They are good 3 to 5 weeks after the so-by dates. Certainly, those can be in milk, yogurt, dairy products as well.
Well, what are some other ways to tell? I know Doug Roush, a former president of Fader Joe's is something of a mentor to you. What are some other ways that people like you and he might look at a can or a box and determine that something's wrong?
I was always told that if the top of a can is like puffed up, beware.
That's right.
So for cans, if they are dented or if they're puffed, they are probably no longer safe.
But aside from that, if your can is in perfect condition, canned foods can last years and
years and years, well past the dates on them.
are literally boxed foods, any dry foods in your pantry are really good, almost indefinitely.
And I think one place where people get confused is when they open a product from their pantry,
let's say a curtain of soup, and they're not sure once it's opened, how long it's good for.
And so oftentimes it will stay on the package, but if not, you can sort of put that leftover, you know,
four to seven days or typically about how long those products are good for.
Well, Dana Gunders, what do you think is going to happen here in the US?
We know the EU is reconsidering food labels, some major food chains in the UK got rid of
their best before labels.
What's going to happen here?
Yeah.
Well, what we have seen happen here is in the private sector is moving towards voluntary guidelines
towards just two dates on food.
one that would indicate quality or freshness and with a phrase like best of used by
and a separate phrase like used by that would indicate there is a safety concern and that product really should be thrown out after that date.
There has been more and more support from the corporate community actually to have the state-level standardization
because for one it would lead to less confusion among consumers.
It would also supersede the state laws and there's so many different state laws out there
that companies are having a follow.
So it really would simplify things as well as reduce waste.
That's Dana Gunders, executive director at ReFed and on profit that works with corporations
and others to try to reduce waste and food.
She's also author of the waste-free kitchen handbook a guide to eating well
and saving money by wasting less food.
Dana, thanks so much.
I really appreciate it, thank you, Robin.
The tiny Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is still struggling to recover
one month after a cyber attack. The government isn't sharing many details about what happened,
and that's added to the confusion. As NPR's Genomegloffland reports, the breach raises
questions about the global costs of cyber crime and the future of geopolitical relations in
region. In Venezuela too, in archipelago off the coast of Australia, newly elected government
officials got off to a rough start. On November 6, new members of Parliament, led by Prime Minister
Alitoy, Ishmael, Calsakao, couldn't send any emails. Something was wrong. Communication is vital
in Venezuela too. It's 320,000 citizens live across the chain of islands. Plus, the UNDM the country
most vulnerable to natural disaster. After first detecting a breach, things only got worse.
They turned out all government programs were down from medical data to emergency systems.
We had first country in the world, and we're not proud to say that. First country in the world
that this is hair contone. Glenn Craig is with Pacific Advisory, and he serves as the chairman
of the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council. It's not a bit time and Vanuatu, I can assure you.
There's still very little information out there about what happened.
Those sources who spoke to NPR suggested Vanuatu had been hit by ransomware.
The U.S. has had its fair share of damage inflicted by cyber criminals.
But recently, the Pacific region has been getting hammered.
Just last month, two major Australian companies were breached,
prompting a strong response from home affairs minister Clare O'Neill.
A number of people have said,
this is a big wake-up hole for our country.
We cannot allow this to continue.
In a cold of reporters, O'Neill said that the Australian government would pursue the Russian
Thugs, her words, who stole people's healthcare information.
Australian officials are on the ground helping get Venowatu back on mine.
Part of the urgency may be fierce that China could take advantage of the situation to
deepen ties to the tiny island nation by offering assistance or technology.
Venowatu is officially neutral and maintains friendships with both Beijing and Washington.
In his last update, the Vanuatu Prime Minister said 70% of systems have been restored.
The questions remain about the impact of the month-long outage.
Gentlemen, Gothlin and Pyrenees.
This afternoon, on all things, considered the government's charges of fraud and conspiracy
against Sam Bankman Free, the former CEO of the Cryptocurrency Exchange FTX, who is now under
arrest.
You can hear that story on your radio or your phone or tell your smart speaker to play
local devastation by name. It's here and now.
It seems 51, the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury
came to an agreement. Henceforth the Fed will be in charge of monetary policy
and the U.S. Treasury will be in charge of debt.
I name he's God what that old agreement means for today's economy
next time on Marketplace. Catch up on the day's business news with Marketplace weekdays at
XPM on Radio IPU.
Corporate support for Radio IQ comes in part from Gentry Locke
attorneys, committed to outcomes that matter, for clients and referring professionals, offices
in Rowanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, more information at Gentrylocke.com.
Funding for here and now comes from the listeners of WBU our Boston and from math works creators
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It's here and now.
The holiday season often means family recipes and they don't have to be fancy.
One of my favorites is a family recipe for a South Indian prawn curry.
All the women in my family make it masterfully.
And in fact, it's pretty close to a recipe that we received from a listener from Yuma, Arizona,
Sojata Halankar.
It's part of a month of sharing your family recipes.
Sojata's recipe is for fish curry.
Welcome, Sajata. Hi, so I have to tell you that my family comes from the same coastal region of India,
your family is from, Compton, and my producer, Kalyani is also a company. So between you, me and Kalyani,
we've got a lot of fish currys in our family. Yes, and it's really nice to know that you are from the same region.
Yes, and to tell us about the women in your family and this recipe. Yes, so this recipe is a
of it, generational facility, my grandmother started cooking, my mom's mother started cooking it.
and it's a, it's nothing very fancy, the ingredients are very basic locally available ingredients,
like coconut, garlic, green chilies, onions, and chilli powder, coriander powder, and that's about it.
And we are from the region where we grow a lot of coconut so, coconut has got,
Let's begin our meeting. I would like to introduce Pastor Daniel Palmer of North Rono Baptist Church. I would ask Pastor Cmonup, tell us a little bit about his church and his congregation.
And then after he's finished with that, he let us know when he's ready to give the invocation. I would then ask everyone if you so desire.
You don't have to, but if you so desire, you can stand up and join us in the invitation.
And please remain standing, because after that, we will do the pledge of allegiance.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to be here today, a little bit about our church. Again, our church is North Rowan Oak Baptist Church.
And we are people. We are people who have been rescued by Jesus to worship and proclaim His glory.
And we are unapologetically committed to living that out in our daily lives.
We believe the gospel is this that God has a son and he sent him to rescue us.
He was crucified in our place, risen on the third day as promised.
And he is now ascended at the right hand of the Father, ruling and reigning and righteousness.
And we are committed to following him.
If you'd like to know more about this Jesus, we'd love to see you on Sundays.
It's 6402 Peter Street Road at 9.15 for Bible study and at 10.30 for worship, but more to what might be of interest to you is the impact we are making because we've been changed by the gospel in the Roanoke Valley.
We exist to be Christ church, which is why we worship. We also exist to impact the Roanoke Valley. We want to make a positive difference in lives in the Roanoke Valley.
We have a partnership with the League of Old Americans with their Let's Do Launch Program.
We'd encourage you to come out and support them.
We offer free ESL classes every Wednesday night to people who are learning English as a second
language.
We are the evacuation site for Burlington Elementary School and also for Runa County Schools
if there's a more significant event for which we were our services and facility would be
needed.
We provide meals on a regular basis for the faculty and staff at Burlington Elementary Schools
and Mountain View Elementary School.
We provide open gyms to address teens in the Rona Valley,
and we are a meeting site for various community events
and organizations, everything from the sewing
guild to the local fire department.
So it's a blessing to be able to serve here
in the Rona Valley and to be able to pray for you today.
Let's pray.
Our Father and our God, I give you praise for this board
and for the people gathered in this room
and their various roles and responsibilities
to the residents of the county of Rona, Virginia.
Guy, we thank you for a beautiful place to live,
just driving down the inner state, the sun,
and the clouds, and the mountains,
it's a beautiful place to be, to work, and to live,
and to have the opportunity to be a blessing to others.
Guy, I pray that every member of the board this day
And for as long as they serve, would see this as an opportunity that they would see it as a stewardship.
God, that you would give them wisdom and the decisions that they make and the decisions that they make would be unto the end of human flourishing.
God, that men and women and boys and girls throughout Rona County would have better lives because of the decisions that are made here.
And God, I thank you for the liberty that we have at North Rona Baptist Church to gather freely, to worship freely, to conduct our lives under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
without persecution or fear or interference from this governing body.
God, I probably would always be that way
that we would cherish the free exercise of religion here in
Rono County.
We thank you for the gospel in Jesus' name. Amen.
I pledge allegiance to the flag like the United States of America.
So,
pastor, that is an impressive list of activities that most run-of practice is involved in it.
I think you're real.
You and your church are real gem in our community.
Very impressive.
Thank you.
Good afternoon and welcome to our meeting on December 13th, 2022.
Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 3 o'clock PM.
Public hearings are 7 o'clock PM on 4th Tuesday of each month, deviations from the schedule will be announced.
As you can all see, we have deviated from that schedule for our November and December meetings.
Meetings are broadcast live on our VTV channel 3, and will be rebroadcast on 3rd day at 7 o'clock PM and on Sunday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Board of Supervisors meetings can also be viewed online through Runup County's website at www.Runup CountyB8.gov.
Our meetings are close captions, so it is important for everyone to speak directly into the microphone's at the podium.
Individuals who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in,
or to attend Board of Supervisors meetings should contact the Clerk of the Board at 54077-72005
at least 48 hours and finally, please turn off your cell phones or place them on site.
Opening ceremonies item one roll call, Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll.
Mr. Peters, here. This is a snowboard, Mr. Radford.
Here. This is my home.
There. I'd be request to postpone, add or to change the order of our agenda items.
Are there any requests to postpone, add or change in the items on such evidence?
Mr. Kaywood?
No changes.
Mr. Lou Beck.
No, sir.
Thank you, sir.
That's a point of privilege on the part of the chairman.
I've before we go into item C.
Our proclamations, resolutions,
recognitions and awards.
I would ask the clerk to show the video
from the state of the county meeting that we had last week.
I had the opportunity, and I thank Amy and Greg Craig and all the folks at RVTV.
I had the opportunity to see this video several times, and I think for many board members,
the first time you saw it was Wednesday morning, I just think it is a fantastic video.
Madam Clerk, would you please show it?
than
awards.
See, one is a resolution recognizing making
pro-nice, a system director planning, for exemplary service.
Mr. Chairman, I'm members of the board, as you all know, I think this is my favorite thing to do is to come up with a very deserving employee to recognize, and this would represent that recognition for the fourth quarter of this year, and today I'm recommending that you recognize making pro-nice.
And I think as I got to hear at your state of the county address,
transportation has really become kind of the cornerstone of many of our economic
developments and making this the cornerstone of that effort.
And I was trying to think of what to say about Megan because the accolades could go on for
a really long time, but I thought I might go briefly back into history when I first came to
the county. And as you know, I had a 20-year career at the highway department before coming here.
But one of the first things I was told is the minimum floor is,
Richard, we hired you because you were good at capital projects.
We let you to work on that.
But forget about all that transportation stuff, the board,
you don't know what I'd ever asked it in that.
We're not doing anything with that.
And just forget that that ever happened and work on these buildings.
That's not okay. That was fun. I'll do that.
But then after a year or so I was looking around
about what we really could benefit from some more investment
and transportation and engagement there.
And I was looking for someone who could really carry that torch.
And like in my role in this process,
do Michael Jordan's Haskell basketball coach?
Because he did have a coach and he's most known for not letting Michael Jordan on the team
have sophomore year.
So Michael Jordan went and became the star of the JV team.
And then, of course, he had a very successful hospital career that led to the Michael Jordan we know today.
But the analogy there is very apt.
I did work with Megan and tried to teach her what I knew, but just as Michael Jordan's
high school basketball coach could not play basketball nearly as well as he could.
I certainly came to hardly any of the things that Megan does for us today, so she has
been instrumental in many, many, many, many application for funding, I think, for accounting
our size.
We have had phenomenal success, and the one thing that I think will really blast is I know
I go to meetings around the state with Megan to talk about transportation or to see folks
at VDOT.
To just about everybody that we see would love to have Megan be a part of their team.
And we're so fortunate to have her as a part of our team.
So with that, I know the clerk will read the resolution here shortly, but that just can't
think or enough for all of her efforts.
And it really has been, I think, the background of that success we've seen in the
cannot be development.
Madam Clerk, please read the resolution.
Resolution, organizing, make-and-cornerized assistant director planning for exemplary service to run a county.
Bray as in May 2006, make-and-cornerized was hired by Wannock County as a planner too.
And during her tenure has been provided to principal planner, transportation planning manager, and assistant director of planning.
And we're as Megan has led and managed the transportation division of the planning department for the last four years.
And whereas Megan has developed strong, effective, working relationships and partnerships with
local, regional and state transportation groups and agencies.
And whereas Megan has coordinated and submitted many successful transportation grant
applications over the years, including a hundred million of funded transportation projects
in the rip 419 and rip 460 corridors, multimodal improvements along Plantation Road, Williamson Road
and West Main Street, and Greenway projects, such as the Great Creek Greenway, and the
Vineyard Park West.
And whereas in 2022, Megan has coordinated an assisted in submission of 18 grant applications
to a non-agmanium in transportation projects and studies, which included the successful funding
of Cortrain and the McFingnaug Trailhead Shuttle.
And whereas Megan continues to plan for transportation improvements to the county's transportation
system by coordinating recommendations in the Brown County to Wunderclam in the work for 60
land use and connectivity study. And we're as making keep citizens, county departments,
and the Board of Supervisors informed by the variety of transportation issues, including
changes, traffic operations, traffic safety issues, funding opportunities, and current studies.
And we're as making continues to be a strong and passionate advocate for the counties and
transportation system and its improvement. And whereas Megan's positive attitude and commitment to
our programs, it could difference every day in many of our accounting citizens lives.
Now, therefore, be...
It resolved that the Board of Supervisors of R&T County expresses its deepest appreciation and the appreciation
of the citizens of R&T County to make incolonized for her dedicated service to R&T County, and
further the Board of Supervisors does express its best wishes for continued success in the
future. Do we have a motion to approve the resolution? Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve
the resolution. Do we have a session? Second.
that court. Mr. Peters? Yes. Mr. Noor? Yes. Mr. Radford? Yes.
Mr. Mahoney? Yes.
Do you want to say anything or do you want to wait?
So today's side of Monday or it's just...
I'll have something briefly.
I would like to thank you very much for your remarks.
I want to thank our team and transportation and planning because nothing I do I do alone.
We have a fantastic team here at the county, not only in our department, but also across the county
it's work with a number of people across departments.
Some of them in the very back of the room, and I really do enjoy that.
We also can't do what we do without the support of you, or be not safe with residency staff,
where I'm 11th in his folks are outstanding, as well as the same district,
I'm a be not.
So, and lastly, I wanted to to thank Philip and Doug and Richard for when I come to them with an idea.
They rarely talk me out of it, so being able to move forward on some really new and innovative projects for the county is really exciting and it makes it fun to come to work every day to take on some videos.
I really appreciate that.
Any comment?
Yeah, I'll go first.
Well, I can understand them agreeing with you because you really do bring fresh and innovative ideas.
And so it would be hard to say no to thoughts.
So you're a great strategic anchor,
and you kind of think about those moves,
like the chess match.
You think of those moves ahead of time.
So when we get here, it's like, oh, we have got that figured out.
So Megan, great.
Thank you for recognizing her and we'll see you around.
Just want to end to this.
There's nobody that I'd really go to Richmond about to be.
we did, but absolutely amazed me in a span of four days, government moves so swiftly to go before
our state committee and succeed in living our message. I'm astounding that in five years of
this board, we did that so quickly. It just goes to show me that we can do it in a large part,
the message is crafted by you. You make the PowerPoint saying and you make the words that we deliver
And I want to thank you for the bottom of my heart.
So we treasure you.
I mean, it's obvious we all just really appreciate your ongoing...
I mean, you've been doing this kind of work for a long time now.
And from the planning department and even before transportation,
you've excelled everywhere you've been.
And this is just your latest victory lap.
And we're not surprised we appreciate you.
I really don't know what else I'm saying.
I mean, did it all of that, but I again, like Martha, I've worked with Megan for just a few years,
but we're not very old.
And you've always been great to work with, helped me understand a lot of things when I
questioned it.
I don't think you're a huge asset to be here.
Thank you.
Just one last thing, Mr. Chair.
No good deed goes on punishment, so it would have a raise a bar, so we can do it more.
I know we'll succeed.
This is what a girl would like to take a picture.
Next item on our agenda.
Next item on our agenda is item D.
D. One is a briefing.
Briefing to introduce Danny Poe,
Assistant Director of Economic Development.
Megan Baker.
Hi, good afternoon.
Mr. Chairman, members of the board.
First, I would like to say,
In my short time here, Director of Economic Development,
I would reiterate the comments, all of Megan's work.
It makes it great to be Director of Economic Development
because transportation is huge.
I am also grateful to introduce our new Assistant Director
of Economic Development, Dianni Poe.
Dianni brings over 15 years of experience
in community and economic development.
Most recently, she managed operations
and risk management strategies for the RONOC regional airport commission.
Prior to that, Danny was the economic development specialist for downtown RONOC.
Danny is already a great addition to our team contributing her knowledge on the RONOC region,
which is key for me and real estate. She's also a community leader,
must notably serving as the chair of leadership,
Bronex Ali, and she's also involved with the
Ronex Buster's Club and Wastina Elementary PTA.
I very much look forward to continuing to work with Danny to
attract and retain business in Ronex, OK Ali.
Danny, what would you like to say?
Thank you.
I really enjoyed my almost three two and a half weeks here.
And I've enjoyed joining the team, Megan and Doug have been great in
and I look forward to working with you as we get forward.
I think I met Danny, I think it was last week.
I think she had escaped from the HR and Dr. Nation.
Was that a two day, is that a two day event that we go through now?
And I think she's been here that long, and she already has dragged me into a leadership
Rono Valley event tomorrow, so she's sitting the ground running.
That's great.
Thank you for joining us.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Next slide, Monarch Indus.
Item E1.
New Business E1 is a resolution requesting the Commonwealth Transportation Board to fund a smart
scale application for Interstate 81 southbound widening between exits 137 and exit 128
to top of the Manchester Old District.
It's grown nice.
Thank you very much.
Here we go again.
Interstate 81 is critical to the economic vitality of the Commonwealth with highest per capita
truck volume in the state carrying nearly 50% of the state's value of goods.
Interstate 81 also experiences the highest degree of congestion and crash density in the
state, and when these factors are combined, it result in the highest proportion of incident
delay compared to all other Virginia interstates.
Interstate 81 is the artery connecting the run of valley to the new river valley, and two
Virginia tech.
In addition to serving as a preferred route for commuters and travelers, the interstate provides
a connection to place in and out of the run of Blacksburg Regional Airport to two Amtrak
transit each day to Virginia Tech's,
Blacksburg campus to the Virginia Tech
Curilian School of Medicine and to Radford University
Curilian.
This heart-wave bus travels in her state 81
daily to provide service between Bernard and Blacksburg,
and the Virginia Breeze bus line also travels
in her state 81 daily between Washington DC and Bristol,
with stops at the exit 140 park and ride
in the falling branch, parking riding Christiansburg.
The segment of interstate southbound between
exit 137 at Wildwood Road in exit 128 at Ibronto,
is the only segment of the 32 mile long interstate
and Christians working in Trapville that is not currently funded for lightning.
While vitally important, this project was the first Interstate 81 corridor plan project
to miss being funded through the original Interstate 81 project programming in 2020.
The northbound segment between Exit 1-18 and Christiansburg and Exit 1-37 at Wildwood Road
is currently in design.
The crash history along the 7 mile long southbound segment of the Interstate is also significant.
There have been 251 crashes since 2018 for an average of 50 crashes per year or about 1 crash per week and 5 deaths that have occurred in 4 crashes since February 2020
When combined with already high traffic volumes, these frequent crashes gridlocked not only in the interstate 81 Southland but also around 1140 and of any other east west route in the region
On December 6 2022 the Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to submit a smart scale application for this segment of interstate
The Commonwealth Transportation Board understands that there are great efficiencies and cost
savings in designing and widening both directions of interstate at the same time.
Delaying widening of the Southbound segment for several years will only cause redesign,
reconstruction, additional cost, and increased driver disruption when this project
is eventually programmed.
Rona County staff have been collaborating with E.D.
Salem District staff to compile smart scale application components.
If adopted, the proposed resolution of support will be submitted as part of the
the other Smart Scale Rine Round 5 applications and Runa County did submit eight with the help
of the Transportation Planning Organization.
