REVIEW: "Black Panther" Breaks Barriers, and the Marvel Mold, to Thrilling Effect

Anyone who reads my blog knows I’m not the biggest fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  It’s not that I don’t like the characters, or appreciate the attempt to translate the sprawling Marvel Universe to film; it’s just that the films have, in recent years, traded originality for security.  They’ve been formulaic and have leaned heavily on established characters, like Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, to get behinds in seats.  And that’s taken away from the storytelling, and the unique voice of each character that every film should have.  Marvel has even, in these last several years, moved away from employing film directors like Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,”), Kenneth Branagh (“Thor”) or Joss Whedon (“Avengers”), in favor of workmanlike TV directors such as Joe and Anthony Russo (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War”), who, prior to their association with Marvel were mostly known for shows like “Community” and “Arrested Development.” 

Marvel’s troubles deepened when Patty Jenkins (“Monster,” “Wonder Woman”) turned down “Thor: The Dark World” and Whedon walked away from the franchise after “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”  Most recently, Ava Duvernay (“Selma”) turned down the opportunity to do “Black Panther” because she felt that Marvel was too hands-on and wouldn’t let her make the film she wanted to make.  Enter Ryan Coogler. 

Ryan Coogler’s first film (as writer and director) was “Fruitvale Station,” starring Michael B. Jordan, the true story of Oscar Grant, a Bay area resident who was killed in Fruitvale Station on New Years’ Eve 2008.  The film got a lot of attention at film festivals and won a lot of awards, including an AFI Award for Movie of the Year.  It made Michael B. Jordan a star almost overnight.  He went on to star as the Human Torch in Josh Trank’s “Fantastic Four” reboot, and then as Adonis Creed in the “Rocky” spinoff, “Creed,” written and directed by Coogler. 

Coming off of the success of “Creed,” which also won a ton of awards and saw Sylvester Stallone nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role as Rocky Balboa (he did take home the Golden Globe for the performance, at least), Coogler was approached to direct “Black Panther.”  I like Ryan Coogler’s work, he’s a very talented man and when I heard he was doing “Panther” I was surprised because Marvel is notorious for losing talented directors.  But it also meant I became more interested in “Black Panther” because it stood a chance of not being the same regurgitated paint-by-numbers superhero movie that Marvel has become famous for making (guy is a jerk, guy gets power, guy loses power because he’s a jerk, guy learns to be less of a jerk -- possibly with the help of a previously established Marvel hero -- guy gets power back, guy beats villain, the end).  From 2008’s “Iron Man” to last year’s “Doctor Strange” and “Spiderman: Homecoming,” the plot hasn’t varied too much. 

I’m happy to say that Ryan Coogler hits a home run, and delivers the best Marvel film in years.  Much like DC and Warner Bros. made the right decision in giving Patty Jenkins the keys to Wonder Woman, and much like Jenkins successfully walked the line between making the film the studio wanted, and injecting her own voice and sensibility into the film, creating something special, so too does Coogler handle the demands of a mega-budget franchise film with the focus and assurance of a truly great filmmaker.

Left to right: Lupita Nyong'o, Chadwick Boseman, and Danai Gurira in Marvel's "Black Panther".

From the film’s opening, in Oakland, California in the 1990’s, kids shooting b-ball through a milk crate nailed to a sheet of plywood, it’s clear that this is a different kind of Marvel movie.  It feels real and immediate, and it looks real, too.  Many of these superhero films take the alternate reality aspect to the level that you don’t recognize the world they’re set in as our own.  “Panther,” though, knows that it has some work to do because you’re about to see a movie about a fictional African country called Wakanda, that exists in a cloaking field, and we’ll buy that as long as we can still recognize the world as our own.  The sequences in Wakanda are beautiful, and the performances are all top-notch.  I’ve liked Chadwick Boseman since his turn as Jackie Robinson in “42,” and the beautiful Lupita Nyong’o has been a favorite of mine since “12 Years a Slave.”  She’s utterly wasted in Star Wars as the CGI Maz Kanata, but not so here, where she gets to appear in person and participate in action scenes, particularly the film’s big finale. 

Andy Serkis is back from “Age of Ultron,” reprising his role as arms dealer Ulysses Klaue, and Martin Freeman returns from “Civil War” as Agent Ross.  They’re also, I realized sometime after the film ended, the only two white guys in the whole picture, which is fantastic since in most films those numbers are more or less exactly reversed.  Also of note here, is the fact that no previous established Marvel heroes show up to help Black Panther on his journey.  This is his journey and his alone, but he has an excellent support team in Nyong’o as a spy named Nakia, along with a fierce bodyguard named Okoye, portrayed by Danai Gurira; his tech genius sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright; Daniel Kaluuya as his military leader W’Kabi; and a couple of well-placed legends: Forest Whitaker as Zuri, and Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Black Panther’s mother. 

And you know Coogler had to put Michael B. Jordan in there somewhere.  He’s Killmonger, the Black Panther’s nemesis, in a twist that beautifully pays off that back-alley b-ball opening in Oakland.  Killmonger, despite his name, is a character who is almost sympathetic.  You hate the things he does (he’s a bad man) but you can understand why he is the way he is, and that lends him a necessary humanity, a three-dimensionality that the best villains have.  And thus, in the best superhero tradition, the final conflict is more than just a power battle, it’s a clash of competing points of view, and the only thing that really decides you on who is right, is the fact that you recoil from how far Killmonger is willing to go to get what he wants. 

The net result?  Even if this wasn’t a “black” movie, it would still be the best Marvel movie in years because Ryan Coogler made all the right choices, and gave us a hero who stands on his own as a compelling character, and will therefore be a worthy addition to the canon.  The fact that it’s a milestone picture, a movie about a black character, with an almost all-black cast, written and directed by a black man, well, that’s why this film is destined for greatness.  In a saturated market, this is a superhero film that stands out as meaningful and important in so many ways, and it has a strong, clear voice, it has a point of view, and it makes its point without insulting or talking down to anyone.  Ryan Coogler’s voice is a good one, and welcome, and I firmly believe he’s about to be highly sought-after in Hollywood.  I hope we see many, many more films out of him – in any genre he wants. 

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.

