AS YOU SEE HERE, WE HAVE OVER SEVEN, WELL WE HAVE SEVEN ENGINES THAT HAVE, THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 PLUS YEARS OLD IN OUR FLEET.

SO WE ARE ORDERING NEW ENGINE.

WE JUST RECEIVED A NEW ENGINE IN THIS PAST YEAR AT CENTERVILLE.

HERE.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT WE JUST ORDERED.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO YEARS TO BUILD IT OR MORE.

SO WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE FIVE TANKERS THAT ARE 22 YEARS OLD.

ONE OF OUR AERIAL TRUCKS OUT OF STATION FIVE IS ACTUALLY 31 YEARS OLD.

IT'S STILL RUNNING.

IT'S DOING A GREAT JOB.

IT LOOKS NICE IF YOU, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY, YOU THINK IT WAS BRAND NEW, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT.

IT'S 31 YEARS OLD, WHICH IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

TWO HEAVY DUTY RESCUE TRUCKS.

ONE OF THOSE WAS BOUGHT 18 YEARS AGO.

ONE OF 'EM WAS BOUGHT UH, 11 YEARS AGO.

UH, FOUR BRUSH TRUCKS RANGING IN AGE BETWEEN 13 AND 29 YEARS OLD.

WE DO HAVE ONE THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO PUT INTO SERVICE , TAKE CARE OF ONE OF THOSE OLDER MODELS AND GET THAT AS FLEET, UH, REPAIR COSTS ON THESE TRUCKS.

IT USED TO BE FAIRLY CHEAP.

I SAY CHEAP, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HERE AND THERE.

BUT WHEN I SEND A FIRE TRUCK OFF TO THE REPAIR SHOP JUST FOR A SIMPLE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IS $2,000.

AND THAT'S, IF THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING, THEN WE HAVE THE ANNUAL PUMP TESTING.

IT TAKES ANOTHER $2,500, UM, TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT PUMP AND MAKE SURE THAT PUMP'S RUNNING.

AND THEN THE TEST ITSELF IS $500 JUST TO TEST.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPENSIVE STUFF.

THE OTHER PROBLEM WE'RE RUNNING INTO WITH OLDER APPARATUS OR AGING APPARATUS, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'RE HAVING A HUGE ISSUE BUYING PARTS FOR THOSE APPARATUS 'CAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM ANYMORE.

SO NOW WE'RE HAVING TO RETROFIT OUR APPARATUS WITH NEWER PARTS, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE, VERY EXPENSIVE.

A COMPUTER MODULE ALONE IS $5,000 JUST TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE COMPUTER MODULE 'CAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE IT ANYMORE FOR OUR AGING APPARATUS.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE TRYING TO GET THESE TRUCKS IN INBOUND, QUICKER, LIMITED AVAILABILITY.

SUPPLY COMMAND, I'M SENDING FIRE TRUCKS TO SHOP AND THEY'RE SITTING THERE FOR WEEKS, SOMETIMES MONTHS WAITING FOR CERTAIN SIGNIFICANT PARTS TO ARRIVE OR TO BE BUILT FOR THAT SPECIFIC TRUCK.

SO IT IS JUST IT, WE'RE TAKING THE UNITS OUTTA SERVICE.

LUCKILY WE HAVE, WE HAVE A COUPLE SPARES THAT WE'LL THROW INTO PLACE, BUT GUESS WHAT? THEY BREAK DOWN FROM TIME TO TIME AS WELL.

SO MANY TIMES THEY HAVE DO THE AGE OF THE PARTS, THE PARTS ARE STILL OBSOLETE.

SO WE, WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEING THIS FROM THE MANUFACTURERS SAYING, OR THE DEALERS HERE LOCALLY CAN'T GET ANYMORE, PUT NEW STUFF ON.

SO THEN I CALLED THE CHIEF, SAID, HEY, WE GOT THIS BILL.

IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT $5,000.

AND OF COURSE WE'VE GOTTA APPROVE IT.

'CAUSE OTHERWISE GUESS WHAT? THE TRUCK SITS PARKED AND IT'S JUST EMPTY PIECE OF METAL AT THAT POINT.

UM, APPARATUS INFLATION COST HAS GONE UP OVER THE YEARS.

WE STILL BUY OUR FIRE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 300, THREE $50,000 PRICE.

FIRE, FIRE ENGINES THIS YEAR, 2024 WILL BE OVER $1 MILLION.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE COST OF THAT.

OKAY, THAT'S JUST ONE FIRE ENGINE, RIGHT? THE ONE WE JUST PURCHASED WAS ROUGHLY 800,000, I BELIEVE THE ENGINE.

31, 6 31 HERE IN VILLE.

700 800,000.

CORRECT.

HUGE.

SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ROUNDING CUSTOM TRUCKS.

FIRE APPARATUS ARE, NOW, THEY'RE ACTUALLY FIRE COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY BUILDING STOCK ENGINES.

SO THEY BUILT, THEY LOOK AT THE OVERALL, WHAT PEOPLE WANT, YOU KNOW, THOUSAND GALLON TANKS, 1500 GALLON PER, UM, PUMPS, GALLON PER MINUTE PUMPS.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALL THAT, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE BUILDING STOCK ENGINES AND THEY'RE PUTTING 'EM ON THEIR ASSEMBLY LINES IN PLACE OF, I MEAN, NOT IN PLACE, BUT IN BETWEEN ALL THE CUSTOM ORDERS, RIGHT? SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

IT'S GONNA SAVE BELAND COUNTY MONEY.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THE TRUE NEEDS OF WHAT WE MAY NEED HERE IN BELAND COUNTY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO SAVE THE COUNTY'S TAXPAYERS.

THE SAD PART IS THE AVERAGE DELIVERY TIME ON ANY PIECE OF APPARATUS, IT'S 36 TO 48 MONTHS.

SO THAT'S PRETTY ROUGH.

UH, WE JUST ORDERED A NEW ENGINE JULY OF 2023, EXPECTED DELIVER TO DATE, NOT UNTIL JULY OF 2026.

NEW AERIAL TRUCK THAT WE ORDERED BACK IN APRIL OF 2022.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024.

UM, NEW TANKER FOR HAYDENVILLE, THEY JUST ORDERED IN APRIL.

UM, IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET HERE IN MAY OF 24.

OKAY? AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, I SAY APRIL, APRIL, 2022, SORRY.

AND THEN THE NEW DETANGLE FOR FIGHT, WE JUST ORDERED IN NOVEMBER, UH, 2023 IS SCHEDULED TO COME IN IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

MORE OF A STOCK UNIT, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO GO AND ACTUALLY BUILD THE CUSTOM TRUCKS LIKE WE USED TO.

SO THANK YOU CHIEF GORDON AND CHIEF WATKINS.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UH, SOME OF THESE REPAIR BILLS OR THE APPARATUS ARE JUST STAGGERING.

UH, WE $11,000, UH, LAST WEEK.

I HAD A $22,000 REPAIR BILL COME IN.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GET A NEW FIRE TRUCK FOR 36 TO 48 MONTHS.

AND WE'RE NOT ALONE.

EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT WE BENCHMARK AGAINST IS HAVING THE SAME SITUATION.

AND NOT MANY OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, AND WE'RE NOT EITHER

[02:00:01]

ARE SURPLUS IN APPARATUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET NEW APPARATUS.

IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT, YOU LOSE A PIECE FOR SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC, THEN YOU'LL BE WITHOUT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

SO WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUANDARY WITH THAT.

SO I'M GONNA BRING IT, UH, BRING IT HOME.

NOW WITH THE, UH, AT FACILITIES, UH, THESE ARE OUR SIX, UH, FIRE RESCUE STATIONS.

THEY ARE ALL AT THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS.

SOME, UH, HAVE BEEN REBUILT, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

UH, FIVE OF THE SIX STATIONS ARE OWNED BY THE VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION.

AND THEN COMPANY SIX DOWN IN HERE AT THE BOTTOM IS OUR, UH, COUNTY, OUR ONLY COUNTY OWNED, UH, FIRE RESCUE STATION THAT WE OPERATE OUT OF TODAY, OF THE, UH, FIVE VOLUNTEER OWNED FIRE RESCUE STATIONS BY THAT VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION.

UH, FOUR OF THEM ARE THE SAME BUILDINGS, THE SAME BUILDINGS WITH MANY RENOVATIONS THAT WERE PUT INTO PLACE, UH, BACK IN THE LATE 1950S AND EARLY 1960S.

IN THOSE TIMES, THE BUILDINGS WERE MORE OF A GARAGE TO KEEP APPARATUS.

THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COMMUNITY ROOM, AND EVERYBODY RESPONDED FROM HOME AND NO ONE STAYED THERE ALL THE NIGHT.

AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT OUR VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION, FOUR DIRECTORS AND OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAVE, THEY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB RENOVATING, UH, THESE FIRE STATIONS, UH, TRYING TO GET THEM, UH, UP TO SPEED FOR TODAY'S OPERATIONS.

COMPANY ONE WAS JUST, UH, RENOVATED.

THE INTERIOR WAS RENOVATED.

COMPANY THREE WAS JUST FINISHED, THE INTERIOR WAS RENOVATED.

AND NOW WE'RE AT COMPANY FIVE.

AND COMPANY FIVE IS GONNA BE THE LARGEST OF THOSE THREE PROJECTS.

UH, WE HAVE MOVED A, UH, SINGLE WIDE MOBILE HOME IN THE BACKYARD OF COMPANY FIVE.

SO THE CREW CAN LIVE IN THAT AND GIVE THE WHOLE STATION, EXCLUDING THE APPARATUS SPACE TO THE CONTRACTORS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY AND GET THAT PROJECT DONE.

BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING AFTER WITH THESE RENOVATIONS ARE MORE, UM, INTERIOR LIVING, 24 HOUR ACCOMMODATION NEEDS.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UH, COMPANY TWO HERE, UH, COMPANY TWO IS SMALL AND MI MIGHTY.

UH, IT'S CLEAN, IT'S NEAT.

UH, BUT HONESTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY DOES NEED TO LOOK AT FINDING LAND ON ROAD AND REBUILDING COMPANY TWO, BECAUSE THERE ARE LIMIT LIMITATIONS THERE.

COMPANY TWO RUNS 800 RESPONSES A YEAR OUT OF THAT, OUT OF THAT LOCATION.

AND THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT, WHAT THEY HAVE.

UH, COMPANY FIVE, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, WAS BUILT NEW IN 1983.

THE OLD COMPANY FIVE, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, IS, IS THERE IN THE COURTHOUSE BY THE POST OFFICE WHERE THE GUN SHOP IS NOW, AND THE CAN CANINE CLIPS.

THAT WAS THE OLD FIRE STATION THAT THEY WERE IN UP UNTIL 1983.

SO THE MESSAGE I WANT TO KIND OF PLANT ON, THE SEED I WANT TO PLANT IS, IS THAT THE VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN GREAT STEWARDS OF THE COMMUNITY'S ASSETS FOR SEVEN DECADES.

HOWEVER, THE COUNTY'S CHANGING, AND SO IS THE ASSOCIATION.

AND SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, NOT NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY NOT THE YEAR AFTER THAT, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT ASSUMING POSSIBLY THESE ASSETS.

AND SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLAN FOR THAT ON HOW THAT TRANSFORMATION WILL OCCUR.

IF WE START TO ASSUME THE, UM, THE FIVE VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE, UH, STATIONS THAT ARE OWNED BY THE ASSOCIATION.

AGAIN, I'M NOT, DON'T WANT TO ALARM YOU.

IT IS NOT TIME SENSITIVE.

THE ASSOCIATION IS VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN UPDATING THESE FACILITIES.

SO THEY'RE TRUE ASSETS, BUT WE NEED TO BE THINKING, UH, ABOUT THAT.

AND ALONG WITH THAT COMES A MOU BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THAT MOU.

AND AS YOU WOULD FIGURE, AND AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE, EACH TIME WE UPDATE THAT MORE, UH, COSTS ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNTY AND WE'RE TAKEN OFF OF THE SHOULDERS OF THE, UH, THE VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION WHO RELIES ON FUNDRAISING, UH, TO PAY FOR THESE RENOVATIONS.

AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING I SHOULD SAY, IS THESE RENOVATIONS ARE BEING COVERED BY DONATIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CITIZENS.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHO'VE MADE POSSIBLE, UH, A MILLION AND A HALF INTEREST FREE LOAN FOR COMPANY FIVE, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE QUITE ENOUGH TO COVER THAT PROJECT.

SO WE MIGHT BE TALKING WITH YOU A LITTLE MORE TO WRAP THAT PROJECT UP.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, UH, WE HAVE, UH, THE WEST STREET FIRE STATION.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, SECURED AN ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING FIRM, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THE DESIGN PROCESS OF THAT FACILITY.

AND THEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, UH, THE SANDY HOOK STATION AND WHITEHALL AND DOGTOWN ROAD, UH, WE'RE ONLY COVERING THAT WITH AN AMBULANCE FROM SEVEN IN THE MORNING TO SEVEN AT NIGHT.

IT COVERS HALF THE HOURS, BUT THAT AMBULANCE IS ANSWERING, UH, 40 PLUS CALLS, UH, A MONTH.

AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN RESOURCE AVAILABILITY.

I'VE HEARD THREE OR FOUR CALLS GO OUT SINCE I'VE BEEN UP HERE TALKING AND HAVING THAT UNIT ON DUTY TODAY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF WHETHER YOU HAVE SIX AMAL ANSWERS ON DUTY OR SEVEN, AND SOMETIMES THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT, THAT WE HAVE LEFT.

IT'S MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO EXPAND THAT, UH, SO

[02:05:01]

THAT WE CAN HAVE A 24 HOUR SERVICE THERE WITHIN THE, THE FACILITY.

THE FIRE STATION FACILITY, UM, IF IT STAYS LIKE IT IS TODAY, UH, ACTUALLY COMES UP IN THE CIP AND FY 28 FOR THE ACTUAL FIRE STATION FACILITY.

AGAIN, I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON THE CIP, THAT'S JUST WHAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.

CENTER, YOU KNOW, AN ORGANIZATION THE SIZE OF HOURS, HOURS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU CAN'T DELIVER A GOOD TRAINING FOR YOUR PERSONNEL.

I MENTIONED ALL THOSE TIME NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL.

UH, THE FIRE RESCUE TRAINING CENTER WAS OPEN YOU IN 1981.

IT'S BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY.

UH, IT'S ON 17 ACRES OF LAND, BUT ONLY ABOUT THREE ACRES IS REALLY USABLE.

THE OTHER 17 IS, UH, BECAUSE OF WETLAND GRADE, SLOPE TERRAIN.

IT IS JUST NOT WETLANDS.

IT'S NOT ALL USABLE.

HOWEVER, WE USE IT TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT WE'VE HAD ALL THESE YEARS.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED ABOUT 25 ACRES.

I'VE TALKED TO SHERIFF CREASEY AND WE BELIEVE WE NEED A PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER FOR THE FUTURE.

WE WANT TO BE THE SAME CALOR DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE AND NEED TO BE IN THE FUTURE UTILIZATION.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE STABILIZED THE PRESENT LOCATION, WE BELIEVE FOR THE NEXT SEVEN TO 10 YEARS.

WE PUT IN SOME NEW MODULAR CLASSROOMS. WE PUT IN TWO OF THESE CLASSROOMS. UM, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY ORDERED A NEW LIVE FIRE TRAINING STRUCTURE.

IT'S THREE SHIPBOARD CONTAINERS THAT IS, UH, THAT ARE BEING MADE.

AND WE HAVE RECEIVED A GRANT FOR $480,000 TO OFFSET THE COST OF THAT MILLION $1.2 MILLION, UH, PROJECT FOR THE FIRE TRAINING, UH, STRUCTURE.

OUR, OUR PRESENT BUILDING THAT WE BURNED IN ALL THESE YEARS HAS JUST BEEN, IT'S BEEN BURNED IN TOO MANY TIMES.

YOU KNOW, CONCRETE FALLS OVER TIMES, JOINTS SEPARATE LENTILS COME LOOSE.

UH, WE HAVE REPAIRED THAT BUILDING SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE IT FOR LADDERS AND WHAT WE WOULD CALL COAL TRAINING.

UH, BUT WE NEED THE BUILDING HERE IN ORDER TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR LIVE FIRE TRAINING TO BE, UH, WITH OUR ISO IN THERE.

NFPA.

SO WE HAVE, IT IS ON ORDER.

HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE HERE, UH, THIS SPRING AND WE'LL START TO SEE THAT.

SO THE FIRE TRAINING CENTER IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

I WOULD HOPE YOU COME SEE IT ONE DAY.

UH, WE'RE PROUD OF IT, BUT IT'S NOT THE LOCATION FOR THE FUTURE.

WE, WE DIDN'T SET OUT ANY BOAT ANCHORS, WE DON'T THINK, BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE THAT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ARE RELATIVELY MODULAR AND MOBILE.

SO THAT WE DON'T DO THAT.

I DON'T SUSPECT THE COUNTY WILL VACATE THE PROPERTY TOTALLY BECAUSE IT'S, UH, THERE IS OUR MAIN COMMUNICATION, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION TOWER THERE.

UM, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMON THEME WITH THE COUNTY IS WE NEED MORE SPACE.

SPEAKING OF THAT, UH, LOGISTICS, UH, IT'S REALLY HARD TO SUPPORT THE FIELD OPERATIONS WITHOUT THE RIGHT TYPE OF LOGISTICAL DIVISION.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, TRIED TO SHIFT ALL OF THEIR PERSONNEL AND THEIR ASSETS TO THE FIELD SO THAT THEY GO TO EMERGENCIES.

BUT WE HAVE BEGUN TO REALIZE THAT WE CANNOT SUPPORT THE FIELD IF WE DON'T START GROWING FIRE RESCUE, ADMIN AND LOGISTICS AND SO FORTH.

AND OUR CHALLENGE IS STORAGE.

OUR LOGISTICAL SUPPLIES ARE SPREAD OVER AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO LOSE ONE OF THOSE.

WHEN THE NEW COURTHOUSE, UH, IS BUILT, WE'LL LOSE THE QUANTIFY THAT GENERAL SERVICE OPERATES IN AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

SO WE, WE KNOW WE NEED A WAREHOUSE.

WE NEED ALL OUR LOGISTICS, UH, UNDER ONE ROOF SO THAT WE CAN OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY, EFFICIENTLY, BUT WITH BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY OF SUPPLIES.

UH, AND AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT WE WILL OPERATE WITH IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATION, UH, WE SHARE THE BUILDING WITH, UH, GLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CENTRAL OFFICE.

WE HAVE THE LOWER FLOOR, I SHOULD SAY.

WE HAVE A PORTION OF THE LOWER FLOOR, UH, WE HAVE DONE ABOUT EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO, UH, MAKE USE OF THAT SPACE.

UH, THERE THE POTENTIAL IS FOR ABOUT 10 PEOPLE TO WORK IN FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATION AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

SOME ARE PART-TIME, SOME ARE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS.

UH, WE PUT UP, UH, OFFICE PETITIONS.

WE TOOK OUR CONFERENCE ROOM, WE DOWNSIZED IT, WE PUT UP OFFICE PETITIONS SO THAT WE HAVE MORE, UH, WORKSPACE.

UH, BUT HONESTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT, UH, A LITTLE BIT STRAPPED WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE FOR THE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, GROW FIRE RESCUE IN THE FUTURE.

AND I'M SORRY WE TOOK SO MUCH TIME, BUT I DO APPRECIATE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I KNOW CHIEF GORDON AND CHIEF WATKINS I DO TOO.

AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

SO THE, THE, THE SITUATION BECOMES, UH, THE AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS.

I'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE WALL TIME.

THE AMBULANCES NOT, WHAT ABOUT ? STEVE WATKINS IS A, UH, IS A NURSE AT VCU, UH, MEDICAL CENTER PEDIATRIC, UH, ER NURSE ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE HE DOES.

AND, UM, BETWEEN THE 3 0 2 , WHAT'S, YES, SIR, SIR, JUST ASSUMING YOU GUYS HAD PERSONNEL DO THIS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE OUR AGING AMBULANCES AND JUST HAVE THEM STAGED THERE? OUR, I'M SORRY.

I GUESS I'M TO FREE UP OUR CURRENT.

[02:10:01]

UM, AND I JUST JUST HEARD ONE AMBULANCE IS GOING TO SHORT PUMP RIGHT NOW.

ANOTHER AMBULANCE IS GOING TO ST.

MARY'S.

UM, THAT'S ANOTHER, ALL OF THOSE ARE LOCATED IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

SO WE WOULD NOT WANNA PUT ANY OF OUR ASSETS AT THOSE FACILITIES.

UM, IT IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM.

UH, OUR COUNTERPARTS, UM, UH, HAVE OPERATED WITH, UH, VARIOUS DEGREES OF INTERACTION WITH THE HOSPITALS.

UH, WE'VE MET AT THE CORPORATE LEVELS.

UM, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL SCENARIOS AND WE, CHIEF FERGUSON, I MET WITH THE CEO OF ST.

MARY'S.

WE HAD A CRITICAL PATIENT THAT WAS ON THE WALL FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF WITH ONE OF OUR CREWS.

AND THE CREW HAD TO RESUSCITATE THE PATIENT ON OUR STRETCHER WHILE SITTING IN THE HOSPITAL.

UM, SO I'M NOT SURE THAT PUTTING AN AMBULANCE THERE IS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.

'CAUSE THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER AMBULANCES THAT ARE TRYING TO, TO, TO, TO BACKFILL.

UM, WE HAVE ADOPTED A, A POLICY, UM, THAT IF, UH, THE CREW IS THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES, THE SHIFT COMMANDER GETS AWARE THAT MORE THAN 45 MINUTES, IT GOES TO ONE OF US.

UM, AND WE LOOK AT IT, WE EVALUATE WHAT'S GOING ON.

UH, WE DID HAVE A SCENARIO, UH, AT, UH, AVERY POINT WHERE WE HAD A GAS LEAK AND IT OCCUPIES SEVERAL RESOURCES, AND WE ACTUALLY FORCE PULLED AMBULANCES OUT OF HOSPITALS 'CAUSE WE NEEDED RESOURCES BACK.

UM, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR HOSPITAL COUNTERPARTS TO ADDRESS THAT.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO BE SURE IS WE NEVER LOSE THAT PERSONAL TOUCH IN ALL THIS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THAT PATIENTS ARE MOST IMPORTANT.

AND WE WANT TO BE OUR PATIENT'S ADVOCATE NO MATTER WHAT THE EMERGENCY IS.

AND SO WHEN WE GO INTO A HOSPITAL AND THERE'S NO BED AVAILABLE AND THEY WANT TO PUT THE PATIENT IN A CHAIR, AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THE PATIENT IS ABLE TO BE IN THE, WE'RE GONNA STAND UP AROUND AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT PATIENT ON THAT STRUCTURE.

IF THAT MEANS OUR CREW STAYS THERE FOR TWO HOURS, SO BE IT, IT COULD BE ONE OF OUR CITIZENS, OR IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT IS, WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE, BUT IT'S ONE OF OUR PATIENTS.

THAT'S WHO IT IS.

AND WE'RE THE PATIENT'S ADVOCATE.

BUT WE DO FEEL FOR THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, UM, THEY'VE NEVER REALLY RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT, IT'S A, IT'S, IT IS A BALANCING ACT.

UM, WE, WE GAUGE IT ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY.

IF WE HAVE A BIG FIRE AND WE'VE GOT AN HAMILTON, THE WALL, WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY BE MORE ASSERTIVE.

BUT THE OTHER DAY WE HAD ONE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF.

THAT WAS THE ONLY UNIT ON THE CALL AT THAT TIME.

UM, AND SO WE HAVE DIALOGUE, AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IN THAT SITUATION, IS JUST HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS.

AND OUR AMBULANCES ARE A SOURCE OF REVENUE GENERATOR.

YOU KNOW, WE DO BILL FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS.

WE GET COLLECT, UH, ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM, UH, MEDICARE, MEDICAID PRIVATE INSURANCE.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME, UH, PRIVATE COPAYS THAT MAKE UP THAT AMOUNT.

AND THAT DOES HELP OFFSET THE COST, WHAT IT TAKES TO OPERATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

BECAUSE NOW THAT IS SHARED ON EVERYONE WHO USES THE AMBULANCE AS OPPOSED TO ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES IN GOLAND COUNTY.

BUT THAT POLICY IS SOFT BILLING, COMPASSIONATE BILLING.

AND WE RELIEVE QUITE A BIT OF, UH, THOSE INVOICES, UH, WEEKLY.

AND IT GOES INTO WRITE OFF DEBT BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS, UH, BE HEAVY HANDED WITH THAT, UH, PERSON THAT CAN'T PAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY GET TWO INVOICES AND THAT BILL JUST STOPS COMING AND GOES TO WRITE OFF.

UH, SO WE, WE WE'RE PROUD OF THAT PART OF IT, IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO COLLECT A MILLION DOLLARS TO, TO, UH, HELP WITH THE COST OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

AND THE DEPARTMENT HONESTLY HELPS THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT CHIEF.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S AN INVOICE THAT GOES TO AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

WELL, THE WAY IT WORKS, UH, IT, IT COULD GO TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

WE TRANSPORT THE PATIENT.

UH, WE WORK WITH, WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY BILLING AGENCY THAT HANDLES THAT, AND THEY WORK WITH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT REGISTRATIONS, AND THEY GET THAT INFORMATION.

THEY BILL THE INSURANCE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THOUGH, UH, A A PATIENT MAY GET, UH, IN THEIR MAILBOX, THEY MAY GET A REQUEST, AN RFI REQUEST INFORMATION IF WE DIDN'T CAPTURE ALL THE, UH, INSURANCE INFORMATION.

UH, OR THEY MAY GET, AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO RECEIVE, THEY DO RECEIVE A BILL AND HER MAILBOX FOR WHATEVER THEIR COPAY IS.

AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

IT'S BASED ON THEIR INSURANCE.

AND I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, WE DO NOT.

IF IT PUTS YOU IN A FINANCIAL BURDEN, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

WE'LL, FORGET, FORGET IT.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE COLLECT, BY FAR, MOST OF THAT MONEY'S COMING FROM INSURANCE, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID.

UH, AND WE ONLY TRANSPORT FOR, UM, ONLY BILL FOR THE TIME THAT WE TRANSPORT.

UH, WE DON'T BILL FOR, UH, PATIENT REFUSALS, BUT PEOPLE WILL GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE DON'T BILL TO HAND 'EM OFF TO A HELICOPTER.

WE DON'T BILL FOR ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

SO SIR, WE DEAL FOR ON ALL TIME.

UH, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE, WE HAVE FLAT RATES, MILEAGE, TRANSPORT MILEAGE AND FLAT RATES, WHETHER IT'S A-L-S-B-L-S-C, THAT, THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AT THE HOSPITAL LEVEL.

WE, WE HAVE ROUTINE MEETINGS ON HOW THAT'S, IT'S ADDRESSED THE HOSPITAL ARE AWARE OF THAT CHALLENGE.

WE'LL GO OVER, UH, TIME, ACTUAL TIME OR SUPPLIES.

IT'S JUST THAT FLAT RATE.

THE BOARD, THE BOARD SETS THOSE RATES AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REVIEWED AND WISE, BUT IT'S ALL BASED ON MEDICARE.

MEDICARE AND THESE, WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS TOO.

SO, SO LET'S, LET'S NOT GET TOO MUCH

[02:15:01]

INTO THE BUDGET.

WE, WHAT'S THAT? OUR BOARD SAID YOU SET THE RATES ARE, RATES ARE NOT JUST SET BY.

WE, YOU GUYS GET THE FINAL SAY HOWEVER WE BENCHMARK.

AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE BASED ON WHAT MEDICARE MEDICAID'S WILLING TO PAY AND WHAT THE ORGANIZATIONS AROUND US ARE CHARGING FOR THAT.

UM, OVER A HUNDRED AGENCIES AND VIRGINIA CHARGE FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT.

UM, YES SIR.

MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND I ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH YOUR MASTER PLAN.

WHICH BY THE WAY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT GETTING AS WIDESPREAD AWARENESS AS POSSIBLE AS AN EXTREMELY GOOD GREAT DOCUMENT.

UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED TO ME, YOU ALL HAVE TO BE READY NOT ONLY FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, THE VIRUS.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF THERE'S A CATASTROPHE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CHEMICAL SPILL ON, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE RIGHT TRANSPORT CHEMICAL ON THE RAILROAD TO CRUCIAL OR NOT, BUT I MEAN, THEY DO.

64, 2 80, ALL OF THAT.

I MEAN, I STUFF LIKE THAT IS JUST A GREAT AWARENESS THAT YOU HAVE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE TAKING A COURSE AND HOW TO RUN A FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, OF ALL THINGS TO CONSIDER.

SO I WOULD JUST, I THINK THAT PLAN IS GREAT.

APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, IT IS ALL, WE ARE ALL HAZARDS DEPARTMENT FIRE, EMS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

WE HANDLE HAZARDS MATERIALS.

UM, IN FACT, UH, OUR HEAD BEEN RESPONSE IS THAT MUST BE COMING UP A LOT WITH PARTICULARLY HYDROCARBON DIESEL FUEL SPILLS AND THINGS FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, UM, AND MORE.

WE DO WATER RESCUE.

UH, WE ALSO DO TECHNICAL RESCUE, AT LEAST TECHNICAL RESCUE AWARENESS.

TECHNICAL RESCUE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, HIGH ANGLE CONFINED SPACE, UH, TRENCH.

AND WE, WE HAVE AWARENESS TRAINING IN THAT WE RELY ON REGIONAL HAZARDS MATERIALS TEAM FOR THE LARGER HAZMAT INCIDENTS.

AND WE HAVE A REGIONAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM.

ADDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MORE HANDS WERE NEEDED FOR SOME REASON.

SORRY, I DIDN'T RUN THIS BY YOU EARLIER.

YOU'RE FINE.

PUT ON THE SPOT.

NO, I DON'T RUN AT ALL.

I DID ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES IN RECO.

I MEAN, GIVEN THEY'RE JUST MUCH LARGER.

THEY ARE, BUT THEY ARE HAVING, I MEAN, SINCE STAFFING IS A REALLY BIG PORTION OF THIS, UH, PRESENTATION, THEY, I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR REQUIREMENT OF A PARAMEDIC ON THE BACK OF A FIRE, UH, TRUCK BEING REQUIRED TO STAY, LIKE BEING HELD UP FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN WHEN THERE THERE'S A KNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S FIRE FOCUS.

