2018-10-16 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The Board of Supervisors began their meeting at 7:25pm.

There were no amendments to the Agenda.

Public Comment began with John Marlowe speaking as the President of the Potomac Landing Home Owners Association (HOA). He said that Planning Commission had approved the subdivision application of Section 4 of Potomac Landing despite 72 residents attending the meeting in opposition. He said eleven people made comments at the meeting against the planned subdivision and said the developer would be in violation of the HOA rules by turning the existing 18 lots into 87 lots. Marlowe said the investment company that purchased the lots said they had invested millions of dollars in the property and had no intentions of being stopped. Marlowe also said the HOA had been threatened with legal action by the investment company and that they claim to have the money to sidestep the HOA if needed. He closed by asking the Supervisors to not approve the subdivision.

Next to speak was a resident of Potomac Landing Drive who endorsed the previous statements but wanted to add that the additional homes would impact school needs as well as increase the number of cars on the road. He said when entering Route 218 (Caledon Road) from Potomac Landing Drive, it can sometimes be dangerous.

Richard MacDonald spoke next, stating that the Planning Commissions approval to change ten acre lots into two acre lots was a 500% increase. He said the additional homes meant additional traffic and additional water runoff into the existing retention pond. He said one of the main attractions of King George was the rural setting and didn't want us to turn into Stafford County. He said the development company would increase their profits at the cost of the County and homeowners in the area. He closed by saying the developers should be forced to live with what they bought.

Glenna Marlowe was next to speak, stating she made comments at the Planning Commission meeting. During that meeting she shared photos from behind her house showing the runoff that was already present and that additional runoff from new homes would be dangerous. She shared the concerns of those that spoke before her but also wanted to add her concerns about the amenities. She didn't feel that the existing amenities could handle such a large number of people. Marlowe also said that she felt the attorney from the investment company minimized residents' concerns and that it felt like he questioned why they were even there to raise issues. She said a lot of people felt like their intelligence was questioned at the meeting.

Geoffrey Florschutz was next to speak simply stating that he wanted to voice his opposition to the proposed subdivision and that he concurred and agreed with the comments made before him.

The next resident spoke about their runoff concerns and the increase in non-permeable surfaces a large subdivision would bring.

Alice Austiff added that she concurred with those speakers before her and added that the runoff that goes to the pond is only held back by a dirt berm. She said any overflow goes directly into the Potomac River. She closed by saying that there are no bathrooms at the small beach below them and that with the additional people using it, it could contribute to the contamination in the river.

The next speaker against the proposed development also mentioned the potential increase in run-off as an issue as well as the flaunting of the covenants by the developer.

The next speaker was Reverend Leonard Bland, the pastor of Salem Baptist Church. He said the proposed gun range off Salem Church Road could be neighbors with the 150 year old church. Reverend Bland said they're concerned about the sound of gun shots and felt they would be detrimental to church services, funerals, burials, and children. He prayed the Board would not partake of this proposal. He then asked for the church members in the audience to stand and they did so.

Reverend Bland speaks out against the potential gun range off Salem Church Road.

John Jenkins thanked everyone for coming out to speak. As he did so, many in the audience began to leave to which Ruby Brabo said they could stay and listen to the Board's responses if they wished. A few continued to leave while some returned to their seats.

Jenkins continued by again thanking those that spoke and voiced their opinions. He said it gave him motivation to look further into the matter. Regarding the gun range, he reiterated that the Board has not received any plan or proposal but when that moment comes, he would certainly take the concerns to heart. On October 7th, he attended the KG Que Fest and that he looked forward to seeing it progress in the coming years. He then congratulated Jeff Bueche and Dr. Neiman Young for taking third place.

Dr. Young jokingly asked if he said the barbecue was "pretty good" to which Jenkins said "really good." Jenkins also thanked law enforcement for their help during the festival. He added that he attended the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) work session on the 9th, the Fall Festival parade on the 13th, and a George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) meeting on the 15th.

Jeff Bueche thanked everyone that gave public comment and said that when it does come before the Board, it gives them something to look at. Regarding the gun range, he also said that nothing has been brought before the Supervisors but that he has gotten numerous emails both for and against the potential gun range. He said that while he is interested in the opinion of neighbors in the region, the opinion of King George residents matter more.

Bueche said October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and that he was wearing a pink tie in honor of his cousin who is currently fighting breast cancer.

On October 6th and 7th, Bueche attended the KG Que Fest. He said it was an honor to compete with Dr. Young and they placed 3rd in pork. He also thanked the numerous sponsors, the Sheriff's Office, Fire and Rescue Department, and the many other people that worked to make the event a success. He noted that Tim Smith, Ryan Gandy, Dr. Young, and Annie Cupka went above and beyond to help. Bueche then presented Dr. Young with a pig trophy to recognize their efforts.

On the 9th, Bueche attended a Social Services meeting and the CIP work session. He thanked the emergency services crews for their help during the remnants of Hurricane Michael. On the 12th he attended a team building exercise with department heads and on the 13th participated in the Fall Festival parade. On the 14th he noted the Commonwealth Foxhounds group sponsored a trail ride in Caledon State Park and that the Dahlgren Naval base would celebrate their 100th anniversary on the 19th.

Ruby Brabo began her report by saying the Planning Commission makes their decision based on how a project fits with the Comprehensive Plan while the Board of Supervisors make their decision based on what citizens want. She said it is important to make sure residents get involved early and was glad to see so many citizens speaking. Regarding the potential gun range, she also echoed previous comments that no proposal has been put before the Supervisors yet. She then said that petitions don't help. She said that in the past, some Supervisors have just thrown them in the trash but hoped that wouldn't be the case with the current Board. She said the real issue is that an online petition doesn't show the address of the person signing it so Supervisors don't know if they're King George County residents or not. She also said with a written petition that it was difficult to verify the signatures were valid. Brabo said that because of these issues with petitions, voicing concerns in person or via email were the best.

Brabo then asked if Dr. Young had an update on Port Conway Road and the damage done by recent storms. Dr. Young said that he had been in contact with VDOT and that currently there was no estimate on when final repairs would be made.

On October 3rd and 9th, Brabo participated in conducting interviews for the Service Authority General Manager position. On the 9th she also attended the CIP work session. During a conference call on the 11th for the National Association of Counties (NACo), there was hope that the current population limit of 16,000 would be raised to 40,000 for grants. She said this would help King George "pursue improving our broadband infrastructure" as well as fire house and Service Authority needs. On the 13th, Brabo participated in the Fall Festival parade and on the 15th she attended a GWRC meeting.

