[0:00] are allowed to be here tonight and do the business of the town.

[0:04] Give us clarity in our minds as we proceed through the meeting in your

[0:08] name. Amen. >> Let us stand for the pledge of

[0:12] allegiance.

[0:17] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:22] republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible

[0:28] and justice for all.

[0:37] » Has council had an opportunity to review the minutes of the regular March 9th

[0:42] meeting? Yes. >> Are there any additions to the agenda or

[0:47] edits to the minutes

[0:55] » um if we can

[1:00] » walking

[1:09] » [snorts]

[1:19] » Uh if we could just add to a close session um I believe it's

[1:25] a a um discussion of um uh economic opportunity.

[1:34] » Okay. All righty.

[1:38] So, I will entertain a motion to accept. >> I move to accept with the addition.

[1:46] » With the addition. Thank you, Vice Mayor.

[1:49] Is there a second?

[1:53] » All in favor? >> I opposed.

[1:57] I just voted. >> Old habits are hard break.

[2:01] » The motion carries. Okay. So just a [clears throat]

[2:08] just a reminder that there is a five minute time limit on public comments. Do

[2:14] we have any public comments? Anyone from the audience wish to speak? [laughter]

[2:23] » I'm getting a nodding head. So um we will move on to review of bills.

[2:29] Does council have any comments, questions, or concerns about the bill

[2:33] sheets?

[2:36] No. Okay. Town manager report. >> Okay. Thank you. Um the we had the uh uh

[2:44] department head evaluations today. Uh they all went well. Um no one left

[2:49] crying, I think. So, >> well, that's always positive thing,

[2:54] » right? Um let's see. Uh like what taxes we're we're moving

[3:00] forward on. Um

[3:04] uh let's see. Water projects are moving forward. Um

[3:11] not much.

[3:16] Nope. Uh the um deadline for the governor's action was or uh on our um

[3:22] legislation is 11:59 today. I haven't checked since Friday, so we'll see. And

[3:27] uh and then of course if it uh if it doesn't um she doesn't it becomes law on

[3:32] that 59 today, I believe. Um, that's it for for me.

[3:38] » Okay. Mayor's report. I don't really have anything at this time either. Uh,

[3:44] town attorney report. >> I have nothing new to report at this

[3:48] time, but happy to answer any questions or address any issues you all may have.

[3:53] I can't. >> Okay, let's move on to committee

[3:56] reports. Finance Committee, Councilman Davis.

[4:01] personnel committee. Vice Mayor Stenson, >> we're advertising some positions. So, I

[4:06] hope we get lots of applicants. Okay. >> I will add to that that uh we we do

[4:11] welcome our newest uh police officer to [laughter] to town.

[4:14] » I wasn't going to say >> he comes with he comes to us with a with

[4:17] a significant experience. Officer Lee Dowy has [laughter]

[4:24] » he really? >> Yes. So,

[4:27] [laughter] >> took him two weeks to realize his

[4:29] mistake and he came right on back. >> Absolutely. So, we are we're happy to

[4:32] have him back. >> We are happy to have him back.

[4:34] » Well, happy day we are. Welcome back. >> Told him not to go.

[4:37] » Officer Dowy. Okay. Community development committee. That would be me.

[4:42] I really don't have anything. Do you or Tiffany have anything about homecoming

[4:47] at all? >> Uh Jess is still um uh planning

[4:50] homecoming. >> Okay. All righty. Infrastructure

[4:53] Committee. Councilman Stith. Councilman Payne.

[4:57] » Yeah. The Can you give me a follow up on what

[5:01] you did to the road on Gateway Avenue down there? You never I never heard any

[5:06] more about it when I gave a report that it was

[5:08] » Gatewood. >> What was

[5:10] » Gatewood? >> Gatewood.

[5:12] » Right. But uh that's the one about the You asked about the um the trash can

[5:17] there. >> Yeah. Uh, so staff looked at that and

[5:22] » um, now I'm trying to think back. Um,

[5:28] the they they live at the end of a very long driveway. I think the the issue

[5:32] with the with the property owner is they don't want to necessarily put their

[5:36] trash can um, uh, out at the at the end of the drive because that would then be

[5:41] in the in front of the neighbor's house. So, I guess the situation is they they

[5:47] have, you know, a a driveway that basically goes right next to the the

[5:52] neighbor's house. So, really, it's a it's it's a matter of of preference

[5:56] there. Uh they can either work with the work with the neighbor and and put it

[5:59] out there and leave it out there or um or they can uh bring it out uh uh weekly

[6:05] or twice a week. >> So, the truck going down to the

[6:07] neighbor's house, the that would be the first one on the right hand side going

[6:10] in before you get to the dead end.

[6:15] I'd have to go out there. I mean, I I I assume if it's on the road and it's uh

[6:19] uh then yes, but I'll check with the staff on that. Um the issue with the

[6:25] with the individual you were talking about, I uh I believe is that they have

[6:30] a long driveway and don't want to necessarily bring their trash can out

[6:33] every every week. But that's a that's a personal preference.

[6:39] No, my preference was that while they paying for water and sew it and the lady

[6:43] got to roll her trash can 100 yards to get it picked up. That was my

[6:48] preference. >> Well, I'm I'm speaking to their

[6:52] preference, but but basically that's a you know, we they don't have to if they

[6:57] work with the neighbor and um ask them if they can, you know, just put the put

[7:02] a corral out in front. >> I think they said that road was not

[7:07] State >> property.

[7:09] » Not state, but town road or something. >> Private.

[7:12] » Yeah. >> That house where they live,

[7:14] » right? >> Private.

[7:15] » I was only talking about the first house in on the right going down there because

[7:19] TJ had put rock down there for the truck.

[7:23] » He fixed the road, >> right? But you're last,

[7:27] » unless we uh we looked at the wrong one, but you were referring to they've got

[7:30] like a very long driveway. >> Yeah. with the people that live at the

[7:34] one at the end of it, >> right?

[7:36] » It's supposed to have been where you couldn't turn the truck around at. And

[7:38] I, you know, I said, "Well, hey, it is what it is down there at the end." But

[7:43] I'm talking about the people on the right hand side going down to it. That's

[7:46] the 100 yard trash can pull from there to the end of the street

[7:50] » to the hard service. >> Right. And TJ went in there and worked

[7:54] the road up. So my question was, was they picking the latest trash up or not?

[8:01] Uh if it's put out where it uh where it needs to be, then yes. But we do not go

[8:05] on private property to pick up trash.

[8:10] » Is it >> is there a specific solution you'd uh

[8:13] you'd like for it or >> I mean if the lady pay for it, she

[8:17] needed to pick it up, right? >> If if it's put in the in the appropriate

[8:21] place, then yes. >> So for all these years they had to roll

[8:26] their trash out to the end of the street.

[8:29] » If they want the trash picked up. Or they could have a corral out there.

[8:34] Uh if they have to, you know, work with the with the neighbor if it's in front

[8:37] of their house, they can put a corral out there and leave the uh leave the

[8:41] cans there. >> Clarify something for me.

[8:43] » I know. I'm confused, too. >> Gateway comes down hard road hangs a

[8:48] right at the green house. >> Yeah.

[8:52] » This is the road they keep straight >> and it's grab

[8:54] » but it's a private road. That's not town.

[8:58] Is that is that accurate from the hard pavement straight ahead?

[9:03] » Is that a town >> road? Do we would we go or is that all

[9:07] private property? >> So my understanding is that there's a

[9:11] driveway that the individuals live on or live off of that and and

[9:17] » comes off the hard pavement and goes down in between the sets of trees

[9:22] » and Al Simpson's brother used to live on the right. Mhm.

[9:25] » You go on back down in there and there's a white house or something all the way

[9:27] at the end if I remember right or a couple of small back in there.

