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All right, everybody. I got six o'clock,
so we're going to rock and roll here.

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As always, I'd like to welcome everybody
who is in person and those that are

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viewing online. Uh, thank you for tuning
in to your local government. I ask

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everyone that's here in the room to take
a second and check your cell phone and

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silence your cell phone all the way on
silent, not on vibrate or looney tunes

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music or anything else. Let's make sure
we respect one another's time and each

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speaker speaking and your patience is
and understanding is appreciated as

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council deliberates on various agenda
items. Um there is open public comment

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at this meeting and all meetings and
signups are encouraged um at the front.

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Specific public hearings are advertised
and designated separately. We don't have

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any specific public hearings tonight. We
do have open public comment. And we want

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to acknowledge the staff's work in
preparation. Their insights are

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invaluable to each topic of town
business. Uh we operate under the

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council manager form of government. And
Natasha Tucker is our town manager.

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handles daily operations and department
administration while our town council

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provides direction and authorizes policy
in accordance with the laws of the

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commonwealth of Virginia and our town
charter. While each council member has

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the ultimate responsibility to
contribute and vote distinctly, the

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council does work as a body and we are
duly elected to serve responsibly and

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ethically the citizens of Colonial
Beach. Participation of each member

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contributes to effective leadership and
collaboration is the key to productivity

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in local government. Let's engage in
constructive discussion, remain open to

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different perspectives, and work
together for effective resolutions. And

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finally, I just remind everybody that
the meetings of the town council are

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formal proceedings and are thus
recorded. And with that, we will call to

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order the August regular meeting on
Wednesday, August 19th, 2026. And I've

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got six o'clock on the dot.

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Please join me for um standing for a
moment of silence which will be followed

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by the pledge of allegiance.

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United States of Americ

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call of members. All members are present
with the exception of Miss Lisa

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Grandstaff um who does not have cell
phone service so she will not be calling

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in today. So you've got six of the seven
of us up here.

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Uh there are no additions to the agenda.
Is there a motion to approve the agenda?

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» Is there a second?
>> Second.

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» Is there any discussion? All in favor?
>> I.

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» Any opposed?
On our consent agenda, we have approval

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of minutes for June and August. Is there
a motion to the consent agenda?

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» So move.
>> Is there a second to that?

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» Second.
>> Okay. Any discussion?

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» All right. All in favor say I.
>> I.

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» I.
>> Any opposed? All right. And moving right

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along on council member announcements.
And I'll start on your side, Mr. Wood.

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Tonight.

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Okay, let's see. Uh, first is outdoor
movie night, Saturday, uh, the 29th.

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That's going to be at the community
center at 8:30, starring the Black

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Panther movie, my cat Sam's favorite
movie. Uh canning and food preservation

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classes are Wednesdays, September 2nd
and 9th, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Uh coffee

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walk has a new route. Uh second Friday,
September 11th uh is

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casual walking on the boardwalk starts
at Love Bites and ends at Colonial Buzz.

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Uh, second Friday, sip and stroll.
September 11th. Uh, community board game

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night is second Tuesday, September 14th,
6 to 8. Uh, and that's going to be at

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the community center at well. Uh, there
will be no fitness classes

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um until August 25th.
Uh and then regard to the planning

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commission,

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uh at the July 13th meeting, uh the
commission discussed two chapters of the

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comprehensive plan. Uh the board of
zoning appeals uh met last night. Uh and

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it approved variance uh to a lot setback
to allow a new home to align with the

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neighboring homes. The home that it
replaced was set back further. Uh there

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is a vacancy, by the way, on the BZA.
So, if anyone's interested, uh, please

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apply through the town website. That's
all we have today.

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» Mr. Larson.
>> Hi. Good evening, everybody. I don't

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have a specific report on schools
tonight. I think Dr. Ado or possibly his

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designate will will be speaking and
probably updates you on the uh on the

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start of school.
uh finance department just wants to

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remind everyone uh as always if you're
struggling to make end speed if you're

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behind on your bills uh to the town tax
bills or otherwise stop in the office

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and have a conversation always better to
do that with any creditor by the way

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credit card company mortgage owner
landlord uh better to do that than than

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be silent but anyway come see them and
they will work out some arrangement to

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help you get through and that's it for
me

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» thank you Mr. Williams.

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» Okay. Good evening everybody. Just a few
announcements from the police

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department. Uh the Colona Beach Police
Explorers is an organization of young

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people from our community ages 14 to 21
who are interested in learning about

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police work. Explorers receive
instruction on police practices and

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procedures and are eligible to accompany
officers during their duties. Through

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this scouting sponsored program,
explorers learn the value of community

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service and develop their leadership
skills. Our explorers will be having a

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meeting on Friday, August 28th at 5:00
p.m. in the community room at the police

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department. We [clears throat] welcome
all ages eligible young people to come

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to the meeting and learn more about what
exploring law enforcement can do for

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them. Um, and also just a reminder, the
next neighborhood watch meeting will be

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held on September 24th at 6 PM in the
community room at the police department.

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Um, and finally, the Colon Bleach Police
Department will be hosting our National

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Night Out event on Tuesday, October 13th
from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the town

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hill. Please save the date and join us
for the outstanding community event.

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Hope to see you all there. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Aford.

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» Um, good evening everybody. Um, I just
have a couple things from the community

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foundation. Um, so on September 9th at 6
p.m. at the elementary school, the

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community foundation will be holding um
hosting the candidates for town council

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for the candidate forum. Um all four
candidates will have um a chance to

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speak and if you have any questions uh
you can send them to info@

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communityfoundation.org.
And then on September 19th at 10:00 a.m.

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to 12:00 p.m. at the community center.
They will be hosting a Colonial Beach

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meetup with guest speaker Dan Bender and
partner with uh PB Mars. Um, and they

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will be talking about strategies to keep
uh more of your money in retirement and

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answer any questions. And then on
September 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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the foundation will be having a shredded
truck at the high school parking lot um

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for free shredding. So if you have
anything that would need to be shredded,

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bring it on down. Um, and that's all I
have.

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» Mr. Allison.
>> Good evening, everybody. Um, so I have

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the public works uh department. Um,
since I was here last time, we're going

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to do a couple weeks kind of combined
here. And I would like to say it wasn't

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as fancy as everybody thought it was
being in San Diego. I was in a a lab for

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10 half hours a day that had no windows.
So, sorry I missed last time, but it

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wasn't that great in San Diego either.
>> Um,

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» we had a good time here, so I don't know
why you say that.

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Anyways,
uh starting off with infrastructure

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utilities, uh the water leaks, they had
three repaired. Uh sewer backups, one

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was cleared. They repaired two manholes
near Wilkerson Seafood to address some

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ini from the river. Inspected four
manholes for potential rehab.

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Investigated multiple reports of water
leaks throughout town. Assisted with

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cleaning ditches and culverts uh
following significant rainfall. Um now

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moving on to the wastewater treatment
plant. They continue daily operations,

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maintenance and operational support. Uh
continue cleaning and maintain the

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nitrification tanks. Say that twice. Uh
utilize rental uh equipment to support

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tank cleaning and maintenance. Restore
the town's permanent sludge press to

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service. Clean the grit pit.
Replace the reuse pump. and continue

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general grounds and site maintenance at
the wastewater treatment plants. Uh for

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streets and storm water, they installed
stop signs at both ends of the alleyway

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between Santa Maria Avenue and Locust
Avenue. Continue traffic sign repairs

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and replacement throughout town. Clean
storm debris from the roadways following

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severe weather. cleaned the alleyway
between Santa Maria Avenue and Locust

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Avenue from Wakefield to Route 205.
Extended drainage pipe near the beach

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swings to improve drainage.
Repaired the radar speed display sign

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near the school, which people are still
speeding.

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Um clean debris from ditches and storm
water uh infiltr infrastructure. Uh

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moving on to buildings and grounds. uh
continued park cleanup and

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beautifification throughout town,
continued the grass cutting operations,

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completed uh routine building and
facility maintenance, uh installed

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fencing at the entrance uh to Eleanor
Park. Looks great, by the way. Um

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installed new banners along the
boardwalk and continued maintenance of

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town grounds and public spaces.
That's all I have for tonight. Thank

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you,
>> Heather. This thing beeped up here and

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I'm not sure what's going on with it.

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» Yeah, it did. And then it stopped. So, I
just want to make sure I fix that

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logistically.

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Right.
>> I didn't touch it.

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Okay. All right. Hopefully, we get that
worked out. Um, all right. I just have a

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few things. Um, first, I'm going to give
uh Lisa's report on her behalf since um

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she can't be here tonight for the EDC.
The downtown Columbia Beach Economic

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Vitality Committee met on August 11th as
a working session focused on creating

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common understanding among its members
of the purpose, goals, and objectives of

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the body as they specifically pertain to
the Colonial Beach community. As a Main

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Street program, DCB is committed to
preserving the past, charting the future

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for Colonial Beach. The Economic
Vitality Committee is at the core of

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this commitment. As such, the
committee's work focuses on growing a

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diverse economic base in Colonial Beach
by taking a proactive collaborative

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approach to building community,
supporting existing businesses and

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nonprofits, and encouraging new invest
investment. Specific action steps in a

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work plan will be identified at the
September 8th meeting.

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Uh, also I just want to say we were back
to school and so I wasn't able to attend

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the board of supervisors meeting. It was
also the first day of school back. um

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very exciting for the kids and we um
have a little bit of a gap in the

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community right now. We have Boy Scouts
and we have Girl Scouts. Uh but the

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feeder group to the Boy Scouts, the Cub
Scouts, has been inactive for some time

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and so there's some interest in
restarting Cub Scouts in uh Clinton

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Beach. If you have any interest in
getting involved, uh send me an email or

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contact me and I'll get you with the
people that are working on that. uh also

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attended the artwalk sip and stroll, but
then the weather got dicey. Um but there

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was a really cool activity. The peddlers
market can um is participating in the

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art walk nights and they have a make
your own slime with the kids activity

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out there. And um just wanted to
highlight that uh fun um part of of that

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activity that's happening in Clon Beach.
Um, other than that, we got Comrell next

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week, next Wednesday, and King George is
hosting.

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All right, that's all I have. Town
manager update. Natasha, I will pass you

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the mic.
Good evening, Madame Mayor, council

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00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:22,880
members, those in the audience, and
those listening to us online. My town

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00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:28,880
manager report will consist of a sewer
plant update from Inboden Environmental

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00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:33,680
Services from Mr. John Simmons followed
by uh the ARPA wastewater treatment

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plant um updates that I would provide.
Uh so we will go ahead and start with

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John and his emboden updates.
Uh good afternoon everyone. So let's

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start on page two, please.
Um it was a bit of an active month at

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the wastewater treatment plant. You
know, we all had some pretty significant

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rain events and you can really see on
the graph there every day that that

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occurred and you know, we're still
dealing with a good bit of eye. We we

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have seen that number reduced. It
doesn't quite get it doesn't get so much

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flow so fast over there like it was.
But, you know, it it one of these things

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that c that really makes it worse is
when the ground is saturated versus when

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00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:18,639
it's dry. When the ground's dry, the
rain obviously gets absorbed by the

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ground and it doesn't come to the plant.
But once you have that first couple days

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of rain, then everything got saturated.
You could see the spike after that. So,

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you know, as the ground saturated, that
means more is coming to the plant. Um

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the next graph there, you can see that
we have been working on the flow meters

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there and that's why you see that big
increase here for July versus, you know,

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April through June. And that's part of
the the upgrades and repairs being made

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at the plant is all of the flow meters.
Uh next page please.

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00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:54,880
Ultimately affluent quality wasn't
affected much. You know we had good

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ammonia TSS all of our nutrients and
things look good. Where we had the issue

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this month was was the fecal caulifform
and interero. You know when that flow

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gets up as high as it does it doesn't
have the contact time and the UV

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00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:11,440
disinfection system. And that's where
those elevator results come from. And

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00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:15,440
you know, one of the repairs is to
replace that UV system over there. And

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00:16:13,519 --> 00:16:21,600
that's obviously going to help with that
moving forward as well. Um, you know, we

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00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:26,320
completed the the sludge removal and you
can see the numbers here for for July.

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00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:29,680
You know, like for instance, at the
beginning of the month, you can see an

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00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:33,440
eight on the nitrates. You know, those
numbers have been cut in half since we

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00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:37,199
removed the solids and can change some
of the processes over there. So the

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numbers for August are going to look
much better. I know that's one thing

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that's a major concern with you all is
uh those nutrient removal. Um the

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operational notes, you know, Natasha
will get more into that because this

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could be part of her ARPA update, but
it's really just, you know, we did

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finish the the sludge processing. That
equipment's been removed, sent back to

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the vendor. Um, you know, we've had some
electrical issues over there related,

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some related to the storm, some not, but
it's really just the kind of the same

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old same old with us when we have these
bad storm events. We got lucky for

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00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:17,679
several months, had a dry spell. That's
bad for the water table, but it's good

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00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:22,799
for the wastewater plant. Um, but that
really concludes my update. Does anybody

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00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:26,480
have any questions?
>> Mr. Williams?

