by Neil Richard
The King George County Board of Supervisors began their last meeting of the month at 7:35pm. There was an amendment to the Agenda to include an update from the Landfill Advisory Committee.
Public Comment opened with an update from McKenna Mollner and her fellow 4-H members Erin Baker and Emily Burkholder. They wanted to let the Board know they were working on fundraisers so they could attend the National 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Competition. Ms. Mollner said their fundraisers included selling hand drawn wildflower greeting cards, baked goods, and a booth at the July 7th Farmers Market.
Ruby Brabo then began to read into the record a public comment then realized it was for the Public Hearing on the nuisance ordinance later in the evening.
Richard Granger then read into the record a public comment from Carole Werle. She said there was a "new vocabulary" of waivers, incentives, and grants and that there was a new bully in the neighborhood. She said the Economic Development Authority (EDA) was demanding grants or waivers and that the EDA was funded by bonds and the industrial park. She said the EDA was still one million dollars in debt. Mrs. Werle said there was so much misdirection and that all the trash that makes the newspapers hurts the County. Her comments continued with some apparent misdoings of the EDA, the Tourism Advisory Committee, and the County.
John Jenkins began the Board reports by thanking the young ladies from 4-H for coming out and congratulating them. He then seemed a bit bewildered and said he was still trying to digest the public comment that Granger had just read. Jenkins said he attended the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) dinner on the 11th and a GWRC meeting on the 18th. He said the meeting on the 18th resulted in the approval of the Smart Scale projects and a slate of officers that included Ruby Brabo as Vice President. He said Congressman Rob Wittman spoke at the end of the evening and that most of his comments centered on broadband access in rural areas. Jenkins said Wittman gave King George a shout-out for making things happen. Wittman also discussed public-private partnerships (P3) as a method of supplying broadband to rural areas and the need to update coverage maps.
Jeff Bueche began his report by congratulating the 4-H ladies and for bringing positive news to King George County. On June 7th, Bueche said he hosted a Town Hall where the small crowd allowed for a more intimate conversation. He said he also attended the GWRC dinner on the 11th and, as a new Board member, learned a lot. On the 12th, he attended the Budget Work Session. He said he expected a two year budget but instead saw a three year budget and was very thankful to Dr. Neiman Young and his staff for putting it together. He felt like the right team was in place to look at things going forward. On the 16th he attended the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) sign unveiling at the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT). He said this new designation makes King George a part of over 800 miles of trails and thanked the Friends of DRHT for maintaining the trail "at no cost to taxpayers" [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]. On the 18th Bueche said he attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting and that it was great to see all the small business owners and a very motivated Chamber President, Don Smith. On the 19th, he met with a committee working towards bringing a barbecue festival to the County for the Fall Festival. Bueche finished his report by stating that he was personally caught in traffic along Route 301 (James Madison Parkway) due to the tree trimming work. He sent an email to VDOT and received word back promptly that the contractor would limit their work between 9am and 3pm during the week and would be authorized to work on Saturdays as well.
Ruby Brabo read her report next. On June 8th she attended the Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee where she participated in a round table discussion. She said the majority of elected officials were not in office when watershed plans were put into place. On the 11th she attended the same GWRC dinner as the others. On the 12th she attended the Budget Work Session and noted that it was the first time King George has ever had a multi-year budget. She also thanked Dr. Young and his staff for all their hard work and effort. She said that while the state does not allow a multi-year budget to be adopted, the work session did allow for better planning for the future. On the 16th she attended the DRHT sign unveiling. She said it was a wonderful day and thanked Jenkins and Granger who were part of passing the resolution in support of the trail becoming a part of the PHNST. Brabo said that prior to the resolution, King George County had been skipped. She also noted that the DRHT had the honor of becoming a National Recreation Trail and she had the honor of getting poison ivy while helping put up the new sign. On the 19th she attended the COMREL meeting and noted that Dr. Young was invited to participate in their upcoming exercises on base. She noted that while the Dahlgren base has back-up generators "to keep operations flowing, there are no accommodations for the families in the housing areas." She said that in the event of a power outage, the base would need to rely on the County for assistance.
Brabo then nominated Candice Phillips to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and it was approved. Brabo said she was excited to appoint young adults from the community to these advisory boards as it adds a unique perspective and input. Brabo then reminded the rest of the Board that the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Summit would be in Fredericksburg this year and recommended they choose a committee to serve on.
Cathy Binder was next to report and also congratulated the 4-H ladies. Binder said on the 11th she attended the GWRC dinner and it was great to hear the issues related to environmental impacts to localities. On June 12th she attended the Budget Work Session. On the 16th she also attended the DRHT presentation and noted that she took a tour the week prior with Jim Lynch. She said she didn't realize how much was there for everyone to use. Binder noted that as a member of the King George Historical Society as well as a member of the Smoot Library Board of Trustees, she has been trying to work with the Historical Society to have a larger footprint at the library. Her thought was to allow more people to see what the Historical Society has to offer and that it was important to understand our history. Binder then nominated Dylan Teaford to the Economic Development Authority. He was approved. Binder said she felt he was a good fit based on his previous involvement with the king George DECA group.