The town event in Montgomery County had passed resolutions of support for this project
and the Runa Regional Chamber of Commerce has written a letter of support.
Later this week, the Runa Valley Transportation Planning Organization and the Runa Valley
Allegheny Regional Commission will consider resolutions of support.
And next week, the City of Runa and Botatop County will consider resolutions of support.
The City of Salem is also considering a letter or resolution of support for the project.
There's no fiscal impact, as this SmartScale program provides 100% funding for selected
projects and staff recommends approval of a resolution.
I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.
Thank you.
This is the great example of regional partnerships and relationships.
In the span of four to five days, we contacted Tony Administrator from Saturday Morning.
We talked Megan, Commonwealth Transportation, delegate Austin, V dot, reached out to the local governments to make them aware of this.
And then was the first one to adopt the resolution, calling us just before six o'clock on December the six,
As we drove through the fog of that evening, I think Mayan was worried about me driving
through the fog and talking on the phone, which kind of scary, you know what I mean.
But they said, what do we do?
You pass the resolution.
We haven't heard back from the member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
They went ahead with the resolution and were the first ones to do so.
and to a long litany of 1st prevent, that Mr. Peters always tells us about.
But at the end of the day, we got a phone call moments later from the transportation
representative, Dr. Rays Moon. This past 15 to nothing with one extension.
And I encourage you, if you have more ready, to listen to the remarks that we made.
And then wait towards the end of the meeting in the last seven minutes to hear the
Secretary of Transportation, the Commissioner,
Birch, and others speak of the support of this project.
It was absolutely overwhelming.
And I want to tell you, Megan, that it was teamwork
that did this in more ways and more.
And it just goes to show you what we can do
when we all work together.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Any questions to the Miss Crimes?
I don't have any questions, but I'm so appreciative
of this effort, living in the Western side of Burnup County, we are impacted, frequently with
the impacts of the interstate construction, and it's been over capacity for a really long
time, so greatly appreciate this effort and thank you, Mayor. Mr. Bradford.
Mr. Bradford.
Thank you.
I'm going to make a motion that will make a real quick comment, and you can hear the
passion and Mr. Norse voice. He is so excited that we can, we can get these, this funding
approved. If we didn't have somebody like him on board pushing this, who knows what would have
happened. So I thank Mr. Norther for his enthusiasm, his passion. He really drives us for us
of transportation.
I'll drive the train.
Anyway, I'd like one sort of minor point.
On the resolution under paragraph 2, we say that the clerk of the board will send a certified
copy of this resolution to Dr. Ray Smooth.
And I was wondering, should that be modified or amended that we send a copy of this resolution
to all the members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, including race mode. Is that
or feel you know a little bit more about this?
It's definitely comfortable with the transportation board.
Should go to all the members and not just doctors.
We'll have to search for those members.
I would recommend it.
I would recommend that that be followed up first with the phone call.
Richard Knox moved to make sure that's in the program.
That's the appropriate manner to do it.
I don't know that we've done it before, but we certainly can't consider it.
I'd just like to weigh in with the doctor to give his endorsement of that protocol.
Mr. Raff.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to make a motion to approve the resolution requesting the Commonwealth Transportation Board Fund's Smart Scale Application for Interstate 81.
Southbound Lodding between exit 137 and exit 128.
We have a motion, do we have a second?
Second.
No, of course.
Mr. Pader.
Yes.
Mr. Soko? Yes. Mr. Nor?
Yes.
Mr. Bradford? Yes.
Mr. Mohamedi.
Next item item 2 is request to approve the strategic target outcome areas into endorse the strategic planning
work plan.
That's what happens.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.
and members of the book.
I am here today to ask for your approval of the strategic target outcome areas and for your endorsement of the three-year work plan for Rona County.
Just as a brief history, in May of this year, the board met for a two-day strategic planning retreat to discuss the current landscape of Ronaoke and work together to envision the future for the county.
Following these days, seven strategic outcome areas emerged.
For each of these strategic outcome areas, the board also developed a vision statement,
which describes the outcomes of successfully accomplishing each of these target areas.
Continuing the work of the board, staff met to discuss ways to implement the vision of the board.
Staff worked throughout the summer and into this fall to create a detailed work plan for each of these target outcomes.
This plan was shared with the board at a September work session.
During that September work session, staff reviewed the three-year work plan and received feedback.
Following the work session, revisions were made based on that feedback.
As we look through the PowerPoint, the seven strategic target outcome areas are displayed on the board.
We will go a little more into detail in the next few slides.
Economic development, Rowano County is open for business.
We proactively work with prospects and partners to seek new business.
Our prime locations assist in the expansion of existing businesses in the attraction of new industries.
Our prime locations cope to collaborate in foster connectivity to the world.
We offer and continue to expand a skilled workforce to meet the changing needs of businesses and industries.
our county's strong financial stability and enable us to partner with businesses to
assist them in expansion or locating to Rona.
Community development Rona County
is a well-planned and vibrant community. Our innovative strategies develop communities
that offer housing and services to all of our citizens. We facilitate growth by reducing
barriers to development and redevelopment, and by adhering to standards that protect our resources
for future generations. We seek opportunities to responsibly develop our undeveloped
land through zoning enhancements, reduce regulation, and infrastructure expansion.
Outdoor recreation, Rowano County is a scenic community in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It is a premier national destination for outdoor recreation.
We have an accessible connected system of local, regional, and national parks.
Our innovative programs ensure that we meet the needs in the interests within the changing landscape of recreational trends and a desire for healthy lifestyle.
We offer a robust community park system that provides a variety of amenities for all ages and all abilities.
As we look at the education slide, you will note there is red font.
This is to show the incorporated change based on the discussions ahead of the September work session.
Education, Rowano County Schools are nationally recognized and accredited.
We have an excellent and efficient school system that develops K through 12 education, preparing students to excel at the collegiate level.
And thrive in our local workforce.
Rowano County Economic Development and Rowano County Public Schools will partner with local businesses and industries to train students.
thus ensuring alignment with current and future workforce needs.
Our educational facilities provide efficiently scaled, safe, and technologically advanced learning environments.
We recognize that changes in demographics and other educational options require public education to adapt with innovative approaches.
Housing.
Rowano County is a great place to live.
We have well-planned, appropriately placed housing
that meets the needs of our changing demographics.
We have neighborhoods with a wide variety of densities,
styles, amenities, and price plants.
In order to provide diverse housing options
for our growing workforce, we provide robust housing choices
that meet the needs of our residents of all income levels, life stages and abilities.
Our denser neighborhoods are interconnected and are served by a wide variety of public and
private conveniences that contribute to a high quality of life.
Public safety, Rowano County is a safe community.
We recruit and we retain dedicated and compassionate public safety employees who are prepared
to respond to a myriad of public safety issues that may arise. We support our local law enforcement
professionals in their work to protect the lives and the properties of the citizens of
Rona. And lastly, organizational effectiveness. Rona County is the important choice in the
Rona region. We are financially strong, trusted by our citizens and regional partners and
Innovate it in our approach to our work, as we continually evaluate our organizational
structure, our staffing, and our programs.
We are widely recognized across the region, state, and nationally for our business practices.
Our citizens are well informed and understand our decisions and the issues facing the
county.
As we look at our next steps, staff is working towards developing a system to track and to
report the progress of these plans to the board.
We plan to re-valuate this three-year work plan as necessary.
At this time, staff recommends a approval of the Rowano County strategic target outcome areas
and endorsement of the three-year work plan.
I would be happy to take any questions.
Any questions?
Thank you.
Thank you for that presentation.
Are you going to consider looking at laying this out in a linear format like a gap
chart so we can see the movement of all parts and pieces that we thought about that?
We have had brief discussions on ways to track.
At the moment, we have not settled on one particular outcome.
Since there are so many areas that we are working through,
So we are going to work on something that's visually aesthetically pleasing and that will track
timing was.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Mr. Chair, comment, it would be in industry there's a morning report that you can click
on and it shows the updates as it moves through time and it's nothing that we can change just
So, you might consider putting something on the web page that can be shared and be transparent.
So, not only we can check it, but you know, citizens can check it too.
Instead it's something not confidential, of course, that would negotiate.
But that would be a modern way of doing that, and you can incorporate the GAN charts or whatever you choose to do,
or whatever software package, project manager, package, anything that you might want.
But it would give you a high level by each category
what's going on in the three times.
So it might be some software package
you can purchase and do that with.
Yes, sir.
Good job.
Thank you.
Just a quick note, Madeline.
But this really, I think, encapsulated our discussions
and our desires for going forward.
Thank you for your work on this, thank you.
And all of staff, I know this was a huge effort.
Thank you.
We're reading this over the weekend. It truly is a lot of work.
I had to go back and revisit what we did back in the spring and then what we had to work session in September.
Or, I guess, the one aspect that jumped out of me is it looks like we're hiring, we're
going to be hiring an awful lot of consultants.
And I guess that's the one aspect that worries me is that the one impact that has on
the operational budget, because it's seen like in any of those categories, we're looking
at hiring a consultant for a variety of these different initiatives.
And I know we have a fairly narrow and tight staff.
We don't have a lot of 15 years.
So I don't know how we would accomplish all of these strategic goals.
But at the same time, I guess I worry about firing consultants.
What's the old joke?
You hire a consultant to come in with a briefcase, and a watch,
and the consultant tells you what time it is.
It could solve the brain, only the brain, it could solve the brain as a build of the data.
And any event?
With that, I would ask for emotion to approve the staff recommendations for this item.
Those are two.
We have a second.
Second.
Encore.
Dispaders?
Yes.
This is hook or yes.
There's no more.
Yes.
Mr. Randford.
Yes.
Thank you, Anna.
Item 3 is presentation of the year-end financial result results for June 30, 2022.
We have the acceptance of the audit report and allocation of year-end revenues, Jessica
Beamer, the Assistant Director of Finance and Management Services, and together Mr.
John Aldridge, from partner Brown Edwards.
Good afternoon, Chairman and members of the board.
I would first like to introduce John Aldridge, who is partner at Brown Edwards and
company.
He's here to provide you with a brief update of our fiscal year 2022 external audit result.
Thank you.
Thank you all for having us.
About 28 plus years with the firm, this is the shortest meeting I've ever got to come to,
because our office is right across the street now.
So this is nice.
So it actually kind of dodge cars and walk across the road to come here today,
but it's good to be in the neighborhood.
As you know, each year you all had to have an audit.
And that is required by state code.
And as part of that audit, this also includes the school board and economic development
of authority.
This process begins all the way back in April, and we start planning it and meeting with
your staff and start looking at things at that point in time, and it progresses all through
the summer until finally, there's a meeting with the audit committee and you go over the details
of the audit, and that meeting is already taking place, and then finally the last thing
do is put the bow on the audit, and that's what I'm here for today to put the bow on it.
So at the end, your audit was issued and you got an unmodified opinion, okay.
That's the highest level of assurance we will put on a financial report, so it's a clean
opinion.
So you all got a clean opinion on the financial report.
Everything was done and completed and signed off on on December 1st.
It's not due with the commonwealth until December 15th, so you guys were two weeks ahead
time on that with the filing. And what I will mention to you and you all know this, your
finance department has worked very hard, okay? Oftentimes short steps. And they were able
to pull this together, provide us with a document to audit, and again, get this done
on top. So I wanted to just make sure I committed them for that. A couple other things
I will mention to you all, as part of the audit, we have to task compliance with federal
money that comes through the county. You all had approximately 33 million dollars of federal expenditures
this year. Okay, we have to test to percentage of that. I'm pleased to let you know and doing
those tests with compliance with the federal rules. There were no findings at all. So no instances
were federal dollars were spent inappropriately on the programs. We looked at things like that. So once
again, you got an unmodified opinion on the federal expenditures. And then lastly, we have to look
at the state compliance requirements, and anybody that's looked at the state code and state
guide, it's pages upon pages of things we have to look at and compliance. And again, there
I'm pleased to let you know there were no findings at all as far as that goes. And then the
last item I'll mention to you that I like to look at for governments is look at your fund balance,
in particular in the general fund, because that's the operating fund of the county. And what I did
It was just kind of go back over the last 10 years
and look at fun balance.
And if you go through that exercise,
what you will find is, you all had been steady right
at about one and a half to 1.4 months
of reserve sitting in on a sign fun balance.
The reason I tell you that is,
you're just showing a model of consistency,
even though the economy might do this,
you all have been steady.
You've made the right choices when it comes to expenditures.
When you needed to cut things back, you have,
But again, it's very steady as an auditor, we like to see that, you know, I don't like the fluctuations.
So you guys have done a very good job of keeping things steady and keeping that fun balance for you to have.
So with that being said, I'm happy to answer any questions about the process or anything you'll want to have.
I guess I'd turn initially to our audit committee, Mr. Peters and Mr. North.
Any questions?
There are questions, but I think I don't speak far from both of us that.
And he said it, our finance department does a fabulous job, and this just shows us once again what the people we have in the third floor who take the carabers.
It keeps us in line.
And they've been so kind to give us a little light reading.
It's a good story, too. Just to ask one question, don't without getting into specifics.
We compare pretty strongly against anyone else in the state or we're, you know, we're in the top 10% or even comment on that.
I mean, I'm hearing good vibes there and I'm assuming we're probably, we don't have this flexibility up and down compared to other localities in the commonwealth, county wise.
Are we pretty pretty strong?
you're very conservatively managed. I'll tell you that. I've got some clients where that number
where I told you your months and fun balance of 1.24, they're considerably less than that.
I've got other clients that are much higher. And there's really no magic number. What I will tell you
is if you're a locality, the size of run accounting, and you know you've got a diverse tax space.
So it's not like all your tax revenues coming in from one business. You know, if you were a small
You had one factory, then you probably need two years of reserve sitting there in case they do layoffs or not, but being your size and having all these different taxpayers and consistency, I think you all are doing a good job.
Thank you.
With that, I would ask for a motion to accept the report and also to re-allocate the funds.
Make a motion to approve.
Yes.
That court.
Mr. Peters.
Yes.
Mr. McCown.
Yes.
Mr. Radford.
Mr. McCown.
Yes.
Thank you.
I
mean, for as a resolution directing the county attorney file a petition for no special election
upon the retirement of Stephen Amigra as the run-up county circuit court clerk.
And that Ronda D. Prado be vested with the powers and duties of such office for the remainder of the
expired term of office. Mr. Lubak and Mr. McGraw.
I have to.
You go for it.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the board.
At first, it is my pleasure to recognize and welcome Mr. McGraw and
this Purdue who are here with us today.
And as you know, Mr. McGraw is a former member of this board in a long time
servant to Rona County. He has served as the clerk of the Rona County
circuit court for many years.
Most recently, he was elected by the citizens of Rono County to service the Clark record for a term commencing January 1st, 2016, and ending December of 2023.
Mr. McGraw has recently submitted his notice to retire, effective on February 1st, 2023, and we congratulate him.
Section 24.2, 228.1B of the Code of Virginia, provides that census vacancy, which is occurring within the 12 months immediately preceding the end of Mr. and Ross terms.
The governing body, the board, may petition the circuit court to request that no special election be ordered and the court by code will grant such a request.
So it is proposed at the Board at Dr. Resolution, directing the county attorney to file a petition, requesting that no special election be ordered.
And that pursuant to the Court of Virginia, Ronda D. Perdue, the highest ranking deputy officer from the Court of Court,
be vested with the powers and perform all of the duties of this office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
And, therefore, the election to fill the vacancy would be held at the general election
of which is would be scheduled for November 7th of 2023.
I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Do we have any questions in this resolution lecture so we allow Mr. Dorado to speak?
Thank you, Dr. Rowling.
Thank you.
Mr. McGraw.
Flor is here.
Thank you.
Ms. Perdue, would you want to come up enough?
Yes she does.
Mr. Chairman, members of Board Staff, thank you so much for this opportunity.
I'll stay within my three minutes.
In May of 1985 at age 34, I was serving the first to two stances Chairman of this board
when we suddenly found ourselves without a county administrator.
Fortunately, a year earlier, we had hired a way from a government county, a young lawyer
as our county attorney.
So, for the next six months, Paul Mahoney spent untold hours serving as both attorney and
administrator for Ronald County from that time forward, Paul can do no wrong.
In January of 1992, I became Ronald County Circuit Court Clerk in soon realized
that halfway through the budget year that I had inherited it.
It was short $60,000.
I requested those funds from this board.
they were granted without contests and that never happened, again, I can assure you, though
the next 31 years.
In fact, we've proud ourselves annually in producing more revenue than is required to operate
our office.
Then in September of 2005, we learned that an additional circuit court judge had then added to
our 23rd judicial circuit, and that we needed another deputy clerk in our office's criminal
division.
Once again, this board, granted us the additional position without hesitation, and for the past 17 years we have had no further staff increases.
Which brings us up to today, my retirement on February 1st, and my recommendation that this board authorized the appointment,
achieved Deputy Clerk Rhonda Perdue, to finish out the final 11 months of this my fourth term of office.
Ronda has been employed in our office for 26 years, and most of our accomplishments, I can assure you she was involved with very instrumental in our office.
There's no one better suited nor more qualified for this position than Ronda predicted.
Thank you for your time words.
I've been with the county for 26 years and I've enjoyed it from day one and I look forward to finishing out in this capacity and looking forward to everyone.
Thank you.
Any questions?
Mr. Bernard, Mr. Curtis.
I have to put that on my economic development disclosure form.
Thank you.
I've worked with Steve, obviously, as he said for many years, he was on the board when I was
hired as County Attorney in 1984.
We went through some difficult issues with the County Administrator vacancy.
There happened to be a thing called the Flood, if I recall in November of 85.
that was somewhat exciting, and I want to say that when I was county administrator, I was
just scrambling and we had some really good people in our fire and rescue department,
really good volunteers. Steve came out, I remember, gee, Steve, you went to what Walmart
and bought a whole bunch of blankets on a emergency basis so that we had a lot of people who were
shelters. So, Stephen, I go back a long time. I wish you well in your retirement. I've
known Ronda for many years in the Eclipse office. I've always been very helpful, so thank
you for your service. Do we have a motion to approve the resolution so that our county attorney
can file the appropriate paperwork and make the judges happy? Motion to approve, but I'd like
make just one quick comment. And that is, see, thank you for all your years of service.
We've, uh, genuinely appreciate all you've done for Rotter County and, uh, have been faithful
in that service and run to welcome.
Just a comment as well. Thank you, Steve, for welcome me on the board five years ago.
Um, you know, doing lunch one day in town and visiting in your office. It's, uh, the office
over there's very well organized and, you know, you'll be missed personally, but I believe
They were well-known machines, so I'm going to go on without you, and best of wishes to
a great retirement.
Second.
Thank you.
The motion.
Let me in.
That'll start.
Mr. Peters.
Yes.
Mr. Zucker?
Yes.
Mr. North?
Yes.
Mr. Bradford?
Yes.
Thank you.
Item E5.
This is a resolution of proving a memorandum of understanding between the
County Board of Supervisors and Runup County School Board regarding joint capital funding.
Is it a blueback to this all?
Thank you.
Good afternoon again.
Mr. Chairman and members of the Board.
And as the Board is well aware, this memorandum of understanding was presented to the school board
at your recent meeting on December 7 following the state of the county address.
And the purpose of the memorandum of understanding was to update the policy for the financing of necessary
County and school capital projects and a fiscal responsible manner and to thereby avoid unnecessary budgetary conflict.
And for our public who will be viewing this for the first time, it would be helpful and I believe to review some of the background
is to how we got here. Between 1997 and 2001, the Board of Supervisors appropriated funds to the
school board for what was then phase one of the school capital improvement program, totaling
$47.7 million between 2001 and 2004, the Board of Supervisors funded phase two of the school
CIP at a total cost of $23 million.
Because of this, the large capital amount of school capital needs,
the county needs were largely put on hold.
But in 2004, the county committed to building much needed,
public safety building, to house police, fire, dispatch,
and information technology services at a cost of $28 million.
That brings us to 2005.
In 2005, the county's budgetary funding for debt payments within the county's current tax
and structure were depleted. However, many capital needs remained for both the schools
and the general county government. Because the ability to fund the needed future capital
projects was uncertain, the Board of Supervisors and the School Board worked together. They
worked collaboratively on a long range financial plan that would enable both boards to plan
and fund future capital needs.
Accordingly, the Board of Supervisors adopted a policy, which established a variety of reserve
policies and funds, and a combined debt payment reserve fund.
