2018-10-16 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

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

There were no amendments to the Agenda.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Richard Granger, Heather Hall, and Brad Hudson.

The Consent Agenda was approved.

The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The meeting adjourned at 9:24pm.

Meeting Attendees:

John Jenkins (Board of Supervisors)

Jeff Bueche (Board of Supervisors)

Richard Granger (Chairman, Board of Supervisors)

Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)

Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)

Neiman Young (County Administrator)

Eric Gregory (County Attorney)

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:

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

Previous Meeting:

Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.

2018-10-02 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

by Neil Richard

The King George County Board of Supervisors began their meeting a few minutes later than normal due to some technical difficulties. They finally began the meeting at 7:44pm.

There were no amendments to the Agenda and there was no Public Comment.

John Jenkins was absent due to a death in the family.

Jeff Bueche began his Board report by saying he attended the water contamination meeting in Fairview Beach that was organized by Mike Bennett. Bueche said he was optimistic that there would be progress towards finding the source of the contamination. On the 30th, he celebrated his 18th wedding anniversary with his wife Anne. He felt it was appropriate to share because not only was she his wife and the mother of their children, but she was also his best friend and confidant.

Bueche then said he felt the Service Authority meeting held earlier was informative and that he was happy to see the duration of the meetings increase over what they were in the past. He said there was a lot of business to conduct that was important but felt a discussion should be had about separating the two Board meetings into two different nights. He said some citizens come only for the Service Authority meeting and some come only for the Supervisors meeting. Bueche said he didn't need a consensus tonight, just that he wanted the options explored and discussed.

Brabo interrupted and said the bylaws of the Board state that Supervisors have to be available until midnight and that, thankfully, they haven't needed that much time. She also said that, personally, she was unwilling to give up another night due to her numerous other commitments and meetings. Bueche said he understands that it makes it difficult but the two Boards are two separate bodies and hopefully in the future it wouldn't impact the Supervisors, meaning that hopefully in the future, Supervisors wouldn't sit on the Service Authority Board.

Bueche concluded his report by reminding everyone that the first annual KG QUE-FEST would be held on October 6th and 7th at Sealston Sports Complex and the Fall Festival will be on the 13th.

Ruby Brabo began her report by saying she attended the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) meeting on the 20th, a National Association of Counties conference call on the 21st, and the YMCA 10th Anniversary Gala on the 22nd. On the 24th she attended the contamination meeting in Fairview Beach and thanked Mike Bennett for the time and dedication he has invested in his role on the Service Authority Board. From the 25th to the 27th, Brabo attended the LGAC forum and assisted in the Community Clean Up Day on the 29th. She thanked Annie Cupka for her work in coordinating things and hopes that it will become an annual event.

Brabo also attended the memorial service for Ed Veazey on the 29th. She said "he will be missed but his influence lives on through everything he touched within the County." She also attended the 20th anniversary celebration at Mary's Cakery on the 29th and went to a Chem-bio meeting on October 1st. At this meeting she felt the bulk of the meeting was related to the lack of communication and was thankful for the base leadership being willing to sit down and talk. During the meeting she learned that the base hired 600 employees last year and about 500 more next year but their capacity is limited in their existing facilities. Brabo said she also learned that many of the contractors working on base are doing so because of current issues with the Virtual Private Network (VPN) making it cost prohibitive for them to be located off base.

Cathy Binder reported that she attended the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) workshop on the 20th, the Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging on the 26th, and the Rappahannock Regional Jail Authority on the 27th. She said residents can attend an open enrollment event hosted by Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging to enroll in Medicare Part D. It will be held at the Citizen's Center on November 27th from 9am to 4pm. She said King George was also given the title to a van that can be used to transport prisoners to the Rappahannock Regional Jail. On October 2nd, Binder visited Brooks Park to see employees from Hilldrup Moving work as part of the United Way Day of Caring volunteer event. She also learned how to mulch and prune trees and shrubs from Master Gardener Linda Kline.

Richard Granger also attended the CIP meeting on the 20th as well as a meeting on the 26th regarding river gauges in the state. He said these gauges will improve safety for those using rivers and streams as heavy rains in one part of the state will impact those downriver. On October 1st, Granger attended the same Chem-bio meeting with Brabo and said that attrition on base is about 6%. He also said it was important to note that the Chem-bio move to Indian Head was mainly motivated by it being a better fit to that base's mission compared to Dahlgren's mission.

The Consent Agenda was approved.

The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, reported that he has been working with David Brickley and representatives from the Friends of Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) to work on a cooperative management plan for the trail [EDITOR'S NOTE - Neil Richard, a co-founder of Project94, is the Treasurer of the Friends of DRHT.]. Gregory said things are under development and he is in communication with those parties and hopes to have something to present at the next Board meeting.

