1 00:07:22,270 --> 00:07:29,400 [Music] The April 7th meeting of the Marian Town 2 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:34,880 Council is now in session. We will be led with the 3 00:07:31,919 --> 00:07:40,639 invocation by Chief Claire followed by the pledge of allegiance. 4 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:46,560 And I would like to ask Mark if he would be kind enough to lead the pledge of 5 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:50,479 allegiance with us today. Um, and let us begin. Yeah. Please join me in prayer. 6 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:53,440 Most holy and glorious Lord God, Father, as we come before you this evening, 7 00:07:51,759 --> 00:07:57,680 we're first and foremost thankful for redemption in your word. We'd ask that 8 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:01,440 uh everything we do this evening, we tend to your glory and to the to the 9 00:07:59,759 --> 00:08:06,000 good of the people in Marian. and board. We'd ask you to watch over uh all of our 10 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:10,479 public servants this evening, nurses and doctors and teachers and firefighters 11 00:08:07,759 --> 00:08:14,080 and sanitation workers, police officers, all those who use their time and talent 12 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:18,520 for the common good. We ask all that in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. 13 00:08:20,030 --> 00:08:28,639 [Music] I pledge algiance to the flag of the 14 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:36,000 United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation 15 00:08:32,479 --> 00:08:39,719 under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 16 00:08:55,240 --> 00:09:01,200 Yes, we'll begin with the roll call. I see that all members are 17 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:12,640 present. We'll need a motion to approve of the minutes of March 17, 2025. 18 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:20,120 I'll make a motion to approve those minutes. Second. Have a motion and a 19 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:20,120 second. Is there any discussion? 20 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:25,360 None being heard, we will vote. All in 21 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:32,519 favor. It's unanimous. Motion carries. We'll need to approve the 22 00:09:31,279 --> 00:09:38,080 agenda for tonight. Do I have a motion to approve 23 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:43,959 the agenda? I'll make that motion. Second. Motion and second. Are there any 24 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:51,440 items that need to be changed, added, deleted? Um, I will be moving Mr. 25 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:56,880 Charles Harrington up in the agenda just a little bit if that needs to be 26 00:09:53,399 --> 00:10:03,040 addressed, but I'm going to put him a little bit ahead so that he can 27 00:09:59,839 --> 00:10:03,040 uh take care of other 28 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:12,920 matters. We have the approval of the agenda. We will begin with public 29 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:17,920 presentations. We have Mark Cheney. 30 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:23,040 Pardon? Did Oh, we did not vote. Okay, we need to vote then for the approval of 31 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:25,279 the agenda. Thank you, doctor. All in favor? 32 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:38,560 Now we'll move on with public presentations from the American Legion 33 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:41,519 Post 18, Mark Cheney and National Poppy Day 34 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:52,200 Resolution. Members may come forward. 35 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:11,760 It's like hurting cats. Mark, would you like to read the 36 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:17,519 resolution or will you have me do it? Uh, why don't you do it, mayor? 37 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:22,600 Okay. resolution declaring the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy 38 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:28,320 Day in the town of Marian, Virginia. Whereas the American Legion 39 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:34,240 family brought National Poppy Day to the United States by asking Congress to 40 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:41,800 designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day. And whereas after 41 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:47,920 World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe, scientists attributed the growth 42 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:54,240 to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left 43 00:11:50,959 --> 00:12:00,240 by the war. From the dirt and mud grew a beautiful red poppy. The red poppy came 44 00:11:57,519 --> 00:12:07,440 to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of 45 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:15,040 wartime poem in Flanders Fields. And whereas on September 27th, 1920, the 46 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:21,040 poppy became the official flower of the American Legion family to memorialize 47 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:28,480 the soldiers who fought and died during the war. And whereas in 48 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:35,120 1924, the distribution of poppies became a national program of the American 49 00:12:30,959 --> 00:12:41,279 Legion. And whereas led by the American Legion Auxiliary, each year members of 50 00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:47,120 the American Legion family distribute poppies with a request that the person 51 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:53,200 receiving the flower make a donation to support the future of veterans, active 52 00:12:50,399 --> 00:12:57,279 duty military personnel, and their families with medical and financial 53 00:12:55,680 --> 00:13:03,360 needs. Now therefore, be it resolved by the 54 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:10,600 Town Council of Marian, Virginia, that Friday, before Memorial Day, be hereby 55 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:17,839 officially designated as National Poppy Day. And on that day, all citizens are 56 00:13:14,399 --> 00:13:23,920 urged to wear a red poppy to honor the fallen and support the living who have 57 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:28,600 worn our nation's uniform. resolved the 7th day of April, 2025. 58 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,079 Thank you. 59 00:13:44,639 --> 00:13:54,639 Okay, we have a public present. Oh, I thought we Yes. Okay. I'll make a 60 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:58,160 motion we approve the resolution. Second. 61 00:13:56,160 --> 00:14:03,360 We have a motion and second. Any discussion necessary? 62 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:08,480 None being heard, we will vote. Everyone in favor? All in favor? It's unanimous. 63 00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:13,760 I'm sorry. I thought we voted for that the last time. The adopted direct to be 64 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:19,519 drafted. Oh, okay. Well, you you let me know if we need to do anything. Um Okay. 65 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:22,880 So, uh, thank you very much the, uh, members of the American Legion Post for 66 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:28,800 showing up tonight and for everything that you do for the community. Um, we 67 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:36,079 will continue with Clean Virginia Clean Cities EV charger grant with Tara 68 00:14:33,639 --> 00:14:41,079 Keterson. Hi, Tara. Hi. Good evening. How are you? Very good. How are you? 69 00:14:37,839 --> 00:14:48,000 Good. I brought a presentation today. Let me know if I need 70 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:48,000 to set that up. 71 00:14:50,839 --> 00:15:00,000 is do do we have your uh drive? We do. Okay. Yes, we do. Apologies. While they 72 00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:04,560 get that started, my name is Tara Casterson. I'm with Virginia Clean 73 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:08,720 Cities. Um I'm new to Southwest Virginia program. I've been here for 20 years 74 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:12,079 working. I grew up in Tazwell County. Graduated from Monker High School, went 75 00:15:10,399 --> 00:15:15,440 to Embry and Henry and stuck around for a little while. Worked in local news for 76 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:19,279 a decade. It's been a decade with Virginia Department of Energy. And uh 77 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:22,560 just a disclaimer before I start my presentation, I've been with Virginia 78 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:26,240 Clean Cities for three and a half months. So, um if there are questions 79 00:15:24,639 --> 00:15:30,000 that come up that I cannot answer for you tonight, I'll be sure to talk to the 80 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:35,040 technical experts on my team and get back to you on those. Um I live in 81 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:39,040 Bristol right now. My husband's a small business owner. We have a nine-year-old 82 00:15:36,639 --> 00:15:42,800 daughter. So, um, I'm really excited to bring these programs to Southwest 83 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:47,199 Virginia and to meet with communities like yours to talk about opportunities, 84 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:52,959 um, especially through economic development and to help the economy 85 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:58,920 thrive a little. Which one? Um, it's the Marian Town 86 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,920 Council. 87 00:15:59,759 --> 00:16:04,800 You know, there are some blasting videos that are also exciting to 88 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:12,720 watch. And if you want to go ahead and move to that slide number two, that 89 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:18,160 would be great. Slide number two. Just a little bit about clean cities. 90 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:22,720 Um, it is a national program and the goals are really economic prosperity, 91 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:27,839 um, energy security and we look to do those both through domestic supply in 92 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:31,519 transportation. That's our focus is in transportation. When you hear clean 93 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:35,279 cities, I often get asked to bring solar panels to town. and I don't have access 94 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:40,240 to that, but I can get you somebody that can help you with that if that is your 95 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:44,399 goal. Um, but also by combining those goals, uh, we can reduce emissions 96 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:48,880 through both. That's just a bonus. And you probably know that transportation is 97 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:52,480 the greatest contributor to emissions across the United States. So 98 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:57,000 decarbonizing transportation would make a big impact. If you can go to the next 99 00:16:55,440 --> 00:17:01,279 slide, please. And this is just a look at some 100 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:06,319 of the accomplishments across the nation since the clean cities and communities 101 00:17:02,959 --> 00:17:11,600 was created. Actually, um in 1992 was when the national program was created. 102 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:16,079 And then the next slide is just a look at where we are across the nation and 103 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:20,959 Virginia is really unique as most states have regional offices. So East Tennessee 104 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:26,880 has its own office compared to West Tennessee, but Virginia covers the 105 00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:30,000 entire state. Um, so we have a good collaboration especially when it comes 106 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:34,960 to stakeholders and these are people that supply these domestic fuels. So we 107 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:38,799 have a good network there as well. Um, on the next slide just a little bit more 108 00:17:36,799 --> 00:17:43,120 about Virginia clean cities. Of course we're based at James Madison University. 109 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:46,160 Um, and we're also under the US Department of Energy's vehicle 110 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:49,520 technologies office. So we do receive some federal funding. So that's good 111 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:53,679 news for you guys. We have some opportunities for you um, through that 112 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:56,679 funding. And we also have a nonprofit side of operations and that's to be able 113 00:17:55,440 --> 00:18:01,520 to collect donations through stakeholders. Uh we have nine people, 114 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:06,480 three interns running all the programs that we offer. And I just want to point 115 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:11,520 out that uh Virginia Clean Cities is fuel neutral. We get the most questions 116 00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:15,440 about electric vehicles these days, but um any of the alternative fuels we're 117 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:18,760 excited to talk to communities and police about. 118 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:26,080 So this is just how the region is divided among our staff. And I'm that 119 00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:29,520 lovely lemon yellow color there in the west. And I was hired as part of the 120 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:33,120 clean cities expansion. Uh they were doing it across the nation. And really 121 00:18:31,679 --> 00:18:37,440 they just wanted to get their programs here in Southwest Virginia since I'm a 122 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:41,480 native and know a lot of these fine people that live here and love this 123 00:18:38,799 --> 00:18:46,360 community. Um I got the job. So here I am sharing um all these programs and 124 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:50,240 great opportunities with you guys. But tonight, if you can go to the next 125 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:57,120 slide, I want to talk to you about the royal rural re-imagine program. Uh, this 126 00:18:54,000 --> 00:19:02,559 is specific to Appalachin communities. So, it would be a great opportunity for 127 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:06,559 Marion. Um, we do have demonstration vehicles. So, we have two electric 128 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:10,080 vehicles that are available for you to check out and try if you're thinking 129 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:13,840 about maybe electrifying one of your fleet cars or something like that to see 130 00:19:11,919 --> 00:19:18,000 how it works in your community and if it works for you. So, you can check that 131 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:22,480 out for a month if you want. Uh, the program also offers free level two 132 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:27,760 charging stations, and that's something we'd like to put here in Marion. And 133 00:19:24,799 --> 00:19:32,559 those stations come with up to $2,000 in reimbursement fees for the installation. 134 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:38,799 Um, that can get pricey depending on how far you are to access to electricity. 135 00:19:35,120 --> 00:19:43,520 Uh, this program does end in October, so decisions have to be made a little 136 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:47,919 quicker than probably others. Uh but level two chargers, they can be placed 137 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:52,799 in areas where EV users can spend just a few hours to 138 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:56,240 charge. And then a study from MIT actually showed that chargers near 139 00:19:54,640 --> 00:20:01,000 points of interest such as your restaurants, your downtown, your hotels, 140 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:06,640 they can increase spending up to about 3.2% annually because you're bringing in 141 00:20:03,919 --> 00:20:11,280 new guests, new attractions, um new people maybe you haven't targeted 142 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:16,960 before. Uh this program is open to private and public entities both. So the 143 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:21,840 top photo is a sire that just signed up to get a charger at their spot and the 144 00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:27,320 bottom is at Virginia who just submitted their site agreements for three 145 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:32,000 different spots with that city. Um this photo is from your 146 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:36,159 neighbors not too far away down in Saltville. They participated in the RO 147 00:20:33,679 --> 00:20:40,000 reimagine program. So if you have a connection there and want some insight, 148 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:45,679 they may be able to offer some advice. Um if you do agree to be a site host, uh 149 00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:50,400 there are a few requirements. Of course, you will have to prepare the site. Um 150 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:54,480 installation is going to be up to you and we can recommend installers or 151 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:59,520 electricians if you don't have one in mind to help you get that charger 152 00:20:56,799 --> 00:21:03,919 installed and working. Um we ask that it has public access and that you share a 153 00:21:02,159 --> 00:21:07,840 summary of the data collected. We're not looking hard numbers, but if you can 154 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:12,240 say, you know, we think five people use this or maybe 45 people use this this 155 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:17,120 month. Um, that's just some information that we like to collect to make sure 156 00:21:13,919 --> 00:21:21,600 that what we're doing is working. And the commitment is for about 5 years or 157 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:26,559 it is five years and then after that it belongs to the town. Um, if you don't 158 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:30,960 have success with it, you can get rid of it. But if it serves you well, then 159 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:34,559 definitely keep it and it's yours to do what you would want to with. After that, 160 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:39,960 of course, you have to operate and maintain the charger once you sign that 161 00:21:37,559 --> 00:21:44,480 agreement. Next slide, please. And this is just a look at some 162 00:21:42,159 --> 00:21:48,240 of the sample chargers. Um, you can get wall-mounted chargers. We, you know, 163 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:52,159 drove around looking for great sites. The parking garage was clearly one 164 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:56,880 that's wonderful. If you put a wall mounted charger there, it' be a very low 165 00:21:54,159 --> 00:22:00,799 installation fee. Um, and then we also have the pedestal chargers. whatever 166 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:05,520 works best for the location that you think would be best for these charging 167 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:08,799 stations. You can choose to network them, which means you get on a system 168 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:14,480 where you accept a credit card and whoever's charging pays for that 169 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:19,120 electricity and you can, you know, up a little bit to actually make a profit off 170 00:22:16,559 --> 00:22:23,360 of it. Now, the cery I mentioned, they're just going to put a VMO code on 171 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:28,799 theirs and say, you know, if you charge it's $10 or $20. That's really up to you 172 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:33,120 if you want to deal with the networking issues that I'm sure you are familiar 173 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:39,440 with if you've used any kind of credit card system. Um, we do currently just 174 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:45,360 have two fast charging stations left in this program which are also free for a 175 00:22:42,159 --> 00:22:49,919 site post. Um, they charge a lot faster than the level two. The level two 176 00:22:47,039 --> 00:22:54,159 chargers usually people want at least two to four hours downtown to charge 177 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:58,640 those and get a few miles on their car. And the fast chargers is about 45 178 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:04,240 minutes. Um I have a Ford Lightning that I've been using through this program and 179 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:08,480 it takes about 45 minutes 0 to 200 miles um at the Pinnacle fast charging station 180 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:13,039 in Bristol. So if that's something you are interested in, the site needs to 181 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:17,039 have that threephase power. Just consider that um if you'd like to 182 00:23:15,039 --> 00:23:20,880 install PC fast charger and there's only two left for the program. the 183 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:24,159 installation reimbursements a little extra 184 00:23:22,039 --> 00:23:29,559 $7,000 just because it usually takes more to get those 185 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:35,280 installed. Next slide, please. So, the process is really very 186 00:23:32,799 --> 00:23:39,679 simple. Um, we get the site assessment and that serves as your NEPA approval. 