For today's purposes, I will highlight only that single fund, the combined debt payment reserve
fund.
It is important to note that the policy pertaining to this combined debt payment reserve fund,
included first a contribution schedule that was used to fund debt service.
The boards each committed to annually adding an additional $300,000 to the fund.
For example, in the 2005-2006 budget, the boards jointly contributed an additional $600,000
to the fund. And 20, 2006 to 7 budget, the boards joined the contributed in additional 1,200,000
to the fund, etc. Additionally, the policy pertaining to this combined debt payment reserve fund
also set forth a borrowing schedule for the acquisition of new debt as these prior debts were
paid off. After the first several years, a three-year cycle of borrowing was established, which
authorized the acquisition of new debt and an amount not to exceed $10 million each year.
For two consecutive years of each three-year cycle, the funds, $20 million, were devoted
to school capital needs, and the third year, the funds, $10 million, were devoted to
general county capital needs.
As Paul's who was updated in fiscal year 2021, and again in 2023, to increase the borrowing
amount to $12 million and subsequently to $17 million.
Further, incremental annual debt service contributions, as required, were included in the
annual budgets for both boards.
As we suddenly shared by a letter from the school board on November 10th of 2022, the board
has designated three capital projects that merit-timely attention.
First, the construction of a new career and technology center, which we have been discussing extensively and referred to as a CTE facility.
Second, and third, are the renovation of Glencove and WAE Country Elementary Schools.
These schools were built with an open concept design and teachers have found it very challenging to teach the students effectively in such environments.
The School Board has requested clarification from the Board of Supervisors, regarding a time frame
in which all three of these projects can be completed, and is noted previously the purpose
of this memorandum, which is before you today, is to adopt some updates to the Board
of Supervisors' joint capital funding plan in order to provide additional funds to the School
board, and to also reconfirm that while the Board of Supervisors will continue providing funds
to the school board in a fiscally responsible manner, the school board was prioritized
the timing of its capital projects and going forward will not ask the Board of Supervisors
To deviate from responsible financial practices in order to address capital needs.
So, at this point in time, I will review seven provisions of the memorandum that update the combined debt payment reserve fund policy, which I have outlined a moment ago.
So first out of the seven, the annual allowed borrowing amount is $17,000,000,000 per year in fiscal year's 2024 and fiscal year 2026.
This bond issuance may be banked if so desired and saved for a future year.
However, in fiscal year 2025, the schools would be authorized a one-time borrowing amount of up to $80 million.
Third, beginning in fiscal year 2027, an increase in the annual barring amount will be authorized
up to $20 million.
Fourth, the school board agrees that it will continue to annually contribute $1.8 million
to the combined debt payment reserve fund once the 2009 Virginia Public School Authority
or VPSA bonds are paid off.
Fifth, the Board of Supervisors agrees that it will continue to annually contribute $1.2 million
to the combined debt payment reserve fund once the 2008 lease revenue bonds are paid off.
Six, both boards will budget for and include in their annual budget and amount required
to maintain the future capital projects fund.
In other words, the whole of positive cash balance while planning for future debt service
per payments.
This amount is estimated to be $300,000 in fiscal years, $24,525,000 in fiscal year, $25,000
and thereafter for each board.
And that seventh, both boards confirm their commitment to continue the incremental increases
and the future capital projects fund, even in future economic downturns.
There are several other provisions, and I will highlight several of these other provisions as well.
The county will provide up to up to $2 million from fiscal year 2022 year on funds
towards the elimination of the open-class from concept and Glen Coe,
and W e-cuntive elementary schools.
Second, a bond for the proposed CTE facility
will be issued and financed for up to 30 years
with a traditional financing vehicle
and bond structure, which would be determined in the future.
Third, the school board would agree that it would
diligently apply for all potential state and federal grants
that may become available for school capital projects.
Fourth, in the process of designating,
designing the proposed new CTE facility, the school board will retain an independent energy
consultant to share recommendations on the benefits of incorporating solar energy technologies.
And this is consistent with the recommendation of the CTE committee which has recently completed
its work and made recommendations to both boards. Additionally, the school board is encouraged
to reevaluate the size and scope of the CTE facility to ensure it is meeting the needs of
in Oak Area businesses.
Next to the school board agrees that it would participate
in a county funded, county managed, demographic study,
to analyze a wide variety of demographic trends
within the county to include future school enrollment
projections.
Data from this effort would be utilized
in the planning of future capital projects
through both boards.
And lastly, I would emphasize that the final provision
of the memorandum, is that the timing and priority of the school board's capital projects
would be left to the discretion of the school board.
In the school board would agree to address such capital needs and accordance with this updated
debt payment reserve fund policy. So it is proposed today that the board authorized Chairman Mahoney
and Mr. Kay Wood to sign this memorandum of understanding on behalf of the board, and it is
hoped and desired that the school board would take a similar action at their future convenience.
I would be happy to answer any questions.
And if I cannot answer them, Ms. Owens is here, and I am sure that she can answer your questions.
Let me add to Mr. Lubick's presentation,
because things have been moving over the past week.
I've had the opportunity to have several conversations with Chairman of the School Board, David
Lyndon, and Mr. Lyndon is in the audience this afternoon. Mr. Lyndon has indicated
to me that the school board is not able to make any representations or presentations to
us because they have not yet had a formal meeting and they have not been able to discuss the
proposed M.O.U. in a regular school board meeting, I believe the school board is scheduled
to meet Thursday,
but he did indicate to me that he had an opportunity to transmit the draft
memorandum of understanding to the attorney for the school board, Stacey Haney, excellent
attorney.
Mr. Lyndon has reported to me that she has recommended or suggested a minor
modification or change to, and I suggest to the board if you look at the last page
of the memorandum of understanding, and it is at page 92 of our agenda. It's at subsection,
That's Roman numeral for a subsection.
Aft,
this section talks about how the President Board of Supervisors cannot bind the actions
of a future board, and the recommendation or suggestion from Mr. Lyndon and Council for
the School Board is that sentence be expanded to also include the school board.
So that a current or a present board of supervisors or a current and present school board can't find a future school board.
And I think that David is that essentially what we spoke about earlier today.
And so if the pleasure of the board, if you'd be comfortable with amending subsection,
have, and I have to move back to also handle that.
Again, I think there's an opportunity that we may hear some additional recommendations or
suggestions from the school board after they're meeting this Thursday, but I would also
suggest, unless the board has any additional questions in Mr. Lubak, I would move the adoption
of the resolution and authorizing Mr. Kay Wood and I to execute this MOU and to forward it to
to the school board.
Thank you.
Is it too late to answer that?
Oh, I'm sorry.
I cut you off.
Go ahead.
Just a quick question with the clarification of including the school board also that the future
boards cannot be bound to this agreement.
But my question comes in with the ongoing escalation of amounts of debt that we are taking
on and the plan for the repayment, would that be a question if we made this amendment?
That's my only question regarding the whole.
I don't know.
towards as of today and the amounts that we know where they are and I believe that those
amounts where it would not change, it's just simply a principle of law that this board
or the school board cannot bind a future of what's it's actions.
Just to have a public, the sucker was to chair, this sum of this language will be embedded
in the Rono County Financial Policy in January sometime whenever we have been that usually
on a yearly basis.
Is that correct?
Yes.
Mr. Chairman, if I could offer just a brief comment, the supervisor of our first question,
if I understood what she was asking Peter could speak to this as well, while the MOU
does not find future boards the issuance of debt does, because that is a contractual obligation
when we issue debt, so future plans for debt that we might issue in the future wouldn't be binding.
But the payments that we have to make on debt that we've issued in the past is binding on us as a county,
because we pull down that note.
Thank you.
Well, again, I think this is our statement of intent.
But I would pace it to add that as a school board goes forward through 2023 with whether it's
design, whether it's build, whether it's a design build, construction, contract, whatever.
At some point in time, maybe a year from now, the school board will confront having to deal
with a bid price, and if things are great, and the bid price is such that it's less
than what we estimated, I think that provides some flexibility for the schools to do some
other capital projects. On the other hand, if the bid price is significantly higher, then
what we are estimating today, I think we get back together with the school board and try to figure
out how do we go forward? And so we're trying to give a statement of intent today realizing
that we may not know what the actual dollar amount is until maybe a year from now.
I hope it could go quicker, but I think our experience in terms of major capital projects,
it's going to be anywhere from 10 months to 12 months as you go through this process.
Sorry, as a school board goes through the process and we would hope that we'll have a good
you're from now. And it'll be less than what we have to anticipate it.
So that's second.
Excuse me.
Mr. Peter.
So I will go and record a shared my concerns about this last Wednesday and for the record
I'll share them again.
The first, as I expressed, I've been involved with grant processes before.
So, my first concern with this is that we are allocating 17 million in 2024 and 80 million
in 2025 total in 97 million in the project's estimate of 93 million.
So I have a hard time understanding what we're going to allocate 97 million and appropriate
through debt funding that then we turn around and ask the school board to apply for grants.
It's been my experience that you have to be able to show a need one of the things that I have a lot of questions about the MSU, one of the things that I could spoke about with a couple of my colleagues was, why do we not just amend the financial policy and we can put the number wherever you want to put it, but we want to borrow a 40 million and 24 million and 24 million and 24 million and 25, telling 80 million and debt servicing, allowing them the opportunity to show a need,
going forward with the grants that we are asking them to look at.
We have already determined it seems to me in the information that I've received from the
administration that it doesn't look like the solar option is an option that is in our
best interest and our financial folks have analyzed it as well.
I have a hard time with the section here.
We're going to ask them to get an energy consultant.
Mr. North just commented.
It will probably cost us a couple hundred thousand dollars to tell us
what we've already found out.
And the other part that I have is this is,
and I said this on Wednesday is that
not only is more in support of CTE than I am.
I've made that clear for over the last year, 18 months.
He even sat down with Mr. Linden and Mr. Greenway back in the spring and called a called a little bit of a firestorm there that I was trying to get a deal to work out, but I thought the purpose of this was to solidify the CTE to take the recommendations of our CTE committee and to move that forward in this agreement.
I don't think we've adequately addressed the elementary schools, but I also, I think the
conference was made in our meeting last Wednesday, that we do need to understand our children.
We need our ADM in our schools because it is going down, and as I've shared with some
my colleagues earlier, we do live in a different world and I'll go back 50 years and I'll
And if Norfolk Southern were coming to town 50 years ago and had a thousand jobs, you know,
in most of the cases, the spouse was a homemaker, and they had two or three children, and
they had a private pump, two or three thousand kids in our schools, but that's not the case
of 2022.
As I do it, people daily, people aren't having kids, they're wanting to travel, they're
go here and do this and they're not having the children that our past generations have.
So I do think we need to look at our school structure.
I'm not a Mr. Rath could mention the Wednesday that there are some localities that are
doing K-3A. And again, I don't have that answer. I don't think we have that answer.
I don't think we truly know how to address the elementary schools. I think that we need to
That's the school board to work in a holistic manner with us because I think the Democrats are going to change completely.
I don't think the comment was made with it's the school board is not in charge of economic development or economic growth.
That's damn it
It's absolutely true. But as Chairman Mahoney mentioned at the State of the County on Wednesday, we had
a 5 or 50 jobs. Our unemployment number is under 2% or close to it. Even if we were to bring
a thousand more people to the valley, that doesn't guarantee their own half-kids. So, again,
I think that we need to take a holistic look at this. I feel like that the MOU should address
just the CTE that all 10 members of both boards agree this needs be done.
We don't want to jeopardize our ability to have grants.
I think this does.
And then we need to move into a conversation to address the elementary schools
in a different way.
Let's turn on that.
I was just going to ask a quick question.
Maybe that Ms. Owens can respond to this, but doesn't MOU in setting forth funding for future projects.
Is that the same as allocation, and would it be seen that way in a grant process to the best of your knowledge?
Let me just take a peek at how we have that word in the MOU here.
If I look at my interpretation of this and have made a couple of other contacts, is that we don't have to actually physically allocate the money.
That doesn't take place until which time we borrow the money. However, this does outline 17 million, 17 million and 24, 18 million and 25, which does make it available for projects.
So, I'm just asking if that's the same thing and would that have to be declared in the grant process.
So, my understanding is in the grant process that what would be required is for the actual documentation and full explanation of the project itself.
I think what we have in our financial policy and what we've tried to just kind of reiterate
here in the MOU would just be changes that this board would be authorizing in terms of the amount
of the borrowing that sport would authorize on an annual basis. So, for example, on page 3
of the MOU in Section 3, where it has updates to the policy, we would essentially continue
the allowance of the 17 million in fiscal year 24, which are current policy already outlines
for the schools. Then we in fiscal year 25 would essentially just be authorizing and amount
up to 80 million. So I think all we're doing there is continuing with that 17 and then author
authorizing an additional 63 million in the MOU. You know we've documented that we understand
that there are the needs of the CTE as well as two elementary schools with the thought being that
if the school's did apply for and receive grants, that that would be great and those would go
towards the project and just minimize the amount of the actual borrowing.
So I think that all we were trying to do here was just really kind of expand upon what we have in the current policy and just update it.
And then we would update the policy at a later time to this approved actually mirror that.
Then we continue on to say that beginning in fiscal year 27, so we just kind of continue and indicate that we would actually authorize an increase that amount from 17 to 20 million.
So if I can give you a good point of view of the patient.
So I guess what is the difference in if you're applying for an SRO grant or an ambulance
or a fire truck and most of all those grants have in there is their sources of fund sources
for whatever this is.
Why would that be any different in this case?
Because there is a funding source for this and we are in this MOU it's hearing to be approved.
And this would also then be adopted into our financial policy.
Correct.
So for this, just to, um, it is just the intent to,
we haven't actually appropriated any of the funds.
We would do that like during the budget process.
We would appropriate the bond money each and every year.
So we, I would look at this as, this is the plan for long term.
and then each year it would be in a preparation in the particular grant that you're referring
to for the school resource officer. That one was an actual appropriation of funds. And so
that's why we couldn't on the county side actually apply for the grant because the funds had
already been appropriated. But I can also address the grants for an ambulance. The questions asked
is there money been, it's not only use allocated, but are there a funding source available?
Because they're not going to give money to a fire rescue department that's sitting on a million
dollars and they're asking for a $300,000 truck, they're going to go, well, you've got the money
why you here.
And I guess it's kind of a cautious approach.
I'm trying to take to this that I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. North, who has been pushing
these grants and there may be some changes to the grants to panel how the scoring comes out
for all localities. I just do not want to put us in the position that we're going to make
this move and then we're going to be kicked away from one of these grants that I would like
to see it's not only give us CTE but I'd like to see it feel to apply for the elementary schools
And I don't want to do anything jeopardize this.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Just a few comments.
Primarily on the theme of Will Thus, on this demo,
you was 17 million and 80 million jeopardized grants.
And my personal opinion faced on everything I've ran.
And this is, by the way, a summary of competitive grant process for this bucket of grants
for going after provided by Superintendent Nicely.
I don't know if he typed this up, or if he was something he got down to Richmond, but it was well summarized of the larger document that the legislature passed, which is a much larger document.
I cannot see anything in here, because this is taxpayers and money's, and by the way, the $1.2 billion pot will be expanded to 2.5 billion if the general assembly seems to explain to pass it, is it a buy any amendment to the two-year budget?
I can't see anything in here that says that it will be jeopardized, or it says if you've
got the funds, don't apply for the grants.
We have qualified, in Rono County, based upon this information to a 20% grant, and it's
based on skilled images with composite index value at a above 0.300 and below 0.400, or contained
and locally designated with above average physical stress.
We score 70% in both those categories, where this could get dicey is in the 11 questions that somebody came on foot to say,
Oh, and by the way, you got to take this test and pass the 11 questions,
when she's already getting conversations among many people and kind of well, and they don't really know that that's the right approach.
But we're pressing forward with the grants at least according to the folks over to school boards, because
This is not only going to be discussed then as it was two weeks ago, it's going to be discussed among several representatives of the Commonwealth from this area.
Bottom line is this is working progress and they're going to have to review the scope and impact of all this from the people who apply for the grants.
So, no, this is not why I supported the MOU, why I supported the MOU, and I think I can speak for a few others that perhaps feel the same way, is they get 17 million, that was my idea, that that 17, the schools have a choice, use it for CTE, or put it towards elementary schools, that was my idea of building the base to support the elementary schools, they get 20 million, and 27, they will have 37, they can start.
And elementary schools, if they wish to, and then of course 20 million in the future years will set up nicely to get the schools done sooner than later.
But at the end of the day, this $80 million, that we can afford today, based on all the analysis I staff's done, is simply saying to the schools, let's go after those grants, because it's 20 million dollars, it's not 2 million, it's a significant amount of money.
And if that don't work, we got another card up our sleeves and we're going to work on, and
I'm going to go to Assembly Representatives and discuss the fact that this is concerning
the score card 11 questions and be ready because this is CTE and it aligns with the governor's
workforce development improvement efforts all over the Commonwealth and grant program.
And if one delegate in this area, you get $6 million for history music and my gosh, all we're asking for is $18 to $20 million to be put in the buying any budget to help develop this region's workforce through these programs offerings at the Rono County CTE school.
So I respectfully don't, I'm not worrying about that. I can't find any language that knocks out this grant consideration because we've ponyed up $80 million so far.
Well, if you want to say 97 million, but my interpretation is it's 80.
It's not going to affect us because in here, it simply says, in part two,
ran awards, you'll be based on project cost.
The project costs are about 90 right now.
Escalated to about 93, and they're still a million short because there wasn't any concern for
curb and gutter that you have to enter the complex over there once it's built.
nor is there a stoplight.
And so a million dollars is already needs to be added to the 90.3 an escalated, which takes
it in 94.1 more.
And it says it's based on project costs, including planning, design, sign acquisition,
and construction.
The school divisions can pause the index, and the fiscal stress category is designated
by the Virginia Local Government, et cetera, et cetera.
I don't see if this is a separate buck in a money, and if it's different than what
to apply for in other grants, so be it. I can't find anything, it knocks it out. And if there
is something, I've missed this and shame on me, but I've read this, be it like Ms. fairly carefully.
And I know that Dr. Nicely has done the same thing, or he wouldn't have gone to Richmond
and spent six hours riding over there and back, and the times to speak on behalf of Rowan O'Countie
and what we're planning on doing. So, and I applaud that effort. And I hope that it will continue.
And yes, the laws say the schools have to be the one to file for this, not row an old county government, or administration.
We will have to be glad to help me way we can.
So that's all I have to say on the subject, and I respectfully will support the MOU.
Thank you.
Mr. Chairman.
Yes, sir.
So I guess everything my concerns got reiterated there.
Again, I don't want anybody to take away from this, and I'm not supportive of this.
that's not purpose.
I'm concerned that Mr. North just spoke that this is a work in progress.
So we don't know where the planes come in for the land.
So we don't know what the final request will be,
what that final document will look for a look like.
We have been led to a belief over the last year
that there was going to be 20% of this available.
Now we found out that that's not the case.
There's already been to me moving parts that has given me a time to say, well, it was
pause for a minute.
Let's let this thing land and know exactly how we need to play it out.
Meanwhile, knowing that we're all committed to this.
And then the other point that I brought up on Wednesday that Mr. North is reiterated was, let's
say everything is perfect, we get the grants, they get 17 million and they get 20 million
2027, which I will introduce to Lukumi Dunn.
I'm really not in a position that I want to hit the
Kakaoba versus Benton Districts against each other.
Again, because I don't think we've had a holistic look
of how this needs to be played out, especially at the
elementary level.
So anyway, thank you, Chairman.
Mr. Raptor.
Yeah, thank you.
Jason, I thank you for the information that you share with us.
if it's on the M of U. The one thing I want to tweak and that is item item D that talks about
the school board retaining and independent energy consultant. I see that a little different.
I don't see it costing 100 or 200,000 per staff person. Those people you can hire as a
constructive through the architectural firm and they can actually evaluate and make a recommendation.
So, my whole thought about Dave was going to be more cost effective and not to hire somebody full-time.
They can do what they want to do with it.
To me, I'm not reading that they have to do solar, but it's a recommendation to look at it and consider it.
Because we might want to do the same thing with some of our architectural services that we do a library.
we do a fire station, so I don't see that as, you know, a big expense.
Well, in all honesty, it's at least my concerns was-
I got you.
I don't think I know you.
I don't.
But I've tagged along with the solar energy, I just wanted to, you know, that you know, I thought
it was all lower, low-hanging fruit to take into account.