Brabo closed her report by saying Canterbury would be submitting an application in the future for approval as a golf cart community.

Cathy Binder thanked everyone for coming out to speak at public comment and that she would take their thoughts on Potomac Landing into consideration. Regarding the potential gun range, Binder said she has also gotten a lot of emails, noting that at one point she received over 75 in one day.

On October 6th and 7th, Binder attended the KG Que Fest and her daughter really enjoyed the bounce house and pony rides. Binder enjoyed speaking with residents and thanked law enforcement for their help in keeping the event enjoyable. Binder attended the CIP work session on the 9th, the team building event on the 12th, and the Service Authority General Manager interview session on the 16th.

Binder then resigned from her position on the Smoot Library Board of Trustees representing the James Madison District and asked to be appointed to the Trustees as a representative from the Shiloh District. The Board approved.

Richard Granger thanked the residents from Potomac Landing for coming out and said he would investigate the issue further. To Reverend Bland who had already left the meeting, he thanked him for the prayers saying he could really use them.

On October 7th, Granger attended the KG Que Fest and judged the competition. He said it was a lot of fun and that the tasting was a blind tasting so there was "no collusion." He said the barbecue was delicious but said "I think I had a barbecue hangover" by the end.

Granger attended the CIP work session on the 9th, the Fall Festival parade on the 13th, and an FRA meeting on the 15th. He said he now has open positions on the Smoot Library Board of Trustees, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and the Social Services Board and asked anyone interested in serving to reach out to him. He then nominated Kris Parker to serve on the Smoot Library Board of Trustees and the Board approved.

Granger then asked for a moment to recognize County staff and had Brad Hudson come forward to speak. Hudson then spoke of the accomplishments of Travis Self, stating he was the only inspector he's known to become fully certified within a one year period. He said that not only did Self need to attend multiple modules and take four exams, he did it all while working a new job. Because of Self's determination, Hudson nominated him for the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy and he was accepted.

Hudson then went on to celebrate the accomplishments of Heather Hall. Hudson said she started with the County as a permit technician in 2005 and has been promoted several times since. He said she has also made great strides by improving the process for permits and planning and zoning. As part of his nomination letter to the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials (VAZO), Hudson said Hall was "firm, fair, and consistent." He said VAZO only gives five awards each year and said Hall had earned the Annual Achievement Award for Certified Zoning Officials from them.

Richard Granger, Heather Hall, and Brad Hudson.

The Consent Agenda was approved.

The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.

Next on the Agenda was the Capital Budget Presentation by Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator. Dr. Young said he invited Sheriff Dempsey and Chris Dines, Director of Information Technology (IT), to the meeting to provide answers to some outstanding questions from the Supervisors. Dr. Young also said that he researched the potential for a 50,000 square foot Courthouse and the estimated cost was $306 per square foot for a total of $21.9 million but cautioned the Supervisors that his estimate was based on 2017 prices. Young said with an industry standard inflation increase of 3%, it would be closer to $22.5 million.

Sheriff Dempsey then came forward to answer questions regarding his CIP request for new laptops. Brabo said that some of the Supervisors couldn't remember how old the current laptops were and also wanted to know if there was a cost savings to making a bulk purchase and what the benefits were for training officers on matching devices.

Sheriff Dempsey said a bulk purchase allows them to use the same docking equipment as well as a 25% cost savings. He said the current laptops were six years old and seven of them no longer worked. The Supervisors seemed pleased to hear his answers.

Chris Dines then came forward to answer questions about his IT requests. Brabo asked the same question, if it was necessary to do both projects, related to fiber and server upgrades, at the same time. Dines said both projects don't need to be done at the same time, however the point of the projects was to create redundancy for the County, including for emergency services. Brabo asked Dines to explain, for herself and for citizens, the reason for redundancy and if the project was split over multiple years how that would impact redundancy. Dines said the idea behind having a back-up was for emergencies and natural disasters. He said by virtualizing the servers to a secure cloud platform, it would allow employees to access data and systems from anywhere. Dines also said that it would act as a backup for data and provide increased connection speeds which would be essential for the next generation 911 system.

Dr. Young added that the 911 Dispatch Center went offline twice last year and King George had to rely on neighboring Counties for assistance. Young said he tasked Dines with creating a redundancy plan to ensure the County could still operate should something happen, like a loss of a fiber connection. He said he really didn't want to rely on neighbors to address their needs in the future.

Dines also said that with Atlantic Broadband being the sole internet provider, it would be good to have a back up and would eventually save money by cutting costs. Jeff Bueche asked about the fiber lines that were installed by the schools and if the five year waiting period was over to tap into those lines. Dines said the section on Route 3 was available but the ones to Potomac and Sealston Elementary Schools were not. Bueche asked if there would be a cost savings if Dines only focused on providing fiber to the Fire and Rescue Department. Dines said there would be a cost savings to not do all of the upgrades but didn't have an exact number. Dr. Young interjected and said he would advise against splitting up the project like that because it would be like kicking the can down the road and added that later in the meeting he would explain that the County would be healthier than expected compared to last week. Brabo added that they would eventually pay more by doing the project in pieces. Bueche said he understood that but was thinking about the still undecided solution for the Courthouse and that installing new fiber to the Courthouse now may not be a benefit if they build a new building later. Dr. Young said that regardless of which Courthouse solution is chosen, faster internet would still be necessary as none of the plans call for the existing Courthouse to sit empty. The Supervisors appeared to come to a consensus on both the laptops and the IT upgrades.

Moving on, the Board then had a discussion on the future of the Courthouse. There was some discussion about funding and how much was needed, but in the end, they voted to approve funds to do a study to determine the best method of delivery for whatever solution is eventually decided upon.

The Board then approved the CIP projects and their respective budgets.

Brabo noted that this was the third year in a row that the Supervisors have cash funded projects without accumulating any new debt.

Dr. Young said they would still need to vote to adopt the CIP projects and appropriate their budgets but that no waiting period was required. He recommended the Supervisors do this prior to their training session on October 30th, thus giving County staff time to get the paperwork ready. Dr. Young also said that with the approvals tonight, there was no need for the previously scheduled meeting on October 23rd.