Richard Granger began his report by congratulating the 4-H ladies and wishing them luck at the national level. He said he attended the GWRC dinner on the 11th and the Budget Work Session on the 12th. Granger said he thought of the multi-year budget as more of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in that it was a planning document that wasn't set in stone. On the 14th he attended the Military Affairs Council meeting where the Dahlgren representative noted that the runway on base had been declassified, or decommissioned, which opened up acreage for future development.
With Granger being done, Brabo added a point she had forgotten about in her report. She said she received word from a resident that had an issue with a neighbor that planted bamboo near the property line. Because bamboo is an invasive species, he was concerned that the County did not have an ordinance that covered this topic even though state law allows for one. Brabo recommended, and the rest of the Board agreed, to send the subject to the Planning Commission for consideration.
The Consent Agenda was approved.
The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.
Tim Hatch, Vice Chair of the Landfill Advisory Committee, then updated the Supervisors on their quest to have a full, five member Committee. Hatch said the Chair resigned in April and that there has been a need for a representative from the Shiloh District since May of 2017. He also said he just learned that the representative from the James Madison District will resign in August. He said he knows of at least one citizen willing to serve that has yet to be appointed. Hatch said the Committee can't elect officers because the By-Laws require five officers. He asked the Supervisors to help in filling the vacancies. On a more positive note, Hatch said the Committee is making progress on the litter issues in the County by looking into the formation of a Keep America Beautiful chapter as well as a litter crew from the Rappahannock Regional Jail. Hatch mentioned a scholarship that was available to attend Virginia Tech for a week but while there was some interest online, nobody from King George applied. He finished his report by saying the Committee was looking into a location for a Dahlgren Convenience Center and hope to have a final recommendation in the future.
Brabo said that Westmoreland County has signs related to keeping the County beautiful and that something similar may benefit King George. She also suggested asking the Sheriff's Office if there was a way to assess fines for littering. Brabo said Cathy Binder, the Supervisor for Shiloh District, is actively looking for a citizen to serve on the Landfill Committee and had found one but they backed out. Brabo said that if Binder, or Granger, are unable to find a citizen that lives in their district to serve, they are allowed to appoint someone from outside of their district. Brabo finished her comment by saying that Binder could appoint someone tonight if she wished but it was up to her and that the Shiloh District appeared to be the most difficult district to fill vacancies for. Based on the vacancies listed in the Agenda, Shiloh, James Madison, and Dahlgren all have two vacancies while the At-Large District vacancy was filled earlier in the meeting.
The first of two Public Hearings then began. First on the docket was the proposed amendment to the open burning ordinance. Chief Moody gave a brief summary of the amendment that states open burning is not to be allowed within 1,000 feet of a school building during school hours as well as prohibits burning a structure without getting prior written approval.
Binder said she has been present at Potomac Elementary School when students have had to go inside due to asthma attacks. Jenkins said he supported the amendment because anytime a kid can't go outside for recess because of this type of issue is tragic. The amendment was approved without any public comment.
The next Public Hearing was regarding the amendment to County Code related to the issue of nuisance and unsafe buildings and structures. Gregory, the County Attorney, said the topic had been presented and discussed at earlier Board meetings and that the current amendment had minor revisions to include trailers and other structures.
Jenkins asked how a citizen would make a complaint, assuming the amendment passed. Gregory said there were a number of avenues for a complaint to be made from the fire department to the County Development Office to the County Administration Office. He said there was no official process once the complaint was made. He said the property would be inspected and, if necessary, the code would be enforced.
Brabo then read into the record a letter from Mary Ann Dawes who said she had lived and worked in King George County for several years and is proud to call it home. Dawes said she lives in the same neighborhood as a nuisance property near Potomac Elementary School and was highly in favor of the new changes as it would help local government solve these types of problems.
The amendment to the Code was approved without further public comment.
Next on the Agenda was the debt mitigation presentation by Kyle Laux of Davenport and Associates. Along with his associate Griffin Moore, Mr. Laux gave an updated plan that gave more finite amounts now that the budget has been adopted. Giving a brief review, he said that the County is currently in a good financial position with solid cash-flow, strong reserves, and good credit. He said a debt reduction or mitigation plan would make the County's financial standing stronger. He showed the Supervisors the payment sheet that showed the County's current debt and that it would take until 2038 to pay it off, assuming no new debt was incurred. Laux said that by pulling money from various sources to pay off debt in large increments early, the County could save a large amount of money by avoiding interest. He said the money that was saved could then be put back into the County coffers or rolled back into paying down the debt.
Moore presented the planned source of the funds to pay the debt with the first being roughly $1 million coming from the surplus in the General Fund and the second being roughly $2 million coming form the Capital Improvement Fund. He said the third source would be the additional revenue generated by the real estate assessments which was estimated to be about $760,000 over the next four years. In addition to that, over the next four years there was another roughly $1 million that was estimated to be available just from good financial management in various department budgets. In other words, operating surpluses.
Brabo interrupted at this point stating that in previous conversations about the year-end surplus, the County has planned to use that money to cash-fund any necessary projects instead of borrowing money. She said that if the County uses the surplus to pay the debt then they have to borrow money to do something, it defeats the purpose. Laux agreed and said that the plan was designed to be flexible. He said the intent was not to take money away from cash-funding projects and that the debt reduction would be a priority level below cash-funding.
