Apr 07, 2026 Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting 4/07/2026

THE PLAN IS, WHILE WE HAVE TROOPS IN HARM'S WAY, WE'RE GONNA REMAIN STANDING AFTER THE PLEDGE IN THE NEXT MEETING, UH, TO, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

UM, UH, FROM HERE ON OUT, AFTER THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WE'RE GONNA REMAIN STANDING.

IT'S, IT'S OKAY FOR NOW, BUT, UH,

[IV. Moment of Silence]

SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GO INTO A MOMENT OF SILENCE NOW.

[V. Chair's Comments]

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

SO IT'S JUST A BLESSING, AND I'M HONORED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO SERVE AND REPRESENT AND DO THIS.

SO NOW MOVING INTO CHAIR'S, COMMENTS, GOT SOME NOTES DRAFTED UP.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, IN REGARDS TO VALLEY LINK, UH, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD, REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCALITIES IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED VALLEY LINK PROJECT CONVENED IN LOUISA TO DISCUSS LOCAL IMPACTS AND POTENTIAL PATHS.

FORWARD.

ATTENDEES INCLUDED BOARD REPRESENTATIVES AND STAFF FROM LOUISA, ORANGE, APPOMATTOX, PENNSYLVANIA, COLE PEPPER, LUVANA, BUCKINGHAM, AND GOLAND.

IT, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT WAS A PRETTY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.

UH, THE MEETING HIGHLIGHTING HIGHLIGHTED A WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE REGIONALLY AND, UH, LOCALITY REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS SPECIFIC PRO PROJECT IMPACTS AFFECTING COMMUNITIES.

IN SUMMARY, LOCALITIES AGREED TO PURSUE POTENTIALLY VIABLE OPTIONS.

ALSO, I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE COUNTYWIDE TOWN HALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT, UM, AND OR WATCHED VIA LIVE STREAM THERE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC, UM, AND TO THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND.

THE FULL LIVESTREAM VERSION IS AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE UNDER TRANSPARENCY SLASH MEDIA SLASH COUNTY MEETINGS.

UH, TODAY, WE ALSO HAD THE STATION EIGHT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY WAS HELD EARLIER AT 1:00 PM TODAY, UM, AT THE, UH, 30 35 35 WHITEHALL ROAD DISTRICT TWO.

AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MR. SPOON HOWARD AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT YOU WERE MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND, UH, THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED UP TO THIS POINT.

UM, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 65 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN 65 YEARS OR SO SINCE WE'VE HAD A NEW FIRE DISTRICT.

UM, IT'S GOING TO MAKE, IT'S ALREADY MAKING AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE, UH, BUT WANT TO THANK THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US.

UH, I WANNA THANK, UH, DR.

RAIL AND HIS STAFF FOR PUTTING ON AN AMAZING, GROUNDBREAKING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT, MAYBE HE WORKED WITH MONICA TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE, THE DOGWOODS PERFECTLY IN BLOOM AND SITUATED THERE, BUT VERY WELL DONE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, BUT JUST EVERYTHING THE STAFF DID AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT, UM, IT IS TRULY AMAZING, UH, THIS JOB IS, IS THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO DO THIS, AND I DOUBT I'LL GET TO DO ANYTHING MORE IMPACTFUL THAN BE PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

[VI. County Administrator's Comments]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

AND WANTED TO CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR OTHER TEAMMATES TODAY.

NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.

LEY.

ARE WE DOING, IS IT SOMETHING WE SAID ? UH, SO BOARD MEMBERS JUST, UH, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR TEAMMATES LAST MONTH

[00:05:01]

AND SO IT'S MY PLEASURE TODAY TO SHARE THAT OUR VERY OWN.

ELIZABETH MCDONALD, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE NATION'S 251 OF TWO 50 PUBLIC SERVICE CHAMPIONS BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TWO 50 INITIATIVE AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

THE TWO 50 PUBLIC SERVICE CHAMPIONS WERE CREATED TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC SERVANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT TWO 50 IS A NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO CELEBRATE THE ROLE OF INDIVIDUALS SERVING AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

AS THE UNITED STATES APPROACHES ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY, ELIZABETH WILL BE RECOGNIZED DURING THE TWO 50 PUBLIC SERVICE CHAMPION CELEBRATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION RE-IMAGINING GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE ON MAY 12TH.

SO, WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE ELIZABETH, AND YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM HER LATER ON TODAY AND, AND UNDERSTAND WHY SHE IS RECOGNIZED ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE.

SHE BEGAN WORKING FOR OUR TEAM IN THE FALL OF 2025, AND SHE TRULY HAS MADE AN IMMEDIATE POSITIVE IMPACT WITH HER PROACTIVE PLANNING, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND RESPONSIVENESS IN THE ABILITY, FRANKLY, TO JUST GET THINGS DONE.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING ELIZABETH ON THIS TREMENDOUS HONOR.

SO GO AND DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TODAY, AND WE'RE GONNA START A LITTLE BIT OF A TRADITION, UH, IN THE TIME THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

AND WE'RE GONNA PRESENT TWO CHALLENGE COINS TODAY.

AND CHALLENGE COINS HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF HONORING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

THEY BEGAN IN THE MILITARY WHERE THE SYMBOLIZED IDENTITY, UNITY, AND ACHIEVEMENT.

AND OVER TIME, THE TRADITION EXPANDED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS A WAY TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO EXEMPLIFY, DEDICATION, AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY.

OUR COUNTY'S CHALLENGE COIN CONTINUES THAT TRADITION, AND IT'S OUR WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS WHO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES ON A STATE OR NATIONAL STAGE, AND BRING PRIDE TO OUR COUNTY THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

THIS COIN IS SMALL, BUT IS A LASTING TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.

AND TODAY, I'M HONORED TO AWARD OUR FIRST TWO CHALLENGE COINS TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY EARNING RECOGNITION ON BOTH A STATE AND NATIONAL STAGE.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK ELIZABETH MCDONALD TO COME BACK UP HERE TO RECEIVE HER CHALLENGE COIN AND CHIEF EDDIE FERGUSON FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE VIRGINIA STATE FIRE PROGRAM'S CHIEF OFFICER OF THE YEAR.

TO EDDIE AND MS. MCDONALD.

AND SO, IT'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO TALK AT THIS TIME ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR TEAM AND THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS HERE IN GLAND, AND SHARE A FEW TIDBITS THAT MAYBE OUR CITIZENS BEHIND ME MAY NOT KNOW.

AND I CALL THIS, DID YOU KNOW AND DID YOU KNOW THAT EXPLORE GLAND'S TOURISM MARKETING CAMPAIGN WITH ADVANCED TRAVEL AND TOURISM PRODUCED GET THIS 4 MILLION 111, 419 IMPRESSIONS AND 118,986 CLICKS TO THE EXPLORE GLAND WEBSITE.

WE ARE DOING GREAT THINGS IN TOURISM, AND IT'S BEING RECOGNIZED, AND PEOPLE WANNA COME HERE TO SPEND THEIR TOURISM DOLLARS IN GLAND COUNTY.

SO KUDOS TO OUR TEAM WHO PROVIDE SUCH A GREAT WEBSITE THAT'S ATTRACTIVE AND PEOPLE WANT TO, TO CHECK OUT.

SINCE DECEMBER 1ST, OUR BUILDING INSPECTIONS TEAM PERFORMED 5,971 INSPECTIONS, AND OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, OUR UTILITY TEAM CLOSED OUT.

GET THIS 17,969 MISSED UTILITY, 8 1 1 TICKETS FOR LOCATING UTILITY LINES, AND OUR VETERINARIANS ON STAFF PERFORMED 88 SURGERIES IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT WE'RE DOING SURGERIES AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER OUT HERE ON FAIRGROUNDS ROAD? MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

AND SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHEN WE DO THOSE SURGERIES HERE WITH OUR TALENTED TEAM, THAT RESULTS IN A LESS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR THE ANIMALS, AND IT SAVES OUR TAXPAYERS THE COST OF HAVING THIS WORK PERFORMED BY A THIRD PARTY VETERINARIAN.

SO AGAIN, THANKS TO THE TEAM WHO MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU, DR.

LEY, AND CONGRATULATIONS

[VII. Presentation of Proclamations:]

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO

[1. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing April as Hunger Awareness Month]

MS. BERKOWITZ FOR OUR PROCLAMATIONS.

THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IS GONNA BE THE HUNGER AWARENESS.

COULD THOSE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES COME FORWARD, PLEASE?

[00:10:17]

WHEREAS FOOD IS A BASIC HUMAN NEED, AND IN FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS, THE NEED FOR FOOD COMPETES WITH THE NEED FOR OTHER BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES, SUCH AS MEDICATION, HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION.

AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEFINES FOOD INSECURITY AS LIMITED OR UNCERTAIN AVAILABILITY OF NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE AND SAFE FOODS, OR LIMITED OR UNCERTAIN ABILITY TO ACQUIRE ACCEPTABLE FOODS IN SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE WAYS.

AND WHEREAS VERB BLOG ET ALL 2012 DEFINES A FOOD DESERT AS AN AREA WHERE POPULATIONS LIVE MORE THAN 10 MILES FROM A SUPERMARKET OR LARGE GROCERY STORE IF IN A RURAL AREA.

AND WHEREAS WESTERN GLAND HAS BEEN DECLARED A FOOD DESERT BY THE VIRGINIA FOOD DESERT TASK FORCE.

AND WHEREAS AN ESTIMATED 5.8% OR ABOUT 1,650 OF GLAND'S, 28,000 RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY.

AND WHEREAS WITH ECONOMIC INSTABILITY EXPECTED TO FLUCTUATE AS THE NATION, STATE AND COUNTY EXPERIENCE CHANGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AND WHEREAS GLAND CITIZENS WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES DEPEND ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FOOD RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED IN RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT OF THE IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE BY GLAND COUNTY FOOD PANTRIES.

THE GLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL AS HUNGER AWARENESS MONTH IN GLAND AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO ACTIVELY DONATE FOOD OR OTHER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE NUMEROUS OPEN FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT GLAND, AND TO WORK TOWARDS THE VISION OF GREATER FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL GLAND COUNTY RESIDENTS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING APRIL AS HUNGER AWARENESS MONTH SECOND, ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THE NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, COULD THOSE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES STEP FORWARD , WHEREAS ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO GROW UP IN SAFE, STABLE, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND FOSTER HEALTHY, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT.

ALRIGHT, MOTION PASSES.

OBJECTION.

[2. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month]

AND WHEREAS CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, INCLUDING ABUSE AND NEGLECT, IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT CAN HAVE LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS.

AND WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO PROTECTIVE FACTORS, INCLUDING PARENTAL RESILIENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, AND CONCRETE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED THAT HELP FAMILIES THRIVE EVEN UNDER STRESS.

AND WHEREAS GOLIN SOCIAL SERVICES REMINDS US THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND PROTECTING THE WELLBEING OF OUR YOUTH.

AND WHEREAS THE GOAL OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IS TO IDENTIFY, ASSESS, AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT CHILDREN, PRESERVE FAMILIES WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND PREVENT FURTHER MALTREATMENT.

AND WHEREAS EFFECTIVE PREVENTION SUCCEEDS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PARENTS, EDUCATORS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND WHEREAS BY PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED

[00:15:01]

BEFORE A CRISIS OCCURS, WE REDUCE THE RISK OF MALTREATMENT AND ENSURE A MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR EVERY CHILD IN GLAND COUNTY.

WHEREAS DISPLAYING A PINWHEEL DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, WE'RE SERVED AS A POSITIVE REMINDER THAT TOGETHER WE CAN PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

AND BY DOING SO, KEEP CHILDREN SAFE.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE GLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2026 AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH AND CALL UPON OUR CITIZENS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES TO WEAR BLUE DURING THIS MONTH, AND TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE TASK OF STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND PROTECTING THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY.

MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH SECOND, ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY MEMBERS IN WANNA SAY NAY? I DIDN'T THINK SO.

THE MOTION PASSES ASSES.

IF I COULD HAVE A QUICK MOMENT, AND IF I COULD PRESENT YOU ALL WITH EACH WITH A PINWHEEL AND A LAPEL PEN TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

YOU WANT ME TO DO IT BEFORE THE PICTURE OR AFTER? BEFORE.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS.

[3. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing April 19-25, 2026 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week]

WE, WITH THOSE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES COME FORWARD PLEASE.

WHEREAS THE TERM VICTIM IS MORE THAN JUST A LABEL AND HAS LEGAL STANDING AND PROTECTIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.

WHEREAS CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS ACTS PASSED HERE IN VIRGINIA AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL GUARANTEE VICTIMS THE RIGHT TO MEANINGFULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.

WHEREAS VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, ADVOCATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, ATTORNEYS, AND OTHER ALLY PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP SURVIVORS FIND THEIR JUSTICE BY ENFORCING THESE RIGHTS.

WHEREAS THE RIGHT TO PROVIDE AN IMPACT STATEMENT ENSURES THAT VICTIMS' VOICES ARE CONSIDERED IN COURT DURING THE SENTENCING AND WHEN APPLICABLE RESTITUTION PROCESSES, WHEREAS INCLUDING AND ELEVATING THE VOICES OF SURVIVORS MAKE CERTAIN THEY ARE HEARD AND SEEN, AND CREATES A PATH TO FORGING AND SUSTAINING COMMUNITY TRUST.

WHEREAS ENGAGING VICTIMS CREATES RESPONSES AND SERVICES THAT ARE CREDIBLE, MEANINGFUL, AND CENTERED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, WHEREAS VICTIMS EXPERIENCES SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, SHIFTING EXISTING PROGRAMS IN NEW DIRECTIONS, AND CHANGING POLICIES OR PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE ACCESSING SERVICES OR PURSUING JUSTICE.

WHEREAS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMIT LISTENING TO CRIME VICTIMS IN EVERY SPACE WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE THAT COULD IMPACT THEM.

AND THIS YEAR SERVES AS TIME TO REFLECT ON HOW EACH OF US SHOULD RESPOND TO VICTIMS. WHEREAS THE GLAND VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF VICTIMS AND CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE VICTIMS WILL BE HEARD AND SUPPORTED.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE GLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 19 TO 25 AS CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK REAFFIRMING THIS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT, SUPPORTING VICTIM SERVICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES THAT ASSIST ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND EXPRESSING OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION

[00:20:01]

FOR THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING OUR RESPONSE TO ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME SO THAT THEY RECEIVE RELEVANT ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT, JUSTICE AND PEACE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THE BOARD, APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING APRIL 19TH THROUGH 25TH AS CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK SECOND.

I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT A, ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS TO POSTPONE AGENDA ITEMS IN ADDITIONS TO DELETIONS,

MOTION PASSES.

[VIII. Requests to Postpone Agenda Items and Additions, Deletions or Changes in the Order of Presentation]

[IX. Citizen Comment]

CHANGES IN ORDER OF PRESENTATION? ANYONE? NOPE.

SEEING NONE.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITIZEN COMMENT AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.

LEY TO READ THE RULES.

YEP.

THANK YOU, MR. CHRISTIE.

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM OUR PUBLIC, UH, TODAY.

AND SO WE WELCOME PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS DURING THIS SESSION.

UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTENDED TO LAST MORE THAN AN HOUR.

AND IF SOMEONE DOES WANNA SPEAK, WE ASK THAT THEY COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.

WHEN YOU START, THE GREEN LIGHT, LIGHT WILL START AS GREEN.

THAT MEANS YOUR THREE MINUTES STARTED, IT'LL TRANSITION TO ONE YELLOW LIGHT WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT TO SPEAK.

SECOND YELLOW LIGHT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO SPEAK, AND THAT'S BLINKING.

AND THEN WHEN THE RED LIGHT, UH, COMES UP, THAT TELLS YOU THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES IS UP.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK FOR LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES, YOU MAY EXTEND YOUR TIME BY HAVING OTHER RESIDENTS COME UP, GIVE THEIR NAME AND SEED THEIR TIME TO YOU.

BUT THE TOTAL TIME YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK IF THAT'S THE CASE WOULD BE, UH, 10 MINUTES WITH TWO MINUTES FOR EACH PERSON WHO WANTS TO SEED THEIR TIME TO YOU.

WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL NOW OPEN CITIZEN COMMENT.

THANK YOU, DARLING.

UM, SOME OF US CALL THAT THE FAR, FAR WEST END, RIGHT? UM, I'VE LIVED IN GLAND SINCE 1972 AND I'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.

AND I TRULY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE RURAL BEAUTIFUL SPACES THAT WE HAVE.

MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM TODAY ARE HERE TO SEE WHERE THE BOARDS HEARTS LIE.

YOU HAVE BEEN DRAFTED A RESOLUTION TO THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT, AND WE ALL HERE TODAY SUPPORT YOU IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE AGAINST THIS MONSTROSITY.

WE HAVE A MULTI-GENERATIONAL FARM THAT STRADDLES THE GLIN FLU LINE.

SO GUESS WHAT? WE GET TO DO THIS TWICE, RIGHT? UM, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY OTHERS, UM, HOW THIS PROJECT WILL NEG NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR LIVES.

AND THESE ARE NOT TRIVIAL DISRUPTIONS.

IN MANY CASES, INDIVIDUALS WITH MEDICAL ISSUES WILL NEED TO RELOCATE.

IN OTHER INSTANCES, HOMES WILL BE DEMOLISHED.

AND IN OTHER INSTANCES, ASIDE FROM VALID ENVIRONMENTAL AND PROPERTY CONCERNS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES ESTABLISHED IN THESE AREAS THAT MAY BE FORCED TO CLOSE.

WE ALL SHARE THESE CONCERNS AND MANY OTHERS, AND YOU HAVE HEARD THESE CONCERNS.

THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS, UM, ARE THE BIG BUSINESS CORPORATIONS TODAY.

VALLEY LINK IS THE ISSUE AT HAND.

AND GUESS WHAT? YOU GUYS KNOW THAT A THOUSAND MORE ARE COMING RIGHT BEHIND IT, RIGHT? YOU'VE RECEIVED ENOUGH PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

HOWEVER, I FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY AND STAND HERE AND LOOK AT EACH OF YOU AND SHARE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS WITH MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, MY FRIENDS, AND

[00:25:01]

THE COMMUNITY.

I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THERE ARE FAMILIES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND THE LINES OF YOUR GIS MAP, AND WE ALL SUPPORT YOU FULLY AND WE FULLY ASK YOU TO UNANIMOUSLY VOTE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

HI, MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN VOLCKER.

I LIVE AT 5 3 4 5 WIT CAMP ROAD.

I AM HERE, UM, REPRESENTING, UH, UM, UH, MONICA AND SUN WATER AS, UH, THE DIRECTOR FOR, UH, OSELAND.

AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR PRESENTATION IN IN A FEW MINUTES.

UH, BUT I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT AS A SMALL, UM, UM, SMALL FARM PARTNER AND FARMER AND A SMALL LANDOWNER, UH, MY TAXES, UH, WOULD REPRESENT ABOUT A FIFTH OF A BUDGET ON PAR WITH, UM, UH, POWER AND COUNTY WHEN YOU'RE, UH, CONSIDER IT.

AND, UH, SO IT WOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT FIVE SMALL FARMERS LIKE ME TO, UH, FULLY FUND, UM, UH, MOAN, UH, SALT WATER.

SO, IF YOU CAN THINK OF ONLY FIVE FARMERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THIS GOOD OR IS THIS TOO LOUD? ALRIGHT, MY NAME IS ADAM COMBS.

I LIVE AT 45 30 DAVIS HIGHWAY IN LOUISA.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, UH, VALLEY LINK RESEARCH SINCE FEBRUARY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING SOME IMPORTANT DETAILS TO THE TABLE SO THAT YOU ALL ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND MORE THAN YOU PROBABLY UNDERSTAND NOW.

SO, VALLEY LINK IS A PJM INTERCONNECTION PROJECT, AS WELL AS 10 NASCA ENERGY PLAN NUMBER TWO.

SO THAT'S 13 STATES, 51 PROJECTS.

WHAT FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHEN WE GO TO THE SCC, DO WE REALLY THINK THE SCC IS GOING TO JUST LOOK AT THESE BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY AMAZON WEB SERVICES, EDGECORE AND TENAS A AS SOMETHING THEY'RE WILLING TO THROW IN THE TRASH? THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

WHAT I RECOMMEND IS THAT EVERYONE HERE STUDY THE PJM INTERCONNECTION APPROVED PLAN FOR HERITAGE TOMS B, THAT'S 185 MILES USING CURRENT DOMINION RIGHT OF WAY.

AND THAT'S INSTALLING TWO PHASES.

PHASE ONE, 3000 MEGAWATTS, PHASE TWO, 3000 MEGAWATTS.

THAT'S A 6,000 MEGAWATT TOTAL CAPACITY.

ALL RIGHT? A 7, 6, 5 KV LINE ONLY DELIVERS 2200 TO 2,400.

ANDRE MAY, ROB RICHARDSON, ADAM MCGUIRE.

THEY'RE ALL GONNA SAY, OH, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE CAN'T BURY A 7 6 5.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE.

HOWEVER, THE SUBSTATIONS CAN BE BASICALLY PLACED ON THE BACKS OF THE DATA CENTERS AND THE, UH, TENASIA ENERGY PLANTS.

OKAY? SO, SO WHAT THEY CAN DO IS THEY CAN ACTUALLY INVEST IN THE SUBSTATION TO BE ABLE TO CONVERT DIRECT CURRENT TO ALTERNATING CURRENT AS THEY NEED THERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY AT THE MOMENT.

I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET INTO THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY TODAY.

HOWEVER, I WANTED TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION HERE, AND THEN I'LL, WE, I WILL REACH BACK OUT, UH, WITH SOME OF MY, UH, COLLEAGUES IN THE ROOM HERE TO FURTHER EDUCATE YOU.

BUT WE'VE GOTTA START THINKING A LITTLE BIT MORE TECHNICALLY AND NOT JUST, OH, EVERYBODY OPPOSES IT.

WE NEED TO GET TO THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CARTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED BEFORE THE HORSE, AND WE DON'T KNOW THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ENVIRONMENTALLY LONG-TERM OF DATA CENTERS, ET CETERA.

SO I JUST, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO REALIZE YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM ME.

I APPRECIATE IT, AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU SOON.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

HI, I'M JULIE MUNI.

I LIVE AT 5 3 1 5 DUVAL ROAD IN KENT STORE.

I COULD STAND UP HERE AND TELL YOU ANOTHER STORY ABOUT HOW DEVASTATING THE DOMINION

[00:30:01]

ENERGY VALLEY LINK PROJECT WOULD BE TO MY HOME AND FAMILY, BUT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD SIMILAR STORIES FROM HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS THESE PAST FEW WEEKS.

SO INSTEAD, I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT I HEARD A FEW WEEKS AGO AT A LOUISA COMMUNITY MEETING REGARDING DOMINION ENERGY'S PROPOSAL TO THE REGIONAL GRID OPERATOR, PJM.

APPARENTLY, DOMINION ENERGY REPORTED THERE WOULD BE LITTLE TO NO OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT.

THEY WERE WRONG.

PERHAPS THEY THOUGHT WE WERE JUST A BUNCH OF UNEDUCATED COUNTRY FOLK WHO WOULD STAND BY AND WATCH AS THEY ERECTED HUGE TOWERS ACROSS OUR COUNTY.

THEY WERE WRONG.

WE ARE EDUCATED, ORGANIZED, ENERGIZED, AND PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING THE LAND WHERE WE LIVE, FARM, AND STEWARD FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE WILL FIGHT TO KEEP DOMINION ENERGY FROM DEFACING THE COUNTRYSIDE WE CALL HOME, AND WE EXPECT THE FULL SUPPORT AND HELP OF OUR ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS.

AND CLOSE THE CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M THERESA HENDERSON AT 4 4 9 4 3 CHOPPED ROAD, AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, I VOLUNTEER TO HELP.