I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, UH, AND, AND PARAMEDICS ARE HARD TO COME BY.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A MUCH BETTER INSIGHT INTO THAT.

BUT I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE STAFF STAFFING ISSUES WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU GO, OKAY, IS THIS THE BEST USE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL AT THIS GIVEN TIME? SEEMS WELL, YOU KNOW, I, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE FIRE AND EMS, SO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALSO EMTS AND MANY OF OUR FIREFIGHTER EMTS ARE ALSO PARAMEDICS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE THINK THE DUAL ROLE EMPLOYEE OR THE DUAL ROLE VOLUNTEER MEMBER THAT CAN DO BOTH JOBS, IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY A PERFECT FIT BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE INVESTING ONE AMOUNT FOR BOTH TYPES OF WORK.

UH, I SAID EARLIER THAT ABOUT, UH, 80% OF OUR CALLS ARE EMS, SO THAT MEANS ABOUT 20% ARE FIRE ROUGHLY.

SO NOW WE'VE GOT, UH, PERSONNEL, WE CAN HAVE MORE PERSONNEL ON DUTY TO HANDLE THOSE FIRES, WHICH ARE LABOR INTENSIVE AND HIGH CRITICALITY INCIDENTS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE 80% EMS CALLS TO, TO HANDLE ALSO.

SO WE THINK THAT'S A PERFECT FIT.

UH, WE, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M REALLY GETTING TO WHERE YOUR, YOUR QUESTION IS.

I KNOW, UM, I KNOW THE, UH, CREWS THAT MAKE UP A CREWS, UH, SOME OF THE FIRE CREWS WILL HAVE A PARAMEDIC EMBEDDED IN THAT CREW.

UH, AND YOU'LL SEE OCCASIONALLY WE WILL RESPOND A FIRE ENGINE TO AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CALL BECAUSE OF A HIGH ACUITY PATIENT.

OR MAYBE THEY NEED, UM, ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT CARE.

UH, AND I'D SAY OVER HALF OF OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CALLS ARE, DO REQUIRE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT.

IF, IF I MAY, THE, THE, THE DELIVERY MODEL IS, IS CHANGING DYNAMICALLY WITH OUR PARTNERS.

UM, WE ARE VERY REGIONALLY INVOLVED.

WE'RE PART OF REGIONAL CENTRAL VIRGINIA CHIEFS AND OPS CHIEFS.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALL THREE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, ARE CHANGING THEIR MODEL FOR EMS SERVICE DELIVERY.

SO IT IS A TIME TO EVALUATE HOW WE WANT TO DO THAT.

OUR CURRENT, WE TRY TO BALANCE THE PARAMEDIC AVAILABILITY.

UM, WE TRY TO HAVE THREE PARAMEDICS OR A LS PROVIDERS ON AT ALL TIMES.

SO AT LEAST THERE'S ONE EAST, ONE WEST, AND ONE CENTRAL.

UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE BENCHMARK.

ALSO, MANY OF OUR OFFICERS ARE PARAMEDICS.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALMOST WHY YOU, THEY BECOME OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT APTITUDE.

SO WE JUST HAD, WE TRIED TO FIGURE THAT OUT WHILE I WAS STANDING.

THERE WAS A CALL IN MOSAIC AT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SERVICES CALL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF CALL IT WAS, BUT THEY SENT THE CLOSEST AMBULANCE, WHICH IS WAS BASIC LIFE SUPPORT.

THEY ADDED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT BECAUSE THE PATIENT REQUIRED IT AND THEY

[02:20:01]

THE REASON BEING IS HIGH ACUITY, HIGH CRITICALITY PATIENT CARE.

IT REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST TWO PEOPLE TO DO IT.

SO IT'S USUALLY A TIERED RESPONSE TO GET TO THE POINT OF HAVING RESOURCES.

WE DO NOT COUNSEL THAT CALL THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WENT TO THOUGH AS A FIRE CALL.

IT'S, SO I'VE GOT ONE YES, SIR.

MR. THE 25 ACRES FOR THE TRAINING FACILITY.

YOU AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WERE LOOKING AT.

WOULD YOU GUYS BE ABLE TO HOLD COMMUNITY EVENTS THERE? YOU KNOW, THAT ABSOLUTELY ENGAGEMENT.

WE, WE COULD ABSOLUTELY, UH, AT TRAINING CENTER, UH, IN ITS PRESENT SHAPE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WOULD OPEN IT UP IF THERE WAS A COMMUNITY EVENT AND SOME COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS DO FROM TIME TO TIME USE IT AS WELL.

WELL, YEAH.

I'M MEANT SPECIFICALLY FOR, FOR YOU GUYS KIND OF SHOWING WHAT YOU DO.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT HAVE THE FIRE RESCUE SHOW IN 2023 BECAUSE IT RAINED OUT AND BOY DID IT RAIN THAT DAY, .

BUT WE DO HAVE A FIRE RESCUE SHOW PLANNED AGAIN FOR, UM, OCTOBER, AND WE DO HAVE A RAIN DATE THIS TIME.

AND THAT WOULD BE A GREAT, UH, CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE SHERIFF IS ALWAYS THERE WITH US.

IT'S COMPARABLE TO HIS NATIONAL LIGHT OUT.

AND SO WE, UH, USE THOSE EVENTS AND NINTENDO EVENTS TOGETHER.

BUT I MEAN THE, UH, THE THE 25 ACRE TRAINING FACILITY PLAN WOULD, WOULD THAT BE A GOOD LOCATION? IT COULD, IT COULD BE.

SO WHEN WE GET THE 25 ACRES, UH, TRAINING CENTERS DESIGN AT THIS DAY AND TIME REQUIRES ABOUT 25 ACRES.

I KNOW FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WHEN WE BRING IN TWO OR THREE FIRE TRUCKS DOWN TO THE PLEASANT TRAINING CENTER, YOU CAN HARDLY MOVE.

IT'S, EVERYTHING IS JUST JAMMED UP.

UH, BUT THE SHERIFF IS ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, PLACES TO SPRAWL OUT.

I KNOW DRIVING RANGE, THE DRIVER TRAINING AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND WE COULD USE THAT ALSO FIRST OFF.

DO WE BALANCE ALL THIS STUFF? UM, AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, UM, WHEN WE BEGAN A COUPLE HOURS AGO, WE SPENT THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT, UH, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND S WE THEN MOVED INTO, UH, EVERYTHING WE'VE HEARD FROM THE STAFF AND REALLY I THOUGHT IN DEPTH AND REALLY THOUGHTFUL, UH, PRESENTATIONS ABOUT INTERNAL ISSUES.

GLAD YOU CLARIFIED THAT.

I DIDN'T SAY THAT, SIR.

SORRY FOR TAKING US TO JAIL.

SO, OKAY, SO WRAPPING UP THIS MORNING, OF COURSE YOU CAN STILL, UM, I WOULD, THIS IS A GOOD ONE TO KIND OF END PRESENTATION ON.

COULD YOU SEE HOW IT TIES TO THE OTHER TWO YOU'VE HEARD AS THE IMPACTS OF GROWTH AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF HOW WE PAY FOR, UH, HOW WE RESPOND TO GROWTH ON THE POLICY LEVEL? IT IS GONNA TO BE, YOU KNOW, COMING UP WITH THE DECISION.

WHAT IS OUR ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF RESPONSE TO THIS RIGHT NOW, AS, AS STAFF IS, IS PROVIDING YOU WHAT THEY SEE WE NEED BASED ON OUR CURRENT, UM, POLICIES, OUR CURRENT THOUGHTS, OUR OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDINGS.

UM, EARLIER YOU HEARD ISSUES WITH, WITH WITH REVENUE, WILL REVENUE BE HERE IN FUTURE YEARS? AND, AND THIS IS, IS WHERE LIKE I STARTED THE MORNING WITH AND Y'ALL KINDA MAKE SOME TOUGH CALLS.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE POLICY THINGS AS FAR AS WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF, OF RISK THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS OUR ABILITY TO PAY FOR IT.

AND, AND THAT'S POLICY AND STAFF DOES WHAT Y'ALL TELL US TO.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY Y'ALL GET PAID THE BIG BUCKS BECAUSE THERE'S NO RIGHT ANSWER TO, TO BOTH SIDES BACK.

UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE THING TO CONSIDER IS, UH, WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS IN, UH, THREE COMPLETED APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN WEST CREEK AS WE DO IN EVERY POINT.

OKAY? WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 9 1 1 CALLS AND SEE HOW MANY OF THOSE 9 1 1 CALLS GO TO THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND HOW MANY GO TO EVERY POINT, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT IN REMOTE WITH THE SAME, SAME, UM, THOSE ARE IMPACTS OF DECISIONS MADE YEARS AGO THAT, THAT ARE COMING NOW IN FRONT OF US.

AND WHERE ARE WE GONNA GO 20 YEARS FROM NOW IS THAT SHE SAID YEARS AGO WE MADE A DECISION TO BUY A LOT OF EQUIPMENT AND THAT 20 YEAR BENCHMARK IS NOW HITTING AND 22 YEARS.

SO WHEN WE STARTED THIS MORNING SAYING, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE LONG TERM, WE ARE, WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING FOR SHORT TERM, BUT ALSO THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS THAT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY CAN BE SAYING 20 YEARS AGO THE BOARDS MADE DECISIONS AND HERE'S WHERE WE ARE.

SO THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER, I GUESS TO A RACHEL GRANT TO FINISH UP AND THEN WE'LL BREAK FOR LUNCH.

THANKS, RICK.

THIS IS HARD WORK.

FOR Y'ALL.

THOUGHT YOU WERE PRETTY NICE.

UH, NOW THERE'S LIKE 700 DIFFERENT THINGS YOU GOTTA DO ALL AT ONCE AND BRING 'EM ALL TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT, BASICALLY WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH SCARCITY? YOU CAN DO ANYTHING THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE TEAM WANT TO DO.

YOU GOT UNLIMITED DOLLARS.

YOU ACTUALLY, ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, YOU KIND OF HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO GET UNLIMITED DOLLARS.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE IN YOUR JOB IF YOU DO .

UM, BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW

[02:25:01]

WHAT'S GOING ON IN GOLAND TODAY.

I'M GONNA TAKE A BREAK NOW FOR LUNCH.

WHEN WE COME BACK, UH, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME BIGGER EXTERNAL TRENDS THAT ARE GOING ON IN VIRGINIA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, AND HOW THEY AFFECT, UM, GOLAND SPECIFICALLY.

UH, THAT'S GONNA, THE REST OF THE DAY DAY'S WILL START TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE INTERACTIVE.

WE'RE GONNA RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, UH, OVER THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

UH, WE'LL DO THAT FOR 34, 5 MINUTES AFTER LUNCH AND THEN REALLY GO INTO THE ROLL OF OUR SLEEVES, PART OF IT.

COOL.

I'M GONNA MAKE A PROPOSAL FOR LUNCH.

SO IT'S ON THE OFF THE CUFF, SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

BUT WE, WE HAVE OUR STAFF HERE, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

SO WE'VE GOT FIRE RESCUE ALREADY ON THE TABLE.

WE'VE GOT FINANCE.

I'M GONNA HAVE YOU MOVE TO A DIFFERENT CIRCULAR TABLE.

WE'VE GOT PLANNING, UH, YEAH, WE'VE GOT PLANNING AND WE'VE GOT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN WE'VE GOT IT, WE'VE GOT FIVE, WE'VE GOT FIVE SUPERVISORS.

SO I'M EITHER PROPOSING A ROCK PAPER, SCISSORS CHALLENGE OR A STRAW CHALLENGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY GO WHERE YOU WANT.

BUT I'M, I'M, I'VE ALREADY GOT, YOU KNOW, FIVE FOLLOW UP CALLS WITH EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS OVER THE NEXT WEEK, HOPEFULLY.

LET'S KNOCK OUT ONE TODAY WITH WHERE WE SIT, UH, FOR THIS, UH, LUNCH BREAKOUT.

SO WHO, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ME TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, DO YOU THAT LIST OF FIVE? MY QUICK ASSESSMENT WAS THAT LIST OF FIVE.

SO, UH, OKAY, WE'LL ASSIGN YOU.

UH, SO 1215, THEY HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY HEARD THIS MORNING.

GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO, UH, GET STARTER.

I AM THE CLICKER TO ADVANCE THIS ONE.

ALRIGHT, UH, SO WE SPENT THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT GLAND SPECIFIC ISSUES.

UM, WE'RE GONNA SPEND THE NEXT, UH, SECTION OF THE, OF THE DAY TALKING ABOUT BIGGER, UH, STATEWIDE NATIONAL, GLOBAL TRENDS AND TALKING, UH, ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT MEAN FOR, UH, GUCH.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO THAT FOR 30, 45 MINUTES.

UM, THIS WILL BE, UM, MORE INTERACTIVE I HOPE, THAN THIS MORNING SESSION WAS.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA REALLY MOVE INTO THE ROLL OF OUR SLEEVE PART.

UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NEXT IS, UH, LOOK AT SIX SPECIFIC BIG TRENDS.

UM, LEMME JUST JUMP, RIGHT? WE GO THROUGH THESE.

I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO ASK YOURSELVES WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD WE BE ASKING ABOUT THESE TRAININGS? ALRIGHT, NOW HERE'S A FUN THING.

THIS SLIDE SAYS, THIS IS OUR CYA CAVEAT SLIDE.

THIS SAYS, HEY, THIS IS GRANTS AND RACHEL'S WORK HERE.

WE'VE DONE THIS RESEARCH AND WE'VE NOT SHARED WITH ANYBODY ON THE TEAM.

UH, SO IF SOMETHING'S OFF, IT'S ON US.

IT'S NOT ON THEM.

BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.

UH, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN A MOMENT, UH, IT'S REMARKABLE AND I THINK REALLY COOL.

UH, HOW, HOW WELL, UH, THE CONVERSATIONS THIS MORNING TEED UP WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT.

UH, YOUR TEAM IN LAYING OUT THEIR BRIEF PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, CRUSHED IT.

THEY HIT ALL THE RIGHT BIG ISSUES.

AND SO I HOPE, I HOPE THAT'LL ALLOW BIGGER, UH, A MORE ROBUST IN DEPTH CONVERSATION.

SO LET'S START OFF.

BIG TREND NUMBER ONE, THE WORLD'S GETTING BIGGER.

WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THE, THE WORLD'S STAYING THE SAME.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON IT IS GETTING BIGGER.

SO LET'S LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S ABOUT 334 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

UH, AND THEN NUMBERS EXPECTED TO GROW 8% BY 2030.

2030 IN MY HEAD.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WAY OFF IN THE .

IT'S FIVE YEARS AND 11 MONTHS FROM NOW.

MM-HMM, WHAT'S THAT MEAN FOR ? UH, WELL WE DID THE MAP WITH, UM, UH, COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO GROW ABOUT 8%.

UM, WE'VE SEEN PROJECTIONS TRADITIONALLY GONNA GROW ABOUT 1.3%.

IS THAT A GOOD THING? IS THAT A

[02:30:01]

BAD THING? THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.

UM, IT DOES MEAN THAT OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS WE WERE GROWING AT 1.38%.

LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE PROJECTED, WE'RE AT 1.31%.

THAT IS A SMALL, UH, DIFFERENCE.

BUT IT'S A THING TO BE AWARE OF, I THINK, UH, TO THINK ABOUT.

AND GRANT, THAT'S ANNUAL GROWTH, CORRECT? CORRECT.

SO HERE'S A STRATEGIC QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY.

HOW WILL WE DEFINE GROWTH AND HOW CAN WE BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT SHAPING THE FUTURE THAT WE DESIRE? SO JUST THROW THAT OUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THESE POPULATION NUMBERS.

UM, AND THIS NEXT SECTION KIND OF, IT KIND OF OPEN, I THROW OUT A QUESTION , AND Y'ALL GET TO THINK ABOUT IT.

WHAT'S, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THESE POPULATION OWNERS THAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE IT? YEAH, IY OUR TPO HAS SHOWN MUCH HIGHER PROJECTED GROWTH RATE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR SOURCES, BUT WHAT YOU, I'M SEEING OTHER NUMBERS.

WHAT OTHER NUMBERS YOU SEEING? I'M SEEING FOUR.

IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THREE TIMES WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE, WHICH IS FINE, THE CAVEAT IS I'M NOT SURE THAT'S AN ANNUAL 4%, BUT THERE'S A WINDOW THAT IS SHOWING THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE 4,500 STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.

WE GOT 2,600 NOW DOUBLING EXPECTED TO DOUBLE IN THE NEXT GENERATION OR SO ROUGHLY.

SO YOU'RE A RESEARCHER, YOU KNOW, BASIC DATA GOING INTO THE MODEL PROJECTIONS GOOFY.

SO, UH, I'M CURIOUS WHERE YOU GOT YOUR .

YEAH, WE, WE, UH, WORK WITH, UM, IT'S, UH, FROM URA, UH, JOBS EQ BASED ON CENSUS DATA.

IT'S AN INDUSTRY STANDARD.

DID YOU SAY THE 2050? 2050? BECAUSE THIS IS A SHORT, I'M JUST STILL THINKING THAT ALL THE DATA THAT I'M SEEING IS IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS HOW THEY'RE COMING UP WITH THEIR PROJECTION.

RIGHT? WELL, LET'S BACK UP AND SAY, LOOK AT A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THROUGH DIFFERENT LENS.

IF THE COUNTRY'S PROJECTED TO GROW AT X AND GOOSE PROJECTED TO GROW AT Y WHATEVER THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS ARE, WHAT, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR VIEW OF THE FUTURE AND OUR POLICY MAKING DECISIONS? WE'RE GROWING AT A SLOWER RATE? YEAH.

BECAUSE EVEN IF 4%, IS THAT A GOOD THING? IS THAT A BAD THING? IS THAT A NEUTRAL THING? HOW DO WE, HOW DO Y'ALL I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK YOU A QUESTION, ANSWER A QUESTION WITH A QUESTION.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THAT? I MEAN, YOU CAN USE THE TERM SELECTIVE, THAT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE WORD.

SELF-SELECTING, I THINK IS APPROPRIATE ITEM.

BUT WITH OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, WITH OUR COST OF LIVING, OTHER THING WE'RE BEING, UM, WE KNOW WE'RE SOMEWHAT DESTINATIONAL, WE'RE LIVING BECAUSE WE'RE A PLACE TO BE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT WAY OF LIFE.

UM, AND HOW DO WE MESH THAT WITH WHAT THE NATION IS DOING AS A WHOLE? 'CAUSE I, I REALLY DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING DRAMATICALLY, UM, WITH OUR CURRENT CITIZENRY OF, YOU KNOW, EMBRACING, UH, THE NATIONAL TRENDS.

THEY WANT US TO STAY AND DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO I SEE IT ALREADY HAPPENING AND I ONLY SEE IT CONTINUING THE FUTURE.

MY REACTION WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE THE VERY MINIMUM THAT LOW 1.3.

AND, UM, I JUST WONDER BE CONSERVATIVE TO PLAY A IN CERTAIN AREAS AT THE SCHOOL, RIGHT.

FROM A CONSERVATIVE STANDPOINT, BUT BE WITHIN A MARGIN OF BEING REALISTIC.

, RIGHT? I, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THIS HISTORIC ACTIONS OR LACK OF ACTIONS AND THE REPERCUSSIONS AS WE MAKE GROWTH DECISIONS.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE SEE GROWTH AS GROWTH CAPEX, WHERE IT IS A MIX OF MAINTENANCE CAPEX TO GET UP TO SPEED AND GROWTH CAPEX.

SO IT'S NOT JUST A, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTA BE MORE, UM, THOUGHTFUL IN HOW WE LOOK AT

[02:35:01]

THIS.

IT'S NOT, AND, AND IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE IS IT'S NOT JUST BUILDING THE BUILDING.

IT IS CREATING THE, UH, FUNDS FOR THE EXPECTED MAINTENANCE, WHICH YOU KNOW, IS ALREADY GONNA HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, EDDIE TALKED ABOUT CHIEF FERGUSON PUT IT, UH, IN, UH, VISIBLE TERMS WITH THE NEW FIRE STATION.

IT'S NOT JUST BUILDING A FIRE STATION, IT'S ADDING 18 NEW FULL-TIME STAFF.

RIGHT? SO, SORRY.

SO I LOVE THE WORD INTENTIONAL IN THERE.

THAT'S SORT OF MY MANTRA FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS INTENTIONALITY AND WHAT WE DO.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE SAW IN THE PRIOR REPORT, 2010, 2020, OUR COMPOUNDING WAS 1.2%, UM, WHICH COUNTED FOR 12.9% GROWTH FROM 2020 TO NOW IT'S BEEN DOUBLE ALMOST TO ALMOST 2%, WHICH OVERALL INSTEAD OF 46% GROWTH RATE.

SO I THINK THAT WE CAN STRATEGICALLY DETERMINE, MANAGE OUR GROWTH BASED ON HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO GROW TO SUPPORT THE SERVICES THAT THE CITIZENS EXPECT.

AND BY AREA, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EACH DISTRICT, BUT THAT WE CAN, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL SOME OF THAT UNTIL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAYS, NO, YOU CAN'T.

, HE'S TOUCHING ON WHAT SOMEBODY'S BEEN USING.

AND THAT PICKED UP ON, THAT HAD MY MIND CONTROL GROWTH.

BUT I THINK THAT MAYBE YOU PICKED IT UP, CHARLIE, RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHERE'S THE BEST ECONOMIC OPTIMAL MIX OF THAT GROWTH? AND TO WHATEVER EXTENT WE CAN HELP OUT THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ABSOLUTELY.

A HUNDRED PERCENT EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WELL, AND I THINK, I THINK IF I ASK MY CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS OUR GROWTH RATE EACH YEAR? I SAY FIVE, 10%.

I'M WOULD SURPRISED IT'S ONLY 1% BECAUSE PERCEPTION, THAT'S THE OTHER PIECE TOO, IS WE HAVE TO BE ABLE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEFINE PERCEPTION, BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FACTS TO SAY, WELL, NOW YES, TRAFFIC IS BAD, BUT IT'S, THIS IS WHAT IT REALLY IS.

THIS IS HOW WE ARE SO MORE STRATEGIC.

WE ARE ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND THIS IS OUR PLAN.

UM, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I THINK OUR JOB IS, WHICH STRUCK ME WAS THAT A LOT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS IN GLAND.

AND SO YOU COULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

AND BASICALLY THE GROWTH RATE OF, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY ABOUT THE SAME PROJECTED OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

THAT'S ALL, THAT'S A, WELL, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BIG CHANGE FOR GLAND.

IT IS A BIG CHANGE.

AND, UH, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, UM, UH, LOST THE THOUGHT.

THERE'S TWO SEPARATE TANGENTS.

SHOULD WE KEEP GOING? NEXT? BIG TREND, GETTING OLDER.

UM, THERE'S A COOL CHART THAT SHOWS THE RISING LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE BLUE LINE OF MEN.

RED LINE.

THIS IS GOOD NEWS, RIGHT? THIS IS MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS, THIS IS SCIENCE.

UH, THIS IS A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT.

THIS IS, UH, UNDERSTANDING HEALTHIER LIVING.

THERE'S NOTHING BUT GOOD NEWS ON THIS SLIDE.

AND EVEN IN MY LIFETIME, I WAS BORN IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID, UH, SOMEBODY DIED AT 60, YOU SAID, HMM.

NOW THAT HAPPENS.

YOU LIKE, OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED? IT'S A TERRIBLE THING.

THIS IS NOTHING BUT GOOD NEWS.

BUT IT DOES HAVE A COST.

UM, AS WE, AS WE HEARD EARLIER, RIGHT? UH, THIS IS THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE SPECTRUM.

THIS IS THE CHANGING OF BIRTH RATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO THIS, UH, GOES BACK TO ABOUT 1940, UM, AND YOU CAN SEE, UH, IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, THIS GIANT BUBBLE.

THAT'S THE BABY BOOM.

NOW THE PEOPLE THAT STUDY THIS SORT OF THING TELL YOU THAT FOR, UH, SOCIETY, UH, TO REMAIN SORT OF AS IT IS THAT EVERY MOM'S GOTTA HAVE ABOUT A BABY AND A HALF JUST FOR SOCIETY TO STAY FLAT.

THERE'S NO VALUE ON THAT.

IT'S JUST NUMBERS.

UH, THE ISSUE IS THAT, UM, FEWER BABIES BE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, TODAY, THEN, UH, CERTAINLY DURING THE BAY INVESTMENT FRAUD.

BUT EVEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE.

SO ON THE ONE HAND, PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER, THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, FEWER, UH, BABIES ARE BEING BORN.

AND SO, UH, THIS IS THE POPULATION PYRAMID THAT WE'RE ALL USED TO THINKING OF

[02:40:01]

IN THE PAST.

A WHOLE LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND BY DEFINITION, PEOPLE, NOT AS MANY, UH, OLDER PEOPLE.

THAT, BUT THAT'S CHANGING IN A BIG WAY.

UH, THIS IS THE, UM, THAT THAT SAME POPULATION PYRAMID IN 1960, SORT OF THE, THE MIDDLE OF THE BABY BOOM.

AND YOU CAN SEE A WHOLE BOT, WHOLE BUNCH OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AGES OF BIRTH TO AGE 5/10/15, NOT SO MANY AT THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID.

WELL, THAT'S STARTING TO CHANGE.

THIS IS WHAT IT'S PROJECTED TO LOOK LIKE, UH, AT THE, UH, END OF THIS DECADE.

AGAIN, FIVE YEARS, 11 MONTHS FROM NOW.

EACH OF THE AGE GROUPS LOOKS A LOT, UH, A LOT MORE SIMILAR THAN IN THE PAST.

AND SO WE'RE MOVING FROM A PYRAMID, UH, TO MORE OF A PILLAR.

UM, AND HERE IN GLAND, UM, THIS IS, UM, A PROJECTION OF, OF, OF HOW THE COUNTY IS EXPECTED TO GROW IN THE COMING YEARS BY AGE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, UM, HERE'S THE, THE BIGGEST GROWTH RATE.

THIS IS AMONG PEOPLE AGE 75 AND AND ABOVE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, IT'S NOT JUST THAT THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER, IT'S WAY HIGHER THAN EVERY OTHER, UH, AGE GROUP.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING SERVICE IN GOSO? WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT THIS MORNING.

MORE PUBLIC SAFETY.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

LESS SCHOOLS.

BACK TO THE WHOLE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE ALLOCATE SCARCE DOLLARS, PROBABLY THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL, UM, RESPONSIBILITY OF A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

HOW DO YOU PUT THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND AND TRADE 'EM ALL MORE EXPENSIVE, TAKE CARE OF, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS OF, OF ALL THE, ALL THE POPULATION.

BUT MAYBE YOU SAVE ON NOT HAVING TO SPEND QUESTIONS.

AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AREN'T ALWAYS A LOCAL OPTION.

YOU A LOT OF UNFUNDED BAND MANDATES THAT ARE VOICED ON US, UM, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED BUT NOT FUNDED.

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN, UH, SOL REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BUT NOT NECESSARILY FUNDED.

SO, GREAT EXAMPLE.

SO LIKE THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN VIRGINIA IS FUNDED PARTLY BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PARTLY BY THE COMMONWEALTH ACCORDING TO A SYSTEM THAT I'VE LOOKED AT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I FIND NEARLY IMPENETRABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT WORKS.

S YEAH, EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

AND SOMETHING HAPPENS, RIGHT? RIGHT.

AND USUALLY IS AN 80% RADAR AT THE TOP OF IT, YOU GET THE LEAST AMOUNT OF STATE, AND I'LL SAY STATE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO AS THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE ENACTED, THAT'S JUST AN INCREASE IN OURS.

SO THE TEACHERS ARE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TAKES A LOT OF, I GUESS, ACCOLADES FOR SAYING, OH, WE'RE GOING TO AT 5%, CORRECT? YES.

AND THEY ONLY PAT THEMSELVES ON THE BACK.

STILL ISN'T A LOT OF PLACES.

AND THEY ONLY SEND YOU THE BILL.

THEY DO.

IT JUST GOES TO, WE THINK IT STRATEGICALLY AND INTENTIONALLY WE SHOULD PLUG OUT THE MIDDLE OF THE SERENITY, HAVE TO GIVE US THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THINGS.

WE CAN CHANGE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CHANGING MANDATES, WE'RE NOT CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE THINGS WE CAN CHANGE AND DO IT.

SO COUNTY PASS.

BUT I THINK I, I AGREE WITH YOU JAN.

I ALSO THINK THAT, WELL, WE CAN'T CHANGE DEMOGRAPHICS.

I THINK IT'S THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE SORT PLAN FOR IF, IF THAT'S WHAT THE, IF THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT, RIGHT? I, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK HAS TO DECIDE WHAT IT WANTS TO BE.

AND I HEAR MY AGE GROUP, OUR KIDS ARE GETTING MARRIED, THEY'VE GOT OUTTA COLLEGE AND THEY WANT MOVE TO DO SOMETHING.

THEY'RE NOT.

THEY CAN'T, RIGHT? MY 26-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WITH A GREAT SALARY, STILL NOT MOVE, LOSE.

AND ARE THE CITIZENS OKAY WITH THAT? MM-HMM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO, SO WHAT DOES THIS BUILDING SERVE? DOES, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENS? ALRIGHT, LET'S KEEP GOING.

THIRD, BIG TREND, CHANGING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UH, WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETIES ARE HEALTHY AND THEY FUNCTION WELL WHEN PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTIONS TO EACH OTHER.

UH, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T LOOK TODAY QUITE LIKE IT DID WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.

UM, I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.

IT USED TO BE NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT THE CHURCH WAS A CENTER OF SOCIAL CONNECTION FOR PEOPLE.

[02:45:02]

MY MOTHER GOES TO CHURCH, UH, FAITHFULLY TWICE A WEEK.

SO CAN WE, IN OUR LITTLE PIECE OF THE PLANET, CAN WE WORK TO HELP SUPPORT THAT? THAT TWO JUST, JUST A DOVETAIL, I MEAN, PIGGYBACK ALL SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE BOTH ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN THIS COUNTY.

UH, I DID WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

AND, BUT, BUT THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.

LIKE, I GO ONCE IN A WHILE, NOT NEARLY AS REGULARLY AS I SHOULD.

NOT NEARLY AS REGULARLY, UH, AS I OUGHT TO.