2018-02-22 - Public Notice - Pine Forest Apartments

2018-02-22 - Public Notice - Angelwood Marshall Homes Project

2018-02-20 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

Struggling with the same technical issues that plagued the latter half of the Service Authority meeting, the Board of Supervisors got off to a bit of a rocky start. Things were further complicated by the absence of Dahlgren Supervisor John Jenkins who was stuck in traffic due to a work emergency. The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, clarified and reminded the Board members and audience that Jenkins was allowed to participate because of a Board policy adopted in 2016 that allowed for this under certain conditions. Gregory said Jenkins would have to notify the Chairman in advance of the phone usage, the Board would have to approve his participation, he would have to identify himself on the phone, and he would need to be audible to those attending the meeting. Gregory said Jenkins had notified Richard Granger, Chairman, of his need to use the phone to attend. Jenkins then identified himself on the phone and the other four members of the Board approved his participation via phone.

With that, the meeting began with a public comment from Jim Lynch. Mr. Lynch wanted to let the Board know that during the presentation from Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) at a previous meeting about the new Nice Bridge, the decibel portion of the presentation may not have been clearly presented. He said that while the difference in sound that a noise wall allows may sound like a small amount when noted as only 10 decibels (dB). However, the decibel measurement scale is logarithmic in nature. In other words, the numerical difference between 70 dB and 80 dB is only 10 dB but 80 dB is twice as loud as 70 dB. Lynch also said he asked for a copy of the analysis via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but has yet to hear back from MDTA if he's allowed to see it. He also wanted to note that the bike and pedestrian communities on both sides of the river support a separated bike path due to safety concerns.

The Board then began giving their reports. Jenkins said via the phone that he would wait to give his at the next meeting when it would be easier to hear him and he could read from his list safely.

Jeff Bueche attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting at King George High School on February 12th and was highly impressed with both the educators and the students. He said his favorite line from the night came from SkillsUSA: "jobs ready day one." He also attended the Social Services and the budget work session on the 15th.

Ruby Brabo's report began with her attending a Rural Action Caucus dinner on February 7th. She said she also met with Delegate Ransone and Senator Stuart about the potential meals tax increase and was joined by Eric Gregory, County Attorney, and Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator. She said they asked for the increase because it would benefit the County and the Service Authority. Brabo said she also participated in several conference calls, attended the budget work session, and she reminded everyone that the Leedstown Resolutions would be celebrated this Saturday at Ingleside Winery. Again the static and feedback from the microphones and speakers made it difficult to understand but it also sounded like Brabo met with a Supervisor from Charles County, Maryland and was told they have the authority to keep the current Nice Bridge intact. She was then asked if King George would be interested in keeping the bridge there for bike and pedestrian use and she responded yes.

Cathy Binder's report began with the same Chamber of Commerce meeting as Bueche. She said she too was impressed by the students and teachers and said CTE (career and technical education) was important. Binder also attended the budget work session on the 13th. She then tried to appoint two citizens to positions that were open on a committee or board, but there was some confusion as to if the positions were appointed by the Board of Supervisors or if they were appointed by the court system based on a recommendation from the Board. It was agreed that the County Attorney would research the issue and verify the process for the next meeting. Binder did nominate Roger Knicely to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The rest of the Board approved of the appointment. Binder then nominated James T. Johnson to the Wetlands Board and the Board approved. Binder concluded by reading a Resolution to recognize February as African American Heritage Month and it was approved by the Board.

Richard Granger began his report by thanking Jim Lynch for his comments. Granger attended a meeting regarding broadband internet in the region, the budget work session, and the recent COMREL meeting. He nominated Chris Parker to the Planning Commission and the Board approved. He said he had similar appointments that needed to be tabled like Binder until the next meeting. He did ask those in his district that might be interested in serving on the Social Services Board to contact him.

The Consent Agenda was approved without comment and the County Attorney had no report.

The Public Hearing on the old Passapatanzy Voting Office on Fletcher's Chapel Road then began. Dr. Young gave the basic details on the building and property noting that it was no longer used by the County and that no staff voiced any reason to use it. He did say that the County Attorney found a restriction regarding the deed that may impact its use and asked the Board to table the vote until the research could be completed.

Carl Springer, an adjoining property owner, then spoke. He was the one asking to purchase the property and commented that there were trees on the property line that pose a potential hazard to nearby homes and buildings. He also said the property is home to old tires, abandoned cars, and trash. Springer also noted that the building was left unlocked and was in serious disrepair. He asked the County to allow him to buy it or to allow another adjoining property owner to buy it.

Brabo thanked him for making the offer to buy it but wanted to table the vote until the next meeting.

David Howard from Waste Management gave an update on questions from the previous meeting. He said the vertical expansion would give the landfill another 17 years of life making for a maximum of 31 years before it reaches its structural limit. He said the only potential for future expansion would be horizontally with a purchase of adjoining land. He said there was a potential for doing that with another 50 to 60 acres that could be purchased in the future. Howard said they are always looking for ways to make the landfill last longer but the idea for removing compostable materials from the landfill would actually not help. He said those items, the green waste, was beneficial to the breakdown of the material in the landfill and helped things decompose faster. He also mentioned that if composting was done separately, there would be an issue with smell which he felt nobody wanted to deal with. Howard then clarified that the property in question from the last meeting that was suggested as a potential location for a thrift shop was currently rented. He said the renters had put forward the funds to make enough repairs to prevent if from being condemned. He also said Goodwill has containers at the landfill for those gently used items that could be donated instead of thrown away.

Brabo asked about cells being reopened after the landfill settles and Howard said no, cells would not be re-opened. He said that the top would eventually settle over time to a flat surface once the landfill was closed. Brabo then asked about issues getting adequate and acceptable cover for the landfill and Howard admitted that it is still an issue but they have been able to acquire approved coverings. He also said they purchased adjacent property to gain access to extra soil.

Christopher Rock, President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Chapter 4388, then gave his presentation on the local chapter. He gave a brief history of the IAFF and the goals for the local chapter. He said the goals for this year were to work on community outreach, to improve staffing levels, to promote safety in the workplace, and to implement peer fitness training for members.

Brabo thanked him and asked if the local chapter is only comprised of paid personnel. Rock said it was. Brabo then said she took some offense to the point on staffing levels and said that in years past, only two stations were open and manned by four or five people. She said Federal minimums required 11 staff members and that was currently being exceeded with 12. She also said that all three stations were now open and staffed. She said she still feels that the issue with staffing levels may be in how it is being managed.