[9:31] » So is the problem that they can't they're having to bring the trash to the

[9:35] hard surface road. >> Well, I guess we need clarification on

[9:40] you know whether or not if it's a private road from the end of the

[9:44] blacktop whether they should be going down in

[9:48] there or if it's okay to send it down in there. Then how far off that Do they

[9:54] live these people live 100 yards off that road

[9:58] » or from the hard pavement? >> Well, the where this begin the dead road

[10:02] begins after the hardwood service. >> But here the clip to it. If the town

[10:07] pull the road and put a rock in it >> if it was a private drive, why did they

[10:11] do that? >> That's a good question.

[10:14] » So, but I'm I'm still confused now. So, there's And Tiffany is holding it up, I

[10:19] think, so I can take a better look at this.

[10:33] talking about this stretch >> Gatewood's that's council

[10:40] » go straight down Gatewood >> it's going to be that gravel road or

[10:45] driveway or whatever it is >> okay so that so if if it's

[10:51] » if it's a driveway So, there's a difference between a driveway and a

[10:54] private road. >> Yeah. I didn't think it was a driveway.

[10:58] » I've been down in this house. >> Yeah. I just don't know if it's a town.

[11:02] » Yeah, that's >> if it's a town street that we should be

[11:05] sending our trucks down anyway.

[11:10] » But it's okay to send. >> Let me uh let me talk to Matt again.

[11:19] » Well, it's obvious there They fix the road, then they're taking the truck down

[11:24] there. So, it's a matter of if this is the road that goes back in there.

[11:28] » Sure. Yeah. Houses are off. >> But I can see that it would be hard if

[11:32] they truck went all the way down there. >> They'd be turning around on private

[11:36] property on the right hand if you dragging a trash can to the hard

[11:41] service. >> Okay.

[11:43] » Well, that's probably why because they probably shouldn't be taking the truck

[11:46] down there on a private lane anyway. >> But if they are, then I don't could be

[11:52] picked up.

[11:58] » Well, that's what I

[12:04] » Okay. Well, we'll uh we'll we'll get back to you on that.

[12:06] » I'm trying to find out. So, okay. Where am I?

[12:13] » Oh, economic development committee, guys.

[12:17] » Uh the county EDC meets This week, next week. Next week.

[12:26] And that is Yeah, that's that's that.

[12:30] » Okay. Planning Commission. >> Oh. Um, planning commission will meet

[12:36] the first Wednesday or Thursday in May.

[12:42] » They'll meet the first week in May. >> Yes. Somewhere. Yes. I'm not quite sure

[12:46] which. Water committee. Councilman Davis. Uh you should have in your packet

[12:52] where Hurt and Profit has started working on the $4 million project for

[12:57] the delivery system and uh it breaks down pretty good what the um what the

[13:02] timeline I'm sorry >> it's okay

[13:05] » you guys should all have in your packet uh the information that hurt and prov uh

[13:09] profit provided to Phil uh gives you a timeline gives you a breakdown of what

[13:14] the steps are um you know it's not a quick project it's something that you

[13:18] know we probably won't may be breaking ground by year end of this year. By the

[13:22] time it goes through all of the different processes that are involved,

[13:24] the planning, um, you'll see a 30% plan, you'll see a 60% plan, you'll see where

[13:30] it's put out, uh, eventually to bid. So, it it's a it's a long drawn out process.

[13:36] Um, I guess that's relative, you know, for something like this.

[13:40] » So, they'll be working on it and hopefully we'll start seeing some stuff

[13:45] moving next year, you know, hopefully sooner. But uh it is moving forward. So

[13:49] that's good news for us. >> Yeah.

[13:51] » And on the on the other side of that, the um the new water treatment plant uh

[13:55] the engineers did send us the 60% uh plans. So that is uh moving forward.

[14:03] » Okay. So

[14:07] » we are moving forward to new business. 11A legislator invite. Uh each year uh

[14:14] council invites uh our state legislator tours uh to uh to uh brief us. Uh and

[14:20] then there's we we usually uh precede that with a uh with a dinner with the uh

[14:25] the manager, the mayor and one member of council [snorts]

[14:28] uh for more um in-depth conversation with the with the legislators. Um uh so

[14:35] basically question is um May 11th good for everyone for that and if so is there

[14:42] one member of council who wants to represent council at the dinner.

[14:46] [snorts] >> This is probably a good time to say I

[14:49] will not be in town for next month's meeting. Okay

[14:52] » or this situation. So >> do you want us to move it to June?

[14:56] » Uh it's not necessarily I was there last time. Somebody else can go and and have

[15:01] the conversations this time. And >> I'll be

[15:05] in town. >> I'll be in Mexico.

[15:07] » You want to go? [snorts] >> It's going to be somewhere in Cruz.

[15:11] » Just somewhere in town or you know one year we uh we did just in my office and

[15:15] brought in the yogurts >> and the other one we ate at Bravos the

[15:19] last time I think. >> So for the for dinner.

[15:24] » Yeah.

[15:28] » Oh, okay. Oh, wow. Yeah. I mean, it would just be the uh the two

[15:31] legislators, the mayor, me, and one member of council, which would be you.

[15:34] » I mean, if you want I'll offer it if you like it.

[15:36] » Okay. We we can certainly look at that. >> That sounds wonderful.

[15:41] » We'll let uh council member Estus be the um representative this year.

[15:45] » What do you >> May 11.

[15:47] » May 11. >> Now, where we still have to do the uh do

[15:49] the invite and uh they may not be available May 11th um especially if they

[15:53] don't have a budget right now. Um, but we'll we'll plan for that. Awesome.

[15:59] Thank you. >> Okay.

[16:01] All righty. Then we'll move on to 11B, which is which is head shot.

[16:07] » Yep. So, um, we don't have professional head shot for the uh for the website for

[16:11] for us or uh for whatever other uses for staff as well. Uh, thought about

[16:16] bringing in there's a photographer that we've worked with in the past for uh um

[16:20] photos of the town and such, a local photographer. Um, I was going to say,

[16:25] um, uh, schedule for May 11th, but, if at least two of you are gone, we'll, uh,

[16:28] we'll look at the, uh, uh, ahead of the June meeting. If, uh, you will all be

[16:32] here for the June meeting. >> At least one of the two of us that'll be

[16:36] gone doesn't care one way or the other. >> We'll just use a head shot from

[16:41] somewhere else. >> So, anyone have any uh, any objection to

[16:44] that? >> Perfect.

[16:48] » Okay. 11 Council compensation. I want to say one thing in the packet. It kind of

[16:55] refers to Blackstone and their request. That had nothing to do with why I asked

[17:00] for it. Um I asked to revisit it because a few members of council are interested

[17:07] and I felt it was important that we bring it up.

[17:11] » Okay. So, um and as you know, Blackstone has been uh been um uh discussing

[17:16] council compensation as most localities do uh at at this time each year. Um

[17:21] [snorts] >> I'm sorry.

[17:23] » Just been discussing it. It's been in the news.

[17:25] » Right. Right. So it's a it's at the forefront, which you know could uh um

[17:29] anyway uh so um mayor requested that this be put on our agenda. Just a little

[17:34] bit of a of compensation history. Uh the mayor receives $3,800 stipen per year

[17:39] paid every two weeks with staff payroll. After taxes, that comes about to $134

[17:44] every two weeks. Um uh council effectively receives no pay. uh back

[17:50] before Ann and I started um right before Ann and I started council was paid $50

[17:55] per meeting um and then the majority outgoing council removed that pay um but

[18:01] the most if not all were donating it back to the uh to the town. Um for the

[18:06] last several years council had the option of a $50 per month cell phone

[18:09] internet reimbursement. >> Uh very few ever took advantage of it

[18:13] and no one had in the last two or three years. So it was move removed from this

[18:17] fiscal year's budget. Um technically

[18:21] per a vote several years ago, council is paid a dollar per year and that has

[18:27] » has to do with the public service loan forgiveness, things like that. Um

[18:31] nothing that applies I think to anyone here. Um,

[18:35] » so I have a question. >> Just I have Well, that's

[18:40] um so if anybody was interested on council but not everyone was interested,

[18:46] could the people that are interested submit for it or I don't know how that

[18:52] works. >> So

[18:53] » I'm asking that question because I asked that question.