UM, AND WHEN I GO WITH MY MOTHER, I'M 51, I OFTEN LOOK AROUND AND FIND THAT APART FROM THE GRANDCHILDREN, I'M SOMETIMES THE YOUNGEST PERSON THERE.

UH, THIS CHART SHOWS, UH, GOING BACK NOT THAT FAR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

THIS IS, UH, WEEKLY CHURCH ATTENDANCE.

UM, 45% IN THE EARLY NINETIES, UH, DOWN.

BUT WHAT IS THAT? THE, JUST ABOUT, UH, 29%.

UH, THE, THE CHURCH HAS GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO ABOUT THAT FOR THEIR OWN OPERATIONS.

BUT I RAISE IT HERE BECAUSE, UH, FOR US AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AS LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE GOTTA RECOGNIZE THAT THE THINGS, THE EMOTIONAL BONDS THAT CHURCHES HAVE PROVIDED FOR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT NEARLY AS STRONG AS THEY USED TO.

AND WE'LL SEE, WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS LATER IN THE DISCUSSION TODAY.

REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER PLACE THAT PEOPLE I HISTORICALLY, UH, HAVE, UH, DEEP PERSONAL CONNECTIONS IS AT WORK.

EVERYBODY LIKES TO, UH, YOU KNOW, COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR JOB EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

BUT WE ALSO FIND, UH, MANY OF US MEANING, UH, AND VALUE AND OFTEN A LOT OF OUR DEEPEST SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, UH, WORK AS WELL.

BUT AS THE WORKPLACE CHANGES, WE'RE SEEING THAT CHANGE AS WELL.

UM, RACHEL AND I WORK AT SIR, SMALL COMPANY, A COUPLE DOZEN EMPLOYEES, UH, WE INTERVIEWED.

UM, SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, UH, YOUNG, AGGRESSIVE, SMART, TALENTED PEOPLE.

UH, WE INTERVIEWED SOMEBODY ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO.

UH, WHO IS, I THOUGHT SHE WAS REALLY EXCITED.

UH, YOUNG WOMAN, EARLY THIRTIES, BRIGHT, GOING PLACES, GOING PLACES.

LITERALLY SHE'S FROM BOSTON.

UH, WHEN COVID HAPPENED, UH, SHE AND HER HUSBAND SAID, I DON'T LIKE BEING COOPED UP IN THE HOUSE.

I DON'T LIKE MOST OF ALL PAYING BOSTON RATES TO BE COOPED UP IN A SMALL HOUSE.

SO THEY LITERALLY LOOKED AROUND THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE EAST COAST AND SAID, WHERE CAN WE GO? UH, WELL THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS GOOD.

UH, AND IT'S CHEAPER.

AND THEY LOOKED ALL DOWN THE EAST COAST AND THEY PICKED, RICH, KNEW NOBODY HERE, UH, BUT MOVED HERE.

RICH.

I LIKE THAT'S A CHAMBER OF CONVERSE STORY RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S A GOOD NEWS.

UM, BUT THIS ONE, THIS WOMAN, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HER HUSBAND DOES, BUT WHAT SHE DOES FOR A LIVING IS SHE WORKS FOR, UM, FOR A, A MARKETING FIRM, UH, BASED IN CALIFORNIA.

SHE'S PART OF A TEAM OF 50 PEOPLE IN THIS COMPANY AND THEY WORK ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

AND SHE NEVER INTERACTS WITH THEM FACE TO FACE, ALWAYS ON ZOOM CALLS ALL DAY LONG.

AND WE ENTERED HER 'CAUSE SHE CAME TO US SAYING, LOOK, I'M KIND OF DONE WITH THAT, LIKE VIRTUAL LIFE.

I WANT TO BE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE ECONOMY IS RIGHT NOW AND WHERE IT'S GOING.

UM, AND THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US AS A COMMUNITY? IF WE'VE GOT SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR POPULATION, UH, WHOSE LIFE EXISTS THROUGH THAT SCREEN INTO A BROADER WORLD, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE TRADITIONAL CONNECTIONS THAT ARE PHYSICALLY BASED TO THE AREA WHERE THEY LIVE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US IN GU? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US AS, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE GOUCHING.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE GLAND.

WHAT? TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S A FASCINATING COMMENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, I MEAN, GLAND'S A VERY ENGAGED, WE HAVE A VERY ENGAGED LIFER, CITIZEN CITIZENSHIP.

SO I MEAN, WHILE THE COUNTRY MIGHT GO THAT WAY WITH THAT TREND, GLAND'S NOT GONNA WANT TO GO WITH IT, RIGHT? THAT'S MY OPINION.

EXCUSE ME.

IF WE TALK ABOUT FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, AND WE SEE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES, WE'RE A RESIDENTIAL, LARGELY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

THAT HILL IS THAT MUCH CHEAPER TO FIND BECAUSE YOU CAN GET COMMUNITY WITHOUT ACTUALLY BEING PHYSICALLY IN HOUSTON.

YOU CAN LIVE HERE AND GET YOUR COMMUNITY ELSEWHERE.

THAT'S, I MEAN, SO HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT GAP? UM, OKAY, WELL I'M LIVING IN , BUT I KIND OF, ALL I CARE ABOUT IT IS A LIVE IS IS AS A LIVING A PLACE TO LIVE, NOT A FULL

[02:50:02]

COUNTY.

WE'LL SEE THAT.

UH, AND THERE IS A BIT OF A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, WHICH IS, WE WERE TALKING BUNCH, WE HAVE 2 3 2 2 8 RICHMOND ZIP CODES.

YOU CAR DEALERS CAN'T FIGURE OUT.

THAT'S GOLAND.

THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD BE REGISTERED, NOT HENRICO.

UM, FOLKS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY DO OLDER, DON'T HAVE AS MANY KIDS CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

UH, THERE'S A HIGH INCIDENT OF PRIVATE SCHOOL PARTICIPATION IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

UH, I'VE GOT A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REFERS TO SOME OF THESE FOLKS AS SLEEP HERE.

THEY SLEEP HERE.

BUT WHEN THEY GO OUT FOR ENTERTAINMENT A MEAL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE CO IN THE FUTURE COURTHOUSE.

THEY'RE GOING TO THIS SOMETHING IN SHORT PUMP OR THE CITY OF RICHMOND.

SO YOU HAVE, UH, A DIMINISHED SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

I, I WOULD DEFER TO THE VOLUNTEER CHIEF AS TO HOW MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE WESTERN COUNTY FOCUSED VERSUS EASTERN COUNTY FOCUSED.

SO THE, THE COMMUNITY IS, IS, UH, SOFTENING A LITTLE BIT.

MM-HMM, 50% OF VOLUNTEERS LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, IS THAT RIGHT? THEY DO.

AND THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE EASTERN AND COMPANIES AND WESTERN VOLUNTEERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE A RESIDENT OF BUCK COUNTY.

BUT THEN WE DO HAVE EVENTS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND THAT'S, UH, ACTUALLY FOR TOURISM, I THINK WE HAVE THE LARGEST PUBLICLY LIT CHRISTMAS TREE IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

I DON'T KNOW, I WE NEED TO KEEP THAT GOING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SAYING NOT TO THE OTHER PART IS WE HAVE YOU THAT THAT'S WHERE HALF THE COUNTY SHOWS UP TO WATCH THE OTHER HALF IN THE GRAY.

IT REALLY IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS CENTRAL COUNTY, WESTERN COUNTY IN, IN MANY RESPECTS.

AND MOST OF OUR NEWER RESIDENTS, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE REDISTRICTING THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE VOTING LINES, THEY WERE ALL SHIFTED MORE EASTWARD BECAUSE THE HIGHER DENSITIES WERE OCCURRING THAT ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE KIND MOVE THE LINE EAST.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO IT, IT IS INTERESTING.

THIS IS VERY TIMELY.

UM, I I'M GONNA THROW A CURVE BALL AT YOUR FIRST SLIDE THAT SHOWED THE, THE INCREASING INTRI.

'CAUSE I THINK, UH, NUMBERS ARE COMING OUT THAT SHOW UP.

YOUR FIRST TIME ARE, ARE THE, THE, THE, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? MORTALITY AGE IS GOING STARTING BACK.

THAT'S RIGHT.

UM, THERE'S AN INTERESTING, IT'S A VERY INTERESTING ENCOURAG BOARD TO WATCH.

UH, I JUST WATCHED IT LAST WEEKEND, UM, ON NETFLIX, UH, UH, UH, WHAT YOU CALL IT, DOCUMENTARY.

UM, THEY WENT AROUND AND STUDIED FOUR OR FIVE PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE THEY HAVE A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE TO BE A HUNDRED ROLLER.

UM, AND THEN THEY BROKE IT DOWN TO SEVERAL COMMONALITIES.

BUT ONE OF THE COMMONALITIES IS SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

SENSE OF PURPOSE.

UM, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WAS VERY DICOM OR INTERESTING AND LOOKING AT THE DISPARITIES OF THE AGES IS THAT NONE OF THOSE, NONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES EXCEPT FOR THE WEST, THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE UNITED STATES, HAD ANY SORT OF ASSISTED LIVING, RETIREMENT HOMES, ANYTHING.

IT WAS ALL FAMILY ORIENTED.

AND WHERE THIS BECOMES IMPORTANT OCH IS, I'M HEARING A LOT, ARE GETTING A LOT OF CALLS FROM CITIZENS OF LIKE, HEY, I GOT 38 ACRES OF LAND.

I WANNA PUT A HOUSE ON HERE FOR MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN LIVING IN OUR AREA AS THINGS, AS THE WORLD GETS MORE AND MORE VOLATILE, PEOPLE WANNA BE CLOSER TO FAMILY.

MY DAUGHTER'S IN THERE.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET TO US IF S**T HITS THE FAN.

EXCUSE ME, I, BUT, AND I'VE GOT, I'M DEALING WITH THREE SETS OF AGING PARENTS NOW, UM, THAT I JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE JUST BARELY WERE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET TWO SET ONE SET OF PARENTS INTO ASSISTED LIVING ON GASKINS AND IT'S GOING UP 10%.

SO, AND I'M NOT TALKING 10% ON 15 ON A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IT IS $3,000.

SO 10% ON THAT.

SO SHOULD WE, AS A, ANY, UM, I KNOW I'M GOING ON HERE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS INTERESTING WITH SINGAPORE, UH, IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS PEOPLE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THIS LITTLE, YOU KNOW, 15 OR 17 BY 35 MILE ISLAND WAS ABLE TO MANAGE THESE THINGS.

WELL, THEY ARE SEEING A HUGE GAP IN AGE OF RETIREES.

AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING GRANTS FOR YOUNGER, FOR, FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO MOVE INTO, UM, APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THEIR PARENTS.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAYING, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER.

WHICH, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON SOCIALLY, AND YOU LOOK AT THAT CHURCH DECLINE, THE DEGRADATION OF THE FAMILY IS, IS KILLING IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S KILLING THE WORLD.

[02:55:01]

WE ALL SAY THAT, BUT YET WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS YOU.

TO WHAT EXTENT WE NEED TO ASCERTAIN, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE PEOPLE GOING INTO THE SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTARILY VERSUS THEY HAVE FORCED IN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.

THEY HAVE TO DEAL.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE GOING DEAL WITH THINGS.

AND CAN WE COUNTER SOME OF THAT THROUGH POLICY TO MAKE A QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER, WHICH IS BACK THE COMMUNITY AND SO FORTH.

AND HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, COUNTER SOME OF THAT NONFAMILY UNHEALTHY A STUFF THAT SOCIAL MEDIA.

THIS IS AWFUL.

I THINK, I THINK YOU HIT A GREAT POINT.

AND I THINK WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW IS HOW, HOW DO OUR CITIZENS DEFINE QUALITY OF LIFE.

I WOULD SAY MY CITIZENS ARE LEAVING THE HELL ALONE.

THAT YOUR QUALITY LIFE, RIGHT JOHN? YEAH.

THAT'S 10.

IT'S LIKE, I DON'T, I DON'T NEED TO DON THAT YET.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT I CAN BE LOVED ALONE.

USE MY ALLOWING, USE MY LAND, RESPECT MY NEIGHBORS, AND BE GOOD PEOPLE.

MOVE OUR LIVES.

MR. POWER OF THE BOARD.

I JUST HEARD THIS CONVERSATION'S FOR THE PAST COUPLE MINUTES.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS, THIS, OH, I, I WAS THINKING, OKAY, GOOD.

THIS, THIS BELL.

ANYTHING BELOW THAT, UH, YOU'RE, YOU HAVE LESS THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND ABOVE THAT YOU HAVE MORE THAN, UH, OTHER COMMUNITY.

WHEN THIS BELL RINGS, YOU KNOW, IN COUNTIES AND COMMUNITIES, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THAT THAT AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY IS THE ONE WHO HAS TO ANSWER THAT BELL.

UM, TRADITIONALLY IT WAS A LOT OF YOUTH PROGRAMS. THAT'S HOW MOST OF US PROBABLY REMEMBER COMMUNITIES.

AND WITH THAT SHIFT IN FOCUS, SENIOR PROGRAMMING, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE DEFINITELY SINCE FALLEN OFF SINCE COVID, THAT, THAT PERIOD OF ISOLATION A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TO GO THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GREAT FOR ME, IT'S GREAT FOR BUSINESS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO MY WORLD OF THINGS IS, UH, THE NEED IS, IS NOW COMING BACK AND BUBBLING BACK UP TO THE TOP.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FORGET ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT OUR DEPARTMENT'S GONNA BE SEEING AND NEEDING TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD.

SO, AND I DON'T THINK IT ACTUALLY, IT DOESN'T TAKE POLICY REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S MORE SO ABOUT RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING AND DEVELOPMENT AND FOCUS AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO, TO MAKE, MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, TO KIND OF MEET THOSE NEEDS.

SO, AND IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO DO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PARKS PRETTY MUCH A PART OF THAT, WHICH NEEDS SHELTERS, SO FORTH AND SO ON.

ANYBODY ELSE? LET ME THROW ONE FINAL PIECE ON THAT TOO, BECAUSE AS YOU HEAR STAFF WEIGH IN THOSE Y'ALL KNOW WHO KNOW MY PROJECTOR.

I STARTED IN GARBAGE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND THE MOST FASCINATING PART ABOUT THAT ROLE WAS THE DEGREE TO WHICH GARBAGE CONNECTED AND TIED TO THE COMMUNITY.

'CAUSE EVERYBODY HAD IT.

EVERYBODY NEEDED TO DEAL WITH IT.

AND WHEN YOU HAD CONVENIENCE CENTERS IN A CHANGING SOCIETY, THOSE CONVENIENCE CENTERS WERE BECOMING THE SOCIAL MEETING PLACE.

'CAUSE POST OFFICES USED TO BE, AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T GO BY THERE ANYMORE.

UM, AND PEOPLE GOT ALL THEIR STUFFING SENT ONLINE.

THEY DIDN'T GO TO THE MALL, BUT THEY ALL WENT TO THE DUMP.

AND SO THAT WAS, WAS ONE OF THE FASCINATING DISCOVERIES FOR ME WAS HOW MANY PEOPLE LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT? NOT BECAUSE THEY GOT RID OF THE GARBAGE, BUT BECAUSE THEY TALKED TO PEOPLE AND THEY INTERACTED.

AND SOME OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE PROVIDE THAT, THAT NECESSARY NICHE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE SOMEONE, TO TALK TO SOMEONE.

YOU KNOW, YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND, AND, AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS' NAMES MY NAME, BUT THEY KNOW THE GUY AT THE DUMPS NAME.

THEY KNOW THEIR BIRTHDAY AND THEY'LL BRING 'EM OUT COCOA ON COLD WEATHER.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST THE WAY THAT, THAT, THAT WE INTERACT AND IMPACT PEOPLE.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EVEN THOUGHT OF, BUT IT'S SO CRITICAL TO, TO THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

ALRIGHT, JOEY, KEEP GOING.

JUST A COUPLE MORE.

UH, NUMBER FOUR, THE ECONOMY IS GROWING.

UH, THIS IS, UM, GP GROWTH IN, UH, IN, IN GLAND GOING BACK TO ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

STEADY AND POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UH, THIS CHART, UH, GIMME FIVE SECONDS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS.

UH, THESE ARE THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIES, UH, REPRESENTING HOUSTON.

UM, THE NUMBER BELOW THEM IS LQ.

THAT STANDS FOR LOCATION QUOTIENT.

AND THAT'S A WAY OF MEASURING THE PREVALENCE OF A INDUSTRY IN AN ERA.

UM, THE WAY THE NUMBERS WORK IS IF YOU'VE GOT A ONE, YOU HAVE BASICALLY THE, THE, THE BASELINE NUMBER OF JOBS FOR KIND OF ANY COMMUNITY IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY,

[03:00:01]

SO IF YOU GET LIKE A 1.25, THAT MEANS YOU'RE REALLY COMPETITIVE.

UM, AND THEN THIS, UH, THE, THE Y AXIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT THEY PAY, RIGHT? SO LEMME JUST POINT OUT ONE BIG THING.

UH, REMEMBER I SAID 1.25 MEANS YOU'RE REALLY STRONG IN AN INDUSTRY FINANCIAL SERVICES, YOU'RE AT A 10.6.

THAT'S WHAT WE CALL OFF THE FREAKING CHARTS.

UH, THAT NUMBER IS LIKE, UH, THE NAVY AND THE MILITARY IN HAMPTON ROADS, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT? IF SOMEHOW THAT WOULD GO AWAY, THAT COMMUNITY WOULD BE DECIMATED, RIGHT? SO IF SHIP, IF THE SHIPYARD WERE TO SHUT DOWN, HAMPTON ROADS WOULD BE A GHOST TOWN, RIGHT? AND THEY GOT NUMBER LIKE YOU HAVE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES HERE.

SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT? SUPPOSE WE'LL LOOK AT ANOTHER CHART HERE TODAY.

WHAT HAPPENS? I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, WHAT HAPPENS? CAPITAL ONE'S NOT HERE ANYMORE.

IT WAS A NUMBER WE HEARD EARLIER.

SARAH.

HOW MUCH OF THE OF THE ECONOMY DO THEY CONTRIBUTE? 73% OF GOOD TERMS. GDP IS FROM CAPITAL ONE.

AND SO WE ALL LOVE CAPITAL ONE.

I GOT LITERALLY WHAT'S IN MY WALLET THAT'S MORE ON THEIR CREDIT CARDS.

UH, AND TOO MUCH MY MONEY IS OVER THERE, .

UM, BUT LOOK, THEY ARE A MAJOR PRESENCE HERE.

THEY'RE A VIRGINIA COMPANY WE'RE FOUNDED, UH, HERE IN TOWN.

THAT'S ALL GOOD.

BUT TODAY THEY ARE A GLOBAL COMPANY.

THEY SEE THEIR PEERS, UH, AS BEING THE OTHER BANKS IN NEW YORK AND LONDON.

UM, I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT GOES ON INSIDE THAT COMPANY, BUT COMPANIES LIKE THAT DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A GLOBAL COMPANY, BUT WE'RE CRUSHING IN GLAND COUNTY.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT'S NOT FARFETCHED TO THINK THAT THAT COULD GO AWAY.

SO IF IT DOES, WHAT HAPPENS? I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT IT'S GOING TO, I AM SUGGESTING THAT THESE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTA KEEP IN OUR MIND INTO THE FUTURE.

THE CAPITAL ONE OPPORTUNITY REALITY, IF NOT ISN'T JUST A MERGER OF ANOTHER INSTITUTION.

BUT I'VE HEARD CONVERSATIONS THAT SOMEONE SUCH AS AMAZON OR GOOGLE WOULD ACQUIRE THEM JUST TO VERTICALLY INTEGRATE THEIR YEAH.

SUPPLY CHAIN OR, OR BUSINESS CHAIN THAT THEY NOW CONTROL THE PAYMENT PROCESS AS WELL AS THE PRODUCT AS WELL AS ALL THE, AS THE CURRENTLY CONTROL.

THE FINANCIAL SERVICES ISN'T JUST CAPITAL ONE.

I MEAN FARM BUREAU IS YEAH.

FARM BUREAU, BUT THEY'RE AN INSURANCE COMPANY ABSOLUTELY AS WELL.

AND THEN CAR MAPS, MOST OF THEIR REVENUE COMES FROM THE CARS THEY FINANCE AND NOT SO MUCH THE CARS THEY SELL.

SO THAT, THAT 10 IS PROBABLY SEVEN.

CAPITAL ONE.

BUT THE OTHER FOUR MM-HMM.

IT'S GONNA BE CARMAX FARM BUREAU AND MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS OUT THERE.

IT, IT STILL IS A SKEW AND THAT THAT IS A BONAFIDE.

AND I'M, I'M A RECOVERING BANKER, AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY IS CYCLICAL.

UH, BUT IT'S ALSO ONE OF THOSE FUNDAMENTALS.

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP A COMPANY FROM BEING ACQUIRED, I GUESS BY A LOT OF THEIR STOCK AND MILL OPEN MERGER.

BUT I'M NOT SURE UCHIN IS GONNA PURSUE THAT.

UH, THE CONTINGENCY THAT SARAH HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT, I THINK IS BROADENING, UH, THE MIX.

AI MUCH MORE THAN OTHERS ARE.

UM, I WOULD, WHEN I WAS RUNNING SI WANTED TO HAVE SEVEN OR 10 QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR ACCOUNTS AS OPPOSED TO ONE $5 MILLION ACCOUNT.

'CAUSE I COULD LOSE ONE OR TWO OF THOSE AND STILL STAY AFLOAT IF I LOSE THE ONE 5 MILLION, 90% OF THE REVENUE.

SO HOW DO WE ENSURE STRATEGIC GROWTH? I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I THINK PART OF IT IS BEING PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE.

UH, SARAH SAID THAT IF WE JOINED, I GET THE NAME OF THE INITIAL ON THE RICHMOND REGION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

RICHMOND PARTNERSHIP, $385,000 BE ONE OF SEVERAL.

WHAT IF WE TOOK THAT $385,000 AND BUILD OUR OWN STAFF OF, OF HUNDREDS AND SENT 'EM OFF, SAID GO GET 'EM.

I MEAN, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD HIRE AT LEAST ONE PERSON FOR $385,000 THAT RIGHT.

WE, WE ALSO HAVE TO FACTOR IN NOT JUST, UH, WE HAVE A FACTOR IN HOW BODIES CAN BE REPLACED BECAUSE CAPITAL ONE CAN PICK UP A MOVE, BUT THE INDUSTRY ITSELF IS ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO

[03:05:02]

UM, SO I MEAN, I KNOW THAT MANUFACTURING IS SEEING IT, BUT YOU STILL HAVE A CRITICAL MASS OF BODIES IN A A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.

, I KNOW CAPITAL ONE IS SPENDING A TON OF MONEY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE BODY COUNT EVERYWHERE IT CAN.

AND ARE WE AHEAD OF IT FORWARD THINKING ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF THAT? S SO THE, FOR ME, THIS IS A SIMPLE QUESTION.

THIS IS A SIMPLE ANSWER.

UH, BUT I'M PRETTY SIMPLE GUY.

BUT TO ENSURE STRATEGIC GROWTH, THIS COMMUNITY, THIS ROAD NEEDS TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

WHEN WE SAID WE WERE GONNA FIX THE TCSD ISSUE, UM, WE FIXED IT AND WE SAID WE'RE GONNA GET TRIPLE THREE AAA BOND RATINGS.

WE GOT THREE AAA BOND RATINGS.

WHEN WE SAID WE WERE GONNA BRING BROADBAND TO EVERYBODY IN BRINGING BROADBAND TO EVERYBODY IN , WE MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED TO PAUSE IN THE RESIDENTIAL.

WE NEED TO START A FOCUS ON COMMERCIAL AS A TEAM.

WE AGREED TO IT.

WE WILL HIT THE GOAL.

WE JUST HAVE VOTE.

THAT'S ONE.

I THINK THAT ATTRACTS GOOD BUSINESS.

OTHER BUSINESSES, GOOD GOVERNANCE ATTRACTS GOOD BUSINESS.

WELL, I THINK IT GOES BACK TO SARAH, WE GOTTA GIVE THE, TO WE, WE AS A, AS A GROUP NEED TO SAY, ALRIGHT MR. CARTER, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO GO AFTER, UM, SO THAT WE CAN, SO THAT WE CAN DIVERSIFY SO WE CAN BRING THE COMMERCIAL IN.

THE COMMERCIAL SAVES THE RESIDENTIAL.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT MY CITIZEN SENT ME HERE.

I MEAN, GO BACK TO RESPONSIBLE.

I MEAN, WE CAN'T ASK SARAH TO GO GET AN NFL EXPANSION TEAM AND BUILD A STADIUM , YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE GOTTA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE DO.

START TALKING HOCKEY ON THIS, THAT'LL BE BOOST, NOT BE.

SO WE KEEP GOING.

WE TWO MORE I BELIEVE IN.

SO AT THE SAME TIME, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UH, AND HERE IN THE RICHMOND REGION, WE'RE SEEING A RISING ECONOMIC, UH, DISPARITIES.

UM, SO THIS FIRST CHART, UM, THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE, RIGHT? OLDER PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THAT'S JUST MAKES SENSE, RIGHT? HOW IT WORKS.

UH, BUT THESE, THE NUMBERS, THE, UH, THIS CHART SHOWS HOW THAT'S CHANGED OVER TIME.

SO IN 1989, UH, THE AVERAGE 62-YEAR-OLD TYPICALLY HAD ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF TIMES AS MUCH WEALTH AS PEOPLE 49.

UH, TODAY THAT'S SHIFT, THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE RIGHT NOW, DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THIS COULD BE A GOOD THING.

THIS COULD BE A BAD THING.

WE COULD DEBATE THIS ALL AFTERNOON, BUT IT IS A REALITY.

UH, WHAT THAT DOES MEAN, UH, FOR SOME FOLKS IS THAT IT'S HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

NOW GUC ONE'S A PRETTY WEALTHY PLACE, IS PROBABLY NOT, UH, A BIG ISSUE HERE, BUT I THINK YOU'D BE SURPRISED, RIGHT? UM, IT'S GONNA BE, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA FIND THAT IT'S REALLY ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO STAFFING YOUR AGENCIES.

UH, SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR AVERAGE WAGE IS, BUT I WOULD SAY, UH, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF BACK OF THE ENVELOPE MATH EARLIER.

UH, AND IF SOMEBODY'S MAKING $40,000, WHICH THAT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD ENTRY LEVEL SALARY HERE, SOME POSITION FOR SOME POSITIONS.

IT'S ABOUT A 22, 25 MILES OUT THERE.

UH, THAT IF I DID THE MATH CORRECTLY, THAT MEANS THEY'RE TAKEN HOME AFTER TAXES ABOUT 500 BUCKS A WEEK.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THAT MUCH MONEY, BUT THAT'S MAYBE WHERE FOLKS ARE IN THEIR LIFE.

UM, YOU GET A $500, YOU GET, YOU GET TWO FLAT TIRES THAT EATS UP YOUR WHOLE, UH, TAKE ON PAY.

OKAY? AND IF, UH, TO WORK THAT $40,000 A YEAR JOB, YOU'RE IN GLAND, WE'LL SEE IN A MINUTE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IT MIGHT.

UM, SO HERE WE GOT THIS, UH, MAP OF THE RICHMOND REGION, UH, SHOWS INCOME LEVEL GREEN IS GOOD.

IT'S HOT, UH, YELLOW AND RED IS MUCH LOWER.

AND WHAT WE SEE IS IT'S REAL HIGH OVER HERE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, OUT BY THE AIRPORT.

UM, THE INCOME LEVELS ARE MUCH LOWER.

RIGHT? SO WHAT WE'VE GOTTA THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF STAFFING THE AGENCIES OF, OF GLAND COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS IF WE'RE GONNA PAY 40,000 BUCKS, AGAIN, I'M JUST MAKING THAT NUMBER UP.

UH, AND THAT MEANS IT'S AN EMPLOYEE CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LIVE, SAY, OUT HERE IN, IN OUT BY THE AIRPORT.

THAT MEANS LITERALLY TO COME TO WORK.

[03:10:01]

UH, THAT'S A GALLON AND A HALF OF GAS AT $3, THREE 50 A POP.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE SPENDING $7 A DAY, UH, TO GET TO WORK HERE AND TO GO BACK HOME.

YOU'RE ONLY, IF YOU'RE ONLY TAKING IT 500 BUCKS A WEEK, UH, THAT'S A BIG CHUNK.

AND YOU HAVE TO SAY, AM I, AM I GONNA GO TO WORK THE MAP GOING WEST? YEAH.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FIXATED WHERE EVERYBODY SAYS, WELL, I WANT TO LIVE IN BEACHLAND.

YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK OF MANNEQUIN SABBATH OR THE CENTERVILLE AREA.

UH, I THINK JONATHAN'S GOT SOME OF THE BEST, IT'S TRUE LOW HOME ENVIRONMENT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

AND, AND, UH, COLUMBIA IS THE WESTERN BORDER OF GLAND.

AND, AND SO PEOPLE CAN COMMUTE EAST AS EASILY AS THEY CAN COMMUTE WEST.

NOW THE POPULATION'S NOT AS INTENSE.

SO WE HAVE A SMALLER COHORT THAT, UH, RECRUIT FROM FROM WHICH TO RECRUIT.

BUT IT, IT, IT STILL COULD BE DONE WITH.

WE'RE BLESSED.

MR. CARPENTER, WHAT DO WE HAVE? MAYBE 120 FOLKS ADMINISTRATIVE ON THE PAYROLL.

TOTAL EMPLOYEES.

UH, WE'VE GOT COUNTY SAFETY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE'VE GOT CLOSE TO 400.

WELL, I WAS THINKING MORE JUST NON CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

OH, OKAY.

UM, YEAH, PROBABLY ABOUT, ABOUT THAT RANGE.

UM, SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO STAFF ALL OF CAPITAL ONE.

WITH THAT LOW UH, RATE, IT'S EASIER TO CONTROL EVERYTHING VERSUS THE 8% NATIONALLY, 8%.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIRE THREE OR 4,000 PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, YOU AMERICAN DRIVE FROM BRIAN OR THE CITY OF RICHMOND TO COME WEST, YOU MAY YOU FIND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN YEAH.

WHO, UH, HAVE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE WANT.

THAT WHEN WE WERE TALKING EARLIER IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, YOU WERE SAYING YOU WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE FOUND A LOCAL PERSON IN THE PAST.

UH, WE YOU HAVEN'T CLOSED THE, OH, SORRY GUYS.

THE THING, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I MEAN, MANY OF THESE JOBS, UH, REQUIRE VERY SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND THE POPULATION INDIVIDUALS.