Moore continued his presentation by saying that the various sources of funds would result in about $3 million by the end of this year and about $4.76 million by 2022. He said the funds would be used in multiple phases to then pay down the debt. He then presented two scenarios for the County to consider. Both scenarios were based on the assumption that the debt payments would be made in FY2019, FY2021, and FY2023. The first scenario was the County just made payments on the debt while the second scenario was the County made payments on the debt but rolled the money it saved back into future payments on the debt.
Laux also suggested that the Board update the County's Financial Policy Guidelines to include the Debt Mitigation and Reduction Plan. He said this would make it difficult for future Boards to change, but not impossible. He also suggested the Board consider putting 25% of the year-end surplus into the debt reduction fund. Laux said the debt reduction issue was similar to a budget or Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in that it can always be amended before being adopted.
Brabo had reservations about committing to 25% of the surplus funds going into the debt reduction fund. She said the County has relied on the surplus to cash-fund capital projects and didn't want to be locked into specific language. She would rather adopt something with looser terms to allow the Board to cash-fund projects as needed and then use the remaining surplus into the debt fund.
Laux said the intent wasn't to hamstring the County but rather to develop a framework for a plan. He thought the language could be worked out but that a specific percentage would give the plan more teeth.
There was some confusion on the two different scenarios and what money was being reinvested. After some clarity was added by Laux and Dr. Young, the Board seemed to agree that the first scenario was the better choice.
Bueche added that the Board needed flexibility in this and wanted something that makes us focus on addressing the debt. He said he wanted to set a precedent for future boards to move forward with this.
Next on the Agenda was an Action Item to approve the acceptance of the Fairview Beach Stabilization Project Phase I Award. It was approved as was the appropriation of the same funds. Lavita Cobb, Procurement Manager, noted that while the total amount to be paid to Schnabel Engineering for the project was not to exceed $300,000, the County would be reimbursed with grant funds monthly.
Chief Moody and Chief Lynd from the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department and Sheriff Dempsey from the Sheriff's Office then gave a joint presentation. Chief Lynd stated that the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) was issuing the County just over $37,000 due to the January 2016 snowstorm. He was before the Board tonight to ask that $25,000 of that money be appropriated to a Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), also known as a drone program. He said about 1,000 agencies use drones, including the Stafford County Sheriff. He said many times they have called on Stafford to use their drone in King George. He also gave an example of a fire in the Dahlgren area where they were able to use Caroline County's drone to locate the source.
Granger asked if during those times of mutual aid if the agency also supplied the drone pilot. Lynd said yes, the pilot came with the drone. Granger asked how many times they've used drones from other agencies. Lynd said he's known of a couple in the last year. Granger asked about maintenance for the drone and Lynd said it was fairly simple. He said updates come via the app and the big issue was just keeping the batteries charged. Lynd said they have reached out to other localities to get their best practices. Granger asked about the cost for the pilot's license and Lynd said it was about $150.
Binder asked if enough staff would be available and Lynd said yes, they would have an operator available 24 hours a day. Later he would add that between the fire department and Sheriff's Office, they would have six to eight pilots. Brabo asked about the potential to use the drone to survey County property and wanted to clarify that it was only County owned property, not private property. Lynd said yes, that was keeping in line with the best practices from other agencies. Brabo asked about the base in Dahlgren and the potential for electromagnetic interference that could cause the drone to crash. She also asked if they were planning to buy just one drone. Lynd said there were two drones, one smaller one for training and daylight flights and a larger one with a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) camera for night flights.
Brabo said she knew Stafford used them to clear traffic accidents faster but felt further research and partnership was needed with the base in Dahlgren. She said she felt it would be a waste of money if they flew too close to the base and crashed. Bueche asked about the $37,000 reimbursement and Lynd said the money was coming regardless of approval or lack of for the drone program.
Dr. Young said he understood the concerns about how expensive it is but reminded the Board that this is a commercial grade drone with night vision. He said he has been working with Chief Moody and Chief Lynd to get into the mindset of being more prepared for emergency responses and to be self-sustaining rather than relying on mutual aid so much.
Bueche asked if the $25,000 they were asking for could be better used elsewhere within their budget to buy other equipment. In other words, asking if there was something more essential than the drone program. Moody and Lynd didn't feel there was and Sheriff Dempsey cited the recent search for a missing girl in the Pumpkin Neck area. To address Brabo's concerns, he said the drone did fly over Navy property and they only lost the signal and it returned safely. Dempsey also noted that as other agencies use their drones more and more, it becomes less available to King George to borrow them.
Bueche said that there are amateur radio operators in the County that are sometimes used in emergencies and wondered if something similar could be done with local drone operators. Brabo said that was a good idea but those drones would not have a FLIR camera. She said she supported the drone program but cautioned that more work needed to be done to partner with the base.
Dempsey said during the search for the girl, they did send a Detective to the base and they helped but did not give away any secrets about their programs. In other words, they gave no secret information on how they were able to stop the drone flying over Pumpkin Neck. Brabo said the base should be aware that a drone is being used but understands they may not disclose government information. Binder asked if the drone had some sort of signature that could be given to the Navy to help with any potential issues. Bueche said it sounded like a team wasn't in place yet and asked if they were at a point in the project where it needed to be approved tonight or if it could be tabled until later.
Chief Moody said that the dialogue with the base is certainly something that can be worked on and that the money for the drone program doesn't have to be spent tonight. He also said the prices for drones are dropping and there is no contract for a purchase. Bueche said he would like to see more structure before a decision. Jenkins said their next meeting wouldn't be until August and asked if that was enough time.