Mr. Chairman, there's to come to Mr. Mr. Raffer's comments.
In this, in this agreement, this was what the citizens committee that worked for almost a year
more recommended be done. So I think that we're following the direction of our sense of
committee when this was included. So we're going to write a thank you, Mr. Chair.
Madam Court, I think we had a motion in a second in my correct.
You are correct.
Thank you.
I just want to fire a phone.
That does include change.
Please.
Yes.
I don't know.
Is that correct?
Yes.
Is that correct?
Yes.
Thank you.
Item F1, F1 is first reading of an ordinance of appropriating $61,460,835 in 43 cents from the
Chairman, members of the board.
At the November 10th, School of War Meeting,
I present in 2022, to school in your audit,
comprehensive annual finisher report,
and your entire evaluation request.
These were approved by the school board.
By law, any year in balances of the school division
in the Commonwealth of Virginia,
there is a report back to the government from which it came.
The county's comprehensive financial policy
allows the school board to re-appropriate year in funds
upon approval by the board of supervisors.
And here on behalf of the school board,
to request the group re-appropriation of 6,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 85,000, 40,000, 40,000,
since for all funds to share an encouragement aid to your board report.
This re-appropriation request complies with the county's company's definition of policy, and
a school board year in carry of a policy.
I thank you for the opportunity to present the re-appropriation request of the school board
today.
It can answer any questions that you may have.
Any questions?
Excuse me.
So, here are any problems?
Mr. Peterson,
first citizens watching at home, 61 million dollars sounds like a lot.
Could you kind of walk through, I mean, what I would call the real carryover is a much smaller
number, and the larger number is really very as grant funds, reserve funds,
like health insurance fund, risk management, things like that that both the county has in the school board has in terms of establishing some reserves for future eventualities.
So, for purposes of the citizens walking home, if they say, oh, do you have 61 million?
And that's not really the case.
You start kind of clarify that the real carryover is, what is it?
Report minutes seven.
It's much more amount.
As part of the agreement, of course, we have a two million dollar emergency contingency
and the general fund that is required to be carried over in the year after year.
And so our total general fund carryover includes the two million contingency
and conferences which are carry over purchase orders.
57,000, 3,000, 7,000, 7,000 dollars in 72 cents.
And then the remaining carry over, we have 827,000, 2,000,
and 5 dollars.
And 51 cents that is allocated to major capital
and the same amount is allocated to minor capital.
So that makes a total amount of 3.7 million.
That we're surplus in the general fund, our operating fund,
that is allocated according to this theorem policy.
The remaining funds are 57.7 million.
These include our fleet fund, just under a million dollars,
our instructional resources fund,
which is money that we gave up for textbooks
and online resources and other instructional resources.
We have a technology replacement fund,
just under a million, our total grant fund is one of our largest,
That's $10.2 million and these are federal grants and state grants that are set aside for
very specific purpose and cannot be used for anything else.
Our nutrition fund has a excess balance of $7.3 million in the commonwealth of Virginia.
The nutrition fund is required to attain all earnings and they may not share with the other funds
and so we keep that separate.
We have minor capital fund carrier of our old five million, major capital amounts of 10 million total bond fund, including the Windbird High Project of 11.8 million.
Our health insurance fund is we are self-insured just like the county and so we build up reserves to cover our claims we are paid out, the reserve balance and this is 6.4 million.
We have a team about and into insurance, just under a million in our risk management, which helps us cover
a lot of this compensation, planes, and our European trust fund to help with retirement and health insurance.
So our total other funds are 57.7 million.
Thank you.
Any other questions for this Peter Smith?
So why government, they always got little stashes everywhere.
Just want to clarify.
Just to say.
Just be a thing.
I would ask for a motion to approve the first reading of this ordinance into Schedule A Second Reading for January 10,
20, 20, 3, it's already next.
I'm going to approve.
I'm out of flavor.
It's a painter's.
This is a soccer.
Yes.
Mr. Rafferd.
Yes.
Mr. Mohandy.
Thank you, Mr. Mohandy.
Let's see.
Item F2.
This is an ordinance of ending article two.
Definitions and use types.
Article 3, District Regulations, and Article 4, use and design standards to the Rono County
sounding ordinance regarding halfway houses.
Mr. Fauss.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Members of the board.
Back in July, the board requested the planning commission to look at the regulations for
halfway houses.
And so staff has been working with the planning commission and are suggesting the proposed amendments.
So, three areas, we'll go through, first one, definitions, if you remember, the issue of light
Pelican, one of the issues that we had with the current definition, talks about accommodations,
rehabilitation, counseling, and supervision.
And all four had to be present to the designated as a half-way house.
So we tweaked the definition of concern now reads, an establishment providing residential
accommodations and supervisions, persons suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, or other
similar disorders, or to persons re-embering society after being released from a
correctional facility, or other institution.
This use may also provide rehabilitation, counseling, or other similar services to such
persons.
So it kind of makes it a little broader.
Second item is, you know, we currently own a lab, a half-way house, and the AV district,
by special use permit and in the C2 district with special use permit. So as being proposed
to allow it by right in the AV, our Cultural Village Center District, the C1, C2,
zoning districts, which is the low intensity and high intensity commercial districts and in the
I1 and I2, the low intensity and high intensity and industrial districts. It would be allowed in
are 1, R, 2, R, 3, and R, 4, as a special use permit.
And then all of those are subject to use in the Zion standards.
So the use in the Zion standards that we developed,
the Planion Commission of Staff developed, there are two sets.
There's General Standards, which we'd apply to all zoning districts.
And so there's two standards.
One is a distance requirement that no halfway house
will be located with a 500 feet of another halfway house.
The second one is kind of taking from our short term rental use, and we added to it is that the
Alpscure Shelter can is any permit for our document occupation of the Halfway House,
so it deals
with that they have to provide all relevant parcel information, the applicant's name, and address
contact of who you would contact for resolving complaints, the structure layout of each floor of the Halfway
house, but also listing of how many residents there would be and also the number of staff members
that would be in that facility.
The second set of use and as I stated, are just applied to the A.B. District, it all
residential districts.
And so there's a massive number of people residing the half-way house shall be five persons
and that would include any overnight staff.
The second standard is that the half-way house shall be located on a parcel of land that
is five acres of greater size.
So, for AV district, while it's allowed by right, it would have to be on a parcel that's five acres for greater.
And the R1, R2, R3, R4 is especially used with that parcel, also has to be five acres in the size.
And it has to go through the process to get a discussion.
So, with that, I'll take any questions that you may have.
Well, let me go back.
Thank you for this whole public hearing.
Last week, we just had one speaker, a gentleman, he ran an on-profit.
And they're looking at, he was questioning the limitations in R1 in the Ag Districts, and their program is more of a broader program, and so what we worked off with the planning commission was inviting him back to a future work session to talk about their program and how they do in their faith-based ministry to his program and then try to work on the solution for that.
But the Plankers did recommend approval of these amendments now to get any questions.
Any questions, Mr. Combs?
Well, let me point to say one thing.
I feel if I want to thank staff and the Planning Commission for working through this.
I think this is a good step.
I think that in one respect we have opened up opportunities to address this problem.
the serious problem that affects all our citizens and particularly in the commercial and
industrial other areas. I think we place some structure through the use and design standards.
I see this as a positive step. I think the board for initiate helping to initiate this process.
So with that, I'm making motion for approval with the second reading for January 10th in 2023.
We have a second.
Is that a quarter?
Yes.
Is it so cold?
Yes.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
Item G is appointments.
Does any board members have an appointment?
that there's not otherwise been given for the clerk.
Item H is our consent agenda.
We have seven items on our consent agenda.
All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered by the board to be routine.
And we'll be enacted by one resolution in the former form,
listed below.
And if discussion is desires that out of handy removed from the consent agenda,
and we'll be considered separately.
Does any board member want to remove an item from the consent agenda?
I don't want to necessarily remove it, but I'd like to ask the board under item 5 with respect to our calendar.
Any interest in moving, moving our meeting next November, back a week, or would you want to keep it as it is?
My thought was, if we moved it back a week, since we only have one meeting in November of December,
it gives a little more distance between the last meeting in October and the meeting in November.
It also gives a little bit greater time for the Planning Commission and Planning staff to transmit materials to us for a public hearing.
The downside with that is the Virginia Association of Counties Annual Meeting would probably be the weekend before the Tuesday.
And so I'm kind of wondering, is there any interest in altering that calendar?
And if not, just keep it as it'll show.
We know they could be that following week that then you'd likely have moved it up to Wednesday as well.
Yes, sir.
And with the uncertainty,
I think that's funny.
Yeah.
I'm looking at the calendar.
I think I'm having a hard time understanding it.
It's currently proposed for the eighth, which is the day after election day.
And so you're proposing the 15th, the following Wednesday.
Yeah, that's right.
That assuming that the vehicle and your conference, and I was hoping that several board members
have not all of us could attend, because I think the vehicle conference is a valuable
initiative.
It's that weekend, it's the 12 13th and 14th of our call, that best best design, understand
from what the vehicle does.
And you think it would be better to have the meeting after the vehicle?
Well, Wednesday, you know, the 15th is ever, you know, that makes sense to me.
But it was the clerk has pointed out that I think it would have to be Wednesday.
It would have to be the 15th.
And the negative to that is our board, all our citizens are used to meeting us meeting on Tuesday.
Well, it's not to meet on a Wednesday because of a election day most likely.
I don't have a profit here.
Yeah, I'll make good to see your date.
I'm good with either an A.
I'm good with fifth gate.
The board is comfortable with the fifteenth.
Could we amend the app part and still adopt the consent agenda.
We're going to remove item five.
Wouldn't it be better than step away?
We can do that.
Probably yes.
So if I could have a motion to approve the consent agenda,
item 223-4-6-7.
Motion.
Second.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, yes, Mr. Noorford, yes, Mr. Randford, yes, Mr. Hanger. Yes, I would move approval of item H5 as amended so that instead of meeting in November on November 8th, we meet on November 15th.
I'm just asking for a case of we do have the dates for forebacon next year.
I think so.
Well, then I'm going to be the A because of the election.
So the reason I was asking because that would happen over the elections won't be the middle
week.
Well, I understand.
I'm saying Saturday that Saturday that fall a week will be a veterans day.
So I didn't know if that would.
Okay.
I mean, I don't know.
I'm usually starts with Saturday, but for most people arrive on Saturday.
I've got morning to the usually historically fake-o as met after the election, but the weekend after the election.
I just saw the holiday there that's always nice.
So it's a motion for presentation.
I made a motion.
So I can.
Mr. Faders.
Yes.
Mr. Huckle. Yes.
Mr. Noah.
Mr. Bradford.
For November 15th.
Yes.
Mr. Mohan.
item I is citizen comments and communications. I do not have any all the citizen communications
I have or for deceiving. I am Jay reports. I move that we receive and file the seven reports
that are listed in our agenda. Do I have a second?
I have Clark.
Yes.
Mr. Paterson.
Mr. North.
Yes.
Mr. Bradford.
Yes.
Mr. Mahoney.
Yes.
I am pay as work sessions.
Now we have a work session schedule to discuss department of social services.
Staffing with board.
Susan Gold, director of social services Rebecca Owens.
Mr. Elliott will be handling that.
We will now recess and go up to the third floor for this work session, and we will return at 7 o'clock for our evening session, public hearings.
Among them, people carrying flags of the German Reich, a symbol that is now associated with Germany's far right.
And you have QAnon spilling across from the other side of the Atlantic.
What do you think about Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel? Because internationally she's been praised for the way she's dealt with the coronavirus crisis.
And finding a very neat overlap in terms of the conspiracy theory with the citizens of the
that basically governments are not real, that they run the people, that they're sort of, you
know, these elites that basically enrich themselves, that are decadent, and that don't look
after the people, and that there is a need for some kind of revolutionary moment, right?
Some kind of cleansing.
And so in the spring of 2020, there was a big NATO exercise that was
in Germany. It was called Defender Europe 20, which was scaled back because of the pandemic.
This was a moment when conspiracy theory circles, in particular Q&A followers, then started saying
that this was actually the government in Germany using a fake pandemic to support this secret land
by President Donald Trump, who was coming to liberate Germany, and finally turn it into a sovereign
country. So this was a gift to the conspiracy theory world. And it was also the moment
where this rice burger or citizens of the right movement just jumped on QAnon traffic
online because this just worked for them. I mean QAnon spread in various European countries
but in the non-English speaking world, no country was as receptive towards the QAnon Conspiracy Theory.
Germany had some 200,000 followers of QAnon at the time, and you have these Facebook groups
and these telegram channels that actually are now shared by these riceburger, by these
citizens of the Reich, and the QAnon followers.
So these two conspiracy theories basically become one, and that kind of supercharges QAnon
and Germany, and it definitely supercharges the Reich's burger.
It's fascinating that just the moment when Q&A is taking off in the US because people are stuck
at home and locked down and on the internet and very aggrieved about the role of government,
the same thing's happening in Germany and so the Riceberger movement is being joined by
its American counterpart and the two seems like our feeding and amplifying each other, especially
in Germany.
Absolutely.
And it's curious, so you have this incredibly, you know, Germany's specific movement, rooted in German history, you know, kind of German grievances, linking up with this incredibly American inspired conspiracy theory and they find each other.
And of course, what's especially ironic about that is that isn't the center of the rights worker plot.
And Timothy for America as an occupying force, and yet suddenly an American conspiracy theory is feeding that. It's all very tricky.
Well, and they overcome that, of course, by seeing an ally in Donald Trump.
I mean, one of the incredible things I remember from one of these marches is when, you
know, these people marched with Trump posters, with Q posters, sometimes even with Putin
posters.
I mean, basically, Putin Trump, they're all heroes for these people.
And for them, it only makes sense, because Donald Trump was fighting the deep state, remember
that was QAnon's assertion and of course Donald Trump was considered the savior in Germany
by those who hoped that he was finally the guy who would negotiate that peace treaty and
give Germany its independence again.
Anyways, it is sort of these multiple crisis that build on each other and give these people
the kind of sense of urgency. Now it seems that several of them felt compelled to actually act.
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Low income communities need development.
They need new capital.
But they need to be done in a way that really benefits the entire community.
And one of the underlying principles we have is same neighbors better neighborhoods.
That's on the next.
On point.
Weekday evenings at 7 on radio IQ.
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baths, gifts, and guidance, 29 north near Rio Road.
More information at mywvu.com slash Charlottesville.
Beeridge, if Cantron Benhold, on the story behind a highly organized plot, to overthrow
Germany's government.
So, Captain, how do all of those forces that you just described connect back to this plot that was just disrupted in Germany?
I mean in many ways, this group is kind of a perfect cross-section of the super-aclective mix of people that we saw on the streets during the pandemic,
and that often connected online and in the internet and these rabbit holes over conspiracy theories, right?
So you have an esoteric, kind of alternative medical doctor, you've got a pilot, you've
got a classical tenor, and then there was this former lawmaker from the AFD, this far-right
party, who saw that access to parliament.
And the ringleader was someone who considers himself a prince.
Heinrich, the 13th, basically ran this separation from this tiny little village in the state of
Thurinja, which is kind of known for having quite a lot of far-right sympathies in the hunting
lot.
And it kind of fits.
This is a guy who was the descendant of this 700-year-old minor German noble family, which
before World War I did rule over this tiny state in Eastern Germany, and so, because of the
noble background of his family, he is incredibly nostalgic for this pre-1918 German empire when
his own ancestors ruled over this piece of land. So he had embraced this conspiracy theory and was
now involved with this group and hoping to become the post-cooled leader of Germany.
So, he has a very personal stake in this movement, and it sounds like he very much wishes
for the restoration of his own nobility and power in a Germany that longer exists.
Absolutely.
And it was in his hunting lodge that many of these meetings took place, where the political
wing of this group plotted what the future government would look like, who would take which
brief the classical tenor would be the culture minister, you know, the former lawmaker,
who's also a judge, in fact, an acting judge, until she was arrested, would become the Justice
Minister and would heat this national purge in Germany, a kind of Nuremberg 2.0 in
reference to the post-Nazi trials that by the Allies in Germany.
But there was also this military wing consisting of these former soldiers and current soldiers
and police officers, people who knew how to deal with weapons, and they would occasionally
do target practice in the forest behind we hear from a talton sources and store weapons and ammunition in the basement.
So, how close did this ever really come to being a plausible revolution, an actual overthrowing of the government?
So nobody really believes that they had the capability to actually take down the government.
They had fantasies that all the kind of security stuff of the Bundestag, the German Parliament,
which has joined them, that ultimately, like a lot of these conspiracy theorists, they were
representing this majority, and as soon as they would kick off this war or this coup that
the majority of the people would be grateful and join them.
But nobody I spoke to believes that this is the case, they would have eventually been
subdued. What they did have the capability to do, given how many of their members were well-armed
and well-trained and given that they had the access because of this formalmaker inside their group
was to enter Parliament, do a lot of damage, potentially kill a lot of people. So what we're talking
about here is a very serious terrorist threat. And this is what security services are ultimately
very concerned about.
Right, a January 6th style event. In this case, it seems perhaps even
We are returning to our evening session for December 13th, 2022. The board held its regular open session
beginning at 3 o'clock today and after 3 o'clock, we have a lengthy work session trying to address
some issues and some problems and some staffing problems for our Department of Social Services. But we
are resuming our meeting tonight at 7 o'clock.
The next item on our agenda item L-1,
that was a petition of Pandistore Grentals and Sales,
so obtain a special use permit for equipment sales
and rentals and a special use permit
for many warehouses on approximately 4.82 acres
of land zone C2, high-intensity commercial district,
located at the 5,300 block of West Main Street and the 5,400 block of Pleasant Rune, Run, Drive, and Catava.
That public hearing has been postponed until January 10th, 2023.
The second item on our agenda item L2, that is a petition of Barnett Properties LLC,
to reason approximately 9.38 acres from our 3C medium density multi-family residential district with
conditions, our one low-density residential district, I1C low-intensity industrial district with conditions,
C2C, high-intensity commercial district with conditions, and C1, low-intensity commercial district,
two C2C, high-intensity commercial district with conditions for retail sales, located
in the 4400 block of Brambleton Avenue, including 4449 and 4457 Brambleton Avenue, and the 4500
in 4,600 blocks of old case spring road. All of this is located in the Windsor Hills Magisterial District, Mr. Thompson.
Good evening. Mr. Chairman, the members of the board.
So the rezoning at the 40, 11 parcels, five different zoning conditions on seven parcels,
for previous rezoning shown in 1980 and 1985.
So the intent is to rezoning all to C2 for retail sales.
Quick location. Here are the parcels.
Located on the Bremels in Avenue and Old Case Spring Road.
Across the street from Cotton Hill Road.
A close-up of the road.
A couple of avenues.
Across from Proger and Bojangles.
Again, as you mentioned, it's the 4400 block of Brownman Avenue, and the 4500, and 4600 blocks of old piece, spring and road.
9.38 acres, currently on the property, there are two single family residences, and nine of the parcels are vacant, and they are proposing to each other sales use.
little photos. So there are two existing entrances to the property. This entrance gives
access to the residential houses. And this is one of the entrances that will be modified
for the proposed retail sales. So let's look at the back, going up the driveway from Browl
to the Avenue. This is a vantage point. Up the driveway looking back towards Browl and the
I think you can see the Bojangles across the street.
Property is generally open and what it has,
what it buffers along the property lines as well.
As you can see, some of this, where it's open,
and a lot of the property lines you do have.
Visitation.
The other entrances, which I think I'll review our familiar with,
was used by Vietnam for many years, for their maintenance operations.
and several mobile, and the other operations they would do for maintaining a roadways.
So that's just that lot.
And again, looking back across the street, we could see the fuel station, and also a
program that backgrounds, and an intersection at an old key spring road.
One of the things you'll see on the concept plan is they aren't lengthening both the
through, and the turn lane, they're at old queues ring lane,
so I'm more storage, but let's talk about that.
I'm also a little bit later.
So, Regal sales, the sale of rental, the sale of rental
with its sale service of commonly used goods,
and merchandise is for personal or household use,
but those things are more specifically listed
in our zoning ordinance.
Obviously it's not permitted in the R3 or R1.
It's a special use in the C1 and is allowed at I1 and C2.
So the intent is to clean up the entire site, zone at the C2, where it'd be a permitted
use.
Existing profit conditions, again, from 1980, 1985, would remove this part of the zoning action.
Concept plan, the original concept plan will talk about the revised one here in a second.