Jen Surber from Flatiron Development then gave her presentation on Pine Forest Apartments and their request for a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and to designate the property as a Revitalization Area. The County Attorney and County Administrator then clarified that the County was being asked to make the designation and a tax abatement of no more than $2,000 over three years. Surber said the plan was to refurbish the apartments and potentially make a small addition to the community space. She said the improvements would include everything from a new roof to new paint and from new appliances to new flooring. She said the project would be EarthCraft Platinum certified, which she said was similar to a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. She said the designation was necessary to obtain the credits which were necessary to make the improvements and repairs. She said the repairs would be made to vacant apartments first then residents would be rotated through as possible on a voluntary basis. Surber said no resident would lose their apartment. She said that while they are asking for a tax abatement, they are not asking for funding from the County and they do expect the assessment to go up after repairs are made.

Brabo commented that it was nice to see a property owner take pride in their property. A motion was made and approved to hold a public hearing on the issue.

Next up was Fronce Wardlaw of Project FAITH presenting the Angelwood Marshall Homes Project. She said she was coming before the Board to ask for Community Development Block Grant Funds just as she did in 2016. She said that previously, the Board had given her support and she received a letter of intent for the project but due to timing issues the project never began. She said that since her original attempt, the project has expanded and is now planned to be 35 single family homes with the first phase of construction to include 17 homes. The remainder would be built in the second phase. She said she is asking for roughly $695,000 in grants from various sources and plans to extend public water and sewer to the new homes. She said all of the homes would be on one-third acre lots and have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Wardlaw said the targeted home price was between $190,000 and $210,000 and has pre-approved 18 households that have qualified household income within the $48,000 to $65,000 range. She said the new homes would be located behind the existing Angelwood development off Route 3 and would be bordered by that development and Colby's Lane. She said that in working with the neighbors on Colby's Lane, the Angelwood Marshall development would install a buffer along the road that would include a wrought iron fence and vegetation. Wardlaw said that in the past, the County has waived permit fees and would like to ask for the same waiver again with this development as it would show a "notable level of County benevolence" which is necessary for the grant. She did say they plan to pay the Service Authority connection and usage fees.

Richard Granger asked when the deadline was for this and Wardlaw replied March 30, 2018. Granger asked how long she knew about the grant and she responded that she had been working with Dr. Young since December 2017. Granger said it felt similar to the timeline from 2016 and that it was a short time frame. Granger was clearly upset that the proposal had come before the Board with such short notice and that there was very little time left to hold a public hearing on the issue and get action from the Board before the deadline. Wardlaw said she didn't wait intentionally and takes full responsibility for any misunderstanding or miscommunication. Granger said it puts stress on staff and while exceptions are tolerated, he doesn't appreciate the last minute stress.

Granger then asked for clarity about Wardlaw's mention of the Dahlgren base and the need for low-cost homes for first-time home buyers. He wanted to know how many military families would qualify for the project and be first-time home-buyers. Wardlaw said that of the 18 families that have already qualified, five are military families and two are disabled veterans. Jeff Bueche then commented he had only heard about this project when he read it in the Agenda and wasn't sure he was in a place to vote tonight because he has yet to look at all of the impacts, including how subsidized housing could skew the local housing market.

Ruby Brabo commented that she wasn't excusing her but that in Wardlaw's defense, the County has never given her staff to get this grant. She said Wardlaw has written the grant, both in 2016 and now, and that the delay in 2016 was largely due to the Board being slow to approve re-zoning. She said to stop the project now would not look good. Brabo also said she sits on the Joint Land Use (JLUS) Committee and that the base in Dahlgren was excited for the project as it would meet a need. Brabo also said that the County has invested a lot of time and staff already to make this happen and it would mean revenue for the Service Authority and that Chris Thomas, the Service Authority General Manager, has "blessed it."

Granger again reiterated his concern over the timeline and that while he doesn't necessarily want to stop the project, he does want to note his concern about the timing and doesn't like waiting to the last minute. Brabo asked if it would be necessary to hire staff to write a grant and Granger said he would certainly look at it in this budget cycle. Brabo again commented that Wardlaw wrote the grant herself and was doing the County a favor by doing so. She said she didn't want to penalize the community. Granger again said it penalizes the staff and he felt the need to do it right.

At this point, Wardlaw commented that there was still ample time to take care of everything and that public hearings can still be advertised. Cathy Binder asked if waiving the permit fees were vital to the project. Wardlaw answered no but that there was a need for the County to promote it's benevolence or approval of the project. She also said Angelwood has not paid them in the past but that waiving the fees was not a requirement.

Dr. Young commented that he was not worried about the staff time involved in writing the application. He did say his concern was that there would be 17 to 35 homes that would need to be reviewed by the Community Development Department and that it currently only has one staff member and some work has to be contracted out. He asked the Board to not waive the fees as they have done in the past. Young also said that he was notified last Wednesday to include this item in the Agenda. He said he had talked to Wardlaw via email several times since December but that he found no correspondence that said he talked to her about any need for public hearings or the short time frame.

Wardlaw again said that she takes responsibility for not highlighting the guidelines that gave this information and assumed the County was aware. She said she can appreciate the reasoning for not waiving the fees but that doing so would make the homes more affordable. She also said there are only four home plans that would need to be approved.

Dr. Young again said he would like the Board to not waive the fees. John Jenkins had arrived in-person prior to this point and began his comment by apologizing for being late. He echoed Young's concerns about waiving the fees. He then said that while affordable housing is a concern in the County and he appreciates everything Wardlaw has done for the community, he had to echo Granger's concerns about the lack of notice and the extra burden on the staff.

Brabo cautioned her peers to recognize the Board's involvement with other agencies and "how it impacts our reputation as a whole" with their perception as a Board.

A motion was made to approve the grant and public hearings with the amendment to not waive the fees. Brabo and Binder voted Aye with Bueche and Granger voting Nay. Jenkins was deep in thought for a good 30 seconds before finally voting Aye. And with that, the motion passed.

The Tourism Advisory Committee then presented their update from the previous meeting regarding the additional funds for the Fall Festival and the Girl Scout project to install an interpretive sign at Lambs Creek Church. Ryan Gandy and Saundra Pearson clarified that the Board of Supervisors had previously approved roughly $11,000 for the Fall Festival and the amount before them was an additional $4,000 to cover additional advertising. They said the Tourism Advisory Committee had approved the application for the additional $4,000 but it was now up to the Board to approve the actual funding.