[18:56] » Sure. So, uh, so, um, >> to help get

[19:00] » there. I I think that there's a difference between compensation and

[19:05] reimbursement for for cell phone. So, reimbursement for cell phone vote. Um,

[19:09] council could vote in uh either the next fiscal year and we don't have to worry

[19:13] about finding the money now or you can vote it in uh now and we'd uh we'd have

[19:17] to just just find the uh find the budget for it.

[19:20] » Um, the

[19:26] um uh uh the um compensation any kind of pay you could only vote in for the next

[19:33] council. Uh you cannot uh uh increase your own uh your own pay but you can

[19:38] increase reimbursement for from nothing to something for for cell phones.

[19:42] » Okay. So because you guys were like so pay is one

[19:47] thing and reimbursement for your cell phone bill is another.

[19:52] So, if you were going to do pay, it would have to be voted in for the next

[19:57] council. >> Correct. The next council.

[19:59] » But if you're going to want a reimbursement for your cell phone bill,

[20:03] then you just submit. >> Well, you uh council would have to

[20:08] approve that. That's a it's a minor item, but uh but it's an item that has

[20:12] » it would have to be put in the budget, right?

[20:14] » Correct. >> It's not in the budget right now.

[20:16] » Right. And and if uh if council wants to wait until the uh the next fiscal year,

[20:20] which begins in July, I can certainly put that in the in the budget. I think

[20:24] comes out to 4,800 a year. We do that. >> I think 25 grand a year is a fair price

[20:30] for my time. [laughter]

[20:37] [laughter] >> I mean,

[20:41] » so can I speak to this?

[20:43] » Sure. So, we I was here for these previous

[20:47] discussions and it's been brought up occasionally and I know that it's hard

[20:51] and I know that everybody, you know, I make I make uh comments all the time

[20:56] outside of here that, you know, if people have problems, complaints,

[21:00] concerns that all they have to do is get off their couch on the first Monday or

[21:04] second Monday of every month and come in here and join us because we have to do

[21:08] that. I >> um I have stood on and I will go with

[21:12] counselor's council's pleasure on this. I have stood on the fact that I don't

[21:17] get paid to be here. So I don't have to

[21:23] always I don't owe you a listening ear. That's what I'm here for and I'll try my

[21:30] best. But we don't get paid to do this. We don't get paid for the 10 o'clock at

[21:34] night phone calls. It just comes with the job. And I've always enjoyed being

[21:39] able to say, you know what, my loyalty is not for sale, I do what I do, and

[21:44] when I'm tired of doing it, I'll get off. And if anybody else doesn't like

[21:48] it, they they have elections, you know, every other year.

[21:51] » You're welcome to come grab a seat and put in your free time. Um because it's a

[21:57] civic duty. Now, times have changed and it is pretty difficult to sit here and

[22:02] watch the county guys get paid what they get paid and the Blackstone folks get

[22:06] paid what they get paid and and you know while it is nice to be able to say,

[22:10] "Hey, look, we're the only body in the county that doesn't take a dollar of

[22:13] taxpayers money. Um, but I also know that I couldn't be a member of the board

[22:18] of supervisors. You almost have to be retired or own your own business to to

[22:22] be able to volunteer for that position." Mhm.

[22:26] » Um and I don't know how Blackstone is the inner workings, you know, for their

[22:30] group, but um you know, and again, I will whatever the group here decides is

[22:34] fine. I'm not trying to guilt trip anybody or make a decision. You guys

[22:38] know what your time's worth. Um that's just kind of where we've always been

[22:42] with it. Of course, I also didn't realize that the mayor was getting a

[22:44] check the whole time that we was going hungry.

[22:47] » What do you mean you didn't realize? >> You know, I I had to I had to find that

[22:51] out, you know, on a separate thing. But again, [laughter]

[22:54] » you know, >> I appreciate it.

[22:56] » It's not an easy It's not an easy job being here.

[23:00] » Um, it does take time outside of, you know, when you're trying to work and it

[23:04] takes time when you're at home and it takes coming up here, you know, for at

[23:08] least once, if not two times a month. So, I'm not going to argue or fight with

[23:12] anybody that thinks that it's time. Um, I just wanted to put that out there that

[23:16] I've always enjoyed being able to say I do what I do for the town and for the

[23:22] people of this town and I don't take a dollar for it. So, you guys, whatever

[23:26] you all think. >> Okay. I'm um Well, I don't even know

[23:31] what I'm asking for a motion for. >> Well, uh, [laughter] it does what what

[23:35] is the pleasure of council? Um, uh, is is there a desire? Because the other

[23:40] side of that is you can also donate back to town or not not accept it. Um or if

[23:47] we go back to a uh a cell phone reimbursement. Um

[23:50] » I never did that first. >> Right. So take the reimbursement or

[23:54] don't take the reimbursement. I guess it's [clears throat] what is what is

[23:56] council's spiel on all this? >> So

[24:02] the reimbursement doesn't have to be every month. It can be some months or it

[24:07] can be where it's every month or I'm not asking for myself. I'm just asking.

[24:12] » So the um uh the last time it was implemented it was uh you could um uh uh

[24:19] apply for monthly reimbursement for for your cell phone bill up to $50.

[24:24] » So if we if we would approve that and the people that don't want to

[24:30] participate just don't participate. Correct. And the people that do

[24:34] » you'd have to come to the office and submit your cell phone bill.

[24:38] » Okay. >> Besides phone,

[24:44] » um we can call it internet. Um I think last time it was cell phone andor

[24:49] internet >> as far as water or sewage or any of

[24:52] that. Now >> that's not

[24:54] » that's legal or whatever. No, that's not [laughter]

[24:58] the option for that is [clears throat] um like Sean said, you get phone calls

[25:01] at 10:00 >> um at night and you know you you use

[25:04] your personal uh phone. So, I mean, if you wanted to do your if you have a

[25:08] landline and and want to get reimbured for your landline, then that's a that's

[25:12] another option. >> And I want to be clear, I'm not trying

[25:15] to guilt trip you all. If you all want to do that, that's fine. I mean, that's

[25:19] fine. I'm just telling you what the history has been

[25:22] » because if we do if we do the reimbursement we can vote on it now but

[25:26] if we do the other then it's not going to apply to this council it'll apply to

[25:32] the next council whether you're on it or not but right

[25:36] » I think if we're going to discuss pay because of what's in the recent news

[25:39] let's discuss pay >> and answer that question first because

[25:43] $50 a month for a cell phone bill is not pay you know what I'm saying

[25:47] » and what's this up you You guys have obviously seen it, you know, in the in

[25:52] the newspaper discussion. >> No, in all fairness, I've been asked

[25:56] this since January off and on so long before Blackstone.

[26:01] » Someone there's someone among us that [clears throat] feel like and it's okay.

[26:05] I don't want to I'll take the check if everybody's going to take it, but

[26:09] [laughter] we decided that that's not what we were

[26:12] going to do. >> Yeah. So,

[26:15] » so I guess >> y'all figured out. Can we

[26:22] » not interested in pay, but if somebody wanted to take the reimbursement, that's

[26:25] fine.

[26:29] » Yeah. >> Other thoughts?

[26:30] » I don't have an opinion. I don't I'm not asking for the pay every single month.