BUT YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I DON'T MEAN TO APPLY, WE CAN ONLY HIRE PEOPLE FROM RECENT VERSION, BUT IT'S A ONE MORE PIECE TO CONSIDER.

UM, SO THIS CHART SHOWS, UM, UH, THIS CHART SHOWS INCOME LEVELS, UH, OF, OF BIG CATEGORIES OF WORKERS IN GLAND.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP THREE MANAGEMENT, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, ZOE, RIGHT? BUT BACK TO THE EARLIER CONVERSATION ABOUT CAPITAL ONE AND PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP AND THE FARM BUREAU.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THOSE, UM, MAKE IT UP.

IF SOMEHOW ALL THOSE ENTITIES GO AWAY, 'CAUSE TO YOUR POINT, IT'S ONLY THREE OR FOUR NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

BUT IF IT DID, THEN WHAT ARE WE LEFT WITH? WE'RE LEFT WITH DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS, UH, MAKING UP THE MAJORITY OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE, IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN SUDDENLY, UH, THIS WOULD GO FROM BEING A REALLY WEALTHY PLACE TO A NOT QUITE AS WEALTHY PLACE.

SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE PREPARING TO ADDRESS ALL THIS STUFF? SO PROBABLY ESPECIALLY UNPOPULAR TAPE, UM, PARTS AND .

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO ALSO CONSIDER THE ROLE OF, SO YOU, YOU MENTIONED OUR SERVICES.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND ENGAGEMENT, AND WE DO TREMENDOUS WORK.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY GAME MENTALITY.

WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE BEST NON-PROFITS THAT SUPPORT.

UM, SO I THINK THE WAY WE SUPPORT THIS IS WE, WE, WE WORK VERY HARD ON KEEPING OUR TAX RATE LOW.

SO WHETHER WE'RE NOT BURDENING OUR, OUR FOLKS THAT ARE MOST ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED, UM, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO, TO, TO, I WOULD SAY KEEP OUR HANDS OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

UCHIN IS AN AMAZINGLY GENEROUS COUNTY.

UM, YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR SOME OF OUR NON-PROFITS AND THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO FROM PARTNERSHIPS WITH PET LAWYERS CARES, WE HAVE A VERY ENGAGED AND VERY GENEROUS CITIZENRY ENSURING THAT WE FACILITATE WAYS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE, UH, GENEROUS BY KEEPING OUR HANDS OUT OF THEIR POCKET.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE DO.

THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER.

SO THAT , ANYBODY ELSE, THIS GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE FIRST SLIDE WITH THE, UH, 1% OBJECTIVE GROWTH OR 1.3% PROJECTED GROWTH IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS

[03:15:01]

UM, I THINK IT'S, I THINK THAT GOES IN OUR FAVOR WITH THIS QUESTION.

IT'S GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO MAKE A DELIVERY , RIGHT? LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WITH S YOU KNOW, GRANTED, WE'RE TALKING TO 'EM ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC, OUR OUR COMMERCIAL MIX BEING HIGHER.

BUT BECAUSE OUR COMMERCIAL, OUR COMMERCIAL EXPOSURE WAS LOWER THAN A SURROUNDING FATALITIES, WE WERE HIT A LOT LESS.

SO TAKING SOME VOLATILITY OUT, LOWERING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS, WE SAW HOW VIOLENT, VOLATILE THAT MARKET IS.

SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY, AND THIS IS WHERE STAFF COMES IN TO HELP US FIGURE OUT, OKAY, WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO DIVERSIFY? SO WE, WE CAN WEATHER MULTIPLE TYPES OF STORMS. WE'LL, NEVER, WE'LL, NEVER WEATHER THE ALL AT ONCE.

STORM, I, THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

UM, BUT HOW CAN WE WEATHER, HOW CAN WE EVEN BEST PLAN TO WEATHER DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF STORMING? PART OF THAT ALSO IS CONTROLLING THE COHORT OF THE, THE, THE CONSTITUENCY WE NEED TO SERVICE.

AND IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, SLOWING THE RATE OF RESIDENTIAL GROWTH.

I'VE USED THIS TWICE ALREADY TODAY, THAT WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, WHAT DO YOU DO? STOP DIGGING.

AND IF WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR RESIDENTIAL PERCENTAGE, IT'S GONNA MAKE IT THAT MUCH TOUGHER FOR US TO INCREASE PERCENTAGE WISE NUMBERS, UH, OUR COMMERCIAL GROWTH.

AND SO IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THERE'S FIVE STATED OBJECTIVES.

AND PARAPHRASING IS NUMBER FOUR IS TO ENSURE GROWTH CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE NEEDS AND SERVICES OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE MET.

AND IF WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO NEED AMBULANCE CALLS MM-HMM.

OR, UH, HAVE NEED OF OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES.

IT, IT, IT'S, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S A CIRCLE THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO EVER HAVE A PAUSE BUTTON.

SO WE NEED TO, I, MY OPINION IS, IS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADEQUATELY SERVING THE PEOPLE WE CURRENTLY HAVE HERE.

AND, AND, AND JUST SAY WE NEVER HAD ANY MORE INCREASE IN CALLS.

IF AVERY POINT NEVER FILLED ANY MORE OF THEIR APARTMENTS THERE AND, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONTINUING UPTICK AMBULANCE CALLS THERE OR OTHER, UH, ASSISTED LIVING OR OR 55 OLDER COMMUNITIES, WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO STABILIZE AND MAKE SURE, YES, WE ARE STAFF WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOLKS HERE TODAY.

NOW WE CAN START LOOKING AT BRINGING SOME MORE FOLKS, RIGHT? AND, AND WE DON'T CONTROL WHO COMES HERE.

I MEAN, I, I'M A PROPERTY RIGHTS PRE-DECISION, UH, PERSON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOT ENCOURAGING, YOU KNOW, DON'T DIG THE WHOLE DEEPER RIGHT.

AND, AND PUT THE FOCUS ON SARAH'S AUDIENCE.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE EDA MEETINGS AND I'VE WARNED THEM TO THREATEN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE WORD IS AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.

'CAUSE I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF WHAT THEIR MISSION STATEMENT IS.

AND THAT'S TO GROW OUR COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, OUR COMMERCIAL, OUR REVENUE STREAM.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST COMFORT IF YOU'VE GOT EXPANDED.

AND I LOVE THE FACT CAPITAL ONE HAS EXPANDED.

THEY INCREASE THEIR FOOTPRINT HERE.

BUT I LIKE THE DIVERSITY THAT THEY ARE NOT THAT FIVE POUND THAT, OH MY GOSH, GOOGLE WAS GONNA BUY.

THERE'S A RUMOR.

SORRY, I'M GONNA START SHORTING .

WE GOTTA GO BACK TO WHAT SARAH SAID THIS MORNING THOUGH.

BUSINESSES FOLLOW ROOFTOPS.

I DON'T THINK CAPITAL ONE CAME HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ROOFTOPS.

NO, WE'RE TALKING WELL, I'M TALKING COMMERCIAL, CHARLIE.

WELL, THIS IS WHERE I DON'T THINK, I DON'T, IT IS A GOOD, IT IS A LEADING QUESTION, BUT IF I'M GUESSING, HOW ARE WE PR PREPARED? I DON'T THINK WE ARE BEST, BEST PREPARED TO ADDRESS THIS ECONOMIC TREND.

BECAUSE FOR REASONS OF FREE MARKETS AND PROPERTY RIGHTS, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE PRIVATE MARKET WILL DO THAT IS NOT IN OUR COUNTY'S BEST INTERESTS BASED ON CURRENT ZONING, BASED ON, YOU KNOW, RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WE NEED THAT'S AN EXAMPLE THAT TRIAL I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU BY RIGHTS.

WE, AND, AND MAYBE IF YOU COME, WE BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE LIKE THEY ARE COMING, HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH THAT AND HOW CAN WE SEE A GOOD PLAN FOR THAT MOVING FORWARD? WELL, THE WAY JONATHAN, I, MY STATEMENT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR OPENING UP THE FLOODGATES FOR RESIDENTIAL TAKE CARE.

AND I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE THE INITIATORS OF THE APPROPRIATE PLANS TO KEEP IT SO THAT IT IS VERY STRATEGIC, VERY METHODICAL, VERY, UH, FOCUSED ON OUR LONG-TERM NEEDS.

UM, PEOPLE ARE MONEY COMING.

[03:20:01]

WHAT, BUT THE POINT I WAS MAKING IS THE CHALLENGE INVOLVED WITH TRYING TO GET THAT MIX OF RETAIL AND BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE.

AMEN.

AND IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

ALL IT GOES A LITTLE BASIS.

POINTS OF GROWTH.

AND, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE VEERING FROM THE ORIGINAL QUESTION, WHICH WAS THE DISPARITY IN THE WEALTH GAP.

UM, BUT TO ADDRESS TRENDS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE, WE TALKED ABOUT ONE, WHICH THEY'RE, LISTEN, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

YES, WE HAVE CHALLENGE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I'M SURE WHEN THAT WAS COMING UP, THERE WERE ESTIMATES MADE ON WHAT THE IMPACTS WERE GONNA BE.

RIGHT? AND BECAUSE I DON'T, I JUST DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD TIME AND WE HAVE A CAPITAL IMPACT MODEL.

I'VE NOT SEEN US GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE IMPACT MODELS AND THOSE TRENDS AND SAY, OH GOSH, WE GOT, WE GOT A COUPLE FACILITIES HERE.

WE ANTICIPATED THIS KIND OF GROWTH.

SO TO MR. LYLE'S POINT EARLIER, YOUR YOUR DECISION ONLY AS GOOD AS THE DATA THAT YOU GET.

I, I FEEL LIKE WE, WE ARE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, I, I'M DEALING WITH A SITUATION IN MY DISTRICT, UM, THAT MY ACCEPTANCE SYSTEM IS ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S LAND.

THE COUNTY JUST BOUGHT AND IT WAS ON A HANDSHAKE DEAL.

THAT'S NOT ANYMORE.

WE'RE NOT HANDSHAKE DEALS.

WE'RE WE, WE'VE GOT OUR BIG BOY HANDS ON.

AND WE HAVE TO GET TO THAT PLACE WHERE WE HAVE GOOD DATA AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

SO WE, I CAN BE PREPARED ABOUT THAT BY SETTING THE STAFF UP TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SYSTEMS AND THE PROCESSES AND THE PEOPLE THAT COULD HELP US MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

TREND OF MINE TODAY.

NOW WE PREPARED.

YOU GOTTA TELL ME .

WELL, WELL HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE DAY WE, WE EVEN MORE.

UH, ALRIGHT, LAST ONE.

UH, INCREASING COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.

AND THIS GOES BACK TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SARAH WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.

UM, WHAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY IS ITS SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES ARE ONES THAT PARTNER AND COOPERATE AND WORK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.

UM, THIS, I LOVE THIS MAP IN THE UNITED STATES 'CAUSE IT ACTUALLY REALLY SHOWS, UH, WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, BUT ALSO WHERE PEOPLE ARE, WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE COLLABORATING WITH EACH OTHER, UH, TO DO BIG THINGS.

WHETHER IT'S, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING ONES IS UP IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

I CALL THIS THE CASCADIA REGION.

THIS IS WHERE, UH, PORTLAND, SEATTLE, AND VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUALLY, THEY GOT THEIR OWN IDENTITIES, THEIR OWN, UH, WAYS OF LIFE, THEIR OWN, UH, COMMUNITIES.

BUT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE ALL AT THE SAME TIME FUNCTION AS KIND OF ONE LARGE ECONOMY.

SO WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THAT? ONE OF THINGS THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, UH, IS BUILD A HIGH SPEED, UH, TRAIN, UH, OF THAT WAY.

AND THESE ARE CONTROVERSIAL AROUND THE WORLD, UM, UH, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

UM, BUT THEY WORK REALLY WELL IN WESTERN EUROPE AND JAPAN.

AND THEY'RE TRYING TO REPLICATE THAT MODEL, UH, IN, IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, FOR EXAMPLE.

UM, MAYBE A COUPLE.

UH, SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT SARAH WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.

I KNOW FOLKS, UH, IN THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN PARTS OF THESE.

UH, WE AT SIR ARE MEMBERS OF CHAMBER RBA.

WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH EACH OF THESE GROUPS.

UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT RBA 7 5 7 CONNECT 'CAUSE IT'S A SIMILAR THING TO WHAT I'VE JUST DESCRIBED IN, UH, PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMY OF VIRGINIA AS A WHOLE, NORTHERN VIRGINIA, UH, HAS, HAS DRIVEN THE ECONOMY OF VIRGINIA, UH, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SINCE, AT LEAST SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

UH, BUT IT'S REALLY STARTING TO SLOW DOWN, UH, IN RECENT YEARS, AT THE VERY LEAST, NOT GROW AS FAST.

IN FACT, I SAW ONE, UH, STATISTIC JUST LAST WEEK THAT SAID, FAIRFAX COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS LOSING POPULATION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1830.

RIGHT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I DON'T YET THINK WE REALLY KNOW, BUT IT MEANS THAT, IT DOES MEAN THAT THE ECONOMY OF VIRGINIA AS A WHOLE IS CHANGING.

WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IS IF WE LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, UM, THE RICHMOND AREA AND HAMPTON ROADS, UM, SEPARATELY TOGETHER, UH, COMPARED TO OTHER PEER CITIES, WE'RE WE RANK IN TERMS OF POPULATION ABOUT IN THE LOWER, UH, ABOUT NUMBER 50.

UM, AND ON A LOT OF THE KEY MEASURES OF ECONOMIC HEALTH, UH, GROWTH AND PROSPERITY, UM, WE, WE TEND TO GET THE BOTTOM OF THOSE LIST.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THOSE TWO

[03:25:01]

REGIONS ARE JOINING TOGETHER AND SAYING, WE, WE GOT A LOT OF SHARED INTERESTS HERE.

HAVEN'T ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAY IN THE PAST, BUT WE REALLY ARE STARTING TO, WELL, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS CHANGING IN A BIG WAY.

AND, UH, FROM HERE TO THE, THE COAST, UH, VIRGINIA.

UM, AND SO, UH, THE MILITARY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE ECONOMY THERE.

AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE FOR THE REST OF HUMAN HISTORY, UH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY GOD MADE THE WATER THERE.

UH, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AT THE SAME TIME, PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS PART OF VIRGINIA IS THE DIGITAL ECONOMY IS RISING IN A BIG WAY THAT MANY OF US DON'T ALWAYS SEE.

'CAUSE IT'S THE KIND OF BEHIND THE SCENES KIND OF STUFF THAT , AND HERE'S A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

THE, UH, GIANT PIPES, WIRES THAT CARRY THE INTERNET, UH, FROM EUROPE AND UH, UM, UH, WESTERN AFRICA TO THE UNITED STATES, COME ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE OCEAN.

AND THEY COME, UH, UH, A NUMBER OF THEM ARE, ARE COMING ASHORE, UH, IN VIRGINIA BEACH.

WELL, THAT'S SORT OF INTERESTING, BUT LIKE GOOGLE CARE, WHAT DIFFERENCES MAKE WHAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT COMPANIES LIKE META, FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE AND ALL THOSE BIG DIGITAL COMPANIES THAT WE KNOW, UH, GOTTA HAVE PLACES TO RUN THEIR EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? SO NOW THE FACT THAT THOSE WIRES ARE COMING UP IN VIRGINIA BEACH, UH, MEANS THAT WHEN FACEBOOK DECIDES TO BUILD THE FOURTH LARGEST DATA CENTER IN THE WORLD, UH, IN EASTERN HENRICO, THEN SUDDENLY THESE TWO THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

90 MILES, 110 MILES APART FROM EACH OTHER ARE REALLY CONNECTED.

UM, AND SO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES IN THESE TWO REGIONS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO SAY, WELL, WE'VE, UH, TRADITIONALLY BEEN ADVERSARIES OR BEST LEFT EACH OTHER ALONE.

UH, WE GOT A LOT OF SHARED INTERESTS.

AND THAT SHOWING UP IN A DRAMATIC EXPANSION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ACROSS THAT PART OF VIRGINIA AND SHOWING UP IN MORE, UM, EASIER SEAWAYS LIKE YOU GO DOWN, UH, FROM, IF YOU LEAVE THE AIRPORT, UH, AND DRIVE TO WILLIAMSBURG, UH, YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WILLIAMSBURG, 64 IS BROAD AND EASY TO TRAVEL ON THREE LANES, THREE NEW LANES, BUT IT'S ONLY TWO LANES, UH, FROM ABOUT THE AIRPORT TO, UH, TO, TO LENEXA SORT OF JUST ON THE SIDE OF, UH, WILLIAMSBURG.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S UP WITH THAT, RIGHT? UM, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT IS IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD OUT THERE.

SO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAID, OUR OPTIONS ARE TO WAIT FOR VDOT TO SMOOTHLY OVER TIME, DO THIS, OR TO GET TOGETHER AND PUSH HARD TO GET THAT FIXED.

SO WHEN GOVERNOR YOUNGIN CAME IN, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAID, NOW'S OUR MOMENT.

AND GOT TOGETHER AND PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED.

AND EVERY CEO IN THAT REGION GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, WE GOTTA FIND THE MONEY TO DO THIS.

AND SUDDENLY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THAT PROJECT WENT FROM ZERO TO $400 MILLION OVERNIGHT.

NOT, NOT QUITE DONE, NOT QUITE FULLY FUNDED.

BUT IF YOU DRIVE EAST OF THE AIRPORT NOW, YOU CAN ALREADY SEE, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION, UH, BEING, UH, UNDERWAY.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

WELL, GRANT, YOU NEED TO GIVE A LITTLE CREDIT TO I'M GONNA CALL 'EM OUT.

I MEAN, NEIL HAS BEEN PART OF THE R-R-T-P-O AND PLAN.

YEAH, YEAH, EXACTLY.

AND THEY LO HARD TO GET THEIR FINANCING REGIONALLY.

SO, AND THE CREATION OF THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA, UH, TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY IS A BIG DEAL.

BIG PART OF, SO I KNOW THAT I JUST CAME OFF OF CONSERVATION DISTRICT THAT WAS PILOT IN TWO COUNTIES.

SO REGIONALISM I DON'T THINK IS, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYBODY SAYING, NO, WE CAN'T WORK REGIONALLY.

UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE CAUTIOUS OF BEING WHAT I'LL TERM A DONOR WHERE WE'RE KICKING MONEY IN.

AND I'VE CHALLENGED SARAH AND OTHERS FOR TOURISM.

WHEN YOU THINK OF GOSMAN, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT GOIN COUNTY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN IT COMES TO TOURISM TIME'S UP? I CAN TELL YOU.

SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES.

SO, SO JOINING RICH REGION TOURISM, WHICH IS GOING TO COST MORE AND MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TUCKAHOE, THAT'S NOT A PLANTATION ANYMORE, BUT TUCKAHOE WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON , UM, THAT'S, THEY STILL REFER TO THAT AS BEING IN HENRICO.

I MEAN, IT, IT'S, IT'S AN IDENTITY CRISIS.

WHAT I APPRECIATE SARAH HAS DONE IS SHE JOINED THE B-R-L-T-A, WHICH IS THE INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION, NOT GOVERNMENTAL.

AND THAT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF BENEFIT OUT IT.

SO THERE'S, UH, THERE ARE WAYS OF BEING REGIONAL WITHOUT COMMITTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OR ROI THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME ABOUT.

THAT'S MY THINKING.

I'M WONDER, SO I HEAR YOU.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS EXACTLY, UH, THE DEBATE THAT WE WANTED TO TEE

[03:30:01]

UP.

I THOUGHT SARAH DID A GREAT JOB OF LAYING OUT THE ISSUE THIS MORNING.

SHE ALWAYS DOES.

UM, ONE TANGENT I'LL JUST MENTION WITH THE, THE SUBSEA CABLE AND THE, WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE GLOBAL INTERNET HUB, THERE'S AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IN ANY LENGTH.

BUT ONE OF THE OTHER BENEFITS, NOT JUST WITH DATA CENTERS, IS THAT THAT MEANS THAT OUR REGION IS GONNA HAVE SOME OF THE FASTEST INTERNET CONNECTION.

AND SO THEN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE? AND WE'VE GOT GREAT LAND TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BENEFIT FROM HAVING FASTER INTERNET SPEEDS THAN NEW YORK OR CHARLOTTE OR AUSTIN OR CALIFORNIA.

SO JUST AN INTERESTING FUN FACT, I GUESS.

CAPITAL REGION COLLABORATIVE.

OH, NO.

IS THAT THE, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT? IS IT IS, IT'S THERE ARE, UM, SO PLAN R VA AND THE CHAMBER, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ARE STILL KIND OF IN THAT, AND THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS MORE OF A REGIONAL VISIONING EFFORT.

UM, IT'S BUILDING OFF OF THE WORK OF CRC.

SO IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THEY HAVE LIKE SEVEN OR EIGHT INITIATIVES, PRETTY MAJOR.

A LOT OF WORK WENT, ONE OF 'EM IS THE JAMES RIVER MM-HMM.

AND FROM THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIAL.

AND WE DO A GREAT JOB.

IT RUNS THROUGH RICHMOND AND RECREATIONAL AND SO FORTH, BUT IT STILL HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL RELATIVE TO WHERE IT IS NOW.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT ON JAMES RIVER RUNNING ALONG GOOSE COUNTY TOO.

SO THE COUNTY LINE GOES TO POLITICS, THAT'S ALL LOSS.

SO, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS MARKETING.

AND I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I THINK OF THESE ADS RIGHT ON TELEVIS, WE'VE ALL SEEN CHRISSY KNOWN SOUTH DAKOTA, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WORKING YEAH.

FOR HER.

UH, AND SO I DON'T MEAN TO SAY WE DON'T, I DON'T, I MEAN, I'M JUST IGNORANT OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DO IN THESE AREAS.

BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

GREAT POTENTIAL.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE LAST STRATEGIC QUESTION REAL QUICK? OH, SORRY.

THE STRATEGIC QUESTION.

THIS ONE? NO, YEAH, NO, NO ONE.

HOW IS MUTUAL COMPARED TO ADDRESS THIS ECONOMIC? OKAY.

AND THEN THE CURRENT ONE.

SO MEAN, I THINK THERE'S A SEGUE BETWEEN THAT LAST QUESTION AND THIS QUESTION IN THAT THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING US, WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT MIX TO APPROPRIATELY PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE SEE AS CRITICAL FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

TO THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THAT BY DOING ANYTHING LIKE WE'RE DOING, RIGHT? MAINTAINING A STATUS QUO IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.

UM, I WOULD SEE A SEGUE AS UCH, I'M THINKING AND ACTING BEYOND ITS ORDERS.

IT'S DEFINING OURSELVES TIGHTLY ENOUGH THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING RESOURCES AND TIME SPENT ON, UM, SPENT, SPENT ON THE UNPROFITABLE, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, UNPROFITABLE, UH, PURSUITS.

AND I THINK OF, YOU KNOW, I, I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE.

UM, IT IS SEXY TO BE AN INCUBATOR OF BUSINESSES.

95, 90 5% OF 'EM GONNA FAIL.

SO WHAT'S SEXY ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, IT IS SEXY.

LET LONG SCRATCH GREAT.

OPPOSED TO CONTINUING TO IDENTIFY HAPPENS BEYOND OUR BORDERS.

UM, ARE WE ATTRACTING BUSINESSES THAT, BECAUSE, AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING TOO, THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, EVEN IN A DOWN ECONOMY, THE CAPITAL IS OUT THERE.

WHERE IS IT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

IT IS A REALITY.

THEY'RE NOT, IT'S NOT BEING SPENT ON BC IT'S VERY SELECT, AND MAYBE I'LL PUT IT UP VERY, VERY, VERY, IN A FEW MORE YEARS, THERE'LL BE MORE QUALIFIERS SELECTIVE ON VC.

SO WHERE I CONTEND THAT VC IS A, IT WAS THOUGHT UP THOUGHT AS EVEN 15 YEARS AGO, IS AMID, YOU KNOW, IT JUST AS NOT THE SAME EVERYTHING.

ARE WE ATTRACTING BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALREADY PROVEN THAT THEY COULD RAISE THAT $10 MILLION OF CAPITAL? THEY COULD RAISE THAT, YOU KNOW, SHARK TANK IS COOL FOR A TV SHOW, BUT IT'S NOT A MODEL FOR COUNTY GIRLS.

SO ARE WE STRATEGIC AND, AND, AND TARGETED ENOUGH TO GET THOSE, UM, THOSE RESOURCES THAT CAN FLIP THAT FROM THE 1783 PERCENTAGE TO ONE MORE 30 70 PERCENTAGE, UH, IN THE NEAR TERM AS

[03:35:01]

STAY SAFE GUYS.

SO LOUISA'S TWO DATA CENTERS, I'M PRETTY SURE THOSE WERE APPROVED.

AND, UH, ONE OF 'EM PRETTY CLOSE TO OUR BORDER.

IT'S GONNA PROBABLY IMPACT US POSITIVELY IN, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES THERE WILL PROBABLY AND TO LOUISA, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE TRAFFIC IS OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE FELT BYMAN.

UM, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I WAS GOING WITH THAT IS, UH, DATA CENTERS ACTUALLY ATTRACT DATA CENTERS, UM, JUST 'CAUSE THE SKILLSET OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HAVE WORKING THERE.

SO I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S GONNA WORK OUT IN OUR FAVOR.

AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH WEA WITH THEIR DATA CENTERS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO MY TAKE IS THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO THINK BEYOND OUR BORDERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE TEASED SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION WHEN I MET WITH EACH OF YOU.

SO I THINK WHEN THE, THE PREVIOUS, I'LL CALL 'EM THE PREVIOUS BOARD, 2011, 2012 CAME IN, I THINK THERE WAS HIS GENERAL CONSENSUS MR. LYLES SAID WAS WE WERE COUNTY AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT, A LOT TO OFFER BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK MOST OF OUR SURROUNDING LOCAL THOUGHT WE HAD MUCH.

UM, AND HAS A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER.

I THINK IT'S A WELL DESERVED CHIP.

UM, SO WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY THAT IS NOT IN VACO.

UM, AND IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTY IN YEAH.

AND, AND WE ARE PROUD OF, AND WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT, I'VE MET WITH HIM TO FIGURE OUT IS TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

BUT WHAT I DO BELIEVE NOW IS THAT, AND HAVING SAT ON ALL THREE, UM, OF THE RTP CPA MYSELF, THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE THE VOTES, WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE THE DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS, WE DO HAVE THE INFLUENCE BECAUSE THEY SEE, WOW, YOU GUYS HAVE GOT IT GOING ON.

WHAT, AND THERE'S MORE, I THINK IT'S MORE REGIONAL WHY PEOPLE ARE, ARE WILLING TO GO BEYOND THEIR BORDERS TO SAY, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? UM, AND I I, I'M HOPEFUL I KEEP ASKING STAFF TO DO THE SAME THING BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO TEACH OTHER, LOOK HOW I, I GET OUT WHEN I'M MAKING DINNER OUT, THROW ON HOW'S BOARD MEETING ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, OR I'LL WATCH ARANCO JUST TO SEE AND GET IDEAS.

BUT I, I, I WOULD HOPE, AND I, I DO SEE US MORE ENGAGED, UM, EVEN AT LIKE, SORT OF THE TAC LEVEL, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR IS ATTENDING.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE ACTING BEHIND BOARD VIEWS.

UM, A, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THEIR INFINITE WISDOM SET UP A REGION WITH HIGHLY URBAN AND HIGHLY RURAL IN THE SAME REGION HAVE EXTREMELY DIFFERENT NEEDS.

AND WITH, WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE RULES WE CALL 'EM OR THE SMALLS, WE'RE JUST GONNA GET BEAT UP.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SAY THAT, UM, TOO LOUD BECAUSE CHESTERFIELD, THE BASIN REALLY TAKING CARE OF FOR OUR $2 MILLION A YEAR CONTRIBUTION.

WE'VE GOTTEN OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF ROAD PROJECTS, REGIONAL ROAD PROJECTS BECAUSE THE REGION THINKS THAT THEY'RE A GOOD THING.

SO I HOPE THAT WE ARE ACTING OUT OF WORK BECAUSE WHILE WE WILL ADD AND GROW TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE NEEDS OF, WE WILL, WE'LL NEVER HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP AND THAT IF WE BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE OF JURISDICTIONS, WE CAN CALL 'EM.

THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE BAD ANALYSTS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THESE RESOURCES THEY'RE WILLING TO SHARE BECAUSE REGION CAN SUCCEED OR FAIL TOGETHER.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? ALRIGHT, IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING IF THERE'S A STRUCTURED FIRE ON DOWNTOWN ROAD, WHICH IS THE ONE DISTRICT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A FIRE STATION.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAVE A QUESTION.

JUST CALL ME.

CAN ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT? THERE YOU GO.

ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE ALL THIS STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL MORNING AND START TO MAKE SOMETHING UP, UH, WITH, UH, STRENGTH, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS, EXERCISE.

AND THERE IS NOBODY BETTER TO DO THAT THAN MY COLLEAGUE .

WELL, I'M A GOOD SWAT.

OH, SORRY.

SORRY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE LONG TIME.

SURE.

IT'S JUST LIKE PROBABLY SNOWY.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

[03:40:01]

WE TALKED THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THIS.

AND SO REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO NOW, UM, IS START TO BUILD IT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WE CAN SEE WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, TAKE WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY, UM, AND START TO BUILD THIS OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BRING IT TOGETHER AS WE START TO THINK ABOUT.

IF YOU REMEMBER THAT, THAT ONE SLIDE THAT GRANT SHOWED ABOUT OUR CURRENT STATE AND FUTURE STATE, AS WE START TO THINK ABOUT THE VISION THAT WE WANT TO BE, UM, AND WHO WE WANT TO BE IN THE COMING YEARS, HOW DO WE GET THERE? HOW DO WE LEVERAGE OUR STRENGTHS, UM, TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE THE, THE CORE OF CONVERSATION.

SO I ASKED YOU ALL IN OUR, IN OUR, IN OUR ONE ON ONES, YOU KNOW, WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE TODAY? UM, AND SO THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOU ALL.

BIGGER WORDS ARE WHAT WE HEARD MORE OFTEN.

UM, SO BEAUTIFUL WAS THE OVERWHELMING, UM, RESPONSE THAT WE HEARD.

UM, EXPENSIVE.