Retail sales building, 48,841 square feet, shows the proposed drive through on the eastern side
of the building, 244 park in spaces, they will provide access both from Old Peace Green
Road and Bramletin, modifying those existing entrances that exist today.
They show them a full water management facility on the old key spring roadside near the property
nearest old key spring road.
They are showing landscape buffers, which are required.
We have C2 next to R1.
They also have sidewalks proposed along the access roads, but also along old key spring road.
Obviously, they need some rectangular walls to balance the site as well.
I'm going to show this is also in your packet part of the concept plan.
I'm going to go back here.
On this diagram there is two cross section lines.
Section A goes from old case ring.
Road to the residential subdivision on the eastern side of the property.
And then section B goes from Brampton Avenue through the building to the back property to the northern property.
So with those, the first one, the top diagram shows what the cut and fill, the dash line is the existing grade,
what they're shown is the proposed cut and fill on the site.
Again, so you have on the top photo, all kinds of ring rotors through the right hand side of the diagram,
as you go up to see the access drive and then that you will cut a notch in the topography for the building,
pad and the parking retaining wall beyond that, and then as you notice, the residential
subdivision to the eastern side sits higher than where the building is. The bottom
diagram ramps and avenues on the left-hand side, going back towards the back of the
property line, you can see where again they're still cutting to put in the building, so
it will sit a little lower than the current elevations that are on the side. This was also
in your packet, this is kind of showing the improvements, both to Brampton Avenue and to O.K.
Spring Road.
So the entrance off of Brampton Avenue is right in right out.
They also have a little bit of a turn lane on the property to go into that right in right
out on O.K. Spring Road, like I mentioned earlier, they're lengthening the left turn lane
And the through, you can see where the entrance is lining up with the probe of fuel station,
the tapered back, having a turn lane that would turn into the site.
The other thing they show is a 75-foot left turn lane into that entrance as well.
So, a reconfiguration and extension of those roadway of that roadway to make those improvements.
It's just an examining, as I mentioned, five different toning categories with different conditions.
Surrounding zoning to the north as R1, to the east as C2, to the west as R1 and to the south as R1 and C2.
So, some commercial development adjacent to it, but also as well, R1.
The future land is planned, both is transition and neighborhood conservation.
So transition is a, what future land is area that incurses the Orley Development Highway
from its parcels, generally serves as the offer between highways and nearby adjacent lower
as development, reach intense.
Three tail and highway warning, commercial uses more discouraged. So, again, this proposal is not consistent with that transition, future land use designation.
Name of conservation has been anywhere. It is a future land use where you try to maintain the existing development pattern, it is established single-family neighborhoods.
And so, to try and encourage that existing development pattern, again, the proposed reasoning is not consistent with that neighborhood conservation, future land use designation.
Thank you, commission.
They held a public hearing, November 1st, so a little more than a month ago.
Had a level of sense of speed during the public hearing, raised a lot of different concerns.
A lot of concerns were buffers, both of the buffer width, the height of the fencing, lighting,
was an issue raised traffic, traffic safety, you know, a lot of comments about traffic,
stormwater management, the proximity to the development to neighboring residences.
At that point, there were no proper submitted with the application, concerns about noise and the
operation of that retail use, amount of parking for this use type.
In fact, there was a more parking than was needed.
Question about property values, the height of the proposed building, and comments about the close proximity
to it's a grocery store and the need is a need for another grocery store.
So, the Plan Commissioners closed the public hearing, discussed those issues that were raised.
They had certain concerns that you wanted to address.
And one to see if the applicant was willing to go back and address those issues.
One dealt with, you know, there was no proper dealing with conformers to the concept plan.
There was concerns about the location of the retail use building, especially on the northern
property line.
I'm going to see if there was a way they could increase that buffer.
Then they talked also to request the conversation about hours of operation and if there
would be a profit, so should that.
They postponed action until they're December 6 meeting.
The applicant has submitted a revised concept plan and signed a proper statement.
So the revised concept plan,
what they did was they increased the buffer.
So the access points generally located, same place, parking, some of the parking got rearranged.
But they have a 40-foot buffer instead of a 30-foot buffer.
And they also increased the screening.
As you hard have a six-foot fence, screened fence,
and they have on their concept plan,
show what eight-foot screening and long,
not only the northern property line,
but also the eastern and the little bit of the southern.
Wherever are one of buts the property,
they're showing a 40-foot buffer,
a landscape buffer,
and we'll have an eight-foot fence
on that as part of that buffer.
Really, it has changed the dynamics issues.
It has increased buffer with all of these
processes and wrongs.
Some of the profits that went along with that revised
concept plan, is that the site will be developed
in substantial performance of the concept plan,
prepared by Lemston Associates, data in August 30th,
2022, and revised November 30th, 2022.
suggesting change required during the conference of site plan, review process, and then
hours of operation, hoping the public shall be in the earlier than 6am and earlier than 12am
each day.
So, on December 6th, the Plan and Commission voted to recommend approval of the Resonatory
request with those two proper conditions.
Then, take any questions in the afternoon.
Board member, have any questions, Mr. Bradford?
Bill, what's hours off operation mean?
So, it's just when they're open to the public.
There's some conversation about, you know, that involve, you know, some stores will restock at night,
so it wouldn't prohibit that amount into the store would not be open to the public.
Okay, so how about dumpsters coming at 3, 3am and a moron and dumps and stuff, how was that to me and handle?
I will let the applicant address that.
I think they can speak about the operations of the intended user of property.
Okay, I think they'll address that.
Okay, I think it's not, I think what they're going to say is I thought they'll work around that and do it during the hours of operation,
but I'll let them speak to that.
Okay, and you talked about the parking, there's a lot.
There's more parking than the most required.
Did we require that, or did the applicant do that?
Absolutely, typically.
So there's certain, and this is good.
There was then, for example, Tagwood Mall.
Our requirement is a lot less than what a retailer
we want to have for their lease or for what they require
as part of them to be able to develop.
They have a certain criteria, so much part spaces for values for feet, typically it's higher
than the counter-fars.
And then where they added the additional storage, how many vehicles does that add?
I'll let them speak for that.
They have a better length of what that does, as far as they have their traffic engineer
who's here as well.
Okay.
Well, as Lumpston associate, if you have any questions about the concept plain.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Do we have a representative of the petitioner here, and would you or she like to speak?
Also, if you have other questions for V dot, we do have a V dot representative here as well.
Excuse me.
There.
I got it.
Sir.
Thank you.
Good evening.
I'm Alan Maynuss with Barnett Properties.
We're based in Henderson, North Carolina with offices in Raleigh, North Carolina also, with me here tonight is Hall of Barnet, President of our company.
Our traffic engineer Larry Green, with weather-relangeneering, and Andrew Lampton with Lums and Associates here in Rona.
This is a look at the properties subject to this petition. We have 11 parcels, totaling 9.38 acres, and as you can tell by the way you read that into the record,
that's a mix bag of zoning currently.
There are two existing residents that have lived on the property for more than 40 years
and you can see that the two houses at the top of the driveway there.
And then also the DOT property is, as I was mentioned, Mr. Thompson.
There are the site drains generally, this plan is oriented with north to the right of the
So the site drains generally from West East was run off in entering
Medley Creek at the Northeast corner of the site.
Around 90 feet of fall across the site.
This is the revised concept plan that was a result of the planning
Commission hearing.
We went back and worked with the tenant to arrive at the 40 foot buffer.
It took some of the sizing in the site, but we think we can make that work.
As you will see, there are the full access driveway, will be on the old case where he rode.
The right-and-right out driveway, the Bramble and the Avenue,
the grading will require some significant retaining walls to accommodate this, both in the gut side and the fill side.
And as we said, a fairly steep topography is fairly typical of this area.
In addition to the 40 foot landscape properties, which exceed the 30 feet required by ordinance,
we are offering the eight foot screen fence against all residential properties, which exceeds
the six foot requirement.
Site lighting will meet your ordinance as well and use cut off site fixtures to eliminate
glare to the besides to really force the light down on to the parking area, which is
the intent.
The two cross sections, which you've already seen once again, go too long on these, other than say really from the West, coming down to the store, it sits well below those neighboring properties in that direction.
And any light poles would be of the type that would cast that light down, not upper sideways.
Let Larry talk about some of the findings from the traffic, his traffic study.
Thank you, Alan.
Again, prior to our study, we consulted V dot and wrote out county to determine what intersections
we might study to analyze the impact of the proposed development.
And we came up with V dot and consultation with V dot.
We came up with six intersections that we would study.
One particular finding that we noted that at the U.S. 221 at Old Cave Spring Road, we did
find a poor level of service during the Saturday peak hour, a level of service, but when
we
analyzed that intersection, we came up with an improvement to basically lengthen the right
from Bramleton Avenue all the way back to our site, which help the Q&A significantly and
actually improve the level of service down to an acceptable level of service D operations.
In addition, we strike day 75 foot inbound left turn lane, one over cave spring,
row two comedy traffic coming from that direction.
The next thing I want to show you is conceptual elevations of what the building might look like.
Let's say these are conceptual and subject to be modified as we move to the process,
but important features will be it's predominantly brick building on our sides,
and using mixture of materials and some articulation of the building to give it some relief
and some architectural interest as well.
So, in conclusion, few things to note, further ordinance C2 is intended for the major arterial
roads and anyone that's driven and ramble to and I think would agree that it would meet
that test.
We are, by the request, down zoning of portion of the property from industrial to commercial,
not to mention that current residents have lived beside an industrial, he's on site
from decades now this would clean up some of that incongruity.
One measure of the intensity of development is floor area ratios, the ratio of your square
footers of floor two, the square footer of your property.
Our proposal would be a low FAR of only 0.12 or 12 percent, that's half or less of many
the other commercial properties long-brampton that have significantly higher FALs, that's
more consistent with the small scale planned and clustered retail that's discussed in
transition area. There'd be minimal impact above the infrastructure and less than a
multifamily proposal would have on this site, minimal impact above exactly and once again less
and the multi-family proposal would have.
The roadway improvements will fully mitigate the traffic
and his own respects, as I mentioned,
improve it or what it is today.
Would that we appreciate your consideration
and have it in taking questions?
Mr. Raffer?
Yeah, thank you.
So I asked the questions that Mr. Thompson answered.
So why so much more parking than a bug of the standard?
Absolutely a requirement of the tenant.
But we would not necessarily want that much, but it's the question has been asked in
a answered they must have a, especially with a standalone store where there is no other
businesses to share parking with that ratio is important to them.
Are they planning that code lease in that building or are they going to be the only kind of?
No, it'll be a single tenant.
Thank you.
All right.
So back to the traffic gap, you put in the extra length, how much stacking do we pick up on that intersection, how many cars, number of cars, the old.
You're talking about from 221 back to our driveway.
Correct.
On old case for anyway.
I think we can accommodate about 20 vehicles in that, which is significantly longer than what we can do.
20 more or a total of that.
About 20 total?
Okay.
That's just in that right, turnally.
The right turnally.
All right.
So we've got three lanes there.
Yes.
Okay.
You got the turn-lapse.
You got the straight going through and the right.
Yes.
And that was really the problem.
currently is that the right-turn demand to go south on to 21 is great and what happens is
because of that short-right-turnway now it stills into the thrilling and actually attempts
it's certain times Q's back, which would be beyond our driveway now, but will we?
Even with building our project, when we lengthen that right turn lane all the way back to our driveway, that
cleans up the queue and the queue actually doesn't reach the driveway, wherever we're imposing.
So, and that's why the level of service dropped from it to acceptable level of service.
Okay. So, then the right-in right-out driveway to Brimmelton will, you know, drive traffic, right?
I mean, it's not even good for that intersection.
I'm reading some notes that I got from some citizens, one says that the traffic study, but there was no traffic study between the intersection of K-Spring Lane and an old K-Spring Road.
Is that information you got from VDOT or...
So you back up, you got to back up to get to that intersection?
So, yes, when we stoked our study, B.D. did not demate as a critical intersection to analyze, so we did not analyze that particular discussion.
So, B.D. was, yes.
We're ready.
That's all I've got to track with.
Just a couple more questions.
The fence, you're going to,
8-foot fence, what's your material going to be on that?
It's looking for maintenance.
Yeah, I mean, that comes into a wheel on it and maintain it.
The intention is a privacy fence, a bank,
that you, a physical and a visual barrier.
So the 100% of the bank, whether that's water vinyl or...
So I'll also ask earlier.
What's the tenets policy of the old dumping dumpsters?
The tenets will contract with waste management just like every other business here.
It's hard to control waste management or place a condition upon the waste management.
They would communicate to them that they would prefer it there in the day.
But I believe your noise ordinance would come into play there.
Also if they were doing it through all hours.
Okay.
Right.
The county ordinance.
What would it be?
That is anywhere else.
So, a question to my attorney, our theater.
Yes, sir.
Noise ordinance.
7 a.m.
Correct?
7 a.m.
Till 10 p.m.
Generally, that is the hours for the noise ordinance.
I'll pull that up right now as we're speaking just to verify that that specifically applies
to this situation.
Okay.
Thank you.
And the Senate would communicate that to the hall or but I'm on your waste management's aware of that.
Probably since they're already serving area.
Gotcha.
Okay.
Very good.
That's all I have for right now.
Mr. Ron.
Question on the lighting.
In the neighborhood I live in there, some citizens can find about lighting on the Jason retail business.
And they change the lighting.
and they put in, and just to take what you might want to add to this, they put in some lighting
that didn't show so much clarity.
They put like the deflectors, so what I'm trying to say on the lights, two questions.
How high are these light poles going to be?
Are they going to be higher than the buffer fence?
And secondly, are they going to have deflectors on them?
The way we plan to use cut-off shields is the term, yes, with the way it helps to cast
that light down.
It'd be a shoe box type fixture that only shines down does not shine up.
I mean, when you get into design pole heights, very important to that.
At 30 feet typically, it becomes, you're, you're, the shorter the poles, the more poles
you're going to have to get the adequate light level.
So 30 feet is a typical, so the fence is going to be like 40 feet.
Well, 40 foot wide buffer with an eight foot fence.
OK, so there's a cross section.
Cross section showed you,
they would not be taller than,
not yet to the level of the residences to the west.
So that's where the parking field really is.
At the back of the store, they wouldn't need to be as tall.
That's not the real parking field.
Mr. Chairman, I have found applicable provisions of the noise ordinance and to answer Mr.
Radford's question, there are two provisions of the noise ordinance that would be
used to lack a bowl plate.
Yes, of course.
There are the two provisions of the noise ordinance that would potentially apply the first
is the loading or unloading of trucks outdoors within 100 yards of a residential dwelling
between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day that could be a violation
The second is the operation of a trash collection vehicle between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
and such a manner as to be plainly audible at any residence 100 or more yards away.
Sounds like waste management.
It's got to listen to our ordinance.
I'm sure they've been told that before.
I guess.
Invite me to remind them of that.
Any other questions?
Mr. Trafford person.
I want to follow up, but maybe I didn't understand Mr. Radford's question about
Q. If I am driving from 221 from Bramilton, and I'm going to make the left hand turn,
I guess what I would call the main entrance in and out.
When I look at the concept plan, they had a 75-foot distance.
It is a 75-foot distance, the length of the left turn lane.
It is the length of the storage lane now.
So keep in mind, and again, that holds about 3-3 vehicles or so.
We're anticipating that most of the traffic coming from 2-21,
but actually choose to use the right and right out access on 221 to access the site.
There could be people coming in on okay spring road as well, but when we did our Q&A analysis,
75 feet was all that's required.
However, if more stacking is needed, it's going to be basically a back-to-back left-turn
lane so that some of those vehicles could spill into the opposing left-turn lane that
service to 21.
So your hope is more people will use the right
in right out off of Brambleton.
And that the other traffic load will
be coming from the other direction on OK
of spring to make the right turn.
But that's the hope.
But again, it's a queueing is not enough.
We're not going to prevent more than three of you.
I understand to do that.
Thank you.
I've got a very good question then.
So if you're coming east on Bramilton, and you're going to turn left on the open case
spring road, then you're going to go left, because that's where a lot of you traffic stand
to come from, because everybody lives that direction, a lot of them do.
So there's not a separate left-handling to turn.
I'm sorry to turn left into the site, you're talking about that.
Oh, okay.
Excuse me.
Come here.
Are you talking about the turn line on Brambleton?
Or at our entrance from O.K.
The entrance at O.K.
Spring Road.
Your turn left into the site.
You're right there at the entrance of the Crogour gas.
Yes.
There's nothing.
Is there anything there to stack?
Or is that the 75 feet?
Yeah, there's a dedicated left turn.
Okay, yes.
That's hard to see on this.
Here's your drawing here.
I couldn't.
Could you?
Could you put whatever slide number it is that has the concept plan so that people can see it?
And I mean, I'm assuming that many of the citizens will probably want to refer to the concept plan, either that or
I was, I was concerned because I was concerned because if I'm coming from where I live in
K-Spring I'm coming down colonial, I'm crossing over Brambleton and I probably keep on
going straight through the intersection and then I want to make a left turn, what like
in 75, I don't know, I guess they have a lot of charges, but my point is you're going to
back up and you might be blocking the through traffic.
Well, you could actually go into a little bit of the opposing left turn line, so you would be blocking
the through traffic.
I understand.
But it's our hope that a fair amount of people would, if you're coming across colonial
would choose to turn left and then be right into the site.
And I'm sure I'll make many people mad in the audience, because since I live in K-Spring
I tend to use that as a cut-through to get the 419.
I don't go to immediately up Shaperrell and make the left I use that as sort of the back
way around.
I don't think that's a secret call.
Oh no, I can see that.
I just, so I can see a lot of traffic coming, you know, as you're coming down colonial
when you cross over, that is a heavily trafficked intersection.
Any other questions for the applicant?
Mr. Radford, I know you had some,
VDOT question, would you want to ask the VDOT folks to speak,
or would you rather I go into the public hearing?
Yeah, no, in the public hearing.
I'm a hold on the need to go.
Thank you.
We may have some questions later.
I would like to open the public hearing.
I'd like to remind the speakers to please state your name and your address,
and try to speak into the microphones at the podium,
and so you have to, if you have to pull them down a little bit,
so that everybody can hear, that would be good.
You have three minutes.
We have
18 speakers.
So what will happen is, I'll probably take a break.
some time in the middle of that time.
So let's start with the first speaker.
Speaker number one is KC Hohog.
Is that close?
Yes.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
Please check.
Can you put this on the screen?
This is the same thing.
Yes.
I think that's slide 19, Phillip.
I did.
You want to exist the original?
I just need to.
Thank you.
Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Paul Limis.
My name is Casey Wong.
I'm the majority owner and H.O.A. manager of a competent comer, 45-15-45-25-25-bombaton
Avenue.
That was just one very
concerned about the 18 small business in a competent comer in
Co. 4 medical office. They take care more than 100 patient daily. They all depend on
one entry, only one entry. The new development proposed there's second entry and an
asset at a government in the avenue where we prevent the car asset from the government
and come and come. In no more traffic, car asset from the government and come and had to wait
for the traffic light break for other cars mercy. In the new development put second asset in
one more than ever. There will be first, get into the one more than ever. Carp from the
one more than common, will never get a chance to ask it. It will choke the 18 small business.
Even majority member feel need to pass the return request. I'm here respectfully asking all
a vulnerable member to make a small change on a resume request and give the 18 small business
in Bombay to come and a change to survive. By making the new development, second-end-rend
asset, and a longer-than-evident, inter-only, inter-only. Since there have been a men-entrant
And it is an all-case screen row already.
Also, if it is a grid of all.
The traffic like an all-case screen row
and a bump at an avenue, or irregularly,
the car is set for the new development to the bump.
The next speaker, we have a request of this speaker was unable to be here, but I believe she
has asked the clerk to read her letter into the record.
And that's our next speaker.
Joe Ann, my one, Holly of 52-06, Bradford Circle, previously
of 76-52, one, Barry Terrell.
I have been a resident of Ronald Kelly from us 30 years.
For most of this time, I was working at the Veterans of Fair
Medical Center in Salem.
As such, I'll travel daily through the intersection at which this construction is proposed.
Over those 28 working years, I have watched at the congestion at that intersection
as steadily increased as more residential areas were developed.
In the evening commute time, the line of waiting cars can reach back quite away
on the whole case being road toward McDiddy Road.
In 2021, a year after my retirement, I moved off Mason's knob and now located only 0.5 miles
from the intersection of Old Cave Spring Browlton and Colonial Abonies.