Next on the Agenda was an update from Eric Gregory, County Attorney. He said he had finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County Parks and Recreation Department, the Friends of Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT), and the trail's owner, David Brickley. He said the DRHT, a trail over 15 miles long in the County, would continue to be privately owned and that the Friends of DRHT would continue to maintain it. The big change would be the Parks and Recreation Department would take over management of the trail as a County park and a DRHT Committee would be formed to ensure all parties would be represented. Jim Lynch, Friends of DRHT Secretary, was present to answer questions and said he felt that Gregory captured everything. Lynch also said that the Friends group felt this was the right step along the way to becoming a part of the State Park System. [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]

The Supervisors approved the MOU. Brabo added that this was a "long time coming" and that for those that have been involved from the beginning, they now get to see the benefit. She also thanked everyone and said the Board sees the trail as an asset. Gregory added that the Parks and Recreation Department was enthusiastic about the addition of the trail.

Dr. Young then proposed a request to transfer funds so the Parks and Recreation Department could purchase a new gymnastic spring floor for the Quonset Hut, also known as the Old King George Elementary School Gymnasium. He said the current gymnastics team, the Astros, would be moving to a new location and they would be taking the spring floor with them because they purchased it. Young said the spring floor was an important part of the Parks and Recreation Department's gymnastics program. Brabo asked if the team was leaving because of the condition of the Quonset Hut and Young said no, they just got a better deal elsewhere. The Board approved of the expense.

Dr. Young then presented two amendments to the Landfill Agreement. The first amendment was for the County to assume operations at the convenience centers. He said the County would hire two full-time employees and three part-time employees. John Jenkins asked when the job announcement would go out and Young said very soon. Brabo said she heard rumors that the convenience center hours would be reduced. Dr. Young said that Jeff Jenkins, Director of Landfill Operations and no relation to Supervisor John Jenkins, and the Landfill Advisory Committee have been taking a hard look at the impact but would not be reducing hours. He said that the hours may change and there was discussion about holiday closures but he didn't want to get ahead of the Committee. The Board approved of the first amendment.

The second amendment was to accept additional tonnage at the landfill. The increase in trash being accepted would result in just over $3 million in additional revenue. The Board approved the second amendment.

Dr. Young began his report by asking for the Board to choose a representative for the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) to attend the annual business meeting. Jeff Bueche was chosen as the primary representative with Ruby Brabo as the alternate.

Dr. Young then informed the Supervisors of additional VACo communication and information from VDOT regarding upcoming meetings. He also recognized Amanda Sumiel, Director of Human Resources, for her work on getting King George County certified as a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer. The audience applauded her efforts.

The Board went into Closed Session at 8:51pm. Darell Hertenstein and three others were invited to attend but were given hand signals to wait a few minutes before they did. Hertenstein and his associates eventually joined the Closed Session at 9:02pm and left at 9:19pm. The rest of the Board ended their Closed Session at 9:23 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 9:24pm.

Meeting Attendees:

John Jenkins (Board of Supervisors)

Jeff Bueche (Board of Supervisors)

Richard Granger (Chairman, Board of Supervisors)

Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)

Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)

Neiman Young (County Administrator)

Eric Gregory (County Attorney)

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:

The Board of Supervisors will next meet on October 30, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:

Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.

The See Something, Say Something Award

by Neil Richard

I was recently invited to attend a ceremony at the Sheriff's Office to see a young County resident receive an award. While Sheriff Dempsey asked to protect the privacy of those parties involved, especially since it involves minors, I felt it was necessary to share a positive and uplifting news story about the youth in our community. The desire was even stronger since October is National Bullying Prevention Month.

Without disclosing too much information about the incident that took place, and changing names to protect the parties involved, I'll do my best to set the scene. Luke, Anakin, and Han were gathered with other youngsters in the locker room after lightsaber practice. Anakin then began to bully Luke. Luke repeatedly told Anakin to stop but Anakin wouldn't listen. In steps Han who tells Anakin to stop. When Anakin doesn't, Han physically inserts himself between the two to protect Luke. Han pushes Anakin off Luke and out of the way but during the scuffle, Anakin hits Han. In following the lessons learned from the teachers at school, Han reports the incident.

Fast forward to the real-life ceremony at the Sheriff's Office Quarterly Meeting. Sheriff Dempsey stands before his Deputies and awards this young individual the See Something, Say Something Award. The award is given to anyone, or group of people, that see something wrong and tell someone about it. The award is typically given during the Quarterly Meeting so Deputies and other Sheriff's Office staff can be there as well as to provide a more private setting to protect those involved. At the ceremony, Sheriff Dempsey said the awardee "removed the assailant" and saved the victim from further bullying. Sheriff Dempsey also said that because of their actions they made school a "safer place for all students" and was honored to award them for their "courage and heroic action."

And just like the end of the original Star Wars movie, our young hero received a standing ovation from the Deputies in the audience. Well deserved recognition for somebody doing the right thing.

2018-09-25 - VSBA Media Honor Roll Award

The King George County School Board recently nominated Project94 and the Free Lance-Star for a Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Media Honor Roll Award. The award is to call "attention to the ongoing responsible and exemplary nature of reporting on this community's public schools." The award itself states:

"The King George County School Board recognizes your fair and balanced reporting on school division and education relation topics. Your work has aided this community in focusing on the goal of providing the best public schools we can for the children who attend them."

We at Project94 are thankful for and humbled by the recognition.

Sarah Snow, Neil Richard, Jeremy Bertz, and Sean Gates all of Project94 and Sara Backstrom of the Free Lance-Star received their award from Tammy Indseth, School Board Chairwoman.

[Photo (c) 2018 by Yvonne Richard. Used with permission.]

2018-03-07 - Board of Supervisors Meetings Notes

The Board of Supervisors began their March 7, 2018 meeting at 7:23 pm. There were a number of people in the audience and several of them spoke during public comment.

Dick Schiebe started the public comment section of the meeting by saying he was there to talk about the news reporting done on the consideration of Smoot Library being taken over by Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL). He said he was here when Mrs. Smoot was here and remembers them building the curvy wall out front. He said the $700,000 Mrs. Smoot gave to run the library isn't enough to support the library now but was pretty good back then. Schiebe said we should not lose our independence just to save 25% of the operating budget. He said only four percent of the county was using the regional library and strongly encouraged the Board to keep this asset of the county.