Moody said they have a great dialogue with the base but doesn't expect them to give away secrets. He said the sooner the drone can get on board, the better. He said there is already a waiting period for mutual aid with some agencies.
Jenkins said he'd rather vote now and get it out there based on the response time of other jurisdictions. Brabo said she just remembered the snake bite incident at Caledon where a hiker was stranded in the woods at dusk and didn't know what trail they were on. A drone would have helped in that scenario. She again reiterated her request to have a conversation with Dahlgren and said Moody should be prepared to give more details at the August 7th meeting.
Bueche asked if they approved the drone program tonight if it would be ready to respond by Fourth of July. Lynd said the equipment would be ready but the FAA waivers take from 30 to 60 days. Bueche asked if they needed the drone before getting the waivers and Lynd said yes, they need to be able to demonstrate that they can fly at night before getting the waivers. He also said the aircraft they would purchase is also used to inspect radio towers and power lines so it is designed to withstand strong magnetic interference.
Binder asked how long it took to get a license and Lynd said about a month. A motion was made and approved to grant the request with the caveat of presenting additional information at the August 7th Board meeting.
Annie Cupka, Grant Writer, then presented an update on the Commonwealth of Virginia DCJS Resource Officer Grant Award. She thanked Sheriff Dempsey, Dr. Benson, King George County Schools Superintendent, and VDOT for all their help in writing the grant. She said the grant will cover two-thirds of the School Resource Officer's (SRO) salary and the position would begin this upcoming school year. She said that because of how only two schools were prioritized by the Board of Supervisors, only those two schools were eligible for the grant. And with only being awarded one grant, Potomac Elementary School would be the school getting an SRO this fall. Cupka said there is a potential to fund the position for up to four years but that the County would need to create a plan to sustain the staff after the grant ends.
Sheriff Dempsey said he was prepared to make a selection on the officer to serve as SRO at Potomac. He also said that in order to serve as an SRO, you needed to have at least three years experience.
Granger thanked them both for the clarifications and the thorough presentation. Jenkins said it was an incredible amount of work. Bueche said Cupka was a rock star and that because of her hard work, an SRO would be present in every elementary school. The Board then approved the grant.
Next to the podium was Saundra Pearson of the Tourism Advisory Committee. She presented the Committee's recommendations for funding the Farmers Market and Fall Festival. Beginning with the Farmers Market, which applied for $4,000. Celebrating the ten year anniversary of the market, they were looking for more advertising and signage. Brabo said she reviewed the documents in the application and the amounts given did not add up to $4,000 but instead added up to $2,900. Caroline Phelps, the Farmers Market Board of Directors President, apologized for the discrepancy. The Board approved funding of $3,000 for the Farmers Market. Brabo asked if DeLaura Padovan would be recognized for her past contributions. Phelps said there was nothing official yet but they would certainly look into it.
Pearson then presented the Fall Festival Committee's request for funding. She said their original request was for $14,000 but the Tourism Advisory Committee modified it to only $5,000. Brabo said she also went through their submitted figures and noted last year's marketing expenses were about $5,800 and suggested they award them $6,000. Brabo also noted that maybe there was a better way to get participation in their survey and that maybe they should purchase banners without a specific date on them so they could be reused. She said it didn't seem prudent to remake banners every year. Brabo also noted that the Fall Festival Committee apparently didn't get the message last year that inflatables, such as a rock wall or bounce house, were not qualified under the grant request. Binder said she asked them about the inflatables last year and it sounded like there was a promise made to not charge residents to enjoy them.
Brabo said that in the past, tourism funds were being illegally put into the General Fund. Once corrected, the Board has made it a point to follow the law regarding what the tourism funds are spent on. Pearson said there appeared to be an expectation to fully fund the Fall Festival but that the Tourism Advisory Committee felt it should be self sustaining.
Binder then asked why nobody was here from the Fall Festival. She noted that Phelps was present from the Farmers Market but nobody representing the Fall Festival was present. Brabo said they're not specifically invited but that the groups all know they're here. Annie Cupka added that earlier in the day Janine Paulsen asked about the status of the grant application and she said the Tourism Advisory Committee made a recommendation and would be at tonight's meeting. Brabo easily summarized the situation by saying they knew about the recommendation and knew that this was the time and place to argue their case. The Board then approved the grant to the Fall Festival in the amount of $6,000.
Dr. Neiman Young then gave his report by saying that the White Plains Plantation has been nominated to be put on the National Historic Register and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Brabo asked if the property owner was aware or involved and Young said they were involved in the application process. Brabo said she just wanted to make sure they knew about it. According to the application, the White Plains Plantation is located off Route 301, about 2 miles north of the Rappahannock River.
Dr. Young then said that the 98th Civil Affairs Battalion contacted him and would like to return to King George County in September of this year for another exercise. The Board had a consensus to welcome them again.
Young said the fire department was awarded a $24,000 grant for a capital improvement project and that, even though he didn't like to talk about himself, he was invited to sit on the Executive Committee for the Virginia Local Government Management Association.
The Board then went into Closed Session at 9:50pm and invited attorneys Ed Spivey and Kevin Sharp. There was some confusion about Mr. Sharp not being there and that another attorney was present in his place. The Board returned from Closed Session at 10:33pm and adjourned a 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 August 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.