Since my main egress is through the intersection being considered, I have found that area
is conjected.
Excuse me, is conjected often during the day in addition to working commute times.
I feel that the addition of another large grocery store in that particular location will contribute
to the probability of increased traffic accidents, and an already congested and highly
traveled intersection.
Secondly, I question the need for another supermarket across the street from a current
Quargrst store, 0.8 miles from another Quargrst store, and 2.4 miles from a futile on
I would like to quote, surely there are other areas of the county with a lesser density
of grocery shopping choices that might be a better location choice.
Thank you.
My next speaker is Mr. Scal, your next.
We will even scan member of Board of Directors for me to play some owners association LLC-41815.
For me, it's in place. Court run up for June 24, 0-18.
For me, it can place homeowner's association or all comment part 1,
zoning and future land use designations.
But evening Mr. Chairman and members of the board.
For me, it can place homeowner's association,
respectfully requested that the Ronald County Board of Supervisors
not approve the rezoning application submitted by Barnett Properties
for the construction of a grocery store at Brampton Avenue
and Old Castering Road.
The Barnett Properties grocery store project is forcing commercial development into a predominantly
residential area and onto residential land.
Over two-thirds of the proposed projects land is zoned residential.
Using a few small parcels, zoned commercial and industrial, as an excuse to rezone all
of this land commercial, simply compounds the original rezoning mistakes.
The Ronald County government has repeatedly said that the county very much needs more housing,
particularly along the 419 corridor, and that land zone residential is becoming increasingly
scarce.
Thus, the highest and best use for this land actually is residential, as most of it is currently
zone, not commercial.
This project runs counter to the county's development priorities, and will be taking away
land that could fulfill them.
In fact, according to the Ronald County Comprehensive Plan, future land use designations
about two-thirds of the land where the proposed grocery store will be located is designated
transition.
The remaining one-third is designated residential conservation, thus future development on
this land is supposed to be residential.
The planning department finds that, quote, the proposed retail sales use is not consistent
on quote, with either of these residential development designations. During the recent
state of residential building in Romano County due to high demand and well interest rates,
a residential development would likely have been built on the proposed grocery store land, too.
And probably long before that, but the Vida properties, including the depot,
active since the late 1980s, at the corner of Bramleton Avenue in Old Kastron Road,
were necessary for ingress an egress to any residential development.
Vito would not sell the land until February 2021 to Rona County,
when the land should have been resumed to residential
in order to conform with future land use designations
in the Rona County Conference of Plan.
Did the Rona County Government give residential developers
an opportunity to purchase this property?
More recently, the proposed grocery store land has been locked up
in 2016 through contingency sales contracts executed by Barnett and letters of agreement from
its predecessor representing the grocery store company with the owners.
All the while residential developments proceed in this area, one typical example of a single
family housing development is the preserve at Mason Law.
Another grocery store in this area is not only disruptive to a residential area, but is
as well. Brambleton Croger is across the street, case-ring corners, Croger is three minutes away,
food line and a grand and road, eight minutes away is actually closer to the residential
neighborhoods of North and West that Barnett states her its primary customer base for the proposed
grocery store. Thus, the economic development department's formulaic assessment that the Barnett
project, quote, will enhance commercial diversity while providing new retail shopping opportunities
for residents, unquote, defies reality.
There is simply no need for it.
There are many areas elsewhere in the county that really do need a grocery store where
this kind of development would truly create value for the community.
But the Barnett Business Plan is unabashedly parasitic.
Locate across the street from an established grocery store and pilfer from their earned customer base in an already diverse, competitive, adequately served market.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
A next speaker is Gerald Beathers.
Gerald Beathers, President Farmington Place Homeowners Association, 4821 Farmington Place
Court, Rowan Oak, Farmington Place Homeowners Association, World Comment Part 2.
Good evening, Mr. Chairman and board members.
Old K Spring Road is a two-lane county road, appropriate for residential, neighborhood traffic,
but not designed for commercial traffic.
Traffic that will accumulate at the vicinity of the grocery store
cannot be accommodated by old cave spring road
and will block its immediate intersections.
Cues and stacking extend from Bramilton Avenue
to a McViddy road and port for 19 now.
They develop early in the morning,
subside then are at their worst late afternoon.
Precisely the times people grocery shop.
It is not credible that the remedial measures for elongating left and right turn lengths at Brambleton will alleviate the increase in congestion from the grocery store when it is unlikely to alleviate the traffic problem now.
The Weatherell Engineering Traffic Impact Analysis is inadequate and incomplete rendering its
projections inaccurate and proposed remedial measures improve first the Weatherell Analysis
omits the study intersection of Old Cave Spring Road and Cave Spring Lane.
This collector road will convey most of the customers' north and west designated by
as the grocery store's primary customer base.
Second, the Weather Hill Study was conducted in February.
The severe winter month when traffic volume would be less.
At the Planning Commission hearing,
Weather Hill said that it met with V dot and Rono County officials.
And they decided that the old caves being road and cave spring lane,
quotes, is not a major enough.
that is not deemed a critical intersection
for the fruition of this property.
Further V. said that we gave them our concurrence
in the traffic study.
These statements by whether or not V.
are contrary to the Ronald County Police Department's
Speed Study of Caves Spring Lane,
eastbound at the intersection of Old Caves Spring Road,
conducted in January 2020,
disease-nobly comparable. This study finds that cave-spring lane actually supplies
okay-spring road. The two and a half times as much traffic laid after them and
68 percent more traffic morning. So two things appeared to be true. The intersection
of cave-spring lane and okay-spring road is actually more critical to the traffic
impact analysis, then mid-Vidi Road, and two, the actual typical numbers are higher than
the numbers reported in the Whithrill study, that the actual traffic impacts are significantly
underrepresented.
Moreover, driver behavior is deteriorating dangerously on K-Spring Lane from 2020 to 2022.
to the county police studies, higher traffic volumes generated by grocery store, inevitably
resolved and significantly more violations.
In the end, police enforcement can only focus on speeding and stop sign observance.
Such enforcement is not designed to reduce traffic volume.
Thus, it will have no effect on the sheer number of cars traveling, old, spring, road.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Next speaker is Jill Beverage.
I'm Jill Beverage.
Member of the Farmington Place Home Owners Association,
4821 Farmington Place Court,
Ronald Virginia,
oral comment part three from our association.
The Barnett grocery store will eliminate this rustic residential area
and have an adverse impact on the quality of life
for our surrounding residences.
in addition to the traffic congestion we've spoken of.
The grocery store itself will generate noise around the clock,
large after-hour delivery trucks,
the forklifts, the track collection, and compacting,
and some litter blown about.
At present, we at Farmington Place residents
see the bright lights from Croger, CBS, and the gas station now.
You want to enhance the county's tax space,
Zoning R1 would allow homes needed such as patio homes, which are in high demand.
Was this land even put out for residential contractors?
With this unneeded grocery store, the property values of the numerous homes surrounding it will decline,
which is a decline in your county revenue.
In Ronald County 70 to 85% of the real estate tax base is residential real estate,
which is then a primary source of income for the county.
What should be of ultimate value in our county
is its people and their quality of life.
We look to the county to protect us,
and we made the decision to purchase our homes
because the land was zoned residential,
and we assumed in good faith it would remain residential.
And we hope the county would honor that zoning.
Thank you for serving your constituents.
Next speaker is Rick Mild.
Rick Mild.
47.
34.
Oak Cliff, John.
I'm just in Ronald, Christian.
Farmington plays home under Association.
Or will come at Part 4.
Good evening Mr. Chairman.
We're going to.
Should the board approve the rezoning application?
And we respectfully ask that approval will be made
contention on the following conditions.
Enforce these conditions through the permitting process
by attaching these conditions to the various required permits.
Ensure compliance through inspection by county enforcement
inspectors during construction and wind construction
is completed.
Use any other legal enforcement mechanisms
to ensure establishment and compliance.
Number one, building sighting.
reverse the location of the grocery store building, such that the building is closest to
Bramilton Avenue, where other commercial buildings are located, and the back facing that
road rather than the residential area,
the front facing north rather than south. It's a building
is sighted at the southwest corner of the property, both access drives can remain the same. This
is the most effective way to mitigate the noise problem, the most intrusive noise being
generated at the back of the building, most likely around the clock.
Number two, lower elevation.
Drop the elevation of the building and parking lot another 30 feet.
That is, from 1,130 feet, down so.
1,100 feet to provide a buffer for noise and light for the large number of residences adjacent to the project.
The store and its parking lot are already much higher than one case spring road.
Number three, buffers own to buffer from the adverse impacts and to maintain some semblance of this rustic residential area.
Install a 40-foot landscape buffer of the dense kind surrounding the grocery store building and parking lot bordering the residential areas.
In addition, an eight foot wooden fence, not chain length, should be installed between the grocery store building and parking lot in the buffer.
Number four, lighting restrictions, parking lot, light, pole, height, and fixture angle, and shielding should provide minimum ground illuminants, and be installed such that lighting emanating from the fixtures does not shine beyond the paved lot perimeter and be reflective downward from the atmosphere.
Lighting attached to the building should also conform to this geographic and illuminates limit.
Number five, turn off lights at night.
As many lights as possible should be turned off at night.
This would include most of the lighting in the parking lot.
Only those lights necessary to illuminate access to the store
at the rear should be operational.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
Next speaker is Susan Lewis.
Good
evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the Board.
Susan Lewis, member of Farmington Place Homeers Association,
4812 Case Frame Lane, Rona, Virginia, 24018.
Farmington Place Homeers Association requests for conditions continued.
Six, limit hours of operation.
The Planning Commission's recommendation to limit hours of operation
that is, the business hours when the store will be open to the public
will be helpful and is important to implement.
that this measure will only be partially effective in reducing noise and lighting at night.
Grocery stores routinely on low large trucks and restock the shells between 11pm and 7am.
Number 7, parking lot reduction.
If the building is not relocated to the southwest corner of the lot,
then eliminate one row of parking at the south and move the building further down south.
That is farther away from the adjacent residential area north.
Our net is already requesting more parking spaces than the county requires for this size and type of commercial development.
Number eight, traffic studies.
Since neither V dot officials, more county officials, adequately guided and evaluated the weather-real traffic study,
establish a committee of effective individuals and organizations to identify and provide guidance to an objective third party,
not burn it whether it will or will no county traffic to perform a more typical and inclusive traffic impact evaluation.
Conduct during months of typical traffic volume, October or April,
included the intersection of old case spring road and case spring lane,
as well as farmington place court and case spring lane.
Consider school bus and emergency vehicle access.
Number nine, traffic management, apply to V dot for a traffic light at the intersection of
case swing lane and old case swing road.
Otherwise entry on to old case swing road from case swing lane will be virtually impossible
without dangerous maneuvers.
This includes school buses and emergency vehicles.
Number 10, storm water management facility.
An underground storm water management facility should be specified.
large enough to prevent an increase in unmanaged stormwater flow into Mudlic Creek, exacerbating flooding on
farmington place and adjacent properties down and upstream. According to the Rowan of County report,
evaluation of drainage concerns fromington place. This land's vicinity is at the bottom of a
sizeable drainage area of quote 70 to 80 acres on quote.
At present, even without the grocery store,
MudLick Creek floods onto farmage and place property
up to 30 feet at the east end, as quote,
can be expected during heavy storms on quote,
with current storm activity.
After approving the design, the county agrees
to inspect the facility during construction,
and when construction is completed,
to ensure that the facility conforms
to approve specifications.
We respectfully refer the board to our written comment.
Senate directly to the board that provides our complete reasoning, evidence, and specific details.
This written comments submitted to the board supersedes and replaces the comment appearing in the Planning Commission's packet previously conveyed to the board.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Next speaker is Carol Mickey.
Good evening.
This I'm Carol Mickey.
Member of the Board of Directors of Farmington Plyse,
a Member of Association,
4904 Caves, BrainLine,
Rona of Virginia, 2401, 8.
Good evening, Mr. Chairman, and members of the Board.
Farmington Plyse, a Member of the Association,
respectfully request that the Rona County Board of Supervisors
to not approve the grocery store,
is on an application.
The grocery store commercial property
to mobilize the future land desinations of this land, which specifically residential development
is defined by our own account county comprehensive plan. The grocery store project required
rezoning the forces commercial into otherwise long-standing residential zone area, and would
betray residents who purchased their property, assume and they could rely on the county to honor
and protect the zoning.
A residential property would have been built on a proposed grocery store property, long ago,
but for V-DOT properties at Brampton Road in Ocav Spring Lane, needed for ingress, ingress,
and egress.
V-DOT refused to sell the land since 1980 until it was purchased by Ronald County in February
2021.
one. If the county on for the land for sale for residential
developers, the grocery store will increase traffic congestion on
every cave spring lane. Okay, road. Despite the proposed
remedy measures which is already at an untenable level, further the grocery
store will increase already excessive congestion and speeding problems
on cave spring lane. The collector road then will carry months of the
from the target customer based north and west that
designated by Barnett. Traffic studies conducted by
Ronald County Police Department invalidates the weather
real traffic study because it did not study the
intersection of Cape Spring Lane and O Cape Spring Road.
In fact, the police study of January 2020 indicates
that Cape Spring Lane actually supplied O Cape Spring
with two and a half times as much a traffic late afternoon and 68% more traffic overall as the
city road. The proposed grocery store will acetylate the substantial congestion in the Cape
Springland in a section now. Moreover, the weather rail study was conducted in February. There
the various winter months, a period of at least traffic, again, calling into question the effect
that this of the lemonade measures.
There's no need for this grocery store, being this commercial diversity, retail opportunities
or otherwise, because there's already grocery store across the street.
Now, the three minutes, another eight minutes away, which is actually closer to the designated
customer base.
This grocery store will substantially reduce the quality of life and therefore the desirable
of this surrounding residential properties due to the perpetual noise-lighting traffic
congestion and so on.
Reduce in the real estate monetary value of these properties.
This presumes increase the tax revenue from a commercial property, we will offset the reduced
of the numerous surrounding residential properties.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Next speaker is Wayne Weaver.
First off, let me say I'm not weak in that you had I surgery today, sir.
I had a flu.
I'm not weak in that, sir.
But anyway, I'm Wayne Weaver, Board of Directors of Farmington,
place the case, Frank 4818.
Lane, I wasn't the material handling business for 40 years.
three years, as being a part of the material handling business, I was a sales engineer.
What we did in that part of what I would bring to the table is what I did.
Forklifts, backup alarms, requirements by OSHA, and by those with that is a federal offer,
every four truck to have some kind of noise beeper when that truck is going in reverse.
These trucks have flashing lights, they have horns and drivers are required to blow the
horns when they're leaving the intersection of an aisle.
The lift-ups horn are seasoning.
Back equipment sold a number of these to corroborate distribution.
What they do is a metal board.
It secures the board to the truck, and as the fork truck goes along with the static load,
It makes a tremendous noise.
Lift trucks will know these words cause
going to a huge amount of noise.
Most tractor trailers, and this is a study we
done when they get all warehouse,
have at least 30 pallet loads on a truck.
So with that being said, it takes 30 trips into a truck
to the rack and back into that truck to offload that truck.
It's at any given time of the day.
Comveyors constantly running.
There's conveyors are stacking product from the warehouse down on a pallet.
These are hardly ever stopped, and they're running almost the whole time the warehouse
is opening.
My last point of what I would like to say here is that most, and I think it's already been
most of the loading, is done after hours.
What that means is there's nobody in the store that can get back the trucks in, offload
And that's when you have the most noise and that noise generates way beyond word its own premises.
So with my point being said, I would like for the county to re-think about where
they would do something with this store and another location.
Again, I thank you for listening to each and every one of us, and I'll appreciate the time.
Next speaker is Sharon Moranik, Sharon Moranik,
Sharon Moranik, 4916K Spring Lane,
Barbara Miller.
Barbara Miller, 4940K Spring Lane, good evening.
My husband and I bought our house in K Spring Lane at 27 years ago.
We fell in love with the area, our backyard backs up to what, but the lighting and everything
that this is going to create, the noise, the lighting,
and that's going to be, we just
love the area because of the wildlife, the wonderful view, and to know that we're not
My next concern is the traffic I have on one side of me for children and on the other side
three.
The traffic on K-Spring Lane is absolutely horrible and I've cranged when those children
across that road to get to the bus stop.
There was one morning, I saw a car pass the school bus
even with the stops I'd out.
And of course, I didn't get the license plate of the car.
But I did call and report it.
This has been some time ago.
But it seems like when they come around the curve
At Farmington Road, the house on my left is Farmington.
All my right is still Cape Spring Lane.
And it seems like when they come around that curb,
they pick up speed to go down to the Cape Spring Road.
I mean, it's just like for some reason they like to speed up.
So that concerns me.
Thank you.
Ruby, Ruby, weaver.
Members of the floor.
My name is Ruby Weaver.
I live at 4818 Cave Spring Lane.
I remember the forming done plays on my resuscitation.
Here are my issues.
The access to Cave Spring Lane for my driveway during the morning working hours, and evening
hours.
The road is heavily traveled, and the day, and during the day, and the evening.
There are many days when backing out of my driveway, I'll stay at the top of my driveway
to get clearance so that I can see clearance. I have a very pitch.
So, in order to get out on cash-free money, I stay at the top of my driveway and make sure that there's nothing
come in one way or the other.
There's no way of who are cars to go if there is an encounter,
you're going to go in a ditch or you're going to go into a framed fence across the street for
issue that I have is getting our mail and our trash cans.
You have to really risk your life at some point in time to just go to the mailbox or bring
a trash can up or down.
And there have been times when a neighbor might have used to live there actually had to jump
into the ditch to avoid a car breaking her leg.
We've had our mailbox destroyed twice and we've had several trans receptacles destroyed.
We've lived in this area for 23 years.
We love it, but to have enterprise come in and destroy what we have built and lived
there for is very disturbing to us.
So I appreciate your time.
Thank you so much.
The next speaker is Kirk Groen.
I think we'll get a conceptual plan again
for our start.
Is that the warrant one?
Yes.
That's nice enough.
My name is Kirk Groen and my wife and I live at 43-46-43.
She was very cool.
Which is the joining property to this proposed facility.
I want to clear up one of this concept before I get to start here.
They talked about the cross section through that showed a large retaining wall.
That is at the highest peak of the land and this is very steep land and if you look closely
you'll see at the loading dock area and the address through and the downstairs that the
gray back there is roughly the same gray as my joining property.
So the really is very misleading that cut through that high spot on the whole site.
It is a steep space and all that noise that the noise ordered for the blood to
ride Jason to my property and that king's to court name.
But I would like to dress the site, you guys, the process and I must admit I'm a little
I even, the reason I request as being part of the public, do not know how much interaction
they cannot perform in a zoning department as had with the petitioner and the tenant
as to other options in the area.
My concern is they developed a payment and picked this pot and I have a lot of concerns
of that and they started with the Plan and Commission's public meeting in November. The
developer was unwilling to name his client. Seconds were questioned by the petitioner
for resigning denied to any proffers that showed their willingness to work in the surrounding
residential neighborhoods to address their concerns. Third, the request to resound it to
C2 does not meet any of the broader county comprehensive plans. And, finally, a comment
I want to plan a commission board member stating that he likes the project because it
tings up the zoning on the existing parcels of land and development to the U.S.
Resonance Request.
It doesn't take a lot of research to determine that the developer's client is probably
publics.
And this is why I'm requesting the elected Board of Supervisors in Renner County's
Helpian request a thorough review of the big picture for publics.
and look beyond the present day,
we use any request before proven and offer the following to this request.
It refers to the Plain Department's executive summary,
the economic department, comments reflected by us as the county
as a property owner in the rezoning application.
In addition, the economic development states
that will enhance the tax base.
This tax base will be all set somewhat
due to decreased residential property values
and revenue income taxes will be all set by law for revenue at nearby grocery stores.
They also state it creates desirable retail shopping opportunities.
This is misleading as it does not create any new opportunities.
Just competition.
The developer is from North Carolina and the tenant,
which is probably the public, the secretary of the Florida.
So all the revenue from this project is leaving here.
The use of these parcels per the existing comprehensive plan, but encouraged local business
to build in the transition zones and keep the money in the neighborhood and in the county.
The second summary also states notes the statement from the county chief police that it will
result in an increased demand for police services.
So, however, however, the big concern I have is for the future of this area, and all of
Southwest County, Southwest and Virginia.
The decisions that I have, is most likely to prop, publics, and they are looking to expand
into Virginia.