Weldon Burt was next to speak his concerns for the library moving to CRRL. He said he volunteers at Smoot. He also said he wanted to make it clear he wasn't maligning CRRL because it's a good fit for their community, just like Smoot is a good fit for ours. He said Smoot has an excellent staff and they can offer classes quickly instead of waiting six to eight months. He said many people left big cities to move to small towns and the library maintains that feel of the small town that many are looking for. He said it's not just a bunch of bookshelves, it's a community of people. He also encouraged others to volunteer.

Dee Strauss then gave the only non-library comments and gave the Board an update on the recent state level DECA conference that was held in Virginia Beach. She said the local chapter from King George High School fielded 49 students and competed in 28 events. Strauss said the chapter was recognized as a Star and Super-Star chapter and many participants won awards and medals. She thanked the chaperones and judges who traveled from the area to the event and said several students would be attending the International conference coming up.

As Strauss handed the Board programs from the recent event, Ruby Brabo thanked her for her supporting DECA.

Bob Baird then made a few public comments. He started by complimenting Mrs. Strauss and the school administration for exposing students to the world of work. He then expressed his opinion on the Smoot Library. He said it opened during his Junior year in high school and he has used it, along with many other libraries, to do research over the years. He said we have a wonderful library and it's an underutilized resource and wasn't sure how the idea of merging with CRRL came to the table. He suggested those involved should survey the citizens to get their opinion on what they want from the library as he's heard strong reactions from both sides.

Carol Werle spoke next and said it wasn't just about the library but the way we spend money. She thanked the Board for the effort they put into the job and knows that they inherit some of the problems of the past. She said Port Royal almost became the capital after the burning of Jamestown. Werle said we make decisions based on history and that if you don't know history then you make the same mistake again. She continued on until Richard Granger broke in briefly to remind her to try to keep her comments to three minutes. She closed by saying that a study done in 2010 talked about the goal debt limit was $10 million and that it's now about $110 million and that maybe the debt service is behind the decision.

Tammy Wagner was next to add her comments about the library. She said she was a homeschooler and represents a large and growing group of people. She said she moved here 20 years ago and shortly after joined CRRL to get access to more material. She said back then, they were the only ones with computers and internet. She also said her youngest could only find one copy of their favorite series at Smoot but several copies at CRRL.

Hannah, a 17 year old minor, followed with her comments. She said she was a member of both CRRL and Smoot and that as a student, the books she needed were not available at Smoot. She said she can get extra copies from other branches of CRRL and that Governor's School students can get what they need from CRRL to get their homework done. She finished by saying we should join CRRL.

Jim Lynch was next to speak and said he was a member of both CRRL and Smoot. He encouraged the Board to be as open as possible in discussions and involve the public as much as possible. He said he had no advice for the Board but encouraged them to have a Town Hall about the topic.

Kim Dodge was the final speaker for Public Comment. She said she has been listening to both sides about the library. She said as a homeschooler that has lived in remote areas in the past, she never had any issues getting materials. She said she joined coops and other groups. Dodge didn't see why Smoot should join CRRL for this and should keep Smoot where it is for history. She closed by saying she didn't see a problem in spending $30 to join CRRL.

The Board then began with their reports. John Jenkins was first and said he was not unappreciative of the library, volunteers, history, or services provided. He said just like any service provided, we're always assessing and looking at ways to improve. He doesn't think there's any chance for a rash reaction. He then thanked Mrs. Strauss for her work with the DECA program. Jenkins also thanked Emergency Services for their hard work last week. He said he heard of a lot of reports of damage and that anyone with damage from the storm should report it via email - kgdamage@firerescue.com - or online. He closed by saying he attended the GWRC and FAMPO meetings on February 26th.

Jeff Bueche began his report by thanking everyone that spoke about the library. He said they were simply trying to gather information to make an educated decision. He said nothing was set in stone and no decision had been made. They were looking to see what would be gained or lost and that the Smoot Library Board of Trustees had been invited to have a discussion in closed session. He said he was getting questions about not being transparent but because it was discussed in closed session, nothing was public at this time. He thanked both sides for speaking out. Bueche then congratulated Mrs. Strauss for DECA and again said he was impressed by everyone at the career night. He then addressed Mrs. Werle's concern that the source of the potential library change was due to the debt service. He said this was not the case and that Davenport, the County's financial advisors, gave a debt mitigation plan at the last budget work session. Bueche then said he attended the award ceremony for Jim Howard on February 22nd and expressed his condolences on the death of Howard's mother. Bueche said he attended the budget work session on the 28th. He was impressed by the number of neighbors looking out for each other during and after the recent storms. He thanked the line crews and emergency services for all their hard work and their constant communication. From March 3rd to the 6th, he attended his first National Association of Counties (NACO) conference and was highly impressed. He thanked Brabo and Dr. Young for helping navigate all the sessions and making introductions. He said there were a lot of lessons learned and the experience was very educational. Bueche also mentioned that while he is active duty military, he attends all County functions and conducts County business while on official leave status. He said prior to being elected, he had accrued leave time for this reason.

Ruby Brabo started by saying that there has been a lot of misinformation out there in regards to the library conversation. She said no decisions have been made but a request for information has been made. She said that in budget sessions from previous years, this [the potential merger] has been looked into. Pros and cons are being discussed but nothing is being done behind closed doors. She said the Board of Trustees and Library Director were invited to ensure we're protecting the interests of King George County. She thanked Hannah and said she loves to see students come forward to speak and encouraged others to do so. Brabo said that as a parent, she found the library adequate for their needs but once the kids hit middle school, not so much. She said the Board of Trustees was charged with understanding what the community needs. Brabo said over 1,000 citizens have felt the need to join CRRL. She said the reason the conversation began two years ago is because the amount of money put into the operating budget isn't seeing a return of investment. She said regionalism may not always be the answer and when the time comes, the Board will frame it for the community. Brabo then listed the meetings she attended, starting with the Tri-County City Soil Water meeting on February 21st. The next day she met with Congressman Wittman and other local leaders regarding the recent move of the Chem/Bio division from Dahlgren to Indianhead. She said Wittman asked her to keep the details of the conversation out of the public for the time being. She attended GWRC and FAMPO meetings on the 26th and the budget work session on the 28th. She closed by saying she attended the NACO conference from March 3rd through the 7th.