[26:34] » So, how do we how do we first we do the compensation and then we do the

[26:39] reimbursement? >> That is that is certainly one one way of

[26:42] going about it. What well, what is everyone what what are everyone's

[26:45] thoughts? Is there any appetite for any of this or um uh and and how much um I

[26:52] guess is going to be so and that will help determine if it's reimbursement

[26:56] based or if it's compensation. Well, I feel the same way you know if

[27:01] it's reimbur because we are given an iPad that needs to have internet

[27:06] connection to you know to access the documents. So

[27:12] that's a requirement. So if it wants to if we want to have a reimbursement ever

[27:16] how you want to call it for um internet use or cell phone I'm fine with that

[27:23] either or it's not going to break or make me but um if it if all of us I'm

[27:29] fine with it. I would say yes. I would agree to it.

[27:32] » Okay. Anyone else? >> We should make at least as much as

[27:38] » if you don't stop saying that. >> I'm with you.

[27:43] One person wants to do it. >> Yeah.

[27:45] » I'm not going to take it myself. Anybody one person wants to do it.

[27:50] » Okay. >> So, it sounds like a reimbursement.

[27:52] » Yeah. >> Um

[27:55] » that's where I said we needed to

[28:00] » I'm personally I would be concerned about compensation as far as my tax

[28:05] liability. >> Yeah. I was talking about reimbursement

[28:09] when I spoke. Yeah. compensation, you know, is and that doesn't

[28:14] » just because you old and old social security.

[28:16] » No, I didn't. >> I still got to work.

[28:18] » It's because I'm old and I save my money.

[28:24] » Okay. Um, I'm in for reimbursement >> and and I don't want to put anyone on

[28:28] the spot. Um, but >> so what we can do now is just uh uh

[28:34] preliminarily agree to a reimbursement. Um, uh, and then if anyone

[28:40] wants to talk one-on-one with me about compensation and I can uh bring it um uh

[28:45] uh >> that sounds like

[28:47] » confidentially to uh to to council. So it's uh we protect individuals privacy.

[28:52] » Okay. >> Um that sounds good.

[28:54] » And so in terms of the reimbursement, are we thinking

[28:57] » with the next next fiscal year or do we want to start that with the the end of

[29:03] this fiscal year? >> Fiscal year.

[29:05] » Fiscal year. Okay, perfect. I will I'll include that in the in the budget.

[29:09] expensive internet. That's like $45$500 a month.

[29:12] » Okay. >> Okay. [laughter]

[29:14] We're going to put a cap on how much you get.

[29:17] » Okay. So, so we have that all >> that's uh that's all done.

[29:20] » Okay. So, we have that all settled. So, let's move

[29:26] » I don't think there needs to if it's just added into the into the budget for

[29:30] for next year. It'll just be just be part of that

[29:32] » $50 or something like that, >> right? $50 for everyone. That's what it

[29:35] was last time. Councilman Stiff, he said it's $50.

[29:41] » Okay. >> Yeah. Robin, I mean, Councilwoman

[29:45] » Sap is over four. They How long ago was that that it was 50

[29:49] » a couple of years ago? >> Well, it was just just last year, but uh

[29:52] again, no one no one's actually taking advantage of it.

[29:55] » Nobody ever remembered to bring the bills in. So,

[30:00] » that's really true. >> Yeah.

[30:03] » Okay. Well, what do we Okay. Um, so we'll uh we'll I'll if

[30:08] everyone's good with the 50, unless we want to do more, let me know. Okay.

[30:13] We'll we'll include that in the um in the budget for for next year.

[30:16] » Okay. Okay. Happy joyful day. Unfinished business 12A bound. Oh, it's happening.

[30:26] I >> think you skipped 11 D

[30:28] » D and E. >> Did I?

[30:32] Well, it's on the next page.

[30:35] » Okay. Um 11D, uh the NA Youth Rec Association Parks.

[30:41] » I thought this would uh would would get Sean's Sean's attention here.

[30:44] » Oh, I've spent several hours in conversation about this topic in the

[30:48] last. So, basically for uh for everyone there and everyone online, um staff

[30:53] received the uh received a message from the uh from the NY chair. Just uh just

[30:59] uh throwing it out there that they might be um uh uh

[31:05] no longer taking advantage of the lease for the uh for the ball fields. Um a

[31:10] portion of the Veterans Memorial Park, as you know, is owned by the town of

[31:13] Crew. A second portion is leased by the town from the railroad. And a third

[31:16] portion with the ball fields is leased by the NY from the railroad. Uh since

[31:21] the merger of the CB y and y into the NY, crew has uh

[31:28] » seen significantly less use of the ball fields despite pre merger agreements for

[31:32] equal use. Uh we've talked about this um a lot last year I believe. Um

[31:39] » so can I >> Yes, go ahead. So to bring history into

[31:44] perspective, they've been playing baseball on that ball field over there

[31:48] for 74 years. They were playing baseball on that ball field and as early as 1951

[31:56] before there was a Dixie youth baseball before there was those fields were

[32:00] originally the recreational fields for the railroad hotel that sat right where

[32:08] the railroad museum is now. Norfick and Western, they would bring the guys in,

[32:14] they would break there, and they had baseball teams that traveled and played

[32:18] for entertainment for the guys in all the different places. So that's, you

[32:23] know, if you ever noticed, the seats on the boy side are actually bent rail. Um,

[32:29] they all our our two generations ago, I think probably Pacan was probably one of

[32:35] the last that passed away, they literally the railroad guys bent rail.

[32:40] It's rail that's turned upside down. So, the flat part is what goes on the

[32:44] ground. Huge amount of history there. Um,

[32:48] long before I was I was over there for just over 20 years. Um, lots of friends

[32:53] that put in their heart and soul and spent hundreds of hundreds of hundreds

[32:58] if not thousands of hours working on that piece of dirt over there to keep it

[33:02] going. It eventually got to the point where they were down to eight of us and

[33:07] all the grass still had to be cut. All the paintings still had to be done. All

[33:10] the concessions still had to be worked. All the ball fields still had to be

[33:13] done. Somebody had to commission them. Somebody had to coach them. And somebody

[33:16] had to umpire. And so we started discussions with NYRA several years ago

[33:23] about and add to that our numbers were falling. So NYRA opened their season at

[33:30] their open day today and they were making a lot of noise about the fact

[33:32] that they had 195 kids playing ball in Blackstone this year. Our last year over

[33:38] there, we had 210 playing just softball. That's without the baseball and the

[33:43] T-ball and anything else. So, we they've probably at least keeping it alive for

[33:49] now. Um, but they want their cake and eat it too.

[33:54] When we wrote those bylaws, I wrote those bylaws, by the way. I did. Um, it

[33:59] was months of sitting at a bargaining table with the members of by going

[34:04] through every line of our bylaws and their bylaws and what was going to work

[34:08] and what we could agree to. And one of the things that both sides agreed to was

[34:13] a 50/50 split, half the practices, half the games [snorts]

[34:19] in Blackstone and in Crew. So that we still had those Friday night lights and

[34:23] Saturday night lights here in town bringing people into the town. Um, you

[34:28] know, any of us that grew up here, those lights have been on on Friday night with

[34:32] baseball going on for as long as anybody probably alive can remember.

[34:37] » Um, and so, you know, it it it was for a couple of us. You also, if you're not

[34:44] from here, you don't understand the Blackstone crew mentality, and that's a

[34:49] big deal historically. Um, we we have thankfully moved by a lot of that. They

[34:54] are doing they are putting on a a good program in Blackstone. Don't get me

[34:56] wrong, my grandkids are playing. Been down there two nights a week, but it was

[35:01] a promise made and that promise is not being stuck with. And so, and I get it.

[35:09] If what they were told is they they had 18 positions on their board,

[35:14] they should have strove to have nine and nine.

[35:17] » But if people from this end of the county aren't involved,

[35:21] then the people from Blackstone don't fill the spots. And when the people from

[35:24] Blackstone fill the spots, where would you rather oversee a baseball game,

[35:29] » three blocks from your house or 10 miles away in crew?