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00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:31,600
» Um, yeah, just a couple of follow-up
questions from prior meetings. Um any

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00:17:28,559 --> 00:17:38,160
updates on the uh
the fat oil grease the fog um ordinance

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00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:42,480
that we were considering or
>> I'm not sure where that really stands

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00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:45,440
right now with um with Natasha and pal.
I know that that's something that's been

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00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:50,320
discussed and I think it's just a matter
of finalizing you know how that's going

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00:17:47,919 --> 00:17:55,520
to look ordinance-wise or whatever the
next steps would be with that.

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00:17:52,240 --> 00:18:00,240
» Okay. And also kind of piggy back off of
that, the the issue we're having with

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00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:03,200
inflow and infiltration um with people
leaving their caps off of their

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00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:06,240
cleanouts, stuff like that.
>> I know we had talked about possibly

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00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:09,760
addressing that at some point with some
kind of uh policy or

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00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:13,120
» I think that's something that you'll
also see soon. You know, it's definitely

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00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:17,360
something we've all discussed and have
been working on that. It um and I think

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00:18:15,919 --> 00:18:20,880
that's where most of the reduction that
we're noticing is coming from is where,

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00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,880
you know, Chris and his team are fixing
the cleanouts on the town property. And

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00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:27,600
I think hopefully some of the citizens
have been listening. They're starting to

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00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:31,200
fix some of their issues now that
they're aware of what causes that.

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00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:36,640
» You know, we've got a significant amount
of camera work done. And we haven't

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00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:41,840
found any real huge problems, but most
of the numbered streets. Everything is

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00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:46,400
pretty much decent shape over there. You
know, we did find some significant

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00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:50,960
problems, you know, this week that we
need to look into and see what next

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00:18:47,919 --> 00:18:54,799
steps are, but um we've identified a lot
of the major areas that would then be on

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00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:59,919
the town's responsibility, but a lot of
it still remains those cleanouts on on

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00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:03,200
the citizens properties. So, as soon as
we can get that resolved, it'll

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00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:06,440
definitely improve it. Okay. Thank you.
>> Yes, sir.

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00:19:06,799 --> 00:19:13,080
» Any other questions?
>> Okay.

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00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:29,200
So, we um have received ARPA grant
funding and we have put these funds to

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00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:35,200
um such great use as you'll see as I go
over um the projects that we've been

238
00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:42,880
working on this evening. Uh these
projects represent roughly $3.7 million

239
00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:48,240
that the town has invested in 23
projects and these projects are designed

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00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:52,960
to strengthen and modernize our
wastewater system. The work is focused

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00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:58,160
on three critical areas of our
wastewater system. The pump stations,

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00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:03,799
the collection system, and the
wastewater treatment plant itself. Next

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00:20:00,799 --> 00:20:03,799
slide.

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00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:11,440
So, this first slide represents the
projects um for the wastewater uh pump

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00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:16,760
stations.
We've invested approximately $429,000

246
00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:24,880
in improvements to three critical
wastewater pump stations. New emergency

247
00:20:22,559 --> 00:20:32,000
gener generators have been purchased for
the Third Street, RTU, and Horton Street

248
00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:37,200
pump stations. Once these are installed,
the generators will provide backup power

249
00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:41,280
during outages and other emergencies,
which will help keep waste water moving

250
00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:46,240
through the system when electrical
services disrupted. The Third Street

251
00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:51,679
pump station is also receiving
additional improvements. A new roof has

252
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:55,360
been installed, exterior structural
supports have been completed, and the

253
00:20:53,840 --> 00:21:00,960
building will receive additional
exterior improvements.

254
00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:05,039
These investments are about reliability
and resiliency.

255
00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:09,679
Pump stations are critical links between
the collection system and the treatment

256
00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:14,320
plant. Thus, they maintain their
operation during an emergency, which

257
00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:17,320
helps protect the entire wastewater
system.

258
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:27,120
This slide represents uh the projects
for our collection system.

259
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:31,679
Approximately $992,000
is being invested in the town's

260
00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:36,159
wastewater collection system. This is a
network of sewer lines and related

261
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:41,280
infrastructure that carries wastewater
to the treatment plant. One of the

262
00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:49,280
largest completed projects is the
replacement of the Six Street sewer

263
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:54,240
line. And that project costs $611,000.
But replacing infrastructure is only

264
00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:58,960
part of the story. I want to highlight
that we're conducting camera

265
00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:04,799
inspections, smoke testing throughout
the system to identify damaged pipes,

266
00:22:01,919 --> 00:22:10,080
leaks, improper connections, and areas
where storm water and groundwater may be

267
00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:16,080
entering the system. Once the problems
are identified, the ARPA funding helps

268
00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:22,799
us address these problems. The town has
lined manholes, completed targeted

269
00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:27,840
repairs, and installed 27 rainuards with
additional rain guards and repairs

270
00:22:25,039 --> 00:22:33,200
planned. Reducing the amount of
unnecessary water entering the sewer

271
00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:39,200
system means that less water has to be
pumped and treated at the wastewater

272
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:43,280
treatment plant. These improvements also
extend the useful life of our

273
00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:48,559
infrastructure and allow the town to
better target future investments.

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00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:52,880
Much of this work happens underground
and they're not visible to our

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00:22:50,559 --> 00:22:58,960
residents, but it is an important part
of building a stronger and more reliable

276
00:22:55,360 --> 00:23:04,159
wastewater system.
And lastly, our wastewater treatment

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00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:09,600
plant itself.
The largest portion of the town's ARPA

278
00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:15,919
grant funding uh goes towards the
wastewater treatment plant.

279
00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:20,159
Approximately $2.35 million is dedicated
to improvements at the wastewater

280
00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:27,280
treatment plant. One of the most
significant completed projects involved

281
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:33,919
removing more than 2.7 million pounds,
approximately 1300 tons of accumulated

282
00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:38,480
sludge from the facility.
We've also replaced and we're re

283
00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:43,919
rehabilitating critical equipment
throughout the treatment plant. Two new

284
00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:49,039
influent pumps and two new effluent
pumps have been ordered. Improvements

285
00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:54,480
are underway to the dnit nitrification
filters and other treatment components.

286
00:23:52,080 --> 00:24:00,080
Electrical and structural assessments
are helping identify and prioritize

287
00:23:57,039 --> 00:24:04,480
additional needs. The SCADA control
system has been replaced, which

288
00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:08,559
modernizes the technology used to
operate and monitor critical treatment

289
00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:13,679
processes.
Another major milestone was the arrival

290
00:24:11,039 --> 00:24:20,000
of the town's new UV disinfection
system. We've received the equipment and

291
00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:24,720
installation planning is underway. Once
operational, the system will provide an

292
00:24:22,559 --> 00:24:30,240
important upgrade to the final stage of
the wastewater treatment process.

293
00:24:27,679 --> 00:24:35,200
We've also completed the engineering and
design for improvements to the plant's

294
00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:40,559
headworks and new grit removal equipment
has been ordered.

295
00:24:37,919 --> 00:24:45,200
Together, these projects address aging
infrastructure throughout the treatment

296
00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:51,279
plant rather than focusing on single
pieces of equipment or process.

297
00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:56,640
When the ARPA funding ends, improvements
in the plant will remain. There is still

298
00:24:54,159 --> 00:25:02,799
work to be done, but I am proud of the
significant process that's already been

299
00:24:58,799 --> 00:25:09,520
made. Altogether, this comprises 23
projects, $3.77

300
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:15,600
million of ARPA funds, and three
critical parts of our wastewater system.

301
00:25:12,799 --> 00:25:21,520
This one significant investment
is a true investment in the future of

302
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:24,720
Colonial Beach.
Next slide, please.

303
00:25:25,039 --> 00:25:30,840
Okay.
So, this slide represents

304
00:25:31,039 --> 00:25:39,520
the funding that we've received from
ARPA. Uh we've identified funding across

305
00:25:37,039 --> 00:25:45,919
the central drainage area which is
completed, the INI testing, uh the

306
00:25:43,279 --> 00:25:50,240
wastewater treatment plant repairs and
wastewater processing system repairs and

307
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:55,520
upgrades.
We've requested four rounds of

308
00:25:53,520 --> 00:26:01,520
reimbursements.
Uh we have received the first three uh

309
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:06,080
requests for reimbursements and the
fourth request is still pending

310
00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:13,120
dispersement.
Our balance of uh opera funds that

311
00:26:09,279 --> 00:26:16,120
remains is roughly 1.9
million.

312
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:26,080
So we are well targeted to complete and
use the funds within the timeline of

313
00:26:23,919 --> 00:26:33,039
November 2026.
However, I want to stress that once um

314
00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:38,000
this round of ARPA funds are expended,
there's still more work that needs to be

315
00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:45,440
done in the plant which is part of the
consent order. So we will have to uh

316
00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:50,960
target additional sources of funding.
We're in a good position to continue the

317
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:56,240
projects because as we've received the
reimbursements from the ARPA fundings,

318
00:26:53,279 --> 00:27:01,840
we can uh use those funds to continue
with projects in the plant or we could

319
00:26:58,799 --> 00:27:05,640
use those funds for some other um areas
as council directs.

320
00:27:07,279 --> 00:27:18,320
And lastly, mayor and council, I have
some very good news to share regarding

321
00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:25,440
uh the town's WQIFF monetary assessment.
DEEQ has officially waved our 2025

322
00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:29,640
assessment in full, thus eliminating the
entire $235,152

323
00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:38,159
obligation.
It's important to put this great

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00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:43,840
accomplishment into context. In 2024,
the town was initially facing a WQIFF

325
00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:48,799
monetary assessment of approximately
$117,000.

326
00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:53,120
Through our work with DEEQ and the
progress being made at the wastewater

327
00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:58,720
treatment plant, we were successful in
having that assessment significantly

328
00:27:55,200 --> 00:28:05,520
reduced. This year, we have gone from
receiving a reduction to receiving a

329
00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:08,919
full waiver. The town's 2025 assessment
was $235,152

330
00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:17,520
and DEEQ has now waved the entire
amount. That means the town will not

331
00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:21,764
have to pay any portion of that
assessment.

332
00:28:19,744 --> 00:28:21,764
[applause]

333
00:28:24,559 --> 00:28:32,000
That that is a great accomplishment.
And this just really demonstrates the

334
00:28:29,679 --> 00:28:36,000
progress that we're making. Over the
past two years, we've continued to

335
00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:40,559
address deficiencies at the wastewater
treatment plant, make significant

336
00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:46,480
infrastructure investments, strengthen
our operations, and maintain consistent

337
00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:51,440
communication with DEEQ. We still have a
lot of work to do, but we're clearly

338
00:28:48,559 --> 00:28:56,559
moving in the right direction. I want to
recognize Embodden, our third-party

339
00:28:54,000 --> 00:29:01,919
wastewater operator, for the role that
they've played in helping us get to this

340
00:28:58,559 --> 00:29:06,960
point. Their operational expertise, work
at the work uh work at the treatment

341
00:29:04,559 --> 00:29:13,120
plant and assistance in addressing
compliance issues have been an important

342
00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:17,600
part of the progress we've made. I also
want to recognize our town staff and

343
00:29:15,919 --> 00:29:22,720
everyone who has worked behind the
scenes to improve the system and our

344
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:26,720
standing with DEEQ.
This is particularly significant when

345
00:29:25,039 --> 00:29:31,679
you consider the investments we're
currently making in the wastewater

346
00:29:28,399 --> 00:29:36,480
system. Every dollar that we do not
spend on a monetary assessment is a

347
00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:43,600
dollar that can remain available to
support the system and our taxpayers.

348
00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:51,039
In 2024, we were able to substantially
reduce the assessment and in 2025, we

349
00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:55,919
eliminated it entirely.
This is a significant accomplishment and

350
00:29:53,360 --> 00:30:02,440
a very positive outcome for the town and
our utility customers.

351
00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,440
» Great job.

352
00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:10,320
I want to add one more shout out to that
to also because they don't get

353
00:30:08,559 --> 00:30:14,320
recognized a lot to our finance
department.

354
00:30:11,919 --> 00:30:20,559
um because it doesn't just take the work
and the planning and the projects but to

355
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:25,120
work with the EQ it's a federal funds
funneled through the state that are

356
00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:31,520
audited tracked reimbursements have to
include receipts and documentation and

357
00:30:29,279 --> 00:30:36,240
communication and there have to be
transparency and the process with DEQ

358
00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:42,000
has not been an easy one because the
staff at DEQ has changed multiple times.

359
00:30:39,279 --> 00:30:47,919
So just want to also shout out a little
bit for finance uh to get some

360
00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:54,480
recognition in this long process. Yes,
Mr. Wood.