UM, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WILL ALSO VOLUNTEER TO HELP YOU BECAUSE YOU GUYS CAN'T DO THIS ALL BY YOURSELF, AND YOU COULD PROBABLY USE THE SUPPORT RESEARCH, UM, SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT US TO DO.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM HERE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISOR AND RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, I CAN HELP.

SO I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE I CAN HELP.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND HOWEVER YOU NEED, IT'S EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE THINGS GET DESTROYED, AND I WANT TO SEE THINGS DONE RIGHT? AND SO, UM, I AM CONCERNED IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE ROOTS THAT IN GUM SPRING, UM, THERE ARE WATERSHED AREAS THERE, I THINK THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, UM, WITH THE, UH, UH, UH, THE WATERWAYS THERE THAT RUN BACK BY THE CREEKS AND, AND THE, UM, AND, AND THE, AND THE RIVERS.

AND SO, UM, THESE, UM, UH, AREAS THAT ARE IN GUM SPRINGING, I THINK SPECIFICALLY ROUTE G OF THAT CROSSES OVER MANY, MANY AREAS THAT, UM, ARE HEADWATERS FOR THE PARTICULAR, UH, WETLANDS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST, I KNOW I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE ROOTS THAT, THAT, UM, CROSS OVER AND TRY TO AVOID THE WETLANDS, BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE WETLANDS THEMSELVES.

IT'S WHAT IS THE, THE HEAD, THE HEADWATERS, AND HOW THEY FEED INTO THE WETLANDS.

SO IN CONCLUSION, YOU KNOW, I VOLUNTEER TO HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL WRITE YOU GUYS TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, WHO I AM.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT MANY OF US HERE IN THE ROOM, AS WELL AS ONLINE SHOULD ALSO VOLUNTEER TO HELP YOU GUYS.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD

[X. County Employee Quarterly Awards]

UH, BOARD MEMBERS.

NEXT ONE.

OUR AGENDA IS RECOGNITION OF OUR QUARTERLY WINNERS.

WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL FOLKS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY THAT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE.

AND MR. CLIFF HELLER, OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, GONNA COME FORWARD AND, UH, HELP US RECOGNIZE THOSE FOLKS TODAY.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US OUT.

UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

THIS, UH, QUARTER, THIS IS OUR THIRD QUARTERLY, UH, AWARD WINNERS, UH, SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM.

SO, UH, A LITTLE RECAP.

WE NORMALLY DO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER.

WE DO A CUSTOMER SERVICE STAR OF THE QUARTER.

WE HAVE TWO THIS TIME, WE DO A ROOKIE OF QUARTER, UH, A LEADER OF THE QUARTER, AND THEN WE FINISH UP WITH THE TEAM OF THE QUARTER.

SO WE'RE GONNA START OUT TODAY WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE STAR OF THE QUARTER.

IF WENDY GRADY COULD STAND UP, PLEASE,

[00:35:02]

AND I PROMISED I WOULDN'T EMBARRASS HER TOO MUCH.

SO WENDY GOES FAR AND BEYOND TO GET ANSWERS AND ENSURE THE CITIZENS OF GLAND ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

SHE WILL CARRY ON A CONVERSATION TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE FAMILY WHILE TRYING TO FIND THE ANSWERS.

HER KNOWLEDGE OF HER RESPONSIBILITIES IS REMARKABLE FROM THE VETERANS BANNER PROGRAM, CURBSIDE RECYCLING AND TAKING CARE OF THE GENERAL SERVICES STAFF EVERY DAY, UH, YOU CAN COUNT ON HER TO GET IT DONE AND GET IT DONE RIGHT AND IN A TIMELY MANNER.

OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE RATING IS AN A PLUS.

THANK YOU, WENDY.

NOW, OUR NEXT, UH, AWARD WINNER COULD NOT BE WITH US.

HE IS NOT FEELING WELL, BUT I DO WANNA PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE ADAM BARBER.

UM, ADAM BARBER IS FROM OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

HE HAD THREE OR FOUR AMAZING CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT WERE FORWARDED TO US THROUGH OUR LINK ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO I JUST WANNA READ A LITTLE BIT OF A, A BIT OF WHAT WAS RELAYED TO US.

ADAM CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH HIS PATIENTS KNOWLEDGE AND KINDNESS.

WHEN SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS WITH PLANNING QUESTIONS, HE TAKES THE TIMELESS AND CAREFULLY ENSURING THAT EVERY QUESTION OR CONCERN IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD BEFORE OFFERING THOROUGH, THOUGHTFUL, AND WELL-INFORMED SOLUTIONS.

HIS STRONG KNOWLEDGE OF PLANNING PROCESSES ALLOWS HIM TO PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE AND RELIABLE SUPPORT, HELPING OTHERS FEEL CONFIDENT AND SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THEIR INTERACTIONS.

WHAT TRULY SETS ADAM APART IS HIS COMMON PATIENT APPROACH.

EVEN IN CHALLENGING SITUATION, HE TREATS EVERYONE WITH GENUINE KINDNESS AND RESPECT.

CREATING A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO ASSIST HIS DEDICATION TO OTHERS COMBINED WITH HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERTISE, MAKES HIM A TRUSTED RESOURCE AND A VALUED MEMBER OF THE TEAM.

AND I WISH HE COULD BE HERE FOR US, BUT THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHTY.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH, ROOKIE OF QUARTER.

AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, BUT, UH, ROOKIE OF QUARTER, OH WAIT, HE MIGHT BE HERE.

OUR ROOKIE OF THE QUARTER IS JM WAYLAN.

COME ON UP.

JAN MICHAEL.

THERE HE IS HERE NOW, MAN, MANY OF YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW JM AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, HE'S NOT A ROOKIE.

WELL, HE IS IN HIS NEW ROLE.

UH, HE RECENTLY TOOK ON A NEW ROLE OF, UH, PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR.

SINCE MOVING INTO THIS ROLE, HE HAS MOVED THE POD AND LDP APPLICATIONS TO BE FULLY ONLINE, CREATING EFFICIENCY FOR BOTH CUSTOMERS AND STAFF.

HE IS THE SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR PODS, WHICH HELPS CUSTOMERS HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE.

HE ALSO WORKS DOUBLE DUTY WHILE DOING THESE NEW POD DUTIES, HE HAS STILL BEEN PERFORMING CODE COMPLIANCE DUTIES, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN HANDED OFF.

UH, THROUGH THIS TRANSITION, JM HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE FUN, ENERGETIC PERSON WE ALL APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU, JM.

UH, NEXT STAR IS OUR EMPLOYEE THE QUARTER, AND SHE COULD NOT BE WITH US BECAUSE SHE IS ON VACATION.

UH, THAT WOULD BE, UH, SHANNON FLEISCHER FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I, I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW GREAT A PERSON SHE IS.

UH, DURING THE RECENT WINTER STORM, SHANNON WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE THEIR PAYCHECKS.

KNOWING THE FORECAST AND THAT LOSING POWER AND OR INTERNET AT HOME WOULD IMPACT PAYROLL.

SHE MADE THE DECISION TO WORK FROM A HOTEL FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS, TAKING AWAY FROM THE COMFORTS OF HOME AND FAMILY.

HER COMMITMENT ENSURED THAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID ON TIME, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES OF HER PLACING THE NEEDS AND HAPPINESS ABOVE HER OWN CONVENIENCE.

SHE IS ALSO THE HEART OF THE EMPLOYEE ACTIVITY COMMITTEE.

HER LEADERSHIP AND WORK IN ORGANIZING, SETTING UP AND CLEANING UP ALLOWS ALL OF US TO ENJOY THE MANY EVENTS BROUGHT TO US BY THE EAC.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS IN ABSENT TO SHANNON.

SO THANK YOU.

NEXT IS AN IMPORTANT RO AWARD FOR THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS OUR LEADER OF THE COURT.

AND IF, UH, MASON MUIR COULD STAND UP AND COME UP, PLEASE.

FIRE RESCUE'S OWN.

LIEUTENANT MEYER IS AN ENERGETIC, ENERGETIC, AND YOUTHFUL LEADER THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO TALK WITH EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVELY AND PATIENTLY.

LIEUTENANT MEYER MEER, EXCUSE ME, IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT MOTIVATOR.

HE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, NOT ONLY ABOUT OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF OUR CAREER FIELD, BUT ALSO EXTREMELY WELL VERSED WITHIN THE COUNTY.

LIEUTENANT MUIR TAKES ANY MOMENT DESPITE HOUR OF DAY TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION, OR GENERAL ATTENTION OF ANYONE THAT REQUESTS HIS TIME.

THE PEOPLE WHO HE SUPERVISES CANNOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF HIM.

SO THANK YOU.

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST IS OUR TEAM IN THE QUARTER, OUR CIRCUIT COURT CLERK'S OFFICE.

[00:40:01]

I'LL GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO COME UP.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE CIRCUIT COURT'S CLERK'S OFFICE TEAM GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR JOB REQUIREMENTS, WHETHER IT'S MAKING A CUSTOMER FEEL AT HOME WHILE BEING IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, OR DOING AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB WHILE MANAGING THE MULTITASK THROUGH THEIR WORKLOAD.

WITH THE POPULATION OF UCHIN COUNTY GROWING, THE WORKLOAD OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THE TEAM AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONTINUES TO FIND STRENGTH AND MOTIVATION TO FIGHT THROUGH EVERY HURDLE THAT COMES WITH THEM EVERY DAY WITH DIGNITY IN CLASS, ALL WHILE HAVING A FRIENDLY SMILE.

UH, SOME STATS LAST YEAR, THE CRIMINAL CASE LOAD INCREASED 28.5% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE AMOUNT OF CONCEALED HANDGUN PER PERMITS ISSUED WENT UP 44.3% OVER LAST YEAR, JUDGMENTS WERE UP 88.4%, AND ESTATES WERE UP 34 POINT 35.4.

OVER LAST YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF DEEDS RECORDER WAS 4,759, WHICH IS 11.1% MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

WHILE NOT ALL THE WORK OF THE CIRCUIT COURSE CLERK OFFICE CAN BE MEASURED BY NUMBERS AND GRAPHS AND CHARTS, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT EVERYONE IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY BUSY WITH WORK THAT IS HIDING ON THEIR DESKS, BUT WILL ALWAYS JUMP UP TO HELP A CUSTOMER WHO WALKS INTO THE OFFICE.

THE CIRCUIT CLERKS, KIRKS CLERKS OFFICE TEAM ALWAYS GOES ABOVE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

SO THANK YOU.

[XI. Approval of Action Minutes]

UH, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION MINUTES FROM REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026, AND, UH, BUDGET SESSION OF FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026.

SO MOVED.

SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

CHRISTIE, YOU AND I ARE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN THERE AND GET SOME MORE PICTURES.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

ALRIGHT,

[XII. Reports]

WELL, MR.

[1. Introduction of New County Employees]

WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE OUR NEW EMPLOYEES AND, UH, INTRODUCE THEM TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE TODAY.

SO, MR. HELLER, WE'RE GONNA BRING YOU BACK UP.

RIGHT.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UP FOLKS.

UM, UH, WE HAVE THREE NEW EMPLOYEES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2026.

UM, WE'RE GONNA START WITH MATTHEW FEIGLEY FROM THE IT DEPARTMENT.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE, HE WASN'T ABLE.

HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM PHILADELPHIA.

WELL, UM, MATTHEW JOINED OUR TEAM AS A NEW NETWORK ENGINEER, WHICH WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE ON BOARD, UH, IN ON MARCH 2ND.

HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR VCU HEALTH WHERE HE WAS IN A SIMILAR ROLE.

MATTHEW LIKES TO GO TO MOVIES IN IS ORIGINALLY FROM EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

OUR SECOND, UH, UH, NEW EMPLOYEE CANNOT BE WITH US 'CAUSE SHE'S ALREADY IN TRAINING.

THIS IS EMILY LANGUAGE.

SHE IS OUR NEW COMBINATION RESIDENTIAL INSPECTOR.

UM, EMILY REJOINED THE COUNTY AS OUR NEWEST INSPECTOR ON MARCH 16TH.

SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR TEAM GLAND IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT WAS MOST RECENTLY WITH SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CODES ADMINISTRATOR.

SHE'S ORIGINALLY FROM NOTTAWAY COUNTY AND ENJOYS NATIVE VIRGINIA PLANTS.

OUR THIRD NEW EMPLOYEE IS HERE AND THAT WOULD BE MARCELLA HAN, OUR ASSISTANT PUBLIC DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.

VERY EXCITED.

HE JOINED US ON MARCH 23RD.

UH, HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR HENRICO COUNTY, WHERE HE WAS THE ASSISTANT DIVISION DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.

HE IS A TWIN AND ENJOYS WORKING ON CARS AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.

SO WELCOME MARCELLO.

WELCOME

[2. VA Cooperative Extension Brief Report]

THE BOARD MEMBERS.

OUR NEXT REPORT FOR TODAY IS FROM KAYLA WALKER, WHO REPRESENTS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

AND SO KAYLA IS HERE TO PROVIDE A FEW REMARKS ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING TO SUPPORT OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

[00:45:07]

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS KAYLA WALKER.

UM, I AM THE UNIT COORDINATOR AND FOUR H EXTENSION OFF EXTENSION AGENT FOR THE GLIN UNIT OF VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

UM, I HAD PREPARED, UM, IT'S SO HARD TO ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING THAT EXTENSION HAS DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND HAS ON THE HORIZON IN JUST FIVE MINUTES.

UM, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE A BREATH AND TRY TO DO IT, UM, THE BEST I CAN AND DO THE BEST OF THE SERVICE OF MY COLLEAGUE AS WELL.

UM, MR. SKY BRICKHOUSE, WHO SERVES AS OUR HOR, UM, EXCUSE ME, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE EXTENSION AGENT.

UM, SKY DOES SEND HIS REGARDS, HE'S ACTUALLY AT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN BLACKSTONE.

SO HE DOES SEND HIS REGARDS AND, UH, LEFT THE TALKING, I GUESS TO ME FOR TODAY.

SO, UM, I DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS, UM, AND I COULD TALK ABOUT THEM ALL DAY LONG.

UM, BUT THAT WILL BE, UM, GIVEN TO YOU GUYS IN AN ROI SHEET AS WELL AS OUR REPORT.

UM, THAT WILL BE SENT OUT TO YOU ALL BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK.

BUT, UM, I DID WANT TO TAKE THESE FIVE MINUTES TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING.

UM, IN 2025 ALONE, WE HAD, UM, 2,500 PLUS RESIDENTS REACHED THROUGH EXTENSION.

UM, EXTENSION IS OFTEN GIVEN THE TERM, UM, THE WORLD'S BEST KEPT SECRET OR THE STATE'S BEST KEPT SECRET.

WELL, WE DON'T LIKE THAT.

WE REALLY DON'T.

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IN GLIN.

UM, WE ARE NOT A SECRET.

UM, IN 2025, WE HAD 47 INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS DELIVERED.

UM, AND THEN FOR FOUR H WE HAVE TAKEN ON THE NEW BEYOND READY INITIATIVE, UM, THROUGH NATIONALS.

AND IN 2025 WE WERE ABLE TO REACH 1,161, UH, YOUTH THROUGH OUR FOUR H PROGRAMS. UM, I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS HERE BECAUSE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, UM, THE MONTH OF APRIL IS ACT ALSO NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, UM, THROUGH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

AND ON A NATIONAL LEVEL IN 2025, WE HAD 281 VOLUNTEERS, UM, THAT REPRESENTED VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD OF THE GLAND PEAN, MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION.

I'M SURE THOSE, UH, MEMBERS ARE CONSIDERED VCE VOLUNTEERS.

WE HAVE FOUR H VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVE AS LEADERS, THAT SERVE AS PARENT VOLUNTEERS.

THOSE CHAPERONES FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS STATE TRIPS.

UM, AND EVEN THOSE WHO ASSIST WITH AG DAY AND IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING THROUGH FOUR H, THEY ARE ALL REPRESENTED AS VOLUNTEERS.

WE DO HAVE A NEW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR WHO HAS JOINED US, UH, LAURA BRADY.

SO SHE IS ON BOARD AS OUR NEW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AND IS SUPER EXCITED TO WORK WITH OUR LOVELY GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.

WE HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN 2026.

SO, UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN 2025 AND 2026, WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO, UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO IN-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT THROUGH FOUR H.

UM, I ACTUALLY JUST SENT OUT, UM, IN-SCHOOL EMBRYOLOGY YESTERDAY, AND I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING AT 290 KIDS THAT ARE GONNA PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.

UM, SO MY PASSION IS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE, BUT THE COMMUNITY HAS MUCH MORE NEEDS THAN THAT.

SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DO DO A LOT OF STEM PROGRAMMING AS WELL THROUGH FOUR H.

UM, AND THEN OUR CAMPING PROGRAMS, I'M SURE ALL OF YOU I HOPE HAVE HEARD OF JUNIOR FOUR H CAMP.

YOU MAY HAVE HAD KIDS THAT WENT THERE, GRANDKIDS THAT WENT THERE.

UM, THAT IS STILL UP AND COMING.

UM, WE ARE CAMPING JULY 6TH TO THE 10TH THIS YEAR, UM, WITH A FULL SLATE OF CAMPERS FROM GLAND, HANOVER AND PALATAN, AND A NEW CAMP THAT HAS COME TO FRUITION.

UM, THROUGH MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE BRIDGET GROOM, WHO IS THE EXTENSION AGENT IN HANOVER COUNTY THROUGH FOUR H.

WE ARE, UM, PARTICIPATING IN FOUR H CAMP SPARK, WHICH IS A, IS A SPECIALTY CAMP THAT WILL BE HOUSED AT JAMESTOWN THAT IS GEARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE ON THE NEURO DIVERGENT SPECTRUM AND THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

SO THIS IS A WEEKEND CAMPING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DAUNTED BY THE ONE WEEK, UM, EXPERIENCE OF CAMP AND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A STRUCTURED BASE.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO DO THAT.

UM, ON THE A AND R SIDE OF THINGS, WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN CALLS ABOUT, WELL, WATER AND SKY IS TAKING CARE OF YOU.

SO THAT IS GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FALL.

UM, KEEP CALLING HIM, KEEP GETTING ON THAT INTEREST LIST.

UM, AND THEN PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATIONS, UM, SKY IS CERTIFIED FOR THOSE AND HE IS LOOKING WITH THE OTHER AGENTS, UM, ACROSS THE COUNTIES, UM, TO DEVELOP MORE OF THOSE PRIVATE APPLICATOR LICENSES AND SUCH FOR THOSE USING COMMERCIAL PESTICIDES OR PESTICIDES IN THEIR HOMES.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND I'M GLAD ANGELIA IS HERE.

UM, SO WE ARE GETTING READY FOR GULA AND AG FAIR.

WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR FIRST MEETING, UM, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DO THAT SEPTEMBER 12TH.

SO DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT AND AS WE FINISH OUT, UH, FUTURE GOALS.

[00:50:01]

SO, UH, SKY AND I ARE WORKING ON REINSTATING OUR GLIN, ELC, WHICH IS OUR EXTENSION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

WE ARE LOOKING TO ADVICE FROM THE POWHATAN ELC, WHICH IS VERY, UM, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THAT STARTED.

UM, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN INTEREST MEETING VIRTUALLY.

WE TRIED TO MEET IN PERSON A COUPLE TIMES, BUT THE TIMES JUST AREN'T WORKING OUT WITH, BETWEEN EVERYBODY DOING ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

UM, OUR FUTURE, ANOTHER FUTURE GOAL IS TO SECURE A FAMILY CONSUMER SCIENCE ASSOCIATE TO DIVER TO DIVERSIFY PROGRAMMING.

SO WHAT WOULD THIS PERSON DO? THIS PERSON, UM, WOULD HELP BASICALLY REACH OUT A DIFFERENT PROGRAM AREA.

SO FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE IS A WHOLE NOTHER PROGRAM AREA OF EXTENSION THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAPPED IN GULA IN A VERY LONG TIME.

UM, THEY WOULD PROVIDE SERVICES IN HEALTH, UM, IN FINANCIAL LITERACY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UM, POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE GLAND PEAN COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD, AS WELL AS GLAND CARES, UM, JUST TO NAME A COUPLE.

UM, BUT PRETTY MUCH CLOSING OUT.

UM, THE MAIN GOAL OF EXTENSION IS TO BUILD THOSE LIFE SKILLS AND SUPPORT AGRICULTURE AND STRENGTHENING GLAND'S FUTURE.

SO OUR JOB IS TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WHAT YOU ALL NEED.

SO, UM, I'M CONSIDERING THIS AN OPEN INVITATION.

OUR OFFICES ARE OPEN, SKY AND I ARE RUNNING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO MISS SUSAN WILL BE HAPPY TO SAY HI TO YOU IF, UM, WE ARE NOT IN THE OFFICE.

BUT IF WE'RE NOT THERE, JUST KNOW, UH, WE'RE OUT THERE DOING, I'M EITHER IN THE SCHOOL SKIES IN THE FIELD, UM, OFFERING PROGRAMS TO OUR YOUTH AND TO OUR ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU GUYS.

[3. Goochland Education Foundation Brief Report]

A COUPLE OF FAMILIES WHERE THEY'VE FOUND THEMSELVES IN A DIFFICULT POSITION DURING, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

OUR NEXT REPORT BOARD MEMBERS IS FROM CINDY BROWN.

SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

I'M ALSO, UM, HAVE WITH ME TAYLOR ENNI, WHO IS OUR COO, UM, WHO ACTUALLY MAKES SURE THAT THIS ADVENTURES THING RUNS AS WELL AS IT'S RUNNING.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE FOR OUR YEAR ONE.

WE'RE ABOUT TO WRAP UP EIGHT WEEKS LEFT.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

UM, I DO LIKE TO ALWAYS OPEN WITH THE FACT THAT WE FELT CONFIDENT THAT WE COULD DO THIS SUCCESSFULLY BECAUSE, UM, FOR, SINCE 2017, WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $700,000 INTO THE SCHOOLS IN PROGRAMS. SO, UM, WE ALREADY HAD A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO YEAR ONE, UM, AUGUST 18TH WAS OPENING DAY.

WE ARE FULLY LICENSED TO NOW IN ALL THREE SCHOOLS.

THAT WAS, UM, A BIG PART OF OUR YEAR, UM, IN 2025 TO GET SET UP.

UH, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE VERY QUALIFIED PEOPLE.

WE'RE OVER THE MOON WITH OUR STAFF.

UM, WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE KIND OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE FOR AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, AND SINCE WE ARE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, WE ARE NOT JUST A CHILDCARE PROGRAM.

SO WE HAVE A VERY STRUCTURED YET PLAYFUL CURRICULUM TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL ALL DAY, BUT THEY REALLY ENJOY IT.

SO WE MAINTAIN THIS YEAR IN YEAR ONE, UM, A CONSISTENT ENROLLMENT OF ABOUT 55 KIDS ACROSS ALL THREE SCHOOLS.

UH, PARENTS ARE STILL NOW, EVEN WITH JUST EIGHT WEEKS LEFT, ENROLLING, ASKING TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN ENROLLED.

UM, WE ARE HAVE A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH DSS, SO WE CAN PROVIDE SUBSIDIES.

UM, WE HAVE, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF NUMBERS.

UM, WE HAVE, UM, EIGHT STUDENTS THAT ARE ON FALSE, UH, SUBSIDIES, UM, ENROLLMENT AND, UM, BECAUSE WE DID PROMISE THAT WE WILL NEVER TURN THE CHILD AWAY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND SO WE ALSO SET ASIDE SOME BUDGET MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDY, BUT CANNOT AFFORD, UM, TO PAY THE, THE, UM, FEE, WHICH WE DO KEEP AT $98 A WEEK.

WE ARE VERY LOW.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE AND IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.

IT PROVIDES, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF EVERYTHING INCLUDING EXTRA, UH, ACTIVITIES AND SNACKS AND ALL THAT.

WE DO HAVE THREE STUDENTS ON FULL SCHOLARSHIP NOW AND TWO ON PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE'VE HAD, UM,

[00:55:01]

WE'VE ARRANGED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN STAY ENROLLED.