187 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:44,400 If you're familiar with NEPA, that's usually anytime you move dirt, you have 188 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:50,320 to get that kind of approval from the US Department of Energy. Um, so this is EV 189 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:55,039 charging stations are a categorical exclusion. So your site host assessment 190 00:23:52,559 --> 00:23:58,880 form takes care of that. And once that is approved, the site host agreement is 191 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:03,360 submitted and we're partners with Tennessee Tech. Um, and so they are over 192 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:07,600 the program and they handle all that paperwork for us and we'll work directly 193 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:12,640 with you too. Of course, we would be here to advise you the entire way um 194 00:24:10,159 --> 00:24:16,400 throughout the process. chargers would would be shipped after that site host 195 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:21,200 agreement is signed to you here in Marian. And then once you install it, 196 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:25,200 you will send your reimbursement to Tennessee Tech and they'll get you that 197 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:27,679 2,000 back or if you do the fast charge of that 198 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:35,360 7,000. And one other program I wanted to mention to you guys tonight is the 199 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:39,760 Mid-Atlantic Electrification Partnership that also provides free chargers to 200 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:44,000 communities, public, private, very similar. It just doesn't come with 201 00:24:41,279 --> 00:24:48,000 installation reimbursement fees, but it also um works directly with Virginia 202 00:24:46,559 --> 00:24:52,559 Clean Cities. You don't have to go through Tennessee Tech, so it's a little 203 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:56,559 bit of a faster pace in getting your chargers and getting your approvals and 204 00:24:54,400 --> 00:25:00,320 things like that. If you are in a hurry to get those installed, the site 205 00:24:58,799 --> 00:25:05,600 assessments, we're looking for these to be in by May 30th. We'll order all the 206 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:11,559 chargers in June and then we'll deliver them on site and we ask that the 207 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:16,159 installation be completed by September 30th. So, just so you know, we are 208 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:22,080 tracking the data and a lot of people are choosing to buy and use EVs. In 209 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:28,480 fact, we're seeing a steady 40% growth every year on EV purchases. Um, there's 210 00:25:25,279 --> 00:25:32,080 over a 100,000 registered EV users in the state of Virginia. So, plenty of 211 00:25:30,559 --> 00:25:36,440 chances to have someone stop in Marion and charge their vehicle, eat downtown, 212 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:41,919 go to the General Francis. Next slide, please. And this is 213 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:46,480 just a map of where the charging stations exist right now. So, we want to 214 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:51,279 put another green dot on that map. Uh, my goal is to get a great little network 215 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:56,559 throughout Southwest Virginia. So, I'm working from Road Oak to Lee County to 216 00:25:54,320 --> 00:26:00,720 try and get these chargers installed. But once you do install them, they'll 217 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:04,159 show up on these tools that EV users have in their cars when they plan their 218 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:07,799 trips and they'll know, oh, I can stop in Marion and grab lunch and they get a 219 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:13,760 charge on my car. One, please. I just want to throw 220 00:26:10,799 --> 00:26:18,080 this little nugget out here. Um, because we are fuel neutral. If you are 221 00:26:16,159 --> 00:26:23,279 considering saving money on your fleet, that's something else that we assist 222 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:27,279 with. um technical look at it. We can run um an audit report kind of and look 223 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:31,200 at how much money you could save if you switch to propane or compressed natural 224 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:35,039 gas or something like that. But because we do serve all of these um just wanted 225 00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:40,000 to make sure you knew that was an opportunity as 226 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:43,760 well. Um and of course you don't have to take my word for it. There's a lot of 227 00:26:41,919 --> 00:26:48,919 great um sites that I hope you'll take the time to check out as to why EV 228 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:54,080 charging can boost your economy, your community, and other opportunities for 229 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:58,600 clean fuels if you choose to do so within the town and what it can do for 230 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:02,640 you. Next slide. Um also part of the clean 231 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:06,799 communities expansion, we need to complete a transportation needs 232 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:10,400 assessment for one community and I thought Marian would be a great 233 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:14,080 community to do that with. already talked with Mountain Links about 234 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:18,720 this because we're looking at public transportation and just other things 235 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:22,960 within the town that we could just really assess. Um, this is something 236 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:27,600 conducted by Virginia Clean Cities. It'll be presented to the town at the 237 00:27:24,799 --> 00:27:32,480 end of uh when we're done to just inform you about where the community stands on 238 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:36,240 domestic fuels and access to things like charging stations that we're talking 239 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:40,880 about tonight. Of course, our overall overall goal is to reduce carbon 240 00:27:38,159 --> 00:27:46,799 emissions, but really that goes hand inhand with cost savings for communities 241 00:27:44,159 --> 00:27:50,799 and also economic drivers to bring more people into your downtown or to boost 242 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:55,120 your economy and spend their money here. Uh, basically what we do was just 243 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:59,440 schedule a few public meetings with transportation leaders, community 244 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:03,679 groups, businesses, the town, and we may do a few one-on- ons just with, you 245 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:07,600 know, the the transportation leaders in your region or anyone that you recommend 246 00:28:05,679 --> 00:28:12,640 that you think may have a great impact and, you know, what the plan should be. 247 00:28:10,799 --> 00:28:17,360 Uh, we would like to do some community surveys and town hall type meetings just 248 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:21,000 to gather information and then of course we'll produce that report and present it 249 00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:25,480 to a town. It's about a year-long process. Um, if that's something you 250 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:30,720 guys would like to support. So, I am happy to take any 251 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:34,200 questions or you can take down my information and email me after tonight 252 00:28:32,399 --> 00:28:38,080 if that works better for you guys. But I do thank you for the 253 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:41,279 opportunity to talk about this with you and hopefully we'll be in touch soon 254 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:47,039 about getting in charge. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. 255 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:52,159 Very nice presentation. Is there any action required by councelor? What is 256 00:28:49,120 --> 00:29:00,559 your pleasure? I believe in 257 00:28:53,960 --> 00:29:08,880 20 uh 23 we addressed a uh program with Kendra Hayden and some county and Mr. 258 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:14,559 Heath's office took point on that. Don't want to put him on the spot, but 259 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:19,000 do you have anything to say in response? For over 30 years, should be having 260 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:27,760 All right. Just wanted to make sure we touched all bases. 261 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:32,799 Is there anything that we go need to go ahead and set a motion forward to do? 262 00:29:30,399 --> 00:29:35,919 What is council's pleasure? I I do not know. Ken, is this the same one that we 263 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:39,320 spoke about a while back that we were already approved for? 264 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:45,840 So, it's it's already been in the motion. I mean, do you think that it 265 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:49,440 would be ideal to go ahead and to adopt it or would you guys like to 266 00:29:47,679 --> 00:29:54,159 wait? Which committee should we give it to or do we need to just have her start 267 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:58,080 the assessment? I believe that Ken's office has been working with it just 268 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:04,840 assessment. So, we'll just continue to let Ken take point on it if that's I 269 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,840 don't believe we need a motion for that. 270 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:12,480 the next council very specific locations and cost and that kind of thing. Yeah, I 271 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:16,720 think we gauge council's interest and see if we want to go further before the 272 00:30:14,159 --> 00:30:21,360 next Yeah, I'd say I'd say it's a good idea to go ahead and proceed. Thank you. 273 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:25,279 Thank you. Okay, Tara, thank you very much. Just want to make sure. Okay, 274 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:30,640 we're going to proceed now and we're going to move Charles Harrington up into 275 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:34,480 this spot so that he can continue with what he needs to do. He's from the 276 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:39,000 Marian Housing Authority and he promised me he doesn't need more than two 277 00:30:36,559 --> 00:30:43,440 minutes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Pleasure to be with you tonight. 278 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:48,000 I actually have two commissioners up for the appointment. As you are aware, the 279 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:51,840 commissioners appointed by council rather interesting the way that it's 280 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:57,279 done because when the housing is established by code, the 281 00:30:54,919 --> 00:31:01,679 council commissioners after that basically commissioners allowed to stay 282 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:06,080 for as long as they want. But in in town, a lot of the towns they got set 283 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:12,240 terms and our terms of four years. We have Brian Reed who has been an 284 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:16,320 absolute anchor of the housing and Gina Roberts who has contributed a great deal 285 00:31:13,919 --> 00:31:21,600 to our housing community. They're both up for appointment. I would like to ask 286 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:26,159 their appointment for I'd like to make the motion to approve both of those 287 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:32,240 individuals. Second. I believe we need to appoint them separately. Yes. I'll 288 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:35,520 make a motion to reappoint Brian Reed first. 289 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:38,840 Second. Any 290 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:44,880 discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Motion carries. 291 00:31:42,559 --> 00:31:51,440 So we got Regina. Okay. I'll make the motion to reappoint Regina Roberts to 292 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:56,640 the housing authority. Second. Second. Motion and second. Any discussion? All 293 00:31:54,399 --> 00:32:00,080 in favor? Unanimous motion carries. Thank you very 294 00:31:58,559 --> 00:32:05,120 much. Just for a little bit of information, uh, as u you're aware, one 295 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:08,399 of the primary things that we're interested in in our properties is 296 00:32:06,559 --> 00:32:12,559 safety and security. We've just bought for another quarter million dollar grant 297 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:16,640 for additional cameras, uh, lighting, and security for all of our properties, 298 00:32:14,399 --> 00:32:21,760 which we may be very valuable. It's been great with the police department because 299 00:32:18,399 --> 00:32:25,919 we've been able to find things and solve things rather quickly with the cameras 300 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:29,039 that we have. So, we do have that in the works. The other thing I would tell you 301 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:34,720 is there's some programs going on right now uh that don't they do and don't have 302 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:37,679 an effect. They can have some financial effect, but we're looking at the 303 00:32:35,919 --> 00:32:42,399 possibility of what they call an asset repositioning uh position which is 304 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,760 slightly changes some of the funding streams. It doesn't affect the community 305 00:32:43,919 --> 00:32:50,480 whatsoever, but of course that's on our federal funding. And the last thing I'll 306 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:55,120 tell you is that we did finish an audit give Billy a copy of that financial a 307 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:59,440 house of authority to be in exceptionally good financial condition 308 00:32:57,679 --> 00:33:02,760 and again we've come three years in a row has been recognized as being one of 309 00:33:01,279 --> 00:33:09,480 the highest performing housing authorities in the area. 310 00:33:05,679 --> 00:33:14,960 Thank you. Thank you very much all your information. And now we will move ahead 311 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:19,840 with public comment time. And the first person that we have on the 312 00:33:16,799 --> 00:33:25,679 list is Chad Armstrong. And if you would please, Chad, approach the podium, give 313 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:30,320 us your name and address, and then the floor is 314 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:35,039 yours. Chad Armstrong, uh, 190 Prairie Lane in 315 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:42,200 Atkins. And even though I don't live in town limits, I travel into the town 316 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:51,279 limits every day. So, as I get off exit 45, come down 16, my really my first uh 317 00:33:48,399 --> 00:33:59,600 visible sign is the welcome to the town of Marion sign. In its current state, it 318 00:33:55,480 --> 00:34:04,480 is not inviting at all. So, I would like to make some 319 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:09,919 suggestions and ideas that I have to improve the looks of that sign. The 320 00:34:07,679 --> 00:34:14,200 first thing you need to do or that I would do is you need to remove both of 321 00:34:12,159 --> 00:34:20,679 those shrubs on each end. Just take them out. Then you need to pressure wash the 322 00:34:17,679 --> 00:34:28,960 brick sign and brighten it up. And the next thing I would do is to 323 00:34:25,359 --> 00:34:36,480 get some concrete sealer uh and seal those brick. If you seal the brick, then 324 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:41,119 you have less trouble with the uh blackness of the sign in its current 325 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:44,520 state now and the mold that gets on it and things like that. It'll kind of shed 326 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:51,599 that off. And then the lighting on the 327 00:34:47,679 --> 00:34:58,400 ground, uh it looks to me like it it's been kind of broken a little bit. I'm 328 00:34:54,159 --> 00:35:04,320 not sure that it even functions, but I would like to see the town move the 329 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:09,040 lighting to the top of the sign. Center your light, make you an arm that comes 330 00:35:07,359 --> 00:35:16,560 get you a light that has an arm that comes out. And I think you would have a 331 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:21,599 more appealing uh sign that way. And then uh you could build I would like to 332 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:29,200 see you build a new flower bed, raised flower bed using some edggers and plant 333 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:35,760 some flowers that are annuals that bloom every year. They come back each year. 334 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:43,440 And I have an example for me would be some dillies. Dillies are very hearty. 335 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:47,640 They love the sun and they are very hearty when it comes to winter weather 336 00:35:45,359 --> 00:35:55,839 as we experienced this past year. Then my next thing would be to the 337 00:35:52,400 --> 00:36:01,400 uh streetscapes where the flower boxes are at. Um basically take all that 338 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:07,440 monkey grass out of those and plant flowers in there. You 339 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:13,839 can use a variety. You don't have to do all day lillies, but get something that 340 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:20,079 blooms and has some color so it's more inviting when you come into 341 00:36:16,839 --> 00:36:25,280 town. And then uh Ken may be able to help me on this one. I've talked to 342 00:36:22,079 --> 00:36:32,240 Avery about it is I didn't know if there was any facade grants available still. 