361
00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:58,640
You know, if we remember where we were a
little over three years ago,

362
00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:05,919
we had just dumped about a million
gallons of sewage into the PTOIC. We

363
00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:11,679
were this far away from receiverhip.
Uh thanks to the leadership

364
00:31:09,039 --> 00:31:18,960
of this lady here, Natasha Tucker, and
the wisdom of this gentleman over here,

365
00:31:15,039 --> 00:31:24,799
we have proven that you get what you pay
for. Okay? We tried to peacemeal it for

366
00:31:21,919 --> 00:31:32,399
years and years and years and years and
we almost sunk because of it. So, one of

367
00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:39,039
the things that I just want to put u a
little bug in everybody's ear because

368
00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:45,279
not all of us will uh be here next year,
but I certainly hope that we can find

369
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:53,039
our way to continue working with
Emboden. I know that our town manager is

370
00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:57,679
going to do everything she can to keep
us on the right track. And uh by the

371
00:31:56,240 --> 00:32:00,679
way, thanks for the quarter million
bucks.

372
00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:10,559
Anybody else?
All right. Well, that was a good update.

373
00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:15,679
Thank you. Appreciate it. And it closes
out in November, so we'll get an

374
00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:18,679
finalized update in November, right?
Yeah.

375
00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:27,519
Um and that will come in also to our
legislative agenda discussion later. um

376
00:32:24,399 --> 00:32:33,039
today. All right. Next up is our
presentations. We have a years of

377
00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:38,559
service award. Like most of our public
works employees, Mr. Michael Welden is

378
00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:44,720
of the Shire
kind and

379
00:32:41,039 --> 00:32:51,120
uh not here tonight to get a his public
recognition. Um but he uh works

380
00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:56,080
tirelessly for the town. He does
whatever he's asked. He works in the

381
00:32:52,640 --> 00:33:00,320
grounds and maintenance crew. And um as
far as uh going out and having to work

382
00:32:58,159 --> 00:33:05,279
independently, get things done, clean,
keep the town clean on a busy summer

383
00:33:02,559 --> 00:33:11,120
resort area, it's a big job. It's a hot
job, sweaty, sometimes stormy or

384
00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:15,840
everything else in between. And he does
it with care and dedication. So, we want

385
00:33:13,039 --> 00:33:21,120
to say thank you to Mr. Michael Weldon
and uh recognize his valuable

386
00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:25,120
contributions over the past five years.
His loyal and dedicated service have

387
00:33:23,039 --> 00:33:29,563
played an integral role in the success
of the town of Columbia Beach. So, just

388
00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:31,583
a round of applause for Michael and
[applause]

389
00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:39,200
and Chris, you can get this over to him
with his

390
00:33:37,279 --> 00:33:43,080
pen and everything. All right. I'll give
that to you after the meeting.

391
00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:53,080
Next up is West Morland County Board of
Supervisors, Mr. Trivet. Welcome, Mr.

392
00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:53,080
Trivet.

393
00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:05,120
Madame Mayor, town council, good to see
you. Just talk congratulations.

394
00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:09,280
That's not easy. And I'm sure that
didn't it wasn't an effort only by you,

395
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:13,440
but your whole team. And and it's not
easy. It's just like when you get in

396
00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:18,240
that IRS loop and you can't get out of
it. Same way with DEEQ, I can tell you.

397
00:34:16,240 --> 00:34:24,079
So, that's that's that you really need
to be commended big time for that. Um,

398
00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:29,119
Rebecca Pis is our new uh parks and
recck director. She worked for the YMCA

399
00:34:26,399 --> 00:34:32,560
for several years. uh we discontinued
our contract in West Mullen with the

400
00:34:30,879 --> 00:34:37,200
YMCA
and um and now she'll be the new parks

401
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:41,760
and recck director and she'll reach out
to all the stakeholders and she already

402
00:34:39,599 --> 00:34:47,599
is. They were having a meeting tonight
actually with uh several different uh

403
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:50,879
groups um to try to help see where we go
from here when it comes to park and

404
00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:56,079
wreck. So, I'm looking forward to good
things there. Um the sign should be up

405
00:34:53,200 --> 00:35:00,880
at the transfer station now saying that
uh they'll accept 5 by8 trailers. Um

406
00:34:58,720 --> 00:35:04,079
somebody sent me a picture this past
weekend. It hadn't been removed and they

407
00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:07,599
couldn't take their trailer in there and
it should have been done. We'd asked

408
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:10,880
Waste Management to do that several
weeks ago and unfortunately it just

409
00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:16,480
didn't happen. But should have been
taken care of today. So hopefully that's

410
00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:20,880
been resolved. Um, we voted on the
personal property tax relief, uh, and

411
00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:25,760
approved 20%
um, basically off of your vehicles. So,

412
00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:30,240
if you own a vehicle that costs $1,000,
you don't owe owe anything. So, which is

413
00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:34,880
good. And, uh, but there ain't too many
vehicles that are $1,000. So, um,

414
00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:39,839
anyway, is there anything that anybody
has for me tonight? I'm going to be

415
00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:44,160
short and um can't Oh, one thing I do
want to tell you, I was at a um a Veco

416
00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:50,400
conference last week and the governor
was a guest speaker and she's put 200

417
00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:56,160
more million into the uh wastewater uh
treatment plants for upgrades. And so I

418
00:35:54,320 --> 00:36:00,240
know I saw that as at the top of your
agenda um uh when you do your

419
00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:04,880
legislative session, but I'm going to
keep that in front of uh our our state

420
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:10,000
senator because I see him very
frequently and remind him every time I

421
00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:13,440
see him that we want that money. You
know, we will use it. We won't be like a

422
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:19,040
bordering county that got 12 million,
they didn't use it. We know we got money

423
00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:23,200
here as a result of him uh getting
behind us. And I think he will do that

424
00:36:20,720 --> 00:36:27,680
again and there's extra money there. So,
keep that, you know, straight straight

425
00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:31,599
up there at the forefront and and
hopefully we'll get several million

426
00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:35,040
again. Any questions tonight about
anything?

427
00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:39,720
» Anybody?
>> No. Thank you so much.

428
00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:39,720
» Thank you.

429
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:45,560
» Dr. Ado, you're up next.

430
00:36:53,200 --> 00:37:01,599
Well, good evening,
Madame Mayor, uh, council members,

431
00:36:59,599 --> 00:37:05,599
everyone present tonight. That's as
short as I've ever heard Mr. Tet.

432
00:37:04,405 --> 00:37:13,280
[laughter]
I'm still junk, but

433
00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:18,960
that's impressive. Uh, well, uh, on to
my presentation. and uh thank you for

434
00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:24,960
allowing me to speak uh tonight uh since
our last uh gathering from your last

435
00:37:21,599 --> 00:37:31,040
meeting. Uh we have uh started school.
It's our second week of school and as I

436
00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:39,839
shared uh last year. Uh this year is
even better. It is it is smooth. It is

437
00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:46,160
uh it is it it is nice. Uh it's my 30th
year in in education and I'm celebrating

438
00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:51,040
that uh as my my 30th uh and I'm
enjoying every minute of it. But we did

439
00:37:49,119 --> 00:37:56,000
uh start out with our new teachers
coming in uh several weeks ago and we

440
00:37:53,760 --> 00:38:01,440
were able to introduce them to Colonia
Beach uh public schools and also around

441
00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:07,839
the town in our annual golf cart and
that was amazing and marvelous. The week

442
00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:12,960
after that, all of our staff uh returned
uh to us and they were excited uh for

443
00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:16,880
our kids to return and we usually do
some professional development and uh

444
00:38:15,119 --> 00:38:22,560
keep them a breast of all the changes
that has come from Richmond that impacts

445
00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:27,520
us and that was uh wonderful. I was able
to share with our staff that we are

446
00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:32,800
definitely meeting all of our goals in
that strategic plan. One that I

447
00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:39,040
highlighted uh so they're aware of it is
that two years ago we were able to

448
00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:44,560
retain and recruit uh all of our uh we
had 88% retainment of our staff two

449
00:38:42,079 --> 00:38:49,520
years ago. So that was incredible. And
this past year we had 89%.

450
00:38:47,599 --> 00:38:54,800
Uh so that tells us that we're doing
something correct. Our environment, our

451
00:38:51,280 --> 00:39:00,240
culture is is great and folks are are
deciding to stay here at at the beach.

452
00:38:57,839 --> 00:39:06,400
So, uh, that's one I'm I'm very excited
about. Uh, but moving on, uh, the same

453
00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:12,320
week we had our ribbon cutting ceremony,
and I do want to thank, uh, Madame

454
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:17,119
Mayor, uh, town manager and and chief
for, uh, showing up and, uh, uh,

455
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:22,240
supporting the schools. I'm I'm sure the
rest of you guys were there in spirit.

456
00:39:19,359 --> 00:39:26,720
If you, if you want to, uh, get a tour,
please let me know. I take you through.

457
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:31,119
It's is wonderful. uh for the outside
you probably seen it's even better

458
00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:37,760
inside and I think our kids our staff
are enjoying it every single day. I do

459
00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:46,160
want to give a big shout out huge shout
out uh to BAM uh to the Lions Club and

460
00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:51,920
also to our PTA. Uh we had a lot of
businesses support the school to get it

461
00:39:48,480 --> 00:39:56,880
started. these three organizations uh
helped feed our staff while they were

462
00:39:55,040 --> 00:40:01,680
here the first week. So, we want to give
a big shout out and thank you uh to all

463
00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:06,160
of them. We greatly appreciate their
partnership and their support of this

464
00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:10,640
school system.
And as we move along, uh one last thing,

465
00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:15,680
I'm going to be short. I do want to
thank uh Mr. Trivet also. Uh thank you,

466
00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:20,400
Mr. Trivet, uh for being there, uh at
the ribbon cutting. uh he has been a big

467
00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:26,240
supporter of us and we we appreciate his
guidance. Sometimes I do have to call

468
00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:32,160
him to to have a a chat. Uh but uh he's
always been very uh graceful and and

469
00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:36,880
wonderful uh for the school system. Uh
but finally I do want to tell uh share

470
00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:42,480
with you that we are completing the uh
punch list uh for the front entrance and

471
00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:46,720
the main office and that's that's where
we are to take care of little things and

472
00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:53,760
we're moving straight into our phase
two. As you probably remember our

473
00:40:49,760 --> 00:40:59,119
initial plan was always to
build a a wait room. Uh, as of right

474
00:40:56,720 --> 00:41:04,160
now, uh, the wait room is is is in a
classroom and we we want to get that

475
00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:09,599
classroom back and get it out of that
classroom and get a wait room outside

476
00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:14,960
and also operational offices and maybe
we're thinking about some sped uh,

477
00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:20,319
special education offices also. Uh, it
will be an addition to to the high

478
00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:24,160
school. Uh, but we we are excited. Uh,
this is great for all of our kids that

479
00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:28,319
are coming from elementary school that
will be going to the high school for

480
00:41:26,079 --> 00:41:33,119
years to come. I'm I'm old. I probably
won't see that. This is my 30th, so uh

481
00:41:31,119 --> 00:41:36,560
don't don't quote me. I I have one of my
board members here and I keep telling

482
00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:41,920
them they said I better not give up on
them by the end of the year. Uh VRS said

483
00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:46,880
I can I can go out and and relax after
30. Uh so I'm I'm I'm I'm enjoying this

484
00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:50,720
this last year. I'm not saying I'm
leaving. It's just uh it's good to be in

485
00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:55,119
opposition. [laughter]
Uh but that's all I have for you

486
00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:59,960
tonight. Uh if you have any questions
for me, I'll be glad to answer those.

487
00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:08,000
I hope you don't retire this year. But
thank you for letting us know [laughter]

488
00:42:05,359 --> 00:42:10,800
and being there. It's been uh the ribbon
cutting was excellent. The front

489
00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:14,480
entrance is really a massive
improvement. And um I'm sure it's going

490
00:42:13,359 --> 00:42:22,119
smoother because you don't have a
construction crew around there right now

491
00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:22,119
as well. But um yeah, thank you.

492
00:42:27,760 --> 00:42:30,839
» All right,

493
00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:38,960
moving right along. Next is our public
comment. During public comment or

494
00:42:36,720 --> 00:42:42,319
hearings, we ask that uh guidelines be
followed. We do ask that you stand at

495
00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:45,920
the podium and for the record, please
state your name and address. If you'd

496
00:42:44,240 --> 00:42:49,920
like to be contacted, please provide
your contact information to the clerk.