IT IS CHARMING RIVER COMMUNITY, UM, FAMILY RESPONSIBLE, QUALITY OF LIFE, THE RIVER, UM, ALL, YOU KNOW, PRETTY, UH, POSITIVE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD INTERPRET EXPENSIVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS THERE, BUT GENERALLY PRETTY POSITIVE.

SO I JUST WANNA KIND OF KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND.

ALL MINE ARE REALLY SMALL.

, .

UM, BUT NOW WE'RE GONNA DIG INTO THE SWAT.

UM, SO THINKING ABOUT THAT, THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, WANNA FIRST FOCUS ON THE INTERNAL AND THAT'S KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION, ABOUT THE BOARD, ABOUT KIND OF HOW GOLAND OPERATES.

AND THEN WE'LL SPEND SOME TIME THINKING ABOUT EXTERNAL, AGAIN, THOSE EXTERNAL FORCES GOING ON AROUND THIS.

SO I THINK OUR CONVERSATIONS EARLIER THIS MORNING WILL REALLY HELP SHAPE THIS.

SO, UM, FIRST STARTING ON THE STRENGTHS, UM, JUST HAVE A COUPLE BULLET POINTS OF THINGS THAT I HEARD FROM YOU ALL.

UM, WE JUST WANNA SPEND A COUPLE MINUTES, UM, AND BUILD ON THIS AND ADD TO THIS.

SO, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD IN OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE INVOLVED COMMUNITY, UM, AND GREAT CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.

UM, AND A STRONG, UM, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, STRONG FIRE RESCUE.

UM, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER STRENGTHS? NO TAXES.

THE TAXES.

NO, WE'RE AT GOOD CONTRAST AGAINST RICHMOND IN THE HIGH DENSITY AREAS.

GOOD SCOPE.

THINK WE HAVE INCREDIBLY DEDICATED STAFF.

VERY STRONG BOSS.

THIS A STRONG, STRONG GOVERNANCE.

YOU GUYS HAVE A STRONG CREDIT RATING THAT ALLOWS FOR STRONG BORROW.

I ALSO THINK WE HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION.

DON'T SCREW IT UP, WAS THE THING I HEARD THE MOST.

THAT IS ACTUALLY THE THEME THAT I HEARD FROM EACH ONE OF Y'ALL.

JUST DON'T WANNA MESS IT UP.

DON'T SCREW IT UP.

WHICH I THINK, YOU KNOW, DOES THAT GOOD, GOOD FOUNDATION IS THE, THE GOOD GOVERNANCE THAT Y'ALL HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I THINK WE'RE POSITIONED TO HAVE GOOD, STRONG, SENSIBLE GROWTH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, YOU KNOW, 64 RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE COUNTY, BUT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE RIGHT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THAT MIX RIGHT, THE RIGHT MIX.

I THINK THE STRENGTH IS WE'VE GOT UNTAPPED OPPORTUNITY AND I CAN SPECIFICALLY AT WEST CREEK, I MEAN IT, IT IS BEEN THERE.

IT IT'S GOT FOUR LANE DIVIDED, UH, INFRAS STRUCTURE.

I MEAN, IT'S GOT WATER, IT'S GOT SEWER, IT, IT, UH, STILL NEEDS CUTTING AND POLISHING, BUT IT'S A DONE YOU, YEAH, IT'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STRENGTHS.

ONE THING ABOUT WEST CREEK THOUGH IS WE'RE NOT IN CONTROL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THERE.

PROPERTY OWNERS LESS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING .

I MIGHT GO IN A WEEKEND WHEN WE GET THERE.

YOU HAVE AVAILABLE WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY AND A GOOD TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

I WAS ONE WATER

[03:45:01]

SEWER CAPACITY.

AND YOU SAID GOOD TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

SORRY, MY HANDWRITING GETS INCREASINGLY GOVERNANCE INTERACTION STAFF IS, OH, OKAY.

THANKS .

SO GOVERNANCE, UH, INTERACTION WITH STAFF.

SO THE BOARD STAFF.

I COULD SEE JERRY, I COULD SEE SARAH.

I COULD SEE VIC IN ONE MEETING.

I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF BEING A SMALL COUNTY, BUT IT'S ALSO VALUABLE.

WE TALKED TO ALL THE DECISION MAKERS AT ONE TIME.

I I THINK, I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE COURAGE.

MM.

WE WILL, WE'LL DO I SAY THIS A LOT? WE'LL DO THE HARD, WE'LL DO THE RIGHT THING HARD INSTEAD OF DOING YEAH.

WE'LL DO THE HARD THING TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT.

AND, AND WE'LL STOP SOMETHING.

WE'LL, WE WILL, I'VE SEEN THIS MAKE MISTAKES AND WE WE'VE GOTTA CHANGE.

THAT'S GOOD.

SO THOSE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT STRENGTHS.

UM, AND I THINK Y'ALL SHOULD FEEL REALLY PROUD.

AND AS YOU SAID THAT, THAT COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY TOO.

UM, SO LET'S THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE WEAKNESSES.

SO ONE THING WE JUST HEARD IS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY OWN THE LAND, UM, THAT COULD BE USED FOR BUSINESS.

HAVE OH YEAH.

SORRY, WHAT? SORRY.

OH, RIGHT.

SO STAFF AND LEADERSHIP TURNOVER, UM, INCONSISTENT MESSAGING, UM, AND COMMUNICATION.

UM, AND DISCONNECT BETWEEN LEADERSHIP.

SO JUST THINGS THAT I HEARD THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS.

GIMME JUST A, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING BOTHERS ME IS SORT OF THE FAILURE OF RENOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BEING VIABLE HERE WITHIN OUR COUNTY'S GONE AWAY.

WELL, WE LETTING THAT GO AWAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNDERUTILIZED.

IT'S UNDERUTILIZED.

I UTILIZED IT'S WHATEVER, BUT IT'S AN ASSET THAT WE'RE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN EXTERNAL THREAT.

YEAH, YEAH.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WEAKNESS, BUT MY PERCEPTION IS SOMETIMES WE CAN USE MORE FORCEMENT ON THE BOARDS IS THAT WE DO AN AWFUL LOT WITH VERY FEW FOLKS.

I, I HAVE BEEN PART OF STARTUPS IN, IN 60, 70 HOUR WEEKS AS PART OF THE STARTUP, BUT NO, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN SUSTAIN, SUSTAIN THAT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

AND AFTER A WHILE YOU, YOU HAVE STAFF BURNOUT, YOU MAKE MISTAKES AND YOU REPHRASE IT.

WHEN I'M TIRED, I MAKE MISTAKES.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS PRETTY FREQUENT OVER THE LAST FOUR OR SIX MONTHS, ARE WE STAFFED WELL? ARE WE STAFFED WHERE WE NEED TO BE? AND NOT JUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT INTERNAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

WE SAW THE CHART AS TO HOW MANY, UH, APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE OVER VARIOUS QUARTERS.

NOT JUST IN GROWTH, BUT ALSO IN THE, UH, RURAL PRESERVATION, RURAL PRESIDENTIAL AREAS.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I'VE NEVER PROCESSED A, A, UH, BUILDING PERMIT.

I DUNNO, IT TAKES 10 MINUTES OR 10 HOURS.

BUT YOU CAN'T, AS I'M SAYING, YOU CAN'T GET 30 POUNDS INTO A 25 POUND SACK.

SOMETHING'S GONNA STEAL OR SPLIT.

SO I'M NOT AN ADVOCATE, A GROWING GOVERNMENT, BUT WE HAVE 27 POUNDS OF RESIDENTS NOW.

AND I'VE MOVED HERE 34 YEARS AGO, WE HAD 16.

SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT MY LOGIC TELLS ME WE NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT STAFF TO DO THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MAGIC NUMBER IS, MR. CARPENTER.

DOES HE? UH, HE'S GONNA SHARE IT WITH US.

I'M SURE.

TWO, ITS COMING UP.

BUT,

[03:50:01]

UM, THAT IS A QUESTION.

I, I, I DO THINK MY FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS I'VE TALKED TO IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT, GOSH, YOU KNOW, I CALL AND SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE THREE OR FOUR DAYS BEFORE I GET A CALL BACK.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'VE GOT A POKER NAME GOING INTO THAT GROUP.

UM, I TWO, THEY'RE KIND OF TIED, BUT I THINK, UM, LACK OF DATA, UM, AND TIED TO THAT IS MAYBE THE METRICS TO GET TO THE DATA.

SO WE, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT THAT.

I, THERE'S A TRANSPARENCY SHEET TO GOALS AND METRICS AND DATA FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

AND IS THIS, IS THIS DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND LIKE, GOING BACK TO THOSE, THE MM-HMM.

, UH, ONE OF THE SIX ROLES OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THOSE DASHBOARDS? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YEAH.

SO, AND THEY GONNA HAVE TALK ABOUT THIS WITH, UH, BUT I HAVE PEOPLE TALK TO ME ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW MUCH LONGER IT'S TAKING BE BUILDING PERMITS.

WELL, I ONLY HEAR FROM THE, I I'M SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW, I ONLY HEAR FROM THE 1% THAT THEY IS PROBABLY MM-HMM.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THE 99% OF 'EM ARE GETTING, UM, FULFILLED LOT OF TIME.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO I, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT IT TO RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION, MIKE.

OH, LOOK INTO IT.

IS IT THAT ONE PERSON OR IS THIS A SYSTEMIC PIECE? YEAH.

UM, PUT INTERNAL CHANGE IS UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE LIKE THE WAY WEAKNESS, WE LIKE THE WAY WE ARE.

MAYBE WE LIKE THE WAY WE ARE TOO MUCH.

I ALSO WONDER IF WE HAVE, AND THIS IS SORT OF A STAFF POTENTIAL STAFFING IS DO WE, HAS, I DON'T KNOW THE WAY TO SAY IT, BUT SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE.

IF WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT CAN DO ONE THING, IF THAT PERSON'S NOT HERE, THEN BEING SUCCESSIVE DO WE, DO WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE REDUNDANCY OF CROSS-TRAIN? MM-HMM.

GETS BACK TO THAT STAFFING.

WELL, THERE GOES BACK TO THE WEAKNESS THAT I THINK WAS BROUGHT OUT OF ATTRACTING THE TALENT WE NEED.

UM, BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, YOU KNOW, COST OF HOUSING HERE AND SO FORTH ON MM-HMM.

, UM, JUST EXPANDING THAT MARKETING.

I OFTEN SAY I LEARNED MORE ABOUT OUR COUNTY READERS FROM DISTANCE AND BEFORE, BUT ALONG WITH THAT, I WAS THINKING MONTH AGO WHEN I MENTIONED MARKETING, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE KNOW WE'LL MARK, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO MARKET AND BE COMPETITIVE.

AND THAT MAY BE SOME HOMEWORK THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE AHEAD OF MARKETING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT WE CAN MARK.

ALL THAT.

WE'RE HEARING THE SAME THING JUST TO STATE.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE HAVE OUR STAFF, THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO RUN THE ENGINE.

SO IT'S TO KEEP, KEEP IT GOING.

LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO STOP AND BE THINK, BE ABLE TO THINK THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT GETTING THE NEXT PROJECT DONE THAT WAS DUE YESTERDAY VERSUS TRYING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK, YOU KNOW, EVEN A MONTH DOWN THE ROAD.

SO WE SEE THAT THERE'S SOME STRENGTHS, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME OH YEAH.

BECAUSE IT'S PUBLIC.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS PRIVATELY, BUT I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THAT WE, IN, IN, IN THE VEIN OF ENSURING THAT WE ARE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND NOT RUN GOVERNMENT.

I THINK WE RUN TOO LEAN AND DON'T INVEST ENOUGH IN TRAINING AND GIVING STAFF WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO SOMETIMES UP IT'S, IT'S THE NEXT PERSON UP MENTALITY.

THEY MAY GOOD THEIR, THEIR AT THEIR, THEIR JOB OF, YOU KNOW, BEING THE GROUNDSKEEPER AND NOW WE'RE PROMOTING THEM TO MANAGING ALL THE GROUNDSKEEPER.

WE'VE NEVER HAD LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

SO ARE WE GETTING THEM THE RESOURCES OR TRAINING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL? MM-HMM.

, I THINK, I THINK WE ARE PUTTING PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT ARE, ARE STARTING TO TAKE HOME.

IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REALLY RESPONSIBLE AND SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I THINK IS A THEME WE'VE HEARD TODAY AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE OUR INTERNAL STRENGTHS AND WE WEAKNESSES OBVIOUSLY IT'S PROBABLY NOT CAPTURING EVERYTHING THAT LIST, UM, ON BOTH.

SO LET'S START TO, UM, LOOK TOWARDS OUR EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS.

SO STARTING WITH OUR OPPORTUNITIES, SOME OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOU

[03:55:01]

UM, FIRST IN CLASS SERVICES, UM, EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AND RURAL LIVING.

SO, UM, KIND OF SOME THEMES I THINK WE'VE HEARD TODAY.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES? SO EXTERNAL THEMES THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND US THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF? IT WAS TOUCHED ON WITH THE REGIONAL COOPERATION.

I, I THINK DEEPENING THAT WITH BOTH, UH, PLAN RBA, THE R-R-T-P-O AND SOME OF THE ACRONYMS I HAVEN'T MEMORIZED YET.

THAT ARE REGIONAL IN NATURE.

UH, I, I THINK THAT, AND I THINK THERE'S A RECIPROCITY OR RECEPTIVENESS MM-HMM.

FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I MEAN, I NEVER WENT TO MY HIGH SCHOOL PROM.

IT WASN'T BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T ASK SOMEBODY, IT'S JUST THEY NEVER SAID YES.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ASK SOMEBODY TO COOPERATE, BUT IT TAKES TWO TO HAVE THAT INTERACTION.

IN MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT MOST LOCAL OR ADJOINING GOVERNORS OR GOVERNMENTS ARE, ARE INTERESTED IN HOW, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE GO FURTHER TOGETHER AS OPPOSED TO FASTER ALONE.

SO I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPEN HANOVER, PALATIVE CHESTER FUEL OR WE TRY, TRY AND KEEP UP WITH NEIGHBORING SALARIES.

WE NEED OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, THE, THE, THE INCOMING DEPUTIES, THE HIGHEST PAID THAT LASTED ABOUT A WEEK.

AND THEN YEAH, YOU HAVE HUGE POCKET THEY GO.

AND YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT ONE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SAY THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE HIGHEST PAID.

SO THAT'S HARD.

AND THAT MIGHT BE A THREAT.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT TOO WHEN WE WERE AT LUNCH, UM, AND TALKING ABOUT HOW UM, YOU KNOW, YOU RECENTLY LOST A COUPLE HR PEOPLE TO THE CITY AND THE CITY.

THE CITY JUST GOT VRS AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY ONE OF THESE COUNTIES AND CITIES ARE ALSO BEING JUST AS COMPETITIVE AND UPPING THEIR MM-HMM.

WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TALK, UH, MY NAME IS DATA.

WE NEED TO COMPARE AND REVIEW THE DATA.

UM, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT COMMS. MM-HMM.

HARDLY EVER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE BEST GOOCHLAND IN MONTANA DOING WHAT IS THE BEST GOOCHLAND IN TEXAS? I MEAN, I JUST, WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE HAVEN'T EVEN IDENTIFIED ACCOUNTS.

SO I DON'T WANT TO, BUT I, IT IS A WEAKNESS, BUT IT'S, SEE IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

WE'RE ALREADY, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER WE'RE ALREADY THIS GOOD.

WE DO BETTER.

DO YOU, DO YOU ALWAYS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPARE MUCH TO LIKE PEER CITIES OR THE COMPETITIVE PLACES YOU MIGHT BE LOSING OUT TO? WE, UH, BENCHMARK AGAINST THE REGION, NOT OUTSIDE OF THE STATE.

I DO KNOW THAT GRP ON, UM, HOW WE ARE AS A REGION COMPARING TO OTHER REGIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK THERE'S LIKE 10 MSAS THAT THEY COMPARE TO.

BEING AT DILLON WOLF STATE AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF RICHMOND IN ACCESS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THREAT THAT, SORRY, THESE ARE OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, GOING ON, YOU KNOW, HIS EXAMPLE OF THE, UH, THE DEPUTIES AND THE SALARY INCREASE AND EVERYTHING.

I THINK THAT WE OFFER SOMETHING THAT'S NON-MONETARY, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE OF A, A FRIENDLY WORK ENVIRONMENT, I WOULD SAY EVER SAYS YOU CAN'T GET THAT THROUGH RICHMOND.

SO EVEN IF WE RAISE, YOU KNOW, COMPENSATION UP AND THEN RICHMOND, YOU KNOW, WENT 10% ABOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER A, YOU KNOW, A FRIENDLY WORK ENVIRONMENT.

AND I APOLOGIZE, MY OLD WORLD OPPORTUNITIES EQUAL WEAKNESSES.

, I LOOK AT MY ANSWERS.

THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD THINGS.

SO, UH, YEAH.

SWITCH GEARS.

IF I COULD THROW ONE IN.

PART OF IT, BUT IT'S MORALE.

OPPORTUNITIES ARE LOCATION THE NEXT ONE.

BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE LOCATED, WHERE WE'RE LOCATED CLOSE TO WHAT WE HAVE, JUST AGAIN, IT IS LIKE THIS IN REAL ESTATE, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

AND, AND YOU CAN'T CREATE THAT.

YOU CAN'T FORCE THAT.

YOU CAN'T PRETEND IT IS WRITTEN.

IT JUST IS, THAT'S ONE OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LOCATION.

YOU KNOW, JONATHAN TOUCHES ON A GOOD POINT.

AND I'M NOT SAYING, I JUST DON'T KNOW, BUT I, I THINK I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BELIEVER TO BE A SOUGHT AFTER EMPLOYER.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT SALARY'S

[04:00:01]

IT'S, I LOVE WORKING THERE BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE JUST LOVING IT.

AND SO I WANNA BE PART OF THAT.

SO THAT'S, AND I'M NOT SURE YOU EVER REALLY GET THERE, YOU KNOW? BUT YOU GOTTA STRIVE FOR IT ALL THE TIME.

AND THAT'S ONE THING WE ARE TALKING, I DON'T MEAN TO IMPLY WE'RE NOT GOAL.

WELL, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS HOW TO BECOME AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.

AND THERE ARE ACTUAL RATINGS OUT THERE THAT WILL RATE COMPANIES AS A GREAT PLACES TO WORK.

AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 10 TO 12 CRITERIA.

UM, AS TO YOUR POINT, THE COMPENSATION SYSTEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

I DON'T YEAH, I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S HERE RIGHT NOW.

I WAS WORKING HERE USING, OKAY.

YEAH, WE HAVE A LETTER GUARD ON THAT.

THAT'S GREAT.

WE DO HAVE 1700 ACRES OF ZONED INDUSTRIAL ZONED LAND IN THE COUNTY.

THAT'S UNDERUTILIZED.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE ALSO HAVE, UH, TOURISM, UH, WE HAVE THE RIVER, SO WE HAVE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERUTILIZED WITH DEFINITE OPPORTUNITIES.

HOW MUCH OF THE RIVERFRONT DO Y'ALL, IS IS EITHER PUBLIC OR, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE? IT COULD BE ACCESSIBLE.

I DON'T KNOW THE ACREAGE.

UM, TOM COX WOULD PROBABLY KNOW, BUT, UM, WE DO HAVE A, A PUBLIC PARK IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY THAT STANDS A REALLY GOOD SPOT WHERE THE RIVER IS ACCESSIBLE.

1200 FEET, 1200 FEET .

RIGHT AT, AT TUCKER PARK, AT, AT TUCKER PARK.

SO THAT, IS THAT AT THE BRIDGE? MM-HMM.

SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR RIVER ACCESS THERE.

MILES, LIKE THREE BOAT LANDINGS.

REPUBLIC OR PUBLIC.

THE REST OF PUT IN THERE, RIVERFRONT IS EITHER STATE LAND WITH THE, UH, I GUESS IT'S STILL A PRISON.

ACTIVE, VERY ACTIVE.

JUST FARMLAND.

IT'S IN AGRICULTURAL OR CONSERVATION.

YOU SAID THIS EARLIER, BUT WE ARE IN GOOD READING, SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ANCHORED TO A SEEKING SHIFT.

REGIONS IS WRONG.

WE, WE HEAR, TELL PEOPLE FROM BOSTON , THEY'VE RECRUITED LIKE FOUR OTHER PEOPLE TO MOVE TOO.

IT'S FUNNY.

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LONG TERM, THE LONG RANGE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY IS THE VAST AMOUNT OF STATE OWNED PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE COUNTY.

THE, UH, THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND THAT ARE PART OF THE STATE FARM, THE PRISON SYSTEM THAT ARE PRIME LAND LOCATED ON THE JAMES, WHEREVER ACCESS TO, TO MAJOR ROADS AND THE STATE.

AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, UH, THE STATE WILL DO SOMETHING WITH THAT LAND, NOT PUT A PRISON ON.

AND SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COUNTY AT SOME POINT TO HELP GUIDE WHAT THAT MAY FOR.

THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

THAT'S COOL.

ALRIGHT, SO LET'S THINK ABOUT OUR THREATS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HEARD WAS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE FROM COUNTY.

SO KIND OF THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, HENRICO IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OR DEVELOPERS ARE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.

UM, I THINK IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEAR TERM OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT VISIBILITY.

WHAT THE LONG TERM WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE, I THINK WE HAVE VISIBILITY IN COMPARABLE SITUATIONS.

AND AN EXAMPLE I WOULD GIVE IS GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, 15 YEARS AGO WAS A CHARMING PLACE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.

OTHER THAN A MAP.

YOU PROBABLY CAN'T IDENTIFY GEORGETOWN, TEXAS ANYMORE.

IT IS AUSTIN.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IF IF IF WE, IF WE, ANY OF OUR CITIZENS WOULD BE SCARED TO DEATH OF US NOT BEING MUTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN ALL ITS, UH, FOR ALL ITS TRADES IN 20 YEARS.

I AN OPPORTUNITY THAT, THAT IS SOMEWHAT AGRICULTURAL EQUESTRIAN.

WE, CHARLIE LIVES EQUESTRIAN.

I MEAN, BUT WE ARE, WE HAVE MORE HORSES IN THE COUNTY THAN WE DO STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I MEAN, IT, IT IS AN EQUESTRIAN CENTER AND IT'S, WE REALLY DO NOT PROMOTE IT PER SE.

WE HAVE A HUNT CLUB THAT HAS THREE OR FIVE SHOWS EVERY YEAR.

I MEAN, CHARLIE THE QUESTION INDUSTRY COMMUNITY BETTER.

BUT I, I THINK THAT WE COULD BE DOING MORE TO BE IDENTIFIED.

WHEN I ASKED GRANT THE QUESTION, TOURISM GOOSE, THE BUZZER WENT OFF.

UM, YOU DIDN'T THINK OF THAT BIG CHRISTMAS TREE.

I PRIMED THE PUMP WITH THAT EARLIER.

UM, WELL, THAT'S THE EQUESTRIAN IS I AND THOSE FOLKS, CHARLIE, DON'T YOU ALL HAVE TONS

[04:05:01]

OF MONEY? HORSES.

THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT RICHMOND REGION TOURISM, ONE OF THE REASON THAT THEY ARE SO SUCCESSFUL IS THE SPORTS TOURISM INDUSTRY.

I KNOW.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, COULD, IS THAT A WAY THAT Y'ALL CAN PARTNER IN WITH THEM AROUND EQUESTRIAN? YEAH.

I DID TOURISM MARKETING FOR 12 YEARS, UH, AND JACKBERRY WAS A DEAR FRIEND, YOU MIGHT SAY DIFFERENT.

UM, AND, AND I SEE A LOT OF THAT.

I LOVE THE TOURISM CONCEPT.

IT'S JUST AT WHAT POINT DO WE PULL THE TRIGGER, JUMP IN.

BUT EQUESTRIAN, I LIVE ACROSS FROM THE HUNT CLUB.

I SHOWS I .

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST, ONE OF THE ONES THAT SCARES ME THE MOST IS, UM, DESIRE TO BRING URBAN PROBLEMS TO RURAL LOCALITIES OR SOLVE URBAN OR TO SOLVE URBAN ISSUES IN RURAL MM-HMM.

FOR US BEING THE SOLUTION TO URBAN PROBLEMS. RIGHT? YEAH.

INTERESTING.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT DON'T AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE I CAN AFFORD MY HOUSE.

UM, SO IT'S AFFORDABLE.

I CALL IT FIRST TIME CO BUYER.

UH, IN, IN THAT THERE IS AN INTEREST, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMEBODY WHOSE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, CLOSE TO GRANDMA, GRANDPA AND THEIR FOLKS, AND GET THE FREE BABYSITTING AND ALL THE STUFF THAT COMES WITH THAT.

WHAT SENSE OF FAMILY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL CONSTRUCTION COSTS $250 A SQUARE FOOT IN LAND COSTS AT WHATEVER PER ACRE, NO MATTER WHERE IN THE COUNTY ARE EASTERN OR WESTERN.

SO THE, THE THREAT IS BEING FORCED AGAIN IN THE DILLON STATE THAT, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN BILLS DISCUSSED AND MAYBE INTRODUCED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WILL REQUIRE A PERCENTAGE OF EVERY HOME OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, NEW HOME STRUCTURES TO HAVE USE, AIR QUOTES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT BECOMES A MANDATE AND NOT A CHOICE ANYMORE.

IT TAKES IT OUT OF THE MARKET'S NOW HAS TO BE DONE.

AND I DON'T RELISH THE THOUGHT OF THE COUNTY HAVING TO ADMINISTER THAT, MEASURE THAT OR ENFORCE THAT.

IT GOES BEYOND MY SENSE OF A GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY.

SO THAT'S A THREAT THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAKE US START DOING STUFF.

FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I'M GONNA KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD.

SO, UM, I ALSO ASKED YOU ALL, WE HAVE OUR, OUR WORDLE FOR OUR WORD CLUB FOR TODAY.

UM, WE ALSO ASKED YOU ABOUT WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE WOULD BE THE WORD THE NEXT 10 YEARS? UM, AND THIS IS WHERE WE SAW REALLY BIG COMMUNITY, BEAUTIFUL, RURAL, CHARMING, UNIQUE, COZY, INDEPENDENT FISCAL RESPONSIBLE SOUND.

AS WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHERE ARE WE TODAY, WHERE WE WANT TO WANT TO BE, AND THINKING ABOUT THE SWAT EXERCISE THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS, HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE SOME OF OUR STRENGTHS TO OVERCOME OUR WEAKNESSES? UM, UM, AND HOW CAN WE, SORRY, IT'S IN THE SAME SECTION.

SO HOW CAN WE USE OUR STRENGTHS TO LEVERAGE OUR OPPORTUNITIES? AND HOW DO WE USE OUR STRENGTHS TO SHORE UP WEAKNESSES AND MINIMIZE OUR THREATS TO HELP US GET TO THIS FUTURE VISION THAT WE WANT? I THINK SPENDING MORE TIME SUCH LIKE STRATEGIC PLANNING.

THERE'S NO CONTINUING TO, TO DO THE THINGS THAT UCHIN HAS BEEN DOING, LIKE LIN DAY AND THOSE EVENTS THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, NEW FAMILY COMES INTO UCHIN AND, YOU KNOW, ASKS, OH, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? YOU KNOW, WE'LL STOP BY AND MAYBE IT'LL CREATE A TRADITION FOR 'EM.

MORE TIME STRATEGIC PLANNING, CERTAIN EXTENT REGIONAL INVOLVEMENT.

YOU, WHEN I SAY THAT THOUGH, YOU GET TOO INVOLVED IN THE REGION.

YOU BECOME THE REGION AND, UM, WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME ENRICO.

SO WE NEED TO BE VERY JUDICIOUS ABOUT THAT.

NO OFFENSE, INCO , THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO THIS.

[04:10:01]

JUST, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THE TRADITION WILL MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S SO INTERESTING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE TRENDS, BUT COMMUNITY WASN'T THAT BIG ON THE WORD CLOUD FOR TODAY, BUT IT'S SUPER BIG HERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL WAS THE BIGGEST WORD ON THE CURRENT STATE.

AND YOUR COMMUNITY IS THE BIGGEST WORD.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN START TO BUILD THAT STRONGER COMMUNITY? OR WHAT IS THAT COMMUNITY MEANING? I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, POLITICS DOES NOT LEND ITSELF TO THAT.

I MEAN, IN THEORY, IN FOUR YEARS TIME, EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY, WE HAVE A CLEAN SLATE AND WE'RE GOING TO SCRAP IT.

SO IN MANY WAYS, IN THE FOUR YEAR PERIOD, WE'D HAVE TO EMBED IT SO MUCH IN OUR CULTURE THAT IT, UM, STANDS THE TEST OF TIME WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO.

SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A REASON THE GOVERNMENT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER AND, UM, COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS GET SMALLER AND SMALLER.

UM, BECAUSE THEY FIND WAYS TO PROLONG THEMSELVES.

WOW.

PEOPLE WANTING TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ARE, ARE NOT CHECKING, YOU KNOW, CHECKING BACK AND .

YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE HERE EMPOWERING THEM TO DO THE BEST WORK OF THEIR LIVES.

HOW DO YOU EMPOWER SOMEBODY TO DO THE BEST WORK OF THEIR LIVES WHILE THEY'RE HERE? UM, AND HAVING, HAVING WORKED WITH FIVE TINY ADMINISTRATORS IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, REALIZE THAT LUCIN IS GONNA BE A ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR SOMEBODY TO COME CUT THEIR TEETH AND MOVE TO SOMEPLACE ELSE.

BUT WHILE THEY ARE HERE, THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DEVELOP THAT CULTURE, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT CULTURE.

'CAUSE OUR CULTURE'S GONNA EXIST WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, IT'S GONNA FORM.

SO BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT CULTURE AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE, UH, MR. CARPENTER'S WORKING ON, WHICH IS, HEY, WHILE YOU ARE HERE, IT'S FIVE YEARS, YEARS, YOU'RE DOING THE BEST WORK OF YOUR CAREER.

AND, AND WE'RE GIVING YOU THE TOOL AS A, AND THE BOARD IS FUNDING THAN TOOLS TO DO THAT, BECAUSE A LOT CHEAPER TO RETAIN SOMEBODY WHO, TO HIRE SOMEBODY.

I THINK WE'VE GOTTA PUFF OUR CHEST OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE GOTTA VIEW GLIN AS GOOD AND GREAT, NOT GET STUCK, GET MIRED IN THE FEW PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND IT'S ALL RELEVANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CITIZENS I WAS SPEAKING TO BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED REALLY DID SAY, YEAH, WE STILL LOVE NEUTRALS.