343 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:38,240 Um, I know that down here, I'll use this as an example. Down here at the Yummy 344 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:43,040 Yummy restaurant, uh, their roof, it it's not in real good shape. Don't know 345 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:48,640 who owns the building, but I was wondering if Ken could still work on 346 00:36:46,079 --> 00:36:53,119 some facade grants available and maybe do something with the roof of that 347 00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:57,680 building. As you're come in, actually, it's the second red light. You're 348 00:36:55,200 --> 00:37:04,800 turning on Main Street. you see that it sort of jumps out at you and along the 349 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:10,640 uh Route 16 corridor as you're coming in before you approach the town of Marian 350 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:16,560 sign. Um I think it'd be a great idea if you could do some like some uh dogwood 351 00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:21,359 trees. I don't know how much property that we could work with there. Uh you 352 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:25,359 could do some pink and white and kind of alternate it. I think it would look 353 00:37:23,599 --> 00:37:31,599 great. I think it would improve that little stretch of highway there or an 354 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:38,079 eastern red bud which blooms really bright in the springtime as well. So 355 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:42,079 that's kind of my ideas for uh some things there as you're coming in off of 356 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:48,240 that main thorough affair off the interstate, get off 45, you're coming in 357 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:54,640 on 16 there into the town limits. Any questions for me or anything? 358 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:58,079 Thank you. We 359 00:37:56,320 --> 00:38:02,560 and I think several of the things that you mentioned the streets committee is 360 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:08,400 already um looking at. So we'll take your suggestions into account and um if 361 00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:13,839 we can incorporate you into this somehow, we definitely will. I'll be in 362 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:18,079 touch. Thank you for coming in and we appreciate your attention and even if 363 00:38:16,079 --> 00:38:23,000 you don't live in Marian, we still serve you. That's right. Thanks so much. I 364 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:29,520 appreciate it. Thank you very much. Next, um, we do have Gail 365 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:41,400 Atkins, Bill Atkins, 531 Cather. Got a few things going about 366 00:38:37,839 --> 00:38:46,119 transparency in this town council. Last meeting, it blowing out the window. I 367 00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:51,040 made a proposal with the camera system and 368 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:55,280 everything I was asked to do. And one thing I'd like to know if the one you 369 00:38:53,599 --> 00:39:00,800 got now, was there a proposal done for it? 370 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:06,160 Guess not. We never sent out an RFP. No, we didn't. So they just, you know, and 371 00:39:03,359 --> 00:39:11,760 then you say Todd Long was here waiting. Y'all went into a closed session, then 372 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:15,440 adjournment. There was no nothing on the paper saying you going to come back in 373 00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:20,400 open session. You have to return to open session after paper. Well, we always do 374 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:23,359 that. That's that's our well you need to know let the people know because 375 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:26,880 everybody leaves if you don't put it on there that's something needs to be 376 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:30,560 changed needs to be on that paper saying you're going to come back another 377 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:35,480 concession everybody's got my number or most everybody they can call me I didn't 378 00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:41,040 get the chance to discuss my system or anything which you know you just like 379 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:46,839 that should have been brought to this meeting today to vote on it so everybody 380 00:39:44,079 --> 00:39:52,079 can be there for I've been in business for 26 years 381 00:39:49,839 --> 00:39:58,520 in this town and nothing has been bought from me except one thing. Chief Blair, 382 00:39:56,400 --> 00:40:03,560 would you hand these out for me, please? This was in 2009. Is it all the 383 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:08,160 same? Yeah. 2009, 384 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:15,680 $13.95. Thank you. spent 385 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:23,839 and that by April for the town police department for a SD card 386 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:29,760 for I put in six proposals out of my 26 years nothing has been bought nothing at 387 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:33,880 all except they right there and it wasn't proposal that was just her coming 388 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:38,640 in deep and if Todd was here afterwards why 389 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:42,000 wouldn't I ask you Hunter, we went outside. I said, "Holler 390 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:44,760 at me the next day and we'll go over to this. I'll explain to you because you're 391 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:49,280 on the IT committee." Yeah, that's what I was 392 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:54,320 expecting. Not to be blindsided and do under the 393 00:40:50,599 --> 00:40:58,960 bus. Transparency is gone. Y'all need to get it back cuz this is a fullblown case 394 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:06,240 of just appalling, you know, for me to be in business 26 years. And I'm going 395 00:41:04,960 --> 00:41:09,119 to tell you, if I do get elected tomorrow, there's going to be some 396 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:12,640 change because I tell you, I'm not a yes or no person. If I don't understand it, 397 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:16,480 I'm going to read it. I don't care if it take you three months to vote. I'm going 398 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:19,520 to know what I'm voting on before voting. Not just throw it out there and 399 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:24,040 say, "Oh, we're going to vote and everybody votes yes or no or whatever." 400 00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:29,440 That's one reason I am running. There's got to be something 401 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:32,680 done. As far as Todd not uh, you know, telling me and blindsided me, I asked 402 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:37,520 for his resignation because gets back to Bill 403 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:44,520 Rushes, you know, the same thing he did. You know, blindside put people out 404 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:44,520 there. That's it. Thank you. 405 00:41:45,359 --> 00:41:56,400 We we thank you for your time and your comments and um 406 00:41:51,079 --> 00:42:01,040 we're sorry that uh the process wasn't uh to 407 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:07,520 your advantage but we will take that under consideration and we will 408 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:16,160 um we go forward. Thank you for your time. Next we have Kayla. 409 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:21,760 I'm sorry. I can't I have a holds. Yeah. Um, may I be moved to the to last? You 410 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:26,240 wish to be moved to last? Yes, you may be moved. Help me pronounce your last 411 00:42:24,079 --> 00:42:33,359 name, Kayla. You're Pastor Kayla to me. Uh, Kyle Wols. That's why I can't say 412 00:42:29,359 --> 00:42:39,480 it. I have some trouble with it, too. Okay. So, we have Charles Hayden next. 413 00:42:49,520 --> 00:43:00,760 My name is Charles 76 out of church. I really don't 414 00:42:56,359 --> 00:43:06,480 know where to begin with what's going on here, 415 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:13,280 but I'd like to point out that under the deal rule freedom of information, a 416 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:18,280 government body does not have broad general authority to adopt whatever 417 00:43:16,319 --> 00:43:23,720 ordinance it deems appropriate or desirable. 418 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:29,000 This is a decision that would make the Virginia 419 00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:35,440 court quoted with approval from the dealer 420 00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:43,839 rule as a result the rule a government body does not have broad general 421 00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:43,839 authority. Now, my opinion under code 422 00:43:44,359 --> 00:43:51,920 18241, this appears to be a conspiracy against 423 00:43:49,079 --> 00:43:57,920 rights and our rights under Virginia Constitution has been denied by the town 424 00:43:54,599 --> 00:43:57,920 cent. One of 425 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:10,280 them storage and many other changes of town codes for changes in the zoning. 426 00:44:08,560 --> 00:44:16,359 wish to get passed. Now what freedom information 427 00:44:13,599 --> 00:44:24,040 says about chain charges subsection L of 428 00:44:20,520 --> 00:44:27,480 2.23704 prior to conducting a search for records. The public body shall notify 429 00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:31,720 the requesty in 430 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:40,000 writing that the public may make reasonable charges. 431 00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:46,200 that was not stated when given to me at the time I made my 432 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:52,640 request, but sent an email with an invoice stating the charge of 433 00:44:49,400 --> 00:45:01,000 $75. An email is not putting something in right. Then the email invoice was 434 00:44:57,560 --> 00:45:08,440 mailed after I was given the information stating the 435 00:45:03,720 --> 00:45:16,960 charge under code 2.2-3700 2-3700 of the forer tax all public 436 00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:23,280 bodies and their officials and employees shall make reasonable 437 00:45:19,079 --> 00:45:27,480 effort reason reach an agreement with the requesttor concerning the production 438 00:45:25,599 --> 00:45:33,680 of records requested. Never had that 439 00:45:30,520 --> 00:45:39,640 conversation. I do not believe getting on a computer, pulling up a file, 440 00:45:36,720 --> 00:45:45,400 hitting a key to copy a file on a zip drive would take the amount of time to 441 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:50,560 justify a $75 charge. This is, in my opinion, a way to 442 00:45:48,400 --> 00:45:55,839 discourage the public from asking for rent. 443 00:45:52,880 --> 00:46:02,520 Now, the Freedom Information Act rights and responsibility says as of July 2023, 444 00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:09,440 the right and responsibility statements must include a 445 00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:16,240 written policy, explaining how the public body assesses charges for 446 00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:22,680 obsessing and searching for request record, and noting the current 447 00:46:18,760 --> 00:46:28,319 fee to be charged, if in I don't think y'all have that policy 448 00:46:26,160 --> 00:46:35,280 that state law and freedom of information says you must 449 00:46:31,160 --> 00:46:43,560 have each public body may set its own policy within the cost limit allowed 450 00:46:40,079 --> 00:46:50,640 under freedom information act not your own amount you wish to have but under 451 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:50,640 the freedom information 452 00:46:51,839 --> 00:46:55,720 Then in 2.2-3704.2 453 00:46:56,359 --> 00:47:08,160 Two public bodies are to designate border request offer under part L the 454 00:47:04,720 --> 00:47:14,200 name contact information of a foreign request offer trained by legal counsel 455 00:47:12,079 --> 00:47:21,920 of the public body in plain English writing as the law 456 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:31,160 says these laws are supposed to be that does not say the lawyer can be the forer 457 00:47:26,839 --> 00:47:37,520 request. He is to be the legal counsel training the person. So there again, 458 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:41,920 you're violating your own codes. You're violating the state law. You're 459 00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:48,240 violating Freedom of Information Act. But it seems to be okay with this 460 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:55,440 council. No way to add no transparency to what y'all are doing. 461 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:55,440 Now, with that being 462 00:47:55,480 --> 00:48:00,960 said, this is my opinion about what I've 463 00:48:01,079 --> 00:48:10,160 read. And I like any one of them or all of them to look at the same codes, same 464 00:48:08,079 --> 00:48:14,400 laws I did. I'm not going to take the time to read them today because I think 465 00:48:11,839 --> 00:48:21,359 it's y'all's responsibility to read them and find them. 466 00:48:17,960 --> 00:48:31,160 Now, I've lived here at my present address for 28 years 467 00:48:24,599 --> 00:48:39,400 plus. I have never never in all that time from the time I bought my 468 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:46,119 house, our transparency, our overbearing 469 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:52,280 zoning laws, 470 00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:59,200 our roadblocks put in when we ask for information has completely 471 00:48:55,960 --> 00:49:03,640 disguigated to where it almost takes the acts of Congress to get the town to 472 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:11,400 actually work with us. And another statement before I'm 473 00:49:07,240 --> 00:49:22,440 done, it's been put in the Smith County news that I am a frequent critic of the 474 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:22,440 town. Well, I got news for you people. 475 00:49:22,640 --> 00:49:29,000 I love this town. I hate to move, but it's getting to the point it looks like 476 00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:36,240 I'm going to have to because I do not like what's 477 00:49:31,839 --> 00:49:41,880 happening in this town. But I am not a critic of the town. I'm a critic of the 478 00:49:39,480 --> 00:49:48,079 council. I'm for the people of this town. That's for one reason I'm speaking 479 00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:52,319 up. But right now, every move that y'all making is to shut us up. 480 00:49:53,960 --> 00:50:02,599 Now, from there, I'm about done, but I would like Chief Clair to give this to 481 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:02,599 the mayor. 482 00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:13,240 Huh? Just him. Just him. He's the head of the 483 00:50:09,880 --> 00:50:20,079 council. Now, I will read it from town, Virginia. My name is 484 00:50:17,280 --> 00:50:25,599 Charles Andrew Hayden. My address is 726 South Church. This statement is to 485 00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:33,280 inform the town that my property is posted. I am formally requesting that no 486 00:50:29,200 --> 00:50:40,480 town employee, police, town official, or council person enter my property without 487 00:50:36,559 --> 00:50:49,079 my invitation or have a court order or a court warrant to be delivered in person 488 00:50:44,720 --> 00:50:53,319 on enter dated April 7, 2025. Thank you. 489 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:07,440 We uh appreciate your comments and um that brings to mind that I do time these 490 00:51:05,200 --> 00:51:11,760 comments and we we gave you latitude because I know that you had a lot to 491 00:51:09,280 --> 00:51:17,440 say. I hope that we'll take all of these things into consideration as we move 492 00:51:14,040 --> 00:51:22,520 forward. And Mr. Finnick, um is there anything that you wish to address there? 493 00:51:19,920 --> 00:51:28,400 Well, again, 2.2-3702 2-3702, excuse me, 494 00:51:25,720 --> 00:51:36,079 3704.2. I've stated what it says in the past. The code hasn't changed from the 495 00:51:30,880 --> 00:51:41,680 last time that I read it. When you look at paragraph E, you can't just 496 00:51:38,920 --> 00:51:50,640 read particular words. You have to read the whole paragraph. And it doesn't 497 00:51:46,119 --> 00:51:56,359 limit who can serve as a FOYA officer. With regards to the 498 00:51:53,880 --> 00:52:05,240 charges in this case, an email was sent by Flave 499 00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:12,079 um to Mr. Hayden and he afterwards came 500 00:52:08,119 --> 00:52:19,680 and spoke with Flave. Flave informed him and he came up and picked up his uh 501 00:52:16,720 --> 00:52:26,240 disc. It was not a simple process. the system that the town uses is it's a new 502 00:52:23,920 --> 00:52:34,040 system. So, it wasn't just an easy matter of going and and finding it was a 503 00:52:29,359 --> 00:52:41,760 process that um Todd Long was the one that had to take spend a little time to 504 00:52:38,040 --> 00:52:47,599 discover. When Leave relayed the information to me that there was a 505 00:52:43,720 --> 00:52:52,960 request, I came and spoke to him and asked him, "Are you able to get this 506 00:52:49,800 --> 00:52:59,520 information?" He said, "No." I spoke with Samantha White. She said no. And 507 00:52:56,640 --> 00:53:06,760 she wasn't aware of anyone on the town staff that could get it. But for Todd 508 00:53:02,640 --> 00:53:14,480 Long, Todd Long was on vacation. He was contacted. Uh there was a meeting 509 00:53:09,720 --> 00:53:21,520 between the four of us um to find out if he could walk us through it or play 510 00:53:18,319 --> 00:53:28,880 through it and he he said no. So when he came got back from vacation, 511 00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:36,160 um he and I did get onto the system and he was able to eventually get it. That 512 00:53:33,119 --> 00:53:44,079 with regards to a recording, that's not going to be a problem. Now the town has 513 00:53:39,440 --> 00:53:53,359 a YouTube page and has submitting it. So if someone were to ask and a easy 514 00:53:48,599 --> 00:53:57,800 response would be hey get on YouTube I'm a sub 515 00:53:54,599 --> 00:54:07,200 subscriber the town has a form to file that form does come 516 00:54:03,359 --> 00:54:12,720 to myself and to Cindy Stanley so that if one of us happened to be gone there's 517 00:54:10,800 --> 00:54:16,880 going to be another person that would know something had come in. 518 00:54:17,480 --> 00:54:29,599 Um, but the town is doing what it's supposed to be doing. Thank you. Okay. 519 00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:36,720 And as far as the uh posting of Mr. Hayden's property um that impact um 520 00:54:33,839 --> 00:54:43,520 emergency services, that does not impact police. that does not impact the reading 521 00:54:40,720 --> 00:54:48,079 of his water meter. If he's concerned about that, the town 522 00:54:45,559 --> 00:54:51,559 can disconnect the meter and he doesn't have to worry about the town coming to 523 00:54:49,599 --> 00:54:58,559 look at the meter. Okay. But, uh, we will respect 524 00:54:55,160 --> 00:55:05,040 your privacy otherwise. And thank you for your comments. U, it's time to move 525 00:55:00,800 --> 00:55:11,440 on. And, uh, we have Tom Hower. Tom Hower would like to speak with us. 526 00:55:07,640 --> 00:55:16,559 Um let's let's not um let's not proceed with civil discourse. Um I I would like 527 00:55:14,319 --> 00:55:20,559 to go ahead and follow this. I I can give some latitude, but I'm interested 528 00:55:18,160 --> 00:55:26,160 in what you have to say, sir. Okay. Well, 529 00:55:23,240 --> 00:55:31,520 um I had planned on mentioning this, but I I I was interested in what uh what was 530 00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:36,800 the lady's name? First of all, my name is Tom Hower. I live 218 North Church 531 00:55:33,680 --> 00:55:41,599 Street. and Tara here with Clean Virginia. 