497
00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:54,240
Make your comments to the council as a
whole. Be brief. State your position and

498
00:42:52,079 --> 00:42:57,839
provide facts. You can provide any
written uh statements or supporting

499
00:42:56,079 --> 00:43:02,480
materials to the clerk, who is Heather
Oliver, and she can distribute them to

500
00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:07,280
the council and the town manager. Debate
is prohibited. Follow-up on comments is

501
00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:11,200
provided by the town manager. and speak
clearly as we want to hear what you have

502
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:15,599
to say. The council will try to hear
everyone who wishes to speak on a

503
00:43:13,119 --> 00:43:20,640
subject, any subject, and comments are
limited to five minutes. Time cannot be

504
00:43:18,319 --> 00:43:23,520
transferred to another speaker. If you
represent a group, you may wish to

505
00:43:22,079 --> 00:43:26,960
identify other members of your group who
are in attendance. And after public

506
00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:32,319
comment is closed, I encourage you to
stay as the council engages in dialogue

507
00:43:29,119 --> 00:43:36,319
and deliberation on uh subsequent agenda
items. With that, we'll open public

508
00:43:34,720 --> 00:43:42,520
comment.
First up is Johnny.

509
00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:42,520
Welcome.

510
00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:58,079
Good evening, madame mayor and council
members. My name is Joanie Milward and

511
00:43:56,319 --> 00:44:02,800
I'm speaking to you tonight as president
of the Virginia Osprey Foundation. I

512
00:44:00,319 --> 00:44:07,200
live at 405 Livingstone Street in
Colonial Beach and I want to share with

513
00:44:05,119 --> 00:44:12,800
you the data that our organization has
collected this osprey season. When this

514
00:44:10,319 --> 00:44:16,400
season began, we counted 38 active
nests, meaning there were a pair of

515
00:44:14,319 --> 00:44:22,880
adult birds occupying each of those
nests. Out of those 38 active nests,

516
00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:28,880
only 11 nests were successful.
Those 11 nests produced 20 chicks that

517
00:44:25,760 --> 00:44:35,520
were raised and fledged or raised to
fledge size. We are now down to 14

518
00:44:32,560 --> 00:44:42,000
chicks postfledge. That was caused by
trauma, starvation, electrocution,

519
00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:47,359
or the fledgling just disappeared.
Better than last year, yes, but still

520
00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:51,359
another disastrous year. Our
reproductive rate this year is only

521
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:56,319
0.526
chicks per nest. To sustain a

522
00:44:53,920 --> 00:45:02,400
population, the reproduct reproductive
rate must be 1.15 chicks per nest. I

523
00:45:00,240 --> 00:45:06,880
wish I had better news. The Chesapeake
Bay itself is seeing far worse numbers

524
00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:14,480
well below what was happening during the
DDT era. The next item I want to speak

525
00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:18,960
to is item 12A on the agenda, the 2027
legislative agenda, and propose some

526
00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:25,119
additional language specifically under
the priorities of environmental

527
00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:31,119
resiliency and storm water and under
economic development and tourism. And I

528
00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:36,720
have provided you with the additional
language. It's in bold and uh for the

529
00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:43,119
first it would uh be under the
environmental resiliency. It would come

530
00:45:39,599 --> 00:45:47,520
after the word projects and it states to
include research and effective

531
00:45:45,359 --> 00:45:53,960
management of Atlantic Manhaden
industrial perane reduction fishing in

532
00:45:50,480 --> 00:45:53,960
Virginia waters.

533
00:45:54,560 --> 00:46:02,560
I believe the proposed additional
language to that section shows an

534
00:45:59,839 --> 00:46:06,880
understanding of the crisis Virginia and
specifically Colonial Beach is facing in

535
00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:11,760
regards to its osprey. Their
reproductive re their reproductivity

536
00:46:09,839 --> 00:46:17,599
rate is well below what it was during
the DDT era. They are literally starving

537
00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:21,760
to death. Organizations like ours have
been advocating for better management of

538
00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:26,160
Atlantic Manhaden and I believe it is
time for the town to step up and do the

539
00:46:23,599 --> 00:46:32,720
same. This is a first step and I urge
you to take that step. As for the

540
00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:39,760
economic development priority,
the additional language it starts after

541
00:46:35,839 --> 00:46:44,440
initiatives to include ecoourism events
such as the Virginia Osprey Festival.

542
00:46:45,200 --> 00:46:51,520
Our town has so much to offer and
ecoourism is an important draw for

543
00:46:49,359 --> 00:46:56,400
visitors to Colonial Beach as they can
enjoy the numerous hiking birding venues

544
00:46:53,760 --> 00:47:02,400
in the town and surrounding area and
easy access to water recreation. And the

545
00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:08,160
Virginia Osprey Festival is a prime
example. We brought in approximately

546
00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:13,119
1500 to 2,000 attendees in April. They
came from as far away as Maine just to

547
00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:16,079
attend the festival.
And with that in mind, I want to thank

548
00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:20,880
everyone that came out to our
documentary screening on Sunday, The

549
00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:27,040
Last Osprey. Even a small event like
this attracted 80 people. They came from

550
00:47:23,599 --> 00:47:32,079
Richmond, Williamsburg, Farnum, Northern
Virginia, Virginia Beach, and Baltimore,

551
00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:36,079
some of who stayed overnight and had
dinner in our local restaurants. I thank

552
00:47:34,319 --> 00:47:41,800
you for your time and consideration. If
you have any questions, please reach out

553
00:47:38,560 --> 00:47:41,800
to me.

554
00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:45,480
Thank you.

555
00:47:48,240 --> 00:47:51,240
» Welcome,

556
00:47:52,000 --> 00:48:00,079
Madame Mayor. Town Counselors, Nigel
Long, 115 Linhaven Court. Um, I I was

557
00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:06,160
going to be very quick, but let me add
to what I was going to say. Um, my

558
00:48:02,720 --> 00:48:12,400
support of what uh Joanie just presented
to you. I think the menhaden issue is

559
00:48:09,599 --> 00:48:17,920
not only an issue for the osprey
population in town. There are probably

560
00:48:15,119 --> 00:48:24,480
many reason a number of reasons why our
population has declined but clearly over

561
00:48:22,240 --> 00:48:33,280
fishing of menhaden
uh in the Chesapeake Bay um is an issue.

562
00:48:29,359 --> 00:48:38,880
Virginia is the only I believe I'm right
in saying the only um state on the east

563
00:48:35,839 --> 00:48:44,240
coast that allows that sort of fishing
and it impacts other elements of the

564
00:48:41,359 --> 00:48:49,839
marine community in addition to ospreys
and is I think something we should care

565
00:48:46,640 --> 00:48:57,599
about. Um
my suggestion on the legislative

566
00:48:53,520 --> 00:49:05,359
priorities was actually um to support
something um that uh the honorable uh

567
00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:11,440
Richard Stewart is also in favor of. I
just want to put on record that I agree

568
00:49:07,520 --> 00:49:17,599
with him about something. Um the uh and
that is about the protection of the

569
00:49:14,559 --> 00:49:23,119
PTOAC a aquifer and the qual quality of
the PTOAC river uh since it provides the

570
00:49:20,720 --> 00:49:29,520
water supply for the town of Colonial
Beach. Um and I would my suggestion is

571
00:49:27,359 --> 00:49:35,520
that at the end of the environmental
resiliency and storm water section

572
00:49:33,040 --> 00:49:42,000
um where it says water quality we add
the words including protection of the

573
00:49:37,680 --> 00:49:47,599
PTOAC river and the PTOAC aquifer um I
think over the coming years that will be

574
00:49:45,599 --> 00:49:53,680
increasingly important for this town
this community um particularly if it

575
00:49:50,000 --> 00:50:00,160
grows um and we should um recog
recognize and respond to that. Um, I do

576
00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:04,960
have I assume you may have read it, but
I can I only have one copy with me. Give

577
00:50:02,240 --> 00:50:11,680
a copy to the town clerk. The letter
that um, Mr. Stewart wrote to our

578
00:50:08,480 --> 00:50:17,599
governor in relation to the aquifer and
our water supply. Now that may well have

579
00:50:14,559 --> 00:50:22,079
been written in relation to other um
economic activities in the state and use

580
00:50:20,000 --> 00:50:27,119
of water but I think the fundamental
points there about protecting our water

581
00:50:23,839 --> 00:50:32,559
supply that he made to the governor um
at the end of July are important. If you

582
00:50:29,599 --> 00:50:40,599
haven't seen it I'll give a copy to uh
uh to your secretary. Thank you.

583
00:50:37,359 --> 00:50:40,599
» Thank you.

584
00:50:52,559 --> 00:50:56,599
Is anybody else signed up?

585
00:50:56,800 --> 00:51:04,040
Would anybody else like to come up?
>> Always open it up.

586
00:51:11,119 --> 00:51:14,920
noted for the record.

587
00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:21,839
Anyone else?
Okay.

588
00:51:19,359 --> 00:51:30,280
All right. With that, we will close uh
public comment. I'll have

589
00:51:24,880 --> 00:51:30,280
seven different times. 6:51 p.m.

590
00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:42,839
Um, and that moves us directly into the
2027 legislative agenda.

591
00:51:39,520 --> 00:51:42,839
Miss Tucker,

592
00:51:44,319 --> 00:51:52,160
Madame Mayor, Council, tonight, I'd like
to begin our discussion regarding the

593
00:51:49,599 --> 00:51:57,520
town's legislative priorities for the
upcoming general assembly session. Each

594
00:51:55,280 --> 00:52:01,599
year we have an opportunity to identify
the issues that are most important to

595
00:51:59,280 --> 00:52:06,880
Colonial Beach and communicate these
priorities to our legislative delegation

596
00:52:04,079 --> 00:52:10,640
and our partners at VML.
The purpose of tonight's discussion is

597
00:52:08,880 --> 00:52:16,880
to determine where council would like
the town to focus its advocacy efforts.

598
00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:21,280
I would suggest that we keep the list um
relatively focused and prioritize issues

599
00:52:19,440 --> 00:52:26,480
that have a direct impact on our
operations, finances, infrastructure,

600
00:52:24,480 --> 00:52:32,960
and community.
Uh the items that you see uh on the

601
00:52:29,599 --> 00:52:38,079
screen and which is part of your packet.
Uh they're consistent with council's

602
00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:44,559
priorities from the previous year. And
you'll notice that we reduced last

603
00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:50,480
year's priorities to seven.
I'd like to walk through each of the

604
00:52:46,880 --> 00:52:56,480
priorities, get council's feedback, and
identify any additional in issues that

605
00:52:53,200 --> 00:53:02,720
you would like included or excluded from
the list. Based on tonight's discussion,

606
00:53:00,079 --> 00:53:06,559
we'll make necessary revisions and bring
the final priorities back for council's

607
00:53:04,960 --> 00:53:10,640
consideration.
Ultimately, this is council's

608
00:53:08,319 --> 00:53:14,960
legislative agenda and we want to make
sure it accurately reflects the issues

609
00:53:13,280 --> 00:53:22,720
uh that council believes are most
important to Colonial Beach. And with

610
00:53:18,000 --> 00:53:27,520
that, I open the floor for discussion
amongst council.

611
00:53:25,599 --> 00:53:32,160
All right. So, as you suggested, I think
we'll take the priorities from top to

612
00:53:30,480 --> 00:53:38,640
bottom. We'll go through them one by
one, see if anybody's got any questions

613
00:53:34,240 --> 00:53:44,480
and tackle it that way. So, uh, top of
line is wastewater treatment plant. Um,

614
00:53:42,800 --> 00:53:47,839
funding to support critical improvements
and upgrades necessary to maintain

615
00:53:45,920 --> 00:53:50,800
regulatory compliance, protect public
health, and ensure long-term

616
00:53:49,280 --> 00:53:56,880
sustainability of community
infrastructure.

617
00:53:52,480 --> 00:54:02,880
Uh, I will say as a um
as part of the process when we're

618
00:53:58,880 --> 00:54:10,960
lobbying in Richmond or in DC,
they want a sort of one sheet summary

619
00:54:05,839 --> 00:54:17,839
quick target tagline, right? Then when
something is connecting and we see

620
00:54:13,920 --> 00:54:23,040
movement on legislation or funding or or
something we're opposed to whatever it

621
00:54:19,599 --> 00:54:29,119
is then we provide supplemental
documentation generally a a one pager

622
00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:34,000
that is paragraph formed and then also
additional context like engineering

623
00:54:31,520 --> 00:54:39,680
reports or things like that. So, I don't
want to take the um don't take the

624
00:54:36,319 --> 00:54:45,440
little quick blurb as in it's exclusive
of we kind of purposely

625
00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:52,880
make it
the verbiage to apply as broadly to the

626
00:54:48,800 --> 00:54:57,440
topic as we can. Right? So, um the only
thing I would say about this top one is

627
00:54:55,920 --> 00:55:00,800
and this is kind of a question for
Natasha

628
00:54:59,040 --> 00:55:06,319
wastewater treatment plant. Do we need
to include also like the sewer

629
00:55:04,400 --> 00:55:10,720
infrastructure? Should that be in the
title at all? It's not just the plant,

630
00:55:08,800 --> 00:55:15,839
but it's also
the

631
00:55:13,359 --> 00:55:22,240
» system. That's a good suggestion, Madame
Mayor. I can certainly include that.