UM, WE ARE, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY, THE STRONG TWO THREADS THAT WEAVE THROUGH THE CURRICULUM OF THIS PROGRAM ARE LITERACY AND MATH.

THEY'RE WO INTERWOVEN IN EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAM THAT WE DO THAT AND WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR OWN, UM, CURRICULUM THAT WE'VE MANAGED TO, UM, TAILOR AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP.

WE HAVE LOTS OF SUPPORT OUT THERE TO DO THAT.

UM, IT ALSO, WE HAVE SET IT UP IN INCREMENTS JUST LIKE SCHOOL DOES, BUT UNITS, UM, WE'VE COVERED SCIENCE, UM, SCIENCE BEHIND THE SENSES, HOW OUR SYSTEMS WORK, HEALTHY HABITS, BUILDING AND ENGINEERING.

WE FUNDED ALL THREE MAKERSPACES IN THE THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE.

WE DO USE THOSE.

UM, AND WE'VE EXPLORED TIMELINES AND HERITAGE JOURNALING AND BIOGRAPHIES, WHICH ALL ALSO ALSO INCORPORATES LITERACY THROUGHOUT.

SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY WE ARE, UM, RUNNING SO FAR.

UM, SORRY.

WE, UM, WE'LL BE SENDING OUT SURVEYS TO THE PARENTS.

UM, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE, UH, LEADERSHIP IN ALL THE SCHOOLS.

WE WORK IN TANDEM WITH THEM, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH CHILDREN AND EVERYTHING THAT CHILDREN BRING TO TIME AND SPACE WITH US.

AND, UM, WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW IT'S GOING.

SO WE ARE, UM, GOING TO, UH, AT THE END OF THE YEAR DO AN ASSESSMENT FROM PARENTS AND WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE SCHOOLS AND, UM, ALREADY ENROLLING KIDS FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE ALREADY HAVE THAT ENROLLMENT OPEN AND PARENTS ARE ALREADY PLANNING ON BRINGING THEIR KIDS BACK.

UM, ONE, A COUPLE OF ANECDOTAL, UM, WE'VE HAD STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY, WHEN THEY STARTED IN OUR PROGRAM, THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND AS THEY WENT THROUGH IT, UM, IT WAS DEMONSTRATED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR GRADES, THEIR ATTITUDE ABOUT SCHOOL, WANTING TO ACTUALLY COME TO SCHOOL AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING TO THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, UM, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.

UM, AND SECONDLY, ONE THING THAT WAS VERY SWEET, WE HAD, UM, A PARENTS, UH, SIGN THEIR CHILD UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND HE IMMEDIATELY, HE IMMEDIATELY LOST HIS JOB AND WE SAID, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

YOUR CHILD CAN COME.

AND SO, UH, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO HE INFORMED THE SITE DIRECTOR THAT, UM, HE'S HAPPY TO SAY THAT EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY'S FULLY EMPLOYED NOW AND NOT ONLY WILL THEY PAY FOR THEIR CHILD NEXT YEAR, BUT THEY WANT TO DO A SPONSORSHIP, SPONSOR, A SCHOLARSHIP FOR ANOTHER CHILD, WHICH IS REALLY, I THINK THAT'S A STRONG TESTAMENT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH ADVENTURES.

ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THAT'S GREAT.

YEAH, I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS A GREAT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

[4. Monacan Soil and Water Brief Report]

ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT REPORT IS FROM KEITH BURGESS, WHO'S REPRESENTING, UH, THE MONICA AND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TODAY.

AGRICULTURAL COST SHARE PROGRAM.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD MEMBERS.

UM, I'VE GOT SEVERAL OF MY DIRECTORS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HERE, AND I'LL JUST ASK THEM TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

UH, MONICA AND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT WAS FOUNDED IN 1970 WHERE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF GUCH AND POWER AND FARMERS AND LOCAL CITIZENS UNDERSTOOD THAT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION WAS A LONG-TERM GOAL AND MISSION WITH DIVERSE GOALS, UM, FOR THE PROTECTION OF FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION OF OUR WATER SUPPLY.

UM, WE HAVE THREE DIRECTORS FROM UCHIN COUNTY AND THREE STAFF MEMBERS.

WE HAVE OVER 100 YEARS OF LIVING AND WORKING EXPERIENCE IN GOIN AND THAT INCLUDES OVER 75 YEARS WORTH OF FARMING EXPERIENCE HERE IN GOIN COUNTY.

WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE WORK AND KEY FOCUSES WITH THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

WE UNDERSTAND FARMERS IN UCHIN COUNTY

[01:00:02]

THAT'S OUR BIG THING.

VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL COST SHARE PROGRAM.

AND THOSE FUNDS COME FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

OUR TAX DOLLARS, YOUR FUNDS HELP TO LEVERAGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL PRODUCERS.

THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE APPROVED $755,000, AND THAT'S GONNA BE DISTRIBUTED AMONGST 20 UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL PRODUCERS.

JUST THIS YEAR.

SIX OF THOSE ARE LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS, 15 OF GRAIN PRODUCERS.

THERE'S 32 CONTRACTS.

THERE'S 187 DIFFERENT PRACTICES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

SIX OF THOSE PRODUCERS, LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WILL GENERATE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS THAT WILL RANGE ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 15 YEARS.

SO ONCE WE ESTABLISH A CONTRACT WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL, WE LIKELY CAN'T GO BACK TO THAT INDIVIDUAL AND RESIGN THEM UP UNTIL THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRES.

SO THAT'S WHEN YOU GET INTO OUR ACTIVE CONTRACTS.

WE HAVE ACTIVE CONTRACTS WITH 44 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

WE HAVE WORKED SINCE 1998, WHICH IS WHERE OUR COMPUTER RECORDS GO BACK TO.

WE'VE WORKED WITH 97 UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL FARMERS IN GLAND COUNTY, AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD, I THINK.

AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE PRODUCERS.

AND THEY MAY COME BACK TO US IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE PRACTICES WHERE WE CAN RENEW CONTRACTS, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE ACTIVE CONTRACTS.

WE HAVE 54 MILES OF STRING BANK PROTECTION THERE AND TH AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES THAT ARE UNDER MANAGEMENT WITH US.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE GOT ALMOST 6,000 ACRES OF GREEN PRODUCTION THAT'S UNDER MANAGEMENT WITH US AND A LITTLE OVER 9,000 FEET OF STREAM BANK, TWO MILES, ROUGHLY TWO MILES OF STREAM BANK.

WE'VE PROTECTED NEARLY THIS YEAR ALONE LOAN AS WE MOVE INTO SOME OTHER PROGRAMS. IF YOU COME OUT TO OUR OFFICE, YOU'LL SEE A LEARNING GARDEN OUT THERE.

WE'VE IMPLEMENTED WITH OUR NEW EMPLOYEE THIS PAST YEAR, AND THAT'S BEEN A GREAT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR PEOPLE THAT VISIT.

UM, OUR OFFICE LOCATION, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT COME FROM THAT GOOD DEMONSTRATION ABOUT HOW TO PRODUCE VEGETABLES.

UH, WORKING WITH EXTENSION ON SOME OF THAT.

WE'RE A VERY KEY PLAYER WITH EXTENSION ON A LOT OF PROGRAMS. AS KAYLA ALREADY MENTIONED, WE HELP TEACH THE PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION CLASS.

WE'RE INVOLVED WITH THE WELL WATER TESTING PROGRAM AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS THERE.

SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE FOR US IS THE JAMES RIVER BUFFER PROGRAM, WHERE WE'RE PART OF A CONSORTIUM THAT'S SPREAD UP AND DOWN FROM RICHMOND TO THE HEADWATERS OF THE JAMES RIVER.

WE'RE OFFERED HELP, UH, PLANT RIPARIAN BUFFERS AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY.

WE'VE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN HELP REPRESENT GUCCI COUNTY AND THE TMDL FOR DOVER CREEK WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAMS. YOU CAN SEE A LIST OF THINGS THERE.

UM, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR YOUTH UNDERSTAND THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION.

IF WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE TO THEM EARLY, THEN THEY UNDERSTAND THOSE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THOSE RESOURCES.

BECAUSE ONCE WE'VE DESTROYED WATER QUALITY, ONCE WE'VE LOST SOIL, WE CAN'T RE, WE WON'T REMAKE SOIL IN ANY OF OUR LIVES.

OKAY? IT TAKES HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO FORM AN INCH OF SOIL.

THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH MANY OF YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THAT INCLUDES THE STATE FARM AREA.

AND WHEN I ORIGINALLY PUT THIS SLIDE UP, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT, UM, WHAT I WAS DOING UNTIL THIS MORNING.

AND YOU SEE THERE WE'RE PROTECTING, WE WANT TO WORK WITH GUCCI COUNTY TO MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP TO BETTER OUR SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES.

WITHIN THIS SLIDE ALONE, THERE ARE EIGHT FARMERS WE'RE WORKING WITH WITHIN THAT SLIDE AREA.

IF I GO OUTSIDE OF THAT SLIDE AREA, THERE'S ANOTHER FIVE TO SIX JUST OUTSIDE OF THAT.

SO THAT'S ONE SMALL AREA JUST WEST OF TANGLEWOOD TO CROSIER AND NOT EVEN NORTH TO OUR CARDWELL SCHOOL THERE.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AGRICULTURE IN THE COUNTY.

UH, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THANK YOU.

[5. VDOT - April Report - To be provided]

UM, HYDRAULIC MANAGEMENT OR, OR DRAINAGE.

BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE V AUDITS.

NEXT YOU DO HAVE A REPORT THAT, UH, IS PLACED AT YOUR SPOT TODAY, AND PHILLIP FRAZIER IS HERE TO REPRESENT THE TEAM AND AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT, UH, WE MAY HAVE TONIGHT.

TURN YOUR MIC ON.

PHILLIP.

THERE YOU GO.

PHILLIP FRAZIER WITH VDOT.

AS DR.

LEY SAID, YOU HAVE THE REPORT.

UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE SMALL REVISION TO WHAT'S IN THE REPORT ABOUT THE OILVILLE ROUNDABOUT SHOWS THAT THAT ANTICIPATED ADVERTISEMENT DATE WAS MARCH OF 2026.

I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY JUNE, UM, THAT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED TO STAFF.

UH, THERE WAS SOME ISSUES WITH THE DESIGN OF THE,

[01:05:01]

UH, AND SO THAT'S GOING THROUGH SOME PLAN REVISIONS.

MR. SPOON, HOWER, I KNOW THAT YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT NOW THAT'S FINE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL, UM, WE CAN TALK OFFLINE.

IT'S UP TO YOU.

BUT, UH, ANYWAYS, TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS QUESTIONS.

SO JUST IN LINE WITH THAT, WE, WE, I'VE BEEN NOTICING A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT, NOT JUST BACKUP ONTO 64, BUT UP TO THE REST AREA AND THEN PEOPLE CREATING THREE TO FOUR LANES.

UM, I DID SEE A COUPLE SIGNS OUT THERE WHERE, WHERE THERE ARE NEW SIGNS POSTED.

SO THERE WERE ALWAYS SIGNS ON I 64 THAT SUGGEST THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF CONGESTION MM-HMM .

DURING THE PEAK HOUR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4:00 PM AND 6:00 PM THOSE ARE NOT NEW.

UM, THOSE HAVE BEEN THERE.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN A, AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS AND IS THE REASON FOR THE, THE ROUNDABOUT PROJECT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UM, I DID ASK STAFF TO LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL OF SOMEHOW RESTRICTING SOME OF THE MOVEMENTS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS PEOPLE ARE COMING OFF OF THE RAMP, THEY'RE GOING UP TO THE STORE, MAKING A RIGHT, GOING UP TO THE STORE, MAKING A U-TURN, AND THEN HEADING BACK THE OPPOSITE WAY.

RIGHT? UM, WHEN WE DID A TRAFFIC STUDY, UH, THEY IDENTIFIED IT WAS ABOUT 70 VEHICLES IN THE PEAK HOUR THAT ARE MAKING THAT MOVEMENT.

SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, RIGHT? HOWEVER, WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY TOOK THOSE 70 VEHICLES AND THEY PUT 'EM BACK IN.

THIS IS THE ANALYSIS.

THEY PUT 'EM BACK INTO JUST THE STANDARD LEFT TURN MOVEMENT AND IT ACTUALLY DID NOT IMPROVE THE SITUATION AT ALL.

UM, SO I, I KNOW THAT IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN ISSUE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S THE, UH, I THINK THE PROJECT ON THE HORIZON IS, IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT ANSWER.

AND THEN I'VE ALSO NOTICED THE LAST WEEK, I, I UNDERSTAND WE DID A, A CLOSURE OF ONE OF THE LANES ON ASHLAND ROAD, UM, AND THE MORNING AFTER THAT WEEKEND THAT I THINK WE HAD, IT WAS CLOSED ON A SUNDAY, BUT THEN JUST TODAY I NOTICED THAT, UM, ASHLAND ROAD IS BACKING UP ALMOST WELL PAST, ALMOST PAST THE 2 95 EXIT OR ENTRANCE TO 2 95 GOING WEST TWO.

WELL, IT WOULD BE 2 94.

SO IF YOU'RE COMING WEST ON 64, THAT TRAFFIC FROM ASHTON ROAD IS BACKING UP TO THAT ON 64? YES, SIR.

64.

EASTBOUND OR WESTBOUND? WESTBOUND.

CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THOSE OTHER REPORTS BOARD MEMBERS.

I WILL TAKE THAT ONE BACK.

THANKS.

I'M NOT SURE I CAN TOUCH THAT ONE RIGHT NOW.

I, I NOTICED THAT THE ONE DAY, BUT IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THEY DID THE CLOSURE SHUT.

THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE CLOSING IT LONGER, BUT THEN THIS MORNING AGAIN, IT WAS BACKED UP FROM ASHLAND ROAD TO 2 95.

THAT IS A LONG WAY.

MR. FRAZIER, I JUST WANNA ITERATE AND SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PARTICIPATING.

I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEDNESDAY.

I, I SAW YOU GOT BUTTONHOLED A COUPLE OF TIMES BY SOME CITIZENS AFTER THE TOWN HALL AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP.

UH, AND, AND ALSO, UH, IT WAS SERENDIPITOUS, BUT THE DAY AFTER THE D FIVE TOWN HALL, YOU HAD SOME PATCHWORK GOING ON, UM, I GUESS IN WILLOW OAKS.

AND I WAS INCORRECTLY GIVEN CREDIT FOR THAT, THAT I HAD SOME INFLUENCE WITH YOU THAT THE DAY AFTER THE TOWN HALL, THEY WERE OUT THERE PATCHING IT.

BUT, UH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSIVENESS AND YOU'VE NEVER NOT ANSWERED MY CALL.

SO I'M GONNA JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

APPRECIATE THAT MR. LYLE AND I GOT YOUR, YOUR CARD IN THE MAIL, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BUT, BUT ALSO WANNA JUST SAY YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY MUCH.

SO, SO THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, I JUST MADE IT ALL UP.

ANYONE ELSE?

[6. Fire-Rescue Report -February 2026]

THANK YOU MR. FRAZIER.

[7. AP MAR 2026]

ALRIGHT, HAVE

[8. Planning and Development Activity]

A GOOD ONE.

THANK

[9. Agriculture Report - to be provided]

YOU TOO.

BOARD MEMBERS, YOUR REMAINING REPORTS ARE IN YOUR PACKET.

THEY INCLUDE FIRE, RESCUE, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURE, WHICH, UH, WILL BE PROVIDED AT A LATER DATE.

BUT, UH, WE DO HAVE STAFF HERE THAT

[10. Board Reports]

DO YOU, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OF THEIR COMMITTEE REPORTS? NOPE.

I WAS PART OF RECOGNIZES THAT THE TWO VOTING MEMBERS NOW ON THE, OH GOSH, IT'S NOT THE VCAP WHAT? CCC CAC, CTAC.

MOVING ON.

I, I DO HAVE, UH, GO AHEAD.

THE PLAN RVA IS, IS MY INAUGURAL SESSION COMING UP HERE NEXT, WELL, LATER THIS MONTH ACTUALLY.

UM, SO, UH, GETTING WITH MR. SPOON I TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT TO DO OR NOT DO WHEN I'M THERE.

UM, I ALSO WILL MENTION THAT, UH, I TALKED WITH OUR COUNTY ENGINEER AND WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE.

I THINK IT'S ON THE PLAN, RVA, UH, AND WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE.

SO, UH, WITH COUNSEL FROM, UM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THERE MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE ALL OF US WILL BE MADE AWARE IF WE HAVE A CITIZEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SIT ON THAT.

UH, ALONG WITH BOB BASHAM, WHO CURRENTLY SITS ON THAT, UM, I WAS TOLD THE REORG THAT I GUESS MR. SPOON,

[01:10:01]

YEAH, THERE'S ACRONYMS I HAVEN'T LEARNED YET.

SO BE AWARE THAT

[XIII. Consent Agenda]

THERE IS ANOTHER CITIZEN POSITION AVAILABLE.

SO CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.

LEY, YOU WANNA REVIEW THE ITEMS? YES.

THANK YOU MR. LYLE.

ALRIGHT, SO NOW MOVING ON TO CONSENT AGENDA.

DR.

[1. Resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Goochland County Budget by transferring and appropriating up to $110,000 from the Department of Public Utilities to the Capital Improvement Program Fund for the Courthouse Elevated Storage Tank Air Stripping System Project and authorizing the County Administrator to execute and enter into all agreements to complete the project]

UH, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE FOUR ITEMS UNDER CONSENT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

I'LL HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, TONIGHT JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

THE FIRST IS THE RESOLUTION, TRANSFERRING AND APPROPRIATING UP TO $110,000 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PRO PROGRAM.

AND THAT IS FOR THE COURTHOUSE ELEVATED STORAGE TANK AIR STRIPPING SYSTEM, BUT WILL IMPROVE WATER QUALITY HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE DISCUSSED AT

[2. Resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Goochland County Budget by transferring and appropriating up to $150,000 from the Sheriff’s Appropriated Budget Salary Line to Adult Jail Space Line to cover the anticipated budget deficit due to the increase in inmates to Adult Jail Space]

PREVIOUS WORK SESSIONS AND SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS SO WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN PRIOR TO THE CHANGE IN SUMMER WEATHER.

ALSO REQUESTING $150,000 BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE SHERIFF'S

[3. Resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Goochland County Budget by budgeting and appropriating $53,659 to the Goochland County Public Schools Operating Fund budget from State Restraint/Seclusion Grant For Region One and VDOE Advancing Computer Science Grant funds]

SALARY LINE TO THE ADULT JAIL SPACE LINE TO COVER, UH, ANTICIPATED COSTS IN THE FUTURE AND INCREASE NEED AND USAGE THERE.

UH, THE THIRD IS A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE GLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S 2026 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, UH, FOR TWO GRANTS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED, UH, TOTALING $53,659.

SO ONE IS FOR RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION AND ONE IS FOR ADVANCED COMPUTER.

SCIENCE GRANTS.

[4. Authorization for County Administrator to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Goochland Chamber Community Foundation to memorialize relationship for the 2026 Goochland Day events]

AGAIN, NO LOCAL DOLLARS ARE REQUIRED FOR THESE GRANTS.

THESE ARE CERTAINLY PASSED THROUGH AND PENDING YOUR APPROVAL, THEY COULD UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES.

AND THE LAST ITEM UNDER CONSENT AGENDA IS TO APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE GLAND CHAMBER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO MEMORIALIZE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM IN ANTICIPATION OF THE IMPORTANT 2026 GLAND DAY EVENTS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY ON MAY 16TH.

THANK YOU, DR.

LEY, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS A GROUP? MR. CHAIR? I MOVE THE BOARD APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR AS PRESENTED SECOND.

ALRIGHT, I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UM, SO GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? UM, GO AHEAD, TOM.

UM, I, I NOTICED THAT THAT'S, UH, SPECIFIC FOR THIS ONE DATE, ONE EVENT.

UM, AND I THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME, COULDN'T WE ENTER INTO MOU WITH THEM ON AN ONGOING BASIS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT EVERY YEAR? THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS AND, AND BE.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

UH, BOARD MEMBERS ALL IN FAVOR

[XIV. New Business]

SAY AYE.

UH, HEARING NO DISSENT.

MOTION PASSES.

SO NOW ON TO NEW BUSINESS, DR.

RAYLEY.

EARLIER TODAY, WE DID BREAK GROUND CEREMONIALLY ON STATION EIGHT.

SO BOARD MEMBERS, UH, AS YOU NOTED

[1. 1) Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to Execute a Contract with HBA Architecture & Interior Design for architecture and engineering services for West Creek Fire Station 7; and 2) to transfer and appropriate $816,901.70 from the Future Capital Projects Assigned Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund to pay for the A&E Contract; and 3) to declare the County's official intent to reimburse the County for these expenditures, and other qualifying expenditures, from the proceeds of future bonds]

AND SO WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ANOTHER PROJECT FORWARD, A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME AS WELL.

AND THAT IS STATION SEVEN ON HOCKET ROAD.

AND, UH, CERTAINLY BASED ON A VARIETY OF DATA POINTS AND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, THERE'S CERTAINLY A STRONG NEED FOR THIS FIRE STATION ON THE EAST END.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TODAY IS TO DO A FEW THINGS.

NUMBER ONE IS CONSIDER APPROPRIATING $816,901 AND 70 CENTS FROM YOUR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS ASSIGNED FUND TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND TO PAY FOR THE ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING CONTRACT, UH, WHICH WOULD BE AWARDED TO THE ARCHITECTS FIRM OF HBA.

THEY ARE THE SAME FIRM THAT DESIGNED STATION EIGHT.

AND SO, AS WAS SHARED IN SOME PUBLIC SETTINGS HERE A WEEK OR TWO AGO, WE ARE THE BENEFICIARY OF SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND HAVING THE FACT THAT THEY UTILIZE WILL UTILIZE A VERY SIMILAR FOOTPRINT.

AND, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO STATION EIGHT, MUCH OF THAT CAN BE REPLICATED FOR STATION SEVEN.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME NUANCES BASED ON THE EXACT SITE AND A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WILL NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT WE ARE, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT HOURS, WHICH RESULTED IN A SAVINGS TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR, UH, YOUR AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS TO GIVE ME AUTHORIZATION AS YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THAT CONTRACT WITH HBA, AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO DECLARE YOUR OFFICIAL INTENT TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR ANY EXPENDITURES OR ANY OR OTHER SORT OF QUALIFYING EXPENDITURES FROM THE PROCEEDS OF FUTURE BOND FUNDS.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IF THE COUNTY WERE TO CHOOSE TO DEBT FINANCE THIS PROJECT IN THE FUTURE, ANY SORT OF PROCEEDS YOU WOULD RECEIVE FROM THAT DEBT FINANCING COULD BE USED TO REIMBURSE YOURSELVES FOR THE CASH THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TRANSFER FROM, UH, YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOUR ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TODAY.

SO A LOT IN THIS, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

AND, UH, PENDING YOUR APPROVAL, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ARCHITECT FIRM AND WORK

[01:15:01]

COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO DESIGN A FIRE STATION WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

MR. GO AHEAD.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT, AMENDING THE CURRENT BUDGET TO TRANSFER AND APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS FOR THE CONTRACT.

AND LASTLY, DECLARING THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL INTENT TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR THESE EXPENDITURES AND OTHER QUALIFYING EXPENDITURES FROM THE PROCEEDS OF FUTURE BONDS, WHICH MAY BE ISSUED.

I'LL, I'LL SECOND IT, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THEN ASK FOR DISCUSSION.

ALRIGHT, GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

GO AHEAD.

UM, DR.

RAIL, YOU USED THE WORD COULD AND THEN IT SAYS INTENT.

AND I, I WANT TO KNOW IS THE WAY THIS IS WORDED GOING TO OBLIGATE US TO USE POSSIBLE 'CAUSE THERE IS NO DECISION TO USE BONDING ON THIS.