My question to the board is, has it economic development planning, departments, visited other
sites and options?
I'm sure politics is committed to moving into this area, but they have no other facilities
in this area. The closest would be in Green'sboro and Winston Salem, which is five
stores. While they were building a refrigerated frozen distribution center in
Green'sboro, it's slated to be opened in operation by 2025.
They are competing
against Grover, which has a distribution center here in Salem, and has at least a
dozen stores in the immediate area.
And my question to you guys, and you are
have to be our advocates because we better for you guys
put you in your business positions and you are my advocates
and representatives.
So I question, they have chosen this site that has two
progress towards the pharmacy and pharmacy to CVS and Walgreens
all within a mile and a few minutes.
We hope public provide enough of a difference
in services to compete with COVID, with their distribution
center in this area.
And until recently, actually, it was headquartered,
regional headquarter year. The runner county is due to his terrain to range is not a half
of capacity for future growth of clientele, especially in Southwest County. This is an
issue that this area is dealt with for years and years. So my questions are, what if the
bestest model fails in the abandoned moving in the Southwest Virginia? The Southwest County
came from a propote, they bought from Harris Theatre because Harris Theatre model in this area
did not work.
So, you crops as another example of a failed business model in this area.
So, have lots of concerns about I'm hoping that you guys are looking toward the future
and will work with publics, whether it's this side or smaller side, but take your time
And this don't rush it. This process has been rushed through on the public. Now, I hope that you guys have spent the time with the petitioner to look at all options to run our county.
The other thing is if this is a route of success, Mr.
Please wrap it up. Yes, I will.
Three and a half minutes over. Okay.
Progress is also. There's three
grocery stores in the area. Something's going to get. So you may have an empty public in the future or an empty
So, our other options, please make sure that you guys spend the time and don't rush to this process, you know, hope that you do not take it.
Next speaker is Dr. Kenneth Lutt-Lutt-Pay. Okay.
Bye.
Hello, Mr. President.
Chairman and members of the Board. Thank you very much.
I have had my private, private practice, not really, not loose-gave it an independent practice,
something very rare and I think somewhat valuable for the area in Bramford and Commons for the last 11 years.
In that time I've seen the traffic come to a point where I have lost patients.
So my seniors will no longer come to see me because of trying to get out.
And with the current proposed model with the right end, right out on Bramford,
That will make it even harder for us to see our patients and I'm not alone. I'm one of 18 different businesses in that development and this will not be helpful for us
It may force me to have to leave the area as well as others in that development because we will not be able to access as KC said our businesses in the road. Thank you
Next speaker is Paul of Powell
All up, owl.
Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Board.
My name is Paula Powell and I live at 5455 Lake Dale Road.
My business is in Brambleton comments.
The entrance and exit is directly, oh, it's gone.
Directly adjacent.
Directly below the driveway that exists there now.
Comes right up against the exit and entrance to our,
to Brambleton comments.
I have on this business for 23 years.
I've watched the community south of 419 on Ramleton Avenue
grow exponentially.
Residential business and even in New High School.
All the while making the intersection of Bramleton Avenue
and Colonial Avenue and Old Cave Spring Road
become more dangerous and difficult to navigate.
Excuse me.
It is near impossible to make a left-hand turn out
of Bramleton Commons and exiting to the right
depends solely on the mercy of oncoming traffic.
With the right on Reddit, Old Cave Spring Road,
there is never a break in Southbound traffic
on Brampton Avenue.
Adding exit traffic from a much-adored grocery chain
with 200 plus parking spaces will prevent customers
that frequent the 18 businesses at Brampton Commons
and beyond ingress and egress.
It seems a more thoughtful plan would only allow entrance
from Brampton Avenue and no right
on red, it all gives spring road to stop it already overloaded intersection from becoming more
dangerous and protecting existing businesses.
Thank you very much.
Next speaker is Alita Kippman.
Chairman Mahoney, members of the Board of Supervisors, thank you for the opportunity to speak
tonight.
My name is Alita Kippman and although I have a running city address, I've been a property
at Brampton Commons since 1990 and have been business owner in the county since 1985.
Those of us who work there at Brampton Commons on a daily basis understand that this is a very hazardous situation, leaving the property as polar nails.
My remarks are not based on a V dot study they come from daily observation of being there and trying to maneuver outside.
leave the property and making a left-hand turn, especially late afternoon, well, I'd say from
three o'clock on when the schools let out a hidden valley hospital case-spring middle school.
What we have found to be a remedy instead of sitting there through at least two cycles of traffic
lights at the intersection of Caves Spring, I mean, okay Spring Road and Brownleton Avenue
is that we will take a right-hand turn and then make a UE to come back.
So, you know, that is not the best traffic-low situation.
So, I'm thinking that with our entrance and exit, we have one.
The property that's being under consideration is within 30 yards of where our entrance and exit is,
which is basically the width of this room.
So if I'm having to make a UE to get out of my property,
how about the people that are coming out of the grocery store?
Are they going to be making UE to get back to the right?
I don't know, it seems like it's just a recipe for disaster.
I just don't know what to expect when, if that happens,
critical to the success of a bricks and mortar business
is the ability of customers to access it, even a single or slight inconvenience could lead to a decline in sales.
Customers will shy away from a business that is just too difficult for them to get into and lead.
Please take that into your consideration.
I don't know what the remedy is, I don't have one.
short of not improving the rezoning request, but if you do approve the rezoning request, please give some support and protection to your small business owners in the county.
Thank you.
Next speaker is Whitney Smith.
Whitney Smith.
Thank you.
I'm here tonight working late for us.
I want to reiterate what Ms. Kitten had just said about the you turn.
Oh my gosh.
You know, I'm not as just, where you just had a phrase with lies, dang lies, statistics, and they're talking about the traffic.
The study seems like skylight falls in because I did just a human test.
Went and stitched it down there for about 20 minutes at the bottom of the hill.
And there's three car links between when you make coming from Bojangles to make a left-hand turn.
How in the world there's a lot of traffic going to be going.
Right there. And then when they're not going like she was just saying, you have right on red, come now, okay, spring. And they mentioned that at some point, you could take a left off to 21 into the grocery store. Now, in real life, forget all the statistics. I can't wait to see that happen, especially at certain times of the day. So, I want to reiterate what she just said there.
Of course, on the traffic, everything that they had brought up in the planning commission by our neighborhood,
and I forgot to mention, I witnessed that I'm living on the north side in Kingston Court at 46-86.
So I traveled that road earlier, I had probably taken that route 10,000 times.
I just don't see how that traffic is going to work.
And from 18 Willer has to leave there, and they can't get out at okay spring, certain times a day.
And then they have to leave the main entrance, and they can't do a U-turn through the church.
I guess they're going to have to drive all the way around through pin-forced and cut through the hospitals.
Somehow get back to 419.
So I don't think that's going to work very well either.
I know everybody's thinking it could be publics and different stores, but I think the secrecy of not knowing who it is.
It's very important because it could be food line for all on that.
And if it's food line, we all have two.
I hate for them to be a third unless it came back close and one, you know, they are.
So I really think that should be disclosed to the public to begin with.
And a few things, I do think this should be tabled a little bit.
I'm so happy that Formatians showed up.
We have a lot of kids in our neighborhood and parents, it's hard for them to get out tonight.
But Director of Planning, Mr. Thompson did say after the December 6 meeting that a letter
would be sent out to the neighborhood to talk about the meeting for tonight.
It never went out in the minutes from the November first meeting and not in posted on the website.
So I think it's also had a hard time reading about what happened to have that.
I mean, I think that's very important.
And I'd like to reiterate the kind of visualization of sales.
You know, if you're looking to increase revenue, I just don't see a lot of the south,
less counting people who go to progure, get their fuel points.
If they start going to there and go across the street,
or we really benefiting sales in our area.
I think you really have to weigh that,
whereas we do have the new development out there.
We're not new development.
I came to think the name of our time ahead.
When we were, I've never been down nuts and all that is.
But when we started years ago,
because of the economy and different things that happened.
Obviously, it's had to lay that piece of property right there.
It almost seems like a better fit for a new grocery store and I believe they might have looked at it.
Anyway, thank you.
I'm hoping to take an opportunity for the store.
The next speaker is Michelle Davis.
I will tell you.
Michelle Davis, 49-09, Kate Spring.
I have moved to the county, having formally served on Renex City Council.
It is so good to see you all.
It's much more nerve-wracking being on this side of the desk.
I'm being on that side.
So, recognizing that you all have a very difficult job.
You will familiar.
I guess that was an easier answer.
But recognizing, I know a resounding is always a difficult request, especially when you
have public that are coming out to seek against it.
And I'm here with my family this evening.
We all live on the property together.
We're so thrilled to be in the county.
I'll tell the people in the city.
I said that.
But it is a lovely place.
And we are on Caves Spring Lane and are directly impacted by the traffic backup on Old Caves
Spring Road.
Daily.
My daughter actually dances at our bell stone right around the corner and getting her to
dance class and the evenings is a very difficult proposition as it is.
You've already heard the traffic concerns.
I don't need to reiterate them for you.
I think the fatal flaw of the proposal that you all have received is the fact that Old
Caves Spring Road and Caves Spring Lane intersection have not been studied.
the traffic already backs up past that intersection on the regular basis. Looking at the
site plan as it was designed, it seems to me that anyone who was going anywhere, leaving the
parking lot of the proposed grocery store, anywhere, but up the mountain, is going to have to use
old cave spring road in order to exit that parking lot. The amount of traffic that that puts on an
already over traffic road, that I know you all have been working for decades to try and fix
and have not had the support from the state in order to try and fix that and the funding
from the state to fix that intersection. But the impact that this measures are will have on
that already poorly designed intersection is going to be tremendous to the many residents who
already live back in that area. I think to speak to the bottom line, many people have brought
the fact that the density of British stores in our area is already significant. I understand
competition, competition is great, but what happens, you know, the sales tax increase,
looks really nice on paper and I love the idea, but what happens when it drives one of the other
grocery stores out of business. And that sales tax base decreases and then you're left at a
net zero with an empty building that nobody can lease out for many years. I know a lot of money
and work has already gone into this proposal.
I see a lot of familiar faces in the room who have worked on this proposal already,
but I would ask that a minimum that the traffic be studied at Old Cavespring Road
and Cavespring Lane, based on the Shurne number of residents that live back there
and have to use that intersection every single day.
So thank you all. I appreciate your time.
The final speaker is Shane Dwyer, Shane Dwyer.
Good evening, Shane Dwyer, 134 keen to be now drive.
My address is in Rona City, but I do live about 100 yards away from the county line, they're
out.
So I don't really have a dog in this fight, but you can tell from that concept proposal,
there's some unique hints that this is a public, so I just want to voice my support for
public, so I think it's a great company, and I think it would be a great get to have here
in the Rona Valley.
I know myself.
I work in Salem.
I would go out of the way to stop the public on my way home and visit that grocery store
because I do appreciate what they have to offer as compared to Crober and Food Line.
And some of the other options so a lot of folks here do have very valid points. Again, I don't live on that side of town
So I wouldn't have to deal with that traffic. So I understand where they are coming from but I hope that if this plan is not work that the county works with the developer to find something else
The little site over next program at Bonsack. I would welcome very much to be over there put me a little bit closer with there as well
But hopefully we can come to a conclusion that makes it work for everybody. Thanks.
I had a speaker that I called out and the speaker didn't show up, so I'll call out again
a Sharon Maronic
going once, going twice, and sit.
Those are all the speakers I have signed up, there's the board, want to take a break, do you
want to question anybody, I will close the public hearing,
what's the pleasure of the board?
It's 833, full speed ahead or you want to break.
I'm going to keep going.
Keep going.
All right.
Once the pleasure of the board,
we want to talk to a veto to we want that.
Yeah, I like to have.
Mr. Levins, you are up.
He was thrown behind by a human.
I saw him duck down.
Good evening.
Bromble Evans on the Salem Resident Engineer V dot, our office was the one that received this concept plan in the study provided comments and provided our concurrence.
Any questions for me?
Yes.
So you heard comments from the people that were speaking about case-praying, laying, and all case-praying in the intersection,
wasn't studied and asked the traffic guy with an additional, but young and recommended that
would be impacted. So, it's impacted now from what we hear, by the way, I dropped through
there all the time. So, sometimes it's backed up, sometimes it's not. I actually had an accident
that they're back in the late, in the late 90s, a snowy day, calls that.
But give me some insight on, and also, I know we had, we were going to take an old
McVidey road one day and expand that to four lanes.
So maybe you can kind of tell us about that, or whatever, why not, okay, not four lanes.
Yeah, I'll talk about the study and the recommendations for the number of intersections first.
I think one thing to explain and maybe the petitioner wouldn't be able to explain that is that,
at least with a study of this size for what they are anticipating for trips,
we not really can only require improvements on the front edge of the property.
The front edge of the property only includes a small portion of all case freeing lane
and a small portion of Bramleton Avenue.
The number of studies that they did, the number of intersections that they actually studied
really was only to look at major impacts and major intersections and for the flow of traffic
along with three signals, because as they stated, there are some operation when she was there
during the peak hours and on Saturdays.
The only reason why the intersection of McViddy in all case-free lane was included was simply
because the fact that for most the cut true traffic
from 118 to 118 to 118 come from,
it was being the okay spring lane,
while it could have been included,
might see a sliding tree sin traffic from this grocery store,
but the change is there would be minimal,
at least for what's coming out, and going in,
because there's other ways out of that neighborhood,
they don't really have to come out that way
unless they're going to this area
to shop or go to work or something like that.
So there was really no reason to include it,
Plus, we couldn't in front of a pretty improvements there anyway, and it may have just identified
an issue that already exists and may not have actually identified anything new.
As for the project, they are correct.
We have been working on a project for, we had a project on the books for a number of years,
decades, I think they said, but, unfortunately, after preliminary engineering and right
of way, which we do already own right of way through there, we could not obtain the funding
and including partner with the county and multiple different applications in all
different ways to actually expand and straighten the city slightly and it would have
included some of the improvements that the developers do in the day which includes
extend in that right turn. That will improve the operations at the intersection including
the restriping that are doing some minor restriping on the opposite side of the
intersection which will also improve some of the operations, the intersection, kind of decreasing
the lay it overall.
I'd like to know your opinion of their access and the egress on the
Bramleton Avenue, real close to an existing business and close to your traffic light.
The apparently
being the acceptable and acceptable we can care what the study there will be some folks using
that to drop back on the ramletons in the go south on to 21 towards BET Mound.
In general, we do have some access management requirements that they're supposed to follow,
but within this situation, the pressure that it relieved off of the full access off of all case
ring lane made it to where it was beneficial for us to approve this and allow it to stay
The other intersections, while I understand they likely do have operational issues during the
peak hours, if that development were to construct it today, it likely wouldn't get anything
more than a right-and-right out similar to what the grocery store is proposing.
So the neighborhood is just west, Brampton Commons, very familiar with that area, that complex
I've been in and out of it myself personally.
I always go right and never go left because I don't want to wait there for 20 minutes.
So I'll fill their pain.
I'm just wondering, I'll ask the petitioner that about that access out with being so close
to right there.
But in there was a question about, well, you're not going to have anything to do.
with the police report. That's another question.
That's all I have.
Any other questions, Mr. Blubbins?
A couple.
One of the speakers talked about, from Bramilton Commons, talked about the difficulties
of the exiting Bramilton Commons, and then the impacts of the right turnout from the proposed development.
And a concern that have been expressed with the right turn on red from the existing intersection.
Due to the possible substantial increase in traffic if this development were,
We'd veto perhaps go back and look at not allowing right turn on red, or would you think
that that would cause more problems in terms of stacking, coming out of what I would
call the main entrance and exit for the proposed development.
You follow where I'm going?
I would have to leave a little bit on the traffic engineer for the developer to see what they would
for sure, but I can tell you that right turn on reds reduce cues throughout the cycle of the signal.
If you were to stop all of the traffic there and not allow that right turn on red, especially if you have
plant-upal sight distance and no other reason to stop it, you know, because...
Generally, that's the only reason why we would not allow right turn on red is because of the site distance issue, which you don't have there.
It would likely cause the signal to go, like, cause at least that leg to go into operational issue of AF or worse.
And I don't think it would operate exceptably, and likely the right turnling would not function the way they anticipate in their study.
And if you put all the traffic from the development to go right out there only, it definitely
wouldn't work.
You know, because right now they have the option to go right out on Bramontiner right
out there, if you were to stop it, it would queue back.
I'm almost positive during the peak hours.
The second question, feelings that the stacking were a five on colonial and a
crossing over Brambleton, and then I want to make a left turn into the project.
And we were talking about a 75 foot distance, stacking lane.
How many cars can I put in 75 feet?
In general, at least as far as engineers look at it, we think about 25 feet per car, cars not
25 feet long, but you have to think about buffer distances and shot distances and a lot of
So they can look at their cell phone and their stuff, but that's about three to four cars.
Plus as they stated, it is a back-to-back termling with the left-termling from Old Case Ringland
in Northbound on to 21.
So again, if there was, if there happened to be some reason why they couldn't get out,
why they couldn't make that left-turn across, they could stack further into that left-termling,
which it does get some traffic there, but most of the time they're going to do the intersection
need to want to go straight, or they want to go south, most of those that would not
go left there, unless they're going to the Crowger or the Four Nineteen, which means
they did the cut there for no reason.
Final question, if I'm at the development, and I'm exiting on okay, spring,
I'm
going to make a left turn there.
I would think that that would be fairly dangerous because I have all the traffic coming
towards Brambleton, and I've all this other traffic
queuing up to make a left turn in.
Would you see a realistic option of making a left turn there
because there's one of the speakers said,
if I'm making a right turn out only on the Brambleton,
at some point in time, I'm going to go
with short distance sound Brambleton and do a U-turn,
which is probably just as dangerous.
It almost seems like if
I live further back in Windsor Hills, I'd be making a left turn
out of that development, I'm not going to be making a right turn out on the Brambleton,
and I'm going to be going out on those case-grain laying.
I just question whether that is a realistic opportunity.
It will be just as much as anything else.
I mean, I think you'd have a better distance here that's from where this entrance exists
than from where the credit rate prints exist on colonial.
And it's pretty short.
You've got four or five lanes you have to cross.
In this situation, you're probably only going to have two.
Plus, you're looking up great.
Instead of downgrade, you should be able to see cars
making turning movements in there
to anticipate what they're doing.
If a large enough vehicle of bus
or a truck, you could have limited instances where sight
distance could be blocked.
In which case, they really should wait until they can see
or make a right turn out and go back to four or 19
and go around the other one.
It's a good example because I've made the left turn coming out
of Croger back on the colonial bone, the other way.
It's very exciting.
That's a well-known intersection, yes sir.
Well, thank you, Mr. North.
Two questions for you.
One unrelated to the transportation issue.
But the first one, the transportation issue, I heard about all this tack,
and we've got some stack of issues over the island of District.
I'm not going to get into them.
You know exactly what I'm talking about.
Yes.
And now that that's property is in Mr. Peters' side of the road,
he's only looking at the few phone calls in the future.
So I got a red press to see.
Bring him away, bring him away.
And he says, bring it all in, and those people already
really enchanted by the experience of putting that in,
but still is a problem.
Never going to go away.
That's my story on that.
The second question I'm related to transportation is,
would be not owned this property.
Then you'll ever have anybody approaching them
behind the property. I'm sure, yeah, I believe we did. Yeah, it occasionally comes up.
Okay, thank you. All I have.
Any further questions? Yeah, I have a question for the
petitioner.
You're going to be full.
Yeah, so I appreciate the Department to place someone in association coming up and
making their oral comments and written comments.
Part four, did they send you any of their comments?
We did receive a letter from the HLA,
from the planning department.
So they listed the gosh.
Let's see, six, ten recommendations.
Looks like you did a couple of them.
from that recommendation, but it's like it's a big more expanded list.
I'm not going to go through all of them, but you went from one meeting, you went to a
30-foot buffer to a 40-foot buffer, so I mean that's quite a bit more shrubbery or trees
So whatever that you're putting in there, correct?
Sorry.
And the fence, I'd ask you early about the material.
And I figured I heard a couple of speakers say they prefer wood, because the vinyl
is going to look like not to attractive.
Wood will look pretty good.
I know it has a little more higher maintenance on it.
I'm not asking you to offer that, but I'm just un-suggesting that might be something.
At eight to eight, it's more than likely it will be with file fences, get a little flimsy at eight feet.
Talk about lighting.