632
00:55:20,160 --> 00:55:25,119
» Well, I'm just is open for discussion. I
mean, other people what any other ideas

633
00:55:24,000 --> 00:55:28,480
you have about that.
>> Yeah, I think in your thing you put

634
00:55:27,040 --> 00:55:32,240
wastewater treatment plant and
wastewater

635
00:55:30,160 --> 00:55:37,200
treatment sewer or something like that.
So maybe just kind of use both of those

636
00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:40,480
terms so we're not limiting ourselves
just to the plant because okay obviously

637
00:55:39,520 --> 00:55:45,040
we have
>> issues in the point we have issues in

638
00:55:42,720 --> 00:55:48,880
you know different areas of town that
require sewer

639
00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:52,640
» and
I mean we want as much money as we can

640
00:55:50,880 --> 00:55:57,440
get to fix it all. Right.
>> Understood. I do have a quick question

641
00:55:54,559 --> 00:56:03,920
though since uh there are additional
funds uh being made available by the

642
00:56:00,720 --> 00:56:06,240
state for wastewater treatment plants
specifically.

643
00:56:05,119 --> 00:56:14,240
» Mhm.
>> Um would be would we be more successful

644
00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:16,640
in accessing those funds if we were a
little more targeted? I understand the

645
00:56:15,920 --> 00:56:22,000
point
>> that we want to be broad, but I think we

646
00:56:18,720 --> 00:56:25,599
want to be uh tip of the spear enough to
take advantage of those new funds.

647
00:56:23,839 --> 00:56:30,119
» I think those funds target sewer
infrastructure though as well.

648
00:56:27,119 --> 00:56:30,119
» Okay.

649
00:56:31,200 --> 00:56:43,200
» I think they uh do as well. So um after
we have concluded tonight's discussion,

650
00:56:38,559 --> 00:56:51,680
I will also follow up with our um
delegates and find out particularly for

651
00:56:47,119 --> 00:56:57,280
this item the best way to um name that
priority so that it's all inclusive and

652
00:56:54,079 --> 00:57:01,359
we um aren't limiting ourselves uh to
the types of funding that we can

653
00:56:58,640 --> 00:57:07,119
receive. Yeah, we may want to mimic the
way the state is

654
00:57:03,920 --> 00:57:13,280
um the verb. Yeah, the verb. Exactly.
Like literally cut and paste from state

655
00:57:09,119 --> 00:57:18,799
language. Um Okay. So, that's I don't
know there's I'm can't imagine anybody

656
00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:25,520
wants to take this item off the list.
>> Okay. Yes, Mr. Williams.

657
00:57:20,559 --> 00:57:32,240
» Um just a kind of general question. Um,
we've had since I've been on council,

658
00:57:28,240 --> 00:57:37,839
this be my sixth year, um, well, fifth
year we've been doing these, I think

659
00:57:35,359 --> 00:57:42,720
majority of the time. Um, I know we got
ARPA funds, but that was a whole

660
00:57:39,440 --> 00:57:50,720
different ballgame. Um, do we have any,
um, statistics or figures on what we've

661
00:57:46,960 --> 00:57:57,200
received like legislative wise, um,
since we've been doing these? Um, have

662
00:57:53,119 --> 00:58:00,720
we received any money Um any support
um like big significant things that you

663
00:57:59,599 --> 00:58:07,920
can think of off
>> the North Beach shoreline.

664
00:58:03,280 --> 00:58:12,559
the engineering for that top of mind.
>> That was through our legislature.

665
00:58:09,839 --> 00:58:17,599
» That was through the that money is
federal money from FEMA that goes

666
00:58:14,880 --> 00:58:23,440
through the state that we wrote a grant
for to

667
00:58:19,760 --> 00:58:27,599
the state entity to with the Northern E
Planning District Commission. Yeah,

668
00:58:25,280 --> 00:58:30,079
that's a direct legislature
>> filters in community.

669
00:58:28,720 --> 00:58:34,000
» That's a good example.
>> Okay. Yeah, that's a good example. Do

670
00:58:31,440 --> 00:58:40,480
you have any others?
So, I don't have any others that I had

671
00:58:37,040 --> 00:58:46,240
prepared for you tonight, but I do know
prior to um me being appointed town

672
00:58:44,400 --> 00:58:50,559
council, there was a significant amount
that was received. Um I don't know

673
00:58:48,799 --> 00:58:56,319
whether it was through from the state,
but it was a direct uh relationship with

674
00:58:53,440 --> 00:59:02,079
the legislative priorities and
communicating what the town needed with

675
00:58:59,200 --> 00:59:06,400
our elected officials in Richmond. Um I
don't have that exact amount but that we

676
00:59:04,240 --> 00:59:10,640
did receive those uh fundings at that
time.

677
00:59:06,960 --> 00:59:14,799
» Okay. I think that was DEEQ the 5.7 if I
remember off top of my head.

678
00:59:11,839 --> 00:59:20,240
» The 5.7 is DEQ but then there was ARPA
funds separate from that which were

679
00:59:18,079 --> 00:59:23,680
you know divvied out throughout the
state

680
00:59:21,599 --> 00:59:27,839
» and that was a direct result
>> of going to Richmond and speaking with

681
00:59:25,760 --> 00:59:31,359
our partners as part of this legislative
agenda.

682
00:59:28,720 --> 00:59:36,720
» Okay. And just wondering if we have any
feedback on the current list that we've

683
00:59:33,599 --> 00:59:42,400
submitted from 26
>> uh from last year's list. Um no, but

684
00:59:40,319 --> 00:59:47,599
that's why we're going through with this
year. Every year this comes around and

685
00:59:44,720 --> 00:59:54,240
it's an opportunity for us to receive um
some kind of funding. Um,

686
00:59:51,119 --> 01:00:00,079
I do know that all localities within the
Commonwealth, um, they look at their

687
00:59:57,920 --> 01:00:05,119
needs and their priorities and the funds
are then addressed that way. So, with

688
01:00:03,040 --> 01:00:10,880
the additional funds that are now
available, we really stand a really,

689
01:00:08,319 --> 01:00:14,880
really good chance of being one of the
communities that are allocated some of

690
01:00:13,440 --> 01:00:19,280
those fundings.
>> That's good news. Thank you.

691
01:00:17,119 --> 01:00:24,559
So I think we've received federal or
state funds in almost every single one

692
01:00:21,359 --> 01:00:29,040
of of these or are currently underway in
that process. So you know I think the

693
01:00:26,960 --> 01:00:34,400
wastewater treatment plans kind of prime
and easy example but in community

694
01:00:31,280 --> 01:00:40,160
infrastructure the VOTE um road for
Dwight Avenue extension um that is a

695
01:00:37,359 --> 01:00:45,440
also direct allocation from the state
through our VOTE partners. So, um, when

696
01:00:43,520 --> 01:00:48,960
we move to community infrastructure, the
next one for sidewalks, crosswalks,

697
01:00:47,680 --> 01:00:53,760
roadway maintenance, and other
enhancements, things like the design of

698
01:00:51,599 --> 01:01:00,079
the first street sidewalk that we didn't
get the sidewalk implemented, but the

699
01:00:55,440 --> 01:01:06,559
design was paid for, um, or accessing
those sidewalk grants, um, or getting

700
01:01:03,839 --> 01:01:12,440
the zero visibility plan done. That's
all part of that second uh, topic there.

701
01:01:15,760 --> 01:01:23,520
Does anybody know if this community
infrastructure does it cover um water

702
01:01:21,040 --> 01:01:27,599
pipes at all?
>> Water pipes.

703
01:01:24,480 --> 01:01:31,839
» Yeah, I know there's sewer, but like the
water pipes, I've heard that they're in

704
01:01:29,359 --> 01:01:37,520
pretty rough shape and especially in
some parts of town.

705
01:01:35,520 --> 01:01:43,920
I think right now if we want to add in
the water infrastructure that would be a

706
01:01:39,440 --> 01:01:49,920
new item to add. I mean
are we targeting that also separately or

707
01:01:47,280 --> 01:01:52,920
do we want to include that in sewer
infrastructure?

708
01:01:53,359 --> 01:02:00,400
» Do we have any idea of what the
significance I Chris would you know? Um,

709
01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:04,079
I mean, I've heard just I don't know if
it's only sewer or if it's water and

710
01:02:02,400 --> 01:02:08,480
sewer, but I've heard for like example
the point is in horrible shape with

711
01:02:06,240 --> 01:02:12,319
plumbing and worst one of the worst
sections of town. I could be wrong, but

712
01:02:10,720 --> 01:02:18,319
I'm just wondering does the town have an
idea um of the condition of the water

713
01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:22,240
pipes versus the sewer. Is that is as
significant? because I know, you know,

714
01:02:20,000 --> 01:02:25,920
with DEQ stuff, we've been pretty highly
focused on the wastewater treatment

715
01:02:24,319 --> 01:02:30,960
plant. But I'm just I want to make sure
we don't skip over that when it could be

716
01:02:28,400 --> 01:02:35,440
just as high priority, if not worse.
>> Just like our collection system for the

717
01:02:32,640 --> 01:02:40,880
sewer, our water system is old and
outdated. It's there are sections of it

718
01:02:38,000 --> 01:02:45,680
coming to the end of its life. Um I was
actually on a water leak last night

719
01:02:42,319 --> 01:02:49,520
where the water line was
in horrible shape. It's probably going

720
01:02:47,440 --> 01:02:53,200
to have to be replaced. Uh I don't know
how much of that's going to have to be

721
01:02:50,799 --> 01:02:59,440
replaced, but the water system is
definitely worth investing in because

722
01:02:55,920 --> 01:03:04,000
without that, you can't live in town. So
yes, we do have sections of town with

723
01:03:01,680 --> 01:03:08,480
bad water pipes. Some are worse than
others. Some are manageable, some at

724
01:03:06,720 --> 01:03:11,760
some point will no longer be manageable.
So I do agree that it would be

725
01:03:09,839 --> 01:03:16,799
worthwhile to invest in the water
system. I do believe that it should be a

726
01:03:13,839 --> 01:03:21,760
separate item from wastewater since it
is a completely different system and

727
01:03:19,200 --> 01:03:25,520
target them independently. I don't know
what's out there for water systems, but

728
01:03:24,079 --> 01:03:30,480
it's something we could probably look
into if that's council's desire.

729
01:03:28,480 --> 01:03:34,400
» That's probably So, I'm sorry.
>> Oh, just one little quick follow on. Um,

730
01:03:32,799 --> 01:03:38,000
when you're all out there, I know you
guys see everything because you're in

731
01:03:35,920 --> 01:03:41,920
the ground and you have a sewer or water
leak and so I'm assuming you probably

732
01:03:40,319 --> 01:03:47,200
see both pipes same time. They're
usually in a similar proximity. Are you

733
01:03:45,440 --> 01:03:53,039
are you seeing one's in worse shape than
the other or are they pretty comparable?

734
01:03:48,720 --> 01:03:57,440
They're both in pretty bad shape.
>> They're not necessarily adjacent to each

735
01:03:55,119 --> 01:04:00,960
each other. Water does not need to have
the same depth as sewer. Sewer is

736
01:03:59,359 --> 01:04:05,440
usually deeper because it has to have
gravity to get from point A to point B.

737
01:04:03,680 --> 01:04:10,960
Sometimes we find them both, sometimes
we don't. Um,

738
01:04:08,720 --> 01:04:17,920
I'm not going to say they're
equally as of an issue. Sewer has a

739
01:04:15,680 --> 01:04:22,400
longer lasting effect on its issues with
the sewer pipes versus the water pipes

740
01:04:19,920 --> 01:04:28,480
because it has more components that it
affects downstream from that issue. But

741
01:04:26,640 --> 01:04:32,720
again, like I said, the water lines are
definitely worth investing into and need

742
01:04:30,319 --> 01:04:36,400
to be updated and replaced due to their
age. Just like everywhere else in the

743
01:04:34,880 --> 01:04:40,960
United States,
>> our infrastructure is aging out across

744
01:04:38,319 --> 01:04:43,839
this entire country and it's something
that needs to be addressed.

745
01:04:42,319 --> 01:04:46,079
» Okay. Thank you,
>> Madam.

746
01:04:45,039 --> 01:04:50,400
» Yes, Mr. Wood.
>> Um,

747
01:04:48,319 --> 01:04:56,000
is that something much like we did with
the sewer lines where we made what we

748
01:04:53,760 --> 01:05:01,760
need to do quantifiable? Right. So, in
order to do testing and that sort of

749
01:04:57,760 --> 01:05:07,200
thing, um, is that a process that we
should begin so that we can maybe put

750
01:05:04,240 --> 01:05:12,240
that on our next legislative agenda
>> because we can't just say, well, fill

751
01:05:10,480 --> 01:05:16,480
fill in some pipes for us, too. We don't
know how much we need.