Lauren Gebstadt, the Girl Scout behind the historical sign at Lambs Creek Church, presented her project to the Board next. She said she has been in the Girl Scouts for about ten years and first heard the suggestion for a sign at the church when she was volunteering at a soup kitchen. She said she loves history and thought this would be a great project. Ms. Gebstadt said she approached two different sign companies and was given two quotes. One was for a wooden sign that was cheaper but would only last ten years while the other was for an aluminum sign that was more expensive but would last 30 years. She said she opted for the more expensive sign because it would last longer and require less maintenance. She said the sign company, Sign Enterprise, donated the material and labor, thus bringing the cost for the project down to the $571.20, which was half of the original amount. It was this $571.20 amount that she was asking the Board to fund.

A motion was made and passed to approve funding for the Girl Scout sign but to deny funding for the Fall Festival. Binder commented that she had to abstain from voting due to her involvement in Fall Festival and cautioned that the Tourism Advisory Committee should not promise funding. Gandy replied that the funds were not promised but he would take the feedback to the Committee and remind them that only the Board has the authority to approve funding. He also said he would remind those applying for funds of this process as well.

The Department of Parks and Recreation presented next with a request for the Board to approve their entering into a contract with Stoker Construction to perform repairs and improvements on the Citizen's Center bathrooms. If approved, construction would begin in mid-March and finish by April. Granger asked if the funds were approved in the 2016/2017 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget and if there was any reason why it was so late in getting to this point. The response was that various delays, including estimates being higher than expected, were the source of the slow down. Granger requested that if any CIP funds, in any department, went unspent in the future, that the Board be notified. It was mentioned that this delay was brought up in previous meetings and Granger promptly apologized for missing it. The contract was approved by the Board.

Next was a discussion about a potential Blighted Building Ordinance. County Attorney, Eric Gregory, said that in various locations in the County have been identified as blighted and the Board has the power to adopt an ordinance to address these properties. Bueche said the County doesn't have staff to enforce the ordinance and that he doesn't want to create a police state but he does want a mechanism in place to allow the County to take action. Gregory said he would be happy to draft an ordinance and would be sure to address any potential property rights or due process issues. Jenkins said the biggest issue was abandoned structures and that currently the County can't do anything about it. He said the language in the Agenda regarding how to address nuisances seemed to be a little loose. Gregory commented that state code does have provisions to allow addressing of certain things by counties but that cities and towns tend to have more power because of different rules. He also said spot blight and public nuisances are handled differently.

Jenkins asked if a property resembled a landfill, could it be considered a threat to health and Gregory responded that it potentially could. Jenkins said he spoke to Chief Moody and that, with his fire marshal, he can deem a home unsafe but there is currently no timeline for enforcement with the home owner. Gregory cautioned that a specific timeline may prove difficult as every case is different and the County wants to be sensitive to the property owner's situation. He referenced an issue in the past with a property in Fairview Beach being long and involved but that it was eventually resolved. Brabo said she was happy to have a Board willing to address the issue of blight. She said an ordinance wouldn't mean a quick fix but it would be just another tool in the toolbox that the County can use. The general consensus from the Board was to have Gregory create a draft ordinance.

Neiman Young, County Administrator, said in his report that the Fire and Rescue Department would be hosting a disaster preparedness training session on April 9, 2018 and asked the Board for their availability to attend. He asked the same question regarding the 98th Civil Affairs Battalion's parachute landing at Fort A. P. Hill on April 13, 2018.

The Board then went into Closed Session with Robin Tenney, Smoot Library Director, and others at 8:49 pm. Tenney and the rest would leave at 9:42 pm while the Board wouldn't return from Closed Session until 10:27 pm. The meeting adjourned at 10:28 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)

Absent:

John Jenkins participated via phone until his arrival in-person at 8:02 pm.

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:

The Board of Supervisors will next meet on March 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:

Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.

2018-02-20 - Service Authority Meeting Notes

The February 20, 2018 meeting of the Service Authority Board of Directors began on time at 6:30pm. It would be a very short meeting.

With no public comment, the Agenda moved to reports from the Board. Only Chris Werle, Chairman, had a report. He met with the General Manager, Chris Thomas, and Mike Bennett, fellow Board member, for several days to review the expenditure data for the upcoming 2018/2019 budget. The highlight of his report was that the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) announced the funding of Phase I of a grant to make repairs in Fairview Beach. The Fairview Beach Riverbank Stabilization Project was awarded $230,193 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as $61,384 in state funding. With the total cost of the project slated to be about $307,000, the funding from FEMA would cover 75% and the state another 20% of the total price tag. Werle stated there was a hope that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) would cover the remaining 5% of costs but said other local opportunities for funding are also being explored. Werle then cautioned that while this was certainly promising news, this was only Phase I, the engineering study, and not a guarantee that any repairs would be made after the study was complete.

Bennett then added a few comments stating that as a resident of Fairview Beach, "we're happy and excited" and that even though it's only Phase I, "we can't get to Phase II without getting to Phase I first." He also said the Army Corps of Engineers program that would study the same issue would only cover 65% of the funds so the funding from FEMA was a better deal. Bennett also thanked Ruby Brabo for her leadership in getting the grant as well as Werle for his efforts in writing the grant. Bennett then said the FEMA study would look at storm water runoff while the Army study would not, so again, this was a better deal for the County. Clarity was also provided as to why the sewer line was placed between the road and the beach and it was because when it was installed, there was 30 to 40 feet of river bank there.

Dr. Young, County Administrator, added that they should know by the end of February if VDOT was willing to contribute to the project.

The Consent Agenda was passed without comment.

The General Manager, Chris Thomas, then gave his report. He reminded everyone that the first budget work session would be held on February 27, 2018 at 6:30pm at Company 1. He said he was asked to give an overview of the Service Authority and the facilities at this meeting but he would also present preliminary budget expenses. He also gave an update on the Dahlgren treatment plant and the final cost of the stone that was needed to complete the project. There was some technical difficulties in the Board Room making things hard to hear but it sounded like roughly $149,000 was left to be paid. He also gave an update on service connections, both residential and commercial, in the County.

And with that, the meeting adjourned at 6:43pm.

Meeting Attendees:

Christopher Werle (Chairman, Board of Directors)

Christopher Thomas (General Manager of Service Authority)

Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)

Michael Bennett (Citizen)

Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)

Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)

Neiman Young (County Administrator)

Eric Gregory (County Attorney)

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:

The Service Authority will next meet on March 7 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:

Read about the previous Service Authority Meeting.

2018-02-15 - Property Sale and Board of Equalization Public Notices

OPINION - Citizen Budget Advisory Committee - Part 2

Once again, attending a budget meeting has proved incredibly educational. Just as the first meeting of the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee helped me understand the County's budget as a whole, the second meeting on February 13, 2018 helped me understand some of the finer details of how not only the budget process works, but also some of the mindset of the Board of Supervisors.