Cathy Binder then gave her report by saying she attended the recent home show on March 3rd and 4th. She also attended the budget work session on February 28th and a meeting for Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging on March 7th. Binder then congratulated Mrs. Strauss and the DECA participants. She also thanked everyone who spoke about the library. She said she reached out to the Governor's School teachers and many spoke to her at the home show about the pros and cons. She also thanked the emergency services for their help during the storms.

Richard Granger was the last to give a report. He started by thanking emergency services for their service and thanked everyone who spoke about the library. He said his colleagues "spoke to it greatly" so he would just say "ditto." He then read a resolution to celebrate John Cornette and the El Tierra Farm regarding their winning the 2017 Clean Water Farm and Bay-Friendly Farm Award.

The Consent Agenda was approved without comment.

Judge Vance, a Constitutional Officer, spoke to the Board in support of the County Clerk Office's request for a two percent increase in salary. He said the two percent request totaled $3,568. He explained that clerks often leave because they aren't paid enough and that over the last 15 years, they've only received a 13 percent increase. He said the clerks here do a good job. He said many localities in the area do this by either a one-time payment or a percentage increase. He closed by saying he thought a two percent increase was reasonable.

The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.

Granger then introduced both Public Hearings but Brabo clarified that they were two distinct hearings. Dr. Young gave a brief overview of the Pine Forest Apartments project and advised the Board of his recommendation to approve it. There was no public comment. A motion was made and passed to approve the project.

Gregory then gave a brief update on the ProjectFAITH project by saying they had requested a delay. He clarified that a Public Hearing could still be held tonight and any comments could still count towards a final decision. There was no public comment and no action taken.

The Tri-County City Soil and Water District Manager, Marta Perry, then gave a brief presentation about her group and what they do. She gave the Board handouts and proceeded into a brief overview of the groups history. She said the local district formed in 1944, consisting of King George, Stafford, and Spotsylvania. She said she was grateful for all of the support from localities. Perry explained that the group exists to help solve conservation issues and to keep soil in place while keeping rivers clean and preventing soil erosion. The group also helps with agricultural conservation and shares best management practices, resources, and grants. She also said some non-agricultural projects, such as rain gardens and permeable paving, are also done to solve for erosion. She closed by saying they have a lending library to help teachers and sell seedlings and rain barrels.

Next on the Agenda was a request from Dashan Turner of King George County Schools to use the contingency fund of $100,000 from the Energy Performance Contract with Honeywell. He said there were no problems with this project but Dr. Young recommended tabling the decision until staff could do research. A motion was made and approved to table the decision until the next regular meeting on March 20th.

Wilma Ward, Director of the Finance Department, then asked for authorization to re-appropriate $112,781 in funds from the Instruction category to the Facilities category in order to complete the modular building installation at Potomac Elementary School. Again, a motion was made and approved to table the decision until March 20th.

Dr. Young then gave a summary of the FAMPO request for representatives for the Technical Committee. He recommended Ryan Gandy and Brad Hudson as the primary representatives and Annie Cupka and Kyle Conboy as alternates. They were approved without comment. Brabo did comment that the Citizen Advisory Committee for FAMPO had three openings and that she had heard from Rob Gates and Leslie Jordan as being interested in serving. Granger said he would rather wait until March 20th in hopes that others would step up and they could all be approved at once.

Dr. Young then began his report by thanking Judge Vance for promoting a veteran's court being formed in Spotsylvania. He also said that Carol Werle's comment about the Ralph Bunche developer asking for $3 million wasn't true. Young said the newly formed Regional Transportation Authority would meet for the first time on March 28th and that a joint meeting with the Planning Commission would be coming soon.

The Board then went into closed session with legal counsel at 8:49 pm regarding Smoot Library and returned at 9:33 pm. The meeting adjourned at 9:34 pm.

Meeting Attendees:

John Jenkins (Board of Supervisors)

Jeff Bueche (Board of Supervisors)

Richard Granger (Chairman, Board of Supervisors)

Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)

Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)

Neiman Young (County Administrator)

Eric Gregory (County Attorney)

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:

The Board of Supervisors will next meet on March 20, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:

Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.

REVIEW: In "Darkest Hour," Gary Oldman Delivers the Performance of his Career

When Gary Oldman was approached by Joe Wright to star as Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour,” Oldman had one caveat: Kazuhiro Tsuji had to do his makeup.  If you’re not familiar with Gary Oldman, well, you don’t watch many movies, I guess, but at any rate, here’s Oldman, and here’s Oldman as Churchill:

Gary Oldman, left, and Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, right.

That’s a pretty drastic  difference.  Now if you’ve never watched an episode of SyFy’s “Face/Off,” let me tell you… this is the work of an artist.  Oldman’s entire body had to be transformed with a fat suit, and his whole face had to be done in such a way that it could hold up to close-ups and wouldn’t interfere with Oldman’s performance, but rather enhance it.  The shocking thing is how successful it is.  I can see why Oldman requested Kazuhiro Tsuji.  For a job like that, you need the best, and Tsuji pulled it off with such precision that he must, in fact, be the best. 

So let’s talk about the movie.  I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will anyway, just in case: don’t get your history lessons from movies.  Movies are lousy at teaching history.  Movies are make-believe, and the people who make them get to make stuff up.  They’re good at making stuff up, they enjoy it, and the goal is that we enjoy the stuff they made up.  That’s as true if you’re watching an historical drama as it is if you’re watching a fantasy film.  You know how movies based on books are never the same as the books?  Same principle.  So don’t go into “Darkest Hour” expecting the history to be entirely accurate.  It isn’t.  But that’s not what’s important when we talk about a movie.  What’s important is whether the movie is good.  And in this case, it is.

The movie is set during the early days of Churchill’s Prime Ministry, in 1940, when the usual policy toward Hitler was appeasement, believing that sooner or later he would stop, that he would behave with honor and decency in at least some measure.  Churchill’s predecessor, Neville Chamberlain, believed this, and so did his allies in Parliament.  But Churchill wasn’t having any of that.  Winston Churchill was a man who understood that sometimes it’s necessary to take a stand.  That having an enemy wasn’t as bad as not having a self. 