752
01:05:14,319 --> 01:05:20,000
» So, that's a that's a good point,
>> Mr. Wood. Um, so the reason we've been

753
01:05:18,640 --> 01:05:26,079
able to be successful with the
wastewater treatment plant

754
01:05:22,640 --> 01:05:29,839
um, applications, I mean a big part of
that is Senator Stewart to be honest

755
01:05:27,599 --> 01:05:35,760
with you, but also what he needs in
order to be successful in Richmond is

756
01:05:32,799 --> 01:05:40,799
quantifiable data. And so we have an
engineering report that lists exactly

757
01:05:38,960 --> 01:05:47,599
everything that needs to be done and it
has prices estimated on it. And that

758
01:05:43,359 --> 01:05:52,799
then is validating the request, right?
And when we go back and ask for I mean

759
01:05:50,079 --> 01:05:56,799
it's still more than $13 million I think
that is still outstanding on that

760
01:05:54,319 --> 01:06:02,400
engineering report we haven't done. So
there's still a lot to request and a lot

761
01:05:58,799 --> 01:06:07,039
to validate getting requested. Um so the
same would be true if you want to be

762
01:06:04,240 --> 01:06:14,400
successful in the water aspect and water
utility is that we have to build out the

763
01:06:11,599 --> 01:06:19,680
case. Yeah, for it to be if you really
if you're really going after something,

764
01:06:16,799 --> 01:06:23,119
um you've got to provide that level of
detail at that point. So, you can't just

765
01:06:21,359 --> 01:06:29,359
say we we have old pipes and we want
them fixed. We got to get a little bit

766
01:06:25,039 --> 01:06:33,359
further into it than that. Um but like
what happened with the environmental

767
01:06:31,440 --> 01:06:37,359
resiliency and storm water piece, which
ultimately led to the North Beach

768
01:06:34,640 --> 01:06:42,400
Shoreline project, is we got a grant by
putting that on here. We got a grant for

769
01:06:39,599 --> 01:06:46,640
the resiliency plan, right, which came
from RAFT, which was also government

770
01:06:44,400 --> 01:06:53,280
funded, federal, state, government
funded. So, um, that's a good example of

771
01:06:50,160 --> 01:06:56,720
how that process plays out. Like you put
it on there maybe in a generic way, but

772
01:06:55,119 --> 01:07:02,480
all you're really asking for at that
point is help in getting it planned and

773
01:07:00,240 --> 01:07:06,880
help in getting the engineering study.
And then once you get that portion and

774
01:07:04,960 --> 01:07:11,119
you successfully complete your study,
then you take the study and you go to

775
01:07:08,799 --> 01:07:15,280
the next level of detail with it and ask
for more like implementation or a

776
01:07:13,280 --> 01:07:18,720
project like North Beach. Now the
project is getting engineered. My next

777
01:07:17,119 --> 01:07:25,440
our next step on North Beach will be to
ask for the money to to do it, right?

778
01:07:21,920 --> 01:07:30,079
So, um I think we could add the water
system on here, but just kind of with

779
01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:33,039
the context that what we're really the
reality of that is you're not going to

780
01:07:31,599 --> 01:07:37,599
get all new water pipes if you were
successful in Richmond. You're going to

781
01:07:34,319 --> 01:07:42,240
get and then you're going to get a plan.
Right. But not a bad idea to put it on

782
01:07:40,480 --> 01:07:44,640
there. I'm just talking through the
process a little bit.

783
01:07:43,200 --> 01:07:48,559
» Yeah. I mean, I definitely get what
you're all saying. So, and I agree with

784
01:07:46,799 --> 01:07:52,160
your comments. It does make me a little
nervous that we don't really have a good

785
01:07:50,079 --> 01:07:56,319
assessment of the condition because
that, you know, could be a problem in

786
01:07:53,599 --> 01:07:59,520
the future. But, um, maybe maybe this
open this conversation maybe at some

787
01:07:58,079 --> 01:08:03,920
point if it's not a legislative
priority, at least a some a study or

788
01:08:02,319 --> 01:08:08,559
something in the future to figure out
what needs to go on with the the pipes,

789
01:08:06,559 --> 01:08:12,720
the water pipes.
And I'm wondering what kind of money is

790
01:08:10,079 --> 01:08:17,600
going to be available with all this the
lead and the other water quality testing

791
01:08:15,760 --> 01:08:23,120
that's happening out there. I think
there we could see some things being

792
01:08:19,520 --> 01:08:28,400
pushed at the very top levels
uh across the nation honestly on

793
01:08:26,239 --> 01:08:34,159
investigating this because most we're
not abnormal in this. Most localities do

794
01:08:31,040 --> 01:08:39,839
not have a good idea of the age of their
system or what's in the ground or where

795
01:08:36,880 --> 01:08:45,359
where it's at. So, um, we kind of every
single locality is going to be asking

796
01:08:42,159 --> 01:08:50,400
the same questions.
Um, so Mr. Alison, I think to your

797
01:08:48,159 --> 01:08:54,159
point, Mr. Williams said, does that fit
under the community infrastructure piece

798
01:08:52,080 --> 01:09:02,719
with the sidewalks, crosswalks, roadway
maintenance? I see that more like um

799
01:08:58,719 --> 01:09:07,159
like visible safety and the water more
as an invisible

800
01:09:07,359 --> 01:09:14,880
So, I would I would tend to say to
separate them, but that's a council

801
01:09:12,560 --> 01:09:21,920
decision. If you will want to combine
them, you know, uh get lost.

802
01:09:20,080 --> 01:09:25,120
» I think that would get lost in community
infrastructure. We ought to have a

803
01:09:23,679 --> 01:09:29,359
separate line item if we're going to do
it. I know we're trying to keep this

804
01:09:27,199 --> 01:09:35,040
concise. We don't want 15 items on the
list anymore. I get that. So, we'll have

805
01:09:32,080 --> 01:09:38,640
to find the balance there.
Yeah, I think it should be separate. I

806
01:09:36,880 --> 01:09:43,600
mean, we already have some backup for
community infrastructure in place. This

807
01:09:41,120 --> 01:09:47,440
is water. We're doing fresh. This is
completely new. We need to start from

808
01:09:45,440 --> 01:09:52,560
the very beginning. Whereas community
infrastructure, we have some plans and

809
01:09:49,440 --> 01:09:57,760
other stuff already in place.
Okay, I'm seeing a good consensus on

810
01:09:54,800 --> 01:10:03,360
that. Then I'm going to keep moving
forward. All right. on resiliency and

811
01:10:01,199 --> 01:10:08,640
storm water. And I know we've had some
comments tonight, so I want to recognize

812
01:10:05,280 --> 01:10:16,880
that. Um
uh again, we this is

813
01:10:12,159 --> 01:10:23,840
worded in a brief way to then allow
um opportunity

814
01:10:19,679 --> 01:10:28,400
to get more specific post this one quick
page. Right? So, this says funding for

815
01:10:26,320 --> 01:10:33,360
erosion control, shoreline resiliency,
climate adaptation, and wildlife habitat

816
01:10:31,040 --> 01:10:36,960
enhancement projects, as well as storm
water upgrades to reduce flooding,

817
01:10:35,360 --> 01:10:41,600
improve drainage, and protect water
quality. I think we're hitting a lot of

818
01:10:38,400 --> 01:10:44,600
points on that one sentence.
Um,

819
01:10:44,800 --> 01:10:51,360
and we have been very successful in this
particular item, uh, in a lot of

820
01:10:49,440 --> 01:10:57,280
different avenues.
um some unsuccessful but mostly I think

821
01:10:54,800 --> 01:11:02,640
we've got some pretty good track record
on there and I know we have VIMS

822
01:10:59,840 --> 01:11:07,199
shoreline projects on our CIP for Monroe
Bay Avenue that's eroding there and then

823
01:11:05,360 --> 01:11:12,640
as well as the wildlife and habitat
issues that are coming up to highlight

824
01:11:10,159 --> 01:11:17,280
that I think when we say habitat
enhancement projects or and we

825
01:11:14,719 --> 01:11:21,440
specifically say the word wildlife
um if we want to take a stance in that

826
01:11:19,520 --> 01:11:28,679
legislation I think this gives us a
strong point to do so if we decide to do

827
01:11:25,120 --> 01:11:28,679
so as a body.

828
01:11:30,719 --> 01:11:39,679
» So I agree. I don't want to
completely gloss over the comments from

829
01:11:36,719 --> 01:11:43,440
uh Miss Millward on the Atlantic
Minhaden,

830
01:11:41,360 --> 01:11:46,640
but it feels to me that maybe stuffing
that in this one might not be the the

831
01:11:45,280 --> 01:11:52,400
most effective place. sort of like the
conversation we just had about the water

832
01:11:48,400 --> 01:11:56,800
supply pipes and if not there then then
where if you agree that it doesn't go

833
01:11:54,400 --> 01:12:01,280
there because it is an important topic
but it's not quite the same as it's not

834
01:11:59,360 --> 01:12:04,880
community infrastructure at that point
sorry it's I mean it's not storm you

835
01:12:03,440 --> 01:12:12,000
know community level you know
environmental stuff it's broad ecosystem

836
01:12:09,199 --> 01:12:18,320
» I think we I think we can make a stance
on the menhaden issue with a direct

837
01:12:14,719 --> 01:12:26,159
resolution to the mid-handed issue that
is specific and actionable and take that

838
01:12:22,159 --> 01:12:30,640
on. Um, I think the priorities list, it
needs to be these umbrellas that are

839
01:12:28,000 --> 01:12:34,880
kind of broad and generic, you know, but
if we want to tackle a stance on the

840
01:12:32,480 --> 01:12:40,159
menhaden issue, I think we can do that
regardless of this and that actually

841
01:12:37,440 --> 01:12:45,760
this could bolster that resolution, but
we can get hard-nosed in a very formal

842
01:12:43,040 --> 01:12:48,480
resolution stance if that's an avenue we
want to take.

843
01:12:46,480 --> 01:12:55,360
» I was going to say similar thing. I
think that's probably a better approach.

844
01:12:51,679 --> 01:12:59,679
So, how do we put that on on the agenda
for something to get done later? Is that

845
01:12:57,760 --> 01:13:05,199
that something we ask staff to look at
first? We want to pull in experts.

846
01:13:01,840 --> 01:13:08,800
» Add Natasha to draft a resolution to it.
I think we need we'd probably just bring

847
01:13:06,880 --> 01:13:14,120
it up at a work session and get an idea
of what our point is. Okay.

848
01:13:11,120 --> 01:13:14,120
» Yeah.

849
01:13:14,400 --> 01:13:21,840
Just as a quick question in regard to
the menhaden

850
01:13:18,320 --> 01:13:29,520
point of view, we're going to I would
think have more success because what

851
01:13:24,159 --> 01:13:36,080
we're doing is not asking for specific
funding for that. Where we're asking to

852
01:13:31,840 --> 01:13:39,760
do is to have legislation towards that.
And where we're going to be more

853
01:13:37,360 --> 01:13:46,000
successful is not the local colonial
beach going, "Hey, this is

854
01:13:40,880 --> 01:13:52,159
unacceptable." If we're able to uh get
consensus among more municipalities

855
01:13:49,520 --> 01:13:59,440
and then put it together that way as
opposed to what I don't want to do

856
01:13:56,400 --> 01:14:04,000
not only Joanie but to the entire
situation is to do it a disservice by

857
01:14:02,480 --> 01:14:08,000
tucking it away somewhere where it's not
going to be seen and not acted on. Does

858
01:14:06,560 --> 01:14:13,520
that make sense?
The most similar instance I've seen of

859
01:14:10,000 --> 01:14:20,320
that is the 2A movement where multiple
counties added in resolutions because of

860
01:14:16,320 --> 01:14:25,360
the push in the 2A movement. And I think
that's probably a good example. I've

861
01:14:22,239 --> 01:14:30,159
seen coalition of strong strength in
numbers

862
01:14:26,880 --> 01:14:32,000
um just as far as the actual process of
that.

863
01:14:30,640 --> 01:14:35,560
» What's 2A?
>> Uh the second amendment

864
01:14:42,400 --> 01:14:51,840
So, I would I guess my point is to leave
the bullet point the same, but then if

865
01:14:50,000 --> 01:14:55,080
we decide to tackle that issue to make
that specific.

866
01:14:55,760 --> 01:15:03,360
» Yeah. Maybe address other localities
that are towards the Chesapeake Bay that

867
01:15:00,560 --> 01:15:09,440
would be influenced or
>> helpful. uh we can use those as a

868
01:15:06,480 --> 01:15:13,199
conjoining effort to do that.
>> Yeah, I actually wrote down while she

869
01:15:11,040 --> 01:15:17,520
was talking that um to bring this up at
the mayor's institute at VML

870
01:15:16,159 --> 01:15:23,360
uh because I think there'll be a lot of
other it's in Norfol this year and so

871
01:15:20,239 --> 01:15:27,120
there'll be a lot of coastal
um communities at that conference. I'd

872
01:15:25,360 --> 01:15:32,159
like to see what their stance is and
what they're doing about it and um you

873
01:15:30,480 --> 01:15:36,159
know how it's being brought up in their
communities.