UM, AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE NUANCED, BUT MY COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS TOLD ME WORDS MATTER AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, ARE WE COMMITTING OURSELVES THAT WE WILL, IF WE, IF BONDS WERE ISSUED, THESE MONIES WOULD BE REIMBURSED FROM THOSE BONDS OR YOUR VERBAL COULD WHAT, WHAT'S CONTROLLING? YEAH.

THIS IS NOT COMMITTING YOU TO UTILIZING BOND FINANCING.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THAT AS A VEHICLE TO PAY FOR IT, THEN YOU NOW WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE YOURSELVES BASED ON THIS ACTION.

YOU COULD CHOOSE TO FUND IT THROUGH AL ALTERNATIVE METHODS, PROFFERS, CASH, UH, ANY OTHER PROCESS.

BUT, BUT IF A BOND WERE ISSUED, IT SAYS IF BONDS, THE INTENT IS, SO IT'S LIKE IF WE GO BONDS, THEN WE WOULD REIMBURSE FROM THE BONDS.

IS THAT WE COULD, WE COULD, YEAH, THAT'S STILL JUST PERMISSIVE.

YEAH, THAT'S ASSUMING IT, THAT THE FUNDS ARE USED IF YOU'RE DOING BONDS FOR THIS.

RIGHT.

THEN YOU CAN REIMBURSE IF YOU WANT TO.

BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE, I, I BELIEVE THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT NOW BEFORE WE'VE ISSUED BONDS AND WE DON'T, DON'T WANT IT WILLY NILLY SAY, OH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUT BONDS AND PAY STUFF FROM THE PAST.

THIS IS LETTING IT INTO THE RECORD.

YOUR BOND COUNSEL, THE COUNTY'S BOND COUNSEL REVIEWED THIS AND PUT IT IN THERE.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

SHOULD WE NEED IT IN THE FUTURE? IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT LANGUAGE, THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO REPAY THESE FROM BONDS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE IN THE FUTURE TO ISSUE BONDS TO COVER SOME OF THESE COSTS? THIS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT REIMBURSEMENT.

THAT'S ALL THAT, THAT'S FINE.

I, I, I'VE TAKEN THE, THE VOICE, THE OPINION, AND THAT AT SOME POINT, AND I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER IN MY MIND, I, I BELIEVE WE WOULD WANNA PURSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND, AND NOT ADMINISTRATIVE BOND ISSUANCE.

JUST BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA PUT THE COUNTY IN DEBT OR MAKE A DEBT OBLIGATION, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THE POPULACE SHOULD HAVE A SAY ON THAT, WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.

IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A MILLION, BUT IT, IT'S, THERE'S A NUMBER OUT THERE I HAVEN'T COME TO, SO I'M, I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.

THIS ISN'T OBLIGATING US, THAT IF BONDS WERE PURSUED, THAT THE MONEY FROM BONDS WOULD BE USED TO REVERSE THIS, THIS COULD ACTUALLY JUST BE A CASH OUTLAY.

THAT IS, IS, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF PROCEEDINGS, SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS.

I JUST WAS LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SEE, CAN I GET A LITTLE POINT OF CLARIFICATION? UM, AND I'M LEARNING, BUT, UM, THESE ARE BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED.

NO.

SO THIS WOULD BE A NEW REFERENDUM IN THE FUTURE? NO, THE THE FUNDING METHOD IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

IT, IT, IT COULD BE, UH, A REFERENDUM THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.

IT COULD BE GOING TO, UH, THE BOND MARKETS YOURSELVES.

IT COULD BE UTILIZING, YOU KNOW, OTHER FUNDING STRUCTURES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

IT COULD BE CASH, IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT FUNDING MECHANISMS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

AND JUST FOLLOWING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, YOU SAID WORDS MATTER AND, UM, WE OFTEN GET ACCUSED OF BEING IN POCKETS.

THIS IS NOT PAYING OURSELVES BACK.

THIS IS PAYING THE GENERAL BONDS BACK BECAUSE I'M NOT LENDING YOU ANY MORE MONEY THAN MY TAXES TO PAY FOR THEM.

SO, AND, AND MR. SPU AND I, I, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO PAY IT TO BEGIN WITH.

SO I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE PAID BACK FOR SOMETHING.

I CAN'T PAY FOR VOICE VOTE ALL.

SO ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS DISCUSSION? NO.

ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

SO, UH,

[2. Resolution of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors Formally Opposing The Proposed Valley Link Transmission Project]

YOUR AGENDA BOARD MEMBERS IS YOUR CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AND OPPOSITION OF THE VALLEY LINK TRANSMISSION PROJECT.

AND YOU HEARD PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY.

YOU'VE ALSO RECEIVED EMAILS AND HEARD FROM OUR CITIZENS THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS REGARDING CONCERNS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT THAT WOULD IMPACT THE AGRICULTURE NATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY HOMES LIVELIHOODS, UH, WITH NO DIRECT BENEFIT TO GLAND COUNTY.

AND

[01:20:01]

SO, UH, YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS, UH, RESOLUTION REALLY STATES OUR BELIEFS REGARDING THIS PROJECT AND, AND THE CHALLENGES THAT, THAT COME WITH THAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

UH, THIS RESOLUTION ALSO ENCOURAGES OUR RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS THAT VALLEY LINK WILL GO THROUGH, AS WELL AS COMMUNICATING THEIR CONCERNS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS.

UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WITH MR. CHRISTIE.

MR. LYLE AND I DID ATTEND THE MEETING THAT MR. CHRISTIE REFERENCED IN HIS COMMENTS EARLIER TODAY, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE IN LOUISA COUNTY ON FRIDAY.

SO, SO THIS IS WHAT MS. KENNY WAS ASKING US TO DO AMONG OTHERS.

THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY, UH, COLLEAGUES ON THE BUTLAND FARM BUREAU AND THEY WILL BE ADVANCING A SIMILAR RESOLUTION, UH, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN AS, AS CURRENTLY FORMULATED.

I MOVE THAT WE CAN WE, CAN WE READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD? YOU WANNA READ IT? OKAY.

LISA, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO DO THAT OR YOU WANNA DO IT? WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT? I'M HAPPY TO.

SO THIS, THIS IS A RESOLUTION OR GLAND COUNTY FORMALLY OPPOSES THE PROPOSED VALLEY LINK TRANSMISSION PROJECT, WHEREAS VALLEY LINK, A JOINT VENTURE OF DOMINION ENERGY, FIRST ENERGY TRANSMISSION AND TRANS SOURCE ENERGY HAS PROPOSED THE JOSHUA FALLS TO YT PROJECT A 115 MILES 765 KILOVOLT TRANSMISSION LINES SPANNING MULTIPLE COUNTIES IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

AND WHEREAS SEVERAL OF THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED ROUTES INCLUDE CREATING MILES OF NEW TRANSMISSION LINES AND CLEARED CORRIDORS THROUGH GLAND COUNTY UTILIZING STEEL LATTICE STRUCTURES APPROACHING 160 FEET IN HEIGHT AND REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT PERMANENTLY CLEARED RIGHT OF WAY.

AND WHEREAS GLAND COUNTY PLACES A STRONG EMPHASIS ON PRESERVING ITS RURAL CHARACTER, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, FORESTED AREAS, AND SCENIC LANDSCAPES, AND SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT ANY MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THESE LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY VALUES.

AND WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZES THAT THIS PROJECT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY DIRECT BENEFIT TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF GLAND COUNTY, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINE IS INTENDED TO MOVE BULK POWER TO AREAS OUTSIDE OF GLAND COUNTY.

AND WHEREAS GLAND COUNTY MAINTAINS THAT LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSALS SHOULD THOROUGHLY EVALUATE ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE NO NEGATIVE IMPACT TO AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY LANDS AVOID UNNECESSARY DISTURBANCE TO RURAL AREAS AND MAKE USE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDORS WHENEVER FEASIBLE.

AND WHEREAS MANY GLAND RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS REGARDING POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL, AGRICULTURAL AND VISUAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH AN OVERHEAD 765 KILOVOLT TRANSMISSION LINE AND HAVE INDICATED OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT, AND NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED ON THIS SEVENTH DAY OF APRIL, 2026, THAT THE GLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUPERVISORS FORMALLY OPPOSES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VALLEY LINK.

JOSHUA FALLS, Y 765 KILOVOLT TRANSMISSION LINE AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE THAT GLAND COUNTY BOARDS STRONGLY URGES VALLEY LINK IN THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION TO ABANDON THIS PROJECT OR FULLY EXPLORE ALL ALTERNATIVES THAT DO NOT IMPACT THE CITIZENS OF GLAND COUNTY AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD DIRECT STAFF TO COORDINATE WITH NEIGHBORING AFFECTED LOCALITIES REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS, THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES IN THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND REPRESENTATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ADVOCATE AGAINST ROUTES THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT GLAND COUNTY AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE GLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REQUESTED TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, COUNTY ATTORNEY AND APPROPRIATE STAFF EXPLORE STEPS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO APPROPRIATE AND APPROPRIATE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF GLAND COUNTY PARTICIPATING MORE FULLY BEFORE THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED VALLEY LINK PROJECT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF APPEARING AS A RESPONDENT RATHER THAN SOLELY AS A PUBLIC WITNESS.

AND TO EXAMINE HOW THE COUNTY MAY BEST ADVOCATE FOR THE INTEREST AND CONCERNS OF GLAND'S RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION PROCESS, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD ENCOURAGES GLAND RESIDENTS TO REMAIN ENGAGED BY SUBMITTING COMMENTS THROUGH THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT WEBSITE, PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SHARING THEIR PERSPECTIVES WITH THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA GLAND COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE TO VALLEY LINK DOMINION ENERGY, FIRST ENERGY TRANSMISSION, TRANS SOURCED ENERGY, THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA GLAND COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU DR.

LEY.

YES, SIR.

BOARD MEMBERS I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PROPOSED VALLEY LINK.

JOSHUA FALLS TO YEE 7 6 5 KV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT.

AND I'M ALSO GONNA ASK THAT THIS BE A ROLL CALL.

VOTE SECOND.

ALRIGHT, I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, DO WE WANT TO ANYONE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL JUST MENTION THAT, UH, WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS AND

[01:25:01]

SO IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST US.

RIGHT? THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? UM, MR. CHAIR.

I, I WOULD JUST REITERATE WHAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT ALL CITIZENS WHO HAVE CONCERNS GO TO THE VALLEY LINK WEBSITE.

UM, THIS IS A STATE PROCESS AND IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION FOR YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD.

WE ARE MAKING AN EFFORT RIGHT NOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED THOSE VOICES TO GO WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN DIRECTED.

AND THAT IS SPECIFICALLY THE WEBSITE AND THE, UH, STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION, UH, SITE.

WELL SAID.

UH, I REIT REITERATE THAT AS WELL.

UH, VALLEY LINK IS IN A, IN A INFORMATION COLLECTION PROCESS STUFF.

SO ALL CONCERNS, ALL COMMENTS, THEY NEED TO BE DIRECTED TO VALLEY LINK.

MR. WINFREY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? OH, YES.

UM, AND THIS IS A REGIONAL, AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT, UH, WE HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE FRIDAY WITH THE, UH, MEMBERS FROM THE REGION WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THAT, UH, COLLECTIVE, UH, APPROACH.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT I HAD SINCE IT IS SOMEWHAT A REGIONAL IMPACTS THE WHOLE STATE.

UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S COMING FROM SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

UH, THE GENERATION WOULD INCLUDE, UM, REESTABLISHING COAL-FIRED GENERATION CAPABILITIES.

AND SO TO ME IT'S LIKE WE GONNA POLLUTE SOUTHWEST, WEST VIRGINIA, I MEAN WESTERN VIRGINIA IN ORDER TO SEND POWER TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

UM, I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD URGE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO, UM, AS PART OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, DR.

LEY ROLL CALL.

MR. WINFREY? AYE.

MR. WATERS? YES, MR. SPOON? HOWER.

[3. Resolution of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors Opposing Mandatory Collective Bargaining Legislation (HB 1263 / SB 378)]

NEXT ON THE AGENDA, BOARD MEMBERS IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND THIS IS OPPOSING LEGISLATION RELATED TO MANDATORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS LEGISLATION, UM, UH, IS HB HOUSE BILL 1263 AND SENATE BILL SB 3 78.

UH, YOU DO HAVE THE RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET AND I'M HAPPY TO READ THAT ONE.

UH, IF THAT'S YOUR PLEASURE TODAY, READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PRESERVE LOCAL AUTHORITY OVER WORKFORCE AND LABOR RELATIONS POLICIES AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE CLERK OF THE BOARD SHALL TRANSMIT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF THE UCHIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OPPOSING MANDATORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LEGISLATION HB 1263 AND SENATE BILL 3 78.

WHEREAS CURRENT VIRGINIA LAW PROVIDES A LOCAL OPTION ALLOWING GOVERNOR BO GOVERNING BODIES TO DETERMINE WHETHER AND HOW TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BASED ON LOCAL FISCAL CAPACITY, WORKFORCE NEEDS AND SERVICE PRIORITIES.

AND WHEREAS HB 1263 AND SB 3 78 WOULD ELIMINATE THIS LOCAL OPTION AND IMPOSE A STATE MANDATED ONE SIZE FITS ALL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FRAMEWORK ADMINISTERED BY A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RELATIONS BOARD.

AND WHEREAS THIS LEGISLATION SHIFTS AUTHORITY AWAY FROM LOCALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND IMPOSES AN UNFUNDED MANDATE WITH SIGNIFICANT FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR LOCAL GOVERNOR GOVERNMENTS AND TAXPAYERS.

AND WHEREAS VIRGINIA'S LOCALITIES VARY WIDELY IN POPULATION RESOURCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS AND ARE BEST POSITIONED TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT REFLECT THEIR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND WHEREAS MANDATORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AS PROPOSED WOULD DIVERT LIMITED LOCAL RESOURCES FROM CORE SERVICES TO NEW ADMINISTRATIVE AND BARGAINING STRUCTURES WITHOUT DEDICATED FUNDING, ELIMINATE LOCAL FLEXIBILITY TO ALIGN WORKFORCE DECISIONS WITH BUDGET AND SERVICE NEEDS, CREATE UNPREDICTABLE FISCAL OBLIGATIONS THROUGH ARBITRATION AND EXPANDED DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESSES, INCREASE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN, LITIGATION RISK, AND LONG-TERM COSTS FOR LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

AND WHEREAS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MUST MAINTAIN BALANCED BUDGETS WHILE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE GLAND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRONGLY OPPOSES HB 1263 AND SENATE BILL 3 78 AND ANY LEGISLATION THAT MANDATES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD URGES THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA

[01:30:01]

THANK YOU DR.

RALEY, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, DO I HAVE THE MOTION, MR. CHAIR? UM, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION, OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 1263, SENATE BILL 3 78, AND ANY LEGISLATION THAT MANDATES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND REQUEST THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TRANSMIT THE APPROVED RESOLUTION TO THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SECOND.

I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS BOARD MEMBERS, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN? I HAVE, UH, I'VE MOVED TO VIRGINIA AND, UH, I SPENT SOME OF MY EARLY YEARS, UH, IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THERE WAS, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR TEACHERS AND THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ALLOWED TO GO ON STRIKE.

AND THEY DID.

AND, AND SOME OF MY EDUCATIONAL DEFICIENCIES MIGHT BE THAT THIRD GRADE WAS NOT AS LONG AS IT NEEDED TO BE FOR ME 'CAUSE THEY WERE ON STRIKE.

SO, SO THIS IS THE CAMEL'S NOSE UNDER THE TENT FLAP.

IF, IF THIS HAPPENS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S PROHIBITED FROM GOING ON STRIKE, I, I HAVE LIVED THE EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY DO ANYWAY.

AND I THINK PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I UNDERSTAND WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT IS DIFFERENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT IS A, I'LL USE THE TERM SACRED TRUST, WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE ELEMENTS OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING AND THEIR POWER AND THEIR CONTROL AND THEIR JOB FUNCTION.

AND TO SEE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS UNIONIZED AND DETERMINES TO GO ON STRIKE, UH, IS, IS ACTUALLY, I THINK, COUNTER TO THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

SO, UH, CAN WE PASS THIS TWICE, I GUESS WOULD BE MY REQUEST? BECAUSE IT, IT TRULY IS NOT JUST A, A, A THEORETICAL, I'VE LIVED IT AND, AND IT IS, IT IS NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE.

AND, AND SO I STRONGLY, UH, APPROVE OF THE MOTION AND JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

SO I DID.

THANK YOU MR. LAU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT.

SHOULD WE DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE, UH, DR.

RAYLEY ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

WE'LL START WITH MR. LYLE THIS TIME.

[4. Presentation and Adoption of Updated 2025 Utility Master Plan]

MR. WINFREY? YES.

AND MR. CHRISTIE? YES.

ALRIGHT, NEXT.

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA BRING ELIZABETH MCDONALD, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE THE WORK THAT SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN RELATED TO OUR UTILITY NEEDS A 25 YEAR LOOK INTO THE FUTURE ABOUT CAPACITY AND NEEDS, INCLUDING OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL.

SO, UH, ELIZABETH, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

AND A VERY CONSERVATIVE OUTLOOK.

GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD AND MR. CHAIR.

I AM ELIZABETH MCDONALD, GLAND COUNTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE 2025 UTILITY MASTER PLAN.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA CLARIFY SPECIFICALLY REGARDING WATER AND SEWER BASED PUBLIC UTILITIES.

TODAY.

I'M GOING TO START BY PROVIDING YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON THE HISTORY OF UTILITY MASTER PLAN IN GLAND COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL APPROACH TAKEN TO, TO CREATE THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN.

THE PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON EACH OF THE COUNTY SYSTEMS, UH, THE COURTHOUSE SYSTEM, WATER AND SEWER, AND THE EASTERN SYSTEM.

WATER AND SEWER DISCUSSED SEPARATELY.

AN ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION WAS MADE INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES TO THE OILVILLE AREA, UM, WHICH IS ALSO DISCUSSED HERE.

AND, UM, THERE IS ALSO A DISCUSSION ON THE WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT CAPACITIES FOLLOWED BY THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION APPROACHES.

AND I WILL THEN PROVIDE YOU A SUMMARY OF COSTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT ARE A RESULT OF WHAT THE MASTER PLAN DETERMINED.

I ALSO WANNA TAKE SOME OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO DISCUSS, UM, THE FINANCIAL PLANNING INITIATIVES THAT THE UTILITY IS GOING TO UNDERTAKE AND, UM, IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES TO MODERNIZE THE UTILITY INTO THE COMING YEARS.

SO THE FIRST UTILITY MASTER PLAN, UH, WAS ADOPTED BY GLAND COUNTY IN 2015 WITH THE INTENT OF IT BEING REPEATED ON A FIVE YEAR CYCLE.

SO IT WAS REPEATED IN 2020.

AND TODAY I'M PRESENTING TO THE 2025 UTILITY MASTER PLAN.

THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN INCLUDES A COMPLETE MODEL OF OUR WATER SYSTEMS AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

AND THOSE MODELS WERE CREATED UNDER ASSUMPTIONS USING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, FORECASTED CAPACITY NEEDS IN OUR DESIGNATED GROWTH AREAS,

[01:35:01]

AND ASSUMING ALL UNDEVELOPED LAND WITHIN THOSE, UM, DESIGNATED GROWTH AREAS WOULD BE DEVELOPED WITHIN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

THE PURPOSE FOR THIS APPROACH WAS TO TRULY PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER FOR US TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

BASED ON THE PROJECTIONS PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE FORECASTED DEVELOPMENT WERE, UM, OUTLINED IN THE MASTER PLAN.

THESE PROJECTS WERE CATEGORIZED INTO THREE IMPROVEMENT CATEGORIES.

CAPACITY, RELIABILITY, AND GROWTH CAPACITY PROJECTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.

UM, THE PURPOSE OF CAPACITY PROJECTS IS TO MEET, UH, CAPACITY NEEDS, UH, LARGELY DUE TO OUR ASSETS MEETING.

THEIR END OF USEFUL LIFE GROWTH PROJECTS ARE INTENDED TO SPECIFICALLY, UH, TARGET, UH, DEVELOPMENT CENTERED PROJECTS AND GROWTH PROJECTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FUNDED BY DEVELOPERS.

RELIABILITY PROJECTS FALL SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN WITH, UM, NOT A CLEAR OUTSET ON WOULD IT BE A DEVELOPER EXPECTATION OR A COUNTY EXPECTATION.

SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE COST SLIDE, I'LL PRESENT TO YOU LATER TODAY.

IT INCLUDES ALL RELIABILITY PROJECTS TO GIVE US THE MOST CONSERVATIVE OUTLOOK ON OUR FUTURE.

SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE WATER SYSTEM IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA, UH, DEFICIENCY CRITERIA OR A MINIMUM LEVEL OF SERVICE CRITERIA, UH, WERE OUTLINED IN THE MASTER PLAN, AND THESE STANDARDS ARE PRESENTED HERE ON THE SLIDE TO GIVE US, UH, EXPECTATIONS ON WHEN A PROJECT MIGHT BE WARRANTED.

SUMMARIZING THIS SLIDE QUICKLY, THE KEY TAKEAWAY FOR STORAGE NEEDS, PRESSURE NEEDS AND FIRE FLOW NEEDS.

OUR COURTHOUSE AREA IS SET THROUGH 2050 FOR THE WATER SYSTEM.

I'VE INCLUDED A MAP HERE FROM THE MASTER PLAN TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IS TO COME.

BLACK IS ALL OF OUR EXISTING WATER ASSETS IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA PURPLE.

OUR PROJECTS EXPECTED TO EITHER BE COMPLETED OR BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PLANNING PERIOD.

AND BLUE PROJECTS ARE PROJECTS EXPECTED TO TAKE OFF WITHIN THE NEXT 25 YEAR PLANNING PERIOD.

MOVING TO THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA, A DIFFERENT SET OF DEFICIENCY CRITERIA ARE USED AS WASTEWATER HAS VERY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS COMPARED TO DRINKING WATER.

UM, THOSE MINIMUM STANDARDS ARE OUTLINED ON THE SLIDE FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

THE MODEL FOUND THAT BY 2033 ASSETS IN OUR COURTHOUSE WASTEWATER SYSTEM MAY NEED ATTENTION.

THOSE ASSETS ARE THE VALLEY VIEW PUMP STATION, THE VALLEY VIEW FORCE MAIN, AND THE REED MARSH PUMP STATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE DEFICIENCY CRITERIA, UH, BEING AT 80% CAPACITY OF A STATION IS CONSIDERED DEFICIENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MASTER PLAN.

REED MARSH PUMP STATION WILL EXCEED 80% OF ITS CAPACITY BY 2030 BASED ON THE MODEL, BUT IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO REACH CAPACITY WITHIN THAT TIMELINE.

THUS, AT THIS TIME, NO CIP IS PLANNED FOR THAT STATION.

THE VALLEY VIEW PUMP STATION IS ALREADY BEING ADDRESSED BY A PROPOSED CIP IN THE FY 27 PLANNING PERIOD.

THE VALLEY VIEW FORCE MAIN MAY BE ABLE TO BE RESOLVED BY, UH, STRATEGIC PUMP CHOICE IN THE VALLEY VIEW PUMP STATION PROJECT, AND THEN NO ADDITIONAL DEFICIENCIES WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE 2050 PLANNING PERIOD.

SO, KEY TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLIDE.

ALL OF OUR NEEDS ARE ACTIVELY BEING ADDRESSED FOR THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA.

I INCLUDE THIS MAP, UM, FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I JUST OUTLINED.

GREEN IS THE EXISTING COURTHOUSE SEWER SYSTEM, THE TEAL COLOR, UH, CENTRAL WEST PORTION OF THE MAP IS, UH, A PROPOSED CIP IN FY 27, UH, BUDGET TO EXPAND OUR SEWAGE SERVICES WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE AREA.

AND THE DARK BLUE IS, UM, PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT INCLUDED IN THE MASTER PLAN, WHICH INFORMED, UH, THE PROJECTS I WAS JUST OUTLINING MOVING TO THE EASTERN SYSTEM.