At this meeting, the main focus was Outside Agencies and how much money they would be allocated from the County. This is just a fancy way of saying how much money the County is going to give to groups outside of the County. According to Ruby Brabo, there was a big shift about two years ago to not fund any, or at least very few, of the agencies seeking funding from the County. Prior to that, it sounded like the previous Boards would approve many requests. Maybe even all of them. From my point of view, it looks like the current Board will continue the new way of thinking by not funding any agency unless it is required. And as with any rule, there will be a small number of exceptions.

Even before we got into the meeting, I had questions. Having spent years in the accounting and tax industry, I know my way around a tax form and love to dabble in spreadsheets. So when I was emailed a list of the agencies that were funded in the past, or had asked for funding in the past, I went on the hunt for more information about them. As with any charitable organization, their tax forms (IRS Form 990) are public information and are easily found online. Deciphering those tax forms can be a little more complicated but if you know what you're looking for, you can find out how charitable an organization really is. As an example, but without falling into a deep, deep rabbit hole, some organizations spend an incredibly large amount of their money on director's salaries instead of spending on their charitable mission. In other words, if you give a charity $100 and they spend $95 of it to pay for their Chairman, well, they really aren't that charitable.

I heartily went down that deep, deep rabbit hole and researched each organization as best as I could. I tallied up their income, their expenses, and began comparing them to each other. I shared my findings and quickly learned that thinking of these agencies as charities was my first mistake. I went and made an assumption about that list and sure enough, I made a mule of myself. But at least I was an educated mule. The agencies asking the County for money are not always charities. And the County doesn't always have a choice in who they give money to or how much money they give. Thankfully part of the meeting included a great break-down of how money was being spent in the past and what it would look like for the future.

So thinking of about every agency as a charity was my first mistake. Not realizing that the County was required to pay certain agencies was my next mistake. I wasn't aware of this before being part of the Committee but I now have a better understanding of how things work. Due to various State or regional requirements, the County is required to pay into certain coffers. Rappahannock Community College (RCC) is required by the state to be funded because it is the designated community college for King George County. However, we're also served by Germanna Community College. But the County isn't required to fund it. Speaking of RCC, even though we are required to pay them money, they sent their Vice President out to give us a report on how much they wanted and why they wanted that amount.

Other agencies we participate in by choice, but this is because it is providing a service at a greatly reduced cost when compared to shouldering the burden alone. For example the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance. We aren't required to participate but doing everything on our own would cost too much. In other words, it's simply a cost sharing, and thus a cost saving, plan.

The County's shift to not spend my tax dollars on a charity, or several charities, is admirable but painful. Hearing a passionate but blunt plea from Legal Aid Works for funds hurt when I knew the Board wouldn't fund them. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't financially responsible to fund every group that asks for money. Even more so when I realized that was my money they would be giving away. And in the end, I had to agree with the Board. It really should be left up to me, the individual, when and where I give my money away. Having done the research on the various charities, I know which ones are operating more charitably than others. Not to say they don't do good work and contribute to those in need, but personally, there were other charities I would have put in front of Legal Aid Works based solely on their tax forms. So not giving money to those in need, regardless of how well they run their charity, still hurts, but that's the policy the Board has adopted.

Regarding the long list of those asking for money, County Administrator Neiman Young said he and his staff have not removed or censored anyone from the list before the Board reviews it. In other words, the decision to fund or not fund lies solely on the shoulders of the Board. I think this is a great policy because not only can the Board speak for, or against, a specific agency but they can also have the opportunity to research them to see which ones are more charitable or which ones have a better return on their investment.


In the end, the Board seemed to be in agreement that the County would only fund those agencies that it is required to with the exception of three Outside Agencies that are optionally funded; disAbility Resource Center, Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, and Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter.

One final note about the Outside Agencies before moving on. For many of these agencies and groups, we have a Board member that sits on the Board of the agency that gets County funds. Essentially, this ensures King George County gets a seat at the table in not only making overall decisions to their mission but also keeping an eye on the financials of the agency. Even though each group has a different formula for determining how much each contributing county needs to pay into the group pot, we have representation and none of the amounts each group asks for should be a surprise.

While the Board stuck to a fiscally responsible path, the proverbial bad news came when Dr. Young presented his short list of funds that he wanted for County programs. Just like before, some of the programs are mandatory, like health insurance, the regional jail, and the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). His optional programs did generate some discussion. Dr. Young asked for a handful of new County employee positions to be funded and another handful of positions to be converted from Part-Time to Full-Time. Generally speaking, once the discussions were hashed out, everyone seemed to agree that they were necessary to help the County meet the existing and future work load. He also clarified that none of the positions were those being back-filled and they were all either new positions or an effort to retain existing staff.

The Board has also reviewed various County departments in the past, going through their budget line by line. Last year, the Community Development Department, the Smoot Library, and the Fire and Rescue Department were reviewed. This year, the Administration of the Board, General Properties, and Treasurer's Office will be reviewed at a future meeting.

We closed with another short presentation by Ryan Gandy, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. As with the past meeting, we reviewed the County's Mission Statement and took another look at the proposed Vision Statement. In the end, it was decided to go with "A vibrant and connected community that fosters diverse economic development with a visionary growth while honoring its rural landscape." I know it seems like just a bunch of fancy words on paper but it will be the guiding words behind the Board and the County as we move into the future.

In the end, it was yet another well-spent portion of my time. I learned a lot about how the County spends money and what it spends it on. Our next meeting will be on February 28, 2018 at 6:30pm in the Board Room and we'll hear from Davenport as well as hear more about potential equalization.

2018-02-15 - King George County Schools Public Notice

2018-02-06 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

The February 6, 2018 Board of Supervisor's meeting began at 7:17pm with comments from Kim Dodge, a resident of Hopyard. She said she was back again because she appreciates whoever calculated the equalization rates but she said she wasn't sure if that rate included the residential assessments or if it included retail as well. She said that some people are mentioning that they don't mind if tax rates could go in another direction, presumably meaning up, and she wanted to speak on behalf of those that don't come to the meetings that "yes, we do mind." She said it took her three months to find a home and she picked Hopyard because everything was new. Dodge said she was upset to learn that Hopyard had the newest water system and the internet, which was great, but worried that this meant she and the other residents of Hopyard may need to help build up the County. She said the Service Authority is old and needs to be replaced and finds it frustrating that not everyone in the County has internet.