532 00:55:39,119 --> 00:55:45,760 I had a conversation with Eric Ken Heath about a couple weeks ago about the what 533 00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:51,920 she was proposing in terms of the level of the charging station and for somebody 534 00:55:49,440 --> 00:55:57,040 who has an EV and and travels a little bit, you know, trying to figure out 535 00:55:54,240 --> 00:56:03,280 where to spend the night. Um, if that hotel has an EV 536 00:55:59,319 --> 00:56:09,200 charging, that is a big plus and I think it would be a benefit to our community 537 00:56:06,319 --> 00:56:09,200 uh to have that 538 00:56:15,079 --> 00:56:23,280 available difference on the large scale but it'll be different for owners who 539 00:56:18,720 --> 00:56:26,640 are traveling u using ease. Okay. Second reason I'm here, 540 00:56:27,559 --> 00:56:36,640 uh I guess I've heard through the grape vine that there was some controversy uh 541 00:56:33,359 --> 00:56:44,000 about uh some unhoused folk who are living um on some property down by the 542 00:56:39,720 --> 00:56:47,599 river. And I was just um anticipating some comments that were going to be made 543 00:56:45,520 --> 00:56:52,760 today, but uh haven't had the opportunity to hear them. And um I live 544 00:56:51,920 --> 00:57:00,720 in Marion and um I live 545 00:56:57,400 --> 00:57:04,640 downtown as some of you know and one of the things I really like about where I 546 00:57:02,480 --> 00:57:10,319 lived is the diversity of the people walking up and down the street in front 547 00:57:06,160 --> 00:57:18,960 of my home. Okay. And I also walk the river walk uh two or three occasions uh 548 00:57:13,920 --> 00:57:24,240 every every week. doctor's orders and uh there is an encampment across from the 549 00:57:21,040 --> 00:57:27,760 river rock well across the river and I'm glad they're there to be honest with you 550 00:57:26,319 --> 00:57:33,760 the property owner doesn't have a problem with it I think it's a it's a 551 00:57:30,720 --> 00:57:38,799 good location for those people to be in and uh if some people are opposed to 552 00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:43,359 that they have their own opinion to that but I think we should be compassionate 553 00:57:40,799 --> 00:57:49,359 and we should be tolerant and in this community embrace folk that uh are 554 00:57:47,040 --> 00:57:54,640 having a hard tough time and help them out whenever we can. And I have one 555 00:57:51,920 --> 00:57:58,240 other comment too. I sure would like to see a threeminut limit on public 556 00:57:56,640 --> 00:58:02,319 comments. I think would make the meetings much more efficient. So, thank 557 00:58:00,160 --> 00:58:07,839 you very much. Well, I appreciate your comments. Um I 558 00:58:05,839 --> 00:58:16,359 have elected to use the five minute limit and five is any any limit is good 559 00:58:10,880 --> 00:58:16,359 as long as Thank you. Thank you. 560 00:58:17,700 --> 00:58:24,799 [Music] Thank you, Tom. Um, and now we have Lynn 561 00:58:22,880 --> 00:58:29,440 White. Lynn White would like to address us. Hi, Lynn. If you'll please approach 562 00:58:27,359 --> 00:58:32,440 the podium and give us your name and address. 563 00:58:35,359 --> 00:58:43,839 I'm Lyn White, 501 Virginia Avenue, and thank you for letting me 564 00:58:41,920 --> 00:58:50,000 speak tonight. I've lived in the town of Marian for 565 00:58:45,839 --> 00:58:55,040 over 40 years and never attended a town council meeting. So, this is my first 566 00:58:53,040 --> 00:59:03,319 one. I'm sorry. And so, I'm a little nervous 567 00:58:59,280 --> 00:59:10,000 and I have my notes here in front of me um so I don't forget anything. And the 568 00:59:07,119 --> 00:59:16,720 time limit, I'm used to it because Mr. Cornet and I were cut off at 3 minutes. 569 00:59:14,240 --> 00:59:23,680 That's why I give you five. That's why I give you five. I I don't need five. Um 570 00:59:20,720 --> 00:59:28,359 I've over the past few months, I've seen appreciation months for various groups, 571 00:59:27,040 --> 00:59:33,440 uh teacher appreciation, law enforcement 572 00:59:31,160 --> 00:59:40,960 appreciation, but I didn't know if there was a town appreciation month. 573 00:59:37,680 --> 00:59:48,400 So um over the past few months there have been many people in the town 574 00:59:43,400 --> 00:59:51,280 capacity that has me several things and I just wanted to 575 00:59:54,359 --> 01:00:06,160 come Miss Spencer gave me the correct terminology but I call them the 576 01:00:00,480 --> 01:00:10,559 sanitation crew. I appreciate the town sanitation people that come by my house, 577 01:00:08,720 --> 01:00:17,359 especially um they were very kind and helpful to me 578 01:00:13,760 --> 01:00:21,559 during inclement weather and I really appreciate that and all the help that 579 01:00:20,480 --> 01:00:28,079 each person has given me. And I also want to 580 01:00:25,400 --> 01:00:34,640 thank all the candidates that are running for town council tomorrow. I 581 01:00:30,960 --> 01:00:40,359 know firsthand how very challenging uh this can be. So, thank you to you 582 01:00:37,839 --> 01:00:46,000 town council members. Thank you candidates that are running and I wish 583 01:00:43,520 --> 01:00:50,960 you the best of luck. And thank you for letting me speak. And 584 01:00:48,960 --> 01:00:55,440 if you'll excuse me, I have another commitment to get to. Ben, thank you 585 01:00:53,200 --> 01:01:02,720 very much for your kind comments. It's nice to hear that uh somebody likes us. 586 01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:10,680 And uh now we're going to move on with JS Stalin. I saw JS 587 01:01:06,119 --> 01:01:18,720 earlier there. Okay, JS, if you'll please the podium. Thank you, ma'am. 588 01:01:15,680 --> 01:01:27,520 I'm JS Daily. I live at 337 West Main Street in the long time of the town. I 589 01:01:24,480 --> 01:01:32,720 uh simply am here to inquire what's going on with the 590 01:01:30,119 --> 01:01:39,280 vacancy. Uh I thought we had a little issue last fall 591 01:01:36,040 --> 01:01:46,200 winter and I thought it was resolved and now find out that they're two separate 592 01:01:42,200 --> 01:01:54,480 encampments on the river bank without sanitation without public policy input. 593 01:01:51,440 --> 01:01:58,960 Uh certainly a health issue. I thought that uh I had to have a sewer line 594 01:01:56,720 --> 01:02:03,119 hooked up. They got a river that they can use. 595 01:02:00,640 --> 01:02:08,680 So I'm just asking a question. What's going on with the vacancy issue in town? 596 01:02:06,640 --> 01:02:14,559 I heard Mr. 597 01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:21,799 Howard's appreciative comments. I don't fall in the same camp. Very good. I want 598 01:02:17,359 --> 01:02:27,119 us to have a clean, neat society for everybody involved. I 599 01:02:25,359 --> 01:02:35,359 thought that the investment of a million dollars to upgrade some substandard 600 01:02:30,200 --> 01:02:35,359 housing was to take care of some of the 601 01:02:38,280 --> 01:02:48,319 problem more public. So I just I don't have any idea 602 01:02:44,799 --> 01:02:54,920 what's going on with the vagrant issue and I'd like to know what's going on or 603 01:02:51,440 --> 01:03:01,680 direct me to somebody to talk to to find out. That's all I've got. 604 01:02:59,520 --> 01:03:07,920 Mr. Saley, thank you. U we will definitely take your words into 605 01:03:04,359 --> 01:03:15,559 consideration and moving forward we have uh Charles Wom. Dr. Wasome if you would. 606 01:03:13,599 --> 01:03:19,559 Thank you. Charles Woma Marian 607 01:03:21,280 --> 01:03:29,960 Next year will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of 608 01:03:27,480 --> 01:03:36,359 Independence. And I think it' be a very good idea for all 609 01:03:34,720 --> 01:03:41,960 citizens to read it well enough, study it well 610 01:03:39,599 --> 01:03:48,440 enough so that they understand what follows were trying to 611 01:03:45,440 --> 01:03:48,440 do. 612 01:03:55,440 --> 01:04:02,640 and focus on that for just a minute or so. We hope to be men are 613 01:04:07,559 --> 01:04:17,039 creator God with certain unalable rights. Among 614 01:04:13,359 --> 01:04:17,039 these are life, liberty of 615 01:04:21,319 --> 01:04:30,319 happiness, right? go to Virginia Constitution and before they ever formed 616 01:04:28,559 --> 01:04:34,000 a government with the constitution, they put the rights of the people up there up 617 01:04:32,640 --> 01:04:38,680 front. That was the first thing they did, the rights of the people and then 618 01:04:36,799 --> 01:04:45,319 they form the government. Uh that to secure these 619 01:04:41,799 --> 01:04:53,319 rights, governments are instituted among men. So what is the purpose of 620 01:04:47,880 --> 01:04:56,319 government? To secure the rights of individual 621 01:04:57,880 --> 01:05:08,079 people that to secure these rights governments. Who is the 622 01:05:04,520 --> 01:05:12,000 government? I understand that the town council governs 623 01:05:12,920 --> 01:05:22,400 Marion, not the staff, but the town council. Governments are instituted 624 01:05:19,839 --> 01:05:30,559 among men driving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Who is the 625 01:05:27,000 --> 01:05:30,559 governed? Us out 626 01:05:32,760 --> 01:05:38,079 here. According to the Declaration of Independence and the 627 01:05:39,400 --> 01:05:49,880 Constitution, governments get powers. They don't get rights. 628 01:05:45,960 --> 01:05:55,920 Governments are to secure the rights of the 629 01:05:53,559 --> 01:06:00,079 people. To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men 630 01:05:57,839 --> 01:06:04,280 deriving their just powers from the consent of the 631 01:06:02,280 --> 01:06:10,319 government. If you read the constitution, what's the first in the US 632 01:06:08,119 --> 01:06:13,799 constitution? It's also all this is in the Virginia constitution too. But 633 01:06:12,000 --> 01:06:19,280 article 1 section one reinforces that it's governments 634 01:06:16,880 --> 01:06:25,960 that have powers. Article 1 section one all legislative powers herein 635 01:06:23,319 --> 01:06:33,280 granted the people have granted to the government the 636 01:06:29,720 --> 01:06:37,520 power to secure the rights of the people. This is the way I read it. I 637 01:06:35,359 --> 01:06:44,079 think this is the historical uh way it was meant. Article two. What's 638 01:06:41,680 --> 01:06:44,079 article 639 01:06:44,520 --> 01:06:56,359 two? Article two of the constitution says the uh executive power shall be 640 01:06:54,640 --> 01:07:01,280 vested in a president. Executive doesn't have any 641 01:06:59,440 --> 01:07:06,599 rights by the constitution. They have powers. the executive power in the third 642 01:07:03,520 --> 01:07:12,160 amendment I mean the third uh article in the 643 01:07:09,000 --> 01:07:15,400 constitution the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one 644 01:07:14,240 --> 01:07:21,599 supreme court. 645 01:07:17,480 --> 01:07:25,799 So I hope in the state of Virginia calls it 250 Virginia meaning the 250th 646 01:07:24,160 --> 01:07:34,400 anniversary of the declaration of independence. But my interest 647 01:07:27,920 --> 01:07:34,400 particularly now is on July the 17th, 648 01:07:34,680 --> 01:07:45,359 2023. Four people agreed that the town has 649 01:07:42,839 --> 01:07:50,079 rights. Two people said no, the town doesn't have 650 01:07:47,480 --> 01:07:56,960 rights. And I've talked to people about this. It just seems to be a lack of 651 01:07:53,319 --> 01:08:04,039 understanding for what's written in the foundational documents in 652 01:07:59,400 --> 01:08:11,280 America. People, individuals have rights. They give power to governments 653 01:08:08,480 --> 01:08:17,440 to secure those rights. To me, that is the most important job that governments 654 01:08:15,280 --> 01:08:24,239 have that you all have is to be sure that our rights are secure. 655 01:08:20,799 --> 01:08:30,000 So, uh, I hope we'll just study that over the next year and we'll be able to 656 01:08:27,400 --> 01:08:34,159 celebrate, uh, 250th anniversary, the Declaration of Independence, 657 01:08:32,080 --> 01:08:42,560 understanding a lot better what our roles are. Uh, people have rights, 658 01:08:38,000 --> 01:08:48,120 governments has powers. So section 3087 of the town code needs to be adjusted so 659 01:08:46,960 --> 01:08:55,520 it reflects the truth as it stands 660 01:08:52,199 --> 01:08:55,520 now. It 661 01:08:55,640 --> 01:09:04,000 uh turns upside down and throughout the country throughout the world people's 662 01:09:00,400 --> 01:09:07,080 rights are being overturned. It's getting to the point where it's a 663 01:09:06,000 --> 01:09:12,560 they're shifting where the people had rights. 664 01:09:10,880 --> 01:09:16,279 Now it's the government that has the rights and they dish them out to the 665 01:09:14,319 --> 01:09:22,719 people. That's that's the agenda worldwide for evil people. So I 666 01:09:20,480 --> 01:09:30,719 hope you'll think about that. I like that evil people. 667 01:09:26,080 --> 01:09:37,199 Doctor, thank you very much for your order. Order please everyone. Let's keep 668 01:09:33,920 --> 01:09:41,080 order and we'll move forward and we'll move forward with Pastor Kayla who I'm 669 01:09:39,759 --> 01:09:47,960 sure has something wonderful for us today. No 670 01:09:44,480 --> 01:09:54,880 pressure. No pressure at all. Um I am Kayla Copp and I am the pastor 671 01:09:52,159 --> 01:10:03,360 of Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Um I live at 102 Sprinkle Avenue. Um, and I wanted 672 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:09,840 to talk as well about um, the unhoused. Um, I agree with both the gentleman who 673 01:10:07,199 --> 01:10:14,640 spoke before um, in that, you know, there are some people who aren't ever 674 01:10:12,000 --> 01:10:21,120 going to be able to live in homes. Um, whether that is because of mental issues 675 01:10:17,560 --> 01:10:25,600 or whatever else. Um, and they will want to continue to live outdoors and we 676 01:10:23,440 --> 01:10:31,280 should try to make that as safe and clean as possible. Um, I can also 677 01:10:28,080 --> 01:10:35,600 understand the fear for, you know, health and cleanliness and all of these 678 01:10:33,360 --> 01:10:41,120 things. Um, and we want to make sure that the people who are unhoused, um, 679 01:10:38,560 --> 01:10:47,800 have access to all the things that they need in order to live, um, fulfilled 680 01:10:44,239 --> 01:10:56,159 lives even outside of being housed. Um, I do want to try and shift the 681 01:10:51,679 --> 01:11:02,800 perception um in our town and for the um wording of the council when speaking 682 01:10:58,880 --> 01:11:08,800 about this um to move towards speaking of them as the unhoused instead of as 683 01:11:05,280 --> 01:11:16,320 homeless or as vagrants. um vagrancy laws were enacted um to um kind of point 684 01:11:13,280 --> 01:11:23,520 towards people who were poor and unhoused and a lot of times people who 685 01:11:19,520 --> 01:11:30,080 had um nowhere else to go that they were um perceived as idle or as undesirabs. 686 01:11:26,880 --> 01:11:34,239 Um, if you have questions about vagrancy laws, um, I encourage you to speak to 687 01:11:32,480 --> 01:11:38,800 Chief Player, who knows more of the history than I do about it, um, and why 688 01:11:37,040 --> 01:11:45,760 it's not something that is really enacted anymore. Um, but I want to 689 01:11:42,719 --> 01:11:52,000 encourage us to look towards solutions for the unhoused community. um and what 690 01:11:49,600 --> 01:12:00,000 those solutions can look like of all of us working together to help those who do 691 01:11:55,920 --> 01:12:04,320 want to be housed again. um myself, um Pastor Barbara Doyle, Pastor Emily 692 01:12:02,320 --> 01:12:08,480 Edmonson of the Episcopal Church, Pastor Barbara Doyle is of the Methodist 693 01:12:05,920 --> 01:12:13,280 Church, um and chaplain, um Patty McAndrews, also of the Episcopal Church, 694 01:12:10,800 --> 01:12:18,880 have been working with a homeless couple, Michael and Samantha Mitchell, 695 01:12:15,600 --> 01:12:26,239 um for a little over a year now. Um, and it's taken all four of us to really help 696 01:12:22,320 --> 01:12:31,280 and promote um, them moving forward and trying to get back their housing. Um, I 697 01:12:29,280 --> 01:12:36,480 just recently took Samantha to get cataract surgery. Um, and her cataracts 698 01:12:34,000 --> 01:12:41,440 were so bad you could see the white in her p her pupil. That's how bad it was. 699 01:12:39,199 --> 01:12:46,800 And that prevented her from any sort of work. um she couldn't get a job doing 700 01:12:43,920 --> 01:12:51,600 fast food or working with people because the space is too tight. She wasn't able 701 01:12:48,960 --> 01:12:59,360 to see out of her lap eye. She has since gotten that um surgery and has been 702 01:12:55,880 --> 01:13:05,120 vigorously looking for work. It is not because of lack of trying that she is 703 01:13:02,480 --> 01:13:10,159 unhoused and without work. Um, she is looking and she is trying, but it is 704 01:13:07,120 --> 01:13:16,000 very hard to receive work, when you don't have access to showers, um, when 705 01:13:13,120 --> 01:13:22,560 you don't have access to being able to sleep well at night. Um, if you are 706 01:13:19,440 --> 01:13:27,960 hungry, these are all things that people need in order to survive and to thrive 707 01:13:26,080 --> 01:13:32,320 because it shouldn't just be about surviving. Um, and I thought my watch go 708 01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:37,280 off. I set up it for three minutes, so I'm going to end here. Um, but I just I 709 01:13:34,960 --> 01:13:43,760 I would like to encourage us all to look for a solution together to help our 710 01:13:41,120 --> 01:13:48,480 unhoused neighbors thrive and not just survive and not treat them as 711 01:13:46,280 --> 01:13:53,600 undesirabs. Thank you. Thank you, Kevin. Thank you. Yeah, thank you very much. 712 01:13:50,800 --> 01:14:00,080 Appreciate your commentary. Avery, would it be unappropriate if we could ask 713 01:13:57,280 --> 01:14:04,960 social services to directly engage with this issue? 714 01:14:02,400 --> 01:14:12,800 Um I bet I don't know I if we have uh we we 715 01:14:09,760 --> 01:14:17,280 can discuss it's okay. Um council can discuss this presently if you wish to. I 716 01:14:15,520 --> 01:14:22,159 think pastor Kayla has tried that haven't you? Well it's um social 717 01:14:20,480 --> 01:14:27,800 services is very overwhelmed and I'm sure chief cla can speak to this as 718 01:14:24,000 --> 01:14:33,679 well. Um, and it's also building up trust with um, those who are are 719 01:14:31,280 --> 01:14:39,120 unhoused. Like I said, we have been in relationship with Michael and Samantha 720 01:14:35,360 --> 01:14:43,440 for well over a year. Um, and it's not just I don't want people to think that 721 01:14:40,960 --> 01:14:48,640 we're just like handing them money. Um, we are actively working with them. Um, 722 01:14:46,640 --> 01:14:54,400 and there have been times where we have had to put up boundaries and kind of 723 01:14:51,040 --> 01:14:59,840 almost been the the bad guy, as it were, to say, "Hey, you guys need to do these 724 01:14:57,199 --> 01:15:04,320 things if you want to push forward." Um, and so it's not just that we're being 725 01:15:02,560 --> 01:15:09,360 taken advantage of or because we're in the church that we're naive to this. Um, 726 01:15:06,640 --> 01:15:14,719 it has been hard conversations, but very fruitful and wonderful conversations and 727 01:15:11,760 --> 01:15:22,000 wonderful relationship in this. But it is something that will take all of us to 728 01:15:18,560 --> 01:15:26,800 do. Um because yes, there are the core four of us who are working with Michael 729 01:15:23,679 --> 01:15:32,239 and Samantha. Um but they are working with Mount Rogers. Um Michael suffers 730 01:15:29,520 --> 01:15:37,040 from schizophrenia. Um so he has he works with Mount Rogers. Um there are 731 01:15:34,239 --> 01:15:41,120 members of our congregations who have searched out work for them, who have 732 01:15:38,880 --> 01:15:48,159 bought them food, bought them tents, like all these different things. um in 733 01:15:43,600 --> 01:15:52,239 order to just help them keep going. It sounds like social um department of 734 01:15:50,640 --> 01:15:57,440 social services needs a little bit of pressure though to do a little bit more 735 01:15:54,239 --> 01:16:02,320 and to be more proactive and I think a letter from the town council would be 736 01:16:00,320 --> 01:16:05,840 definitely a start and also to the Marian Housing Authority. And I'm sorry 737 01:16:04,560 --> 01:16:12,159 Charlie left here because I wanted to ask him some questions as well. I mean, 738 01:16:08,719 --> 01:16:16,159 I hear constantly that we have um nowhere for people to live. I mean, 739 01:16:14,159 --> 01:16:21,920 that's people wanting to pay rent without assistance. Um people that need 740 01:16:20,000 --> 01:16:25,600 assistance can't even find somewhere to live. So, I think we need to have a 741 01:16:24,159 --> 01:16:31,280 conversation. What are these people doing to create more housing? You know, 742 01:16:29,920 --> 01:16:37,120 if you don't have anywhere to go, you have no choice, right? Um you know, 743 01:16:34,320 --> 01:16:42,400 neither do I want to be honest with you. I don't really want to walk the river 744 01:16:38,679 --> 01:16:48,520 walk and you know that people are using the bathroom in the river and there's 745 01:16:45,440 --> 01:16:54,159 trash everywhere. It's it's it's it's sad. It's sad. So I think the first 746 01:16:52,320 --> 01:16:59,920 start is to get these people together and see you know with the chief and 747 01:16:57,760 --> 01:17:05,440 because he works with them you know they work very close with the home the 748 01:17:02,719 --> 01:17:10,400 unhoused sorry the unhoused people also and you know they're working on the side 749 01:17:07,360 --> 01:17:15,199 but town of Maring doesn't have funding for these programs social services does 750 01:17:13,360 --> 01:17:21,920 Marian Housing Authority does you just heard him say how financial shape that 751 01:17:18,880 --> 01:17:25,600 they're in this is a perfect time to get these people together and we've got to 752 01:17:24,000 --> 01:17:31,040 put pressure on their backs to do something more proactive. 