[35:33] » Well, to uh to I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but to that point, what I

[35:36] would uh what I would say is when you're elected either by, you know, of an

[35:42] organization or accounts or whatever um to a leadership position, your

[35:48] um uh uh responsibility isn't just for your needs anymore. It's for the

[35:54] organization and the constituency as a whole. And when there is inequitable and

[36:01] disproport in inequity and disproportionate uh uh impact to you

[36:06] know a whole half of the county. Those are things that leaders need to uh

[36:11] » hold on a second. I get my back. I'll keep talking without

[36:15] um and and you are correct philosophically

[36:20] » and and from a highlevel oversight mentality.

[36:28] But when you can't find somebody to cut grass, when you can't find somebody to

[36:31] drag ball fields, when you can't find people to sell a hot dog to a kid, um

[36:36] you do what you if you love the program and you love what it does, you do what

[36:39] you have to do to keep it alive. Now again, people in the west end of the

[36:45] [clears throat] county were told you have to get involved. You have to be

[36:47] part of this board. You have to be willing to put in the work. It's a

[36:50] working board. You got to be over there doing it. And unfortunately, there

[36:55] aren't as many from the west end of the county that have made their feelings

[36:59] known, that have gotten involved in the board. And so, again, if I'm the

[37:03] baseball commissioner and I have to be at every single ball game, I'm going to

[37:07] have that ball game as close as I can at home most of the time. There's lots of

[37:11] ancillary things that go along the availability of umpires, the the

[37:16] availability of people to work the concession stand. There's all kinds of

[37:19] things go along with it. I have been approached by multiple people inquiring

[37:24] as to what it would take to separate the leagues again and bring baseball and

[37:30] softball back to crew because they are missing out on some of the kids from the

[37:34] far west end of the county that can't get back and forth to Blackstone for

[37:37] practices and games. My answer to that is find bodies.

[37:42] There's a way out right now. They're the best game in town. They're providing the

[37:47] service for the kids that the kids deserve to have. So, you know, I'm not

[37:52] willing to jump up and down and try to, you know, jerk the rug out from

[37:54] underneath them. Marshion them do a good job. Um, but it is not the same here. My

[38:01] problem with this proposal,

[38:05] let me be clear. Norfick and Southern owns that 6.75 acres. They've always

[38:10] owned it. They've never given it to anyone else. It is on a lease to the

[38:16] what was the Krue Barkville Rec Association, then the Krueville Youth

[38:19] Rec Association and every other iteration of it as boards changed. We

[38:24] used to lease it for a dollar a year. Now I think it's up to about 350 or 500

[38:30] a year. They're still paying that. Um they have to carry insurance on

[38:36] everything that goes on over there both for the kids playing ball and every

[38:40] person who steps on the ground. So the liability insurance is out there. Um

[38:44] crew would have to um think about whether or not and I actually asked a

[38:49] former town manager if he was willing to put it underneath the umbrella of the

[38:53] town of crew and he quickly told me no. He wasn't interested. Um

[38:59] so I think it's something that bears discussion.

[39:02] I think that we still have a bigger picture issue. I do I've had a couple

[39:06] people approach me and say if the town of crew were to take it, could I lease

[39:11] it and from the town of crew or be involved with crew and do travel ball

[39:15] tournaments over there, which would bring kids we don't know into town and

[39:19] the guy who's talking to me knows exactly what he's doing and could make

[39:23] it happen. He's running four age groups of a travel ball team. So, there's lots

[39:27] of options. My one hang-up is the line in that that says they get

[39:32] first dibs. I think if if the lease were to come

[39:38] back to the town of crew like it was for a few years and town of crew was

[39:43] managing it. I mean our guys are already cutting part of the grass. We're

[39:46] maintaining the ditch lines. We're keeping things looking neat. Um

[39:51] there there's some that ele that loss of element of control would be a problem

[39:55] for me. I I would think that, you know, not that

[39:59] Tiffany and him don't have enough to do, but a communication with the head of the

[40:02] NYRA would be as simple as going, "Hey, are you guys having anything this

[40:06] weekend up here?" Because if you're not, we're going to find somebody else who

[40:09] will. Don't take it if we're not going to do anything with it. It's, you know,

[40:13] it's that simple. But, um, you know, it it took a lot to put these wreck leagues

[40:18] together. It's a lot of history between Blackstone and crew that had to be

[40:24] overcome to to try to save it. It's a dying breed and um you know the kids are

[40:31] having a good time in Blackstone and things are going the way that I think

[40:34] that they they should go having worked in a league before. But it is uh

[40:39] disappointing to see that field over there empty on Friday nights and

[40:44] Saturday nights. So, so let me ask you uh this Sean um uh to

[40:49] separate I guess divorce CBR from the NY again um takes you know takes some

[40:57] doing. How much >> which which part when you say separation

[41:01] you have two different things. One, you have a body of a local wreck association

[41:05] that's comprised of people from both ends of the county. And two, you have

[41:09] the sanctions that they play under, Dixie boys baseball and Dixie girls

[41:14] softball. And those franchises govern where these kids play under that Dixie

[41:20] umbrella. So the simple answer is if you don't care about Dixie, you simply say,

[41:24] you know what, we're going to start baseball and softball back up here. Not

[41:27] sanctioned, no allstars. Just come and have a good time. We can talk to Little

[41:31] League. You can talk to Babe Ruth. You can talk to all these different

[41:33] organizations. Dixie would be a trick because as of the merger, they own the

[41:41] boundary lines and it's the entire county of Nawway. So, we would have to

[41:44] have a movement within Dixie. And there are

[41:48] very wellrespected members of the Dixie organization that would back a a

[41:53] res-plit to bring it back out. But it still comes down to bodies and the town

[41:58] of crew can own it. We can cut the grass for them. We can drag drag the bases for

[42:01] them. We can do all of that stuff. But if you don't have mas and daddies that

[42:05] are going to give of themselves to put it on for these kids, then leave it

[42:09] alone and let them stay in Blackstone because at least they're getting to

[42:11] play. >> So what about the what about Gohead?

[42:15] » And it's a huge amount of work. You guys have no idea how much work. It's seven

[42:19] days a week. >> So what about travel ball here?

[42:22] » Um well I mean we've got teams that play travel ball. Would that be the same

[42:25] amount of work? >> My granddaughter is having practice in

[42:28] crew right now. Mhm. >> And when that practice with that coach

[42:32] is over with, his travel ball team then comes in and they practice for another

[42:35] hour and a half with the travel ball team.

[42:37] » Um there are two other travel ball groups, they rent, they pay rent to NY

[42:42] for the uh the ability to get on the field.

[42:46] » There'd be no difference in that. And if it was being run through the town hall

[42:50] with people that wanted to set a schedule, this is what we want to do.

[42:54] Um, you know, again, my problem with it is,

[42:58] and this is tainted, at the Blackstone fields, town of Blackstone employees cut

[43:04] it. Town of Blackstone employees drag it. Town of Blackstone employees fix

[43:08] everything that's broke. Town of Blackstone employees bring any tools and

[43:12] anything that they doesn't do anything at those fields except run the games and

[43:18] work the concession stand. So what they've told Phil previously was

[43:26] if town and crew would take them over and do all of that in crew, she'd bring

[43:29] games back to crew. Well, that's being held hostage and we're not going to do

[43:32] that. Um my my first responsibility is here even if my history is with them. So

[43:39] I think that that one piece of telling us that they get first dibs, it would

[43:45] have to be controlled very tightly to make sure that if they said we need the

[43:50] fields this weekend, they use the fields that weekend because there's other

[43:53] people that would come to you and go, you know what, I'm going to bring in a

[43:56] 10 team roundroin tournament on Saturday and Sunday and I'm going to sell all the

[44:01] food and I'm going to sell all the drinks. we're going to charge the teams

[44:04] $400 a team to come in and play and you know this is how much we'll pay you in

[44:10] rent to get the fields that exists and it's been done over there before. So I I

[44:16] I don't Phil and I have talked about this what five years ago, four years ago