The King George County Board of Supervisors began their last meeting of the month at 7:35pm. There was an amendment to the Agenda to include an update from the Landfill Advisory Committee.
Public Comment opened with an update from McKenna Mollner and her fellow 4-H members Erin Baker and Emily Burkholder. They wanted to let the Board know they were working on fundraisers so they could attend the National 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Competition. Ms. Mollner said their fundraisers included selling hand drawn wildflower greeting cards, baked goods, and a booth at the July 7th Farmers Market.
Ruby Brabo then began to read into the record a public comment then realized it was for the Public Hearing on the nuisance ordinance later in the evening.
Richard Granger then read into the record a public comment from Carole Werle. She said there was a "new vocabulary" of waivers, incentives, and grants and that there was a new bully in the neighborhood. She said the Economic Development Authority (EDA) was demanding grants or waivers and that the EDA was funded by bonds and the industrial park. She said the EDA was still one million dollars in debt. Mrs. Werle said there was so much misdirection and that all the trash that makes the newspapers hurts the County. Her comments continued with some apparent misdoings of the EDA, the Tourism Advisory Committee, and the County.
John Jenkins began the Board reports by thanking the young ladies from 4-H for coming out and congratulating them. He then seemed a bit bewildered and said he was still trying to digest the public comment that Granger had just read. Jenkins said he attended the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) dinner on the 11th and a GWRC meeting on the 18th. He said the meeting on the 18th resulted in the approval of the Smart Scale projects and a slate of officers that included Ruby Brabo as Vice President. He said Congressman Rob Wittman spoke at the end of the evening and that most of his comments centered on broadband access in rural areas. Jenkins said Wittman gave King George a shout-out for making things happen. Wittman also discussed public-private partnerships (P3) as a method of supplying broadband to rural areas and the need to update coverage maps.
Jeff Bueche began his report by congratulating the 4-H ladies and for bringing positive news to King George County. On June 7th, Bueche said he hosted a Town Hall where the small crowd allowed for a more intimate conversation. He said he also attended the GWRC dinner on the 11th and, as a new Board member, learned a lot. On the 12th, he attended the Budget Work Session. He said he expected a two year budget but instead saw a three year budget and was very thankful to Dr. Neiman Young and his staff for putting it together. He felt like the right team was in place to look at things going forward. On the 16th he attended the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) sign unveiling at the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT). He said this new designation makes King George a part of over 800 miles of trails and thanked the Friends of DRHT for maintaining the trail "at no cost to taxpayers" [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]. On the 18th Bueche said he attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting and that it was great to see all the small business owners and a very motivated Chamber President, Don Smith. On the 19th, he met with a committee working towards bringing a barbecue festival to the County for the Fall Festival. Bueche finished his report by stating that he was personally caught in traffic along Route 301 (James Madison Parkway) due to the tree trimming work. He sent an email to VDOT and received word back promptly that the contractor would limit their work between 9am and 3pm during the week and would be authorized to work on Saturdays as well.
Ruby Brabo read her report next. On June 8th she attended the Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee where she participated in a round table discussion. She said the majority of elected officials were not in office when watershed plans were put into place. On the 11th she attended the same GWRC dinner as the others. On the 12th she attended the Budget Work Session and noted that it was the first time King George has ever had a multi-year budget. She also thanked Dr. Young and his staff for all their hard work and effort. She said that while the state does not allow a multi-year budget to be adopted, the work session did allow for better planning for the future. On the 16th she attended the DRHT sign unveiling. She said it was a wonderful day and thanked Jenkins and Granger who were part of passing the resolution in support of the trail becoming a part of the PHNST. Brabo said that prior to the resolution, King George County had been skipped. She also noted that the DRHT had the honor of becoming a National Recreation Trail and she had the honor of getting poison ivy while helping put up the new sign. On the 19th she attended the COMREL meeting and noted that Dr. Young was invited to participate in their upcoming exercises on base. She noted that while the Dahlgren base has back-up generators "to keep operations flowing, there are no accommodations for the families in the housing areas." She said that in the event of a power outage, the base would need to rely on the County for assistance.
Brabo then nominated Candice Phillips to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and it was approved. Brabo said she was excited to appoint young adults from the community to these advisory boards as it adds a unique perspective and input. Brabo then reminded the rest of the Board that the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Summit would be in Fredericksburg this year and recommended they choose a committee to serve on.
Cathy Binder was next to report and also congratulated the 4-H ladies. Binder said on the 11th she attended the GWRC dinner and it was great to hear the issues related to environmental impacts to localities. On June 12th she attended the Budget Work Session. On the 16th she also attended the DRHT presentation and noted that she took a tour the week prior with Jim Lynch. She said she didn't realize how much was there for everyone to use. Binder noted that as a member of the King George Historical Society as well as a member of the Smoot Library Board of Trustees, she has been trying to work with the Historical Society to have a larger footprint at the library. Her thought was to allow more people to see what the Historical Society has to offer and that it was important to understand our history. Binder then nominated Dylan Teaford to the Economic Development Authority. He was approved. Binder said she felt he was a good fit based on his previous involvement with the king George DECA group.
Richard Granger began his report by congratulating the 4-H ladies and wishing them luck at the national level. He said he attended the GWRC dinner on the 11th and the Budget Work Session on the 12th. Granger said he thought of the multi-year budget as more of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in that it was a planning document that wasn't set in stone. On the 14th he attended the Military Affairs Council meeting where the Dahlgren representative noted that the runway on base had been declassified, or decommissioned, which opened up acreage for future development.