The Board reports began with John Jenkins thanking Mrs. Dodge for her comments and stated that the process of equalization was still in the discussion phase. He said that on January 15, 2018 he attended GWRC (George Washington Regional Commission) and FAMPO (Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) meetings.

Jeff Bueche went next and thanked Dodge as well for her comments. He encouraged her and her neighbors to attend the budget work sessions and that public comment was welcome there. He said there is a big debt issue and the County may finally be at a point where it can be addressed. Bueche said he attended a Northern Neck Tourism Commission on January 29 as well as a meeting of Potomac Landing residents. He thanked everyone that came to his Town Hall on February 3 and that the discussions were insightful. He said he hears the customers and was optimistic that Michael Bennett, his appointment to the Service Authority Board of Directors, would provide a positive impact. He then made a motion to nominate Christina Buck to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee. The nomination was approved.

Ruby Brabo gave a lengthy summary that included a large number of updates, learnings, and quotes. The FAAR (Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors) event she attended on January 25 showed that there was a lack of home inventory listed below $400,000 in the County and that the average home value was $293,000. She also noted that three homes there were nearly sold in King George had their contracts pulled because of a lack of high speed internet. She also said that she's continuing to work with a group of local leaders to determine why the chem/bio lab in Dahlgren is being moved to Indian Head. Brabo said she exchanged several emails with those involved but has yet to find proof that a feasibility study was done to prove why there was a need to move the department. She said the move has a huge financial impact on the region, not just King George.

Cathy Binder's report was brief and included a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) event where she enjoyed seeing students get excited about STEM. She also attended a VDOT briefing on the Route 301/207 corridor and went to Jeff Bueche's Town Hall on February 3. She ended with today's event, January 6, at the King George Middle School where she participated in Career Day and enjoyed talking to young adults about what they're interested in.

Richard Granger thanked Kim Dodge as well for her comments. He re-iterated that it was still early in the process. Granger said the water systems are under the purview of the Service Authority and, while three of the Supervisors do sit on that Board, she might be better served by making comments to the Service Authority Board of Directors. He then directed a comment to Brabo that it was interesting to hear about the real estate market in King George and that when he last checked, only 89 homes were for sale in the County. Granger then said he attended a Bay Consortium Workforce Development meeting on January 24 and the budget work session on January 31.

The Consent Agenda was passed without comment.

County Attorney, Eric Gregory, stated that Aqua Virginia sent a letter regarding their upcoming Public Hearing on April 4, 2018 at 4pm at the Ladysmith Community Center Gymnasium in Ruther Glen. He said that while Aqua Virginia does not serve a large number of residents in King George, they do serve a lot of households in Caroline County. Gregory said Aqua is trying to raise their rates and that Caroline officials have been working to stop the increase. He said that all Aqua customers, including those living in Presidential Lakes in King George, would receive a notice about the meeting in the mail.

The Board then heard from Waste Management. Angelique Ferra was filling in for David Howard, Senior District Manager, who was absent due to a family emergency. She said the final tonnage for 2017 was 1,694,701 tons. She added that Cell 16A has been completed and is accepting trash while the earth work has been completed for Cell 16B and a liner should arrive this week. She also said that 30 wells are being laid out and the permit for the vertical expansion has been received for final approval.

Brabo requested that she pass along to David Howard that the Board would like his opinions on how to prolong the life of a landfill. She said some areas are using composting programs or thrift shops to generate revenue while reducing the long-term environmental impact.

Next to present was Kim McClellan and Chip Taylor of the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR). The presentation noted that between 2007 and 2015, the population in King George County has grown 15% and has about 8,300 households. While the median income for homeowners is relatively high at about $93,000, the median income for renters is much lower at less than $57,000. She cited Dahlgren as being a big influence. McClellan said over 60% of homes in King George were built before 1980. She said 2017 saw about $102 million in sales where the average price for a detached home was $299,816. She added that the average home spent only 74 days on the market.

(c) 2018 Kim McClellan, used with permission

Chip Taylor then added a few more details stating that the current demand for rental properties was at or under the $1,250 a month range and that there were only four homes currently listed in the under-$250,000 sweet spot. He said new homes on the market start at $330,000 and only go up from there. While Granger had previously mentioned there were 89 homes on the market, Taylor said there were currently 67 homes for sale in King George. He said that while he isn't necessarily advocating one way or the other for town homes or apartments, there is clearly a need. He said only eight homes are available for rent at less than $1,200 a month in the County. McClellan closed by stating FAAR was happy to help if the Board had any real estate needs.


Brabo commented that town homes unfortunately do bring extra traffic and density. Taylor agreed and added that apartments often have a negative stigma attached to them but the key is really the management of the rentals. He said that sometimes we lose sight of the people that want to be here because we don't have options for them so instead they go elsewhere to live. He concluded that a large force behind King George's growth has been Southern Maryland, saying things are much cheaper and easier here than they are across the river.

Granger had a small question about the 15 year study and McClellan said it was based on a George Washington University population growth study.

Marcie Parker from VDOT was next to present to the Board. She said she was there to ask the Board for their action on three items. Before getting to each request, she gave a brief review of the upcoming Route 301 Harry Nice Bridge replacement over the Potomac River. She said the bridge carries about 20,000 cars a day for a total of 6.6 million vehicles a year. She said Maryland MDTA is using a design-build process and that if the bid is low enough, they would use the larger structure that gives bikes and pedestrians a separated space to travel. Otherwise the smaller option would be used where cyclists would need to share the road with vehicular traffic. She did clarify that regardless of which design was used, bicycles would be allowed on the new bridge.

Parker then got to her first request regarding a noise abatement wall. She said that installing one would reduce the decibel levels by about 6 decibels but would obscure the view of the Wayside Park and make patrolling the area more difficult for law enforcement. She also commented that the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has already asked for no noise wall around the Dahlgren Heritage Museum (DHM) as they felt it would prevent drivers from knowing it was even there [EDITOR'S NOTE: Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is an employee of the Dahlgren Heritage Museum]. The Board spoke back and forth in low tones and seemed to be on the verge of making a decision for no noise wall when Neiman Young, County Administrator, asked how soon a decision was needed. Parker stated that the new NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) application is due in March and would like a decision tonight. The County Attorney then stated he would rather advise his clients in closed session and that a letter would be acceptable by VDOT and a vote wasn't required. Brabo looked confused and said that in order for a letter to be sent, a vote would need to be taken, which would require an official meeting. Jenkins then chimed in that, since the impacted area was in his district, he wouldn't mind asking citizens for their input via social media. The decision was deferred until the next Board meeting.