[44:20] when it came up the first time, three years ago. I I I I have

[44:26] there's a lot more that I could say that I won't say sitting in this room. I just

[44:31] want us to be sure that if we decide to try to take advantage of that, there is

[44:35] no condition on who gets to use the fields. It's our le and I don't even

[44:38] know the Norfick and Western whether they'll give us back Norfick and

[44:40] Southern whether they'll give us back the leases or not. They've been offered

[44:43] a lot of money for that grass before. >> Well, and and they say uh they say in

[44:48] the or the NY says in the in the email that they're thinking about getting rid

[44:52] of um returning the fields to the railroad, which I guess means giving up

[44:58] their lease. um they're going to pay the lease for one additional year and look

[45:02] at options. So either they're going to give up the lease or they're not um and

[45:06] if they give up the lease then there will be you know other

[45:11] » so one of the things that I would recommend that you do while this is

[45:14] being considered >> is reach back out. God, those Norfick

[45:17] and Southern reps are probably long gone by now that we used to deal with. Um,

[45:21] but there was um there were a couple of guys that we talked with and you could

[45:26] reach back out and see what their pleasure is ahead of time saying that

[45:29] we've been give them the email. We it's been reached out to us, but we want to

[45:33] know what their pleasure is because they might very well just say, you know,

[45:37] they'll never give land away, but you know, somebody offers a developer

[45:42] something, who knows? So, I would I would start my process early and reach

[45:48] out to Norphick, to the railroad. I probably keep using their name wrong. I

[45:52] think Norfick and Southern now, right? Um,

[45:56] I'd probably make contacts with their real estate department and say, "Hey,

[46:01] you've got these leases. They're with NYRA. Traditionally, they've been with

[46:05] CBRA. They've reached out to us about giving them up. We'd like to talk to you

[46:09] about opportunity." >> So, a couple things. one, the railroad

[46:13] has gotten much much more difficult to work with since I

[46:17] since I moved to Georgia. >> Um, second, from what I recall, and this

[46:22] has been several years and may remember, the last time someone asked the question

[46:29] about purchase

[46:32] of the property, they put it for sale. Um, which then resulted in in I guess we

[46:41] renamed the the the park, the Veterans Memorial Park, things like that. Um,

[46:48] » so do do we want to necessarily

[46:54] ask the question if it gives us an answer that we don't want? Well, our

[47:00] listening to Sean has the expertise here, but if

[47:06] the current lease holders are thinking about they're going to pay another year,

[47:12] I think the question to the railroad person would be, would they

[47:20] lease it to us, not necessarily that we buy it? Is that what you're saying,

[47:25] Sean? I think that the most important thing

[47:28] that you can make known to Norfick and Southern is that you intend for the

[47:32] fields to continue to be used with for their intended purpose. They are not

[47:37] going to talk to you about buying it as long as there are kids putting on

[47:40] uniforms and playing in those fields. That's why NYRA

[47:44] making this overture and potentially eventually telling them we're not going

[47:49] to run baseball up there anymore. Then you may find yourself back in a

[47:53] situation where they're like, "Well, you know what? they just want to sell it,

[47:55] but they're not going to take it out from underneath the kids.

[47:58] » We we discussed that multiple times at length with reps from Norphick, you

[48:03] know, the first time this all happened. And they were adamant that they did not

[48:09] want Channel 12 on your side, >> sitting there with 263 kids in uniform

[48:14] saying, "Please don't take our ball fields." Um,

[48:17] we actually laughed about that that he said that would not be fun for them. But

[48:21] yeah, I mean, I think you got to let it be known to Norfick and Southern that if

[48:25] you were if we were interested in this that the intended use would remain youth

[48:31] sports [snorts] fields. >> Other thoughts?

[48:40] » I'm sorry. Do they even know it's >> they know they know that the leases are

[48:46] not now being held by not

[48:52] youth. So my guess is yeah, they probably do because they had to get the

[48:55] leases rewritten. >> And like I mentioned, the the railroad

[49:01] all their operations have moved to or their

[49:04] » Georgia. So they I don't want to say don't care, but

[49:09] » care less than >> we got their attention. We got their

[49:11] attention when the town crew previously managed to get the leases without

[49:15] telling CB and then we called Norick and made it known. they they pipe right on

[49:20] up and send us a guy right on down here to talk to us. So,

[49:23] » um I think that when it comes to the kids, they are responsible. They don't

[49:28] want to take that away from them. >> So, as long as you're not playing, you

[49:32] know, if you come talk to them about building a shopping center there, yeah,

[49:35] they're going to tell you no, it's going to the highest building, but they're not

[49:38] going to take those fields out from underneath kids whether they play one

[49:42] time a year or every other day. >> Okay. So, any other uh any other

[49:47] thoughts? >> I mean, I think exp exploring the

[49:49] leasing option and bringing it under the town of crew doing a study on you know

[49:54] this the financial impacts of it and what it could cost what bringing travel

[49:58] ball would be is something we should look into.

[50:00] » Okay. >> Yeah.

[50:01] » Uh another thing that I thought I put the the bulleted in here but I must have

[50:05] left it out. Um >> in theory um if you were to have a if

[50:12] you wanted to create more equity um uh and and opportunity for everyone that's

[50:18] something that the uh that the county could uh could take a lead in and

[50:21] theoretically the county can establish a parks and reccks department that that

[50:26] oversees and ensures equity. >> So, it's funny you should mention that

[50:29] because I've spent probably 150 million hours having that discussion with

[50:33] members of the board of supervisors and it was a great idea right up until

[50:37] Blackstone spent a million dollars on the complex they have. We wanted to talk

[50:41] about building a spot um was that Reagan store right there at Cherry Tree

[50:46] Crossing. It would have been a perfect area, middle of the of the area, plenty

[50:50] of acorage where if we had bought it, we could have built soccer fields and

[50:53] baseball fields and and buildings for basketball and buildings for volleyball

[50:58] and, you know, plenty of parking. The problem with it is is in the meantime,

[51:02] while not drugged its feet, the town of Blackstone being the proactive town that

[51:06] they are, they said, you know what, we're going to drop 400,000 to build

[51:10] these fields. And then the next year they dropped another 100,000 in it. And

[51:13] then they dropped another 100,000 in it. and they've got great patent cages. They

[51:16] just finished a football field for their the the note Gator uh youth football

[51:21] program that's not NYRA affiliated. It's just another program in this in the c in

[51:26] the town and they take care of everything and it cost them I don't even

[51:30] want to know what their maintenance >> you have to look at their budget and see

[51:34] what they spend >> from the county as well. I mean look

[51:36] where we went with the courthouse. >> Yeah, I would stay for competitions like

[51:41] that. We've got to be able to start pushing forward for us

[51:46] » so that the county will then pay attention to us

[51:49] » and not continue. Well, I'm I'm saying that's why we need to fend for

[51:52] ourselves. >> Yeah.

[51:54] » I'm not saying so I'll >> and that can be done.

[51:57] » Idea should be here as we progress. Phil, go ahead. I would look into some

[52:01] of that. Bring it back to us. The overriding thing should be do we want to

[52:06] do we want to run fields or do we not? Do we want to have somebody have that's

[52:11] going to be in charge of scheduling or not. Do we want to deal with the

[52:15] insurance liability or not? That's not cheap. Um, so there's lots of whatifs

[52:20] that go with that. I would make that decision with absolutely zero

[52:25] consideration given to Dixie girls softball, Dixie boys

[52:30] baseball, which is now Diamond Boys Baseball. Regardless of whether you get

[52:34] kids back from NY, you need to know that you got a use for those fields. and then

[52:40] we can figure out how from there.

[52:44] » Okay. Nope. Uh that's uh that's that's great. Um

[52:47] » sorry I took a slow but there's a lot of history there.

[52:49] » Then and the uh the other thing the other complicating factor is I

[52:54] believe Norfolk Southern is trying [snorts] to merge or and there's

[53:00] been hostile takeover attempts. So there's a lot of corporate things going

[53:04] on too >> that I don't know how owning property

[53:07] » impacts any of that. Okay.