NOT THAT WE HATE NEUTRAL.

WE'RE FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE US BETTER.

AND SO WE GOTTA KEEP ON MAINTAINING A MESSAGE.

WE ARE ALREADY GOOD.

HOW ARE WE BECOMING BETTER? AND, AND, AND ALSO SAY THAT THAT GETS MISCONSTRUED AS, OH, WE'RE, WE'RE IGNORING THAT.

NO, NO, NO.

GOOD.

IT IS THE GOOD AND THE BEST.

THEY'RE NEVER LETTING THE BAD BECOME A NORM.

THEY'RE JUST CRUSHING IT BEFORE IT EVER, UH, INFESTS, UH, THE SYSTEM.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY, BUT, BUT I ALSO, I MEAN, I, I ALWAYS THINK LIKE, I TAKE THE STANCE WHEN I GO TO A REGIONAL MEETING AND WHEN I GO AND TALK ABOUT GLAND COUNTY, I WANT TO PUT IT IN PEOPLE'S FACES SO THEY DON'T GET TO SAY, OH, WE HAVE 125,000 CITIZENS, YOU GO SIT IN YOUR CORNER.

NO, I MEAN, LIKE, WE, I ALWAYS WANNA BELIEVE WE ARE BETTER IN THE MOST POSITIVE AND HUMBLE WAY.

SO, UM, WE GOTTA SEND THAT MESSAGE BROADER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, STRIDES IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

I, I HONESTLY THINK ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT IS TO SELL.

I, I DON'T THINK WE DO ENOUGH TIME CELEBRATING OUR STRENGTH AND OUR SUCCESSES.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, BE LIKE, OH, WE JUST WON THIS AWARD.

I JUST HEARD AWARD,

[04:15:11]

UM, I SEE A LOT MORE FROM, FROM STAFF, BUT, YOU KNOW, BOARD NEEDS US TO SUPPORT THAT TOO.

THE INITIATIVES AND, YEAH.

TELLING STORY.

SO I MEAN, WE COULD, WE COULD PROBABLY SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON THIS, BUT I THINK WHAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IS TO START GETTING INTO THE MEAT OF THINGS OF NOW THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND OUR ROLES.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE INTERNAL AND THE EXTERNAL.

WE'VE STARTED TO BRING THAT TOGETHER, STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THIS THAT WE WANNA BE.

UM, AND SO NOW LET'S PUT SOME MEAT ON THE BONES.

UM, LET'S START TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE, UM, KEY PRIORITIES AND, AND A LOT OF HOW WE THINK ABOUT HAVING A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE AND GOING AFTER THESE PRIORITIES.

THIS CAN BE A REALLY LONG SIX MONTH, 12 MONTH PROCESS.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SCRATCH THE SUR SURFACE IN THIS ONE DAY.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING SOLVE IT ALL.

WE'RE NOT GOING, YOU KNOW, FULLY GET THERE, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO, UM, HONE THE TIRES.

UM, THAT'S THE RIGHT PHRASE.

I KNOW.

BUT, UM, WORRY KICK THE TIRE.

KICK THE TIRE TRYING TO MOVE OURSELVES FORWARD ING THE WHEELS, UM, .

AND SO WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU ALL IN OUR, IN OUR TIME TOGETHER, OUR ONE-ON-ONES, AND I THINK ARE THINGS THAT WERE REITERATED TODAY IS WE STARTED TO THINK WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES FOR US, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, THAT CHALLENGE OF THE 85 15, AND WHAT DOES OUR GROWTH REALLY LOOK LIKE? UM, AND THEN HOW DO YOU REALLY THOUGHTFUL FUTURE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR REVENUE.

DOES THAT FEEL RIGHT? IS THERE ANYTHING MISSING THAT'S PRESSING THAT'S, I WANT TO KEEP CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT ALSO.

, I MEAN MAYBE THAT LEADS THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, BUT VERY MUCH THE, OF GOVERNMENT SERVING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNIQUE MUSIC.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YEAH.

WHETHER THAT'S STRATEGIC OR RATHER JUST AN OPERATING PRINCIPLE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENGAGE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE.

SO I WANT YOU TO HOLD ONTO THAT.

'CAUSE THAT'S, WE'RE GONNA, THAT'S GONNA COME INTO PLAY HERE.

AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A THROUGH LINE FOR ALL OF THIS.

WHEN YOU'RE SAYING FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GONNA FUND THE GROWTH.

AND, AND VIC, YOU CAN SPEAK INTO THIS TOO.

UM, YEAH.

AS WE LOOK AT OUR, OUR OBJECTIVES, AGAIN, WE HAVE SET OBJECTIVES OF THAT SOMETIMES MIGHT ALMOST BE, SOME OF THEM ARE COMPLIMENTED, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE NOT.

SO AS WE SAY THAT, THAT WE ARE GOING TO, UM, FULLY FUND A CIP OKAY, FOR 25 YEARS.

WELL, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THAT BECAUSE OUR PREMISE IS WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY LEFT OVER THIS YEAR TO PAY FOR NEXT YEAR'S, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE LIKE A SCHOOL, UH, SOME OF THESE LIKE, UH, FIRE STATIONS DOWN THE ROAD, THAT THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GONNA GENERATE THAT MUCH EXTRA MONEY UNLESS WE STOP SPENDING IT ON THE CURRENT NEEDS AND SAVE IT UP TO HAVE IT FOR THE FUTURE NEEDS.

SO, SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF FUTURE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES, IS HOW ARE WE GONNA PAY FOR THIS AS WE LOOK AT BUILDING A FIRE STATION, THAT, THAT, THAT WE ARE SETTING MONEY ASIDE NOW, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH TO BUILD IT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAFF IT.

AND THAT STAFFING IS GOING TO COST US, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS.

IF, IF YOU BASE ON THREE PEOPLE PER SHIFT, FIVE PEOPLE PER SHIFT, IT, IT COULD COST US, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS JUST AN ADDITIONAL COST.

WHERE'D THAT MONEY COME FROM? WELL, THAT CAME FROM THE SAME MONEY THAT WE WERE GONNA BE BUILDING THE NEXT FIRE STATION WITH.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, YOU KNOW, SETTING PRIORITIES, THOSE, THOSE OBJECTIVES, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH A SENSE FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BUT NOW, NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

AND ARE THOSE STILL STILL VALID? THEREFORE, 'CAUSE IF WE CAN'T PAY FOR SOMETHING AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT AS A GOAL IN FRONT OF US.

TO PROVIDE THE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES TO THE CITIZENS.

SO IT'S THAT BALANCE, THE TRADE OFFS, THE CRITERIA FOR THE DECISION MAKING AND THE WHOLE THING.

ALL THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY IS INCREASING EXPENSES.

AND WE'VE NOT TALKED ABOUT ING BACK.

AND I'M NOT SAYING, I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD BE OR WE CAN BECAUSE THE DEMANDS ARE INCREASING ON AS THE POPULATION GROWS, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE

[04:20:01]

UH, SO, AND WE ARE ENJOYING A, UH, AN INCREASE IN REVENUE DUE TO INCREASE IN VALUES ABOUT REAL ESTATE.

SO OUR TAX RATE IS STAYING CONSTANT, BUT OUR REVENUE'S INCREASING BECAUSE OF THE, UH, THE TAX BILLS GOING UP AS RESULT OF INCREASE VALUE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SUSTAINABLE THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S SACRED DOES IS MAINTAINING A LEVEL TAX RATE.

AND SO I I SEE SOME CONFLICTING YEAH.

THINGS COMING IN THE FUTURE FOR US THAT WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH.

SO I WANT, I WANNA PAUSE BEFORE WE'RE GONNA DIG INTO EACH ONE OF THESE.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS LIST IS GOOD.

SO FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, OUR THOUGHT WAS THAT WE WOULD SPLIT YOU INTO TWO GROUPS.

UM, AND EACH GROUP TAKES TWO OF THESE.

AND IN THAT TIME WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS.

WHAT SHOULD GLIN HAVE ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS DO TO STRATEGICALLY ADDRESS THIS TOPIC AREA IN A WAY THAT REINFORCES OUR DESIRED FUTURE? SO THINK ABOUT THAT WORD CLOUD.

AND THEN HOW SHOULD YOU, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THIS TOPIC AREA? AND THIS IS WHERE YOU THINK ABOUT THE SIX ROLES, AND THIS IS WHERE THE, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMES INTO POST.

YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THOSE SIX THINGS.

IF, IF THAT'S YOUR ROLE, WHAT'S YOUR, HOW DO YOU PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP ON THOSE DATES? DOES THAT, DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND YOU'LL SHARE WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOUR GROUP CAME UP WITH.

SO WE COULD JUST SPLIT THE TABLES, OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAD BENEFIT OF SPLITTING YOU TWO UP SINCE Y'ALL GOT SOME LEGACY SUPER SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE.

NOT TO CHANGE THE AGENDA, BUT CAN BE DONE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO IT AS A GROUP COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE.

I MEAN, WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE I'M AS FASCINATED IN THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH EVERYBODY.

BUT THAT'S JUST ME.

I, I'LL FOLLOW DIRECTION.

YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

YEAH, I, I PREFER THAT.

OKAY, THEN LET'S DO IT.

ALRIGHT, GREAT.

WE TAKE 20 MINUTES TO FOUR HOUR.

YEAH, YEAH.

NO, THAT'S GREAT.

I MEAN, Y'ALL ARE SMALL.

SOMETIMES WE WORK WITH GROUPS THAT ARE LIKE NOTHING PEOPLE YEAH.

I JUST, I GET .

I'M GONNA GO WITH THE HIGHER HELP .

ALRIGHT, SO LET'S, LET'S START WITH, UM, PUBLIC.

WE'LL SPEND ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON EACH ONE OF THESE, MAYBE 10, 15 MINUTES.

FIRST THING I THINK HAVING READ THROUGH THE 160 PAGES IS IDENTIFYING WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS ARE.

UM, THAT TO ME, THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE'RE SAYING.

YOU KNOW, AND THEN FOR ME, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, BUT IT'S A, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I READ THE REPORT, IT IS THE GROWTH DROVE THIS, YOU KNOW, THE GROWTH DROVE THE NEED FOR ALL THESE EXTRA RESOURCES.

BUT THE STORY I HEAR FROM THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE IS WE NEED TO GROW TO SUPPORT THE RESOURCES.

SO WE HAVE THIS CHICKEN AND EGG THING AND WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

UM, SO THAT'S THE FIRST TWO.

WHAT, WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS? AND THEN I THAT, BECAUSE THAT, I KEEP HEARING, I KEEP HEARING PUBLIC SAFETY, BLAME GROWTH, BUT I SEE THE GROWTH, UM, UH, BEING NEEDED, NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WANNA REWORD THE WAY GRANT DID IT A LITTLE BIT.

I REWORD THE WORDING, UH, BECAUSE I WOULD JUST SAY, WHAT IS THE BASELINE? 'CAUSE THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS, CHANGE.

PART OF OUR GOAL AS A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS TO SAY THIS, GIVEN ALL THE GIVES AND TAKES, THIS IS OUR BASELINE.

QUESTION AND CHIEF'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT CHARLIE'S POINT, WHAT'S THE BASELINE? AND I ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW MANY DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST TWO TO FIVE YEARS? BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET AN AMBULANCE OR A FIRE TRUCK SOMEPLACE IN TIME.

AND HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE PROVIDE THAT? UM, 'CAUSE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW YEAH.

WHO DON'T, WHO WANT LOW TAX RATES WILL SAY, BUT YOU BETTER DARN WELL GIVE US .

AND THAT GOES BACK TO THAT FIRST HAT, RIGHT? WHERE GRANT TALKED ABOUT THAT BALANCE BETWEEN, WE GOTTA UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AND THAT TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE.

SO I THINK IT'S LIKE BOTH OF THOSE.

WELL, AND BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN THEM TO THE COMMUNITY, WHY YOU'RE MAKING THIS DECISION.

JUST I'LL SAY , JUST BEFORE I, I POSED THE

[04:25:01]

I KNOW NEIL SHARED WITH ME BECAUSE OF THE SANDY HOOK, WE HAVE SAVED LIVES BECAUSE IF WE GOT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, TO ME, THIS IS MY PROJECTION.

SAVING LIVES TAKES PRIORITY ABOVE SAVING PROPERTY.

I MEAN, I'VE GOT HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, MY HOUSE BREAKS DOWN.

OSTENSIBLY I SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT.

BUT IF, IF MY WIFE OR HAS HAS AN ILLNESS OR SOMETHING AND NEEDS AN EMT, I CAN'T REPLACE IT.

AND, AND SO MY EMPHASIS IS WHAT IS OUR BASELINE? ARE WE SEEING PEOPLE ACTUALLY LOSING THEIR GIFT OF LIFE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SUPPLY FROM MY CAMPAIGN? I USE THE STATEMENT THAT THE PENULTIMATE WOULD BE TO PUT AN AMBULANCE IN A FIRETRUCK IN EVERYBODY'S DRIVEWAY.

WELL THAT'S, THAT'S ECONOMICALLY LIKELY NOT TENABLE.

AND, AND SO WE DON'T DO THAT.

SO NOW THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS TENABLE? AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT PERFORMANCE LEVELS OF EIGHT MINUTES OR 12 MINUTES DEPENDING ON WHAT FIRE STATION AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

BUT, UM, WHAT, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATION FROM MY CONVERSATIONS IS THAT NOBODY DOCKS, THAT'S THE EXPECTATION IS THAT NOBODY'S DYING BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET TO THEM.

UH, AND, AND THE NEXT LEVEL WOULD BE, AND THE HOUSE DOESN'T BURN DOWN OR IT DOESN'T SPREAD TO NEIGHBOR HOUSES, BUT, AND WHAT'S IT COST THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SAVE LIVES AND THIS TRAFFIC GETS A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING AND IS DENSITY GETS A LITTLE MORE, WE'VE GOT HOUSES OUT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET TO.

'CAUSE THEY WEREN'T THERE FIVE YEARS AGO.

NOW THEY ARE.

SO WE'VE GOT LONGER DRIVE TIMES TO GET TO BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T THERE BEFORE.

SO FOR ME, PUBLIC SAFETY IS WHAT DO WE NEED TO DELIVER SO THAT IN EVERY POSSIBLE INSTANCE WE ARE SAVING LIVES.

AND, AND THEN IF WE CAN SAVE THE PROPERTY TOO, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON SAVING THE LIFE.

SO IF WE HAVE THIS PLAN, THEN I THINK WE TAKE THE, WHO'S THE KIND OF DEPARTMENT OF FIREARMS EMERGENCY SERVICES DRAFT.

SO THEY'VE GOT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEN WE TAKE THIS AND SAY, OKAY, HERE'S, HERE'S WHAT OUR CITIZENS EXPECT.

HOW, WHAT DO WE TAKE OUT OF THIS TO GET THERE? SO HOW ARE WE GONNA PLAN TO PUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN PLACE TO, UH, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? UM, THE THING THAT I GET SENSE IS THIS FIVE PEOPLE FIRST NATION.

I'M NOT SURE, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER.

MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE IT'S NOT.

BUT HOW DO WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO, TO SAY, OKAY, BASED ON THIS, IF THESE ARE OUR GOALS, WE EXPECT THESE, THESE, UM, THESE RESPONSE TIME GOALS.

WHAT DO YOU NEED, CHIEF? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO GET TO THESE GOALS? UH, AND PULL OUTTA HERE AND THEN WORK THAT PLAN OVER THE NEXT HOW, HOWEVER LONG IT'S NOW PROBABLY THAT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY OFFICE.

AND THOSE ARE TWO OTHER ASPECTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY WE GOT TO PRESENT.

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO MENTION THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS ENCOMPASSING A LOT MORE THAN JUST FIRE AND RESCUE AND ANIMAL CONTROL.

I GOT NOTHING TO DO.

YOU SAID THAT THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR A COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IS A DON'T, NOT NUMBER ONE, BUT , SOUTH CAROLINA, HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE ON WEEKENDS DO SURVEYS AT THE DON'T ON THAT'D BE A GREAT IDEA.

COUNTY, COUNTY ISSUES.

BUT YOU'RE ONLY GONNA GET THE CENTER AND THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE OF THE COUNTY'S OPINIONS.

'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY TO CATCH EVERYBODY.

NOT, I DRIVE NOT MANY PEOPLE OUT IN THE WORLD.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND, AND I YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'LL GIVE US A COMPREHENSIVE WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE THING.

SO THAT COULD BE ONE AVENUE.

AND THEN YOU, YOU HAVE OTHER WAYS THAT YOU'RE ENGAGING OTHER FOLKS TOO, TO WHAT SHOULD WE DO? WE SHOULD, UH, PROJECT, WE SHOULD PUT IT OUT THERE.

WHAT THAT'S, WE KEEP ON SAYING YOU'RE NOT, WE KEEP ON HEARING YOU'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO CONVEY

[04:30:01]

THE BASELINE.

WE NEED TO CONVEY THE STRATEGIC PLAN WE TO CONVEY.

THAT'S, I MEAN, IT IS, I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE BENEFITS OF HOW GUCH HAS BEEN RHYMED HISTORICALLY.

AND YET WE STILL KNOW THAT, UM, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND, UM, MEDIA ARE LAGGING.

AND SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO REALIZE, OKAY, LET'S LET'S PUT IT OUT THERE.

SO THE COUNT, SO THE CITIZENS ARE NOT JUST DECIDING ON A FOUR YEAR BASIS, THEY'RE SEEING IT AND GETTING BACK TO US IN A MUCH MORE, UH, TIMELY FASHION, IN A MUCH MORE TIMELY FASHION.

I THINK.

SO I THINK FOR PUBLIC AGENTS, WHAT ARE THE GOALS THAT LUIS STRIVING FOR? WHAT DOES IT TAKE THE EXPERTS? WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT THE EXPERTS.

THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

HOW DO WE GET THE GOALS? AND HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO THAT.

SO WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO DOING THAT? CREATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

WHAT ABOUT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT? A NEEDS ASSESSMENT WHERE WE GO OUT AND SOMEWHAT TO WHAT, UH, MS. CHRISTIE WAS, WAS HITTING AT IS, IS WE START GETTING THE PULSE, THE ELECTIONS SEND PULSE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

SO, SO PERHAPS ONE STEP IS THAT, THAT WE START DETERMINING WHAT THIS COMMUNITY IS SEEKING IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

UM, WHAT DO THEY CONSIDER TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TIME? THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY FAIR, BUT, BUT PERHAPS A QUESTION IN THAT, IN THAT GENRE OF THEM.

UM, UH, SAME THING IS, YOU KNOW, IF IF THEY, YOU KNOW, THE OLD STANDARD, IF YOU HAD TO PUT A DOLLAR HERE OR HERE, WHERE WOULD IT GO? THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS TO KIND OF GET A SENSE FOR WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM AND, AND, AND, AND INDICATE THAT FEEDBACK.

I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

I THINK I KIND OF AGREE WITH MR. VADERS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE FOLKS SOMETHING TO REACT TO.

SO I THINK, I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERTS SHOULD COME UP WITH HERE'S WHAT WE THINK OUR GOALS ARE FROM A RESPONSE ON THIS, THIS, LET THAT CITIZENS KNOW THAT.

AND THEN BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY IF YOU WANT MORE, THIS IS HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.

ARE YOU WILLING ABLE? AND IF YOU ARE, WHAT ARE WE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING OR ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHAT'S THE, I WANT SAY, SO I WAS HESITATING TO SAY THIS, BUT I WILL, I I WAS LOOKING AT THE, UH, MASTER PLAN AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I MEAN THE, UH, FIRE AND UH, PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WAS, THEY HIRED A CONSULTANT THEMSELVES.

AND IT WAS DONE BY A GROUP OF, UH, FOLKS THAT DO THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THEY, THEY, SO THEY, THERE WAS GONNA BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BIAS ENTERED INTO THAT REPORT.

AND I WOULD THINK, I MEAN, I SAID, WELL, I'M NOT QUESTIONING ANYTHING SPECIFIC IN THERE.

AND I, AND I AM VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SO DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT I'M SAYING, SHOULD THE BOARD HIRE SOMEBODY THAT WORKS FOR THEM INDEPENDENTLY, JUST REVIEW THAT PLAN, FOR INSTANCE, AND SUMMARIZE IT FOR US.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS WOULD BE INDEPENDENT.

WELL, UH, WE, TO DEFEND THEM A LITTLE BIT IS, WELL, WE RFP SURVEYS LIKE THAT, WE'RE KIND OF DOING THAT IS WE'RE, WE'RE PUTTING THOSE QUESTIONS OUT THERE AND SAYING, HOW ARE YOU BEING AS UNBIASED AS POSSIBLE? RIGHT? WHO HAVE YOU WORKED FOR IN THE PAST TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SELL US YOU, YOU'RE BAG OF MAGIC BEANS MATTER ULTIMATELY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE APPROVED THAT.

WE'VE APPROVED, SO WE GAVE IT SCRUTINY, PROPER SCRUTINY, DUE DILIGENCE AND ALL THAT.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BUT I BELIEVE NO, NO.

AND, UH, AND, AND, BUT I LOVE THE WAY NEIL PUT IT IS THESE ARE THE COSTS.

I'M SORRY I RETRACT MY .

I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT.

BUT AWARE THAT'S THE PROCESS.

SO I LOVE THAT MR. SPOONER SAID, UM, BECAUSE I, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINKING, I THINK IT BRINGS IT BACK TO REALITY.

IF WE TALKING TAGLINE SOMETIMES AND ABOUT CULTURE REFERENCES, WHAT HAPPENS IN COUNTY START STOPS BEING NICE AND STARTS GETTING REAL.

LIKE WE KIND OF NEED TO DO THAT.

WE ARE NICE, WE ARE REALLY NICE TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET REAL ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES IF THEY ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO AN AGING DEMOGRAPHIC.

IF THEY'RE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING A SENSE OF RURAL HERITAGE, YOU KNOW,

[04:35:01]

IF YOU SAY TAKE, YOU KNOW, ADD THIS OR HERE ARE THE BENEFIT, HERE ARE THE SAVINGS.

IF WE CHECK THIS OUT AND WE GOTTA BE IN YOUR FACE WITHOUT IT.

AND THE FIVE BUDGETS I'VE DONE, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE'S ASKING, SAY, CAN'T ANSWER, GO, ALRIGHT, WHAT DO YOU CUT? SHOW ME WHAT YOU'RE CUTTING.

I'M LIKE, OH, YOU GUYS DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

YES THEY DID.

MY LEG STOPPED.

WHAT THIS HAS GOT ME THINKING ABOUT IS, UM, WHY PEOPLE WILL COME AND GO TO AREAS LIKE PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE GOOCHLAND 'CAUSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT MOVE BECAUSE OF ACCESS TO MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITIES AS AN EXAMPLE.

AND THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF BEING A RURAL COUNTY.

BUT I THINK IF WE BENCHMARK WHERE WE SHOULD BE AS AN ADJACENT COUNTY TO A METRO AREA, THAT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT.

ONE THING I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IN PERSPECTIVE HERE IS HOW IS, HOW IS A FREE MARKET ALREADY HELPING US OUT? AND TO THAT LAST TOPIC BROUGHT UP IS HOW ARE CONCIERGE SERVICES ALREADY ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR ISSUES? 'CAUSE I MEAN, I, I KNOW THAT LIKE WHEN PEOPLE MOVE AND THEY THINK OF ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THEY'RE NOW TYING IN OPTIONS THAT WERE NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE 10 YEARS AGO.

AND WHAT I DON'T, WHAT I, WHAT, WHAT I THINK ALL LOCALITIES NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF RIGHT NOW IS DON'T RECREATE SOMETHING THAT THE GLORIOUS FREE MARKET HAS ALREADY COME UP WITH IN A MUCH BETTER WAY.

UM, SO THAT, BUT, BUT THAT, THAT BEING SAID, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE AWARE, LIKE WE HAVE TO DO OUR HOMEWORK TO SAY, ARE WE AWARE OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED SO THAT WE DON'T THROW DOLLARS AT SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER, BETTER MANAGED ELSEWHERE? MM-HMM.

THAT, UH, WHY ARE PEOPLE MOVING UP TRANSITION .

BUT WE NEED TO CREATE THE, THE MECHANISM FOR THE BOARD TO DECIDE THAT SO STAFF CAN THEN DELIVER IT AND EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.

ARE WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD DO IN OUR ROLE? WELL, I WOULD ASK, SINCE VIC'S GONNA DO ALL THE WORK FOR US, , DOES HE WHAT HE NEEDS? YEAH.

I MEAN, AGAIN, YOU GO BACK, WHAT, WHAT I STARTED WITH, WITH MY COMMENTS THAT THE STAFF NEEDS TO KNOW IS, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY WE ARE LOOKING TO A REALITY OF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EIGHT FIRE STATIONS OR EIGHT STATIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

SO WE KNOW WE HAVE TO STAFF THOSE ALREADY.

ONE OF THE, OF THE AMBIGUITIES IN MY MIND IS DO WE NEED FIRE STATIONS? OR MAYBE DO WE JUST NEED EMS STATIONS IN SOME CASES? UH, SO THE MODEL THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ISN'T THE RIGHT MODEL.

DO WE NEED TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF STAFFING IN EVERY STATION? OR DO WE HAVE FIVE IN THIS STATION BUT ONLY TWO IN THIS STATION? MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW, SO, SO THOSE ARE AREAS WHEN YOU LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, AND AGAIN, OUT OF THE SHERIFF'S NOT HERE, BUT HE'S TALKED ABOUT GETTING TO 10 DEPUTIES PER SHIFT.

WELL, DOES HE NEED 10 PER SHIFT OR 10 FOR NIGHT SHIFT, OR 10 FOR DAY SHIFT? YOU KNOW, SO, SO THOSE ARE, ARE SOME OF THE, THE THINGS THAT, THAT STAFF NEEDS TO LOOK AT AND UNDERSTAND.

UM, ALSO AS WE TALKED EARLIER, THE THE LEVEL OF RISK THAT'S ACCEPTABLE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK IN THE WORLD OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THEIR, THEIR REASON FOR EXISTING IS TO ESSENTIALLY LEARN THAT RISK.

TO MAKE EVERYBODY SAFE.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

SO WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE KNOWING THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE GONNA FALL ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THAT LINE ON OCCASIONALLY I HEARD RIGHT AGAINST , YOU KNOW, HAS ANYBODY ACTUALLY DRAMATICALLY SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THIS? YOU KNOW, AND, UM, WHERE IS THAT LINE? AND, AND, AND IS IT WORTH THE EXPENSE FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO PAY TO, TO MOVE THE LINE SO THAT THAT PERSON MAYBE DIDN'T SUFFER NEXT TIME BECAUSE WE HAD A VEHICLE THERE IN TIME OR WE HAD SOMEONE THERE.

I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE STORIES THAT THE FORD GLADIO HEARD WAS SOMEONE WENT TO ONE OF OUR FIRE STATIONS HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE.

AND, AND THEY CAME TO THE BOARD MEETING TO SHARE THEIR, THEIR DISCONTENT WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WENT THERE, THERE WASN'T ANYBODY ON PREMISE.

UM, AND THE CHIEF SAYS THAT THAT'S BECOMING MORE AN ISSUE.

WELL, IS THAT PART OF OUR ACCEPTABLE JOB TO HAVE ON-DUTY MEDICAL PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WALK IN MEDICAL SERVICE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, A DROP IN A BOX.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED TO GET TO AND DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET THERE TODAY.

[04:40:01]

SO THE MECHANISM WE, WE NEED TO CREATE THOSE ANSWERS IS AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD HELP ME AS I BUILD THIS BUDGET, MAKE SURE IF THAT MEANS WE NEED TO ESTABLISH DATA POINTS, THAT WE NEED TO ESTABLISH SURVEYS THAT, THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THE BOARD THE NECESSARY INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE A GOOD DECISION AND THEN SCHEDULE IT IN A TIMELY FASHION.

WELL, IT SOUNDS THIS IS AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE, UM, AND MAYBE JUST THROWING AN IDEA OUT THERE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE, SO WE'VE GOT THIS ONE RESOURCE OF THIS MASTER PLAN FROM FIRE RESCUE.

THERE'S OTHER LIKE THREE OR FOUR OTHER LEGS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY STOOL THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS AND PRIORITIES FROM THAT TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE.

AND THEN THAT'S WHERE WE GO GET THE COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE TRADE-OFFS THEREIN.

AND THEN YOU ALL HAVE THOSE TWO, YOU KNOW, PERSPECTIVES MM-HMM.

TO THEN MAKE A MORE IMPORTANT DECISION.

I MEAN, STAFF'S GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE WHAT THE OPTION COST IS.

SO I MEAN, STAFF'S GONNA HAVE TO GO AND SAY THAT IF WE DON'T GO TO FIVE PEOPLE PER SHIFT, HERE'S WHERE WE SEE THINGS HAPPENING.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, RESPONSE TIMES MAY GO UP THIS MUCH OR, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T HAVE SOMEBODY ON DUTY, OR WE CAN NO LONGER SEND A FIRETRUCK AND AN AMBULANCE TO ERECT ON THE INTERSTATE.

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

YOU KNOW? BUT THEN IT'S UP TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE BOARD TO SAY, OKAY, I'M WILLING TO PAY IT, OR NO, I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE YOU THAT.

THEY SAY, OKAY, WELL IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEN HERE'S THE COST.

AND THEN WE GET INTO THAT WHOLE CONVERSATION.

IS THAT NOT, SO AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT THIS, I'M KIND OF THINKING ABOUT HOW OUR, OUR NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SIMILAR EXERCISE TO WHAT WE DO FOR BUDGETS FOR PUBLIC.

DO HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION JUST WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT SHOULDN'T WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER AND TWO EMPLOYEES OR, OR TWO CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT THEY COME TO THE BOARD AND SAY, OKAY, HERE'S OUR CURRENT SITUATION, HERE'S MY FIVE YEAR, HERE'S MY PLAN, HERE'S WHAT I NEEDED TO DO.

AND THEN AT LEAST IT'S PRESENTED TO US.

WE'RE NOT CREATING ANY MORE ADDITIONAL WORK REALLY, OR, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL MEANS, BUT WE'RE GETTING THAT PUBLIC INPUT.

AND THEN AS PART OF OUR BUDGET DECISIONS THAT THAT KIND OF FOLDS IN.