NOW WE'RE GONNA START WITH WATER.

SO THE DEFICIENCY CRITERIA IN OUR WATER SYSTEM IN THE EASTERN END IS THE SAME AS OUR DEFI DEFICIENCY CRITERIA IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA.

THE MINIMUM, UM, STARTING WITH OUR STORAGE NEEDS, OUR EXISTING STORAGE CAPACITY IS EXPECTED TO MEET OUR NEEDS BY 2030.

WE WANT OUR STORAGE CAPACITY AND OUR WATER SYSTEMS AT ANY GIVEN TIME TO BE AT LEAST 20% OF OUR MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND

[01:40:01]

PLUS TWO HOURS WORTH OF FIRE FLOW WHILE WE HAVE A MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE.

WE WILL NEED MORE THAN THAT SHORTLY AFTER 2030.

THE RIDGEFIELD BOOSTER PUMP STATION AND GROUND STORAGE TANK IS AN UPCOMING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UH, DUE TO BE COMPLETED AROUND 2030.

AND THIS PROJECT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE TO THE SYSTEM.

SO BY 2030, WHILE WE ARE HITTING OUR NEED AND WHAT WE HAVE, UM, WE ARE EXPECTED WITH OUR, UH, PROPOSED PROJECTS TO EXCEED WHAT WE NEED AT THAT TIME BY HAVING APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE ON HAND BY 2030, BY 2055 AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE IS EXPECTED.

SO WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE MASTER PLAN IS SEVERAL OTHER STORAGE PROJECTS MOVING TO PRESSURE AND FIRE FLOW.

UM, I SHARE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE, WHAT THE MODEL AND THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN OUTLINE, BUT, BUT NOT TO CAUSE RISE FOR CONCERN.

THREE LOCATIONS WITHIN THE EASTERN WATER SYSTEM WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING LOWER THAN PREFERRED PRESSURES DURING A MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND SCENARIO.

AGAIN, MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND IS OUR HIGHEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

THEORETICALLY, EVERYONE'S TAKING A SHOWER, WATERING THEIR LAWN, AND DOING DISHES ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

UH, TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, THE MODEL UTILIZED A PEAKING FACTOR OF 2.39 TO CALCULATE THE MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND.

THAT MEANS THAT THE MAXIMUM DAY IS CALCULATED TO BE 2.39 TIMES OUR AVERAGE DAILY USAGE.

IN THAT SCENARIO OF THE MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND, THREE LOCATIONS IN OUR EASTERN SYSTEM WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING LOWER THAN IDEAL PRESSURES, WHICH IS BELOW 40 PSI, BUT NOT LOWER THAN WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER, WHICH VDH AND THE EPA IDENTIFY AS 20 PSI.

WE HAVE CROSSCHECK THE MODEL'S RESULTS WITH OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED CUSTOMER CONCERNS OF LOW PRESSURE IN THESE THREE LOCATIONS, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER STAFF HAS BEEN MADE AWARE SO THAT IF A PATTERN ARISES, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS.

ONE LOCATION WAS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRE FLOW IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS THE RIVER ROW, SORRY, THE RIVER ROAD HIGH PRESSURE ZONE NEAR THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL.

I SAY THIS AGAIN, NOT TO CAUSE RISE FOR CONCERN, BUT, UM, TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND BE TRANSPARENT AS IT IS OUTLINED IN THE MASTER PLAN.

UM, IT IS NOT A CONCERN AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE IS ALREADY ALTERNATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE IN THIS AREA.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AREA IS FITTED WITH DRY HYDRANTS AND OUR FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT KNOWS TO RESPOND TO THIS AREA WITH TANKER TRUCKS.

UM, WHILE ALTERNATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE, I HAVE ALSO HAD THE MASTER PLAN, UH, FITTED WITH A PROJECT TO ADDRESS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRE FLOW IMPROVEMENTS IF THE COUNTY WISHES FOR THE UTILITY TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO SO SOLELY.

AGAIN, HERE IS A MAP OF THE EASTERN SYSTEM FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH OF WHAT I JUST DISCUSSED.

UH, BLACK IS OUR EXISTING WATER ASSETS PURPLE, OUR PROJECTS TO, UM, BEGIN THE PLANNING PROCESS WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PLANNING PERIOD AND BLUE.

OUR PROJECTS, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT 25 YEAR PLANNING PERIOD, WASTEWATER IN THE EASTERN SYSTEM, UM, HAS THE SAME MINIMUM LEVEL OF SERVICE CRITERIA OR DEFICIENCY CRITERIA AS WE SAW IN THE COURTHOUSE FOR WASTEWATER.

BY 2030, THE LOWER TUCKAHOE PUMP STATION WAS MODELED TO HAVE REACHED 80% CAPACITY, MEANING THE COUNTY SHOULD START PLANNING, UH, START PLANNING IMPROVEMENTS FOR THIS PUMP STATION.

UM, WHILE 80% CAPACITY WILL BE REACHED BY 2030, THE STATION IS NOT EXPECTED TO REACH ITS FULL CAPACITY WITHIN THAT PLANNING PERIOD.

AND THAT IS WHY THERE IS NOT PRESENTLY A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLANNED AT THIS TIME PROGRESSING TOWARDS 2050.

UH, VARIOUS GRAVITY SEWER REMAINS.

THE ROUTE 6 23 PUMP STATION AND THE EASTERN GLAND PUMP STATION ARE ALL EXPECTED TO, UM, HAVE SOME TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES HAS INCLUDED A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION INTO THE EASTERN GLAND PUMP STATION PUMPS IN THE FY 27 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, SO THAT WE ARE SURE TO MAINTAIN A PROACTIVE APPROACH, UM, IN MAINTAINING THIS ESSENTIAL ASSET.

THE KEY TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLIDE, UM, IS THAT THE EASTERN WASTEWATER SYSTEM, UH, CAN BE SERVED PAST 2030, UH, BASED ON OUR CURRENT PLANS AND THAT WE ARE ALSO ACTIVELY PREPARING FOR OUR FUTURE PAST 2030.

THIS SLIDE, UH, ALL OF THE VARIOUS COLORS SHOW THE PROJECTS OUTLINED ON

[01:45:01]

THOSE GRAVITY SEWER REMAINS THAT MAY NEED SOME TYPE OF PROJECT IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

AND THIS SLIDE, THE GREEN IS OUR EXISTING SYSTEM WITH DARK BLUE BEING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT INCLUDED IN THE MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT TRIGGERED, UH, THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE PROJECTS I SHOWED YOU ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

SO MOVING TO A CONVERSATION ON OILVILLE, UH, A STUDY FUNDED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS FEASIBLE TO BRING WATER AND PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER SERVICES TO THE OILVILLE AREA, UM, WAS PERFORMED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

IT, IN THAT STUDY FOR VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES WERE ANALYZED THE FEASIBILITY OF BRINGING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES FROM THE COURTHOUSE AREA TO OILVILLE THE FEASIBILITY OF BRINGING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES FROM THE EASTERN END TO OILVILLE, UH, BRINGING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES FROM OUR PARTNERS IN LOUISA COUNTY TO OILVILLE OR DEVELOPING A NEW SOURCE WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY IN THE OILVILLE AREA TO ADDRESS PUBLIC UTILITY, UH, DESIRES IN THAT AREA.

THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE THAT, UH, WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING FEASIBLE TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER WAS EXTENDING UTILITIES FROM THE EASTERN END.

UM, THE RATIONALE FOR THIS WAS, UM, EITHER ACCESS TO WATER, THE NEW SOURCE WATER, UH, WAS, WAS NOT FEASIBLE FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT, AND THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE NOT FEASIBLE FROM A COST STANDPOINT.

THE EAST END WAS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE.

WITH THAT SAID, THE COST OF EXTENDING UTILITIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES FROM THE EASTERN END TO THE OILVILLE AREA STILL COMES AT A COST OF $114 MILLION, UH, WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES RECOMMENDS AS A COST PROHIBITED, COST PROHIBITIVE AMOUNT.

I'VE INCLUDED ON THE SLIDE A COMPARISON TO WHAT THE TCSD FUNDING IN 2020 $6 WOULD BE.

IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY SIMILAR VALUE, AND YET THIS WOULD BE FOR, UM, A QUARTER OF THE AMOUNT OF LAND SERVICED.

SO IT, IT IS A COST PROHIBITIVE PROJECT, BUT WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND REFERENCE.

SO, MOVING TO A DISCUSSION OF SUPPLY AND TREATMENT, STARTING WITH THE COURTHOUSE AREA, BOTH OF BOTH OUR WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN THE COURTHOUSE AREA ARE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE, BUT OUR KEY TAKEAWAY IS THAT OUR EXISTING CONTRACTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, UH, ALLOWS US TO SERVE THE COURTHOUSE AREA PAST 2050 PLANNING PERIOD.

THIS SLIDE DISCUSSES OUR WATER SUPPLY AND TREAT WASTEWATER TREATMENT NEEDS IN THE EASTERN AREA.

OUR WATER SUPPLY IN THE EASTERN AREA IS PROVIDED BY FOUR INTERCONNECTIONS WITH HENRICO COUNTY.

OUR CONTRACT WITH HENRICO COUNTY IS TIERED AND BASED ON A MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND.

PRESENTLY, WE ARE IN THE SECOND OF FOUR TIERS.

CURRENT PROJECTIONS SHOW US EXCEEDING THE FOURTH TIER IN 2049.

HOWEVER, SOME STATISTICS, UH, ARE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU PEACE OF MIND.

UM, THE OILVILLE EXPANSION IS INCLUDED IN THESE PROJECTIONS, WHICH I JUST DESCRIBED AS CR COST PROHIBITIVE.

UM, THE OILVILLE EXPANSION INCLUDES 2 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY IN THIS TOTAL 2050 PROJECTION.

SO REMOVING OILVILLE FROM THIS SCENARIO WOULD, UH, GIVE US THE ABILITY TO SERVE OUR EAST END WITH OUR EXISTING CONTRACT WITH HENRICO PAST THE YEAR 2050.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THIS VALUE IS BASED ON A MAXIMUM DAY DEMAND RATHER THAN AN AVERAGE DAY DEMAND, THAT 2.39 MULTIPLIER I DISCUSSED WITH YOU ALREADY, THERE'S A LIKELY OPPORTUNITY OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS FOR THE COUNTY TO EXPLORE VARIOUS WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO FURTHER THESE PROJECTIONS EVEN FURTHER.

AND LASTLY, UM, THE, AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, THESE PROJECTIONS WERE A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, ASSUMING THAT ALL OF OUR DESIGNATED GROWTH AREAS WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

IT IS JUST SOMETHING ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND WITH THESE PROJECTIONS AT PLAY.

PIVOTING TO WASTEWATER, GLAND COUNTY HAS TWO SEPARATE WASTEWATER TREATMENT CONTRACTS IN THE EAST END, A VERY SMALL CONTRACT WITH HENRICO COUNTY, AND A MORE SIGNIFICANT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND.

THE CITY OF RICHMOND CONTRACT IS ALSO A TIERED CONTRACT.

CURRENTLY, OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT NEEDS PLACED GOOCHLAND IN THE FIRST TIER OF THAT THREE TIER CONTRACT.

AND BY 2050 GLAND COUNTY'S WASTEWATER PROJECTIONS PLACE US WITHIN THAT THIRD TIER BUT NOT EXCEEDING IT.

THE KEY TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLIDE IS THE COUNTY SEES SOME CONTRACTUAL LIMITATIONS TO OUR WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT NEEDS IN THE EAST END IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT THERE'S QUANTIFIABLE MEASURES

[01:50:01]

THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE TO POTENTIALLY EXTEND THAT TIMELINE.

UM, THAT SAID, WANTING TO MAINTAIN THAT PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THE UTILITY.

UM, WE ARE BEGINNING PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY AND TREATMENT OPTIONS SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED WHEN AND IF THAT TIME COMES, THAT WE DO NEED THOSE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE IS A KEY ELEMENT OF EVERY UTILITIES OPERATION.

THE MASTER PLAN OUTLINES VARIOUS EFFORTS THAT GLAND COUNTY CAN TAKE TO MAINTAIN THAT PROACTIVE APPROACH.

THIS IS INCLUSIVE OF A VALVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND A HYDRANT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

I CAN PROUDLY SAY TODAY THAT THERE ARE NO PRESENT HYDRANT MAINTENANCE ISSUES IN THE PUBLIC UTILITY SYSTEM.

AND ALL FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT NEEDS REGARDING FIRE HYDRANTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AS WE BEGIN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES HAS EVERY INTENT OF MAINTAINING THOSE FANTASTIC STATISTICS.

AND STARTING, UH, WE'RE, WE'LL BE STARTING THAT WITH A PAINTING OF ALL OF OUR FIRE HYDRANTS AND ADDRESSING FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT'S KNEES AS THEY ARISE WITH THEIR FIRE HYDRANT INSPECTION PROGRAM.

REGARDING REHABILITATION, THIS IS LIKELY A NEWER CONCEPT TO GLIN COUNTY BEING A YOUNGER UTILITY, BUT HITTING THE 20 YEAR MARK FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE UTILITY ASSETS WE MAY NEED TO CONSIDER SOMEH REHABILITATION PROJECTS.

NONE OF THESE PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS A NEED AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT GIVEN THERE'S A CHANCE THEY WILL HIT THEIR END OF USEFUL LIFE WITHIN THE NEXT 25 YEARS SO THAT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES TEAM CAN KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PATTERNS OF ISSUES THAT MIGHT ARISE.

AND IF A PROJECT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO OUR CIP PROGRAM, COST ESTIMATES FOR THE PROJECT, UH, FOR THE PROJECTS OUTLINED IN THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE.

AND AS I'VE I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, THESE COST ESTIMATES ARE INCREDIBLY CONSERVATIVE.

THEY ARE CONSIDERED CLASS FIVE COST ESTIMATES, WHICH MEANS THEIR ACCURACY RANGES FROM NEGATIVE 50% TO POSITIVE 100%.

THEY HAVE BEEN BASED ON, UH, COST DATA OVER THE LAST, UH, 10 YEARS IN THE METRO RICHMOND AREA, SPECIFICALLY OF SIMILAR PROJECTS.

UM, A MINIMUM COST OF $150,000 PER PROJECT, UH, WAS INCLUDED FOR ENGINEERING UP TO, UH, 15% OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, WHICHEVER WAS HIGHER.

AND, UH, A 35% CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY WAS ALSO INCLUDED FOR EVERY PROJECT.

SO TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT A VERY CONSERVATIVE FISCAL APPROACH.

SO, UM, THE QUESTION YOU MIGHT BE HAVING IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO FISCALLY PREPARE FOR THESE, UH, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES? LET'S LOOK AHEAD.

SO STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 2027, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES PLANS ON USING A FINANCIAL MODELING PROGRAM CALLED WATERWORTH.

UM, THE IMAGES ON THIS SLIDE ARE NOT GLAND COUNTY NUMBERS.

I I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT VERY CLEARLY, BUT I, I WANTED TO PROVIDE THESE IMAGES FOR YOU SO THAT YOU COULD SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO SHARE INFORMATION, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE UTILITY WITH THE BOARD AND WITH THE PUBLIC, AND BE TRANSPARENT ON WHAT THEIR WATER AND SEWER RATES ACTUALLY GO TOWARDS, UH, INTO THE PROGRAM.

WE CAN INPUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, OPERATING EXPENDITURES, BILLING INFORMATION AND REVENUES.

WE CAN INTERNALLY MODEL VARYING RATE CHANGE SCENARIOS, THE IMPACT, UH, FI, THE FISCAL IMPACT PROJECT DELAYS MIGHT HAVE, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROACTIVELY PLANNING FOR THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE WHILE MINIMIZING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON OUR CUSTOMERS.

UH, NOT ONLY WILL THIS TOOL MODELIZE OUR PROCESSES, BUT IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO PROVIDE A TRANSPARENT LENS INTO THE FINANCIALS OF THE UTILITY AS WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE MORE OF THE WHY BEHIND POTENTIAL RATE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.

SO LASTLY, WHILE I HAVE YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON, I REALLY WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO OTHER IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S TAKING THAT AREN'T INCLUDED IN THE MASTER PLAN THAT'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED THAT, UH, THREE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STAFF MEMBERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET.

TWO OF THESE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS ARE PREDICTED TO FULLY REPLACE WORK THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONTRACTED OUT.

THAT WORK WILL NOW BE PERFORMED IN-HOUSE.

IN ADDITION, THOSE TWO STAFF MEMBERS CAN ASSUME OTHER DUTIES AS WELL.

THE HIRING OF THESE EMPLOYEES, A SUPERINTENDENT OVER FIELD REPAIRS AND A SUPERINTENDENT OVER MECHANICAL REPAIRS, UH, WILL REALLY BE A TURNING POINT FOR DEVELOPING OUR OWN INTERNAL REPAIRS PROGRAM.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS PROVIDE A COUGH, A COST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY, IT

[01:55:01]

WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES MORE QUICKLY AND LIKELY WITH GREATER CARE AS OUR STAFF CAN TRULY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR OUR CITIZENS AND CUSTOMERS IN A WAY THAT A CONTRACTOR MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES IS ALSO MAKING, UM, EFFORTS TO BETTER UTILIZE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY IN OUR TOOLBOX.

OUR WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CALLED BEEHIVE, UH, HAS A PLETHORA OF ASSET MANAGEMENT AND INVENTORY TRACKING CAPABILITIES, AND WE ARE INVESTIGATING A WAY TO BETTER USE THOSE.

THE BENEFIT OF THIS IS, AGAIN, FOR TRANSPARENCY TO OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR CITIZENS AND OUR BOARD, UH, ON HOW DOES THE DEPARTMENT SPEND THEIR TIME AND HOW ARE WE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS USED TO PURCHASE THE ASSETS THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE CROSS TRAINING EFFORTS UNDERWAY AS WELL WITH STAFF ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITY DIVISIONS, TRAINING FOR THEIR WATER OPERATOR LICENSURE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE KNOWLEDGE SO THAT IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY, IF THERE ARE STAFFING ISSUES, UM, EVERYONE IN DPU WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND AND WE CAN RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

LASTLY, UM, AND I THINK SOMEONE, SOMETHING EVERYONE HERE IS VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT IS THE CUSTOMER WEB PORTAL.

THIS SUMMER, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES PLANS ON ONGOING LIVE WITH A CUSTOMER WEB PORTAL PROVIDED BY OUR BILLING SOFTWARE.

CUSI.

THE WEB PORTAL WILL BE A ONE STOP SHOP WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN GET AN EMAIL ONCE THEIR BILL IS READY, LOG INTO THEIR ACCOUNT TO BOTH VIEW THEIR BILL AND THEIR BILLING HISTORY AND THEIR USAGE HISTORY, AND THEN HAVE A LINK TO PAY THEIR BILL ONLINE.

REALLY TRULY A ONE STOP SHOP, UM, MODERNIZING THE DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AND IT'S A, IT'S A VERY EXCITING THING TO, TO BE A PART OF.

SO THE, THE 2025 UTILITY MASTER PLAN PROVIDES THE COUNTY AND THE DEPARTMENT WITH CONFIDENCE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

WE'RE LOOKING, UM, AT NOT ONLY PLANNING FOR TOMORROW, BUT THE NEXT FIVE AND 25 YEARS, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THIS MASTER PLAN.

WELL, I'D FIRST LIKE TO SAY GREAT PRESENTATION.

IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS NOW GIVES US A, A LOT OF LEG UP IN THE CONVERSATION.

UH, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? YES, MR. CHAIR, GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT PRESENTATION AND, AND FOR THE, ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE ON AND EVER SINCE YOU CAME ON BOARD, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN, THANK YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN HOPPING AND BUSY.

SO, MS. MCDONALD, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE, THE FIVE YEAR AND 25 YEAR, BOTH WATER AND SEWER FOR THE COURTHOUSE, ALL OF THAT SEEMS TO BE WITHIN THE DESIGNATED GROWTH AREA, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, , THANKS.

HERE WE GO.

UM, THE, UH, YOU EXPRESSED THAT MAYBE BY 2050 THE WASTEWATER SEWER, UH, MAY NEED SOME IMPROVEMENT IN ORDER TO REACH THE NEEDED CAPACITY REQUIRED.

DID, WAS THE, UH, OILVILLE, I KNOW THE STUDY WAS WATER AND SEWER, CORRECT.

IF YOU REMOVE THE SEWER, DOES THAT EXTEND, I MEAN, DOES THAT FIX THE PROBLEM OR? SO OUR PUMP STATION, UM, CAPACITY IS AMPLE.

UH, THE STATION WAS SIZED TO HANDLE MUCH MORE FLOW THAN IT IS SEEING TODAY.

EXCUSE ME.

THAT SAID, UM, WE DO NOT HAVE PUMPS IN EVERY SLOT.

ADDITIONALLY, THOSE PUMPS THAT ARE PRESENT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE STATION WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.

A PUMP'S LIFETIME, UM, STARTS TO NEED SERIOUS REHABILITATION AFTER ABOUT 20 YEARS.

SO REALLY THE PROJECT IDENTIFIED, UM, IN THE MASTER PLAN IS MORE FROM A, UM, END OF USEFUL LIFE PERSPECTIVE.

THE CAPACITY PERSPECTIVE COULD BE HANDLED BY THE ADDITION OF PUMPS IN THOSE EXISTING SLOTS.

MM-HMM .

WELL, THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, WHAT, 30, 40 MILES OF THE JAMES RIVER THAT RUNS ALONG OUR COUNTY, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE LOOKED INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT BEING A SOURCE AND UNDERSTAND IT MAY TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS TO BE ABLE TO DIP INTO THAT AND EXTRACT WATER, FIRE USE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE WE MISSED THE BOAT ON THAT YEARS AGO.

UH, WHAT YES.

YEAH, SO THAT, THAT SHIP OF SAILS, UH, SO WE COULD GO TRY TO DO AN ACT OF CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TOM MCGUIRE CAN HELP US.

YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO DECISIONS OF CONGRESS, BUT WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO

[02:00:01]

THERE IS A LOT OF EFFORT GO THAT GOES INTO ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES STATE PERMITTING OR INVOLVEMENT OF WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

UM, BUT WE ARE LOOKING OUT, UM, 25 TO POTENTIALLY MORE THAN YEARS FROM NOW.

SO STARTING TODAY, GETTING A PLAN IN PLACE TODAY WILL REALLY GIVE GULAM THE TOOLS TO ADDRESS THIS WHEN THE TIME COMES.

APPRECIATE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT , MR. CHAIR.

UH, MS. MCDONALD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE WERE TWO WORDS I'D USE TO DESCRIBE THIS, IT WOULD BE, UM, TRANSPARENCY AND PROACTIVITY.

IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT.

UM, JUST NOT ONLY TO MENTION, I HATE TO BRING UP A FISCALLY, UH, UNFEASIBLE PROJECT, BUT NOT TO MENTION THE $120 MILLION COST.

WHAT WOULD YOU ESTIMATE THE TIME TO DO A PROJECT OF THE SCALE OF THE OILVILLE PROJECT? WHAT WOULD THAT BE? I THINK THE, THE LARGEST TIME CONSTRAINT WOULD LIKELY BE LAND ACQUISITION, UM, AN EASEMENT ACQUISITION.

IT'S, IT'S A GREAT DISTANCE AND NEGOTIATING THAT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS LIKELY TO TAKE UP THE MOST TIME.

UM, GETTING ONCE, ONCE YOU HAVE A SET OF PLANS.

AND ALL OF THOSE I'S, UH, I'S, ARE DOTTED, T'S ARE CROSSED, WE KNOW WHERE THE LINE IS GOING.

CONSTRUCTION CAN MOVE PRETTY SWIFTLY, PROBABLY A YEAR OR TWO FOR SOMETHING THAT LONG.

UH, BUT THE, THE TRICKY PIECE WOULD, WOULD DEFINITELY BE LAND ACQUISITION.