[53:12] » Real estate. >> Okay. I I will uh we'll we'll go from

[53:14] there. >> Steven.

[53:16] » Okay. So, can we Yep. >> Can move on. [clears throat]

[53:21] » 11E road name. >> Okay. Um speaking [clears throat] of

[53:25] railroad, um we received a request from a railroad employee.

[53:30] They'd like a street address for um delivery purposes at one of their one of

[53:35] their sites basically right behind the um road museum. And you could I think I

[53:40] put in the uh the map on there. >> Um site is part of a larger parcel that

[53:45] uh has and the larger parcels address is Robertson siding road.

[53:50] » Uh but the tracks are between that part and Robertson siding road. So, a

[53:55] delivery driver couldn't, you know, go down Robert Siding Road and access the

[53:59] uh the spot. Um, it's primarily accessed from 460 uh um to the road by the uh by

[54:06] the railroad museum. Um I believe the uh road is owned by the railroad.

[54:12] » Absolutely, 100%. >> Okay. And as far as I know, that road is

[54:16] unnamed. Virginia law grants localities the

[54:19] ability to name streets, roads, and alleys, including new private roads that

[54:22] need official uh names in the 911 address database. Being a road for 911

[54:28] addressing uh is not the same thing as being a public street or statemaintained

[54:33] road. Um so basically would just be for naming. Um so once the road is named,

[54:38] staff will uh determine a numbering structure and send the information to

[54:42] the county for entry into the 911 database. Um, so basically you need to

[54:47] name a road. Um, I threw some uh some possible names out there.

[54:52] [laughter] >> We ignored the last one,

[54:55] » right? So any uh any thoughts?

[55:03] » It would be >> Isn't it between the picnic pavilion and

[55:08] the railroad museum? >> It's the one where you turn in for the

[55:10] railroad museum. It's a It's on the map there.

[55:13] Yeah, it's right. It's right.

[55:19] » It's not the ball field side. >> It's a train museum side.

[55:24] [snorts]

[55:38] » You like what? >> This is simple. Roundhouse Loop.

[55:42] » Rename the park Railroad Park. >> But is it a loop?

[55:45] » It is a loop, isn't it? >> It is.

[55:47] » It loops. You go in, go. >> I like that, too.

[55:50] » Roundhouse. >> Roundhouse.

[55:55] » Roundhouse Loop sounds good. The other ones sound weird to me.

[56:00] » Drive. >> Yeah, that's not that. Just something

[56:03] simple. That's all we're doing is name and Southern's permission.

[56:10] » So, It's all up to the local. They can call it whatever they want internally,

[56:14] but for 911 purposes, it's the locality that uh that

[56:18] » names it. >> Simple,

[56:21] » right? >> Okay. So,

[56:25] » okay. So, can we What are we doing? >> I do, too.

[56:32] » Can we get a second? >> Second.

[56:34] » Well, we haven't gotten Well, you you said I vote.

[56:38] » Well, I guess we just need to direct you to move forward on finding out what we

[56:42] need to do and all that, right? >> No, that's a

[56:45] » you have to do it by a motion. >> So, can I get a motion on the name?

[56:51] » I move that we authorize our town manager to take whatever action

[56:55] necessary to name that specific road [clears throat]

[57:00] park.

[57:04] » Can I get a second for that? >> A second.

[57:08] » All in favor? I

[57:19] » one day we'll get >> Did you put your statue over there?

[57:25] » Okay. >> Okay. So, the motion carries. We're

[57:29] moving on, guys. Okay. >> Unfinished business.

[57:35] » Okay. the boundary line adjustment um last year. Um

[57:41] » him >> just give him a second so I can explain.

[57:45] » I am trying to stop. I am trying to explain something so he understand what

[57:50] we're talking about. >> Well, let's hold up a minute and let

[57:55] them settle. >> Wait so Mr.

[57:58] » Well, then we need to vote again >> because I don't think he voted. Did you

[58:04] vote? Or did you not understand and you want

[58:08] to revote? >> I just wanted to see where it was.

[58:10] » Do you need a pin? >> Huh? Okay. All right. So, we can move on

[58:15] now. Or is everything okay? >> Uh,

[58:18] » okay. >> Pointing out a different road.

[58:20] » All right. So, we're moving on to 12A boundary line adjustment.

[58:26] » Okay. Um, yep. Uh, as you know, we're uh we're looking at uh adjusting the uh the

[58:31] boundary line um to include uh the indust uh the rest of the industrial

[58:35] park that's not uh already included. Um which means some of the Luxone property.

[58:39] Also trying to grab in the um take in the uh uh Dominion substation out there.

[58:47] Um our cemetery which is not in the town of Crew.

[58:49] » That's weird, isn't it? >> It is. you know, so when people, you

[58:53] know, spend the >> their eternity in the in the crew

[58:56] cemetery, they probably want to be in the in the town of Crew.

[58:59] » Um just a sliver of the uh railroad

[59:03] property that's not currently in town on on Robertson Siding Road. Um

[59:09] the town shop um and you know, just just cleaning up things a bit. Um, we finally

[59:16] got the um uh the survey back from uh from the

[59:22] surveyor. Um, and I'm working on color coding that for, you know, for

[59:27] advertisement and such. Um, like we had our our last one color coded by by owner

[59:32] and such. Um, so next steps are confirm the So, last time I talked to the board

[59:38] about it was several months ago. Uh, they seemed willing to proceed. So I

[59:42] just have to confirm that um with them. Uh then each body schedules a public

[59:47] hearing and advertises. Notices are sent to all impacted and adjacent property

[59:51] owners. Public hearings are held. Both bodies agreed to the BLA and BLA is

[59:55] submitted to the circuit court. Um so

[1:00:02] » uh and well a lot of that's already already drafted from the from the last

[1:00:05] time we did this. So uh so >> got some uh you know templates we can

[1:00:10] use there. So, um, depending on how quickly I can hear back from the board,

[1:00:15] um, I might put that on the agenda for our work session. Um, just so we can

[1:00:20] keep moving forward.

[1:00:25] » Okay. >> Call a work session just to talk about

[1:00:28] that. >> No, it's a it's the budget work session

[1:00:30] on the uh on >> the fourth Tuesday of this month.

[1:00:36] » Mostly budget, but >> Okay. So, can we move on or?

[1:00:40] » Yep. And unless there are any other questions.

[1:00:44] » Okay. 12B architectural review board. >> Uh, does anyone have any suggestions for

[1:00:49] the architectural review board? >> Do you not have anyone to be on it?

[1:00:54] » Uh, I did talk to someone. Um, I need to just confirm. Uh, it's an individual who

[1:00:59] does who lives in Blackstone but does um historic renovations.

[1:01:06] uh and you know sounds like he he'd be willing to do it. I just want to confirm

[1:01:10] with him. Um and then that that would be the one person who's not on the So if

[1:01:16] you'll recall there are five members of the board, three of whom would be coming

[1:01:20] from business or property ownership within the uh the historic district. So

[1:01:25] if you can especially focus on those individuals um we can

[1:01:31] point them at uh at and and then of course one member of the planning

[1:01:34] commission which we'll talk to the planning commission about at the

[1:01:36] planning commission meeting. >> Okay.

[1:01:40] » Uh and speaking of planning commission I don't have it on here but also be

[1:01:43] thinking about at least one member of planning commission one has asked to um

[1:01:48] not serve at the end of the this current term.

[1:01:51] » Yes. >> Okay. Perfect.

[1:01:56] Okay, so let's move on toformational items.