The film explores Churchill’s struggle; he has Nazis knocking on the door.  He has half of Parliament and much of his own cabinet against him.  King George VI isn’t crazy about him either.  And almost the entire British Expeditionary Force is trapped at Dunkirk, pinned down by Nazis on land and in the air – a mess he inherited.  There are bitter decisions to be made, and it takes a leader with broad shoulders to take on that kind of responsibility, to make those impossible choices.  Oldman plays Churchill as a man who was private conflicted, but publicly confident and self-assured.  I believe that is the burden of every leader. 

A poor leader wears that conflict publicly, creating doubt and uncertainty in those around them, and casting suspicion upon the entire apparatus.  A good leader shows certainty and confidence, even if they don’t feel it; and in so doing raises morale and galvanizes people into action.  Churchill was a man of appetites: cigars, alcohol, food.  He was also a very intelligent man, eloquent and wise, who understood persuasion.  He was theatrical, in just the right amount; he knew how to inspire. 

You might ask what the story is, here, in the film.  The film takes place from Churchill taking the office of Prime Minister, to the successful rescue of the men from Dunkirk and the “We Shall Never Surrender” speech.  What it shows, in that window, is a man everyone is wary of, whose apparent desire to go to war against Germany scares the hell out of Parliament, slowly winning over his detractors, or maneuvering them into corners, and taking control of a difficult situation.  Cleaning up a mess he inherited.  It’s a fine thing to watch if you can handle a quiet drama about political maneuvering.  I found it very powerful.  

All of this works, of course, only if Gary Oldman’s performance, and Kazuhiro Tsuji’s makeup, can deliver.  Oldman is indisputably one of the best actors working today.  He studied footage of Churchill, listened to his voice, looked at his mannerisms, his walk, the expressions on his face, and he tried to soak all of that up and find the man.  In various interviews he talked about how he felt in some sense that he was not only standing in Churchill’s shadow, but in the shadow of every actor who has portrayed him down through the years, from Albert Finney to Brendan Gleeson.  

Oldman’s up for an Academy Award for this performance, and it’s self-evident from the film why he’s the favorite to win.  You forget who it is you’re looking at, you just accept him as Churchill and go along for the ride.  For some, the film may not have the kind of story they like, leaning more heavily on the strength of Oldman’s performance.  But if you appreciate acting for the art that it is, and you want to see a great one at the height of his craft, I recommend Darkest Hour.

2017-12-19 - Part 3 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

This is the third installment of a long evening of meetings and ceremonies held on December 19, 2017. The previous installments include the Swearing-In Ceremony (Part 1) and the Service Authority Meeting (Part 2).

The Board of Supervisors opened their meeting around 7:20pm shortly after the Service Authority adjourned. Because this meeting was so lengthy, the abbreviated highlights include the Ralph Bunche proposal being passed, the Solar Farm Project proposal being passed, and an update from VDOT on the Route 301 Corridor Study. For more in-depth coverage, please continue reading.

Diving into the details of the meeting, Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, briefly noted at the start of the meeting that the swearing-in ceremonies took place earlier in the evening at 6pm. The floor then opened for public comment. Jim Lynch spoke as a representative of the hiking and biking community and reminded the Board that VDOT would present later in the evening and asked the Board to recognize that there are no bicycle or pedestrian crossings in the Dahlgren area to safely cross Route 301. Mr. Lynch also pointed out that a recent newspaper article was partially incorrect in stating that the new Potomac River Bridge would include a bike lane when in fact the bike lane was part of the bid option package, meaning it was not guaranteed to be included. Mr. Lynch also encouraged the Board to reach out to the newly elected Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, to gain his support for bike lanes on the new bridge. Mr. Lynch had the only public comment.

Moving to the reports from the Supervisors themselves, Richard Granger said he met with a Cub Scout Pack on December 6th, the joint meeting between the School Board and Board of Supervisors on the 12th, and also thanked Cedell Brooks and Jim Howard for the opportunity to work together with them. Granger also said he looked forward to working with the newly elected Supervisors Cathy Binder and Jeff Bueche.

Jim Howard reported that this was his last meeting and wanted to thank his wife for all of her continued support. He said this was the first meeting she had ever attended and would also be her last. Howard said his wife "supported/tolerated his endeavors" and he greatly appreciated it. After nearly 48 years of living in King George County he has seen a lot of change and a lot of improvements. Despite the bad meetings or bad days, he said things have been overwhelmingly positive. He thanked everyone that has supported him over the years serving with twelve different Boards. Mr. Howard appeared to become emotional towards the end of his report and was graced with a standing ovation from the audience when he finished. Ruby Brabo, Chairwoman, interjected quickly before Mr. Brooks could give his report to present a resolution to Howard for distinguished service from the Board. She read Howard's various tenures on the Board of Supervisors and School Board as well as numerous accomplishments he helped with in the County. She then presented the resolution, another plaque, and his name plate as gifts.

After the applause died down, Cedell Brooks began his report by stating that 26 years ago he "stepped out on faith" and ran for Supervisor against his old high school teacher, Sid Peterson. When interviewed by the newspaper at the time, he told them he won by God's will and feels like he represented those in need over the years. He also said he hopes that there would be a positive vote for Ralph Bunche later in the meeting. Brooks then went on to say he attended Howard's retirement but remarked that Howard's claim that Brooks owed him $20 was false. After some laughs, Brooks then said he received awards from Congressman Wittman this morning and was unexpectedly full of emotion at the time and felt honored by the recognition. He thanked those in attendance and received a standing ovation of his own. Brabo then presented Brooks with the same awards given to Howard except for the resolution which was already awarded at a previous meeting.

Ruby Brabo then went into her report beginning with attending a government and military affairs dinner on December 6, 2017 where she learned that there is a need for an 80,000 square foot office space off-base and not near an entrance to Dahlgren. She also said that Vice-Admiral Thomas Moore was unprepared to answer questions regarding the move of the Chemical Biological Radiological (CBR) Defense Division from Dahlgren to Indian Head, Maryland. CBR built an $8.6 million building in 2002 and employed about 100-150 workers as of July 2017. In a 2016 report, CBR listed many accomplishments including responding to and assisting with the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan as well as ongoing support. Brabo then said she attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) on the 7th and 8th for a poverty summit, the joint budget meeting on the 12th, and a Chesapeake Bay Watershed meeting on the 13th. During this last meeting, she said 12 counties would be able to work together to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goals and that growth and county income is often curtailed when these goals are limited to a single county. Brabo also attended a holiday luncheon on the 12th where King George County Sheriff's Deputy Shriver and Anne Shooes, a member of the public, were awarded the Making A Difference Award. They received an embroidered hat, trophy, and gift card for there dedication to the community. Chairwoman Brabo also attended the award presentation for Cedell Brooks earlier in the day and wanted to thank both Brooks and Jim Howard for their service. She said that even though they may not have always agreed on everything over the years, they were always professional and respectful. She also reminded the current and future Board members to have a name of a citizen ready for the January meeting to be appointed to the Citizen Advisory Committee.