THE TAKEAWAYS OF THE SLIDE IS WE LOOK AT ALL THESE THINGS AND REALIZE THERE'S, THERE ARE COMMONALITIES BETWEEN ALL FOUR OF THESE IN WHAT WE DO AS STAKEHOLDERS AND AS A BOARD TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS.

BUT, UM, IT, IT DOES FOLD IN EXCEPT THE ONE THING THAT AT LEAST IN TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, THAT'S, THAT, THAT IS LACKING IS WHAT IF, WHAT IF WE DON'T DO THIS? SO WHEN WE PRESENT A BUDGET, I PRESENT A BUDGET TO YOU THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, IS BASED ON WHAT I KNOW OUR RESOURCES ARE AND I KNOW WHAT THE REQUESTS ARE, AND IN MY JUDGMENT, I DO THE BEST I CAN TO TAKE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND PUT 'EM INTO A BUDGET THAT THE CHAIRS WITH YOU, UM, THAT TAKES THE BOARD OUT OF TELLING US THAT, WELL, YOU'RE GOING, THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING IS STILL AVAILABLE.

WE'RE ON CRUISE CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL IS THAT WE'RE BUILDING SAFE.

WE HAVE GOT EQUIPMENT.

WE TALK ABOUT GETTING FIRST TO TWO, FIRST TO TWO, THEN TO THREE OUT OF FIVE.

AND WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY SENSE THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE BOARD WANTS.

SO WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WOUND UP THE CAR, PUT THE CAR DOWN, THE CAR'S GONNA MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

NOW, IT MAY GET THERE SOONER, MAKE IT THERE LATER, BUT THAT'S THE DIRECTION IT'S ING.

AND, AND SO THE BUDGET IS NOT SET UP TO SAY A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS ADD A, ADD A STEP IN THAT, WHICH IS BEFORE THEY'RE PRESENTING TO YOU BECAUSE WHAT, WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS IS WHAT IS THEIR PLAN? UM, WHAT'S, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO GET TO THEIR END GOAL? LIKE IT USED TO BE, WE JUST WANT ALL THE STATIONS COVERED 24 HOURS A DAY.

THAT WAS THE LAST GOAL I HEARD.

NOW, NOW WE HAVE A NEW GOAL.

UM, AND THEN WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THERE? MAYBE THAT'S, MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

I THINK THAT CONCEPT OF EMS STATION IS REALLY INTERESTING.

UH, WE GOT A LOT OF GROUND COVER AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S A CONCEPT WITH EXPLORING BOTH ON FIRE AND POLICE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, LIKE, WE MOVED HERE 12 YEARS AGO, AND THERE WAS AN ACCEPTANCE THAT RESPONSE TIME FROM POLICE, YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATION AS YOU DO TWO MILES TO THE EAST.

SO IS THERE A WAY TO CREATE SATELLITE OPERATIONS? I HAVE NO IDEA.

AND, AND WE KIND OF KEEP THE CONVERSATION JUST WITH THE BOARD AND STAFF SO WE CAN KIND OF GET TO OUR FINISH THAT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT ONE AT A TIME.

SO YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE.

THANKS IF I'M GUESSING, UH, I'M GUESSING ONE OF

[04:45:01]

AND LET'S, YOU KNOW, GET UNIFIED BEHIND THOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MIRED IN THE WEEDS.

UH, RESPECT THE WEEDS.

UM, AND I'D SAY ONE IS, YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUR BASELINE OUT THERE, PUT WELL, YOU KNOW, PUT IT, THIS IS WHERE WE THINK WE ARE, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND HERE IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO MONITOR IT AND, UM, LET THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, MONITOR, REVIEW, AND THEN REPORT TO THE CONSTITUENTS ON A TIMELY BASIS.

THAT'S GOOD.

GREASING, GREASING THE WHEELS.

SO FOR TIME, I'M GONNA CHECK IN.

DO WE FEEL THAT WE'VE GOT A SENSE OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD OR HOW TO AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S A GOOD, SORRY, .

SO THIS IS THE POINT WHERE OUR, OUR JOB IS TO GET VIC WHAT HE NEEDS FOR THE NEXT STEP.

I, I, I'VE HEARD THAT.

YES, I AM.

NO, I, I, I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH UP HERE THAT, THAT, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO TURN THIS INTO.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THIS'LL COME BACK TO Y'ALL TO SEE IT.

AND THEN IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GEL THAT WE CAN ADJUST IT.

SEE, I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH HERE TO GET BACK TO THE WARD WITH, YEAH.

SO HOW DOES THIS, IN WHAT FORM DOES THIS COME BACK TO US? A WRITTEN FORM OUTLINE? ARE WE GONNA MEET AGAIN OR WHAT? I MEAN, NOT ON THIS PER SE.

I MEAN, AGAIN, THIS IS, IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF, OF ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, A LONG TERM PROCESS.

BUT FROM THIS, THERE'LL BE A REPORTED, THIS IS THE CONCLUSIONS, THIS IS WHAT CAME OUT OF TODAY'S SESSION, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'RE INTO THE BUDGET, FULL, FULL SCALE.

AND LOT OF THESE WILL COME UP, ESPECIALLY DO ONE-ON-ONES TWO ON TWOS, AND THERE'S WHOLE BOARD WORK SESSIONS ON THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO WORK SESSIONS WITH THE BUDGET PLAN, ONE ON THE BUDGET, ONE ON CIP, UM, ALREADY SCHEDULED TO NOW IN APRIL.

SO THERE'LL BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION.

KIND OF COME BACK TO THIS.

ALRIGHT, IN, SO MY MESSAGING POINT, I MEAN, IN MY MIND THIS IS, THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF THE FUNNEL, YOU KNOW, THIS REPORT, ALL THE IDEAS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE FUNNEL OF COURSE, AND COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES AND ALL THAT.

THIS IS JUST THE STUDY.

SO MAYBE THIS IS EVEN HIGHER.

THE PLAN IS GETTING DOWN CLOSER.

WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUNNEL AS A BOARD.

SO I, I THINK THAT THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE'VE GOT AS A BOARD IS A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS SEE THIS, YOU GOT A BIG STUDY AND WHY, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T WE AT THE END GOAL? WE GOTTA CONVEY, FIND A WAY OR WAYS TO CONVEY TO 'EM.

THIS IS STILL, YOU GOTTA, THIS IS STILL INPUT TIERS FROM THE ULTIMATE, UH, SOLUTION AND STRATEGY.

GOOD POINT.

RACHEL SAID EARLIER, BACK TO ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ONE, THE SIX HATS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING IS, UH, A RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU AND ONLY YOU HAVE ON THIS BOARD, IS BRINGING TOGETHER THAT PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATORS IN THE ROOM AND WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS, CONSTITUENTS, AND FIGURE OUT HOW YOU BALANCE ALL MM-HMM.

SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ONE, WHICH IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NOW THAT'S A, A BIG TOPIC, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BASED ON DIVERSITY FROM SARAH, WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING THINKING ABOUT THOSE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS AND WHERE WE WANT TO BE? UM, CAN WE PUT THOSE UP AGAIN? THE, GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAS THOSE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

YEAH, JUST THE PROGRAM.

YEAH, WE WANTED TO HANG THEM, BUT THERE'S NOT, IT WON'T REALLY STICK TRYING TO ANSWER A QUESTION.

YEAH, YOU REALLY BUILT ON THOUGH.

UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE AROUND, UM, THE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUILDING ON THE STRENGTH OF THE, THE STRONG GOVERNANCE THERE WAS, UM, TALKING ABOUT, YEAH, YEAH.

SHOULD BE SAFETY.

SO HERE WE CAN REVIEW SOME

[04:50:02]

LOW TAX RATE.

GOOD.

Y'ALL SEE LOW TAX RATE, GOOD CON CONTRAST TO HIGH AND SPEED IN SCHOOLS.

SCHOOLS, INCREDIBLY DEDICATED STAFF, STRONG CREDIT RATING, GOOD FOUNDATION TO BUILD FROM POSITION FOR GOOD, STRONG GROWTH.

UNTAPPED OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY WITH WEST CREEK AVAILABLE WATER SEWER CAPACITY, GOOD TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNANCE, STAFF INTERACTION, NIMBLE COURAGE TO DO OR STOP EVEN THOUGH IT'S HARD.

SO THE SPECIFIC, I THINK THE REALLY SPECIFIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED THINGS WERE THE WEST CREEK, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT DO YOU NEED TOOLS, TOOLS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

SO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LIKE MARKETING AND I, I BELIEVE MR. WINFREY AND I TOUCHED ON IT, LIKE I CAN GO OUT AND MARKET, BUT IF I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PUT THESE COMPANIES, I'M SPINS.

SO I'VE GOT VACANT LAND, BUT IT'S WOODED.

UM, AND THESE COMPANIES DON'T WANNA SPEND 24 TO 36 MONTHS, UH, YOU KNOW, TRY TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE SITE'S GONNA WORK FOR THEM.

THEY WANNA KNOW STRAIGHT UP, DOES THE SITE WORK FOR ME? YES OR NO? THE ANSWER'S YES, THEY'RE ON IT.

THERE YOU GO.

SO, SO DOES THAT TIER TWO VERSUS TIER FOUR, TREMENDOUS GOAL.

THAT'S A GREAT GOAL.

LET'S GET, GET, GET OURSELVES POSITIONED SO WE CAN SAY, YEP, WE GOT WHAT YOU NEED.

AND, AND IF THE COUNTY WERE TO SAY, SAY WE HAVE A WOODED LOT AND THE COUNTY WERE TO DECIDE TO TAKE THE COST UP TO CLEAR THOSE TREES, WOULD WE HIRE LOCALLY, LIKE WITHIN, WITHIN THE COUNTY AND IS IT PUT OUT A BID? AND IS THAT ACTUALLY YOUR QUESTION? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ALL US NOT JUST, ARE YOU JUST TALKING COUNTY OWNED? UH, RIGHT, SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY DOES NOT OWN ANY INDUSTRIAL LAND OR LAND SLATED FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE NEED TO WORK WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE COUNTY'S GONNA GO IN AND BUY THE LAND FROM THEM, BUT THERE ARE WAYS AND TOOLS THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE LANDOWNERS, UM, TO DO THINGS LIKE DUE DILIGENCE OR TO GO IN AND TO, UM, CLEAR TREES OR PUT IN ROADS OR TO BRING IN WATER AND SEWER LINES, UM, AND ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH LANDOWNERS SO THAT IF THEY WERE TO, UM, SELL TO SOMEONE, UM, THAT'S NOT AN INDUSTRIAL USER, WE COULD REPEAT OUR MONEY OR, UM, I'VE SEEN SOME LOCALITIES COME TO A SALES PRICE AGREEMENT WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, LIKE, WE WILL NOT SELL FOR LESS THAN X AMOUNT OR WE WILL NOT A ASK MORE THAN X AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THIS LAND.

SO IT, IT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF A, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE LANDOWNER TO HAVE A MORE MARKETABLE SITE.

SO IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING, SORRY, JOHN, IT SOUNDS, SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE BOARD TO COME UP WITH A POLICY OR A STRATEGY TO HELP IMPROVE THE TIER OR OUR SITE READINESS.

THERE YOU GO.

HOW MUCH OF THAT IS EDA DRIVEN, UM, AND WHAT ARE YOUR RESOURCES? I, YEAH, IT WAS AFTER THE MEETING ON THE TUESDAY, WHATEVER IT WAS WEDNESDAY.

AND I KNOW YOU, YOU HAVE CERTAIN FUNDS ALREADY THAT YOU, YOU HAD THE EDA HAS FUNDS ALREADY THAT ARE THOSE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE TYPE OF EFFORTS? YES.

SO I WOULD SAY IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT EDA DRIVEN BECAUSE THE MONEY NEEDS TO COME FROM COUNTY THROUGH THE EDA.

IT'S NOT TO FUNNEL THROUGH THE EDA.

I UNDERSTAND.

UM, THE EDA HAS $500,000, THAT'S NOT GONNA GET YOU VERY FAR.

AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A REOCCURRING FORM OF PAYMENT.

SO IF THEY DEPLETE THEIR $500,000, THEY'RE DEPLETED.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO YOU, AND THIS IS A YEAR AGO, MAYBE ATTENDED SPIRITS FOR THE, I GUESS THANK YOU.

BUSINESS.

APPRECIATE YOU THERE.

UM, THAT TO GET SOME OF THESE PARCELS WAS A $50,000 COST TO DO CERTAIN KIND OF SITE CHARACTERIZATIONS.

FIRST STEP IN GETTING YOU TO TIER FOUR.

SO THE EDA HAS UNDERTAKEN SOME OF THOSE.

UM, THEY, THEY, UH, PARTNERED WITH THE STATE TO DO A GRANT, UM, FOR A SITE CHARACTERIZATION IN OILVILLE.

WE'RE WORKING ON SITE CHARACTERIZATION ON ASHLAND ROAD RIGHT NOW.

UM, SO THAT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE SITE PREPARATION.

UM, SO THE STATE AND FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORLD, WE WANNA KNOW WHERE THAT SITE LANDS GOES BACK TO THAT SITE READINESS, UM, ASSESSMENT.

BUT THAT WON'T GET TO TIER FOUR.

THAT IS THE

[04:55:01]

WELL THAT'S A STEP .

WELL I'M FOCUSED 'CAUSE I'M SIMPLE ON, ON GETTING TO TIER FOUR.

SO CAN YOU PROVIDE US THAT KIND OF NEW BARRACKS ARE SAYING, FOLKS, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET, I DON'T KNOW, THREE OPTIONS FOR TIER FOUR? YES.

AND, UH, AND GET THEM NOT, NOT NECESSARILY BRING IT ALL IN, EVEN, YOU KNOW, GET IT GOING WHEN IT'S ALREADY BEEN PREPARED AND PLANNED.

NOT TODAY, BUT I CAN , I'M A PATIENT MAN.

I THINK ONE THING THAT CAME UP IN THE SLIDE TO START THIS SECTION WAS WHAT CAN ALL STAKEHOLDERS DO? AND I'D APPRECIATE YOU ALL USING STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE I THINK WE AS A BOARD NEED TO DRILL THAT TERM INTO OUR BRAINS AND OUR THINKING BECAUSE WE'RE PLAYING A DIFFERENT GAME ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE CONTROL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT IN AS A COUNTY ON TAX RATE WITH TAX REVENUE TO GO AND BUILD A FIRE STATION, BUILD A SCHOOL, BUILD A, UH, UH, A COURTHOUSE AND WHATEVER IT IS, WE DO NOT CONTROL ALL OF THOSE LEVEL.

WE DO NOT HAVE OUR HANDS ON ALL OF THOSE LEVERS, EEG STAKEHOLDERS WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS.

IT IS A DIFFERENT GAME.

IT IS A VERY MUCH MORE STRATEGIC GAME, AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT FROM THE GET GO BECAUSE IT DOES US NO GOOD TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGY THAT IS NOT EMPLOYING THE MOST, UH, EFFECTIVE GAMESMANSHIP IN THIS PROCESS.

SO I JUST, I I, I ALWAYS THINK, I MEAN, I I I'VE USED STAKEHOLDERS EVER SINCE IT WAS A BUSINESS SCHOOL 1 0 1 CLASS.

AND IT IS, THAT'S ONE THING I'VE JUST GRILLED INTO MY MIND THAT, UM, AND, AND, BUT BECAUSE GOING AGAIN, WHEN I WAS A KID AND I WAS A YOUNG STUDENT, I WAS STUPID.

EVERYTHING ON ONE SIDE OF ME.

DON'T WANT TO BE A STUPID SUPERVISOR.

I WANT TO BE THINKING WELL TO THAT POINT OF, OF STAKEHOLDERS IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

AS AN ASIDE, TELL A BRIEF STORY.

HOW MANY ACRES ARE IN WEST CREEK, SIR? UH, SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S 1700 AVAILABLE, UH, MINUS WETLANDS AND, AND, UH, FLOODPLAIN, UM, IT, UH, WAS 3000.

SO YEAH, SOMEONE'S TAKEN THE, UM, ONE OF OUR OTHER GROUPS WE WORK WITH IS, UH, UH, THE CITY OF DANVILLE AND PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY, LIKE RIGHT DOWN ON THE NORTH CHRONIC BORDER, KIND, THE MIDDLE OF STATE.

AND THEY OWN COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER, THOSE TWO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE CREATED AUTHORITY THAT OWNS, UH, ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE DEVELOPMENT SITES, UH, ON THE EAST COAST CALLED BERRY HILL.

UH, AND THE DIFFERENCE THERE COMPARED TO WHAT I'M HEARING, UM, THE TEAM HERE TALK ABOUT HOW, HOW WE'RE, UH, HOW TO APPROACH DEVELOPMENT OF WEST CREEK.

THEY OWN THE LAND.

UH, IT IS READY TO GO.

IT IS FLAT, IT'S GRADED.

THERE'S WATER AND SEWER, THERE'S ELECTRIC ELECTRICITY, THERE'S ENERGY, THERE'S POWER, THERE'S, UH, ROADS, AND THERE'S THE FASTEST INTERNET IN, UH, THE STATE THAT GOES IN THERE RIGHT NOW.

SO AS A RESULT OF ALL THOSE THINGS BEING TOGETHER AS THE ULTIMATE TIER FOUR SITE, UH, IN VIRGINIA.

AND SO AS A RESULT, THE LEADERS OF THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, UH, AND EVERYBODY IS UNITED AND LITERALLY TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD TRYING TO SELL THAT, UM, SITE.

UH, AND THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THIS CLOSE.

THEY HAVE HAD CEOS OF ALL THREE, UH, US, UH, BIG US, ALL FOUR, UH, THE US AUTO MANUFACTURERS, UH, MOST OF THE BIG ONES, UH, IN, IN UH, ASIA HAVE BEEN THERE LOOKING AT A BUILDING.

WHERE IS THIS LOCATED? IT'S IN, UH, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE AND YOU GOT A CASINO.

EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT APPROACH, UH, WHEN YOU OWN THE LAND.

AND, AND NEIL WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD GONNA SET A POLICY TO GAIN SOME OF THESE END RESULTS THAT WE'VE SEEN.

THEY MAY BE ACQUIRING SOME LAND MAY BE PART OF, I'LL EVEN GO WITH THOSE.

YOU YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTY ONLY, RIGHT? YEAH.

I'VE SEEN PLANS NAMELESS, YOU KNOW, I'LL TRY, I'VE SEEN PLANS, RIGHT? YEARS AGO, FINAL, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER IN MY GOVERNMENT, IN MY SUPERVISOR POSITION, FINAL RENDERINGS, EVERY ROAD, EVERY STREET LAID OUT YOU THINK THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN THEM, BUSINESS THINKS ENOUGH OF THEM TO HAVE PAID FOR ALL THE PLANNING, ALL THE SCOPING, ALL THE, UH, YOU KNOW, RENDERINGS.

THEY'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THIS.

THE COUNTY JUST NEEDS TO BE RECEPTIVE AND ACCOMMODATE.

IT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE COUNTY ENDS LAND, BUT IT ALSO IS ALREADY HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE PRIVATE LEVEL.

WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DEMONSTRATE OURSELVES AS RECEPTIVE TO WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO

[05:00:01]

SO DON'T DOWN SOME LAND ALREADY, VIC, ALONG HACKETT ROAD.

YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, YES, COUNTY DOES OWN THAT.

THAT LAND WAS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NOT INTENDED TO EVER BE INDUSTRIAL.

OH.

BUT IT IS, UM, 80 SOME ACRES COUNTY OWNS.

WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, I MEAN I HAD MY IDEAL WORLD, UM, SINCE MOVEMENTS, BUT IT WOULD, UM, WE WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE TARGETED AREAS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO TARGET, SITES THAT WE WOULD WANT TO GO TO, AND THEN OPTIONS FOR HOW TO DEFINITELY APPROACH WHETHER WE BUY IT, WE DO SOMETHING CREATIVE, MAYBE NOT LIKE WE PUT DOWN, NOT LIKE WE'VE DONE BEFORE.

AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE, OKAY, WE'RE, WE HAVE THIS MANY AND OUR GOAL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS IS TO GET TO THIS MANY TIER FOUR, THIS MANY TIER FOUR, THIS MANY TIER FOUR.

UM, THAT WOULD BE EVERY WOULD BE AMAZING.

WE NEED DEGREES AND SKILLS FOR DEVELOPMENT DESIRE AND THAT'S EITHER BY ACQUIRING OR WORKING WITH THE ELEMENTS IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER TO GET IT TO HELP THEM GET IT DONE.

SO STAFF WERE TO PROVIDE YOU A STRATEGY TO GET US THERE SO THE BOARD COULD YEP.

HAVE SUBSTANTIVE ACTIONS THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO TAKE TO GET US THERE.

THEN THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT, THAT WOULD GIVE STAFF DIRECTION.

I'D SAY GO FORWARD.

THAT THE ONLY, THE ONLY CAVEAT BECAUSE THIS IS ON TAPE, IS, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD HAVE TO BE PUTTING ONE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THEM FOR ANOTHER PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER IS DIFFICULT FOR, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF PICKING WINNERS OR LOSERS.

AND, UH, ALSO I WANNA STAY SENSITIVE TO OUR COMP PLAN, WHICH IS IN SENSE A, A AGREEMENT WITH OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS IF WE ENVISION THIS FOR RESIDENTIAL NON-INDUSTRIAL.

AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO MAKE A DECISION SAYING, WELL WE'RE GONNA CHANGE IT FROM A RESIDENTIAL.

WELL, THAT'S WHY I JUST BACKED OFF A MINUTE AGO WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 80 ACRES, HE SAID THEY DIDN'T INTEND FOR IT TO BE INDUSTRIAL.

SO I'M NOT, THERE YOU GO.

I'M NOT DOING THAT.

NOT JUST THOSE 80 ACRES, BUT WE, WE OPERATE COMPLETELY WITHIN THAT.

WE DON'T LOOK AND, AND, AND DREAM OF THE WORLD THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A WORLD THAT EXISTS.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A PLAN FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A PLAN.

THAT'S EXCITING.

YES, IT'S .

ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT ONE, UM, I THINK THE SPEEDS AND FLOWS RIGHT INTO THAT IS THE 8, 5 15.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT VIC TEED UP AT THE BEGINNING IS HOW DO WE DEFINE THAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF REFERENCED IN THE COMP PLAN MAYBE, BUT WHERE DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE? WHERE DOES THAT GROWTH HAPPEN? UM, I'LL JUST SPEAK UP.

IT'S NOT MAYBE, I MEAN, IT IS REFERENCED AND IT'S PRETTY SPECIFIC AS TO WHERE PAST OR 2035 COMP PLAN DIVISION GROWTH TO DO.

AND WHETHER IT'S EXACTLY 85, 15 WON'T SPEAK TO THOSE PERCENTAGES.

BUT THERE IS A VISION THAT IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY ALONG THE MAJOR, UM, ROADS WITH PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER THAT WE WOULD SEE, I'M GONNA USE THE WORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE REMAINDER BEING MORE OPEN, UH, STILL PRIVATELY OWNED.

SO YOU STILL HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS EVEN BEING ABLE TO COME IN WITHIN THE VISION OF THE COMP PLAN, PUTTING IN CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS GONNA SAY 300 ACRES OF WILD WALLY AND WHITE PINE.

IT, IT COULD TURN INTO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THE DENSITIES ARE GONNA BE LOWER IN 85% OF THE COUNTY.

UH, NOT LIKELY TO SEE A, A ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER.

UH, AND, AND SO WHETHER IT CHANGES FROM 15 TO 20 OR IT GOES FOR 15 TO 10, BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT OUR 2035 COMP PLAN SAYS, THIS IS, THIS RESIDENCE IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS GOING TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD.

NOW WE CAN REVISE THAT AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

BUT YOU WENT AND WHAT YOU JUST SAID, YOU WENT OUTSIDE, YOU SAID EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY, AND THEN YOU SAID ACROSS THE COUNTY, 85, 15 IN MY MIND IS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WHERE THERE IS CORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED TO BE VERY DEFINITIVE ABOUT THAT ACROSS THE COUNTY BY ACREAGE.

UH, I BELIEVE IT IS LAND MASS, 285, 8 SQUARE MILES.

SO TO ME, OH, I MEAN, THE REASON I STRESS THAT IS THAT THAT CREATES, IN OUR AREAS OF CORE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE, WE DO HAVE TO BE, THE REASON WE HAVE TO BE SO MINDFUL OF THAT IS IT'S

[05:05:01]

YOU AREN'T GONNA GET THOSE FIELDS RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE IT IN THE COUNTY.

WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE MINDFUL OF IT, BUT IF NOT, WE DON'T HAVE RURAL ABUTTING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

I MEAN, AS, AS AS CLOSE AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

YOU MAY THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.

SO I'LL GO BACK TO WHAT STARTED, STARTED OFF A FEW HOURS AGO, WHICH IS, SO TO ME, THIS SHOULD TIE INTO OUR GROWTH RATE TARGETS ANNUALLY IN BY AREA.

SO TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, FOR US TO HIT THIS AND MAINTAIN BASED ON OUR PROJECTED COMMERCIAL GROWTH, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT APPROVE MORE THAN THIS MANY ACRES OF LAND, UH, FOR RESIDENCES.

AND TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

SO, TO ME, THAT'S AN EXCESS.

SO WE S THE ONLY WAY TO GO GET THAT.

ALRIGHT, MAINTAIN THAT.

BECAUSE I'LL JUST THROW THIS OUT THERE, AND JAMIE AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING, WE HAVE 700, LIKE ALREADY APPROVED.

OH, HOW MANY LOTS? YEAH, IT'S LIKE ABOUT 2300.

IT'S THE MAPS OVER HERE COUNTYWIDE.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT HIGH.

WELL, WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF, AND I ONLY KNOW THIS 'CAUSE SOMEBODY CALLED ME AND SAID, HEY, I'VE PUT 60 HOMES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOU, LIKE THE HELL YOU ARE.

HE SAYS, THE HECK I AM IS APPROVED IN 2007.

SO WE HAVE ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THAT COULD GO TOMORROW.

YET WE'RE STILL APPROVING ALL THIS OTHER LAND.

SO WE NEED, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO DATA.

THEN, YOU KNOW, THREE ACRE LOTS IN HOMES POPPING UP ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, THE WESTERN PART OF EACH ONE.

I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IN, IN A ONE A TWO DISTRICTS, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S, THERE'S NOTHING RULE ABOUT THAT.

YOU FILL THAT UP AND CREATE THE BOX.

THAT'S NOT RULE.

I DO NOT DISAGREE.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK TO DO THIS IN MY MIND, NEXT STEP IS TO DEFINE IT AND HAVE TARGET.

SO EVERY YEAR WE GO, HEY, OUR GOAL IS TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE 1% RESIDENTIAL GROWTH AND WE'RE AT 7 5 1 0.25.

SO WE KNOW AS THESE PROJECTS ARE COMING AND THAT THAT'S THE FUTURE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVE AND THAT DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS SHOULD KNOW, OH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE LYING BEHIND IN THE INDUSTRY.

WE NEED TO SHIP.

WHAT KIND OF DIRECTION HELPS THE STAFF? HOW SHOULD THE BOARD SUPERVISOR PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TO STAFF? BUT THEN TO OUR CITIZENS, WE PROVIDE THE DEFINITIONS.

I MEAN, AND, AND WE HAVE TO BEATEN OUR BRAINS AGAINST THE WALL TO SAY, WE DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH THESE DEFINITIONS BECAUSE MIRROR DEFINITIONS, BECAUSE IT, IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, WELL THOUGHT OUT PROCESS.

SO, AND THEN, OH, SORRY.

I WAS GONNA SAY, SO HELP STAFF HERE THEN A LITTLE.

THIS IS, WE TRY TO DEVELOP THIS WHEN SOMEONE COMES AND THEY WANT TO PUT A TRUCK STOP IN OILVILLE, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR DESIGNATED AREAS, IS STAFFED TO DISCOURAGE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA FOR, BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERSTATE EXIT OR A HOTEL OR, OR, OR WHATEVER.

THAT MAY LOOK LIKE A, AN INDUSTRIAL PARK.

UM, IT'S, IT IS NOT IN DISTRICT FOUR OR FIVE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE WATER SEWER.

BUT IF THEY CAN ENGINEER IT TO WORK AND IT'S AN AREA THE COMP PLAN SAYS IS ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT THE BOARD IS LIKE SAYING YES, THEN THEN STAFF SHOULD, SHOULD PURSUE THIS.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THAT WAS GONNA BE MY KIND OF FOLLOW UP QUESTION, I THINK IS LIKE, THEN HOW DO WE SPECIFICALLY DEFINE WHAT THAT 15% IS AND SHOULD BE, SORRY, , BUT FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD, MAYBE SOME OF THE, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM AS TO WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS OR IF I HEARD THAT RIGHT.

WELL, I THINK THOSE, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT, I THINK MAYBE WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE KEEP THAT, HOW DO WE GET TO THAT MIX? AND THEN WHAT THE, WHAT'S LINEAGE MIX YEAH.

IS STILL A DEEPER QUESTION.

IT'S LIKE WE CAN DO 85, 80 5% OF RESIDENTIAL.

YOU DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

UM, JUST LIKE WITH THE COMMERCIAL, UM, MR. CARPENTER, DID YOU GET AN ANSWER? WERE YOU LOOKING FOR ONE? NO, I DID GET AN ANSWER.

B YOU WANT ONE? SURE.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE COMP PLAN IS DESIGNED TO GIVE THAT GUIDANCE.

BETWEEN TODAY AND FINAL DECISION.

AND MY FIRST STEP IS IF IT'S COMPLETELY OPPOSITE MIRROR FROM WHAT THE COMP PLAN IS SUGGESTING.

AND I WOULD BE, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO BRING THIS TO THE BOARD, BUT IS NOT REALLY WHAT WE WERE ENVISIONING WHEN WE PUT THE COMP PLAN TOGETHER.

IF IT DOES, LOOK AT WHAT THE COMP PLAN IS RECOMMENDING OR OF COURSE GIVEN IT GUIDANCE, I WOULD SAY YEAH, THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT WAS ENVISIONED FOR GROWTH IN THE COUNTY.