With Granger being done, Brabo added a point she had forgotten about in her report. She said she received word from a resident that had an issue with a neighbor that planted bamboo near the property line. Because bamboo is an invasive species, he was concerned that the County did not have an ordinance that covered this topic even though state law allows for one. Brabo recommended, and the rest of the Board agreed, to send the subject to the Planning Commission for consideration.
The Consent Agenda was approved.
The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.
Tim Hatch, Vice Chair of the Landfill Advisory Committee, then updated the Supervisors on their quest to have a full, five member Committee. Hatch said the Chair resigned in April and that there has been a need for a representative from the Shiloh District since May of 2017. He also said he just learned that the representative from the James Madison District will resign in August. He said he knows of at least one citizen willing to serve that has yet to be appointed. Hatch said the Committee can't elect officers because the By-Laws require five officers. He asked the Supervisors to help in filling the vacancies. On a more positive note, Hatch said the Committee is making progress on the litter issues in the County by looking into the formation of a Keep America Beautiful chapter as well as a litter crew from the Rappahannock Regional Jail. Hatch mentioned a scholarship that was available to attend Virginia Tech for a week but while there was some interest online, nobody from King George applied. He finished his report by saying the Committee was looking into a location for a Dahlgren Convenience Center and hope to have a final recommendation in the future.
Brabo said that Westmoreland County has signs related to keeping the County beautiful and that something similar may benefit King George. She also suggested asking the Sheriff's Office if there was a way to assess fines for littering. Brabo said Cathy Binder, the Supervisor for Shiloh District, is actively looking for a citizen to serve on the Landfill Committee and had found one but they backed out. Brabo said that if Binder, or Granger, are unable to find a citizen that lives in their district to serve, they are allowed to appoint someone from outside of their district. Brabo finished her comment by saying that Binder could appoint someone tonight if she wished but it was up to her and that the Shiloh District appeared to be the most difficult district to fill vacancies for. Based on the vacancies listed in the Agenda, Shiloh, James Madison, and Dahlgren all have two vacancies while the At-Large District vacancy was filled earlier in the meeting.
The first of two Public Hearings then began. First on the docket was the proposed amendment to the open burning ordinance. Chief Moody gave a brief summary of the amendment that states open burning is not to be allowed within 1,000 feet of a school building during school hours as well as prohibits burning a structure without getting prior written approval.
Binder said she has been present at Potomac Elementary School when students have had to go inside due to asthma attacks. Jenkins said he supported the amendment because anytime a kid can't go outside for recess because of this type of issue is tragic. The amendment was approved without any public comment.
The next Public Hearing was regarding the amendment to County Code related to the issue of nuisance and unsafe buildings and structures. Gregory, the County Attorney, said the topic had been presented and discussed at earlier Board meetings and that the current amendment had minor revisions to include trailers and other structures.
Jenkins asked how a citizen would make a complaint, assuming the amendment passed. Gregory said there were a number of avenues for a complaint to be made from the fire department to the County Development Office to the County Administration Office. He said there was no official process once the complaint was made. He said the property would be inspected and, if necessary, the code would be enforced.
Brabo then read into the record a letter from Mary Ann Dawes who said she had lived and worked in King George County for several years and is proud to call it home. Dawes said she lives in the same neighborhood as a nuisance property near Potomac Elementary School and was highly in favor of the new changes as it would help local government solve these types of problems.
The amendment to the Code was approved without further public comment.
Next on the Agenda was the debt mitigation presentation by Kyle Laux of Davenport and Associates. Along with his associate Griffin Moore, Mr. Laux gave an updated plan that gave more finite amounts now that the budget has been adopted. Giving a brief review, he said that the County is currently in a good financial position with solid cash-flow, strong reserves, and good credit. He said a debt reduction or mitigation plan would make the County's financial standing stronger. He showed the Supervisors the payment sheet that showed the County's current debt and that it would take until 2038 to pay it off, assuming no new debt was incurred. Laux said that by pulling money from various sources to pay off debt in large increments early, the County could save a large amount of money by avoiding interest. He said the money that was saved could then be put back into the County coffers or rolled back into paying down the debt.
Moore presented the planned source of the funds to pay the debt with the first being roughly $1 million coming from the surplus in the General Fund and the second being roughly $2 million coming form the Capital Improvement Fund. He said the third source would be the additional revenue generated by the real estate assessments which was estimated to be about $760,000 over the next four years. In addition to that, over the next four years there was another roughly $1 million that was estimated to be available just from good financial management in various department budgets. In other words, operating surpluses.
Brabo interrupted at this point stating that in previous conversations about the year-end surplus, the County has planned to use that money to cash-fund any necessary projects instead of borrowing money. She said that if the County uses the surplus to pay the debt then they have to borrow money to do something, it defeats the purpose. Laux agreed and said that the plan was designed to be flexible. He said the intent was not to take money away from cash-funding projects and that the debt reduction would be a priority level below cash-funding.
Moore continued his presentation by saying that the various sources of funds would result in about $3 million by the end of this year and about $4.76 million by 2022. He said the funds would be used in multiple phases to then pay down the debt. He then presented two scenarios for the County to consider. Both scenarios were based on the assumption that the debt payments would be made in FY2019, FY2021, and FY2023. The first scenario was the County just made payments on the debt while the second scenario was the County made payments on the debt but rolled the money it saved back into future payments on the debt.