Parker then went to her second request, which was for the Board to agree that some of the changes to the land exchanges were minor, or "de minimis." She said that in meeting with VTC and DHM, it was agreed that everyone wanted to preserve the Museum building. This would result in a decrease in the land needed in some areas and an increase in other areas. Parker said that this decision would need a letter from the Board. The Board was upfront in their agreement that they needed more time before deciding. Parker did note that delaying the decision would mean a new Section 4(f) study would be necessary which could in turn delay the project. She did clarify that she wasn't trying to influence the Board's decision but was just informing them as the land owner. Again the County Attorney chimed in with some legal counsel and again the decision was deferred to the next meeting.

Parker's last request was regarding the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between VDOT, MDTA, VTC, the County, and others. The request was to sign a new MOA that had changes in the language regarding who would pick the replacement property and how much would be exchanged for the replacement. Regarding the latter, instead of a 2:1 replacement ratio, she said the Federal Code states it must be of an equal value and usefulness. Granger asked if the Federal regulations had changed or if the original MOA used the wrong language. It was unclear but Parker did say that if the Code did change after the MOA was signed, the MOA would be grandfathered in. Bueche asked about the equal value portion of the Federal Code and the County Attorney said he would need to research the regulations to get more information. As there were still outstanding questions, the Board again deferred making a decision until the next meeting.

Parker concluded her presentation by commenting that VDOT would soon be applying for Wetlands Impact permits from the County. Granger apologized for not having any finite answers for her.

Next on the Agenda was a list of Action Items starting with the Tourism Advisory Committee applications. Saundra Pearson and Annie Cupka spoke to the Board regarding the five applications for funding the Tourism Advisory Committee received. The request from the Fall Festival Committee raised questions from Brabo asking if it was an additional $4,000 requested or an amount that was already approved. Pearson said the Board had already approved about $11,000 for the Fall Festival and this was an additional $4,000 on top of that. There was some confusion as to what was said during the original presentation and approval for the $11,000 and Brabo requested that the decision be tabled until the minutes could be reviewed from the meeting. Binder also asked that members of the Fall Festival Committee attend the next meeting to help everyone get on the same page. She said she had heard some conflicting stories regarding the funds for the festival.

The Girl Scout Project for the sign at Lambs Creek Church also raised questions with Brabo regarding the amount shown on the receipt from the supplier versus what was being requested by the Scout. Brabo said the receipt looked like the final bill for the project was $500 and wanted to fund half of that to ensure that the Scout raised funds as part of the project just as an Eagle Scout would. Some on the Board seemed to think the receipt said the sign would cost $1,000 and the Scout was only asking for half of that amount. Because of the confusion, it was requested that this project's approval also be tabled until clarity could be found.

The other applications for the Belle Grove Spirits event, King George County Museum sign, and last year's Little League Tournament were approved.

Pearson and Cupka stayed at the podium to introduce their next item, the proposed changes to the Tourism Advisory Committee Charter. The changes were largely to the categories represented on the Committee and Brabo said she was not a fan of seeing the Chamber of Commerce removed from the list. She also said she wanted to see lodging split separately and thought restaurants should be included in the hospitality category. Binder also asked about the removal of museums on the list and felt it would be less inclusive of historical entities. Pearson said their goal was to be more inclusive and that the Chamber of Commerce was replaced because of their lack of involvement. She did note that the Chamber has recently begun attending meetings again and was hopeful they would continue. Cupka also added that the Committee felt that museum was too narrow of a category. The Board approved the changes but with their recommendations to add back the Chamber of Commerce, split out Lodging, and add Restaurants.

Jamie Carter, Deputy Director in the Finance Department and Procurement Manager, then made a short presentation on the request to purchase a new ambulance and fire engine. She noted that both were already in the budget but their costs did come in under the projected amounts. It was approved as presented in the Agenda.

The County Administrator then asked for authorization to advertise the sale of the Passapatanzy Voting Office. He said the building was no longer in use and voting now occurred at Sealston Elementary School. It was approved as presented in the Agenda. He then said the Board of Equalization members had been finalized and that their training would begin soon with hearing dates posted shortly after. His final update was that he had previously mentioned a grant being awarded to the Angelwood Marshall Homes Project but he had neglected to ask for the Board to accept the grant and is doing so now. The Board approved and shortly thereafter went into Closed Session at 8:55pm.

The Board returned from Closed Session at 9:31pm and adjourned the meeting one minute later.

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 February 20, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:

Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.

2018-02-06 - Service Authority Meeting Notes

The February 6, 2018 meeting of the Service Authority Board of Directors was highlighted by emotional comments from the public and Chris Werle, Chairman of the Board.

The meeting opened at 6:31pm with public comment from Kym Shymansky of Rosedale Drive. She said she was here with her family to comment on recent developments at their Rosedale Drive property. Shymansky said she had information from two different sources that a bathroom was used in the building as late as 2013, before they purchased the property. They hired a local contractor to excavate part of their property to follow the original copper pipe where they found the end of the pipe was cut just inches from the tap. She said Chris Thomas, General Manager, and another Service Authority employee came out and accused the owners of putting the pipe there. She said two videos of the encounter can be found on YouTube.

Shymansky said the Service Authority continues to accuse them that they, the owners, installed the pipe. She also referenced a letter from Howard Yarus where he states that he had knowledge of a working bathroom in the original building. She said that the previous owners, the King George County Board of Supervisors, were a paying customer. Shymansky said they should be entitled to the same water connection that was previously present. "Have you not put our family through enough already?" she asked. She offered one quick side-note that the connection would take just minutes to complete, then handed the Board a stack of photos from the excavation.

Next to speak was Deborah Shymansky, also of Rosedale Drive, and mother-in-law to Kym Shymansky. She said she and her husband are residents of the property being discussed. She said that her husband, seated behind her, has Stage 4 COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and the building was purchased in an effort to make his trips to the doctor easier. Shymansky said that maybe they were wrong in making the assumption that if a bathroom was present that running water was also present. She said the Board of Supervisors owned the building for nearly 50 years and they should have been aware of any issues with the property before selling it to her son and daughter-in-law. She said that after digging up the yard, they discovered that a connection was present in the past and they should be entitled to that same connection and shouldn't have to pay the roughly $15,000 impact fee because they only made a few renovations inside. In closing, she said they feel trapped until a connection is made and is asking for the Board's help in making that connection.