[1:02:01] » Um, I may have included this last time, but if not, or if I did, then you get to

[1:02:05] see it twice. The um uh annual reports in there. Uh, the um proposal from Hearn

[1:02:11] Profit uh is in there. And uh I I especially included that just so you can

[1:02:15] uh you can see the timeline of uh of what we're looking at. And BDH was okay

[1:02:20] with the uh with the timeline. I was a little nervous at first because it's

[1:02:23] pushing it way back farther than I uh than I thought. Um

[1:02:28] but uh but basically they'd be opening bids uh end of this year uh December

[1:02:33] 10th uh give or take. So um they're doing a field investigations uh the

[1:02:39] design completion then uh uh putting everything out for bid. Uh so that means

[1:02:45] um early next year uh is when construction will start.

[1:02:51] Uh any thoughts, comments, questions on that?

[1:02:55] Okay. Um you also had have in there the uh the

[1:02:59] press release regarding uh Officer West who uh who left us for Sussex. So don't

[1:03:02] go speeding through um

[1:03:10] » No. >> No.

[1:03:12] » No. He's um >> Yeah. No, he he he was a he's a great uh

[1:03:18] great great employee. Um uh but he followed a girl I think. Yeah.

[1:03:25] » Yeah. >> Is is what happened there.

[1:03:28] » Um >> that's not a bad reason.

[1:03:30] » So uh so um yep with that. Oh and uh just a few events. I believe the

[1:03:39] supper this uh this month is uh spaghetti. So come out for for pasta on

[1:03:45] the on the fourth Thursday. Um, and the food truck rodeo, the tas of crew.

[1:03:51] [laughter] Still like that. >> No, it's not. I texted him after I got

[1:03:54] like 10 people texting me saying it's >> taste the crew. It said t a s e.

[1:03:59] » Yes. >> Um, but no, it has been changed.

[1:04:04] » What is the the date of that? >> That's Friday night.

[1:04:07] » That is this Friday night. So, come out for that on this Friday night. And I

[1:04:10] will say the last one it was pouring down raining and they were all texting

[1:04:14] me saying this is great. We've got such a great turnout. So I'm thinking if they

[1:04:19] all came out in the rain they'll really come out in the sunshine.

[1:04:22] » Absolutely. >> I saw the um the lobster truck that I

[1:04:26] » Yeah, the lobster truck will be here Friday night

[1:04:29] » which you know it's no different than than getting a lobster roll in Boston.

[1:04:35] » Oh yeah, but they're good. the um >> and budget work session is April 28th

[1:04:40] that Tuesday. So >> okay,

[1:04:44] » what time is that? >> 6

[1:04:46] » 6 28. Okay. So once again just reminding everyone we do have a five minute limit

[1:04:53] on our comments. Is there anyone who wishes to speak from the audience?

[1:05:02] Okay. >> If I gotcha. If there's no one else,

[1:05:06] we're going to move on. Announce and announcements and points of personal

[1:05:11] privilege. This is an opportunity for each member of council to provide

[1:05:14] announcements about personal or community happenings.

[1:05:19] Councilman >> Payne,

[1:05:21] » Councilman Stith, >> what is the

[1:05:26] date?

[1:05:31] [laughter] and then council.

[1:05:34] » So, as soon as USDA gets back to me, um we're, you know, we we have the the

[1:05:39] funding uh allocated by Congress. I send in uh send in the paperwork. They just

[1:05:43] have to uh have to get back to me on um basically there's, of course, it's the

[1:05:49] Fed, so they have their processes. Uh they'll have to review the um uh uh

[1:05:55] information from the engineers that I sent them, and they'll have to review

[1:05:58] the budget and and all that. And then um I believe from what they told me there's

[1:06:03] no um

[1:06:07] additional procurement outside of our own procurement that that we need to go

[1:06:10] through. So it's uh hopefully pretty quickly. Now, of course, we'd have to um

[1:06:14] put it out for bid. Um we we do have a quote and a uh and and a um

[1:06:23] plan from from at least one uh firm for underneath. Um, but hopefully very

[1:06:30] quickly. You >> think it'll be done this year?

[1:06:32] » I would hope so. I I I would do it tomorrow if I could.

[1:06:41] [laughter] >> Councilman Davis, do you have anything?

[1:06:44] » I don't have a single thing. >> Vice Mayor Stensson,

[1:06:46] » on May 30th, there will be a Let's Get Dirty festival at the community garden.

[1:06:54] » I'm glad you explained it. over at the library and there'll be um free hot dogs

[1:07:00] and hamburgers. Um there'll hopefully be vendors with garden related or craft

[1:07:07] kind of things. Um there'll be demonstrations on um

[1:07:12] planting and >> and that's May 30th.

[1:07:15] » May 30th from 10 to 2. >> Okay, everybody got that?

[1:07:21] » They um I've got to be at the school. Robin can

[1:07:26] probably tell me more about this than I even know, but I have to be at the

[1:07:30] school in the morning cuz they're receiving some kind of major award honor

[1:07:36] that they've never had something to do at the H yaw school, the mini

[1:07:41] auditorium. >> Oh, it's the um

[1:07:44] » All I know is I have to be there with the other mayors, but I don't know why.

[1:07:48] » Um gosh, it's the Gear Virginia. So, Gear

[1:07:52] Virginia is uh given to seventh graders. It's a grant. If you have children or

[1:07:58] grandchildren that's currently in the 11th grade, they got it um when they

[1:08:04] were in the seventh grade. And that grant will follow the student with

[1:08:08] special programming opportunities to go on field trips and different things.

[1:08:13] Now, I know that the one that they're currently going to wrap up next year

[1:08:17] when those kids graduate, they also get a little money. It's not a whole lot of

[1:08:21] money, but it's like a thousand or so that they'll get towards their college.

[1:08:26] Um, as >> this one is seventh grade that they're

[1:08:30] kicking off for the new seventh graders, >> but I don't think that's what she said.

[1:08:34] She she was talking about >> happy hour cafe and she was talking

[1:08:40] about an award the department of education will be there in the morning

[1:08:44] and TV channels and all of that, but I didn't Okay. Well, we're not

[1:08:50] » Virginia. That was in my email today was Gear of Virginia was happening. Um that

[1:08:56] they're kicking that off because I said um

[1:09:00] » No, it's [snorts]

[1:09:03] » No, it's okay. I just I didn't get the whole explanation. I just was told to be

[1:09:07] there. >> There's a lot there's so many things

[1:09:10] going on that I don't know. >> Okay. Councilwoman Sataweski,

[1:09:17] » nothing for me. Nothing happening at the library.

[1:09:20] » Well, Ann already mentioned uh one thing.

[1:09:23] » Okay. >> Yeah. And we do have an Earth Day event

[1:09:26] coming up on the 22nd >> of May

[1:09:29] » of April. Okay. All righty. >> Okay. Nothing. All right.

[1:09:37] » I will say that the governor did sign our bill today. So that is now law.

[1:09:41] » Happy day. >> Effective July 1st.

[1:09:43] » So I would like to ask the town manager to take us into close session. Sure. Um,

[1:09:49] we need a motion to go into close session for pursuant to Virginia Code

[1:09:54] section 2.2-3711A3. Discussion or consideration of the

[1:09:58] acquisition of real property for public purpose or for the disposition of

[1:10:01] publicly held real property where discussion in an open meeting would

[1:10:04] adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public

[1:10:08] body. And A8 um discussion of a uh potential uh economic development

[1:10:13] » prospect. A A8 is legal guidance for advice with a consultation with legal

[1:10:19] counsel. A5 is the one you're looking for development project that hasn't been

[1:10:23] publicly announced. >> Okay. So A5 devel economic development

[1:10:27] project that hasn't been publicly announced.

[1:10:29] » Okay. >> Thank you, Eric.

[1:10:30] » Can I have a motion? >> I move we go into close session.

[1:10:35] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[1:10:36] » All in favor? >> Opposed?

[1:10:41] » We are in close session. and take about five minutes for a break.

[1:10:49] » Is there a flyer for this week's um food truck radio?

April 13, 2026 Town Council Meeting

Transcript