AND ALSO THOSE COSTS COULD GO BEYOND EVEN THE PROJECTIONS.

UM, MR. LYLE, BRIEFLY.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR USING THE WORD PLETHORA.

OH, .

AND, UH, I GOT EXCITED WHEN I HEARD THAT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN ONGOING DISCUSSION.

I THINK, UH, TOMMY CLEMENTS AND, UH, TAYLOR, BRANDON WITH THE LOWER TUCKAHOE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, UM, HAD A DEGREE HIGH DEGREE OF FRUSTRATION, UH, PRIOR TO YOU JOINING.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SOME OF, IF NOT ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT I'VE REACHED OUT TO 'EM AND NOT HEARD BACK, WHICH I'M ASSUMING MEANS GOOD.

THEY'RE NOT UPSETS.

GOOD.

UM, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T MENTION IT.

IT IS ON THE SLIDE REGARDING WATER IN THE EASTERN END.

SO ONE OF THE TRANSITIONS THAT WAS MADE, UM, FROM THE LAST MASTER PLAN TO THIS MASTER PLAN IS A CHANGE IN THE OPERATIONS OF WHAT, UH, WATER UTILITIES CALLED PRESSURE ZONES.

UM, WE MAINTAIN CERTAIN WATER PRESSURES WITHIN DESIGNATED ZONES, UH, FROM 2020 TO 2025.

WE COMBINED TWO OF THOSE ZONES.

UM, AND BY DOING SO, WE SAW A MARKED IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER PRESSURE IN THE LOWER TUCKAHOE AREA, UM, AND HAVE NOT ACTUALLY HEARD INTERNALLY, UH, CUSTOMER CONCERNS SINCE THEN.

GREAT.

AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN AN EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM A CLIENT, WHICH I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED WITH THE ONE-STOP PORTAL, AND THAT IS THE ABILITY TO PAY THEIR BILLS, UH, ONLINE.

I WANNA SAY THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, WE WERE SITTING AT AROUND 11 SO WELL BELOW THE THRESHOLD TO WARRANT PIPE REPLACEMENT.

AND WILL THERE BE A SURCHARGE INVOLVED IN THAT? DO YOU KNOW THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE 3% PROCESSING FEE? CORRECT.

THE, THE PAYMENT LINK IS STILL THE TREASURER'S, THE TREASURER'S, THE COLLECTOR OF ALL FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY.

UM, BUT IT WILL BE IN THE CU USI WEBSITE SO THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ONLY HAVE TO GO TO ONE PLACE TO BOTH VIEW AND PAY THEIR BILL UTILITY.

CORRECT? YES.

NOT, NOT, NOT THEIR REAL ESTATE.

AND THEN FINALLY THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION AND, AND, UH, I'LL SAY BUYER'S REMORSE ON THE TUCKAHOE CREEK SERVICE DISTRICT AND THAT THE LOW COST BIDDER USED WHAT I BIDDER USED, UH, I I CALL IT PLASTIC PIPING.

IT WAS SOME KIND OF POLYMER THAT IS NO LONGER BEING USED.

WHAT IS THE REPAIR AND REPLACE ANTICIPATION IS THAT STUFF, AND YOU'RE NOT BAD LUCK, BUT WE HAD A NUMBER OF BREAKS JUST AFTER YOU JOINED US.

SO, UM, SO YOU'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY FOR WATER MAINS? YES, I AM.

YEP.

UM, SO, UH, A RESOURCE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BOTH THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC SOON, UM, THAT I'M WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UM, JESSICA ON, IS ACTUALLY, UH, A, A DASHBOARD, LET'S CALL IT, TO SEE HOW DO OUR STATISTICS OF WATER MAIN BREAKS COMPARE, UH, TO THE NATIONAL EXPECTATION.

UM, WE ARE RIGHT IN LINE, IF NOT BELOW, UH, THE BREAKS PER 100 MILES OF PIPE PER YEAR.

UH, WHEN THAT VALUE APPROACHES, I BELIEVE THE, THE, THE VALUE IS 2121 BREAKS PER 100 MILES OF WATER MAIN PER YEAR.

THAT IS YOUR TRIGGER THAT YOU NEED TO DO A REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

AND

[02:05:01]

THAT THAT'S FINE.

I JUST KNOW THAT I DO GET THE CALLS WHEN THE WATER'S OUT AND, AND YES, THEY DON'T CARE WHAT THE NATIONAL STATISTICS ARE.

NO, AND I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, I, WATER MAIN BREAKS ARE INEVITABILITY ABSOLUTELY.

OF UTILITY, ESPECIALLY IN A CLIMATE LIKE VIRGINIA.

UM, THE COLD DOES NOT HELP THE SITUATION.

UM, WHAT I'VE OUTLINED IN SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE BREAKS QUICKER, HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK SO THAT WE CAN REPAIR THINGS IMMEDIATELY, MINIMIZE THE TIME THAT THE WATER'S OFF.

UM, WE ARE DOING ALL OF OUR BEST EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE NOT THE PHONE CALLS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GET.

WELL, AND, AND THEY'RE SHORT LIVE BECAUSE MR. LAU YEP.

I DO NEED TO, I I'M JUST GONNA COMPLIMENT HER FOR, UM, REALLY RESPONDING.

WELL, THANK MS. GREG.

STU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

[5. Appointments - April 2026]

UM, AND THANKS VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MS. MCDONALD.

THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS.

LAST ITEM YOU HAVE UNDER NEW BUSINESS IS YOUR CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE CLE CAPITAL REGION WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

AND, UH, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT NORA AMOS SERVE AS THE STAFF ALTERNATE IN THAT RELATIONSHIP AND ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT YOU APPOINT HAILEY CRAWFORD AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MONON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD.

MR. SHERRY, MOVE THE BOARD, APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS AS PRESENTED.

I SECOND, UH, OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION.

YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, I, I BELIEVE HAILEY WILL BE A LIAISON AND NOT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

THE BOARD IS DEFINED BY STATE STATUTE, SO, UH, JUST AS LONG AS WE KNOW SHE'S NOT GONNA HAVE A VOTE, SHE WILL BE A LIAISON.

UNDERSTOOD.

MR. CHAIR, GO AHEAD.

I, IT APPEARS WE DID OUR DISCUSSION IN Q OF A, BUT I, I'LL ALSO MAKE THE MOTION, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT, UH, THE UPDATED 2025 UTILITY MASTER PLAN.

UM, AND I, I GUESS FAIR POINT, WE CAN DO RIGHT TWO VOTES IN A ROW.

WE'LL, UH, WE'LL DO, UH, WE'VE GOT TO APPROVE THE MOTION FOR THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN AND I CAN RESCIND MY MOTION AT THE TIME.

IT STILL EXISTS, DOESN'T IT? YOU HAVE DIRECTION ONLY JUST ONE TIME.

LET, LET'S JUST GO, LET'S GO BACK TO THE UTILITY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS.

SO I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE APPOINTMENTS IN APRIL, 2026.

UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALRIGHT, THAT MOTION PASSES.

NOW DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE UPDATED 2025 UTILITY MASTER PLAN, MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ADOPT THE UPDATED 2025 UTILITY MASTER PLAN.

SECOND.

ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? WE HAD Q AND A I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON.

ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[XV. Dinner Break/Recess]

MOTION PASSES.

ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE WILL GO AHEAD AND BREAK FOR DINNER RECESS, AND WE WILL RECONVENE AT OUR 6:00 PM UH, EVENING MEETING.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

[XVI. 6:00 PM - Chair Calls Meeting Back to Order]

[03:00:47]

[03:00:47]

[03:00:51]

[03:00:51]

[03:00:52]

[03:00:52]

[03:00:53]

[03:00:56]

[03:00:57]

[03:00:57]

[03:00:58]

WE AT? CITIZEN COMMENT.

I'M GONNA CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

UH, FIRST I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO DR.

LEY FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

SO THAT BEING SAID, WE CONTINUE TO WELCOME PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WE DO THE WORK OF GLAND COUNTY.

WELL, THANK YOU MR. CHRISTIE, AND WELCOME EVERYONE.

WE'RE, WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO BE A PART OF, OF THE WORK OF GLAND COUNTY.

UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO CITIZEN COMMENT AND, UH, SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHO WERE WEARING SHIRTS RELATED TO VALLEY LINK.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET OUR CITIZENS KNOW THAT EARLIER TODAY AT THE THREE O'CLOCK MEETING, OUR BOARD DID ADOPT A RESOLUTION A UNANIMOUSLY, ALL FIVE BOARD MEMBERS VOTED, UH, A IN A RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT.

AND WE PROVIDED THAT RESOLUTION PUBLICLY AND READ IT.

UH, AND CERTAINLY WANTED TO LET THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT IN ATTENDANCE ABOUT THAT, SOME FOLKS ARE HERE, UH, WHO ARE HERE EARLIER TODAY.

SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, THAT THE BOARD DID VOTE IN UNANIMOUS OPPOSITION TO THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT AT THEIR THREE O'CLOCK MEETING EARLIER TODAY.

[XVII. Citizen Comment]

AND SO, UH, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP CITIZEN COMMENT HERE IN A MOMENT.

AND THIS IS FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA.

SO WE DO HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO REAL ESTATE TAXES, BUDGET, AND, UH, FEES AS WELL.

BUT CITIZEN COMMENT IS FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND SO IF YOU CHOOSE TO SPEAK, THIS CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD IS INTENDED TO NOT LAST MORE THAN ONE HOUR.

UH, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WHEN YOU START, YOUR LIGHTS IN FRONT OF YOU WILL BE GREEN.

THEY WILL THEN TRANSITION TO FLASHING YELLOW, AND THEN WHEN YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP, THEN IT WILL TURN TO RED.

JUST SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.

IF YOU DO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO SEED THEIR TIME TO YOU, YOU CAN HAVE A FEW FOLKS DO THAT.

THEY'LL GET TWO MINUTES OF ADDITIONAL TIME.

THEY JUST NEED TO ANNOUNCE THAT.

AND THEN THAT SPEAKER CAN HAVE AS MANY AS AS 10 MINUTES.

BUT 10 MINUTES IS IN FACT THE MAX.

WE DO ASK THAT YOU DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD RATHER THAN THE AUDIENCE.

AND, UH, ULTIMATELY HERE IN GLAND, WE CERTAINLY ARE PROUD OF HOW WE CAN MAINTAIN A QUORUM, UH, THE QUORUM AND HAVE A RESPECTFUL MEETING.

SO, UH, ASK THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WE ENGAGE IN OUR CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD TONIGHT.

SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, ONCE YOU OPEN THE CITIZEN COMMENT, WE DO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SIGNED UP, AND I'M HAPPY TO READ THOSE NAMES ONCE WE OPEN UP THE CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD.

CITIZEN COMMENT IS NOW OPEN.

DR.

WHALE, THOSE NAMES.

THE FIRST SPEAKER WHO HAS SIGNED UP IS KRISTY PAYNE.

GIVE YOUR ADDRESS AFTER YOUR NAME.

MY NAME IS KERMAN PAYNE, 4 6 3 0 3 CHILD ROAD GUM SPRING, VIRGINIA.

I'M SUCCEEDING MY TIME TO MY WIFE, KRISTY.

OKAY, YOU CAN GO.

CAN GO.

UM, I'M KRISTY PAYNE AT 4 6 3 0 3 CHOP ROAD GUM, SPRING, VIRGINIA 2 3 0 6 5.

ESPECIALLY FOR OUR ELDERLY POPULATION IN OUR COUNTY.

I FIRST, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK THE BOARD FOR PASSING THE OPPOSITION RESOLUTION REGARDING THE VALLEY LINK TRANSMISSION LINE.

THAT ACTION MATTERS AND IT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO YOUR RESIDENTS.

I RECOGNIZE THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, BUT FOR MANY OF US, THIS IS NOT JUST A PROJECT.

IT'S OUR HOMES, IT'S OUR LAND, AND IT'S OUR FUTURE.

WHEN OVER 120,000 MAILERS WENT OUT ACROSS NINE COUNTIES, INCLUDING GOOCHLAND, MANY RESIDENTS WERE LEFT, CONFUSED AND UNAWARE OF WHAT STEPS TO TAKE.

THERE WAS A CRITICAL WINDOW WHERE CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND GUIDANCE FROM COUNTY LEADERSHIP COULD HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

MANY RESIDENTS DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO ENGAGE IN THE FEDERAL PROCESS THROUGH THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION.

AND AS A RESULT, GLAND VOICES WERE LARGELY MISSING AT THAT STAGE.

THERE WERE ALSO CHALLENGING NAVIGATING COMPLEX MAPS AND ONLINE SYSTEMS,

[03:05:01]

THIS IS WHERE THE COUNTY COULD HAVE STEPPED IN MORE PROACTIVELY.

I ALSO WANT TO RAISE A VERY REAL AND IMMEDIATE CONCERN.

PROPERTY DEVALUATION.

SINCE THE PROPOSED ROUTE BECAME PUBLIC, THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPACTED.

WHAT OUR PROPERTIES WERE WORTH THIS WINTER IS NOT WHAT THEY'RE PERCEIVED TO BE WORTH TODAY.

YET, RESIDENTS WILL SOON RECEIVE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS IN JUNE THAT DO NOT REFLECT THAT THIS REALITY, THIS AFFECTS NOT ONLY HOMEOWNERS BUT THE COUNTY'S OVERALL TAX BASIS.

THERE ARE ALSO QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS.

HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE PRODUCES A CONTINUOUS AUDIBLE NOISE, OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A BUZZING OR CRACKLING.

THIS IS NOT OCCASIONAL, BUT IT IS DAILY.

THE PROPOSED TOWER REACHING APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 165 FEET ARE COMPARABLE TO 10 TO 12 STORY BUILDINGS AND WOULD PERMANENTLY ALTER OUR RURAL LANDSCAPE.

THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS ABOUT HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE AS PROXIMITY TO HIGH VOLTAGE IN INFRASTRUCTURES CAN RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT RISK AND PROPERTY VALUE.

BUT WE ARE STILL IN A POSITION TO ACT.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO PROVIDE CLEAR ONGOING COMMUNICATION TO RESIDENTS, HELP RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION, WHICH WILL MAKE THEIR FINAL DECISION CLEARLY EXPLAIN THE, THAT THE PROPOSED SUBSTATION IN COLE PALER COUNTY REQUIRES APPROVAL, LOCAL APPROVAL, AND CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR GLAND RESIDENTS.

WE ARE ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US, GUIDE US, AND ENSURE EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO BE HEARD.

WHEN OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE DIMINISHED, THE COUNTY'S REVENUE IS DIMINISHED RIGHT ALONG WITH IT.

THE LOSS DOESN'T STAY IN WESTERN GLAND, IT RIPPLES ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY AFFECTING SCHOOLS, SERVICES AND THE COMMUNITY, WE ALL SHARE, PROTECTING OUR HOMES MEAN PROTECTING GLAND ITSELF.

ADDITIONALLY, WE KEEP HEARING THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINE IS FOR THE GREATER GOOD, AND THAT THERE IS NO DIRECT PERSONAL BENEFIT TO THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE.

BUT LET ME SAY THIS CLEARLY, WE ARE THE GREATER GOOD.

WE ARE THE FAMILIES WHO BUILT OUR LIVES, INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THE GREATER GOOD SHOULD NEVER COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE VERY PEOPLE IT'S SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.

NEXT IS DIANE WATERS.

MY NAME IS DIANE WATERS.

I LIVE AT 1 2 8 6 3 CEDAR CIRCLE, MANNEQUIN SABOT, AND I SEED MY TIME TO ANNETTE JONES.

FOR MANY OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, OUR HOMES ARE OUR ONLY INVESTMENT, AND YET WE STAND TO GAIN NOTHING IN RETURN.

MY NAME IS ANNETTE JONES, AND I LIVE AT 4 8 4 1 ASH GROVE LANE ON THE WESTERN END OF THE COUNTY.

I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IN OPPOSITION TO THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT, BUT BEFORE I EXPLAIN WHY, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I AM COMING FROM.

I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF GLAND, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE CALLING ANYWHERE ELSE HOME.

THIS COMMUNITY IS UNIMAGINED.

ITS WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF NEED.

I HAVE VOLUNTEERED IN ONE CAPACITY OR ANOTHER MY ENTIRE LIFE.

GLIN IS NOT JUST WHERE I LIVE, IT IS WHO I AM.

LAST OCTOBER, I REACHED OUT TO MR. LEY CHRISTIE TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE TOD AND THE SMRS. I DID NOT WANT LOUIS ACCOUNTED PLACED IN A DATA CENTER NEAR SHANNON HILL BECAUSE OF WHAT WOULD DO TO OUR WAY OF LIFE.

AND I COULD NOT SUPPORT A DOUBLE STANDARD BY OPPOSING IT UP HERE, BUT ACCEPTING SIMILAR IMPACTS IN EASTERN GULA.

I ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SMALL MODULAR REACTORS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE PROXIMITY TO TWO ACTIVE ROCK QUA WITH DAILY BLASTING AND THE HIGHEST FAULT LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THAT AREA.

AT THE TIME, MY UNDERSTANDING OF SMRS WAS LIMITED, BUT MY CONCERNS WERE REAL.

MR. CHRISTIE ENCOURAGED ME TO CONSIDER THE PERSPECTIVE OF BUYRIGHT ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, SUGGESTING THESE FACILITIES COULD GENERATE THEIR OWN POWER, SELL EXCESS BACK TO THE GRID, REDUCE COST FOR VIRGINIANS AND POSITION GOOCHLAND TO BENEFIT FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOOM HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.

HE COMPARED IT TO A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT LIKE A 401K WARNING AGAINST PUTTING ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

MY RESPONSE THEN IS THE SAME AS IT IS NOW.

JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING SOMETHING DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT MAY ULTIMATELY HARM THE RESIDENTS OF VIRGINIA.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO KEEP OUR HANDS CLEAN AND OUR HEADS HELD HIGH.

THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SOMETIMES IT'S ARTIFICIAL TURF, AND BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE IT, YOU'VE ALREADY LOST WHAT WAS GOOD.

SO WHY DOES THIS MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT? BECAUSE NOW WE ARE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE DECISIONS.

THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS MULTIPLE FORMS OF DESTRUCTION, THE TAKEN OF LAND DEPRECIATION, AND OF PROPERTY VALUES, THE DISRUPTION OF OUR WAY OF LIFE.

[03:10:01]

AND IN FACT, GLAND MAY LOSE REVENUE DUE TO DECLINE IN PROPERTY VALUES.

THROUGH MY, THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I HAVE ALSO COME TO UNDERSTAND HOW PROJECTS LIKE SMRS, BATTERY STORAGE FACILITIES AND SOLAR FARMS OPERATE.

THEY RELY ON HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES LIKE THOSE PROPOSED IN THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT TO MOVE ENERGY LONG DISTANCES INTO THE GRID.

THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT ISOLATED.

THEY ARE CONNECTED.

I ASK, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SELLING OF EXCESS POWER BACK TO THE POWER GRID HAPPENS? IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, I URGE YOU TO VISIT BLOCK VALLEY LINK ORG.

THERE YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THIS PROJECT WAS KNOWN TO OFFICIALS IN COLD PURPLE COUNTY AS EARLY AS AUGUST OF LAST YEAR REVEALED THROUGH A FOIL REQUEST.

YET IN SEPTEMBER, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING DOMINION STATED THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT.

THE VIDEO IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE TO WATCH.

I HAVE MANY CONCERNS AND MANY QUESTIONS, BUT THE TIMELINE SUITS FOR ITSELF.

AND MAY, 2023 GLAND UPDATED ITS ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES.

IN MAY, 2025, A BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT OFF CARDWELL ROAD WAS PROPOSED AND LATER FELL THROUGH.

IN JULY, 2025, THE TOD AND SMRS WERE INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC.

AND NOVEMBER, 2025, THIS BOARD VOTED IN FAVOR OF THEM.

AND NOW WE ARE FACED WITH THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT.

THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN BUILDING, AND NOW WE'RE POTENTIALLY BEING FORCED TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES.

YOUR CITIZENS NEED YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT, BOLD, PROACTIVE, AND FULLY INFORMED ABOUT THE WHAT LIES AHEAD.

WE NEED YOU TO TAKE A STAND IN OPPOSITION TO ANY VARIATION OF THE VALLEY LAKE PROJECT BEFORE THE SEC, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT WHAT YOU HAVE SET US UP TO CONTEND WITH IF WE CONTINUE DOWN THE WRONG PATH.

AND THERE'S QUITE A GOOD DEAL OF FUTURE CONSTRUCTION BY PROPERTY OWNERS.

CANDACE JAVIS.

MY IS HARRISON CHAVEZ, 4 6 1 5 3 CHOP ROAD GUM, SPRING, VIRGINIA 2 3 0 6 5.

I'LL SEED MY TIME TO MY WIFE, CANDACE.

HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING.

UM, I'M CANDACE CHAVE.

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ENJOYED LIVING IN GLAND COUNTY FOR 38 YEARS.

UM, AND WE OWN A 121 ACRE FARM JUST EAST OF HAYDENVILLE.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF OPTION, OPTION G OF THE VALLEY LINK TRANSMISSION.

UM, IT WILL CUT A 200 WIDE SWATH THROUGH OUR PROPERTY.

WE ARE OBVIOUSLY QUITE DISTRESSED.

UM, IT WILL RUN BETWEEN OUR HOUSE AND BARN LIMITER ROAD AXIS AND REDUCE OUR FRONTAGE AND GREATLY REDUCE THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY.

AS YOU'VE HEARD OTHERS MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, AND IT WILL ALSO RUN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE.

UM, WE HAVE STREAMS ON THE PROPERTY.

WE HAVE SPRINGS, AND WE HAVE A FLOODPLAIN, WHICH WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS HUGE MONSTROUS PROJECT.

UM, OTHER CONCERNS HAVE ALSO BEEN MENTIONED BY OTHERS.

UM, THE CONSTANT LOUD BUZZING SOUND, AND THAT'S EVEN FROM LOWER VOLTAGE, UM, TRANSMISSION LINES.

THIS IS A SUPER, SUPER HIGH ONE, UM, OR STRONG ONE.

I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CLOSE AND CONSTANT PROXIMITY TO THE HIGH ENERGY FLOWING ALMOST OVERHEAD OF WHERE WE LIVE.

UM, IT'S EXTREMELY CLOSE TO OUR HOME, APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM OUR HOUSE.

UM, AT LEAST THIS PLAN, UM, SHOWS WE ARE LIVING ON OUR DREAM PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, SAVED AND, AND SCRI AND EVERYTHING, AND WORKED VERY HARD TO INVEST IN, IMPROVE OUR PROPERTY.

UM, AND LOVE IT.

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

UM, AND WANNA PASS IT ON TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROPERTY OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS OPTION G, UM, GOING THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL RURAL COUNTY.

UM,

[03:15:02]

MAYBE THEY WANT TO BUILD THEIR DREAM HOME AS WELL.

UM, AND EVEN CURRENT CONSTRUCTION, HOME AND CONSTRUCTION IN THE PATH OF THIS, UH, PROPOSED G UM, PLEASE HELP US STOP OR REROUTE THIS PROJECT.

UM, VERY DISTRESSING, UM, I THINK TO ALL OF US.

UM, AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S ONLY PASSING THROUGH COUNTY AND THE OTHERS, UM, NOT TO BENEFIT US PARTICULARLY, BUT TO BENEFIT, UM, GREATER POWER USAGE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE WOULD BE INTERESTED, UM, BUT THERE IS A, A BOOK THAT DISCUSSES PROPERTY, UM, VALUES, UH, THE, THE, UH, IMPACT OF PROPERTY VALUES BY THESE TRANS, UH, TOWER TOWERS, TURBINES, AND TRANSMISSION LINES.

AND I HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THAT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP.

MR. CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS, STAFF.

SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE, UH, THAT'S, UH, EVERYONE WHO'S, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

THERE MAY BE OTHERS WHO WANT TO SPEAK, BUT THAT'S ALL THE SIGNUPS.