Laux also suggested that the Board update the County's Financial Policy Guidelines to include the Debt Mitigation and Reduction Plan. He said this would make it difficult for future Boards to change, but not impossible. He also suggested the Board consider putting 25% of the year-end surplus into the debt reduction fund. Laux said the debt reduction issue was similar to a budget or Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in that it can always be amended before being adopted.
Brabo had reservations about committing to 25% of the surplus funds going into the debt reduction fund. She said the County has relied on the surplus to cash-fund capital projects and didn't want to be locked into specific language. She would rather adopt something with looser terms to allow the Board to cash-fund projects as needed and then use the remaining surplus into the debt fund.
Laux said the intent wasn't to hamstring the County but rather to develop a framework for a plan. He thought the language could be worked out but that a specific percentage would give the plan more teeth.
There was some confusion on the two different scenarios and what money was being reinvested. After some clarity was added by Laux and Dr. Young, the Board seemed to agree that the first scenario was the better choice.
Bueche added that the Board needed flexibility in this and wanted something that makes us focus on addressing the debt. He said he wanted to set a precedent for future boards to move forward with this.
Next on the Agenda was an Action Item to approve the acceptance of the Fairview Beach Stabilization Project Phase I Award. It was approved as was the appropriation of the same funds. Lavita Cobb, Procurement Manager, noted that while the total amount to be paid to Schnabel Engineering for the project was not to exceed $300,000, the County would be reimbursed with grant funds monthly.
Chief Moody and Chief Lynd from the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services Department and Sheriff Dempsey from the Sheriff's Office then gave a joint presentation. Chief Lynd stated that the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) was issuing the County just over $37,000 due to the January 2016 snowstorm. He was before the Board tonight to ask that $25,000 of that money be appropriated to a Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), also known as a drone program. He said about 1,000 agencies use drones, including the Stafford County Sheriff. He said many times they have called on Stafford to use their drone in King George. He also gave an example of a fire in the Dahlgren area where they were able to use Caroline County's drone to locate the source.
Granger asked if during those times of mutual aid if the agency also supplied the drone pilot. Lynd said yes, the pilot came with the drone. Granger asked how many times they've used drones from other agencies. Lynd said he's known of a couple in the last year. Granger asked about maintenance for the drone and Lynd said it was fairly simple. He said updates come via the app and the big issue was just keeping the batteries charged. Lynd said they have reached out to other localities to get their best practices. Granger asked about the cost for the pilot's license and Lynd said it was about $150.
Binder asked if enough staff would be available and Lynd said yes, they would have an operator available 24 hours a day. Later he would add that between the fire department and Sheriff's Office, they would have six to eight pilots. Brabo asked about the potential to use the drone to survey County property and wanted to clarify that it was only County owned property, not private property. Lynd said yes, that was keeping in line with the best practices from other agencies. Brabo asked about the base in Dahlgren and the potential for electromagnetic interference that could cause the drone to crash. She also asked if they were planning to buy just one drone. Lynd said there were two drones, one smaller one for training and daylight flights and a larger one with a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) camera for night flights.
Brabo said she knew Stafford used them to clear traffic accidents faster but felt further research and partnership was needed with the base in Dahlgren. She said she felt it would be a waste of money if they flew too close to the base and crashed. Bueche asked about the $37,000 reimbursement and Lynd said the money was coming regardless of approval or lack of for the drone program.
Dr. Young said he understood the concerns about how expensive it is but reminded the Board that this is a commercial grade drone with night vision. He said he has been working with Chief Moody and Chief Lynd to get into the mindset of being more prepared for emergency responses and to be self-sustaining rather than relying on mutual aid so much.
Bueche asked if the $25,000 they were asking for could be better used elsewhere within their budget to buy other equipment. In other words, asking if there was something more essential than the drone program. Moody and Lynd didn't feel there was and Sheriff Dempsey cited the recent search for a missing girl in the Pumpkin Neck area. To address Brabo's concerns, he said the drone did fly over Navy property and they only lost the signal and it returned safely. Dempsey also noted that as other agencies use their drones more and more, it becomes less available to King George to borrow them.
Bueche said that there are amateur radio operators in the County that are sometimes used in emergencies and wondered if something similar could be done with local drone operators. Brabo said that was a good idea but those drones would not have a FLIR camera. She said she supported the drone program but cautioned that more work needed to be done to partner with the base.
Dempsey said during the search for the girl, they did send a Detective to the base and they helped but did not give away any secrets about their programs. In other words, they gave no secret information on how they were able to stop the drone flying over Pumpkin Neck. Brabo said the base should be aware that a drone is being used but understands they may not disclose government information. Binder asked if the drone had some sort of signature that could be given to the Navy to help with any potential issues. Bueche said it sounded like a team wasn't in place yet and asked if they were at a point in the project where it needed to be approved tonight or if it could be tabled until later.
Chief Moody said that the dialogue with the base is certainly something that can be worked on and that the money for the drone program doesn't have to be spent tonight. He also said the prices for drones are dropping and there is no contract for a purchase. Bueche said he would like to see more structure before a decision. Jenkins said their next meeting wouldn't be until August and asked if that was enough time.