The Consent Agenda passed as presented.

The first of three public hearings then began with the Port Conway Solar Farm Project. Things began with a presentation from the Community Development Office. The presentation states that the entire area in question covers about 610 acres but the solar panels would only cover about 333 acres. The location would be off of Port Conway Road and the solar company, Community Energy Solar, would lease the land for 35 years from the property owner. During the presentation, it was clear that the solar company had reached out to the local land owners and used their feedback to change their original designs to better suit the concerns of citizens. The Community Development Office also noted that the Planning Commission voted 4-2 to approve the Special Exception Permit and other groups such as VDOT, US Army Corp of Engineers, and the Community Development Office itself approved of the plan.

Community Energy Solar then gave their presentation that included much of the same information but further detailed the impact to the surrounding neighbors as well as their efforts to reduce that impact. These efforts included additional meetings with the community, reducing their footprint near neighbors and roadways, and increasing landscaping to block line-of-sight of the solar panels. The landscaping would be of two different styles, one being more of a solid residential visual barrier and the other being a broken or staggered tree-line. It was questioned how large the trees would be when planted and they clarified the trees would be about one and a half inches around and stand about 4 feet high. The solar company also discussed their plans for decommissioning their facility and the funds they would have to ensure that process occurs. They closed their presentation with a list of community benefits, including an increase in tax revenue, local employment opportunities, and being a quiet and clean neighbor.

Blue represents the proposed solar panel coverage.

The floor then opened for public comment with a written letter from Jim Lynch supporting the plan. Of those commenting in person, the support and opposition for the project was about evenly split. Some neighboring property owners supported it while others did not. Several citizens asked questions and listed concerns that would later be answered by either the County Attorney, Eric Gregory, or the solar company representatives. There was concern about how the project could impact the composite index and school funding but the County Attorney said that the project did not fall into that category due to its size and would therefore not have any impact. The solar representatives did clarify a concern about underground cables being left behind when they leave by stating that many of their cables are run above ground because it is cheaper. They did say that some cables would be buried but that removing them is part of their decommissioning plan. Towards the end of the discussion Supervisor Brooks stated he would rather wait until the new Board is sitting so they could vote on the project. Chairwoman Brabo reminded him that doing so would delay the project unnecessarily because the current Board has already done the research on solar energy and helped pass the updated zoning regulations regarding solar farms. The Planning Commission's vote of 4-2 was clarified as well. The typically nine-person Commission's vote only totaled six because one person quit the group earlier in the year, one person was absent from the meeting, and one person abstained due to a potential conflict of interest.

The Board then concluded their discussion with all members voting in favor of the project moving forward.

The public hearing then began for the disposal of the Ralph Bunche property, a building on the National Register of Historic Places and listed with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Starting things off was Dr. Young reading a lengthy statement. His involvement began when working with the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) regarding the County's empty properties. GWRC advised Dr. Young should look into working with Echelon Resources in an effort to preserve the Ralph Bunche High School. Echelon Resources, led by Edwin Gaskins, works to preserve and re-purpose historic properties in the state, including Maury Commons in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Echelon submitted an unsolicited bid to purchase Ralph Bunche and thus negotiations began between Echelon, King George County (the property owner), and the Ralph Bunche Alumni Association (RBAA). Young stated that a voice against this project moving forward would be a voice supporting the planned museum to wait. He also stated that during his frequent visits to the site, the building was in such a state of disrepair that the previously planned funding to support the museum would not be enough to make the necessary repairs for the museum to safely occupy the building. On top of this, Young said the County would be relieved of the utility, maintenance, and insurance expenses as well as be able to begin collecting tax revenue from the new property owner.

The President of Echelon Resources, Mr. Gaskins, then spoke. He did admit that the site would be challenging and that he did not have all the answers. He said he enjoys working with historic properties because of their community ties. He explained that his desire to move more quickly than normal was due to historic preservation tax credits that will expire at the end of 2017.

County Attorney Gregory then spoke of the County's approach to the plan and that measures are in place to ensure that should the deal fall through or the developer not meet the requirements set, the County would regain ownership of the property. He explained that the process would be that the County would deed as a gift the existing building and the few small lots it sits upon. Then the County and the developer would negotiate the acquisition of about eight more acres by the developer. This negotiation would include sureties that the museum would be provided for as well as address any remaining concerns. The expected completion date would be 2020 although Mr. Gaskins said his desire was to be finished much sooner than that.

Aerial view of Ralph Bunche - April 2017

The floor then opened for public comment. Several speakers spoke for approving the plan with a few, including some supporters, voicing concerns about the speed at which things are going. One passionate speaker, Urzetta Lewis, said she had concerns about what felt like history being sold to the highest bidder but "it is a history that deserves to remembered and preserved." She also said that the "battle to preserve our history has been hard fought." Claudette Jordan, President of RBAA, began her comments by telling the Board that her grandparents were part of the legacy that began several courts cases and legal decisions culminating in Brown vs. Board of Education mandating desegregated schools. She then clarified that there were reports of RBAA members going around speaking out against the proposed action and that these individuals were in fact not representing RBAA. She said all members of the Executive Board approved the pending plan and that several people in the community, across the country, and even internationally were supportive. She also said "there's nothing wrong with Ralph Bunche getting a face lift" and implored the Board to vote yes to save the school.

There were questions and comments from various Board members to which the County Attorney or Mr. Gaskins answered or addressed as needed. There was a slight break in protocol as Mrs. Jordan asked Ms. Brabo if the members of RBAA attending in the audience could stand. Allowed to do so, there was a good number that stood. The Board then moved to approve the measure and it passed with all of the Board supporting it.

There was a short recess as the meeting was already lengthy and there was some noise as many of the audience left. The Board returned from recess a few minutes later a 10:05pm.