874
01:15:33,760 --> 01:15:45,239
That's in October, guys. By the way, the
BM next BML um conference.

875
01:15:40,560 --> 01:15:45,239
» Nope, you can't say anything. Thank you.

876
01:15:47,440 --> 01:15:54,320
» All right. Um
moving forward, economic development and

877
01:15:51,920 --> 01:16:03,199
tourism. These are um this is big for
our marina way initiative is through

878
01:15:57,920 --> 01:16:08,719
this uh grant funds, BTC. some of the um
uh things like the love sign money or um

879
01:16:06,960 --> 01:16:14,480
different
grants for promotional things. I think

880
01:16:11,040 --> 01:16:20,000
we got a billboard a couple times. Um
stuff like that.

881
01:16:16,960 --> 01:16:23,920
Uh I like the highlight on ecoourism.
Um but I don't want to discount all the

882
01:16:22,320 --> 01:16:29,520
other
tourism initiatives by only hiding

883
01:16:26,320 --> 01:16:34,120
highlighting ecoourism.
I'm just kind of opening that discussion

884
01:16:31,120 --> 01:16:34,120
up.

885
01:16:35,040 --> 01:16:42,880
» Yeah, I thought when I read it that if
we said anything, we'd just just say,

886
01:16:39,840 --> 01:16:46,640
you know, tourism, you know, including
ecoourism.

887
01:16:44,480 --> 01:16:51,040
And that's as far, you know, for the
same reason. We don't want to water down

888
01:16:48,239 --> 01:16:57,800
the rest of the message with with a
single um

889
01:16:53,199 --> 01:16:57,800
a single initiative or a single topic.

890
01:17:00,880 --> 01:17:06,000
But if that goes too far, I mean, I'm
open to

891
01:17:03,840 --> 01:17:10,719
» I'm fine with adding ecoourism and
tourism. I just think it's a little

892
01:17:07,520 --> 01:17:14,000
repetitive, but I don't think it
>> either way.

893
01:17:12,400 --> 01:17:18,760
» You don't think so? Not significant
enough.

894
01:17:15,760 --> 01:17:18,760
» Okay.

895
01:17:19,679 --> 01:17:24,560
» All right.
>> Not in this instance.

896
01:17:21,920 --> 01:17:30,640
» In this particular instance.
And again, we do for the Osprey

897
01:17:27,120 --> 01:17:34,320
Festival. I know the um both our
delegate and our senator have written

898
01:17:32,239 --> 01:17:37,679
letters for the festival that we read in
the beginning and they appreciate it and

899
01:17:36,159 --> 01:17:43,760
they've been very responsive to it. So,
I think we have strong legislative resp.

900
01:17:42,159 --> 01:17:49,199
So, that's good. So, we can kind of
pledge our commitment, our continued

901
01:17:45,520 --> 01:17:54,480
commitment in that way specifically.
And we did name the osprey the town

902
01:17:52,000 --> 01:17:57,480
bird.
Okay.

903
01:17:59,120 --> 01:18:09,280
Um, all right. Moving on forward. Local
access to healthcare. Um, we just

904
01:18:05,600 --> 01:18:13,280
applied for the FEMA grant for along
with the Northern Eck planning district

905
01:18:10,800 --> 01:18:20,199
commission for and the county of West
Morland for the new rescue squad

906
01:18:15,280 --> 01:18:20,199
building on 700 Colonial Avenue.

907
01:18:20,320 --> 01:18:27,520
It'll be months before we hear back.
said, "Don't wait on, you know, like

908
01:18:24,239 --> 01:18:31,199
don't hold your breath yet." But, um, I
think that's an important one to keep on

909
01:18:28,960 --> 01:18:36,880
here for our residents and and for our
community, not just for that particular

910
01:18:33,760 --> 01:18:43,360
grant initiative, but also
when we get to broadband.

911
01:18:39,679 --> 01:18:49,520
Um, one of the openings and
opportunities with broadband is now

912
01:18:45,840 --> 01:18:52,800
teaalth and a teaalth kiosk in rural
communities.

913
01:18:51,040 --> 01:18:56,640
And I'm don't have a ton of information
on this yet, but it's something else at

914
01:18:54,880 --> 01:19:03,760
VML. I'm hoping to get a little bit more
info on that where we don't have we have

915
01:19:00,400 --> 01:19:08,960
a real big lack in doctors and sometimes
also a lack in broadband. But if there's

916
01:19:05,920 --> 01:19:13,440
a kiosk, a telealth kiosk maybe at a
rescue squad station or something like

917
01:19:11,840 --> 01:19:19,400
that. I don't know. It's they're trying
to invent ways to use technology to to

918
01:19:16,159 --> 01:19:19,400
help us.

919
01:19:20,239 --> 01:19:23,719
I don't know.

920
01:19:23,869 --> 01:19:25,889
[laughter]

921
01:19:26,239 --> 01:19:32,880
» Um I don't know. I'm sort of just want
to say there is new technology coming in

922
01:19:31,120 --> 01:19:37,880
this stuff and and I'm not sure where
it's going to go yet. Um

923
01:19:38,800 --> 01:19:43,960
All right. So we keeping that one on
here.

924
01:19:44,239 --> 01:19:50,640
» Yes. All right. There we go. All right.
Right. The required local match for

925
01:19:48,400 --> 01:19:56,400
schools. So, this was on there because
the proportionate rate of the local

926
01:19:52,800 --> 01:20:00,960
match was getting astronomical for small
communities especially. Um, this last

927
01:19:58,960 --> 01:20:07,120
year we saw that balance out a little
bit. Um, part of that is because the

928
01:20:03,920 --> 01:20:13,000
state cut funding to schools. So,
naturally, it cut our requirement to

929
01:20:09,679 --> 01:20:13,000
fund schools.

930
01:20:13,280 --> 01:20:20,080
» I mean, I'm just saying the truth.
That's what happened. It's also largely

931
01:20:17,120 --> 01:20:24,080
due to projection a drop in the school
population, right? So the the multiplier

932
01:20:22,640 --> 01:20:29,280
went down,
>> right, for the number of pupils. Yeah.

933
01:20:26,320 --> 01:20:33,320
Yeah. But they still use a averaged
estimate, but yeah.

934
01:20:33,360 --> 01:20:41,600
» So
>> do we leave this on here? Um I remember

935
01:20:37,199 --> 01:20:48,159
I had spoken with um delegate Pew Kent
on this twice. she has a subcommittee at

936
01:20:45,280 --> 01:20:55,040
the legislature um of four particularly
for rural school systems um related to

937
01:20:51,840 --> 01:20:58,960
this. So if we want to continue working
in that avenue, it might be something

938
01:20:56,960 --> 01:21:03,520
that I end up at a subcommittee meeting
for or Natasha does. If we don't want to

939
01:21:01,280 --> 01:21:08,560
continue down that avenue, I will free
my calendar.

940
01:21:06,320 --> 01:21:13,520
» I'm just asking for input, guys.
Do you all believe there's more juice to

941
01:21:11,280 --> 01:21:17,120
to you know to squeeze from this?
>> I don't know.

942
01:21:15,440 --> 01:21:20,239
Honestly, Tom, I don't know.
>> I if you know

943
01:21:18,400 --> 01:21:22,719
» is that a no.
>> I said is that a no?

944
01:21:21,440 --> 01:21:26,640
» I don't know.
>> I don't know.

945
01:21:24,320 --> 01:21:30,960
» Yeah. I mean, I don't want we don't want
busy work, but

946
01:21:28,960 --> 01:21:36,719
for years on end, we were getting scared
by the the rapid rise in the in the

947
01:21:34,320 --> 01:21:41,280
local match. Well, I think as long as we
have some delegate of some sort that's

948
01:21:39,280 --> 01:21:44,800
pushing for this agenda, I think it's
best that we keep it on there

949
01:21:42,960 --> 01:21:49,199
specifically for our community where
that if there's availability for us to

950
01:21:47,120 --> 01:21:54,880
save money in that avenue, we should
take full advantage of that because the

951
01:21:51,280 --> 01:21:59,840
school system does hit us every year.
So, and our numbers are rising within

952
01:21:58,080 --> 01:22:05,120
the school. They're not getting any
lower. And you know,

953
01:22:03,760 --> 01:22:09,120
it's just going to be a fact of life.
So, if we can save money in any way we

954
01:22:06,719 --> 01:22:13,520
can and there's someone there that's
pushing for this, I think we should keep

955
01:22:10,880 --> 01:22:18,960
it on there.
>> Does anybody know if we got any feedback

956
01:22:16,080 --> 01:22:24,560
last year and did anybody push for it? I
mean, yeah, I met with Hillary twice,

957
01:22:21,199 --> 01:22:30,800
Delegate Kent twice about it, but um she
was given it was a struggle at the state

958
01:22:27,120 --> 01:22:37,520
because the formula is this convoluted,
very specific, very comp complicated

959
01:22:34,239 --> 01:22:42,320
formula and making any adjustments to it
isn't equitable across the board. And

960
01:22:40,880 --> 01:22:47,679
actually some of the adjustments they
were proposing was going to make it

961
01:22:43,760 --> 01:22:52,080
worse for small rural communities which
was really what stood her up to be

962
01:22:50,400 --> 01:22:55,360
opposed to the changes to even though
she does wanted to change just how they

963
01:22:54,080 --> 01:23:01,360
were changing it was actually going to
make it harder. So it's a very

964
01:22:58,080 --> 01:23:07,840
complicated um
situation to tackle. I think she's we

965
01:23:04,320 --> 01:23:13,600
both were learning about how how
difficult it is really to do. Um the

966
01:23:11,600 --> 01:23:18,159
biggest point
when we're talking about this, it's not

967
01:23:15,440 --> 01:23:23,679
so much that of of reducing funding to
our school system. It's that the state

968
01:23:20,400 --> 01:23:29,840
was creating additional mandates,
all of these additional requirements and

969
01:23:25,760 --> 01:23:34,800
then not funding them. And so they were
expecting how easy to sit in Richmond

970
01:23:32,880 --> 01:23:40,719
and say you have to do these 10 new
things and you have to fund them and

971
01:23:37,679 --> 01:23:47,120
mandating that to localities. So that's
where the unfairness portion of it was

972
01:23:43,199 --> 01:23:55,120
coming from. Hey, you want all of these
additional things, then state, you've

973
01:23:51,679 --> 01:24:01,840
decided this. You need to pay for it on
your side because it was creating local

974
01:23:58,800 --> 01:24:05,600
dollar tax raises, but they were
statemandated

975
01:24:03,840 --> 01:24:10,719
items,
and that was really the point of it. So,

976
01:24:08,719 --> 01:24:14,639
because I could see that it could look
differently than that. Should should we

977
01:24:12,639 --> 01:24:22,639
consider rewriting the language then
maybe uh that reflects more of that as

978
01:24:18,239 --> 01:24:27,800
far as unfunded mandates or
>> I know just a thought.

979
01:24:24,000 --> 01:24:27,800
» Yeah, that's a good point.

980
01:24:27,840 --> 01:24:35,760
» It it feels like something we want to
continue to track because there's a lot

981
01:24:30,960 --> 01:24:39,440
of risk there to to Mr. Ellison's point.
Well, I mean, if they hit us with

982
01:24:36,800 --> 01:24:42,880
another half a million dollars,
that's that's a chunk, right? That we

983
01:24:41,679 --> 01:24:48,400
got to try to figure out how to make
that work. And it's not always easy.

984
01:24:46,639 --> 01:24:54,679
» Yeah. A half a million dollars is a 12
cent tax raise

985
01:24:51,360 --> 01:24:54,679
for us.

986
01:24:56,000 --> 01:25:01,719
So, that's the reality of it, right?
When the rubber meets the road.

987
01:25:03,199 --> 01:25:10,440
Okay. So, we'll leave it on there. Maybe
reward it a little bit. Improve that.

988
01:25:10,800 --> 01:25:19,440
David, I like that idea. You good with
it? Well, okay. All right. Last one

989
01:25:17,440 --> 01:25:25,360
that's on the list right now is access
to broadband. Um,

990
01:25:22,880 --> 01:25:31,760
uh, there has been some new traction in
this, uh, like I said with the healthc

991
01:25:27,280 --> 01:25:36,159
care kiosk possibly. Um,
I don't know if this shouldn't get a

992
01:25:34,080 --> 01:25:41,440
little bit more in general technology
related, but I'm also fine with leaving

993
01:25:38,960 --> 01:25:48,320
it the way it is. I think there's some
new tech out there that we um may want

994
01:25:45,440 --> 01:25:51,679
to go after.
But this does say teleaalth and

995
01:25:49,920 --> 01:25:54,679
opportunities for education, workforce
development.