Moody said they have a great dialogue with the base but doesn't expect them to give away secrets. He said the sooner the drone can get on board, the better. He said there is already a waiting period for mutual aid with some agencies.
Jenkins said he'd rather vote now and get it out there based on the response time of other jurisdictions. Brabo said she just remembered the snake bite incident at Caledon where a hiker was stranded in the woods at dusk and didn't know what trail they were on. A drone would have helped in that scenario. She again reiterated her request to have a conversation with Dahlgren and said Moody should be prepared to give more details at the August 7th meeting.
Bueche asked if they approved the drone program tonight if it would be ready to respond by Fourth of July. Lynd said the equipment would be ready but the FAA waivers take from 30 to 60 days. Bueche asked if they needed the drone before getting the waivers and Lynd said yes, they need to be able to demonstrate that they can fly at night before getting the waivers. He also said the aircraft they would purchase is also used to inspect radio towers and power lines so it is designed to withstand strong magnetic interference.
Binder asked how long it took to get a license and Lynd said about a month. A motion was made and approved to grant the request with the caveat of presenting additional information at the August 7th Board meeting.
Annie Cupka, Grant Writer, then presented an update on the Commonwealth of Virginia DCJS Resource Officer Grant Award. She thanked Sheriff Dempsey, Dr. Benson, King George County Schools Superintendent, and VDOT for all their help in writing the grant. She said the grant will cover two-thirds of the School Resource Officer's (SRO) salary and the position would begin this upcoming school year. She said that because of how only two schools were prioritized by the Board of Supervisors, only those two schools were eligible for the grant. And with only being awarded one grant, Potomac Elementary School would be the school getting an SRO this fall. Cupka said there is a potential to fund the position for up to four years but that the County would need to create a plan to sustain the staff after the grant ends.
Sheriff Dempsey said he was prepared to make a selection on the officer to serve as SRO at Potomac. He also said that in order to serve as an SRO, you needed to have at least three years experience.
Granger thanked them both for the clarifications and the thorough presentation. Jenkins said it was an incredible amount of work. Bueche said Cupka was a rock star and that because of her hard work, an SRO would be present in every elementary school. The Board then approved the grant.
Next to the podium was Saundra Pearson of the Tourism Advisory Committee. She presented the Committee's recommendations for funding the Farmers Market and Fall Festival. Beginning with the Farmers Market, which applied for $4,000. Celebrating the ten year anniversary of the market, they were looking for more advertising and signage. Brabo said she reviewed the documents in the application and the amounts given did not add up to $4,000 but instead added up to $2,900. Caroline Phelps, the Farmers Market Board of Directors President, apologized for the discrepancy. The Board approved funding of $3,000 for the Farmers Market. Brabo asked if DeLaura Padovan would be recognized for her past contributions. Phelps said there was nothing official yet but they would certainly look into it.
Pearson then presented the Fall Festival Committee's request for funding. She said their original request was for $14,000 but the Tourism Advisory Committee modified it to only $5,000. Brabo said she also went through their submitted figures and noted last year's marketing expenses were about $5,800 and suggested they award them $6,000. Brabo also noted that maybe there was a better way to get participation in their survey and that maybe they should purchase banners without a specific date on them so they could be reused. She said it didn't seem prudent to remake banners every year. Brabo also noted that the Fall Festival Committee apparently didn't get the message last year that inflatables, such as a rock wall or bounce house, were not qualified under the grant request. Binder said she asked them about the inflatables last year and it sounded like there was a promise made to not charge residents to enjoy them.
Brabo said that in the past, tourism funds were being illegally put into the General Fund. Once corrected, the Board has made it a point to follow the law regarding what the tourism funds are spent on. Pearson said there appeared to be an expectation to fully fund the Fall Festival but that the Tourism Advisory Committee felt it should be self sustaining.
Binder then asked why nobody was here from the Fall Festival. She noted that Phelps was present from the Farmers Market but nobody representing the Fall Festival was present. Brabo said they're not specifically invited but that the groups all know they're here. Annie Cupka added that earlier in the day Janine Paulsen asked about the status of the grant application and she said the Tourism Advisory Committee made a recommendation and would be at tonight's meeting. Brabo easily summarized the situation by saying they knew about the recommendation and knew that this was the time and place to argue their case. The Board then approved the grant to the Fall Festival in the amount of $6,000.
Dr. Neiman Young then gave his report by saying that the White Plains Plantation has been nominated to be put on the National Historic Register and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Brabo asked if the property owner was aware or involved and Young said they were involved in the application process. Brabo said she just wanted to make sure they knew about it. According to the application, the White Plains Plantation is located off Route 301, about 2 miles north of the Rappahannock River.
Dr. Young then said that the 98th Civil Affairs Battalion contacted him and would like to return to King George County in September of this year for another exercise. The Board had a consensus to welcome them again.
Young said the fire department was awarded a $24,000 grant for a capital improvement project and that, even though he didn't like to talk about himself, he was invited to sit on the Executive Committee for the Virginia Local Government Management Association.
The Board then went into Closed Session at 9:50pm and invited attorneys Ed Spivey and Kevin Sharp. There was some confusion about Mr. Sharp not being there and that another attorney was present in his place. The Board returned from Closed Session at 10:33pm and adjourned a 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 August 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.
Is there a date for the 98th CA to be in the county?
ReplyDeleteI think sometime around September 15th.
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