753 01:17:28,960 --> 01:17:34,480 So, I I would like a letter sent from the town council if possible. You want 754 01:17:32,960 --> 01:17:38,880 to put that in a motion? I would like to put that in a motion. I'll second that. 755 01:17:36,080 --> 01:17:46,719 Yes, absolutely. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, I don't think it hurts 756 01:17:42,640 --> 01:17:53,120 to um state that we would like to find a solution and to help people um because I 757 01:17:49,920 --> 01:17:57,679 believe that's our motivation. Yes. So, um is there any further discussion 758 01:17:54,800 --> 01:18:03,920 needed? I don't think so. I believe we'd have to have someone draft said letter 759 01:18:00,719 --> 01:18:09,840 and um then we would have to approve it. declared. So, uh, we we would we would 760 01:18:07,360 --> 01:18:14,640 need to go a little bit further than, um, the current motion. Can I make a 761 01:18:12,320 --> 01:18:18,960 suggestion of who we should recommend write that letter? You absolutely may. 762 01:18:17,199 --> 01:18:22,480 As long as it's not me. Suggest Mr. Claire. 763 01:18:21,130 --> 01:18:28,239 [Music] I agree wholeheartedly. 764 01:18:25,600 --> 01:18:34,320 So, we have a motion for Chief Claire to draft a letter that would be kind and 765 01:18:31,679 --> 01:18:39,120 state our concerns. I I think the way to do that, sir, and just to kind of jump 766 01:18:36,400 --> 01:18:43,480 into the whole question. So, the the current question at the Riverwalk, uh 767 01:18:41,520 --> 01:18:48,239 those folks are on private property by invitation of the property 768 01:18:46,480 --> 01:18:53,159 owner. And so the the first step I if action 769 01:18:50,960 --> 01:19:00,000 were to be taken would be a zoning action which is notably 770 01:18:56,840 --> 01:19:07,440 unpopular. I'm not wrong. Notably unpopular. Okay. So so then the next 771 01:19:03,679 --> 01:19:12,320 reasonable step would be engagement by the folks who have the 772 01:19:09,560 --> 01:19:16,560 tools like social services. Right? when when the police are in, you know, from 773 01:19:14,000 --> 01:19:21,600 the police perspective, the laws applicable are very narrowly crafted and 774 01:19:20,080 --> 01:19:25,920 apply whether you live in a house or whether you don't, right? Doesn't 775 01:19:23,360 --> 01:19:31,360 matter. And so when we're doing it, it's more of a mission of mercy, right? 776 01:19:28,760 --> 01:19:35,520 Trying to apply solutions, you know, that these are the only tools the police 777 01:19:33,600 --> 01:19:41,280 have. we we don't have housing or anything 778 01:19:38,400 --> 01:19:45,159 else, right? Kayla and and and other public servants, you know, or people 779 01:19:42,800 --> 01:19:49,760 trying to serve the public have those things. So, I haven't had a ton of time 780 01:19:47,600 --> 01:19:52,920 to think about it. But if you wanted me to draft letter on your behalf that 781 01:19:51,600 --> 01:20:00,159 might ask for a presentation of strategic goals, 782 01:19:57,520 --> 01:20:04,800 right? Like what what's the plan and and maybe get some kind of engagement like 783 01:20:02,239 --> 01:20:09,920 that. But but I really appreciate the work that the community itself does. 784 01:20:07,440 --> 01:20:13,400 Right. The only solution to the unhoused crisis is 785 01:20:13,960 --> 01:20:23,520 housing. Housing. Everything else is a a tradeoff or a band-aid or something like 786 01:20:20,960 --> 01:20:29,280 that. And you heard Kayla, they've been working with Mike and Samantha for a 787 01:20:25,440 --> 01:20:34,960 year. The lift is huge. And frankly, you're naive if you don't realize that, 788 01:20:31,440 --> 01:20:38,239 right? Like it it's just a huge lift. But how much closer are you? Right. 789 01:20:37,040 --> 01:20:41,120 Yeah. I mean, you're somewhere, right? Eventually, you're going to win that 790 01:20:39,440 --> 01:20:47,840 one. We're much much closer than the world. You're going to win that one. 791 01:20:43,679 --> 01:20:53,159 Right. Yeah. One. Right. Right. And so there's no such thing as 792 01:20:49,960 --> 01:20:57,040 like homelessness as a problem. It's just a collection of 793 01:20:55,280 --> 01:21:02,159 people all in some different stage of housing insecurity. 794 01:20:59,280 --> 01:21:09,520 So, I'll type something up and and have it to the mayor in the 795 01:21:06,440 --> 01:21:14,239 next 48 hours. That'll be great. I'll make sure that council is completely 796 01:21:11,360 --> 01:21:19,360 involved in every step of that. Then we will approve that. We have a motion by 797 01:21:16,640 --> 01:21:24,719 Councilman Atwell. Can I Can I ask one more question? Would it be would it be 798 01:21:22,239 --> 01:21:29,199 more appropriate to do this letter in conjunction with Billy that it's on 799 01:21:27,360 --> 01:21:33,280 behalf of Oh, I think it should be on behalf of the town council. Really? It's 800 01:21:30,880 --> 01:21:36,560 a it's a political question. I'm not so sure that all of you shouldn't sign this 801 01:21:34,880 --> 01:21:39,800 letter. Right. Yeah. I would like to sign it. 802 01:21:40,400 --> 01:21:49,159 The town council doesn't have the tools. We're not tasked with that. Right. But 803 01:21:46,159 --> 01:21:53,840 we'd like to be part of the solution. Solution. I think if you ask for some 804 01:21:51,440 --> 01:22:00,360 direct engagement, I'm working I mean I'm wondering if the county should also 805 01:21:57,199 --> 01:22:09,040 be involved in a solution for housing and would I mean 806 01:22:06,960 --> 01:22:14,080 well that that's that's we're getting too far off of our task and our subject 807 01:22:11,280 --> 01:22:20,880 and we need to return to the motion that's at hand. Uh did someone second 808 01:22:16,639 --> 01:22:24,880 that motion? I think I did and form. So, we have a motion and second. The motion 809 01:22:22,960 --> 01:22:29,800 is that Chief Claire draft something. Get it to me. I will get it to you. We 810 01:22:27,199 --> 01:22:37,480 will all work on this. We'll look at solutions for everyone's suggestions in 811 01:22:33,800 --> 01:22:42,120 this. All in favor in the affirmative unanimous vote. Chief 812 01:22:39,920 --> 01:22:48,639 Claire, you have your work cut out for you. 813 01:22:44,679 --> 01:22:52,400 And that Thank you everyone. Your honor, if I may, I know no one's going to back 814 01:22:51,040 --> 01:22:56,719 the room. I think if there's anybody here close to an expert on business, 815 01:22:53,920 --> 01:23:00,320 it's no, if you don't mind, I I would so much like to be recognized. I have some 816 01:22:58,639 --> 01:23:07,440 information. Um uh yes, by all means, Nolan. Um it is 817 01:23:05,280 --> 01:23:11,440 usually our custom that you sign this public comment form, but you're a very 818 01:23:09,280 --> 01:23:16,159 busy man and you are an authority in this. I was so I just wanted to listen 819 01:23:13,920 --> 01:23:21,400 but as you got to talking I have some of the answers uh for some of the questions 820 01:23:18,560 --> 01:23:28,880 that have come to I have um since Thanksgiving 821 01:23:25,800 --> 01:23:36,159 2023 brought these persons that we're talking about into our church and I have 822 01:23:31,600 --> 01:23:40,480 lived with them 24 hours a day. I go home to shower every day and I'm right 823 01:23:38,239 --> 01:23:45,840 back. I'm going to give you some numbers because I'm a numbers person and this is 824 01:23:42,320 --> 01:23:52,800 just this year from December the 2nd till 825 01:23:47,080 --> 01:23:58,719 today. I've had 80 women and 150 men sleep at least one or multiple nights in 826 01:23:55,360 --> 01:24:04,159 our church. Only 20 of them return from last year. It's a new group. I've had 827 01:24:01,199 --> 01:24:09,199 over 700 people come through our church for hot meals that we provide every 828 01:24:07,040 --> 01:24:14,520 single night. different churches, different clubs, different families get 829 01:24:11,760 --> 01:24:20,000 together, cook the meals, and bring them in. We've helped over 40 people recover 830 01:24:17,880 --> 01:24:24,480 documents. There's a lot of them who won't have jobs because they don't have 831 01:24:22,840 --> 01:24:27,840 identification. They don't have birth certificate. They don't have driver's 832 01:24:25,760 --> 01:24:32,400 license, don't have an ID. So, have to start with document 833 01:24:29,480 --> 01:24:37,040 recovery with a staff of me, my wife, and my mother. And you heard Pastor 834 01:24:35,199 --> 01:24:41,960 Taylor talking about how hard it's been, the four of them working with one 835 01:24:38,719 --> 01:24:47,520 couple. We've been doing this with 300 people. I have begged across this 836 01:24:44,480 --> 01:24:54,000 community for people to come and help. I will make another plea tonight. Come and 837 01:24:50,840 --> 01:24:58,400 see. We have a meal every night at 7:00. If we're going to make decisions about 838 01:24:55,520 --> 01:25:02,560 them, let's move them. Because, you know, I'm hearing, you know, as we call 839 01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:07,679 them unsheltered, I call them Kim and David and Tyler and Rose, and I know 840 01:25:05,280 --> 01:25:12,800 their stories and where they are from. And it's a very complex issue. There's a 841 01:25:09,840 --> 01:25:17,920 mental health component. Um, I believe it was Miss Spencer who was talking 842 01:25:14,320 --> 01:25:23,040 about um asking Mr. Harrington about the housing program. One of the problems is 843 01:25:20,320 --> 01:25:28,159 because it is a federally mandated program. If any of them have a felony 844 01:25:25,840 --> 01:25:32,480 anywhere in their history, automatic denial and there's nothing they can do. 845 01:25:30,560 --> 01:25:36,159 I've already approached it. We we talked about this. When they put it in the 846 01:25:34,000 --> 01:25:40,719 computer, if they have a felony, they're not going to get anywhere with the 847 01:25:37,920 --> 01:25:43,760 housing program. So, I thought that was information you guys needed to know 848 01:25:42,239 --> 01:25:48,960 since you were you were asking about that. 849 01:25:45,520 --> 01:25:56,000 Now many of them we have reconnected with family. It is not an outside of 850 01:25:53,280 --> 01:26:01,760 this area problem. Out of the 80 women and 150 men who we have served this 851 01:25:58,880 --> 01:26:07,120 year, 10 of them have been outside of Smith County. The majority of them are 852 01:26:04,239 --> 01:26:13,360 marrying. There are a few from Chowi and a few from Sugar Grove. This is not an 853 01:26:10,560 --> 01:26:18,719 outside problem. Out of the 10 people who were from out of this area that came 854 01:26:16,000 --> 01:26:23,679 through, five of them were in a car from Arkansas that broke down and they were 855 01:26:21,040 --> 01:26:28,159 here in town for a month trying to get their transportation, their car fixed 856 01:26:25,920 --> 01:26:34,239 and they were there with us. It is not, I repeat, it is not an outside problem. 857 01:26:31,760 --> 01:26:41,760 These are our citizens, our brothers and sisters from this community. 858 01:26:37,679 --> 01:26:48,920 We also did a giveaway and uh we had 200 uh excuse me 480 cars come through um 859 01:26:45,280 --> 01:26:55,800 and over 2,000 people that got food and supplies. I'm seeing an increase this 860 01:26:51,600 --> 01:27:01,199 year of elderly women. Some are handicapped and 861 01:26:57,719 --> 01:27:05,360 um I'm my program goes through Sunday. My overnight program goes through 862 01:27:03,040 --> 01:27:10,239 Sunday. And when I shut down, you're going to see an increase of people 863 01:27:07,040 --> 01:27:14,159 sleeping. And I'm telling you, if it had not been for that warming center that 864 01:27:11,920 --> 01:27:19,360 was there, we would have picked people up off the street. Many of them came 865 01:27:16,880 --> 01:27:24,639 through that door in hypothermia. We've dealt with frostbite. We've had people 866 01:27:21,679 --> 01:27:32,159 with limbs being amputated all this year, and they're right here. We have a 867 01:27:28,040 --> 01:27:37,600 very serious problem uh here in Marian, Virginia, and it's going to take us all. 868 01:27:34,080 --> 01:27:41,600 My wife and I have invested $100,000 of our savings. We have depleted our 869 01:27:39,199 --> 01:27:44,719 savings account trying to feed these people the documents that they have 870 01:27:43,199 --> 01:27:50,719 recovered. And I'm going to sit down cuz I'm about five. Um, we pay out of our 871 01:27:48,080 --> 01:27:54,960 own pockets for all the fees that have to be paid to get the birth certificate, 872 01:27:52,639 --> 01:27:59,040 birth certificate, driver's license, social security cards. We're running 873 01:27:56,560 --> 01:28:01,440 around doing all of that. F. And my final two things I want to say. Number 874 01:28:00,400 --> 01:28:05,600 one, you want to know where they're using the bathroom app? They're coming 875 01:28:03,199 --> 01:28:09,920 to my church because I put a porta potty on the side of my church. I know every 876 01:28:08,000 --> 01:28:14,159 one of those people that are living in those encampments. They've been sleeping 877 01:28:11,679 --> 01:28:19,120 in my floor in the winter. Now that it's warm, they want to be out on their own. 878 01:28:16,560 --> 01:28:23,120 Because they they feel bad about sleeping on the floor. They said, "We've 879 01:28:20,639 --> 01:28:26,880 been here 3 months. We've been here." Some of them uh were returned from last 880 01:28:25,520 --> 01:28:31,360 year. They said, "I've been here with you over a year and a half now." And so 881 01:28:29,360 --> 01:28:35,679 they've gotten tents and they're they're they're trying really hard. They come, 882 01:28:33,520 --> 01:28:40,320 how do I know that they're showering? The reason why I know they're showering, 883 01:28:37,280 --> 01:28:44,320 I um didn't have a shower facility at my church. I begged across Facebook for 884 01:28:42,480 --> 01:28:47,520 somebody to come and help me with that. I don't have a lot of money to do 885 01:28:45,679 --> 01:28:52,800 everything, but somebody could put a shower in and we had an electrician came 886 01:28:50,239 --> 01:28:57,600 and and a plumber and got halfway through it and it still isn't done. So, 887 01:28:54,800 --> 01:29:01,760 I begged and I begged if any churches uh anybody had shower facilities if they 888 01:28:59,520 --> 01:29:07,199 would open them to us. Nobody came forward but a church in Abington, 889 01:29:04,000 --> 01:29:13,120 Virginia, Rosedale Baptist Church. Three days a week they send their church van 890 01:29:09,760 --> 01:29:19,360 from Abington to Marion. And those people um that we are now learning to 891 01:29:16,320 --> 01:29:23,120 call unsheltered unhome get on that van, drive all the way to Abington, get their 892 01:29:21,440 --> 01:29:27,520 showers, drive all the way back to Marian, and then he in turn has to drive 893 01:29:25,360 --> 01:29:32,880 the van back to Abington because he lives in Chill Howie. He has to drive 894 01:29:29,440 --> 01:29:38,880 back. There is a lot of work going on. If you have questions, I promise you I I 895 01:29:36,320 --> 01:29:46,320 will know a lot of the answers because I've been there since Thanksgiving 2023 896 01:29:43,280 --> 01:29:53,120 and it's getting worse and we it's going to take every last one of us. So, I beg 897 01:29:49,440 --> 01:29:57,679 and plead for all of us to help. And if you're going to be making decisions, I'm 898 01:29:55,120 --> 01:30:03,040 invite you again, come and see. My overnight sheltering ends this Sunday 899 01:30:00,960 --> 01:30:08,800 and I'm going to do a cookout all day long for them on this Sunday. Come any 900 01:30:05,360 --> 01:30:12,560 night this week between 7 and 8:00 and you will watch them eat their meal and 901 01:30:10,560 --> 01:30:17,280 you will see they are happy. You will see um just come and meet them because 902 01:30:15,360 --> 01:30:21,679 it will shift when they go from being them and unsheltered to knowing who they 903 01:30:19,840 --> 01:30:26,280 are personally. Thank you for allowing you. Thank you. Thank you. 904 01:30:27,860 --> 01:30:35,760 [Applause] Absolutely 905 01:30:31,560 --> 01:30:44,320 inspiring. Okay. Um we will uh continue now with uh council members reports and 906 01:30:40,560 --> 01:30:50,880 we'll start with council member Gates. Yes. the uh uh the makeshift or 907 01:30:48,080 --> 01:30:58,000 temporary ordinance committee met and we still have some questions to finalize 908 01:30:53,520 --> 01:31:01,440 the solid waste ordinance. Uh and uh we do not need to set that for a public 909 01:30:59,679 --> 01:31:05,440 hearing and I'll make a motion that we continue that and we will have another 910 01:31:03,600 --> 01:31:12,400 report back at the next meeting. I'll make that motion. Second. Motion second. 911 01:31:09,800 --> 01:31:18,400 Discussion. None being heard. We'll vote. All in 912 01:31:14,600 --> 01:31:23,199 favor? Thank you, doctor. Nothing else. Council member Spencer. Yes. The 913 01:31:20,400 --> 01:31:27,560 community development committee met Friday on the tree commission and the 914 01:31:26,159 --> 01:31:33,600 tree planting proposal. We have um asked for you to 915 01:31:31,760 --> 01:31:40,920 approve um a planting of the trees. Of course, 916 01:31:36,000 --> 01:31:49,880 no trees at exit 45 and not to exceed $4,000. Is that a motion? Yes. Second. 917 01:31:45,360 --> 01:31:49,880 Motion and second. Discussion. 918 01:31:53,040 --> 01:32:03,360 None being heard. We will vote. All in 919 01:31:57,800 --> 01:32:06,679 favor? It is again unanimous. That good. That okay. 920 01:32:07,600 --> 01:32:15,040 Anything further? No. No. Thank you. Council member Jennings. I just have uh 921 01:32:12,000 --> 01:32:20,639 the Lincoln Theater April newsletter and with the events and I've given everyone 922 01:32:17,840 --> 01:32:25,239 a copy and I have extra copies if anyone in the audience would like one. I'll put 923 01:32:23,520 --> 01:32:30,320 them up here and that's all. Wonderful. Thank 924 01:32:28,239 --> 01:32:35,760 you, Council Member Apple. I have nothing to 925 01:32:32,639 --> 01:32:40,719 report on, but back on Mr. Atkins presentation earlier, I wanted to ask 926 01:32:38,239 --> 01:32:47,120 would it be an issue any time that we have a close session on the agenda that 927 01:32:43,679 --> 01:32:51,679 we distinctly mark a line item that we will return to open session after we've 928 01:32:49,600 --> 01:32:58,360 already corrected. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Anything further? 929 01:32:55,600 --> 01:33:05,120 Anything further? No. No, that's all. Council member May, I attended the 930 01:33:01,600 --> 01:33:10,239 District 3 meeting uh two weeks ago and um I have a survey if anyone would like 931 01:33:07,760 --> 01:33:16,880 to take one and it helps them get funding and currently they're working on 932 01:33:12,639 --> 01:33:16,880 budget. So that's all I 933 01:33:18,440 --> 01:33:27,120 have. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Um I uh will continue with the 934 01:33:25,040 --> 01:33:33,920 mayor's report. Um, I'm going to get you to check this 935 01:33:31,520 --> 01:33:38,639 uh as the vice mayor to make sure that I have addressed everyone that is on that 936 01:33:36,480 --> 01:33:41,880 list while I make my report. Do you mind, sir? 937 01:33:43,600 --> 01:33:51,400 I'll add. Okay, Nolan. Oh, okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh, 938 01:33:49,600 --> 01:33:59,440 mayor's report. Um I have been uh very busy um in the 939 01:33:56,639 --> 01:34:04,800 last uh little while. Uh we've had a three-week break in between. Um been 940 01:34:02,080 --> 01:34:10,400 meeting with the BFW. I've had several meetings uh caring for our community. Uh 941 01:34:08,239 --> 01:34:16,360 participated in student government day, particip uh went to the Chamber of 942 01:34:12,159 --> 01:34:24,520 Commerce job fair. Um I wanted to say congratulations to Jordan Propost. Um, 943 01:34:20,080 --> 01:34:31,120 did I get that right? Hunter proped. Proped I'm bad with the last names. Um, 944 01:34:27,600 --> 01:34:38,400 as being uh officer of the year for Marian and and welld deserved and um 945 01:34:34,719 --> 01:34:42,960 quite quite an asset to our PD um and and just a whole lot of other things 946 01:34:40,159 --> 01:34:49,280 going on in Marian. Uh but the bright spot was I saw a group of uh trail 947 01:34:46,880 --> 01:34:52,480 maintenance people out walking. They were beside the Lincoln Theater trying 948 01:34:50,800 --> 01:34:57,120 to take their picture by the love sign and I took their picture and sent them 949 01:34:54,560 --> 01:35:01,600 up to the Henderson where they had the luier class going on and I had told them 950 01:34:59,840 --> 01:35:07,360 about it and then guess what? They had the class going on. They got to tour. It 951 01:35:04,480 --> 01:35:11,600 was wonderful. They had a great time and uh we just have a whole lot of good 952 01:35:08,880 --> 01:35:18,159 things going on in Marion and it is a good place to come, a good place to be. 953 01:35:14,400 --> 01:35:24,320 uh want to welcome all of our viewers that are not here with us that are on 954 01:35:20,080 --> 01:35:30,159 the internet. I would suggest that um anybody that uh can't make it to our 955 01:35:27,000 --> 01:35:36,719 meetings, check us out on YouTube. We're doing the best we can to uh accommodate 956 01:35:33,600 --> 01:35:41,760 the new technology as we've spoke. And that's all I will have to say tonight. 957 01:35:39,120 --> 01:35:47,440 Thank you all for being here. We are going to move on with the attorney's 958 01:35:43,840 --> 01:35:53,000 report. No report. No report. We will move on to staff 959 01:35:50,000 --> 01:35:53,000 reports. 960 01:35:55,040 --> 01:36:04,880 Uh Cindy, no report. I'm sorry. Um no report. Okay. Chief Claire is 961 01:36:02,280 --> 01:36:09,840 missing. We'll just put him off for a couple minutes and see if Chief Ham 962 01:36:07,360 --> 01:36:12,960 would like to address. Absolutely. You just did. 963 01:36:11,520 --> 01:36:17,400 Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, council. Um, let's talk about 964 01:36:14,800 --> 01:36:22,960 some staff updates u since we were last here. Uh, a couple of our full-time 965 01:36:20,320 --> 01:36:26,800 members, uh, Miss Sal and Mr. Widner have completed their firefighter one and 966 01:36:24,960 --> 01:36:30,480 have tested out for that. Um, they successfully passed all of their skills 967 01:36:28,960 --> 01:36:34,639 and are waiting results of the written test. I'm I feel very very confident 968 01:36:32,960 --> 01:36:39,440 that we're going to have uh those certifications locked in by the next 969 01:36:36,320 --> 01:36:43,520 time I come back. Um, Saturday, let me tell you about this past Saturday, we 970 01:36:40,880 --> 01:36:46,639 had our candidate testing day. Um, as you were aware, we had a full-time 971 01:36:44,800 --> 01:36:52,880 opening. We had about 10 applications that came in and uh we invited seven 972 01:36:49,440 --> 01:36:56,800 folks uh to come for candidate day. Uh, two of those folks dropped out prior to 973 01:36:55,199 --> 01:37:02,560 the day uh for a couple of different reasons. uh we had one person that 974 01:36:58,880 --> 01:37:08,400 didn't show um and then we actually um tested out uh four individuals and we 975 01:37:06,239 --> 01:37:12,719 were all very highly impressed with all four of these individuals. Um I think 976 01:37:11,360 --> 01:37:16,440 you know I stand before you and say if I had four openings I'd hire all four of 977 01:37:14,239 --> 01:37:21,040 them full time. Um that was one really good part of 978 01:37:19,199 --> 01:37:24,880 Saturday. The other really good part of Saturday is the men and women of Mary 979 01:37:22,639 --> 01:37:29,520 Fire EMS coming together to pull this day off. Um just to give you a brief 980 01:37:27,520 --> 01:37:34,320 overview, what we did was we did a written test in the morning and that 981 01:37:31,520 --> 01:37:38,560 took a little less than two hours. Uh we gave the candidates the opportunity to 982 01:37:36,000 --> 01:37:43,199 change. We went down to the track at the high school and did a physical agility 983 01:37:40,400 --> 01:37:47,440 day uh where they had to do a mile and a half. Uh they had to do some tool 984 01:37:45,040 --> 01:37:51,520 carries. They had to climb the 75 ft quintup ladder at a 60° angle. And when 985 01:37:50,159 --> 01:37:56,719 you get up there, that ladder is doing this right here. 986 01:37:53,320 --> 01:38:01,440 Um, and I asked for extra help from our team members that day and they came out 987 01:37:59,119 --> 01:38:06,960 and drove and we were able and later after we did that we came back and did 988 01:38:03,040 --> 01:38:11,679 the panel interviews all day. Um, our station was busy uh was buzzing, the sun 989 01:38:09,679 --> 01:38:15,520 was out, the doors were open. I had a gentleman uh who was coming to a show at 990 01:38:13,440 --> 01:38:20,320 the Lincoln who came and sat in our station and talked for 30 minutes about 991 01:38:17,119 --> 01:38:23,600 our 9/11 steel out front. Uh I had when I came back into the station, there was 992 01:38:21,679 --> 01:38:26,239 a man holding a little girl who didn't want to leave because all she wanted to 993 01:38:24,960 --> 01:38:30,639 do was look at the ambulances and fire trucks. Um and and our team was 994 01:38:28,800 --> 01:38:34,400 surrounding those people and and these candidates and it was just a testament 995 01:38:32,320 --> 01:38:40,400 again to the men and women that you that you had marrying 996 01:38:36,040 --> 01:38:45,280 fire. Um as far as station updates go, um you may have saw on our social media 997 01:38:42,320 --> 01:38:49,840 that we completed host testing um this past week or last week. Uh we did have 998 01:38:48,159 --> 01:38:54,159 some failures in that, but it was mainly in the 5- in supply lines. Um I'll be 999 01:38:52,800 --> 01:38:59,600 I'll probably email you guys out a report on that a little bit later. Um 1000 01:38:57,840 --> 01:39:03,280 fingers crossed that new ambulance that's been put off and put off for 1001 01:39:01,440 --> 01:39:08,239 various reasons is going to roll in this town tomorrow morning. Um so we're super 1002 01:39:06,719 --> 01:39:12,159 excited about that. It will take us a couple of weeks to get that thing 1003 01:39:09,360 --> 01:39:16,400 licensed and get it on the road. Um, and that'll probably what I drive the next 1004 01:39:13,920 --> 01:39:22,480 council meeting. So, we all go out and take a look at it. Um, as far as call 1005 01:39:19,840 --> 01:39:29,119 totals go, uh, my in-house statician, Mr. Tally, informs me that in the month 1006 01:39:25,040 --> 01:39:32,840 of March, we had 232 responses. Um, year to date, we're at 1007 01:39:31,239 --> 01:39:39,800 636. Um, and that's about 3.7% lower than the 1008 01:39:37,920 --> 01:39:44,159 previous year. Um, it goes without saying, you guys, 1009 01:39:42,320 --> 01:39:47,520 you guys know, you hear, you see. There's some days that we have two to 1010 01:39:45,840 --> 01:39:53,520 four calls and there's some days that we have 15 to 20 calls. You just never 1011 01:39:50,080 --> 01:39:58,480 know. So, that's all I have for today. And, uh, hello to everybody at home on 1012 01:39:55,760 --> 01:40:03,520 YouTube. Uh, I'm glad to see that get some more interaction in. So, uh, does 1013 01:40:01,679 --> 01:40:10,239 anybody have any questions? You're a star. That's right. Thank you all. Thank 1014 01:40:06,639 --> 01:40:14,159 you. Let's move back to Chief Claire. Uh yes, sir. Just a few things to mention. 1015 01:40:12,400 --> 01:40:20,880 One, it seems I'll be drafting a letter to deliver to you and uh in in in the 1016 01:40:18,320 --> 01:40:26,400 name of the council uh talking about addressing the helping out our unhoused 1017 01:40:23,760 --> 01:40:30,960 residents here in Marion. Uh we had our BFW officer of the year awards. Thank 1018 01:40:29,040 --> 01:40:33,920 you so much for coming. And we we understand if you couldn't make it. You 1019 01:40:32,080 --> 01:40:38,480 know, our officer was Jordan Propes. Jordan Probes was at the other end of 1020 01:40:35,679 --> 01:40:44,679 the road from a firefighter who um went into a rushing river to pull out a boy 1021 01:40:41,520 --> 01:40:51,199 and he was given critical services and survived. And so uh thank thank the Lord 1022 01:40:48,159 --> 01:40:57,280 we we had no to my knowledge no loss of life during during that event. Um, and 1023 01:40:55,840 --> 01:41:00,800 that's officer ProS. And we'll we'll bring him to a future council meeting. 1024 01:40:59,040 --> 01:41:06,800 And and then in August, we're going to have our officers who were on the scene 1025 01:41:04,159 --> 01:41:10,920 of the death of Hunter Reedi will receive valor awards in Williamsburg on 1026 01:41:09,520 --> 01:41:16,880 behalf of the BACP. On May the 3, we have a fishing 1027 01:41:14,199 --> 01:41:22,639 event at the park. This is where police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, 1028 01:41:20,000 --> 01:41:26,400 uh the uh river is stocked specifically for the event. we go down and kind of 1029 01:41:24,480 --> 01:41:29,840 teach the kids how to fish. It's a really really good time. I don't teach 1030 01:41:28,239 --> 01:41:36,400 at Rick and Bill and people like that teach. And then uh on May 17th, we have 1031 01:41:32,880 --> 01:41:42,239 a 5K here in Mary, the blue uh a blue line 5K and the proceeds of that uh go 1032 01:41:39,520 --> 01:41:46,159 to benefit um critical incident stress management programs that are here in the 1033 01:41:44,000 --> 01:41:50,159 area. And one of the other things that has come up recently is, and I can't 1034 01:41:48,400 --> 01:41:56,560 remember the name, I wish Kel was still here. The Lutheran retreat at Hungry 1035 01:41:52,880 --> 01:42:01,440 Mother Park has been offered at no cost to Adam Levensw with the Virginia law 1036 01:41:58,719 --> 01:42:05,119 enforcement action partnership to offer a retreat for officers like who were 1037 01:42:03,119 --> 01:42:08,960 involved in the murder of Hunter Hunter Reed to receive critical services. So 1038 01:42:07,840 --> 01:42:12,320 that's that's going to be kind of a marquee program. Right now they have to 1039 01:42:10,480 --> 01:42:17,920 drive to kind of Virginia Beach to do that. We're going to offer some of that 1040 01:42:13,960 --> 01:42:21,600 here for folks in our region. So, unless there are any questions, that's all I 1041 01:42:19,760 --> 01:42:29,119 got. Could you explain real quick the cameras 1042 01:42:24,320 --> 01:42:33,760 on the lights downtown main street? Which one? So, I think there was a thing 1043 01:42:32,159 --> 01:42:39,760 on social media going around, Hunter, I think you knew more about it than I do, 1044 01:42:35,960 --> 01:42:43,679 that it's um I think they're questioning exactly what those cameras are for and 1045 01:42:41,440 --> 01:42:48,920 if they're monitored. So, there's two, to my knowledge, two sets of camera. 1046 01:42:47,119 --> 01:42:56,159 Well, I I don't even know if that's true. Let me start again. In 1047 01:42:52,600 --> 01:42:59,960 2020, we were told that V DOT was going to make changes to our traffic light 1048 01:42:58,800 --> 01:43:04,960 system downtown. We assumed that would happen 1049 01:43:02,000 --> 01:43:10,960 in somewhat timely way. So, we installed traffic monitoring 1050 01:43:07,679 --> 01:43:16,560 cameras on behalf of the town um for a couple of reasons. One, for for 1051 01:43:14,040 --> 01:43:20,360 that. Two, um for the public events that we have. 1052 01:43:18,719 --> 01:43:24,400 So, we've got good situational awareness. Remember, this was also 1053 01:43:22,400 --> 01:43:28,560 during uh the social unrest that we had in 2020. We were looking for some 1054 01:43:26,000 --> 01:43:34,320 cleanings there. And those have been in place for about four years. the most 1055 01:43:31,840 --> 01:43:39,520 recent install. So now they finally I guess decided to do what they said they 1056 01:43:36,080 --> 01:43:45,920 were going to do then four years later. Most recent install I don't have a ton 1057 01:43:42,080 --> 01:43:51,520 of details on. I think one piece is the light override system for 1058 01:43:48,440 --> 01:43:59,119 fire where where they have a device in the cab that will change the lights. I 1059 01:43:54,719 --> 01:44:07,040 think another piece is a light override system for VOD to help keep Route 11 1060 01:44:03,280 --> 01:44:13,520 clear during traffic shutdowns. And I well beyond my technical basically when 1061 01:44:08,960 --> 01:44:17,920 when 81 is closed for a for an accident, you reroute your traffic. Most of you 1062 01:44:15,920 --> 01:44:24,239 seen bumper to bumper tractor trailers for two or three hours at a time coming 1063 01:44:20,080 --> 01:44:33,639 through town. Uh, this signal upgrade will allow them to put put the signals 1064 01:44:27,040 --> 01:44:33,639 on flash to keep traffic flowing. Um, 1065 01:44:34,159 --> 01:44:40,400 there's some kind of camera component to that, but I have no idea what it is. 1066 01:44:38,000 --> 01:44:45,840 That that's I mean they can monitor traffic flowing uh and things like that. 1067 01:44:43,520 --> 01:44:53,520 Uh, my understanding is we're getting some phase upgrades also in our 1068 01:44:48,560 --> 01:44:59,000 cabinets. Um the phases is uh that's your that's your time differential 1069 01:44:56,000 --> 01:45:05,199 between each intersection and um I think they've already installed 1070 01:45:01,520 --> 01:45:09,840 some flashing yellow arrows so we didn't have them before. Uh so we're getting 1071 01:45:07,360 --> 01:45:14,159 some signal upgrades as they go along but uh but the cameras and all that is 1072 01:45:12,639 --> 01:45:19,920 strictly uh VOP. Okay. doing that and and and our 1073 01:45:16,800 --> 01:45:24,159 iss and I know I hope Dr. Wson would appreciate it. So I feel like I'm pretty 1074 01:45:21,280 --> 01:45:28,320 sensitive to civil liberties. They have no LPR capabilities, no facial 1075 01:45:26,480 --> 01:45:32,320 recognition capabilities, no sound capabilities, no object tracking 1076 01:45:30,280 --> 01:45:35,440 capabilities. They've been deliberately positioned so you can't see traffic 1077 01:45:34,000 --> 01:45:41,400 signals. They've been deliberately positioned so that you do not have views 1078 01:45:37,840 --> 01:45:45,360 of areas commonly not not commonly observable. It's they're only retained 1079 01:45:43,679 --> 01:45:50,000 for about the footage is not consistently monitored and it's only 1080 01:45:47,040 --> 01:45:53,920 retained for about seven days. The the times of most usage would be like during 1081 01:45:52,080 --> 01:45:56,960 the chili cookoff. We put that up in the incident command. We have some 1082 01:45:55,199 --> 01:46:02,480 situational awareness views. We feel like that's important for active shooter 1083 01:45:59,280 --> 01:46:06,560 threats, vehicle border threats. Um I think some of our defense attorneys wish 1084 01:46:04,320 --> 01:46:10,960 that it was held longer because we get requests for well for like traffic 1085 01:46:09,199 --> 01:46:15,199 accidents especially. You know, it's like you you get in an accident and you 1086 01:46:12,960 --> 01:46:18,560 work out a deal with someone like, "Oh, it's all fine." And then a week later 1087 01:46:16,960 --> 01:46:22,199 they decide that they didn't do it like they said they did it and then they 1088 01:46:20,239 --> 01:46:29,679 request the footage and again it's been overridden. Um it it has been useful in 1089 01:46:25,840 --> 01:46:35,600 some some crimes. We recently had uh a town citizen who was defrauded of uh 1090 01:46:33,199 --> 01:46:42,400 several thousand dollars. We were able to identify the vehicle that left her 1091 01:46:38,119 --> 01:46:45,920 home. Uh there was a I think an RV that ripped the drive-thru off the 1092 01:46:43,920 --> 01:46:51,679 McDonald's. We were able to identify that vehicle. Uh there was an accident 1093 01:46:49,040 --> 01:46:55,920 recently where the parties disputed kind of what happened and kind of just barely 1094 01:46:53,840 --> 01:47:01,199 able to catch that. But one of our town residents just lied flat out about what 1095 01:46:58,800 --> 01:47:05,840 they did and tried to turn that that poor woman into a offender when she was 1096 01:47:03,440 --> 01:47:10,960 in the city. And so those are just a few examples. It's it's not overly useful 1097 01:47:09,119 --> 01:47:15,760 for evidence stuff because again it's just kind of a passive monitoring, but 1098 01:47:13,280 --> 01:47:21,639 it's really useful for for a situational awareness tool and and I think that 1099 01:47:18,000 --> 01:47:26,639 we've got restrictions in place that recognize the the need for certain 1100 01:47:24,080 --> 01:47:30,159 technology, but also my own personal uh you know you know that things like 1101 01:47:27,760 --> 01:47:36,000 license plate readers are very prolific. If you saw the article in Cardinal News, 1102 01:47:32,400 --> 01:47:39,840 they we don't have um and and I think that's important because I think a lot 1103 01:47:37,840 --> 01:47:45,119 of folks in the region here are very concerned about privacy. So I I sent 1104 01:47:43,280 --> 01:47:49,119 Billy a couple a couple of views. I don't know if you want to pull it up. 1105 01:47:46,960 --> 01:47:54,800 one of them. Let me try to find just to give you a sense of what it looks like 1106 01:47:52,480 --> 01:48:01,360 and and in terms of monitoring if listen if the town council wants to provide a 1107 01:47:57,360 --> 01:48:01,360 monitoring link I'm going 1108 01:48:02,920 --> 01:48:07,960 to keep. Oh, it's right here. 1109 01:48:12,000 --> 01:48:20,000 That's not it. That's not it. That's not it. Nope. 1110 01:48:17,840 --> 01:48:25,080 Oh, that's what I see you right there. Camera, right? Yeah. 1111 01:48:29,199 --> 01:48:32,199 Yeah. 1112 01:48:33,840 --> 01:48:36,719 So, this is an 1113 01:48:36,840 --> 01:48:46,480 image that's an example of what we see. Okay. Uh they have no pan, tilt, zoom. 1114 01:48:44,159 --> 01:48:51,360 Uh there is some electronic zooming but you know it gets so pixelated by that 1115 01:48:48,679 --> 01:48:57,119 time it's hard it's hard to tell but that's just one one example. Uh and then 1116 01:48:54,560 --> 01:49:03,000 there's a video do you guys remember a while back we had a citizen come in. He 1117 01:49:00,639 --> 01:49:09,679 was concerned we were chasing a motorcycle absolutely certain about what 1118 01:49:06,880 --> 01:49:14,119 he saw. Well, we invited that citizen to then observe the camera footage 1119 01:49:11,800 --> 01:49:18,000 and that's not what we saw what we saw was something else. So, 1120 01:49:16,239 --> 01:49:22,800 here's an example of the moving the moving footage 1121 01:49:19,480 --> 01:49:27,880 downtown. And again, if if citizens have a desire, I guess, for some kind of 1122 01:49:24,880 --> 01:49:33,840 access to it. To me, that's an IT question. I 1123 01:49:30,360 --> 01:49:37,760 don't if I if I may for a moment. Um, when I was at the police department, I 1124 01:49:35,360 --> 01:49:44,639 actually helped write this grant. This was all grant funding. And, um, I will 1125 01:49:41,679 --> 01:49:50,000 say as far as the open link to view it, um, the system itself is somewhat 1126 01:49:47,400 --> 01:49:53,520 unreliable because it's based off of cell 1127 01:49:50,920 --> 01:49:57,920 phone service. So that's why instead of seeing cars 1128 01:49:56,000 --> 01:50:04,159 that look like they're just going, that's why you see a car every every few 1129 01:50:01,040 --> 01:50:08,080 seconds, every few frames. So if we attempted to do a link, which I'm open 1130 01:50:05,840 --> 01:50:12,320 to as well, but I just want everyone to be aware that if that ever occurred, the 1131 01:50:10,480 --> 01:50:17,840 overload to the system that may occur may 1132 01:50:15,199 --> 01:50:24,960 How many users do you have? How many users? Anybody in this room tuned in? 1133 01:50:21,119 --> 01:50:29,280 Well, I can say uh that at on my computer on my laptop um when I run the 1134 01:50:27,600 --> 01:50:34,320 program to watch it, I have to turn an extra fan on my laptop computer because 1135 01:50:31,600 --> 01:50:40,159 it spins so much and get so get so hot you can smell start smelling my laptop 1136 01:50:36,040 --> 01:50:44,560 computer. Um and if when I was at BD and let's say Sergeant or Wes Thomas was in 1137 01:50:42,400 --> 01:50:48,400 his office and he was doing it, uh there was often times that only one of us 1138 01:50:45,920 --> 01:50:53,600 could watch a video at a time. So just be aware of that before we start 1139 01:50:50,320 --> 01:50:57,119 throwing out links and promises that I don't 1140 01:50:54,280 --> 01:51:01,080 think so. So So again, I know there are concerns about things like cameras and I 1141 01:51:00,080 --> 01:51:05,239 feel like I feel like my instincts are to 1142 01:51:03,760 --> 01:51:09,040 guard civil liberties. Maybe not everybody would 1143 01:51:07,280 --> 01:51:15,199 agree with the compromise that I feel like we have, but I don't feel like it's 1144 01:51:12,239 --> 01:51:19,840 a bad one. And I think it avoids certainly some of the most problematic 1145 01:51:17,199 --> 01:51:24,880 data collection. No, no license plates, no no, no, no anything. And I I don't 1146 01:51:23,360 --> 01:51:29,760 have any problem at all with transparency steps. If we want to create 1147 01:51:26,880 --> 01:51:35,280 some kind of