The Board of Directors then made their reports, starting with the newest member, Michael Bennett. He had a brief laugh at himself as he struggled to turn on the microphone. Bennett thanked Jeff Bueche for appointing him to the Board. He said he was a retired attorney and while he used to be a "weekender," he is now a full-time resident of Fairview Beach for the last ten years. He said his wife has had a home in King George for the last 30 years. Bennett is also the current President of the Fairview Beach Residents Association and a member of the King George YMCA Board. He said he has worked closely with many of the officials in the County in the past and looks forward to working with them in the future.

Bennett then gave his update from the the recent Town Hall hosted by Jeff Bueche on February 3, 2018. He said four hours is a long Town Hall but it shows the level of interest that residents have. He appreciated those that came out to attend the meeting and said his neighbors and friends were concerned about the debt as well as the water quality issues. Echoing some of what he said at the Town Hall, he said he sees the issue as complex and systemic and that a better job needs to be done at figuring out what is wrong. He said that some new pipe was laid in the recent upgrades but that there is still older pipe in the ground. Bennett said that even though he has a tank-less water heater and a new line from the meter to his house, he still experiences dirty water just like his neighbors. He closed by saying he wants to work with residents in collecting data to determine the source of the issue.

Richard Granger had no report.

Ruby Brabo began her report by mentioning the Town Hall and said nobody expected it to last as long as it did. She said she had a prior commitment and had to leave early but otherwise would have stayed for the duration. She hopes there are ways to tackle the problem. Brabo welcomed Bennett to the Board and is excited to see the Board transition to a customer-populated Board, taking the politics out of it. She closed by echoing her plea from the Town Hall for citizens to contact their local representatives, specifically Senator McDougle, Senator Stuart, and Delegate Ransone, to ask for their to support in the pending legislation allowing localities to increase their meals tax to 8%. She said the general feeling from the Board is that if the bill were to pass, the Board would support the additional income from the 4% raise to be directed to the Service Authority debt.

Cathy Binder reported that she was also present at the Town Hall and that it was great to listen to other residents voicing their concerns over their water issues.

Chris Werle then gave his report by stating he, Chris Thomas (General Manager), and Annie Cupka (King George County Grant Writer), toured the trailer park on January 25, 2018 in Fairview Beach. They toured the area with the Tri-County Soil and Water Conservation District to look at data for a potential DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) grant. Werle said that they participated in a conference call on January 29, regarding the potential 319 Grant (Section 319 NonPoint Source Pollution Management Grant). He said that unfortunately, because the trailer park was privately owned, the owner would need to pay half of the cost-share and at this time the owner was not willing or able to pay. Therefore they would no longer pursue the grant but he hopes to find other solutions. Werle also attended the Town Hall on February 3, where several Service Authority customers voiced concern over quality of water issues over the span of several years. He said determining the source has been elusive and that system upgrades have only slightly improved water quality. Werle said they do plan to increase the frequency of flushing in the system from twice a year to four times a year. He said they may be able to neutralize the iron and manganese in the water but that may in turn create a problem by increasing the phosphorus in the discharge. He cautioned that it needed to be carefully studied to ensure additional problems aren't created. He also said that the long-term goal was to replace the lines in all of Fairview Beach and that the aging infrastructure is an issue across the system as a whole. He said the Utilities Master Plan should help determine when and where to invest in replacements, repairs, and new infrastructure. Werle said grants may be available but realistically, it will require more money to be borrowed, which then leaves the question of if rates increase for just the customers or all residents as a whole.

Werle then addressed Kym and Deborah Shymansky and their comments by saying the Board has discussed the issue as a whole and he saw nothing new that would change their decision. Currently, he said, the decision rests with the Community Development Office. He said he was present on March 21, 2017 when the area was excavated and that no copper line was present.

This is where the meeting deviated from normal procedures. Typically public comment is a one-way communication path from the public to the Board of Directors. The Board comments are also typically one-way from the Board to the public. There is typically no two-way discussion between the two parties. This same policy is in place for meetings of the School Board and Board of Supervisors.

Werle's comment about the prior excavation showing no pipe prompted the Shymansky family to speak up from their seats that the line was present. Werle tried to intervene by saying "you need to stop" but the family continued to speak up and said the pipe was there before them. Werle and the family continued to argue back and forth for a few minutes with the exchanges overlapping each other and voices being raised. At one point Werle stated that "someone put the pipe there" upsetting the family further and causing them to question how that was possible when the line went under the foundation of the house. They said neither they nor their neighbors saw any excavation take place. Despite the palpable tension in the room, the raised voices on both sides, and a few colorful adjectives thrown into the argument, the Sheriff's Deputy present in the Board Room never felt the need to interject himself into the discussion.

Werle eventually stopped speaking to the family and asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which was passed. The Shymansky family was still expressing their anger as they left the Board Room. During their departure, the County Attorney said he had no report.

With the tension in the room dissipating, the next item was an update on the Canterbury Estates water system. Chris Thomas read through an extensive list of repairs, replacements, and improvements that have been completed since July 2017 as well as a list of things planned for the future. The list Thomas read was nearly identical to the list Werle posted to his Facebook page on January 27, 2018. He finished by stating that he had a high confidence level that when everything was done, all the issues would be resolved. Thomas also said that while the amount of repairs being completed seems like a lot but the cost should not be too bad and gave a rough guess of about $20,000 just for parts. Brabo asked about overtime and who was making the repairs and Thomas said that some overtime was being accumulated but most of the repairs were being made during normal business hours by Service Authority employees and a few repairs were made by third-party contractors.

Chris Thomas then went into his General Manager's report by commenting on the emergency repair of the Dahlgren Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) equalization basin liner that he brought to the Board in August 2017. He said there was discussion at the time to not use stone unless needed and that it turned out it was needed so the final cost would be larger than expected but it would still be less than the original bid. He said he would have the final cost at the next Board meeting.

Werle then set the first budget work session for February 27, 2018 at 6:30pm with a location to be determined but most likely it would be held at Company 1.

There was no Closed Session and the meeting adjourned at 7:11pm.

Meeting Attendees:
Christopher Werle (Chairman, Board of Directors)
Christopher Thomas (General Manager of Service Authority)
Michael Bennett (Citizen)
Richard Granger (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 Service Authority will next meet on February 20, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.

Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Service Authority Meeting.