THANK YOU, DR.

RAYLEY.

UH, ANY OTHERS FROM THE PUBLIC? GO AHEAD, SIR.

COME ON UP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS DIANE HALVERSON.

UH, I LIVE AT 1 2 2 5 3 BREMNER RIDGE CIRCLE IN MANIKIN SABOT, VIRGINIA 2 3 1 0 3.

AND I'M SEATING MY TIME TO MY HUSBAND LEE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS.

MY NAME'S LEE HALVERSON.

I LIVE AT 1 2 2 5 3 BREMNER RIDGE CIRCLE, MANNEQUIN SABBATH, VIRGINIA.

I AM A FRIEND OF GLAND.

WE LOVE IT HERE.

WE LOVE THE LAND, WE LOVE THE PEOPLE.

WE LOVE THE COMMUNITY.

WE LOVE THE FRESH AIR.

AND I LOVE THE THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK A STEP TODAY BY A, BY THE PROCLAMATION, UH, OPPOSING THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT.

I THINK, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT WAS CLEVERLY WRITTEN, UH, TO EXCLUDE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS, PERHAPS BECAUSE IT MIGHT LEAK OVER INTO THE, UH, INTO THE EAST SIDE.

UH, THE ONLY, UH, CLAUSE THAT REALLY REACHES OUT TO ME IS WHEREAS MANY GLAND RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS REGARDING POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL, AGRICULTURAL VISUAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE, UH, TRANSMISSION LINES, BUT NOTHING SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE AND THE COMMUNITY GOOD THAT WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WAS INTENTIONAL AND IT WAS NARROWLY WRITTEN TO APPLY ONLY TO THE TRANSMISSION LINES.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT, IT MAKES ME SAD.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO REMOVE DATA CENTERS FROM M1 ZONING TO JUST TAKE 'EM OUT.

DATA CENTERS ARE NOT LIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

THEY ARE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, PROJECTS, YOUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH, THE SOUTH, INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL, UH, SCIENCE IS PROVING THAT THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE NOT TO LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO 'EM.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

YOUR PROCLAMATION SAYS WE CARE ABOUT THE LAND, WE CARE ABOUT THE RURAL SENSE THAT THE LAND HAS, BUT IT DOESN'T BRING THE COMMON GOOD, THE COMMUNITY GOOD, AND THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS TO BEAR.

I ASK YOU TO DO THAT BY TAKING M1, TAKING DATA CENTERS OUT OF M1.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I URGE YOU TO TAKE DATA CENTERS COMPLETELY OUT OF GLAND COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A LINE OUT TO THE WEST, THERE'S GONNA BE A DATA CENTER, FIND ITS HOME OUT THERE SOMEPLACE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT GOOCHLAND COUNTY PEOPLE WANT DATA CENTERS.

I URGE YOU TO ASK THEM, ASK THEM IN YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

[03:20:01]

ASK THEM, ASK THEM TO WRITE YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.

I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.

I KNOW IT'S NOT A TOUGH, I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

AND THE LADY THAT THIS AFTERNOON SAID THAT AND OFFERED HELP, I'M READY TO HELP TOO.

ANYONE ELSE? UH, EVERYONE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RAISE YOUR HAND.

YOU CAN JUST COME UP.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SPOKEN OUT, AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME.

MY NAME IS DORIS MCKENZIE.

I LIVE AT 32 55 TAB SCOTT ROAD, COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, 2 3 0 3 8.

UM, THIS IS THE EMAIL THAT I SENT VALLEY LINK JUST TODAY.

I'LL BE SENDING THEM ONE WEEKLY.

UM, IT SAYS, DEAR SIRS, I'M REQUESTING A TERMINATION OF THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT.

SUPER HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE, NOT HIGH, NOT EXTRA HIGH, SUPER HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE.

I, UM, I HAVE BEEN IN VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS.

UM, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE CLEARED THE LAND AND BUILT OUR HOME FROM SCRATCH.

THIS TRANSMISSION LINE INVADES THE CORNER OF MY PROPERTY AND IS ONLY 300 FEET FROM MY HOUSE.

UM, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE DIS DISCUSSED WE HAD WHEN WE FIRST SAW THEIR, THEIR FLYER.

THE PROPOSAL LINE SHOWS THAT I WOULD HAVE LOSS OF REAL PROPERTY, LOSS OF VALUE TO MY HOMESTEAD, SATELLITE AND SIGNAL INTERFERENCE AND HAM RADIO INTERFERENCE, THAT'S FCC.

THE TOWERS WOULD EMIT LIGHT AND SOUND DAMAGING ME, MY FAMILY AND THE WILDLIFE WE HAVE CULTIVATED OVER THE YEARS.

UM, PLEASE SEE THAT VIRGINIA AND FEDERAL PROTECTION ACTS ARE NOT TRAMPLED ON TO NAME A FEW.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE A GOLDEN AND BALD EAGLE PROTECTION ACT OF 1940.

THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES SHOWS A 2026 NESTING SITES ALL THE WAY FROM WILLIAMSBURG TO CHARLOTTESVILLE, AND THEY'RE IN OPERATION RIGHT NOW.

GO TAKE A LOOK.

THE STATE PROTECTED WATERSHEDS OF BIRD CREEK AND LITTLE BIRD CREEK, WHICH IS PART OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.

WE ALSO HAVE GOVERNOR NOAM'S 2021 MIGRATORY TREATY ACT, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RYAN BROWN, OF THE DWR STATES THAT THE WILDLIFE OF VIRGINIA ARE PROTECTED.

THIS IN UDE INCLUDES THE MIGRATION OF HUMMINGBIRDS, REDTAIL HAWKS, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, AND SOME OF OUR BLACK BEARS.

NOW I KNOW EVEN YOU CHERISH, SERENE AND BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY ESCAPES.

I'M ASKING THAT YOU DO NOT DESTROY THIS ONE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

MY NAME IS KATHLEEN BARROW, 1 2 4 8 1 NORTH CROSSING DRIVE IN MANNEQUIN SABBATH.

AND I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING TONIGHT, BUT I DO AGREE.

I THINK THE ENTIRE COUNTY DOESN'T WANT DATA CENTERS.

PLEASE FIND OTHER WAYS LIKE BRINGING IN GOOD BUSINESSES LIKE LILY TO THE COUNTY, WHICH WILL SPAWN FURTHER BUSINESSES.

WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOREVER NOW FOR AT LEAST A YEAR SINCE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

BUT I ALSO AM CONCERNED AFTER REVIEWING THE BUDGET AND IF, IF, IF I'M DOING MY NUMBERS RIGHT, THE BUDGET HAS MA'AM EXPANDED BY 14, I'M SORRY, A HALF PERCENT BUDGET COMMENTS NEED TO BE MADE DURING THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS.

OH, BECAUSE THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK TO THE MICROPHONE.

IS THAT NEXT WEEK? NO, IT'S TONIGHT.

OH, IT'S TONIGHT.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT TONIGHT WHEN YOU HAVE THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.

OH, WELL THAT'S ALL I WAS GONNA SAY.

PERFECT.

SO I DON'T GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK UP 14.

YOU, YOU CAN'T MAKE THEM NOW.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM THEM DURING THAT PUBLIC HEARING.

THAT'S ALL I WAS GONNA SAY.

THANKS.

AND I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL ON THAT.

IT'S A LOT FOR ONE YEAR MA'AM, MA'AM, TO CLARIFY, YOU CAN COME BACK UP TONIGHT WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE HEARING THAT CASE.

OKAY? YEP.

ANYONE ELSE ON CASES NOT BEING HEARD TONIGHT?

[03:25:05]

[XVIII. Budget Public Hearings]

SEEING NONE, I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE.

CITIZEN COMMENT.

UH, SO BUDGET, PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[1. Public Hearing to Consider the Proposed 2026 Real Estate Tax Rate, 6:00 PM]

GO AHEAD.

AND IS THIS YOU DR. RAY? YEAH.

BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS.

UH, WE HAVE DENISE SANDLIN WHO'S GOING TO PRESENT EACH ONE OF THOSE IN SUCCESSION ORDER.

THE VERY FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT IS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED 2026 REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.

MS. ALAN, GOOD EVENING.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DR.

RALEY, STAFF AND COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT WE WILL ADDRESS THE TAX RATE FEES, THE FEES, AND THE AMENDED BUDGET TOPICS.

UM, AS DR.

RALEY MENTIONED, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEARINGS.

UM, ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.

THE FIRST THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL ADDRESS IS THE 2026 PROPOSED REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.

THE, OH, I'M SORRY.

HELP MOVE IT FORWARD.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THE, UH, CURRENT PUBLIC TAX, CURRENT CURRENT TAX RATE IS 53 CENTS PER 100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.

THE ASSESSED VALUE, UM, ASSESSMENT HAS INCREASED DUE TO ASSESSMENT INCREASES, NOT THE TAX RATE ITSELF.

THE ASSESSMENTS ITSELF, IT'S A 5%, EXCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THE LOWER RATE NECESSARY TO OFFSET THE INCREASED ASSESSMENT IS 50 CENTS PER 100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.

THE EFFECTIVE RATE INCREASE IS ACTUALLY 3 CENTS PER HUNDRED OR 5%.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE RATE TO KEEP IT REVENUE NEUTRAL.

THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE HAS BEEN THE SAME AS IT WAS PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS YEAR.

I WILL PAUSE HERE AND I WILL LET THE, UM, UM, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO COMMUNICATE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANSWERS IN REGARDS TO THIS BOARD MEMBERS.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, JUST, JUST ONE, MR. CHAIRMAN? UM, MY RULE OF THUMB WAS ONE PENNY IS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE.

IS THAT, UH, STILL APPROXIMATE? KIND OF THE SAME.

SO IF IT WERE, WE'RE TERMING IT, THE 5% DECREASE WITH $3 MILLION DECREASE IN TAX REVENUE, REAL ESTATE, TAX REVENUE TO THE COUNTY.

IS THAT, IS THAT'S ABOUT, OKAY.

THANKS.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARING.

PUBLIC HEARINGS OPEN.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING NEEDS TO NO, MS ST.

WAIT, WE GIVE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON RIGHT ON THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ELEMENT.

SO ARE THERE ARE ANY CITIZENS IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE THAT, UH, WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE? ON A REAL ESTATE TAX RATE? SORRY, KATHLEEN BYO.

1, 2, 4 8, 1 NORTH CROSSING DRIVE IN MANNEQUIN SBOT.

AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET, I'VE TRIED TO COMPARE IT TO YEARS PAST.

FROM 25 TO 26, IT WENT UP 9%.

9.2% THIS YEAR FROM 26 TO 27 FOR THE PROJECTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

IT'S GONE UP 14.5%.

IF I'M DOING MY NUMBERS RIGHT, THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ANTICIPATING THAT YOU MIGHT GET SOME MONEY WHEN AMAZON OPENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE HOW THE BUDGET HAS BEEN BALLOONING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'S REALLY JUST GONE WHEW, WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE BRINGING IN MORE MONEY AND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME TO FRUITION.

THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY.

ANYONE ELSE ON, ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE? ALRIGHT, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING IS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 COUNTY BUDGET WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET

[2. Public Hearing to Consider the Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 County Budget, with proposed amendments, the Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 School Board Budget, the Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2051 Capital Improvement Program, and the Proposed 2026 Tax Rates, 6:05 PM]

[03:30:01]

AND THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THE PROPOSED 2026 TAX RATES.

THE FY AMENDED ALL FUNDS AND GENERAL FUNDS BUDGET.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 27 COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET WILL BE, WAS BE, IS BEING PRESENTED TODAY.

THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE COUNTY BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, JULY 1 26, ENDING JUNE 30TH OF 27 AND FISCAL YEAR 27.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WILL BE ON MAY 5TH.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASE GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF THE COUNTY GLAND WILL EXCEED LAST YEAR'S BY 4.6% IN THE TOTAL ALL BUDGET.

UM, ALL FUNDS BUDGET OF THE COUNTY WILL INCREASE LA FROM LAST YEAR'S BY 15.3.

THE FOLLOWING SLIDES WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW THOSE CHANGES CAME ABOUT.

UH, DR.

RALEY PRESENTED, UM, ON FEBRUARY 17TH.

AT THAT TIME, IT WAS AT A 14.9%.

UM, WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMING FROM NEW PROJECTS IN THIS BUDGET, THIS BUDGET, AS THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN COSTS OVERALL, THIS BUDGET DOES ENCODE THE, UM, INCREASE OF PERCENTAGES FOR EMPLOYEES STAFFING AND IN INCREASES OF INSURANCE AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

AND THIS PARTICULAR PIECE, WE HAVE LOOKED AND SHARPENED OUR PENCIL ON OUR BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, WE COULD FIND SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO FUND THIS BUDGET.

IT NEEDS TO BE BALANCED REVENUE AND MUST EQUAL EXPENDITURES.

WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT WE HAD MISSED A SHERIFF'S GRANT, WHICH WAS 578,000.

WE ALSO WERE INFORMED FROM THE STATE THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN VRS AND GROUP LIFE, UM, AVERAGING OF ABOUT 2.9%.

THE TOTAL SAVINGS THAT WE COME UP WITH CONSIDERING, UM, TAX REBATE INCENTIVE FROM THE CAPITAL ONE.

AND THIS LIST AS WE SEE HERE, IS ABOUT $2.1 MILLION.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THERE'S AN ALLOCATION, THE ALLOCATION OF TAKING THAT $2.1 MILLION AND DETERMINING HOW WE WERE GONNA FUND THESE, THESE, THIS LIST OF FUNDING, UM, PRIORITIES WAS DETERMINED BASED ON THE DR RAIL IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT THE PRIORITIES WERE FOR THESE FUNDING.

THE TOTAL WAS THAT IS BEING FUNDED HERE IS 2.1, WHICH BALANCES TO THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES AND CUTS THAT WE HAVE MADE TO THE BUDGET.

THERE STILL ARE ON SOME UNFUNDED REQUESTS IN THE BUDGET.

HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST, UM, HIGHLIGHT THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, THE DEPUTY HAS, UM, BEEN FUNDED IN HIS BUDGET, UM, TO COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AND AN IT DIRECTOR WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UM, IT, UM, UM, SOFTWARE THAT THEY RECEIVED.

THEY NEEDED AN IT DIRECTOR.

WE ALSO HAVE FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET, UM, WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE HAVE NOW.

ORIGINALLY WE HAD THREE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE FUNDED.

WE ARE NOW BEING ABLE TO FUND FIVE FIREFIGHTERS.

OUT OF THE 11.

WE HAVE HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO INCREASE, UM, A BATTALION CHIEF TO AN ASSISTANT CHIEF AND ALSO BE ABLE TO INCREASE A CA THREE CAPTAINS TO A BATTALION CHIEF'S.

THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS JUST, UM, REQUESTS THAT WERE NOT FUNDED, BUT ARE STILL A PRIORITY.

THERE'S AN INCREASE IN FIREFIGHTERS EMT POSITIONS.

WE NOW STILL HAVE SIX TO BE FUNDED.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUESTS, ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTOR, ADDITIONAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH NEEDS TO BE REVISED.

THIS GRAPH RIGHT HERE IS THE GENERAL FUND.

YES, IT HAS GONE UP 4.6%.

THIS, THIS CHART INCLUDES ALL OF THE ITEMS FROM FEBRUARY 17TH, AS WELL AS THE ITEMS WE JUST, WE REVIEWED IN THE LAST TWO SLIDES.

THE NEXT SLIDE IS FOR THE ALL, ALL FUNDS AND ALL FUNDS IS A GENERAL FUND PLUS YOUR CVTA, YOUR OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES UTILITIES IS, IS INCLUDED IN THE ALL FUNDS PLUS DEBT SERVICE.

THIS HAS GONE UP TO 5.3.

THIS WAS FUNDED BY THE, UM, INCREASE OF THE DECREASE IN OUR VRS AND OUR HEALTH INSURANCE HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE IN IT, WHAT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED ON THE

[03:35:01]

FEBRUARY 17TH AND FINDING THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES.

SO THAT HAS, IT'S NOT ON THE BACKS OF ADDITIONAL TAX.

UH, NOW I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE, UM, MY COLLEAGUE SARAH WARLEY.

SHE WILL PRESENT, UM, SOME INFORMATION ON THE DATA CENTER.

THANK YOU DENISE.

HELLO, BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD.

MY NAME IS SARAH WORLEY AND I'M THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER TAX RATE.

IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY'S TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS, STAFF HAVE BENCHMARK LOCALITIES IN OUR REGION WITH WHOM WE COMPETE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING DATA CENTERS.

I HAVE NOT INCLUDED NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN THIS ANALYSIS BECAUSE BOTH THE LAND COSTS AND THE MARKET IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN HERE IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

NEW KENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A TECHNOLOGY OVERLAY DISTRICT TO ATTRACT DATA CENTERS.

THEY ARE IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF THIS INITIATIVE, AND I DO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL EVALUATE THEIR TAX RATE IF THEIR TOD IS ADOPTED IN THE FUTURE.

THE TWO LOCALITIES WITH HIGHER RATES HAVE EXISTING DATA CENTERS.

HENRICO HAS INCREASED THEIR RATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MET THEIR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES THROUGH DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.

THEIR RATE WAS AT 40 CENTS PER 100.

AND SINCE INCREASING, IT HAS OFFERED INCENTIVES TO EXISTING DATA CENTERS TO LOCK IN THAT LOWER RATE.

HANOVER, CHESTERFIELD AND POWER TAN RR REGIONAL COMPETITION, THEY HAVE SET RATES TO ATTRACT THE INDUSTRY WITH CHESTERFIELD HAVING THE LOWEST RATE.

IN ADDITION, CHESTERFIELD HAS COMMITTED TO LOCKING THAT RATE IN FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS FOR 30 PLUS YEARS AS AN INCENTIVE FOR ATTRACTION.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, A LOW DATA CENTER TAX RATE IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVENESS.

WHILE THE GENERALS DEC GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES WHETHER TO REMOVE THE STATE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR DATA CENTERS.

ACCORDING TO MCKINSEY RESEARCH, AI DRIVEN DEMAND AND DATA CENTERS WILL EXCEED 5 TRILLION IN INVESTMENT BY 2030.

AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT INVESTMENT IS IN TAXABLE EQUIPMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF THE IT RELATED EQUIPMENT INSIDE OF DATA CENTERS, SUCH AS SERVERS, RACKS, SECURITY EQUIPMENT, NETWORKING, AND HARDWARE, AS WELL AS HVAC AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE ALL TAXABLE.

SINCE THIS EQUIPMENT IS RUNNING CONSTANTLY AND NEEDS TO BE REFRESHED EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THAT MEANS THAT IT DOES NOT GET A CHANCE TO DEPRECIATE ALL THE WAY DOWN.

SO A DATA CENTER OPERATOR DOES NOT GET THE TAX BENEFIT OF USING DEPRECIATED PROPERTY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT HAVING A LOW DATA CENTER TAX RATE IS IMPORTANT TO THE INDUSTRY.

IF GLIN WERE TO ATTRACT DATA CENTER USE, IT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST TAX REVENUE GENERATING USE BY SQUARE FOOT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, A DATA CENTER FAR OUTWEIGHS OTHER USES IN TERMS OF REVENUE BY SQUARE FOOT.

THESE DATA POINTS WERE DERIVED FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY, WHICH ANALYZED IMPACTS AND REVENUE FROM DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT TYPES AND WERE BASED OFF OF ASSESSOR'S DATA.

FOR COMPARISON, ELI LILLY WOULD FALL INTO THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CATEGORY.

HOWEVER, LILLY TAX REVENUE B BY SQUARE FOOT WILL BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE SHOWN DUE TO THE NATURE AND THE AMOUNT OF THEIR EQUIPMENT.

AFTER LILLY OPENS, I EXPECT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TO BE SECOND AFTER DATA CENTER BY REVENUE PRODUCING USES.

SO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF POTENTIAL REVENUE, STAFF HAS CREATED A FICTITIONAL SCENARIO OF A 500,000 SQUARE FOOT DATA CENTER CAMPUS, WHICH BY INDUSTRY STANDARDS IS A SMALL DATA CENTER CAMPUS.

UNDER THE TOD REGULATIONS, THAT SIZE OF CAMPUS WOULD BE ROUGHLY AROUND 200 ACRES.

FOR REFERENCE, THERE IS ROUGHLY 4,400 ACRES IN THE TOD.

SO THIS EXAMPLE PROVIDES JUST A SMALL PORTION OF THE OVERALL REVENUE THAT COULD BE REALIZED THROUGHOUT THE TOD.

WE USED INVESTMENT NUMBERS FROM TWO DATA CENTER INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT 70% OF THE TOTAL INVESTMENT IS IN BUSINESS.

PERSONAL PROPERTY AT THE EXISTING DATA CENTER RATE OF 40 CENTS PER HUNDRED.

A 500,000 SQUARE FOOT DATA CENTER COULD PRODUCE 1.2 MILLION IN BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY REVENUE.

IF YOU COMBINE WITH REAL ESTATE, IT TOTALS 3.4 MILLION

[03:40:01]

IN ANNUAL REVENUE.

IMPORTANTLY, IF THIS WERE AN AI DATA CENTER, THESE INVESTMENT REVENUES WOULD BE DOUBLE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE MODELED WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THE BOARD WERE TO INCREASE UP TO 44 CENTS PER 100, WHICH IS A 10% INCREASE TO A TAX RATE.

IT WOULD PRODUCE 1.3 MILLION IN REVENUE ALONE IN THE DATA CENTER TAX.

AS MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, AI DATA CENTERS CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY DUE TO THE DENSITY OF THE SERVERS AND THE EQUIPMENT IN THE BUILDING.

AN AI DATA CENTER CAMPUS COULD GENERATE 2.3 MILLION IN ANNUAL BUSINESS PER PERSONAL PROPERTY AT 40 CENT RATE.

COUPLED WITH THE REAL ESTATE TAX AND AI DATA CENTER CAMPUS COULD BRING IN 4.5 MILLION ANNUALLY, MODELING OUT THAT INCREASE TO 44 CENTS, THERE COULD BE UP TO 4.7 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE FOR THAT SMALL 500,000 SQUARE FOOT CAMPUS.

NOW BOARD MEMBERS, WHILE YOU ASSUME THAT GOING HIGHER ON A TAX RATE COULD HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON POTENTIAL REVENUE, THE OPPOSITE IS ACTUALLY TRUE.

THERE DOES REACH A POINT WHERE IT BECOMES FINANCIALLY UNFEASIBLE FOR A DATA CENTER TO LOCATE IF THE COST OF BUSINESS IS TOO HIGH.

KEEP IN MIND THAT IF A DATA CENTER WERE TO LOCATE IN GLIN, THERE ARE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO.

THOSE COSTS COUPLED WITH A HIGH TAX RATE COULD BE ENOUGH TO MAKE A POTENTIAL PROJECT WALK AWAY FROM INVESTING IN GLAND COUNTY.

THERE IS ALMOST 233 MILLION IN UNFUNDED CIP PROJECTS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SIGNIFICANTLY RAISING THE DATA CENTER TAX RATE COULD JEOPARDIZE TAX REVENUE THAT COULD HELP FUND THOSE COSTS IN THE FUTURE.

IN CLOSING, I ASK THAT YOU THINK BACK ON THE BOARD'S FIRST STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION HELD IN JANUARY OF 2024, WHERE THE BOARD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANTED TO PRIORITIZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

LATER IN AUGUST OF THE SAME YEAR, THE BOARD AND THE EDA HELD A JOINT RETREAT WHERE THE TOD WAS FIRST ENVISIONED A YEAR LATER IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.

AFTER A LENGTHY AND VERY THOROUGH PROCESS, THE BOARD ADOPTED THE TECHNOLOGY OVERLAY DISTRICT TO ATTRACT DATA CENTERS TO G RAISING THE DATA CENTER TAX RATE NOW WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND COULD UNDERMINE THE FOUNDATION THAT THE BOARD HAS ALREADY LAID TO BRING HIGH QUALITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO GLAND.

AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THE PRESENTATION OR THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER TAX RATE BOARD MEMBERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

I GOT ONE.

OH, YES SIR.

UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW, UH, THE DATA CENTER OR THE TOD IS RELATED TO THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT? UM, UH, ANY POTENTIAL DATA CENTER IN GLAND COUNTY OR RTOD IS NOT RELATED TO THE VALLEY LINK PROJECT.

PLEASE.

FEW THINGS TO FINISH UP ON THIS ELEMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THE NEXT, UM, I'LL ADDRESS THE PERSONAL PROPOSED PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

UM, IN THE, UM, VIRGINIA CODE.

IT, UM, SPECIFICALLY CITE, UM, UH, THE DETERMINATION AND HOW YOU GO ABOUT ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

IT ALSO HAS SOME CRITERIA AND OUR GLAND COUNTY CODE 13 POINT 10.7 PROVIDES THAT SAME IMPLEMENTATION AND ALIGNS WITH THE COUNTY CODE.

IN ORDER TO HAVE A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, YOU MUST HAVE A VEHICLE OBTAINED IN , WHICH MEANS EITHER GARAGED IN THIS COUNTY, UM, DURING THE TAX YEAR AND SHALL RECEIVE, YOU SHALL RECEIVE A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THE FILING MANNER YOUR PERSONAL USED VEHICLE VALUED UP TO 20,000 WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A 32% TAX RELIEF.

PERSONALLY USED VALUE VEHICLES VALUED AT $20,001 OR ABOVE SHALL RECEIVE A 32% ON ONLY THE FIRST 20,000 OF VALUE.

ALL VEHICLES THAT DO NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF QUALIFYING SUCH AS BUSINESS USE, FARM USE MOTOR HOMES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY FORM OF TAX RELIEF.

THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES PROVIDED FOR A PASSENGER CAR, A MOTORCYCLE PICKUP OR PANEL TRUCK, HAVING A REGISTERED GROSS WEIGHT OF LESS THAN 10,000 POUNDS,

[03:45:01]

THAT PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, THANK YOU.

AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

CAN, CAN I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? YEAH, GO FOR IT.

MS. ALLEN.

UM, WE HAD, WE HAD HEARD, UM, FROM MS. BYO THAT THE TAX RATE WENT UP TO ABOUT 15%, BUT THE GENERAL FUND WENT UP TO 4.6.

COULD YOU SPEND A LITTLE TIME EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCES IN, IN THOSE TWO TAX RATES? THE TAX RATE DIDN'T GO UP, IT WAS JUST THE BUDGET TOTAL ITSELF.

I'M SORRY, I I I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY TAX RATE.

THE, UM, THE, IT INCREASED THE GENERAL FUND INCREASED 4.6%.

AND THEN WE INCREASED ALMOST 15%.

SO JUST WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE, SUCH AS UTILITIES THAT ARE DRIVING THE TAX RATE? YEAH, SO WE'VE HAD, UM, THERE ARE VARIOUS THINGS WITHIN THAT ON THE, UM, THE TAX RATES WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE UTILITY RATES HAVE INCREASED CONSIDERABLY.

YOU'VE GOT, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST IF YOU WENT INTO A NON-CAPITAL PROG BOUGHT SOME EQUIPMENT, THAT'S INCREASED CONSIDERABLY BECAUSE EVERYTHING, ALL EQUIPMENT HAS INCREASED.

UM, WE DO HAVE A 3% INCREASE IN THERE.

OUR HEALTH INSURANCE OR THE ORIGINAL, UH, DOCUMENT, UM, PRESENTED ON THE 17TH HAD A 10% INCREASE OF HEALTH INSURANCE, WHEREAS NOW IT'S DOWN TO 9.1%.

SO THAT IS A 9.1% INCREASE.

ALSO, UM, WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES HAVE GONE UP CONSIDERABLY IF YOU HIRE A CONTRACTOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO OVERALL COSTS ARE UP.

MM-HMM .

UM, IF YOU WANTED SPECIFIC, I'D BE GLAD TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON IT.

I CAN TELL YOU JUST ON A COUPLE ITEMS THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE PARKS AND REC WAS GOING, HAS GONE UP AND, UM, LEMME SEE IF I HAVE THAT.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHAT'S THE ACCURATE NUMBER? YEAH, SO MR. SPOONER, I THINK I CAN, CAN ASSIST A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO WHEN THE FEBRUARY 17TH PRESENTATION, THE GENERAL FUND WAS AN INCREASE OF 3.7%.

AND SO NOW WE'RE ADVERTISING SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ADDITIONAL $578,000 IN REVENUE FROM THAT SHERIFF'S GRANT.

SO THAT'S HOW YOU GET FROM 3.7% TO THIS NEW NUMBER.

THE OVERALL BUDGET IS $170 MILLION AND THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF THAT GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS UTILITIES AND SOME OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.

AND INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER IS APPROXIMATELY $14 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE.

AND SO THAT HAS INFLATED THAT NUMBER BEYOND TRADITIONAL NORMS AS A RESULT OF ACCOUNTING FOR THAT DEBT SERVICE BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE PROCEEDS THAT WE NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR REVENUE.

AND THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RIDGEFIELD BOOSTER PUMP STATION, WHICH IS SLATED TO GO ON THE EAST END.

SO IF YOU GO BACK TO PRESENTATION, IF YOU REMOVE THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT OF THAT FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT, THEN THAT INCREASE, UH, IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE OVERALL FUND IS LESS THAN 5%.

SO, AND I, I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE.

SO, AND I I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE GETTING WHERE THAT GETS LOST WHEN WE LOOKED AT JUST THE GENERAL FUND IS OVER FOUR, ALMOST $5 MILLION OF SAVINGS THAT WE FOUND, UM, BECAUSE WE, I THINK, SHARPENED OUR PENCILS.

IS THAT WHAT WE DID? CORRECT? YEAH, THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, SO THE, THE, THE, WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, IT COULD SEEM LIKE WE'RE GROWING THE GOV, THE GOVERNMENT BY 15%, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE CASE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

NO, YEAH.

MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, COULD YOU GO TO THE VERY LAST SLIDE WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX THERE? THE, THERE WE GO.

UM, I, I, I, I HAVE LEARNED, AND I, AND THANK YOU 'CAUSE YOU HAVE SPENT QUALITY TIME WITH ME ON A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS, SOME OF WHICH I BRIDLED MYSELF AND DID NOT ANSWER FOR MR. SPOONER'S QUESTION 'CAUSE YOU TUTORED ME ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS.

BUT THE, THE, THE STATE IS REIMBURSING, UH, US ON THE PERSONAL ON THE VEHICLE.

THEY DO RECOURSE REIMBURSE PORTION OF THAT AT 30%.

AND, AND SO WE ACTUALLY AS A COUNTY ARE, ARE USING THAT REIMBURSEMENT OR THAT TAX RELIEF BY ANOTHER 2%, CORRECT.

AND HAVE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR.

REDUCTION IN THEIR VEHICLE TAX.

SO, UM, IF WE WANTED TO SIMPLY TAKE THE MONEY THAT THE STATE IS PROVIDING, THEN THE CITIZENS WOULD BE GETTING LESS TAX RELIEF ON THEIR VEHICLE THAT, THAT NOT LIKE CAR TAX WOULD, WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

AND I JUST FELT A NEED TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT IT MAY NOT BE GINORMOUS, BUT IT IS AN ADDITIONAL 2%

[03:50:01]

THAT'S RIGHT.

UH, THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING, THE STATE IS SAYING 30.

WE'RE DOING 32.

AND YOU WENT BY THAT SLIDE PRETTY QUICK.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY WE'RE WHITTLING AWAY AT IT.

UH, THE FACT IS, THIS BOARD ENACTED THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN MY RECENT MEMORY, UH, THREE YEARS AGO BEFORE I JOINED THE BOARD.

AND THEY DROPPED IT FROM, UH, 3 75 TO 2 99, WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING.

AND SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR IT WOULDN'T BE 32% TAX RELIEF, MAYBE BE 40.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST USING NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.

BUT TAX CUTS ALWAYS HAVE A HIGH DEGREE, HIGH DEGREE OF APPEAL WITH ME.

SO I I I WANT TO GIVE YOU CREDIT THAT WE'RE REALLY GIVING 32% THE STATE'S ONLY GIVING US 30.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND BOARD MEMBERS, JUST, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL, THE ADVERTISE TAX RATES, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION NEXT WEEK WHEN YOU VOTE, IS ON PAGE 318 OF THE PACKET.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THAT AS WELL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NO MORE COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, OPEN, UH, CITIZEN PUBLIC HEARING.

THERESA HENDERSON.

FOUR, UH, 4, 4 9, 4 3 CHOPPED ROAD HERE IN GLAND.

AND, UM, I KNOW THE BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING FOR, UH, UH, DATA CENTERS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT I THINK A LOT, UM, HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST CONSIDERED IT, UM, AND HAVE BEEN DOING THE GOOD WORK.

AND ONE IS THE MOVE TO AI AND THE, THE AMOUNT OF WATTAGE, UH, THE ENERGY THAT'S REQUIRED FOR AI, UM, TYPE OF DATA CENTER THAT'S NOW BECOMING OF USE.

AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY IN TERMS OF THE COMPETITIVE TAX RATE THAT WE HAVE FOR DATA CENTERS IS SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO AVOID HAVING A COMPETITIVE TAX RATE AND LET IT GO TO CHESTERFIELD AND LET IT GO TO PELOTON AND LET IT GO TO OTHER PLACES THAN, THAN FOR US.

BECAUSE A 500,000 SQUARE FOOT AI DATA CENTER IN 2026 IS CONSIDERED A LARGE SCALE OR A HYPERSCALE FACILITY WITH POWER REQUIREMENTS, TYPICALLY RANGING FROM A HUNDRED MEGAWATTS TO OVER FIVE, UH, UP TO 500 MEGAWATTS DEPENDING ON THE RACK DENSITY.

THERE'S TWO PIECES TO IT.

THERE'S RACK DENSITY AND THEN THERE'S COOLING OF IT AS WELL.

AND THE AI DATA CENTERS REQUIRE A, A LOT MORE, THEY REQUIRE GREATER DENSITY IN THE RACKS.

AND, UM, IT'S, THAT HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU GUYS FIRST CONSIDERED THE DATA CENTERS.

AND SO MAYBE WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT PREVIOUSLY, IT, THE RACK DENSITY WASN'T AS GREAT.

AND THE LIQUID COOLING INTEGRATION DUE TO THE HEAT, UH, GENERATED BY THE GPU SERVERS, UH, DRAWING 3000 TO 5,000 WATTS, A 500,000 SQUARE FOOT AI FACILITY OFFERS REQUIRE, OFTEN REQUIRES LIQUID TO CHIP OR IMMERSION COOLING.

AND THESE SYSTEMS ENABLE HIGHER POWER POWER DENSITIES, BUT DEMAND IMMENSE CONSISTENT ELECTRICITY TO RUN PUMPS AND HEAT EXCHANGERS.

AND WHAT IT'S PUSHING THESE AI UH, UH, DATA CENTERS, THEY'RE TENDING TO MOVE MORE TO RURAL AREAS.

AND ONCE WE MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR THESE AI DATA CENTERS WITH A LOWER TAX RATE, I'M AFRAID IT'S, THIS IS TIGHTLY LINKED TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH VALET LINK.

RIGHT? SO, UM, I WOULD JUST URGE US TO TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT THE NEW AI DATA CENTERS, WHAT THE RACK DENSITY IS, WHAT THE COOLING REQUIREMENTS ARE, WHAT THE POWER IS REQUIRED FOR THEM, AND DO WE AS A COMMUNITY REALLY WANNA OFFER A TAX INCENTIVE, UM, TO, TO THE PEOPLE WANTING TO PUT THEM IN? I THINK THE ANSWER PROBABLY NO, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT.

AND I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE, UH, IN THE CONSIDERATION FOR THE DATA CENTER, UH, OVERLAY IS ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYONE'S CONSIDERED THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE AMOUNT OF WATER, UM, CURRENTLY THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR, UH, BROAD STREET OUT WHERE WE ARE PUTTING IN 16 INCH WATER PIPES JUST TO GO TO LOUISA FROM FLUVANNA FOR THE DATA CENTER THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THERE.

ANYONE ELSE? SO, PETER MUNI, UH, 53 15 DUVAL ROAD, KENT STORE, UH, FAR WESTERN GLAND COUNTY.

UM, JUST WANNA SAY VALLEY LINK, ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS CERTAINLY, UH, COMING THROUGH OUR PROPERTY AS, AS ONE OF THE, UH, OPTIONS.

[03:55:01]

SO THE CONSUMPTION, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH WE HAD TO SPEND ON THE BOOSTER PUMP AND ALL THE REST OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, I, I THINK Y'ALL NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT'S INVOLVED INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S LIKE PUTTING A SCHOOL IN WITHOUT THE RIGHT STREETS AND THE ROADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO GO TO IT.

AND WHAT IT'S GONNA COST US AS A, AS A COUNTY TO GET ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE AREA AND THE DESTRUCTION THAT IT'LL DO TO, TO, TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

BECAUSE THE EASEMENT WILL COME AND IT, IT, IT'LL JUST TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY AND, AND, AND DESTROY WHAT WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTY.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT WHEN YOU'RE, UH, LOOKING AT THE DATA OVERLAY AS WELL AS, UH, THE VALID LINK.

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S VOTE EARLIER TODAY.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

CAN I SPEAK AGAIN? NO, WE TOPIC, NEW TOPIC .

UM, AGAIN, KATHLEEN BY 1 2 4 8 1 NORTH CROSSING IN MANNEQUIN SABOT.

UM, I FEEL LIKE DATA CENTERS ARE A VERY SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO A LONG TERM PROBLEM THAT EVERY COUNTY IN AMERICA HAS.

COUNTIES NEED MONEY AND YOU PULL IT FROM ALL THE SOURCES YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, BUT DATA CENTERS ARE GONNA BE HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS, A DECADE.

AN INVESTMENT THAT BRINGS IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY, MEDI MEDICINAL BUSINESSES IS YEARS.

IT WILL BRING YEARS OF VALUE TO THE COUNTY.

IT'S NOT DATA CENTERS THAT GO DEFUNCT WHEN AI BECOMES PASSE BECAUSE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW CHIPS, YOU CANNOT PUT THE MONEY THAT YOU WANT TO GET ON SOMETHING THAT IS TRANS TRANSIENT.

IT IS NOT A LONG TERM PLAN.

IT'S A SHORT TERM FOR A BOLUS OF MONEY AND THEN IT'LL BE GONE AND THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE LEFT WITH EMPTY BUILDINGS.

AGAIN, LONG TERM INVESTMENTS, SORRY, I'M JUST TOTALLY AGAINST SHORT TERM THINKING TO GET MONEY.

ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE.

ANYONE ELSE?

[3. Ordinance amending the County Fee Schedule, Appendix C to the County Code, to increase the utilities’ water and sewer volume, service, and connection fees; and to add a fee for building code appeals]

CITIZEN COMMENT, ONE MORE PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS THE THIRD PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS EVENING.

THIS IS ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COUNTY FEE SCHEDULE, APPENDIX C, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE COUNTY CODE.

AND THIS WILL ADDRESS THE INCREASE OF UTILITY WATER AND SEWER FEES AND BUILDING INSPECTION FEES.

A NEW BUILDING INSPECTION FEE.

THE NEW, UM, THIS NEW BUILDING INSPECTION FEE HAS NOT, WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE FEBRUARY 17TH PRESENTATION.

THIS IS A LOCAL BOARD OF BUILDING CODE APPEAL.

IT'S A NEW CODE FOR 2027.

THE FEE IS $450 PER APPEAL.

THIS FEE WILL HELP TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS DUE TO THE APPEALS.

IF APPLICANT IS A PREVAILING PARTY, FEE WILL BE REFUNDED.

IF APPLICANT WITHDRAWS THE APPEAL, THE FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.

SO THAT IS THE BRAND, THE BRAND NEW FIELD.

THE NEXT FEES ARE UTILITY RATE ADJUSTMENTS.

THE 20 IN UTILITIES THEY DID, UM, HAD A 2026 REVISED RATE STUDY, UM, WHICH CAME OUT OF THE PROPOSED FY 27 RATE FEE.

INCREASES THAT RATE STUDY, UM, RECOMMENDED A 3% RESIDENTIAL BASE RATE AND VOLUMETRIC RATE, A 3% COMMERCIAL BASE RATE AND VOLUMETRIC RATE, AND A TWO AND A HALF PERCENT CONNECTION FEE.

UH, THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASES ALLOWS FOR INVESTMENT IN FUTURE CAPACITY THAT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE BY 2030.

AND ALSO REVISE RATE STUDY ACCOUNTS FOR THE UPDATED FISCAL NEED IN THE RIDGEFIELD BOOSTER PUMPING STATION.

THAT BOOSTER PUMPING STATION AS WAS UM, NOTED, UM, FROM MS. MCDONALD IS 16 MILLION 951 0 55.

THIS NEXT SLIDE IS, UM, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THOSE 3% RATES AS A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER BASED ON A 4,000 GALLON COST, WHICH IS THE MINIMUM OF GALLONS IT WOULD COST, UM, FOR WATER AND SEWER, $3 AND 67 CENTS EVERY TWO MONTHS.

SO IT'S A BI-MONTHLY COST

[04:00:04]

FOR A COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER.

ALSO FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICES.

THE BI-MONTHLY COST WOULD BE $5 AND 71 CENTS.

THIS WAS ALSO BASED ON A 4,000 GALLON AND IT'S EVERY TWO MONTHS.

ALSO, THE LAST FEE THAT THE UTILITIES WILL BE INCREASING IS A CONNECTION FEE.

AND THAT AVERAGES ABOUT IT'S, UM, A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER CONNECTION.

AND THAT'S BASED ON A FIVE EIGHTS METER.

THAT CONCLUDES FOR THE, UM, AMENDED BUDGET.

THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE 2027 BUDGET WILL BE ON APRIL 14TH AT 6:00 PM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING HAVE A HEARING FIRST.

YEAH, WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC, I APOLOGIZE.

AND, AND QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD OR COMMENTS? YES.

UH, I GUESS WE'LL START OFF WITH, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ON UTILITY RATES.

MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YOU, UH, YEAH, GO AHEAD.

MR. ROTH.

UM, I I I JUST WANNA CONFIRM THE UTILITIES ARE NOT A PROFIT OR REVENUE SOURCE.

THEY, THEY ARE.

WE BRING IN ENOUGH TO COVER OUR COSTS.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO ALL OF THESE COSTS ARE DIRECTED AT, THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS US TO DELIVER THESE UTILITIES TO THE HOMEOWNER OR TO THE BUSINESS.

A UTILITY, A UTILITY FUND IS A PROPRIETARY FUND AND IT IS TREATED FROM AN ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE AS A BUSINESS.

AND WE DO NOT BRING IN ANY MORE MONEY THAN WE NEED TO PAY OUR BILLS AND TO ALSO HAVE RESERVES FOR REPAIR AND REPLACE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE THEN TAKE AND PUT IT TOWARDS PARKS AND REC OR THE SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT NO, WE DO NOT MIX THOSE FUNDS.

YOU COULD, IN SOME LOCALITIES, THEY DO WHAT IS CALLED IN LIEU OF TAX, UM, WHICH THE UTILITY WOULD CONTRIBUTE AS IF IT WAS A, A DOMINION OR A COLUMBIA GAS WHERE THEY PAY TAXES TO THE GENERAL FUND.

YOU COULD DO ALL LIEU OF TASKS.

WE DO NOT DO THAT HERE IN THIS COUNTY THOUGH.

ALL MY, MY POINT IS THAT SOME OF THESE, I MEAN THE $3 I'M ON A WELL IN A SEPTIC, SO THIS IS PERSONALLY NOT SOMETHING, BUT THE POINT FOR THOSE THAT ARE PAYING THESE INCREASES IS BECAUSE THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP.

AND THIS IS IN ESSENCE THE BARE BONES REQUIREMENT TO GIVE THEM WATER AND COLLECT SEWER.

RIGHT.

AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE BREAKS OR THE WATER MAIN BREAK, WE CAN REPAIR 'EM.

AND SO IT'S NOT A REVENUE SOURCE, IT'S NOT BEING USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN UTILITIES.

THAT IS CORRECT.

HUNDRED AND, AND AS I RECALL IN SOME OF THE EARLIER THIS, THESE INCREASES ARE LOWER THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THAT WE'RE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT IN DELIVERING UTILITY SERVICES.

AND THESE INCREASES ARE SMALLER THAN WHAT, SAY A PELOTON OR CHESTERFIELD OR RI OH, HENRIKE OR CHESTERFIELD.

AND I WOULD DEFER TO, UM, MS. MCDONALD IN REGARDS TO THAT.

I, I, I JUST WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES FOLKS AND TO THE ACCOUNTING OR YOUR FINANCE THAT WE'RE DOING IT AS BEST WE CAN AT THE LOWEST AS POSSIBLE.

COST THAT'S YES.

THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS GOING UP.

THANK YOU, MS. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ADD SOME COMMENTS TO THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE DON'T INCREASE THE RATE WE'RE WE'LL END UP WITH A, YOU KNOW, A SUBPAR SYSTEM THAT BREAKS AND THEN HAVE TO GO BACK AND, UH, MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR BIG ASS PROBABLY RAISE TAXES.

SO THIS IS THE RESPONSIBLE WAY TO, TO KEEP IT GOING AND NOT USE THE FUNDS FOR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE MR. LAW WAS ALLUDING.

UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS BEFORE I OPEN CITIZEN COMMENT? PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT NOW.

SO, UH, ANY CITIZENS WANNA COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE? GO AHEAD AND COME, COME FORWARD.

SEEING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE CITIZEN COMMENT, PERIOD.

ALRIGHT, DR.

LEY.

YEP.

DENISE, YOU WANNA TELL US ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS AND WHAT THE BOARD WILL BE DOING NEXT, NEXT TUESDAY AS WELL AS INTO MAY? SO THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE 2027 BUDGET, UM, ON APRIL 14TH, UH, AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, WE WILL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE FOR AMENDING THE FEES, UH, SCHEDULE C THAT ATTACHES TO THE COUNTY CODE, UH, FOR THE INCREASE OF THE WATER AND SEWER VOLUME SERVICE AND CONNECTIONS FEES, AND FOR THE FEES FOR BUILDING CODE APPEALS.

AND ALSO APPROVE THE 2026 REAL ESTATE TAX RATES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES.

ON MAY 5TH, WE WILL DO A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ENTIRE COUNTY BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2027, WHICH BEGINS JULY ONE OF 26 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH OF 27, ALONG WITH THE 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

BOARD MEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN? UM, THE WORD WAS APPROVED AND I I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT MAY NOT BE WHAT IS APPROVED.

UH,

[04:05:01]

THAT THERE BE AMENDMENTS YES TO, UH, WHAT WAS PRESENTED TONIGHT.

SO, UH, AGAIN, MY ATTORNEY HAS ADVISED WORDS MATTER.

SO WHEN IT SAYS WE WILL APPROVE, I DID NOT WANT IT TO BE ASSUMED THAT, UM, EVERYTHING PRESENTED TONIGHT IS WHAT WILL BE APPROVED.

THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE FORESHADOW, I SUPPOSE.

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER THOSE.

REMARKS FROM THE BOARD? ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UH, THE BOARD WILL ADJOURN UNTIL TUESDAY, APRIL 14TH, 2026, 6:00 PM UH, A MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATES AND FEE SCHEDULE ALONG WITH PLANNING CASES.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

ANY, ANY OTHER CLOSING

[XIX. Adjournment]

ALSO, AS STATED EARLIER, WE WILL RECONVENE AGAIN ON MAY 5TH, 2026 AFTERNOON, REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING, INCLUDING COUNTY BUDGET, ADOPTION OR DENIAL AT 6:00 PM PUBLIC HEARINGS.