IT base, it's way outside of my knowledge base. That that's fine. 1148 01:51:32,800 --> 01:51:39,199 But uh it has had some use for us and and it continues to some of them are 1149 01:51:37,679 --> 01:51:43,440 reaching their service life. There's trouble 1150 01:51:40,360 --> 01:51:47,280 with about the cabinet. the cabinet that kind of holds it overheats and so 1151 01:51:45,920 --> 01:51:51,440 there's some trouble with stuff like that. But if anybody has questions on 1152 01:51:49,360 --> 01:51:56,000 that, please let me know. Well, thanks for answering the question. Yeah, thank 1153 01:51:53,280 --> 01:52:01,040 you very much, Chief. Anything else? Anything else? Oh, I didn't start that 1154 01:51:57,679 --> 01:52:06,239 one. I know you didn't. That's why I'm just kindly moving on. Uh, and next we 1155 01:52:04,400 --> 01:52:09,199 have Ken Heath with economic development. You don't mind if you want 1156 01:52:07,520 --> 01:52:12,560 to stay seated for another month or so, then after that I'll be able to get up. 1157 01:52:10,800 --> 01:52:16,239 Absolutely. Election day A is tomorrow. Three precincts are open. Wherever you 1158 01:52:14,239 --> 01:52:20,239 normally vote, the town of Marian, East Park at Marian Recre, Wona, Marian 1159 01:52:18,400 --> 01:52:24,719 Senior Hospital, and Royal Oak East at the Marian Police Station. So, make sure 1160 01:52:22,320 --> 01:52:29,920 you go out and vote. Town council. Uh, April 9th, ADA meeting. This Wednesday 1161 01:52:27,119 --> 01:52:34,560 at noon, Marian Police Department. April 14th is an update on the Steel Park 1162 01:52:33,360 --> 01:52:39,920 program. We're going to have another meeting at Mount Pleasant at 6 p.m. Uh 1163 01:52:37,119 --> 01:52:44,159 we've received some renderings uh that Greg uh and his group have put together 1164 01:52:42,960 --> 01:52:49,360 what they'd like to see and I've asked them to put together. Uh I've also asked 1165 01:52:47,760 --> 01:52:53,199 Tony and the group to go out there and kind of take some paint mark off those 1166 01:52:51,040 --> 01:52:57,119 areas. I think that once folks been out there and you see the space and you 1167 01:52:55,520 --> 01:53:01,280 start feeling how big a basketball court is on that space, it's like trying to 1168 01:52:59,199 --> 01:53:05,119 put on your bridges. It ain't fit. So that's what we're going to be. I think 1169 01:53:02,880 --> 01:53:11,040 in in a lot of this. So I think once we see things out there, it'll change and 1170 01:53:07,599 --> 01:53:14,560 the the design that Greg provided that get in seems pretty reasonable. Seems 1171 01:53:13,119 --> 01:53:19,679 like hopefully we'll be able to go for it and Dr. Gates has helped us get the 1172 01:53:17,520 --> 01:53:24,239 ground in. So I think we'll be a nice park out of that. April 15th, Senator 1173 01:53:22,080 --> 01:53:28,719 Mark War will be at the Lincoln 11:30 to 12:30 for meeting just like this for you 1174 01:53:26,639 --> 01:53:33,520 to come and express your views. Uh and then April 19th hazardous material day 1175 01:53:30,800 --> 01:53:38,119 at the trade school one. So any hazardous material issues taken down. 1176 01:53:35,760 --> 01:53:42,080 When was that again? April 19th Saturday. The other thing we're 1177 01:53:40,639 --> 01:53:45,679 going to be doing is starting next Friday. We received a grant from 1178 01:53:44,080 --> 01:53:51,119 Virginia Main Street to do a community visioning. It'll do three things. It'll 1179 01:53:47,679 --> 01:53:55,760 do a market analysis to show us where the markets are headed. Uh and that's 1180 01:53:54,000 --> 01:53:58,480 anybody's guess at this point internationally, nationally. but at 1181 01:53:57,119 --> 01:54:03,280 least be able to look at our markets here. Uh our businesses, how they can be 1182 01:54:01,280 --> 01:54:06,960 better and and solidify their business and hopefully help us recruit new 1183 01:54:05,040 --> 01:54:10,960 businesses to come in as well. Uh they'll be looking at the physical plant 1184 01:54:08,400 --> 01:54:13,599 of downtown, the downtown district, our trees, our streets, and everything else. 1185 01:54:12,320 --> 01:54:17,040 Chad, that's why I was asking for your notes on that because I want to include 1186 01:54:15,119 --> 01:54:20,480 that. The biggest part of that, we're going to have a series of meetings at 1187 01:54:18,880 --> 01:54:26,159 the Lincoln Theater inviting public comment. What do you want to see Marian 1188 01:54:23,040 --> 01:54:29,920 look like in the next 10 to 20 years? and I'll be down there just to the point 1189 01:54:28,400 --> 01:54:32,960 to open up the meeting and I'm going to leave not because I don't want to be 1190 01:54:31,520 --> 01:54:35,760 there to hear what you have to say, but I don't want folks looking and saying, 1191 01:54:34,560 --> 01:54:39,679 "Kim, what do you think?" Because I've done this for 30 years. I want this to 1192 01:54:37,280 --> 01:54:43,360 be a communitydriven project where at the end of it, we'll have a market 1193 01:54:41,599 --> 01:54:47,119 analysis, show how businesses can be successful and how we can make our 1194 01:54:44,960 --> 01:54:51,520 current business successful and also new businesses to recruit. We'll have the 1195 01:54:49,199 --> 01:54:56,239 tools to make downtown more accessible, more traffic uh worthy for parking. We 1196 01:54:54,800 --> 01:55:00,400 talk about parking lot, talking about lighting, we talk about signage. Uh and 1197 01:54:58,719 --> 01:55:04,719 then also we'll have what this community wants to see and the priorities and then 1198 01:55:02,800 --> 01:55:09,440 we'll hopefully come up with some goals one year, 5 year, 10 year game changers 1199 01:55:06,960 --> 01:55:13,679 that we can work on as a community as those of us that are out of solar that 1200 01:55:11,199 --> 01:55:18,800 are ready to retire and move on in a couple years. Uh we want to be able to 1201 01:55:16,000 --> 01:55:22,400 clean the the rocks out of the path so that the people that come after us can 1202 01:55:20,480 --> 01:55:25,599 make this bigger and better than we can ever dream it can be sitting in this 1203 01:55:23,840 --> 01:55:29,440 room here tonight. And the way for us to do that is to use the knowledge we have 1204 01:55:27,280 --> 01:55:35,840 gathered since the time we've been here and let's people come up with you bigger 1205 01:55:33,040 --> 01:55:39,280 pick that up. So as those are announced they'll be later this fall. I appreciate 1206 01:55:37,840 --> 01:55:43,599 all the comments you do. We'll probably do some surveys of the events in 1207 01:55:40,960 --> 01:55:47,920 downtown as well. And the more opinions that you guys come and express, the 1208 01:55:45,599 --> 01:55:51,679 better this product. The last thing I want to do, your honor, is congratulate 1209 01:55:49,119 --> 01:55:55,679 Tony on being named assistant manager. I know 1210 01:55:52,920 --> 01:55:59,119 that Lyn White was in here thinking to the public works crew and we've got 1211 01:55:57,520 --> 01:56:06,400 we've got a heck of a team here with the town of Maring. All the snow that was 1212 01:56:01,199 --> 01:56:13,280 removed. I this winter was I I dare say that anybody any better than your We 1213 01:56:09,599 --> 01:56:19,119 appreciate Thank you. We We have a heck of a heck of a staff. Public works, 1214 01:56:16,880 --> 01:56:23,520 everybody all the way around. Super duper. And speaking of them, Todd 1215 01:56:23,639 --> 01:56:31,360 Long, I'm sorry. Um, you're out of order. 1216 01:56:28,320 --> 01:56:31,360 I'm sorry you're out of 1217 01:56:31,560 --> 01:56:37,360 order. There's There's no comments right now. 1218 01:56:35,840 --> 01:56:43,040 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to give everybody a quick update. Um, 1219 01:56:40,159 --> 01:56:47,679 Friday we had 50 subscribers to our new YouTube channel. I just looked before I 1220 01:56:45,280 --> 01:56:54,560 walked up here. We got 105 as of right now. Um, the the uh video that was 1221 01:56:51,760 --> 01:57:01,119 uploaded on Friday with with the mayor's welcome has been viewed 1222 01:56:57,400 --> 01:57:03,440 766 times. As you said in that message, I mean, there's going to be some 1223 01:57:02,000 --> 01:57:07,840 hiccups. There's going to be some things that that humps and bumps in the road. 1224 01:57:05,360 --> 01:57:11,599 We're going to work through that. Um, I'd like to apologize to M Mr. Atkins. 1225 01:57:10,080 --> 01:57:16,000 I, you know, we didn't certainly didn't mean to burn any bridges. We certainly 1226 01:57:13,199 --> 01:57:20,480 didn't mean to uh step on anybody's toes by doing this. It was a council's 1227 01:57:18,719 --> 01:57:24,320 decision and and we went the council route. We may have to revisit it 1228 01:57:22,199 --> 01:57:28,599 sometime. And uh, you know, don't certainly don't mean to burn any bridge 1229 01:57:25,679 --> 01:57:33,840 with Mr. Atkins. Um, some planning commission updates. Uh 1230 01:57:31,920 --> 01:57:38,239 this coming up next Monday, we're going to be talking about some stuff that the 1231 01:57:35,360 --> 01:57:42,639 plan that the council has referred to uh planning commission with the uh 1232 01:57:39,840 --> 01:57:46,719 livestock regulations and the fence height in the front yard. Uh after that 1233 01:57:44,960 --> 01:57:52,760 meeting, we'll report back to you all on that. Um they was talking about 1234 01:57:49,360 --> 01:57:56,719 streaming some of the uh intersection uh cameras. I think that would require 1235 01:57:54,880 --> 01:58:02,080 opening up a port. The biggest part with that is some of the latency is the 1236 01:57:59,280 --> 01:58:07,280 upload speeds on the on the Comcast modems that we have at each of the uh 1237 01:58:04,880 --> 01:58:12,560 traffic signals. You know, you can get a lot of download, but it's it's hard to 1238 01:58:08,880 --> 01:58:17,440 get a lot of upload. And uh the size of the videos that that we try to upload. 1239 01:58:14,880 --> 01:58:22,000 That's why when you seen it look jumpy the system upload speeds from the from 1240 01:58:19,679 --> 01:58:26,080 that intersection was just it just it can't handle the traffic that it that it 1241 01:58:24,239 --> 01:58:29,760 push has to push through to get back to here then out to there. But if that's 1242 01:58:28,080 --> 01:58:36,080 something council wants to entertain, we'll find a way to do it. We always do. 1243 01:58:33,080 --> 01:58:39,360 Um I just appreciate y'all support. I want to congratulate Tony as well, 1244 01:58:37,760 --> 01:58:43,520 assistant town manager. you got a good one and we're all going to work 1245 01:58:41,520 --> 01:58:47,520 together. Nothing's going to change here and I just appreciate that all support. 1246 01:58:45,920 --> 01:58:52,320 Any questions you got, I'll be happy to answer. Todd, I have one. Can you go 1247 01:58:49,440 --> 01:58:58,960 over the camping ordinance with us again? Refresh us. Sure. Um, so I think 1248 01:58:56,080 --> 01:59:03,199 the camping ordinance said u you had to be related to the property owner. And 1249 01:59:01,760 --> 01:59:07,360 I'm doing this from memory, so it's been a minute. I think you had to be related 1250 01:59:05,119 --> 01:59:14,360 to the property owner. you could camp for 72 consecutive hours. You had to 1251 01:59:10,719 --> 01:59:19,199 have a sanitation facility available 24/7. Um, and there were some other 1252 01:59:17,119 --> 01:59:26,440 things in there, Trish. I can I can certainly look back at that and and and 1253 01:59:21,679 --> 01:59:30,320 report more to you for the next meeting. Um, I don't have my phone on me. I'm 1254 01:59:28,800 --> 01:59:35,040 sorry. I'd have to go back and look at it. Uh but there were some things in 1255 01:59:33,360 --> 01:59:39,280 there that really related to family camping and stuff like that. Uh but the 1256 01:59:37,440 --> 01:59:44,239 biggest thing was the sanitation facilities and and of course you know uh 1257 01:59:41,679 --> 01:59:48,320 the trash and and and the debris and other stuff that comes along with 1258 01:59:45,760 --> 01:59:53,239 camping in some cases. And are we enforcing that? No, we're not. And how 1259 01:59:51,440 --> 01:59:57,440 come? Well, as you've heard from some of the 1260 01:59:55,440 --> 02:00:01,920 citizens here tonight, it's it's it's zoning is an issue right now. You know, 1261 02:00:00,239 --> 02:00:06,960 whenever we propose this stuff, we propose for what we feel like is the 1262 02:00:04,639 --> 02:00:10,480 highest and best use for everybody in town. Let's make Mar a better place for 1263 02:00:09,119 --> 02:00:15,599 both women to play. That's been our motto for three years 1264 02:00:12,760 --> 02:00:19,199 now. I hate that I got to come and ask council every time we get ready to 1265 02:00:17,119 --> 02:00:22,960 enforce saying is this okay? It shouldn't be like that, but with today's 1266 02:00:21,280 --> 02:00:26,880 environment, we almost feel like we have to. It's almost like we we got to have 1267 02:00:25,199 --> 02:00:31,280 your blessing for everything. I wish it wasn't like that, but that's where it's 1268 02:00:29,119 --> 02:00:36,560 at now. But if you all would like for me to enforce that at your discretion, I 1269 02:00:33,520 --> 02:00:39,400 certainly will. Well, why did we do it if if we're not going to enforce it? I'm 1270 02:00:38,639 --> 02:00:43,119 just curious. I mean, with all of our 1271 02:00:41,520 --> 02:00:48,360 ordinance, we've had other people complain about signs and 1272 02:00:47,119 --> 02:00:52,719 I'm just curious how we pick and choose. Well, 1273 02:00:51,280 --> 02:00:56,800 that's I I don't like picking and choosing. I either like to do it or I 1274 02:00:54,400 --> 02:01:00,560 don't. I I I I would I'd like to have your blessing to enforce it all. Just 1275 02:00:58,960 --> 02:01:04,719 like the last meeting that came and I addressed the the uh solid waste. I 1276 02:01:02,960 --> 02:01:09,840 think Dr. Gates said, "Let's look at it before we do that." You know, I want to 1277 02:01:07,119 --> 02:01:13,360 get out in front of that to keep birds, cats, dogs, animals from tearing up 1278 02:01:11,679 --> 02:01:16,520 bags. It's not in trash cans open without going all over the neighborhood. 1279 02:01:15,360 --> 02:01:21,360 I can tell you prior to the last council meeting, I 1280 02:01:19,599 --> 02:01:25,760 don't remember the exact date, I probably 1281 02:01:22,280 --> 02:01:30,320 had two or three calls where people were animals had gotten into just bag trash 1282 02:01:28,159 --> 02:01:38,520 that tore open and blow blown all over their their yards. We get that every 1283 02:01:33,880 --> 02:01:43,480 month. Every week. Every week. But, you know, all you got to do is give me the 1284 02:01:40,800 --> 02:01:49,679 go ahead and and you know, I'm very proactive and I'll be happy to enforce 1285 02:01:45,920 --> 02:01:55,840 everything as we interpret it. Um, if I if I can mention something and someone 1286 02:01:53,199 --> 02:02:00,400 spoke this to me at one point in time, the speed limit is 1287 02:01:57,480 --> 02:02:08,360 25, but we don't give people tickets until they hit 32, something like that. 1288 02:02:04,400 --> 02:02:15,159 laws are made to be enforced, but some of them apply to what 1289 02:02:12,639 --> 02:02:20,599 I want to call egregious circumstances. Um, discretion is the 1290 02:02:18,080 --> 02:02:27,520 greater part of valor. Just my opinion, and I'm only one 1291 02:02:23,560 --> 02:02:34,159 person, but applying the letter of the law to every citizen seems a bit 1292 02:02:31,440 --> 02:02:39,520 excessive to me. I don't think you should have to ask 1293 02:02:36,960 --> 02:02:43,920 every time you apply the law either. I believe we're all reasonable people and 1294 02:02:41,440 --> 02:02:47,920 we know when a situation needs to be corrected. 1295 02:02:46,000 --> 02:02:53,040 My opinion, does the one at Riverbend need to be corrected? That's not my 1296 02:02:50,560 --> 02:02:58,000 question to be answered. We need to be consistent with everybody 1297 02:02:55,440 --> 02:03:01,360 and that's what we are doing, right? I mean, that's that's that's really why 1298 02:02:59,599 --> 02:03:05,960 I've not gone out. Now, I can tell you I've had complaints, not so much of of 1299 02:03:04,080 --> 02:03:10,560 the camping, but the trash that they're making. Uh the debris that they're 1300 02:03:08,719 --> 02:03:15,440 putting down over toward the and I'm not even talking about this area here. I'm 1301 02:03:11,840 --> 02:03:15,440 talking about another area. 1302 02:03:15,960 --> 02:03:26,320 Uh it's it's a lot of trash that they're putting down over at the riverbank. And 1303 02:03:23,639 --> 02:03:31,520 u I've not addressed that yet, but it is on my radar. I just I just if you give 1304 02:03:28,719 --> 02:03:36,800 me permission, I'll certainly go do it. Well, have you So, I understand the 1305 02:03:34,719 --> 02:03:40,960 unhoused are not the ones you're going after. You'd be going after the property 1306 02:03:38,639 --> 02:03:45,119 owner, correct? He's the one responsible by law. I have to go after the property 1307 02:03:43,280 --> 02:03:49,040 owner. So, have you addressed the property owner about the trash? So, the 1308 02:03:47,440 --> 02:03:53,599 the police department did some engagement down there and spoke with the 1309 02:03:51,599 --> 02:03:59,840 property owner. He wants he wants those residents there 1310 02:03:58,239 --> 02:04:07,440 because he knows they have nowhere else to go and he won't tell them to 1311 02:04:03,400 --> 02:04:13,599 leave. He he's very adamant that he wants them there. Well then what don't 1312 02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:17,360 we have ordinance in place if you have a camp ground? 1313 02:04:15,599 --> 02:04:21,760 Don't we have things you have to have for a campground? Commercial campground. 1314 02:04:19,760 --> 02:04:27,280 Yes. So isn't that considered a camp ground? Would that would he not need to 1315 02:04:25,440 --> 02:04:32,719 go about getting making that a campground area? My in my opinion it 1316 02:04:30,000 --> 02:04:37,960 would not be considered a commercial a commercial campground trash. Why? 1317 02:04:35,280 --> 02:04:44,000 Because commercial is is transfer of money and I think the state code 1318 02:04:40,599 --> 02:04:48,080 actually does mention up to number of I want to say more than two which it is 1319 02:04:46,639 --> 02:04:54,080 down there but there's still no money change at hand no value there. 1320 02:04:51,679 --> 02:04:58,639 Well, what provision has he made for a restroom 1321 02:04:55,560 --> 02:05:02,080 for or picking up the trash? Yeah, I can't answer that. I have not made 1322 02:04:59,920 --> 02:05:08,560 contact with the property owner yet. Folks, um if if you want to u refer this 1323 02:05:05,440 --> 02:05:12,360 to a committee, um I I think that would be the appropriate action. 1324 02:05:16,800 --> 02:05:26,080 What committee would it be? Um that what is council's pleasure. 1325 02:05:23,599 --> 02:05:33,000 Would that be more recreation with the park or I mean it wouldn't really be 1326 02:05:28,639 --> 02:05:33,000 streets but it does involve sanitation. 1327 02:05:33,679 --> 02:05:39,719 Do you have a suggestion, Billy? Community improvement. 1328 02:05:40,719 --> 02:05:48,400 We don't have a committee for community improvement. What's your committee? Um 1329 02:05:45,040 --> 02:05:56,239 economic development. That's under I'm I am not currently allowing uh 1330 02:05:52,239 --> 02:06:00,960 comments from um you have to understand take it to I'll be happy to take it to 1331 02:05:58,000 --> 02:06:04,639 my committee and your committee which one 1332 02:06:02,480 --> 02:06:09,920 I'm on the police committee and the economic 1333 02:06:06,679 --> 02:06:16,159 committee and if you want to take it into your wheelhouse absolutely 1334 02:06:13,920 --> 02:06:19,679 this isn't contradictory to what we said about you writing the better in us 1335 02:06:17,840 --> 02:06:24,000 wanting to be part of the solution. Is it? No, I don't think so. I think I 1336 02:06:22,239 --> 02:06:32,400 think there's an certainly an immediate discussion to be had on the enforcement 1337 02:06:27,199 --> 02:06:35,320 of the camping ordinance or not. I'm not sure I'm leaving this meeting with a 1338 02:06:34,000 --> 02:06:39,040 clear understanding unless I'm missing 1339 02:06:37,199 --> 02:06:44,880 something. It sounds like something we need to talk about that. But that's, you 1340 02:06:41,840 --> 02:06:49,040 know, that's a solution that's this far. So if if if the property owner was 1341 02:06:47,440 --> 02:06:54,320 notified that he was violating the zoning ordinance willfully because he 1342 02:06:51,679 --> 02:06:58,079 actually wants that there right then what action is there to take? He would 1343 02:06:56,800 --> 02:07:02,719 get the ordinance he would get the zoning violation. He would maybe appeal 1344 02:07:00,079 --> 02:07:08,400 that to the board of zoning appeals to the board of zoning appeals and then 1345 02:07:05,199 --> 02:07:12,079 some discussion would go on there. None of the folks who are staying there 1346 02:07:09,679 --> 02:07:17,679 committing any any offense whatsoever. And then if he refuses 1347 02:07:14,480 --> 02:07:22,560 Then what happens if he refuses after I think it's 15 days it just goes through 1348 02:07:20,400 --> 02:07:28,159 the same process all the other zoning uh non-compliance does it go to court so I 1349 02:07:25,760 --> 02:07:33,159 guess it would end up in court but but that solution well first of all that's 1350 02:07:30,239 --> 02:07:38,560 not a solution that process is just those steps so I think 1351 02:07:37,119 --> 02:07:42,400 if we're going to get something closer to a 1352 02:07:40,040 --> 02:07:48,920 solution certainly engaging with social services is the only answer, right? As 1353 02:07:46,560 --> 02:07:54,960 illquipped or underfunded as they may be, that's the only answer. What about 1354 02:07:51,840 --> 02:07:58,840 Mount Rogers? Um, did I know they have So, they're doing a lot of engagement. I 1355 02:07:57,119 --> 02:08:05,679 think it's more of a question of vision. Who in the social service field 1356 02:08:02,639 --> 02:08:10,159 has the vision to do the engagement and to actually move the needle? We see that 1357 02:08:07,760 --> 02:08:13,760 Kayla had vision, right? She's working with one group of people. I think I 1358 02:08:12,159 --> 02:08:18,239 think Nolan's got some vision. I think there are people in the community with 1359 02:08:14,960 --> 02:08:25,079 the vision for it, but maybe we need to find those same people in the social 1360 02:08:20,840 --> 02:08:31,599 service that have the vision and the drive to to do something. 