I'm certain I haven't talked about lighting.
Mr. Northboard up lighting.
I'm in development myself.
So, and I want to cut off shield is.
But you're at a higher elevation than the Farmington people.
So, you might have it cut down.
But, if they're below, they can see under that shield, so you've got to do an extended shield, if so they don't get that glare back from it, because you're up here, and they're down there.
Recommendation of turning lights off at night.
I'm sure you guys want to conserve energy,
and I don't know what your tenant, what the tenants,
protocols for turning off. I mean, if they had 50 lights, would they turn off 25 lights?
Do you have any experience with that?
Some sinners do that. A lot will keep them on if attempt is an issue of public safety overnight.
You don't want to make it a convenient spot to order.
Okay.
All right.
The storm water management facility
Does the engineer detail that any on the concept plan is that a bug brown is just a ditch, is it underground?
There's no detail for the concept plan, but our preliminary studies are leading us to an underground facility.
That's from a great standpoint.
Okay, to get them all in.
All right.
There was a mention quite a few times about the adjoining neighbor to the west of you of that property called Bramilton Commons.
Commons, how would the tenant feel if we only had an entrance in and out an exit door now,
all of that impact?
I don't think our traffic would function without that right out.
They don't cut too much pressure on the intersection that okay, spring.
That's all I have Mr. Chairman.
Thank you.
Any other questions for the applicant?
Thank you.
What's the pleasure to board discussion, debate, motion?
Well, I did my district, so I'll start off.
I want to kind of relate a story,
and I'm so grateful for all the residents coming out
here and giving us their information.
I do want to try to alleviate some fears, so in the early 90s, my wife and I moved back to
Runok and we moved on Colonial Avenue right behind the Mechermack.
And while we were living there, Harris Keeter petitioned to get a special use permit get there.
So I, along with all my neighbors that were behind that vacant building went through the
same rezoning planning commission process that all of you have, you've been telling me.
And we said the same things.
We talked about the same items, about traffic backing up to where we live and all our
driveways that back up off of the Colonial Avenue.
Yeah, we had a little more traffic, but they improved the intersection for us.
And we were able to get, I mean, we were able to turn out of our driveways left to right.
They also improved the Colonial Avenue because it had a hill that we had to maneuver going
over to that roundabout.
So, traffic seemed to work itself out in that scenario.
After the approval of the Harris Teter in the O'Mickermack,
my family got large and the house got too small.
And we sold a house about three years after that.
We didn't lose any value.
There was no drop in valuation in the real estate.
So I don't think that's going to hurt the devaluation.
I have residents up in Bent Mountain that have a pipeline going through their properties
and they're still selling their houses.
So across America and our nation, we have homes, residents,
residential areas that back up to grocery stores,
my own children live in Austin, Texas, and Denver, and both of them are very close to it.
Their houses weren't backed up to it.
But several times when I was able to walk from their house to those grocery stores, that was sort of convenient.
And I know Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, we're talking cities, and that's urban living.
But it was available and it did hurt the value of those homes.
I thought my kids paid too much for those homes where they were, but that's, that's
their dad's speaking.
So, you know, I cannot alleviate these fears and concerns about traffic.
We have that with all the resumes that we go through.
It comes up and I don't know what we can do through the development review process, but I would hope that we can look at that and get some data or get some information as we go through that process.
With that said, Mr. Chairman, I'm very...
I'm so cognizant.
I'm sorry.
Mr. North?
Thank you.
Well, I live in the houses district today.
I'm lived over here in Southwest County.
I'll book them out in the room.
I lived in two houses there.
Many years ago when I was a much younger fellow.
used to drive that road. When I had an RXM sports car, I really loved going around
phase frame. That car was tight on that road. Unlike maybe a truck like
Mr. Bradford drive today. But you know, I've saw some accidents as the
end of both intersections. And that was back in 1993, actually, in 1983 to
93.
There's the same real estate that location, location, location, and there's a lot of truth
of that.
I'm usually very supportive of these type of applicants, because I know that the revenue
generated from the taxes of the land coupled with the sales revenue taxes, generates revenue
so that we can provide and continue to provide services that are second to none and road
County compared to other parts of the state.
However, in my personal opinion from listening to everyone today, this is just two intense
of a area for this surrounding residential community, as well as a runway infrastructure.
I think we're trying to put something there that's complex, challenging, and it's going to
create a lot of complaints from citizens in the future, our department's going to get many
I have to take a lot of time to address them over and over again. I think though that we have other better county locations and our economic development people are here. I would like to the applicant to consider those other locations for this grocery store. I also believe that it's in a tense area with a lot of commercial grocery stores already.
There has been others in the Roanoke County area in the city that did make it very long.
After they put thousands of millions of dollars into their site improvements and now they're closed.
So I would like to see more housing on this development.
And I believe that this community in the county at large has a growing need for more starter homes for young people,
but also for retirees and people in one of downsides to patio homes, they're in high demand
all over the county and all areas.
So put simply for these reasons, I probably cannot support this project.
Thank you.
I just have a few comments and I too really wanted to support this project, but after hearing
to the citizens make a difference and I appreciate you coming tonight and even at the late
hour hanging with us while we really, we really process all this information and try to
make the right decisions because it's tough, it's a tough process but I'm concerned about
with incumbents. I'm concerned about those small businesses. We're, you know, we're potentially
sacrificing one area for another, and I don't like that. I really, I struggle with that.
And there was a, there was a comment about, we don't need another grocery store, and I don't,
I understand what you're saying because there are several in that area, competitions always
I would say that right there in between, you know, with point three miles in between all of them might be a little
a little close for all of them, but competition is a good thing.
My third comment was, Ms. Davis, I thought your commentary as others mentioned it too about old case-bring road and case-bring lane.
I think you were right on with some of that commentary. It has impacted this whether or not it's, you know, on paper,
supposed to be impacting that I believe that it truly is, the right in and the right out on
Brambleton for this new development potentially I think is just difficult at best and for the
amount of money that would be invested into this property and to we want it to be the right thing.
We want it to be the right thing with the right infrastructure is what we're as what we're really
looking for, I believe.
I don't think that the residents would drop in value.
I don't think that the homes would drop in value.
I really don't have seen too many times
where I was concerned about these kinds of situations.
And we haven't seen it.
But that being said, I'm on this bend right now,
where we have got to be protecting our R1.
We have got to be protecting it.
We have too much encouragement, too much coming in on them.
And so I will not be supporting the petition.
Thank you.
Let me make a couple comments.
Comment number one is, I try to follow what we have,
what we as a county have adopted in our comprehensive plan
in terms of neighborhood conservation and transition.
Again, that is a guide, it's not an ordinance, it's not a mandated requirement, but I try
to follow that a lot.
My concern about this site is it's a very challenging site.
But what we have left in Rono County are only challenging sites.
All of the easy sites have been developed.
We are not like Rono City where we have a central business or industrial or commercial
core. I use the example of Bruno County's development or like wagon wheels. If you think
of the spokes on the wagon wheel, the spokes are our primary highways, whether they are
460, or 60 West, or 60 East, whether they're 419, whether they're around 24, our development
runs along those primary roads. And so we have commercial and industrial
development along those primary roads, but you go one block off that primary road and we have
residential neighborhoods. And so every time we have a commercial development, that commercial
development could have an impact on that residential development. In my mind, if we can't put
a major commercial development on a four lane divided highway where we have a traffic signal,
We can't put commercial development in any place in rural life.
We're not talking about putting a large commercial development back off, you know, in a rural farming area where you don't have access to the road.
This is a four lane divided highway. That's what Brambleton is.
And yes, we have residential neighborhood that's blocked off, and I understand that.
but I think that's true of almost every one of our developments throughout the county.
I understand the argument of, do we need a grocery store assuming this is public? I don't know if it's
public or not. I've heard the rumors also. I'm not here to discriminate between
publics, encroager, or Harris, teeter, or food lion, if you look at our, if you look at
our rezonings in Ronald County over the last couple of years, we have been inundated
with car washes up and down for 19. We must have the cleanest cars in the whole world.
We got so many car washes here. I can't deny a rezoning for a car wash. If some fool wants
to build another car wash and lose his investment.
That's his problem, not mine.
Likewise, with many warehouses.
We got many warehouses everywhere.
So if another grocery store wants to come in,
I wish him luck.
You crops went down the tubes.
Harris Teder got bought out.
That's competition.
That's capitalism.
That's the free market.
That's what we live by.
That's what we claim we live by.
I'm okay with that.
I liked what Mr. Scaff and the other members of the Homeowner's Association put together
for us.
It was excellent and I think as Mr. Radford point out, some, not all, some of the requests,
have been addressed.
Whether it's lighting, whether it's buffer, whether it's opaque, fencing, whether it's
of operation, I think the applicant has attempted to address many of those concerns.
If there is a motion to approve, I'm comfortable supporting it.
I don't know if there is a motion to approve.
We've that up to Mr. Bradford, but my final concern is, we the Board of Supervisors have some responsibility in this.
We decided a couple of years ago to acquire the property from Vietnam.
We knew what that site was like, and we did it intentionally because we hoped, or assumed, or thought,
that there would be some kind of new commercial development, whatever it was.
And if we decide not to go forward, then we never should have made the decision whatever it was.
Two years ago, when we bought the property.
If there is a mistake, then it was the mistake that this board made when we initially acquired the property from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
And last there were improvements made.
That's true.
Anyway, that's, I'll shut up.
I would like to make one comment if I make Mr. Chairman.
I've listened to the motherboard members, and I guess I have to err on the side of what
you just said.
We've seen this all across the county, Mr. North, I'll listen to the comments about West
Rouge in it for 60.
But I also see the side of it that the improvements to those intersections would have never taken
place, and the improvements we're seeing today would not have taken place if those developments
had not.
We're not adding.
I wonder the same question here.
We've heard about the intersection, all the problems are there.
Well, once it is developed and you're right, we did this land swap or whatever we did
through the EDA in hopes that a commercial development would take place there.
My thought process is to help that intersection because it will force us to make improvements
there, as we have many other intersections, all across the county.
So, well, and if we go back and look at history, the 1985 rezoning for Finney, Finney
construction, to build 27 townhouses.
That was 1985, and for whatever reason, the market never supported that, and that has
in 37 years, and I
have to say this politically correct.
Mr. Finney did not build high-end residential developments.
He built low-to-moderant entry-level development, and for whatever reason, Fred Finney was
never able to build those downhouses, that's why.
Why?
This one last time is, the answer is to be, to state that there have never
been an improvement one and doesn't plan to be any west room at the road.
There you go.
There's a feet-off study from the fourth feet-off.
Four, sixty stuff.
Where do you think that don't have a thing to do with west room at the road?
It has to do with, for essentially, the fluidity and the fourth thing to do with just
just to point that out there.
And this situation, in my mind, lends itself to the same circumstances, some five or seven years later down the road.
Well, we'll have that debate though. Every zoning comes and it is coming next year, I know.
Mr. Bradford, what's the pleasure of the board?
Well, I thank you all for all your comments. It looks like we're going to have a split vote.
So, we'll see what happens.
I find that the proposed resounding request, while not consistent with the transition or
neighborhood conservation, future land use designation, it is in performance with the C-2 zone
properties along the OPE, all case spring road and along the corridor of Brahlanton Avenue.
It's good zoning practice, I don't think it'll result in substantial detriment to the community.
We've kind of talked about the Farmington community.
Out there for, move that we approve the rezoning request
as it has been requested, removing any existing conditions
on each of the 11 parcels, which make up the subject property
of the rezoning, the subject of following proper conditions
1. The site shall be developed in substantial
conformance with the concept plan prepared by Lumps and Associates
Associates, dated August 30, 2022, and revised November 30, 2022 subject, any changes required
during the comprehensive site-playing review process.
The number two, ours-off operation shall be no earlier than six AM and no later than
12 AM each day.
We have motion to approve the ordinance.
Do we have a second?
Mr. Peters.
Motion second.
Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Mr. Peters. Mr. Hooker? No. Mr. North? No. Mr. Bradford? Yes. Mr. Mahoney? Yes.
Thank you.
Next item on our agenda. Citizen comments and communications. I have none.
Next item on the agenda is reports and inquiries, report members. Mr. Bradford is up first.
Thank you, Mr. Skaff.
Good evening, again Mr. Chairman and the members of the Board.
Because two thirds of the grocery store land is zone residential,
two thirds of this land has a future land used to.
Resignation of transition, and one-third residential conservation, both designation's residential, making the grocery store inconsistent with the purpose and intent of the county's adopted comprehensive plan.
Three of the surrounding properties are zone residential for residents, both their homes, assuming that the county would honor the zoning and future land use designations, and five of the grocery store will result in substantial deployment to the community, including perpetual noise, nighttime light.
traffic congestion and endangerment, reducing quality of life, and causing property values
to decline.
Therefore, rezoning is tantamount to a taking that is confiscation of real value by the
Ronald County Government.
Accordingly, I respectfully propose that the board moved to reduce my half the real estate
evaluation that is assessment or taxable value of housing and buildings located in
can place Kingston court and in the vicinity of long-casturing lane and old-casturing road,
the Jeff Moronic property and localities beyond that that will be detrimental effected
by the grocery store. Freeze these taxable values for as long as the grocery store is
an operation and the land on which it is located to zone C2 and three places are charged on
the grocery store's tax bill to compensate for this loss of revenue to the county equal to the
I don't even want to.
Thank you.
All right.
Item Anna and our agenda reports and inquiries, the board members.
The first speaker.
The first board members up is Mr. Raffer.
Delph comments.
Mr. Peters.
Just a couple.
First one I would remember to invite everyone to the alumni event.
I know we went out there a few weeks ago.
It was a great time.
I had something else.
You know, whatever that was, moveable, the last thing I'd like to tell everybody I have
about, everybody has a great Christmas.
I want to thank our board for a great year, I want to thank you Chairman Mahoney for a great
year.
You did a great job hurting the cats.
I want to thank the staff for everything they do for us and all the employees of our own
county.
What they do keep us moving daily in the citizens for allowing us to stop, thank you.
Thank you.
really quickly. I've got a couple of items. I really appreciate it to visit that we were
able to have delegate Joe McNamara, Mr. Brent Hudson, Dr. Ken Nicely, Chairman of Home
Honey and I were able to visit Glencove Elementary School recently, and I want to thank them
for arranging this tour. I've toured it many times before, but it's always good to go and be reminded
of the needs there, and that certainly happened.
Number two, I'm pleased with the work this board has done and with the memorandum of understanding
that was discussed and voted on today in coming up with a solution for the school board's
priority of a CTE center.
We were able to stay inside our current tax base with this funding plan, and that's very
important. I'm especially pleased that we're able to think outside the box and put together
a package that helps to mitigate the concerns of the elementary schools.
Number three, our volunteer fire department. I just want to say thank you to them. They've
been driving around a lot of neighborhoods recently with Santa and the kids of all ages have
been enjoying that. I also enjoyed our illuminates visit and plan to go back again with a different
set of grandkids. And it's just a great thing that our county is providing. And then the last thing is you all
have more champions and bring in Liverpool high school volleyball team. St. champions. I've already talked to them and we're making arrangements for them to come and be congratulated.
We have not met our maximum.
We have exceeded.
We have not.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Norr.
See what we've started.
No, it's a good thing.
There's this very successful.
There are good things.
Tend it to Virginia County's conference with several other board members in November 13th
through the 15th.
Also served as a moderator of the Transportation Forum with Virginia
Secretary of Transportation, Chef Miller, the panel discusses a variety of topics such
as smart scale, airport, federal and state funding, and rural runs and improvements.
So, November the 17th, the 10th of the regional partnership and investor update, Tom Talons,
has been the best years since the 2017, regarding $234 million of an economic impact as business
attraction has been higher than pre-pandemic.
Just this year alone, we've had 234 economic contemporaries in the region, and remote workers
have decreased 9% in large part, excuse me, have increased 9% in large part because workers
are moving here from Georgia, Virginia, D.C. and the Maryland area, relocating to our region.
Meanwhile, we've been named in the top 24 mountain towns in the United States, something
be very proud of. Also, November 21st, I chaired the Ronald Valley Alligating Regional Commission
Legislative agenda for 2023 general assembly representatives in our area. Among the many items we
shared in our priorities was an airport expansion. Alligate Austin, who chaired the Transportation
Committee in the House of delegates and serves as a Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee,
has had discussions with the governor and has asked for a 10-year strategic benefit analysis
for the airport expansion, for Governor Yunkins' review and support.
The governor stopped after visiting this area.
When his way back and asked for that request when meeting one-on-one
hotel against Austin.
So far as I know the Rona Valley Alligator Regional Commission is working with other
entities here in the valley to put that together.
On December 6th, we spoke to the CTV and Richmond at B.I.T.
on the IN and one widening project between next 137 and 128.
This is supported by the Secretary of Transportation,
both this area and the I-64 expansion.
The project resolution passed 15 to 0 of,
and one abstention for Spark scale V.0 application
estimated Spark scale cost is around $300 million.
This was the first project on the unfunded list of about six projects
that were unable to be funded in 20, 20, 20, and the original I-81 plan.
And I will tell you this, this was a total team effort, and the doctor smoothed.
Telling it off, Stin, the VDOT folks here at Ken King, Brian Blavins, all the regional governments
that are putting together resolutions of support, so the application can be bolstered
from everyone in this area.
This was a great accomplishment, and I hope that it doesn't have any bumps in the road
part of the pun, as it goes forward to improve safety and fluidity along I-81.
Interesting enough, the reason this project can't be pursued, is it's going to take the south.
It's going to take the northbound funding and use that to leverage the southbound widening,
which is using money wisely to get things done.
That's all I have Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Several things,
I think we,
Supervisor North did you mention the legislative breakfast we had on November 30th?
I did not.
We had a legislative breakfast that was put on by the Salem Rono Chamber of Commerce,
also the realtors and the home builders, which I thought was great,
bringing those private groups together,
but we also had Secretary Slater here who was talking about workforce development.
But I think all of us believe
Mesh is in with workforce development through the career and technical education facility in
Rono County.
I think that was important, and it was great to be living a turning general way I was here.
On November 18th, I was invited to attend a meeting that Rabbi Cathy Cohen, the Temple
of Mania, was put together.
She's concerned about the increase in anti-Semitism and prejudice and eight crimes going
on around the country, and she wanted to put together a community group to try to anticipate
and proactively address those issues, and so I'll be looking forward to attending some of
those meetings with her members of the city council, where there are other members of the local
Rabbi Cohen, beginning that initiative, and I'll try to represent the county wells in those endeavours.
I read it in the Rono Times the other day about how the city of Rono is part of their
legislative program.
I thought took a fairly courageous action to try to rescind some of the criminal justice legislation
that have been adopted in the previous General Assembly, and it came in late today, but
Chief Hall, before he retires and gets out of town, Chief Hall was asking that we might include
that as part of our legislative program.
So, I'd like to find out from the board, is that would we want to support what Ronald
City was supporting?
Would we want to tell Feldon to do that?
I'm planning on having a lunch with Mayor Lee sometime this week to try to talk about different areas where
Rono County and Rono City can cooperate together and I'd like to tell him that we would like to add that to our legislative program.
That's true.
I want to echo what Supervisor Peter said.
Folks, you got to go to illuminates.
It is fantastic.
We're running out of time, it ends fairly quickly.
My family enjoyed it.
We are going to go out again with all sorts of grandchildren.
And so it is just a wonderful event.
And then it's, it has worked out so great with our partnership
with Center and the Square with respect to the luminality
event that explore part.
Finally, happy holidays, everybody.
be safe, have hope everybody has a happy and joyous holiday season and with that.
Mr. Chair, one comment for you. I'd like to see a resolution for these items you mentioned in January,
but between now and then I don't see anything wrong with your writing a letter, since the Board seems to be in agreement
of support and get that out to all our local legislators before they go off to Richmond.
I know they would appreciate getting that a little early.
We can follow up with the resolution later, of course, but I have no objections.
I don't think anyone else in the board would have do a Friday or a letter of support.
This will be good.
Thank you.
With that, we're adjourned.
And I will hand this.
No, yes.
No, no, no, no.
I don't believe you.
Let me see.
Let's see if how hard it is.
That's a little bit different.
serious form of skin cancer. Dr Paul Burton, chief medical officer of Moderna said the results
were promising. It's the first randomized trial testing an mRNA therapeutic in cancer patients.
It's shown a 44% reduction in the risk of dying a cancer or having your cancer progressed.
That's an important finding and I think it has the potential to be a new paradigm in the