A LOT OF DETAILS

[05:10:01]

BUT YES, I WOULD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME IN IF THEY'RE IN STAFF SUBPOENA, IN COMPLIANCE WITH, I DUNNO IF THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT I, I CAN THINK OF JUST, JUST IN MY TIME WHEN SURE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN AND WANTED TO REZONE SOMETHING TO, TO ALLOW 'EM TO DO IT IN AN AREA OF THE COMPLIANCE SAYS IT SHOULD BE THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT PUTS THE BOARD IN THE QUANDARY BECAUSE, WELL, WE'LL, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT IT, IT WAS NEVER, IN DOING THE COMP PLAN, IT, IT STILL DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT LAND USE IS STILL WHAT IT IS.

SO IF IT'S, IF IT IS A ONE OR A TWO IN AN AREA THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT THE COMP PLAN SAYS SHOULD CHANGE, THERE'S, THERE'S JUST THAT KIND OF , WELL, ARE WE GONNA BE RURAL OR NOT? BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE GET RID OF THE RURAL ASPECT OF THIS CAMP.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

SO WE TAKE PROJECT ROCKY, RIGHT? THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOLKS AROUND.

IT CERTAINLY WEREN'T THERE, BUT IT WAS PART OF THE COMP PLAN AND, AND WE APPROVED IT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S IN OILVILLE AND WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE THERE.

UM, COVERED ALL THOSE.

NO, NO.

WE'LL TAKE THAT.

RONDA CARPENTER MAY, MAY I JUST INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND.

UH, YOU'RE CORRECT.

IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT, WHAT IS MAPPED IS PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT WITH THAT 85 15.

SO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THERE'S LIKE, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE PLAN, BUT IT'S ONLY A COUPLE SENTENCES IN A GRAPHIC.

BUT ESSENTIALLY IN 2035, THERE ARE PERCENTAGES THAT ARE ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY SAID FOR, UM, FOR LAND USE, NOT FOR NECESSARILY WHAT'S GONNA GO THERE ZONING WISE, BUT LAND USE FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE FOR INDUSTRIAL, CERTAIN PERCENTAGE FOR COMMERCIAL.

AND IT'S ALL LIKE IN ME GRAPH THAT I HAD UP THERE.

AND IT'S BASICALLY, UM, IT, IT SPELLS OUT THE 85 15.

SO IF WE FOLLOW THE PLAN, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK OUT.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? UM, THIS IS A 2035 PLAN, AND I KNOW WE'VE MODIFIED, IF WE AMENDED IT AND SO FORTH, WHEN DO WE MAKE IT INTO A 2040? WHEN DO WE REWRITE THIS THING BASED ON CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING AROUND US AND THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT WAS DONE 10 YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO, WHENEVER THIS THING WAS PUT INTO PLACE? SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, BY LAW WE HAVE TO, UM, LOOK RE-LOOK AT OUR COMP EVERY FIVE YEARS.

IT DOESN'T SAY WE HAVE TO AMEND IT, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.

AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY AMENDED A NUMBER OF TIMES, A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE IT WAS FIRST, UH, ADOPTED BACK IN I THINK 2015.

I KNOW THAT'S WHEN THE PROCESS WAS ADOPTED.

SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

THOSE ARE REALLY THE TOOLS I NEED THAT I, THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE GROWTH AREA.

BUT I SHOWED THAT GRAPHIC THAT JUST SORT OF SHOWED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, UM, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, WITH IT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE, UM, RURAL ENHANCEMENT AREA.

IT, THE, THE RESIDENTIAL LOTS ARE POPPING UP.

PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT.

WE HAVE SPLITS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE BY RIGHTS, BUT IT REALLY DOES WILL BE LOTS OF ONE-OFFS FOR PEOPLE TO SAY SPLIT, UM, A LOT SO THAT I HAVE IT FOR MY MY SON OR DAUGHTER OR WHATEVER.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A FAMILY SPLIT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BY RIGHT.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DO.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

AT WHAT POINT IS ONE MIGHT HEAR, ONE MIGHT HEAR, ONE MIGHT HEAR GOOD, OR ARE WE JUST PUTTING UP, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN AMOUNT, A LOT TO SIX, SIX LOTS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT IS.

UM, THAT'S REALLY THE, THE, THAT EXTRA SET OF TOOLS THAT, BUT IF I MAY JUST 'CAUSE TOM ASKED, I THINK IT WAS A GREAT QUESTION.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT THE 2040 PLAN THAT, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.

I MEAN, REALLY THAT'S THE GUIDANCE THAT I THINK WE, WE NEED TO HEAR.

I MEAN, WE ARE ON OUR CURRENT WORK PLAN.

IT DID START OFF WITH THE SMALL AREA PLANS.

WE ALSO HAVE, UM, THE PLAN THAT IS, I MEAN, NOT PLAN, STUDY, EXCUSE ME, STUDY THAT'S GOING ON, THE INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY THAT'S GOING ON AT HOCKET ROAD AND UM, PATTERSON AVENUE.

SO THAT AREA WAS NEXT ON THE LIST.

WE ALSO HAVE A SUBDIVISION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OF WORK ITEMS. IT IS REALLY UP TO THE BOARD TO PRIORITIZE THOSE POINTS.

WE LIVE TBD .

UM, SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE, THE THINGS THAT YOU AS A BOARD NEED TO DO AND THINK ABOUT NEXT STEPS? I THINK WE NEED TO, ON THE ANALOGY OF THE, THE ONE-LEGGED STOOL, I THINK WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY AND GROW OUT SOME OTHER LEGS.

WELL, WE'LL WE'LL MOVE ON TO THIS LAST ONE.

UM, THESE ARE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES.

YOU HEARD BIG TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, AND THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT, OKAY, NOW THAT WE'VE WALKED THROUGH THESE THREE, HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT? WE'VE ALSO HEARD A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.

I REALIZE WE AREN'T REALLY DUG IN HERE ON LIKE, THE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE PIECES TOO.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE COMPETING FOR RESOURCES.

[05:15:01]

YOU KNOW, CASE ONE INDUSTRY FALLS, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY DOESN'T GO DOWN WITH IT.

HOW WE GET THERE, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

JUST TRY AND BE COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE.

I I, I CONFESS I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE ONE LEGGED STOOL BECAUSE IN MY NOTES IT WAS WHERE WE'RE GETTING ALL OUR REVENUE FOR TAXES IS WHAT I WROTE DOWN.

AND, AND YEAH.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY GOVERNMENT GETS REVENUE, I THINK.

OR AT LEAST WELL, THEY DIFF THEY'RE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF TAX REVENUE.

OH, OKAY.

SO A VARIETY.

AND TO THAT POINT, ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED TO NOT JUST BE RESIDENTIAL.

THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, YEAH.

THAT WAS MORE COMMERCIAL BOARD LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE FORWARD LOOKING.

WE, WE HAVE, THERE'S ONE AREA WE'VE, SO WE'VE DONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

BUT THERE'S ONE AREA I'D SAY WE WRESTLED ON OUR WORLD A LITTLE BIT IS THE LAST, YOU KNOW, THE ONE AND TWO YEAR VIEW IS WE, WE HAVE A CIP IT IS OUT THERE, BUT I REALLY LOOK AT A LOT OF THOSE CIP ITEMS AND I GO PULL FORWARD, PULL FORWARD, PULL FORWARD.

BUT WHAT IF IT IS 'CAUSE, 'CAUSE REALLY IT'S OUTSIDE THESE FOUR YEARS LOUDLY, NOT , THE, THE BOARDS, YOU KNOW, UH, UM, IMPACT ON IT IS A BIG OLD QUESTION MARK.

SO, UM, IT'S BACK TO THE FIDUCIARY.

THE IDEA OF WE'VE GOT THIS HALF MILLION DOLLAR HVAC UNIT, WE'VE GOTTA PAY FOR IT.

HAVE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, YOU GOT A RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE DURING THIS BRIEF FOUR YEAR TIME PERIOD, BUT UH, TO PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA COME IN THE FUTURE.

YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION.

IT, IT'S ALSO AT THIS DAY AND TIME, IF YOU SAID, GO RAISE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, CHARLIE, THERE'S ONE SOURCE.

IT'S COMING ON TAX DAY.

IF THERE ARE A LOT OF SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO TAP THAT INVOLVE 12, 18, 24 MONTHS OF PLANNING, AND THEN THE MARKETS HAVE TO COOPERATE AS WELL.

SO WE, WE JUST HAVE TO REALLY BE, UM, BETTER PREPARED AS AN ENTIRE BOARD ON HOW DO WE, UM, THINK ABOUT THOSE AND, AND ARE WE SACRIFICING OUR WELLBEING IN 10 YEARS TIME TO BE COMFY RIGHT NOW, I DUNNO WHAT YOU SAID, BUT MUST IT SERIOUS , IT'S A LOT TO PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE USED THE PHRASE, THE BEST TIME TO SAVE FOR A CHILD'S COLLEGE IS THE DAY BEFORE THEY'RE BORN, NOT THE DAY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THE, THE CIP IS A WONDERFUL TOOL AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, NOT MANY COUNTIES ARE LOOKING AHEAD 25 YEARS IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL'S GOING TO NEED A NEW HVAC AND IT'S GONNA COST HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

AND, AND SO IT, IT'S AN IDENTIFIED FUTURE EXPENSE THAT IS IN THE FUTURE.

UM, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE COUNTY AS BEING PRETTY MUCH A PAY GO WHERE WE PAY FOR MOST THINGS AS WE GO ALONG.

WE'VE HAD THE BOND ISSUANCES RECENTLY, WHICH IS A GOOD USE OF DEBT IN MY OPINION, UM, BECAUSE IT'S A LONG-TERM ASSET WITH LONG-TERM FINANCES.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU IN A SENSE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TODAY TO PAY FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIVE HERE OR MAY NEVER LIVED HERE 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

AND IS THAT FAIR? OR IS IT WHEN WE GET TO THOSE EXPENSES IN 10 YEARS, THE PEOPLE HERE GET THE BENEFIT OF IT, ARE THE ONES THAT SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT.

AND, AND THERE'S A BALANCE BECAUSE I HAVE NOBODY, ANYBODY CARES.

I HAVE TWO SONS AND, UH, WE DIDN'T START SAVING FOR MY SECOND SON'S COLLEGE UNTIL HE WAS BORN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU START DOING THINGS IN ANTICIPATION.

SO I, UH, I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD AND MAYBE PULLING FUTURE EXPENSES INTO TODAY'S WORLD WHEN WE'VE GOT THE WHEREWITHAL TO MAYBE START SAVING FOR IT, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE THAT WE'RE KEEPING TAXES AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, UH, TO THE BENEFIT OF SOMEONE WHO DOES LIVE HERE TODAY.

SO WHEN THEY DO MOVE HERE, THEIR TAXES ARE LOWER.

'CAUSE THE PEOPLE TODAY WERE PAYING HIGHER TAXES THAN MAYBE WERE NEEDED.

I, I DON'T BELIEVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE IN BUSINESS OF BUILDING SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

THERE NEED TO BE PROVEN RESERVES, BUT I, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE FROM THE TAXPAYER TO MEET OUR NEEDS.

OUR CHALLENGE AS A BOARD IS DEFINING THOSE NEEDS AND, AND HOW FAR INTO THE FUTURE DO WE GO? BUT I DON'T LIKE

[05:20:01]

WE GET A BUDGET FOR IT AND KNEW IT WAS COMING.

AND THAT'S SHAME ON US IF THAT EVER HAPPENS.

I LIKE CHARLIE'S THOUGHT.

LET'S LOOK AT THE CIP IMPORTANT TO TODAY, WHAT WE CAN, KNOWING IT'S GOING TO BE HERE.

TIME, VALUE, MONEY.

AND WE NEED TO EXECUTE RESPONSIBLY BECAUSE THINGS AIN'T GETTING ANY CHEAPER.

TRUE.

THE LAST COUPLE YEARS OF INFLATION HAVE BEEN AN ANOMALY, HOPEFULLY.

UM, BUT I WISH WE, I GUESS WE ALL WISH WE'VE BUILT A COURTHOUSE THREE YEARS AGO, FOR INSTANCE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A EDGED SWORD.

PAY ATTENTION TO, AND IF THIS CAME CLAUSE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT THE, THE WHOLE ONLY FUNDING ONE YEAR OF THE CIP, UM, AND HOPING THAT WE HAVE ACCESS EVERY YEAR.

I JUST DON'T NEED, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T SAY WE FUND THE WHOLE FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE SHOULD AT LEAST KNOW WHERE SOME OF THE PLAN'S COMING FROM FOR AT LEAST WHAT THE, THE CRITICAL, I THINK JUST WHATEVER HONEST IP IS IS CRITICAL.

UM, BUT HOW DO WE, DO WE REALLY WANT TO BE JUST, WE'RE HOLDING OUR BREATH WHERE SHE .

ARE WE HOLDING OUR BREATH EVERY QUARTER? ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO BUY THAT AMBULANCE? GOSH, I HOPE SO.

WELL, TO YOUR POINT, IT'S A GOOD, IS THE BOARD ASKING THE OVER AND ABOVE QUESTIONS? AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IF A GOVERNMENT, UM, EMPLOYEE IS ASKED TO PUT STUFF ON THE CIP, THAT'S INDELIBLE.

THAT'S NOT, I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS A SUPERVISOR, I CONSIDER ONE OF OUR JOBS THAT'S ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

BUT TO ALSO SAY WHAT, WHAT IS MISSING? I MEAN, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, AND CONSIDER THE AUDIENCE IS WE'RE PUTTING SOMEBODY ON THE SPOT.

, IF WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AS SUPERVISORS, WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING AROUND US.

IF WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND BE BEEF IT UP BY 25% OR 33% JUST TO DO OUR FIDUCIARY DUTY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS, THEY, I WE WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT IF OUR STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION GOT TO USE PENCILS A LOT MORE OFTEN.

THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

IS, YOU KNOW, I I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD PULL STUFF OUT THE CMP.

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

OH, NO, NO.

I THINK , I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ACCURACY.

I, I WOULD SAY I WOULD, I WOULD, THIS IS JUST A HYPOTHESIS.

THE C-I-P-I-I WILL HOLD OUT QUALIFIERS, UNDERESTIMATES THE TRUE ECONOMIC COSTS OF WHAT WE, WHAT IS NEEDED BY THE COUNTY IN THE COMING YEARS.

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE, IF WE LOOK WE'RE TRULY LOOKING AT THE AUDIENCE OR THE PEOPLE WE'RE ASKING TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

I, I DON'T FAULT INDIVIDUALS FOR NOT WANTING TO PUT THE GORY, ALL THE GORY ELEMENTS INTO A DOCUMENT LIKE THAT.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S OUR JOB TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND SAY, IS THIS, YOU KNOWS, IT IS JUST LIKE A BUILDING, BUILD A BUILDING IS THE ENDOWMENT THERE TO COVER IT MAINTENANCE CAPEX FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

AND WE'RE ALL WHERE ANY BUILDING GOES WRONG.

IT'S THAT EXACT PIECE.

THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

, YOU KNOW, IF I COULD AS YOU LOOK AT SAY THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS IN CIP AND THAT'S REALLY, I THINK AS FAR AS WE CAN REASONABLY LOOK FOR CIP 25 YEARS IS GOOD 'CAUSE IT CAPTURES THE THOUGHT WE'RE GONNA NEED A SCHOOL ON THE EAST SIDE, A SCHOOL ON THE WEST SIDE AT SOME POINT, BUT NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

SO IF WE LOOK AT THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WE'RE TALKING THE EQUIVALENT OF BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE PENNIES OF TAXES OF, OF REAL ESTATE TAXES THAT ARE NEEDED TO, TO PAY FOR THAT.

NOW WE ARE GENERATING, FORTUNATELY, ROUGHLY THAT KIND OF MONEY AS SURPLUS, BUT IF THAT SURPLUS GOES AWAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY NECESSARY.

NOW, WHAT THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS WHEN WE SELL THE NEXT SET OF BONDS FOR A COURTHOUSE, THEN WE START HAVING TO ADD THE BOND PAYMENTS AS WELL.

AND, AND SO WHEN WE START PULLING OUT FROM OUR, OUR 53 CENTS, UM, WHAT'S, WHAT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO SPEND FOR, FOR BOND PAYMENT DEBT AND THEN WHAT WE BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA NEED TO SPEND ON THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING SEVEN, EIGHT PENNIES OF, OF OUR 53 AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE THAN JUST 53 CENTS.

WE, WE HAVE MONEY COME IN FOR PPT, ET CETERA.

BUT THAT JUST KIND OF PUTS IN TERMS THAT THEY GIVE, WRAP THEIR HEAD AROUND OF WHAT WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE SPENDING ON THAT FOR, FOR

[05:25:01]

ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT, AND, AND, AND, AND SO NOT TO LEAVE A SMELLY BAG ON, ON YOU STEP AND RUN AWAY AND RING THE DOORBELL , UM, OLD, OLD ANALOGY TO MY CHILDHOOD THERE, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT WE'LL BE, BE GIVING Y'ALL IS, IS, IS A BUDGET THAT STARTS BREAKING DOWN BY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US START DOING IS ACTUALLY DESIGNATING OUR, OUR REVENUE STREAM TO CERTAIN CATEGORIES AND, AND GETTING THAT, THAT KINDA LOCKED IN SO WE KNOW WITH CERTAINTY WHAT WE HAVE.

SO, BUT WE ALSO KNOW WHAT WE CAN'T GO OVER.

UM, AND GIVING YOU ALL THAT IS INFORMATION TO CONSIDER.

IT, IT WOULD JUST, IT WOULD JUST BE HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

HERE'S HOW THAT BREAKDOWN AND ALSO SHOWING YOU THE PROJECTIONS FOR THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF REVENUE GROWTH, SPENDING GROWTH AND WHERE THE LINES CROSS.

AND, AND, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WHICH, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON.

WE'VE GOT NOW, AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU THE LINES TO CROSS, YOU KNOW, IF NOTHING CHANGES, THE LINES ARE GONNA CROSS AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

THAT WOULD GIVE ME SOME LEVEL OF COMFORT TO, TO YEAH.

HELP MAKE DECISIONS.

SO, SO WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING THAT'S FORECASTING OUT.

SO, SO YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT A DECISION Y'ALL CAN MAKE IN THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR'S GONNA BE FUNNY, BUT WE'RE GONNA START KEEPING YOU THAT KIND OF DATA SO WE CAN COME TO A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE IDEALLY WE'VE GOT MONEY THAT, THAT IT EVEN SHOWS ON THE TAX BILLS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX NOTICE IN, IN, IN MY MIND OF WHAT WHAT IS IS VALID FOR US TO DO IS TELL THE CITIZENS OF YOUR TAX BILL THIS MANY PENNIES GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS, THIS MANY PENNIES GO TO EDUCATION BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOW THIS MANY GO TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

THIS MANY GOES TO PAYING FOR CAPITAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.

SO THEY SEE WHERE THEIR MONEY GOES.

AND, AND, AND THAT ALSO THEN MAKES IT IT CLEAR, UM, TO THE CITIZENS THAT IT IS NOT JUST A LUMP SUM.

IT, IT ACTUALLY HAS PURPOSE AND IT, AND IT GOES PLACES.

WELL ALSO, WHEN WE DO THESE THINGS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENRY UNDERSTANDS AND HOPEFULLY AGREES WITH WHAT WE DO.

AND THAT'S A JOB OF EDUCATING 'EM AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE, IT'S, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WAY.

THEY DON'T CALL FOR A NEW SUPERVISOR FROM DISTRICT WHATEVER TO .

I THINK SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONSIDER WITH ALL OF THESE IS ACTUALLY CHECKING OUR PROJECTIONS AGAINST OUR ACTUALS.

LIKE NOT JUST PROJECTING FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, KEEPING UP WITH THE KPIS, BUT ACTUALLY GOING BACK AND ACTUALLY SHOWING THE ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, HOW OUR MODELS ARE WORKING, HOW WE'RE MAKING SURE WORKING THOSE MODELS THAT MIGHT NEED TO MAKE A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT VERSUS THE ACTUALS INSTEAD OF JUST CONTINUALLY LOOKING FORWARD, MAKING SURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND PROCESSES ARE ACTUALLY DRIVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU FEEL LIKE WE GOT A GOOD, HE'S HERE.

WELL WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF AT THE END OF THE, OUR TIME.

UM, SO WE FINISHED A LITTLE BIT OF AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, WHICH I THINK Y'ALL WILL APPRECIATE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE COVERED A LOT TODAY.

I'M SURE Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY PRETTY EXHAUSTED MENTALLY , HOPEFULLY IT WASN'T TOO MUCH OF A FIRE HOSE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL FEEL, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF SETTING THAT STAGE AS WE START TO LOOK TOWARDS THE YEAR AHEAD.

AND AS THE BUDGET IS COMING, WE A GOOD SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THOSE INTERNAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES? WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS? HOW DO WE START TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, UM, IN KEEPING, UM, TOP OF MIND THOSE ROLES, UM, THAT YOU HAVE.

AND GRANT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA CHIME IN WITH ANY THOUGHTS FROM NO, I WOULD JUST SAY I LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING, RACHEL AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, UH, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALL OVER THE, I THINK TRYING TO BUTTER UP.

I THINK IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUSLY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION TODAY.

I THINK SEEN, UM, STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPECT STARTING TO BUILD AMONG THE BOARD.

UM, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT PROFESSIONAL STAFF, UH, ON YOUR TEAM THAT'S A REAL ASSET THAT NOT EVERY CITY COUNTY CAN CLAIM AROUND.

UM, AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

Y'ALL WANNA REDUCE SOME OF THIS TO SOME WRITTEN MATERIAL AND YES,

[05:30:05]

SO YEAH.

OH, SORRY.

I HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS WORLD START WITH THE QUESTION? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS WORK? UM, A LOCALITY GETTING A GOOD ASSESSMENT, A CO A COM FOR COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF STRATEGIC DECISIONS OR TRANSFORMATIVE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE OVER THE LAST 20 TO 30 YEARS SO THAT THEY ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? AND THE THE REASON I SAY THAT IS WE, WE'VE DONE, WE'VE DONE GREAT THINGS TO BE WHERE WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH BALANCED BUDGETS AND AAA BOND RATING WE HAD, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF SOME DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE 12, 15, 20 YEARS AGO, FOR EXAMPLE.

I'LL JUST SAY ONE EXAMPLE.

SO, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HARD TO DISPUTE, FOR EXAMPLE, RESIDENTIAL GROWTH BEING THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY GROWTH.

AND THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S A, A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE, WE REALLY ARE, UH, IN A CHALLENGING SITUATION THAT'S, THAT'S A CHALLENGING SITUATION WE FACE RIGHT NOW TO HOW DO WE SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SAY IT'S NOT DIVERSIFIED ENOUGH AND IT'S, UM, IT, IT COULD IMPACT US MOVING FORWARD.

BUT I, I FEEL LIKE WE WILL BE BETTER SHARING THIS MESSAGE IF WE CAN SAY WE DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH A PIE IN SKY MODEL.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'RE GETTING TO MOVE FROM THIS POSITION THAT WE ARE WITH BALANCE BUDGETS AND AAA BOUNDARIES, BUT WE ARE NOT NEGLECTING THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST SAYING IT WAS ALL PEACHES AND CREAM GETTING HERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WERE SOME, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITHOUT 2020 HINDSIGHT THERE WERE SOME NOT, YOU KNOW, UM, THERE WERE SOME MEDIOCRE DECISIONS IN THE PAST AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT THEY COULD NEVER HAVE FORESEEN WHO, WHO COULD HAVE FORESEEN AMAZON TAKING OVER, WHO COULD HAVE FORESEEN UBER.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, BUT I, I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL.

SO, SO GOING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION, HAVE ANY LEGALITIES DONE THAT AND SEEN BENEFITS TO IT? UM, I'LL, I'LL GO BACK TO THIS.

I THINK SORT OF ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

WE'LL GO BACK TO THE, UH, EXAMPLE OF DANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY.

UM, THAT WAS THE, UH, MANUFACTURING CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA FOREVER.

UM, THAT REGION, UH, MAKING TEXTILE FURNITURE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.

UH, THAT SLOWLY STARTED TO ERODE AND THEN IT COLLAPSED KIND OF STARTING IN THE MID 1990S.

UH, AND THE LOCAL LEADERS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, WE'RE NOT WILLING TO LET THIS PLACE DIE.

AND THEY STARTED MAKING A WHOLE SERIES OF DECISIONS, UH, AND INVESTMENTS OVER THAT TIME.

AND NOW, HONESTLY A GENERATION LATER THEY'RE FINALLY STARTING TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF THAT THAT PLACE IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW ECONOMICALLY.

THAT IS THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF VIRGINIA TODAY.

UM, AND THEY, I, THEY I THINK ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF, OF CONVEYING TO THEIR RESIDENTS AND THEY HAVE TO DO IT FREQUENTLY BECAUSE NEW PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN.

HERE'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UH, GREAT TIMES IN THE PAST, THEN WE HIT REAL BAD TIMES AND WE'VE TAKEN STEP BY STEP BY STEP TO, TO REBUILD IT.

MOST OF THAT HAS WORKED A FEW THINGS ALONG THE WAY, DIDN'T, BUT IT'S A STORY THEY'VE GOTTA TELL OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

PARTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR SUCCESS AND NEW PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE DON'T REMEMBER THAT HISTORY WHERE WE ARE UNIQUE RELATIVE TO DANVILLE, GREENVILLE, SPART.

AND, AND, AND YOU CAN LIST A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER S**T IS DANVILLE CAN'T BE SWALLOWED.

I'D SAY MAYBE WE PUT THAT ON THE CHALLENGES OR THE THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

VILLE IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THEY ARE STRATEGICALLY OR LOVELY BY GOD WILL JUST FAR ENOUGH FROM CHARLOTTE.

IF GREENVILLE, SPART RIVER WERE 50 MILES FURTHER TOWARDS CHARLOTTE, THEY WOULD'VE JUST BEEN SWALLOWED.

THEY WOULD'VE IN GREATER CHARLOTTE REGION.

WE DON'T WANT BE SWALLOWED, WE WANT TO BE , UH, AND ALL THE THINGS I THINK FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

[05:35:01]

HOW DO YOU REMAIN UNIQUE? YES.

WHILE ALSO SHARING IN THE BENEFITS OF BEING STRATEGICALLY LOCATED.

JUST, UH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR DANVILLE'S DOING WELL.

YEARS AGO, BEEN IN THE BANKING BUSINESS, UH, FORECLOSED ON A, UH, A A A NICE RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY.

I MEAN, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS CONDOS AND THAT THING IS THRIVING NOW.

WAS THAT RIGHT? FORECLOSED ON, LOST THE BANK, LOST SOME MONEY, EVERYTHING WAS DEPRESSED.

YOU KNOW, TIRE COMPANY WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE ECONOMY.

THEY WENT OUT, JUST PULLED OUT, I THINK IT WAS GOOD YEAR.

SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO BE FANCY PANTS, NEW, UH, LUXURY CONDOS.

RACHEL GRANT HAVE YOU FIND AND I KNOW A CUP OF COFFEE, THE NEXT STEPS.

HAVE WE GOT THAT? YEAH, WELL WE'RE ABOUT TO.

WE'RE ABOUT TO.

SO THAT'S A GREAT LEADING QUESTION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO, WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE.

THIS IS THE CLIMATE, THE ATMOSPHERE IS LIKE, IT IS.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT BUSINESSES COMING INTO THE COUNTY, THAT BRAND THEMSELF AS SHORT PUMP THAT ARE IN GOODLAND COUNTY? YES.

LET'S SEND IN THE WRONG MESSAGE.

SO THAT'S MY CITIZEN HAT, SO I'LL TAKE YOU SOME .

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? BRAND? BRAND, YEAH.

THAT ADVERTISE HIMSELF AS A, BUT THEY'RE BUILDING, WELL CAN YOU SEND 'EM A LETTER SAYING HE RESPOND TO CALLS? ANYTHING THAT IS NOT LOCATED ULA, THAT MIGHT WORK.

SO YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF MARKETING.

SO THIS HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM YOU ALL AND WE'RE GOING TO SYNTHESIZE ALL OF IT, UM, AND REPORT BACK TO VIC AND HIS TEAM AND HE WILL SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL.

UM, AND WE'LL START TO, TO HELP Y'ALL KIND OF IDENTIFY YOUR STRATEGIC PATH FORWARD.

UM, SO VIC, DO YOU WANNA HAVE ANY, ANYTHING? SURE.

AGAIN, BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CITIZENS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THIS IS AGAIN, THE FIRST STEP.

THIS IS, IS NOT, UM, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND THE MORE WE DO THIS, THE BETTER WE'RE GOING TO GET AT IT.

THE BETTER BENCHMARKING WE'LL HAVE THE, THE BETTER IDEA.

WE'LL HAVE THIS AND THIS WILL GROW INTO NEW STRATEGIC PLANS FOR THE COUNTY AND, AND YOU KNOW, IN, IN MY MIND, SOMETHING THAT IS ANNUALLY LOOKED AT, ANNUALLY UPDATED SO IT DOESN'T BECOME STALE AFTER SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.

UM, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT IT'S, IT IS A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT TO USE THAT TERM.

SO, UM, I'LL RECEIVE FROM THEM.

I WILL SHARE THAT WITH THE BOARD.

WHAT, WHAT THE CONCLUSION FROM TODAY ARE.

YOU, YOU'LL SEE ASPECTS OF THIS IN THE BUDGET AS WE START SITTING DOWN WITH YOU AND SHOW.

'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, AND THIS IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'D DONE THIS IN DECEMBER, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A LITTLE MORE RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT BUDGET 'CAUSE WE WOULD'VE HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME.

BUT WE'LL STILL GET THIS AND PUT IT IN AS BEST WE CAN TO REFLECT THAT AGAIN, GOING FORWARD.

THIS BECOMES MORE A FORMATIVE STAGE ONE FOR THE BUDGET.

THIS IS WHERE THE BUDGET REALLY STARTS WITH Y'ALL FOR US.

YOU KNOW, IT STARTS FROM Y'ALL SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPENING AND, AND DIRECTION YOU WANT US TO GO.

'CAUSE THE BUDGET IS THE TOOL THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN GOVERNMENT IS THE BUDGET.

SO, SO NEXT STEP IS WE'LL GET THAT, WE'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU, WE'LL BE INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT.

AND THEN IT IS JUST A YEAR ON PROCESS AFTER THAT OF JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, GOALS THAT ARE SET, STAFF IS MEETING.

AND, AND THE BOARD THEN CAN, CAN REVIEW IT, DECIDE IF WE'RE DOING GOOD, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE IT, ET CETERA.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU.

KUDOS TO EVERYBODY.

AND TO OUR CITIZENS HERE IN PERSON, BUT ALSO ONLINE.