Next was a presentation by Steve Marzolf of Virginia Information Technologies Association (VITA). Marzolf said he was happy to hear he has until midnight to go through his presentation to which everyone laughed. His presentation was about the pending changes to the 911 system in the state and how it would impact King George County. He said the current network, which is analog, is going away and there's nothing anyone, himself included, could do about it. He was careful to emphasize that it wasn't Verizon's fault or anybody else's fault, it was just the nature of the the change in technology. He equated it to not being able to buy new movies on VHS tapes anymore. With that said, Marzolf said Fairfax County was the first to adopt the new system last year. After an intensive process, Fairfax found AT&T to be the best provider for the project.

Marzolf cautioned that deployment needed to be coordinated and that King George was part of the system that covered Fredericksburg and Winchester. He said there would be a period of time where both networks, analog and digital, would need to be supported as things are transitioned. The proposed schedule was for our region to make the change between January and June 2020, which was roughly in the middle of the schedule for the whole state.

Marzolf continued by complimenting the County's Geographic Information System (GIS), saying that only a few minor issues would need to be addressed. He said the new system would allow text-to-911, something that's important for the deaf and hard of hearing.

He then got down to the important part of the presentation, the cost. He said the current cost of the County's 911 system was roughly $368 per month. The new cost would be $5,481 per month. The good news is that the 911 Services Board would cover the cost increase for two years. He also said the 911 Services Board would cover the cost of the overlap between the new and old systems for six months and they were open to discussions if the County wanted to extend the newly installed fiber lines to schools, libraries, or government buildings. The 911 Services Board would also cover the cost of the new fiber being installed.

Marzolf said he was asking the Board to review the proposal and the contract Fairfax used. He said King George was able to do their own proposal request or use a vendor other than AT&T. He also said that if the County decided to work with AT&T and change their mind later, it was possible to do so, just like changing cell phone service providers.

He concluded his presentation by saying the new 911 system was here and not going away. He said everyone in the state and in the country would eventually need to switch to it.

Brabo asked about the cost of the new monthly fee and if that was based on the infrastructure that doesn't exist in the County from AT&T, noting that Verizon is the area's main service provider. Marzolf said no, it was just for the service being provided and that Verizon would actually be making the connection over the last mile. Brabo again noted the lack of AT&T infrastructure in the area and wondered if a regional procurement with Caroline County and other Northern Neck counties may be a benefit. Marzolf said Northern Virginia is experiencing the same issue with a lack of AT&T infrastructure and that was why Verizon was involved. In simple terms, he said that AT&T provides the service across the national network and pays Verizon for their local infrastructure.

Binder asked for clarity on the diverse connectivity and Marzolf explained it was a way to ensure the connection was safe from any harm. He said there are options for one connection, two connections in one path, or two connections in two paths. He said the latter was recommended because it provides for redundancy should something happen. He provided an example of an auger bit taking down the entire 911 system where a diverse connectivity system would bring the 911 connections into the building in two different locations.

Steve McKeever from Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was next to present to the Board, regarding the Route 207 and 301 Corridor Study. He came before the Board to ask for their approval of the study. Brabo asked if a vote was needed and Dr. Young said he and Eric Gregory felt it was necessary to vote. The Board approved VDOT's Study.

Wilma Ward from the Finance Department was next before the Board, asking for their approval of a change order related to the Potomac Elementary School modular units. The Board approved.

Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, then asked the Board to authorize him to sign the Agreement related to the King George Middle School Turn Lane Project. Brabo interjected and said it was about time that we applied for revenue sharing. The Board approved.

Dr. Young gave his report by starting off with an offer from Bill Robie, a professor from George Washington University, to give a brief course on Public Policy for the Supervisors. Brabo said this topic came up because as a new Supervisor, she was given no guidance or mentorship. As the most senior Supervisor now, she said she's doing the best she can but felt a course like this would help everyone. There was a discussion on scheduling the course later this month. Dr. Young also reminded the Board that there would be a team building event later this month for the Supervisors.

The Supervisors went into Closed Session at 8:39pm and invited Eric Gregory, Dr. Young, Chris Werle, and Mike Bennett to attend. They returned from Closed Session at 9:22pm and adjourned.

Meeting Attendees:
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 (Board of Supervisors) due to a death in the family

Meeting Agenda

Next Meeting:
The Board of Supervisors will next meet on October 9, 2018 at 6:30 pm at Company 1.

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

2018-06-19 - Board of Supervisors Meeting Notes

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.