Chairwoman Brabo asked if anyone in the audience was here to speak about the Public Hearing on the Board of Equalization. With nobody speaking up, she shuffled the Agenda a bit to allow the other presenters to give their reports at a semi-reasonable hour of the night.

Ms. Young returned to quickly re-state her request from the last Board meeting for the Board to support the CISSP Grant. She did add that Fredericksburg did vote to support their own portion of the grant. The Board approved the motion to support the grant.

Andrew Grossnickle returned to give his annual audit update and, just as with the Service Authority's accounting, he said there were no major deficiencies or weaknesses. He said the General Fund was over budget on income and under budget on expenses.

Marcie Parker began her presentation from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). She started by saying the project has changed from a Corridor Study to an Arterial Preservation Plan. The major route from the Potomac River to Interstate 95 on Routes 301 and 207 was the focus of the study. The section of Route 301 from the river to Route 3 got most of the attention. The study uses existing plans from the region to stay inline with the localities but also looked at crash data, traffic, and other logistics. During her presentation she said many of the involved stakeholders, such as the County, would expect to see more hearings and meetings as things progressed in the future to get feedback and give information.

The presentation showed several changes within King George that would be planned for but not necessarily immediate. These changes included removal of some cross-overs, modifying some cross-overs to restrict travel to certain directions, and improvements to some intersections. A few of the recommended changes included a restricted cross-over at the Route 301 and Market Center intersection (the corner where Murphy's Gas Station is in Dahlgren). Another change would be to improve the Route 301 and Dahlgren Road (Route 206) intersection to add another left-turn lane from Route 206 onto Route 301 north bound. The intersection of Route 301 and Washington Mill Road would be realigned for a better approach angle. The Route 205 and Route 301 intersection would also see changes but it sounded like those were causing the County some consternation.

Proposed changes to the Route 301 and Market Center cross-over would limit traffic flow for safety.

Parker said the plan was to examine existing conditions to see how they measured up to current standards and changes would be recommended from there. With that in mind, she said several of the cross-overs should be closed or improved and the shoulders should be widened. After a comment from Brabo, Parker clarified that VDOT has not specifically advertised Route 301 as an alternate to Interstate 95 through the region. She said while VDOT does plan to reduce traffic on I-95 by five percent, Route 301 is not capable of handling that much volume and thus was not pinpointed as an alternate route. A finalized plan isn't expected until the summer of 2018 with several meetings and hearings planned prior to that.

The last Public Hearing on the Board of Equalization was then held with no presentation beyond the County Attorney stating that it just needed a motion and vote to be approved. After no citizen spoke for public comment, the motion was passed.

Eric Gregory, the County Attorney, had no report to give so the floor then went to Dr. Young, County Administrator, for certain action items on the Agenda. First up was the authorization to proceed with Phase II of the County's Compensation Plan. There was some discussion from Supervisor Howard about how he felt the final part, Phase III, that is planned to take place in a few years would not meet the pay scale necessary then and instead suggested funding everything, Phase II and Phase III, this year. After some discussion, the motion to authorize the originally planned Phase II was passed.

Next was the approval to extend the option to buy Mount View. Again there was discussion among the Board as to why the Board of Supervisors needed to approve this when it was the Economic Development Authority (EDA) that manages the Industrial Park. Gregory clarified that the original option agreement was with the Board of Supervisors and for simplicity's sake, it should remain there. A motion was made and approved to extend the option.

Other action items were quickly discussed and approved including the continuation of the Community Development Planner contract, SMART Scale Projects, and Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) for Youth and Family Services. The SMART Scale Projects to be submitted will be a widening of the Route 3 and Route 301 intersection, a right-hand turn lane at the new stoplight at Route 218 and Route 206 intersection, and a pedestrian crosswalk across Route 301 that parallels Commerce Drive.

Dr. Young then went on to report that Annie Cupka and Tim Smith obtained a grant to install an ADA compliant observation deck at the Cedell Brooks, Jr. Park. He asked the Board to sign the acceptance letter and they agreed to do so. Young also received notice from VDOT that the bridge on Ashland Mill Road over Pine Hill Creek would be closed for replacement. [Editor's Note: It was incorrectly stated during the Board meeting that Ashland Mill Road was in the area of Indiantown Road when in fact it runs between Ridge Road (Route 205) and Canterbury Loop.] The project will begin on December 27, 2017 and last eight to ten weeks depending on weather. Young's request for an official to take over for Supervisor Howard on the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board was tabled until January when the new Board meets for the first time.

The Board then went into Closed Session at 10:53pm for a personnel matter regarding the County Administrator. Mr. Gaskins was invited to attend. They returned from Closed session almost an hour later and adjourned.

Meeting Attendees:

Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Ruby Brabo (Chairwoman, Board of Supervisors)
Jim Howard (Board of Supervisors)
Cedell Brooks (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)

Absent:
John Jenkins (Board of Supervisors)

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:
The Board of Supervisors will next meet on January 9, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.

Cedell Brooks Honored By Congressman Rob Wittman

Congressman Rob Wittman honored Cedell Brooks of the King George County Board of Supervisors this morning, December 19, 2017. The crowd of well-wishers filled the County's Board room with only a handful of empty seats. The crowd mingled and enjoyed food and drink while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Congressman Wittman began his presentation with a few remarks about how local officials had a "special place in Heaven" for all of their hard work. Wittman then said members of Congress could honor important people in three ways. The first way was his Extension of Remarks that were made for the Congressional Record on October 4, 2017. After reading them aloud, he presented copies to Supervisor Brooks.

The next presentation was of a flag flown at the U. S. Capitol. Congressman Wittman and Sheriff Steve Dempsey worked together to fold the flag and placed it into a shadow box before presenting it to Brooks. Wittman's final award was a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for public service.

Once he finished presenting his three awards, Congressman Wittman "yielded the floor" to Supervisor Brooks. Brooks, full of emotion, kept his comments short but repeatedly thanked those in the community for being present.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the four protestors standing outside the Revercomb Building. The protestors were not there to voice their opposition to Supervisor Brooks but rather to stand against the pending tax bill. Their goal was to "let Wittman know that we strongly disapprove of the Tax Bill that is being pushed through Congress." Aside from some supporters taking their photos, the protestors remained pleasant and out of the way. Many local deputies and State Troopers were on hand for the ceremony and did keep tabs on the protestors but remained professional in dealing with them.