996
01:25:56,000 --> 01:26:02,719
I mean ultimately is the problem not
that [clears throat]

997
01:26:00,239 --> 01:26:08,080
that the people that run broadband the
Verizon FiOS you know of the world those

998
01:26:05,760 --> 01:26:13,360
kind of things find it too expensive to
bring it this far from wherever their

999
01:26:10,400 --> 01:26:19,920
next closest hub is and is there a way
to sort of advocate for some government

1000
01:26:17,120 --> 01:26:24,320
assistance to sort of entice the big
boys to bring the uh the fiber here

1001
01:26:22,480 --> 01:26:28,639
right that when I think about this.
That's what I think of. Is that a

1002
01:26:25,920 --> 01:26:33,679
realistic goal?
Well, is it

1003
01:26:31,040 --> 01:26:37,520
realistic? Is maybe going too far, but
is it um

1004
01:26:35,760 --> 01:26:43,760
am I thinking about it the right way?
>> I think for us it was um you know what

1005
01:26:40,880 --> 01:26:49,440
we currently have in terms of uh
internet. There's a monopoly, right? We

1006
01:26:46,719 --> 01:26:55,520
don't have any other options other than
the cable or you know some people have

1007
01:26:53,440 --> 01:26:59,920
Starlink and you know those things are
coming but there's a cost to those right

1008
01:26:57,840 --> 01:27:05,520
what we're trying to do is make the
internet we have today cheaper so if the

1009
01:27:02,800 --> 01:27:08,880
best way to do that is competition so
you know all points broadband that's

1010
01:27:07,360 --> 01:27:15,040
gone down through the county and those
areas where they now have both some of

1011
01:27:12,560 --> 01:27:20,639
that is a little bit easier to get cost
down you You know, I had a house that

1012
01:27:17,280 --> 01:27:25,040
was built for my daughter and I got
internet for $20 a month because they

1013
01:27:23,440 --> 01:27:29,679
were interested in doing a two-year
contract, no deal kind of thing. And I

1014
01:27:27,760 --> 01:27:35,040
was able to get a lot cheaper than your
standard $59.99 or $79.99 type package.

1015
01:27:33,520 --> 01:27:37,840
But I had the ability to say, "I'm not
going to go with you. I'm going with the

1016
01:27:36,159 --> 01:27:40,880
other." And that's when the price
dropped.

1017
01:27:39,040 --> 01:27:44,480
» Right. So, so the the question I'm
asking is is there are there things that

1018
01:27:42,639 --> 01:27:47,679
the state and federal government can do
to make it more likely that we get that

1019
01:27:46,400 --> 01:27:50,159
competition here.
>> Yes.

1020
01:27:48,239 --> 01:27:57,840
» What I think that would work against us
on that is the study that we had done

1021
01:27:54,080 --> 01:28:04,239
» that uh took a look at where we need to
even be to be standard.

1022
01:28:01,199 --> 01:28:09,440
Um, and so people are going to focus
more on getting us up to,

1023
01:28:07,679 --> 01:28:15,760
you know, borderline, I guess, as
opposed to being able to bring a higher

1024
01:28:13,199 --> 01:28:19,199
dollar service here. We don't have the
folks to do it.

1025
01:28:16,880 --> 01:28:24,000
» Well, we have the study results and
there's things we can do with those

1026
01:28:21,520 --> 01:28:30,800
study results. So to
um the point I kind of about the

1027
01:28:28,159 --> 01:28:35,760
community infrastructure point before is
once you have a study then you have the

1028
01:28:33,360 --> 01:28:40,719
data that they need sometimes to
actually lift off the ground. So having

1029
01:28:38,719 --> 01:28:44,320
that makes me think we need to keep it
on here because if something comes

1030
01:28:42,480 --> 01:28:48,960
available we may be able to use that
data to our advantage. But to me it's

1031
01:28:46,800 --> 01:28:55,840
not just affordability but also
reliability. We had a major responses

1032
01:28:53,360 --> 01:29:02,880
from the initial survey which was you
know a very poorly done survey by myself

1033
01:28:59,360 --> 01:29:08,880
I think but it was the major response
was the reliability. It's dropping out

1034
01:29:04,480 --> 01:29:12,800
all the time. I can't do my you know
cashier checkouts because I'm losing

1035
01:29:11,199 --> 01:29:18,320
vendor business because I can't get
somebody's credit card to swipe. Things

1036
01:29:14,400 --> 01:29:25,440
like that. So, um I think in that it's
it's competition. It's also putting

1037
01:29:22,960 --> 01:29:29,840
breeze lines nose to the grind a little
bit and saying you're not meeting the

1038
01:29:28,239 --> 01:29:35,440
standard and we're going to hold you
accountable to it. But I I guess and

1039
01:29:32,400 --> 01:29:40,320
perhaps I had a misconception of it, but
my thought would be that they would

1040
01:29:37,760 --> 01:29:45,920
focus more on getting this to where it's
reliable as opposed to having more

1041
01:29:43,679 --> 01:29:49,679
competition.
>> Yes, both. I think

1042
01:29:47,520 --> 01:29:52,800
» well, new lines would certainly make it
more reliable. I mean, the other stuff's

1043
01:29:51,280 --> 01:29:56,880
been here for 30 years.
>> Understand? But where are the new lines

1044
01:29:55,440 --> 01:29:59,280
coming from?
>> So, where are the new customers coming

1045
01:29:58,639 --> 01:30:03,600
from?
>> Right. So like right now it's going down

1046
01:30:01,679 --> 01:30:07,440
through like Longfield Road and going
towards the county.

1047
01:30:05,520 --> 01:30:11,840
» So they would just have to come back
down 205 to provide those additional

1048
01:30:10,400 --> 01:30:14,480
lines.
>> The the

1049
01:30:12,400 --> 01:30:16,800
» he's talking about tracking all access,
right?

1050
01:30:15,199 --> 01:30:21,520
» All points broadband. Yeah.
>> But see, they weren't contracted to come

1051
01:30:19,040 --> 01:30:26,800
this way because they were doing they
were the grants and stuff were for

1052
01:30:23,840 --> 01:30:31,199
specific areas that did not have any
>> uh internet at all. And that was the

1053
01:30:28,639 --> 01:30:34,000
initiative Senator Stewart and all those
went to Richmond and said, you know, we

1054
01:30:32,560 --> 01:30:38,880
got to make sure that everybody has
access. And they they did that.

1055
01:30:36,719 --> 01:30:44,320
» Now, the flip side of that is, you know,
if the Verizon tower

1056
01:30:41,280 --> 01:30:47,840
» gets put up and they bring in cable, I
mean, they could definitely pull in

1057
01:30:46,239 --> 01:30:53,040
cable that way or just give us the
little pods for 5G or whatever.

1058
01:30:51,199 --> 01:30:57,600
» Yeah. there could be your competition
and that could, you know, next year or

1059
01:30:56,000 --> 01:31:01,199
the year after whenever that happens
could be remove that off of there.

1060
01:30:59,840 --> 01:31:04,800
» I think in the next two years we're
going to see a lot of changes on this

1061
01:31:02,560 --> 01:31:07,760
item. I think we're going to see a lot
of things I can't even forecast right

1062
01:31:06,880 --> 01:31:12,400
now.
>> Well, in all fairness, just the

1063
01:31:09,520 --> 01:31:15,840
competition of T-Mobile having the 5G
available here,

1064
01:31:13,760 --> 01:31:23,600
» I was able to use that. I didn't want to
go to a 5G network, but um I was able to

1065
01:31:20,960 --> 01:31:28,120
use that to negotiate
my cable provider down to

1066
01:31:29,120 --> 01:31:36,560
» Yeah. Okay. So, I'm kind of saying let's
leave it

1067
01:31:34,320 --> 01:31:38,480
unless I'm hearing something else from
people.

1068
01:31:37,120 --> 01:31:42,480
» Yeah. I think it's sort of like the
required local match. We want to leave

1069
01:31:40,320 --> 01:31:46,000
it there for visibility and to prove
that we still care about it even if we

1070
01:31:44,560 --> 01:31:49,280
don't know exactly what we want right
now.

1071
01:31:47,040 --> 01:31:54,080
» Yeah, we may have to pair with what's
out there too. All right. And then I'm

1072
01:31:51,840 --> 01:31:59,120
saying I have noted here to add the
waterline system, waterline utility

1073
01:31:56,320 --> 01:32:05,360
system as an additional item on here.
And um and I think the probably the

1074
01:32:03,280 --> 01:32:10,679
action requested will be similar to the
wastewater treatment but just pertaining

1075
01:32:07,440 --> 01:32:10,679
to water,

1076
01:32:11,199 --> 01:32:16,880
drinking water. Yes. All right.
>> Sounds good.

1077
01:32:14,639 --> 01:32:22,199
» All right. Anything else to this? That's
now eight. We've gone back up from seven

1078
01:32:18,960 --> 01:32:22,199
to eight.

1079
01:32:25,679 --> 01:32:31,600
» I'm sorry. Did you say drinking water or
storm water?

1080
01:32:29,199 --> 01:32:39,440
» Drinking water.
>> Well, potable water. Yeah. And so then,

1081
01:32:37,520 --> 01:32:43,360
um, Natasha will bring this back at our
next meeting in September for final

1082
01:32:41,760 --> 01:32:48,960
approval.
Any other comments then before we

1083
01:32:47,840 --> 01:32:55,679
Okay.
The only only comment I would have is if

1084
01:32:52,000 --> 01:33:02,159
we can look at any potential items that
are that we're targeting and Richmond

1085
01:32:58,400 --> 01:33:05,679
has verbiage to align the verbiage as
close as possible.

1086
01:33:04,239 --> 01:33:09,440
You know,
>> I mean, we do that in propo proposals or

1087
01:33:08,080 --> 01:33:15,800
grants or anything like that. You want
to kind of make it look like they wrote

1088
01:33:11,280 --> 01:33:15,800
it. Oh, that fits perfectly.

1089
01:33:15,840 --> 01:33:21,000
» Yeah, we'll optimize it. Um,
>> okay.

1090
01:33:23,600 --> 01:33:31,360
» All right. With that, we So, we'll we
vote on that at the next at the

1091
01:33:28,400 --> 01:33:34,480
September meeting. And with that, we
going into closed meetings. So, I move

1092
01:33:33,040 --> 01:33:37,440
that the town council of the town of
Columbia Beach, Virginia, convene in

1093
01:33:36,000 --> 01:33:40,719
closed meeting for the following purpose
and to discuss the following subjects,

1094
01:33:39,120 --> 01:33:44,560
all of which are exempt by Virginia law
from public meeting requirements as

1095
01:33:42,400 --> 01:33:48,960
indicated. Namely, pursuant to Virginia
Code section 2.2-371, 2-3711A7

1096
01:33:47,440 --> 01:33:52,159
for the purpose of consultation with
legal counsel and briefings by staff

1097
01:33:50,639 --> 01:33:56,080
members or consultants pertaining to
actual or probable litigation where such

1098
01:33:54,639 --> 01:33:59,199
consultation or briefing and open
meeting would adversely affect the

1099
01:33:57,360 --> 01:34:04,080
negotiating or litigating posture of the
town council and pursuant to Virginia

1100
01:34:01,360 --> 01:34:06,880
code section 2.2-3711A88
for the purpose of consultation with

1101
01:34:05,520 --> 01:34:10,320
legal counsel retained by the town
council regarding specific legal matters

1102
01:34:08,719 --> 01:34:15,440
requiring the provision of legal advice
by such counsel. And with that, we'll uh

1103
01:34:13,040 --> 01:34:21,159
go into close session right after a
fivem minute recess.

1104
01:34:16,639 --> 01:34:21,159
» Were you an auctioneer from the previous

1105
01:59:57,040 --> 02:00:01,199
public business matters lawfully
exempted from open meeting requirements

1106
02:00:00,080 --> 02:00:04,239
under the Virginia Freedom of
Information Act and only such public

1107
02:00:02,800 --> 02:00:07,119
business matters as were identified in
the motion by which the closed meeting

1108
02:00:05,599 --> 02:00:10,159
was convened were heard discussed or
considered in the meeting by councel. I

1109
02:00:09,199 --> 02:00:12,480
need a motion.
>> So move.

1110
02:00:10,560 --> 02:00:14,480
» I need a second. I need an individual
certification.

1111
02:00:13,360 --> 02:00:17,040
» I certify.
>> I say certify.

1112
02:00:15,440 --> 02:00:20,800
» I so certify.
>> I certify. I so certify.

1113
02:00:18,880 --> 02:00:26,599
» I so certify. And with that, we will
adjourn tonight's meeting at 8 o'clock.