1361 02:08:28,719 --> 02:08:37,880 And and I think by by enforcing the zoning helps push this needle slightly. 1362 02:08:36,639 --> 02:08:45,199 Maybe it's temporary, but I mean, unless we do 1363 02:08:42,159 --> 02:08:50,480 something, nothing's nothing is ever gonna get done. I mean, they'll have to 1364 02:08:48,159 --> 02:08:57,119 go somewhere. They'll have to go somewhere. Um, if 1365 02:08:53,040 --> 02:09:02,719 these sidewalks, if if I may uh mention that Mr. Finnick may have information 1366 02:09:01,040 --> 02:09:08,639 regarding um the the disposition of moving these 1367 02:09:07,360 --> 02:09:15,679 people. Well, your town manager has just told 1368 02:09:11,560 --> 02:09:21,360 you that if you move them, if you cause the property 1369 02:09:18,280 --> 02:09:27,599 owner an expense that that property owner doesn't want to bear, then that 1370 02:09:25,040 --> 02:09:33,639 property owner will say you can't you can't be here. You're trespassing. So, 1371 02:09:30,800 --> 02:09:37,199 they will go to another area. Whether that's they don't have a 1372 02:09:35,760 --> 02:09:40,320 choice, right? I mean, they're humans again. 1373 02:09:38,639 --> 02:09:43,199 So, they they're going to go somewhere. They're going to go in behind 1374 02:09:41,440 --> 02:09:49,560 businesses. I've had them behind my business with their clothing. And I'm I 1375 02:09:47,280 --> 02:09:57,679 really am trying to enforce the rule of not engaging with the public at this 1376 02:09:54,639 --> 02:10:04,040 point in time. I'm very sorry. I I don't want to This is a discussion with 1377 02:10:00,320 --> 02:10:12,159 council and staff. um more than welcome to 1378 02:10:07,760 --> 02:10:19,520 uh comment at a later date. So uh Miss Spencer, 1379 02:10:17,000 --> 02:10:24,480 yes. What is your question? We we have left this as you wanting to take this 1380 02:10:22,320 --> 02:10:29,760 into your committee. Do you have a second or is that a motion? 1381 02:10:26,920 --> 02:10:34,560 Um, I'll be happy to make a motion to take it to a committee, but I think I 1382 02:10:32,719 --> 02:10:41,159 don't think it's necessary to be honest with you. I think it almost needs to be 1383 02:10:37,440 --> 02:10:46,119 decided now whether we want to enforce these camping laws or not. 1384 02:10:47,880 --> 02:10:55,920 [Music] I hear no second to your motion. Was 1385 02:10:52,079 --> 02:11:01,040 that a motion? Yes, that's a motion to enforce the camping laws. You need to 1386 02:10:59,199 --> 02:11:04,560 have a motion on the floor already with no second. Do you want to resend that 1387 02:11:02,639 --> 02:11:09,119 motion to refer it to a committee? Sure. Yes. 1388 02:11:06,560 --> 02:11:13,639 Motion rescended. I make a motion that we enforce the camping laws. 1389 02:11:14,960 --> 02:11:18,199 I'll second. 1390 02:11:19,520 --> 02:11:30,159 We have a motion. We have a second. Do we need discussion? 1391 02:11:25,679 --> 02:11:38,920 Probably. Yeah. Then please discuss. I I I agree with what Miss Spencer has said. 1392 02:11:34,880 --> 02:11:46,679 But then on the other hand, what do we do with these uh humans once they are 1393 02:11:45,280 --> 02:11:51,679 told to leave? Is there any responsibility? But 1394 02:11:49,920 --> 02:11:58,639 Chief Claire, maybe you can answer this question. Do we have any responsibility 1395 02:11:54,760 --> 02:12:01,920 there? Uh I mean I don't know the answer to it. It's a it's a tough tough 1396 02:12:00,159 --> 02:12:07,520 decision. There's there's not an answer. There are only trade-offs. The only 1397 02:12:04,159 --> 02:12:14,000 solution to people not having homes is people having homes. There's no other 1398 02:12:09,840 --> 02:12:19,119 solution. Everything else is a tradeoff. It would seem the current tradeoff is a 1399 02:12:16,400 --> 02:12:22,560 piece of property at Riverbend. So that means if that's eliminated, there will 1400 02:12:20,719 --> 02:12:25,320 be a trade-off somewhere else, perhaps behind 1401 02:12:23,480 --> 02:12:31,079 businesses. Um the the reality is is that they they 1402 02:12:29,040 --> 02:12:37,199 can't be teleported into a different dimension. They're human beings who do 1403 02:12:33,840 --> 02:12:42,679 human being things. They sleep and eat and go to the bathroom and they can't 1404 02:12:39,199 --> 02:12:47,920 they can't stop doing that. And so perhaps 1405 02:12:45,440 --> 02:12:53,040 if we were to inform Smith County Social Services that this area has become 1406 02:12:53,560 --> 02:13:02,599 untenable and ask for direct engagement in, you know, kind of a righteous 1407 02:13:01,079 --> 02:13:09,920 relocation maybe. Um well, do these do these humans 1408 02:13:06,719 --> 02:13:12,719 have rights that Dr. was talking. They're all from here, too, 1409 02:13:11,280 --> 02:13:18,880 by the way. I beg your pardon. They're all from here. Mike and Samantha, too. 1410 02:13:15,119 --> 02:13:22,960 Yeah. Yeah. They're all right. What's the difference in their rights and our 1411 02:13:21,040 --> 02:13:28,880 rights? I mean, I don't know. I mean, I'm just I I I'm just toward I don't 1412 02:13:25,360 --> 02:13:33,199 want them to be behind your business, you know? I want them to have housing, 1413 02:13:31,119 --> 02:13:39,599 but I don't know how to go about that. I think we need more people involved in 1414 02:13:36,159 --> 02:13:44,960 it. And I know Pastor Kayla is working very hard with other community leaders. 1415 02:13:43,199 --> 02:13:50,639 I think that's what we need to do is get the community leaders together and try 1416 02:13:48,480 --> 02:13:55,119 to come up with a solution. That's why I think the county also needs to be 1417 02:13:52,480 --> 02:14:02,159 involved. But as long as we let them stay 1418 02:13:58,760 --> 02:14:07,920 there, no needle will be moved because social services is content with them 1419 02:14:05,520 --> 02:14:12,920 staying there. Maring Housing Authority is content with them staying there until 1420 02:14:11,119 --> 02:14:18,880 until we start being a little bit aggressive. And 1421 02:14:16,480 --> 02:14:23,119 I hate it. I hate it. Honestly, I hate it. But 1422 02:14:20,960 --> 02:14:26,560 well, it it'll be the property owner has to be aggressive. Remember the people 1423 02:14:24,560 --> 02:14:30,880 who are staying there have committed no crime. Right. Right. Only the property 1424 02:14:28,560 --> 02:14:36,320 owner is in violation of the zoning ordinance. Yeah. So this is where low 1425 02:14:33,840 --> 02:14:41,440 when notified of it he'll have a decision to make. 1426 02:14:38,480 --> 02:14:46,199 He'll either make his property comply by asking them to leave or he will not. And 1427 02:14:44,079 --> 02:14:50,800 if he does not then Todd will take the next step and 1428 02:14:48,639 --> 02:14:54,159 then maybe he'll appeal that. And so certainly not something that's going to 1429 02:14:51,920 --> 02:14:59,480 happen overnight. But But the owner would have to decide to either and and 1430 02:14:56,880 --> 02:15:05,040 then what if the owner just takes the charge? No amount of camping ordinance 1431 02:15:02,320 --> 02:15:09,639 violations result in public hanging, right? Like it it just is what it is. 1432 02:15:07,440 --> 02:15:14,480 There's no there's no escalation level to, you know, 1433 02:15:11,800 --> 02:15:20,520 just making it. What if he decides to take the charge? Then I guess we do it 1434 02:15:17,520 --> 02:15:20,520 again. 1435 02:15:22,719 --> 02:15:30,159 That's my motion. It's just a very very tough uh situation to be in because 1436 02:15:27,040 --> 02:15:35,520 there's no really good answer. Um no answer period. Well, um we can be 1437 02:15:33,520 --> 02:15:40,320 here all night talking about it and never get it solved. But we have a 1438 02:15:37,119 --> 02:15:45,040 motion and a second and we have had discussion. Do we want to discuss 1439 02:15:42,159 --> 02:15:49,520 further? I just like the motion reread. Yeah, I want to. Yes. Miss Spencer made 1440 02:15:47,440 --> 02:15:57,119 a motion seconded by Mr. May. a motion to enforce the camping laws. 1441 02:15:52,800 --> 02:16:03,800 Um I will mention that um those camping ordinances have not been produced uh to 1442 02:16:00,480 --> 02:16:03,800 your satisfaction. 1443 02:16:04,320 --> 02:16:12,480 Remember earlier in the meeting we had asked that Mr. Long present us with 1444 02:16:09,840 --> 02:16:20,199 those camping ordinances. So, we're making a motion at this point in time to 1445 02:16:16,000 --> 02:16:26,960 enforce ordinances that we do not know. I do we want to clarify those 1446 02:16:22,880 --> 02:16:30,679 motions? I I think are those ordinances rather 1447 02:16:28,880 --> 02:16:37,040 I I think both camping have come to a public hearing. 1448 02:16:34,000 --> 02:16:42,880 Is that correct? Yes. And you all have taken action on them. Uh, I believe 1449 02:16:39,760 --> 02:16:48,399 they're adopted. Or could you read Could you read in the 1450 02:16:45,080 --> 02:16:55,040 minutes ordinance? As far as the minutes, no, what we have 1451 02:16:51,760 --> 02:17:01,559 in the ordinance for the camping. I'm trying to find 1452 02:16:57,920 --> 02:17:01,559 Let me get my phone. 1453 02:17:16,160 --> 02:17:22,920 to summer stylish sandals for 10. 1454 02:17:44,160 --> 02:17:47,120 Yeah, we might have to 1455 02:17:55,960 --> 02:18:00,120 take a race. 1456 02:18:01,040 --> 02:18:08,639 In the interest of time, since we cannot produce these, I got I got it right 1457 02:18:05,280 --> 02:18:12,559 here. Okay, just took me says camping on private properties. 1458 02:18:10,880 --> 02:18:16,160 Camping on private properties allowed in the town of Marion with the following 1459 02:18:14,080 --> 02:18:21,840 restrictions. There must be a camping unit, tent, travel, trailer, RV, etc. 1460 02:18:19,679 --> 02:18:26,080 Only one camping unit per service building located on the same parcel or 1461 02:18:24,240 --> 02:18:29,840 parcels that are contiguously owned by the owner. 1462 02:18:28,080 --> 02:18:34,399 The service building must have working sanitary facilities available 24 hours a 1463 02:18:32,319 --> 02:18:39,280 day for the people camping on your property. Camping is allowed for 72 1464 02:18:37,280 --> 02:18:43,679 consecutive hours. Example, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. People can only camp 1465 02:18:41,679 --> 02:18:48,280 on the property they own or related to the owner. No more than four people can 1466 02:18:46,479 --> 02:18:52,479 camp in a camping unit simultaneously. Primitive camping is 1467 02:18:50,399 --> 02:18:57,679 prohibited. A service building with working sanitary facilities is required. 1468 02:18:56,319 --> 02:19:02,719 And then it goes on to commercial campgrounds, which I don't think really 1469 02:19:00,080 --> 02:19:08,639 applies to this situation. And could you tell us the penalty for failure to uh 1470 02:19:06,479 --> 02:19:12,240 adhere to this ordinance? Well, what would happen is we give the we have to 1471 02:19:10,319 --> 02:19:17,200 write the property owner, excuse me, property owner uh notice of violation. 1472 02:19:15,200 --> 02:19:21,280 Normally the presidents we set and we send them an initial letter say we've 1473 02:19:19,120 --> 02:19:25,439 noticed this happening on your property. Can you meet with us and let us know 1474 02:19:23,040 --> 02:19:28,319 your your plan what's going on here? If they don't meet with us, most of the 1475 02:19:26,719 --> 02:19:32,719 time they do, but if they don't, then we send them the first notice of violation. 1476 02:19:29,760 --> 02:19:38,319 We give them 15 days to correct the the issue. I I'm I'm asking the monetary. So 1477 02:19:36,000 --> 02:19:44,479 So the monetary I believe it would be a class three misdemeanor. So it would be 1478 02:19:40,719 --> 02:19:51,120 up to $500 fine. And how often can this $500 fine be 1479 02:19:48,000 --> 02:19:57,760 applied? Daily. Daily. So you're looking at a $500 fine. uh and with 1480 02:19:54,319 --> 02:20:02,359 non-compliance that uh but the court would have to enforce that. Is that 1481 02:19:59,359 --> 02:20:02,359 correct? 1482 02:20:02,560 --> 02:20:11,479 So the court would be the one that would have the ability to go up to a $500 fine 1483 02:20:08,960 --> 02:20:15,520 or whatever they feel is appropriate. Is that correct? Right. 1484 02:20:13,680 --> 02:20:22,800 That the court could find them guilty and have no financial penalty. Okay. So 1485 02:20:21,120 --> 02:20:33,319 now we know what we're voting on. Can I ask a question? Of course. Okay. So, the 1486 02:20:25,840 --> 02:20:39,640 rights of Cubans are okay as long as our codes and and and uh uh zoning 1487 02:20:38,240 --> 02:20:46,399 issues are enforced. 1488 02:20:43,600 --> 02:20:53,600 Can you ask that question again? I'm just I'm I'm just hung up on if if if 1489 02:20:50,000 --> 02:20:58,720 everybody has rights that Dr. Wasam was talking about, citizens rights. Well, 1490 02:20:56,000 --> 02:21:05,200 they are citizens, right? Is that and I I don't want to belabor this, but I have 1491 02:21:01,280 --> 02:21:10,240 a a real problem with where will they go? That's that's that's that's kind of 1492 02:21:08,319 --> 02:21:14,479 a question I'm thinking is if we run them from this place, they're going to 1493 02:21:11,439 --> 02:21:18,160 go to Wona. from Wona. They're going to go to 1494 02:21:16,240 --> 02:21:22,479 somewhere else and they're just going to chase them all around town. I mean, I 1495 02:21:20,560 --> 02:21:28,960 point of order, you may withdraw your second. 1496 02:21:24,439 --> 02:21:34,000 Well, I get that. I just It's I'm I'm seeing a problem here. And I and would 1497 02:21:31,200 --> 02:21:37,840 we not be better off asking you know someone like from social services come 1498 02:21:35,760 --> 02:21:43,760 to have a discussion with us next council meeting invite them and then see 1499 02:21:40,160 --> 02:21:48,240 what see what the the best outcome for everyone is in this situation. So we 1500 02:21:45,680 --> 02:21:53,760 have a motion and a second. You can withdraw your second. That will kill the 1501 02:21:50,840 --> 02:21:58,800 motion. Or it will open the floor to a second uh from another council member. 1502 02:21:56,720 --> 02:22:03,560 Or we can take the motion and the second and we can go ahead and take it to a 1503 02:22:00,560 --> 02:22:03,560 vote. 1504 02:22:03,680 --> 02:22:09,200 I'll resend my second. Please let the record show that Mr. 1505 02:22:07,600 --> 02:22:15,000 Mayor rescends his second. Is there anyone else on this council would like 1506 02:22:10,960 --> 02:22:15,000 to second that motion? 1507 02:22:16,399 --> 02:22:24,960 Then the motion dies on the floor. We'll move on. Town manager report. 1508 02:22:21,680 --> 02:22:31,880 I'm gonna be real quick. Sorry. Uh radio read. As of April 1st, we had had 1509 02:22:28,560 --> 02:22:39,520 installed uh 1,186 radio meters. That's almost a 1510 02:22:35,920 --> 02:22:44,319 third of what we anticipate. Um I had housing authority reappointments, but 1511 02:22:41,600 --> 02:22:50,399 Charlie was here and did that first. in your packet. 1512 02:22:46,200 --> 02:22:54,960 Um, I had the bid where I put the mowing of the Round Cemetery out for bid. 1513 02:22:55,399 --> 02:22:58,960 Um, let me find 1514 02:23:02,680 --> 02:23:10,160 it. In your packet, I had the list of biders. 1515 02:23:07,760 --> 02:23:16,000 Uh, it's page, let's see, are the pages page 22. 1516 02:23:11,880 --> 02:23:22,240 Um yeah, we had uh one, two, three, four, we had five biders. Uh one of them 1517 02:23:19,120 --> 02:23:27,040 uh was rejected uh due to the fact that they didn't price it the way that we had 1518 02:23:24,080 --> 02:23:31,720 asked. Uh the low bid was Elite Property Care at 1519 02:23:29,479 --> 02:23:36,479 $43,000 for this season. 1520 02:23:33,720 --> 02:23:42,000 Um advertised it three times in the Smith County News, had it on the 1521 02:23:38,160 --> 02:23:48,720 website. um had all the procurement uh hoops jumped through. 1522 02:23:45,640 --> 02:23:56,720 Um would like to ask council at this time to consider awarding the mowing 1523 02:23:52,960 --> 02:24:02,319 contract to Elite Property Care. Do you need a motion? 1524 02:23:59,280 --> 02:24:10,840 Thank you. I I'll make that motion to award the mowing to Elite Property 1525 02:24:05,399 --> 02:24:10,840 Care in the amount of $43,000. 1526 02:24:10,880 --> 02:24:21,520 I'll second it. Motion and second. Staff's advising to accept this 1527 02:24:18,560 --> 02:24:26,880 contract. Any discussion? Billy, they are bonded, correct? Yes. I have 1528 02:24:23,760 --> 02:24:33,680 reinsurance information. I saw that. They've got the business license. Tony 1529 02:24:28,800 --> 02:24:40,560 has met with them um and um talked to them and they seem very capable of doing 1530 02:24:38,000 --> 02:24:44,280 their job. All right, motion and second. Any further discussion? Let us vote. All 1531 02:24:43,520 --> 02:24:48,720 in favor? Unanimous. Thank you. Motion 1532 02:24:47,200 --> 02:24:53,439 carries. We're cutting it close on getting that 1533 02:24:50,080 --> 02:24:58,399 started. So, I appreciate it. Uh Wel was scheduled to be here today, but it it 1534 02:24:55,359 --> 02:25:01,200 rained. So, uh, they're here. They're here. They just can't start till 1535 02:24:59,520 --> 02:25:06,000 tomorrow. Okay. They're here. They just can't start till tomorrow. Pray for 1536 02:25:03,520 --> 02:25:12,319 sunny day. We hope to work on the park drive in uh 1537 02:25:10,479 --> 02:25:19,160 concrete while the papers are in town so we can so we can uh have them to pull 1538 02:25:15,359 --> 02:25:25,280 over that and patch it. Uh, I have here Market Street bids have 1539 02:25:22,080 --> 02:25:30,560 been sent to the EQ for their approval. I got word today and sent you all a copy 1540 02:25:28,160 --> 02:25:34,439 of the approval letter from DEQ. So, we're we're good to go on the Market 1541 02:25:32,319 --> 02:25:40,800 Street Project. Um I think Hunter had asked me what the 1542 02:25:38,800 --> 02:25:46,960 projected time was. We're thinking it's going to be September early fall. Um it 1543 02:25:44,560 --> 02:25:51,040 takes even if we order everything, it it takes about 3 months for them to build 1544 02:25:48,720 --> 02:25:55,439 all the concrete structures that we're going to need. So, it's probably going 1545 02:25:53,040 --> 02:26:01,280 to be filed before we can actually get started on 1546 02:25:57,720 --> 02:26:06,560 it. That's basically all I have. You You said pavers are in town. Does that mean 1547 02:26:03,680 --> 02:26:10,960 Staley Street? Yes. Grows closed. Thank goodness. Thank you very much. Yes. 1548 02:26:08,560 --> 02:26:18,080 Wonderful. Nobody wants it no quicker or faster than we do, Billy. The Park 1549 02:26:14,160 --> 02:26:24,960 Boulevard phase two. Uh I think everyone has been informed about that. Uh I I'll 1550 02:26:21,280 --> 02:26:27,800 make a motion that you work with uh VOTE to 1551 02:26:26,390 --> 02:26:32,680 [Music] uh whatever needs to be done to not 1552 02:26:30,399 --> 02:26:36,560 proceed with that at this point. Okay, I'll second that 1553 02:26:36,600 --> 02:26:40,000 motion. All in 1554 02:26:41,080 --> 02:26:50,160 favor? Anything else, council? Yes. I I would just like to make a comment. I I 1555 02:26:47,359 --> 02:26:57,120 understand so much about what Miss Spencer has said, but I think that we 1556 02:26:52,880 --> 02:27:01,120 have tried to do something to tonight because we're writing that letter. I 1557 02:26:58,960 --> 02:27:07,920 think that's a start. And I would like to ask Billy to have someone at social 1558 02:27:05,120 --> 02:27:14,640 services come to our next meeting that maybe we could talk to and find out what 1559 02:27:11,680 --> 02:27:20,080 they can do. That is an invitation. Um, do we need a 1560 02:27:17,840 --> 02:27:25,120 motion for that? No, just an invitation. So, if there's 1561 02:27:22,720 --> 02:27:30,319 nothing further, I need a motion for us to adjourn. 1562 02:27:27,200 --> 02:27:33,760 I make a motion. Second. Motion second. All in 1563 02:27:33,800 --> 02:27:38,439 favor? We stand a journ.