Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

What?

I entertain a motion to come out of close session. Make that motion. Motion on Mr. Collins. I have a second. Second. Okay. And Mr. Moore will be joining us over the phone tonight. And I will start the vote with Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Horton. Yes. Mr. Bryant. Yes. Mr. Early. Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. And I vote yes.

I'm going ask each supervisor to uh certify the certification resolution. Whereas the Carol County Board of Supervisors convene a close session this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and on a motion to close the meeting in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Whereas section 2.2-3711D 2-3711D of the code of Virginia requires a certification by the board of supervisors that such close session was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. We went under section 2.2-3711D under A3, A5, and A8. Now therefore be it resolved that the K County Board of Supervisors hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were heard discussed or considered in the close session to which the certification applies and only such business matters as were identified in the motion by which this close session was convened or heard discussed or considered in the meeting to which the certification applies. I ask each one to certify start with Mr. Moore.

I so certify Mr. Horton. I so certify. Mr. Bryant. I so certify. Mr. Early. I so certify. Mr. Collins. I so certify. And I so certify. Next on agenda is invocation. I'll ask Mr. Wayos if you'll come up and you'll say the tell us a little bit about your church and your if you don't mind. If you don't mind.

Thank you for the opportunity tonight uh stand before this board. I appreciate the invite. I think I know each of you personally somewhat to varying degrees. Tracy as well. I was thinking back outside of Bill. Tracy, you and Greg, I think I know Tracy about the longest. Our kids played ball together and it was some good times back then. Brother Ronnie, appreciate you. Jody, Joey, you guys know appreciate the job you do. My name is Way Mos. I'm pastor at Coulson Church up off exit 19. And I count it honor and privilege to pastor that wonderful congregation and to preach and share and minister to those folk. Uh I also realize uh in my role relates to your role as far as servant. It's not an easy task at times. I also think that uh the job you do sometimes is a thankless task and I want to say that I appreciate the job you try to do, the effort you put forth and I trust you put forth your best effort. I think we should do our best especially uh in light of our it's our duty before God. I believe that these things are ordained of God. Government is ordained of God and it's important that we follow that. Um I am also reminded in the scripture that in the book of Esther chapter 4 verse number 14 uh concerning you men Esther was u Mori told Esther she uh she was kind of in a dilemma what to do and uh he just simply posed the question to her how do you know that you're not appointed for this time in this service and man I think that applies to you as well. So I'd like to say as a fellow Cal County citizen I appreciate the job you do. I do want to personally say thank you again. And I know it's thankless. A lot of times uh you get more grief than you do and grievances more than you do. Uh probably uh uh thank you. But again, I appreciate your service. And again, serving is not always easy. Uh but it is needed uh in an ordered society. Uh we're not a chaotic society. And I thank God for that. I think of some of the places we could be. And we're able to live in a multiple freedoms uh given to us and granted us by the good Lord above. Having said all that, again, I thank you for this opportunity. If you don't have a home church, Colston Church would love to have you. There's my plug for that. We love the Lord and we love

you. So again, if you guys uh uh we'll we'll bow our head and we'll go to the Lord in prayer. Uh tonight, Father, we come before you this evening with a very thankful heart that we've been allowed to see this day and the beauty of it. Lord, I thank you for this time when uh the citizens and the uh the servants of Cal County gather, Father, to conduct business. And I know again um Lord, there's there's a lot involved uh discussion, debate, and uh decisions to be made, Father. and and we know that that there's with the various ideas and ideologies, Lord, it's hard to please everybody. And that's not our task, Lord. Our task is to be uh honest and fair and open before the citizens, God, to serve them, Father. And utmost our duty is before you, God, as we answer to you ultimately, Father. And I thank you that you've given us those decrees. You've given us those instructions in scripture. Your scriptur is truly clear, Father, that we'll stand before you one day and give account of the deeds done in the body. I pray for these men. I pray for the citizens of this county. And father, I pray for the work being done here. And I pray you'd bless this uh at this good county and the good people of it, Lord. And again, as the b business is conducted tonight, you would get honor, you'd get glory, Lord. May it be a a peaceful, Father, and a productive meeting as they go through and carry. I do thank you and I ask your blessings upon these men as they serve. Ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Amen. Thank you guys. God bless you. Appreciate you. Thank you. Mr. Early, you going to do the pledge for us? Yes, sir. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, next on the agenda is citizens and other than the car, no one signed up. We will go on to uh the minutes. I entertain a motion to approve the minutes as is presented.

I make that motion. Okay. Have a motion by Mr. Brown. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. I'll start the vote with Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Brown? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. And I vote yes. Okay. Next on the agenda is the consent calendar that we received in the packet. I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented. Make that motion. Okay. Motion by Mr. Collins. I have a second. Second. Second. Second on Mr. Bry. I'll start the vote with Mr. Early. Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. And I vote yes. And next on the agenda is the invoices. I'll entertain a motion to approve the invoices as presented.

I'll make the motion. Have a motion on Mr. Horton. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. Have a second by Mr. Early. We'll start the button with Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. And next on the agenda is new business. We have the original library update. You'll come forward, please.

Good evening. I brought everyone a little infographic here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Are you crystal? Well, I want to say thank you for having me on the agenda tonight with the Gaylax Carol Regional Library. Uh I would like to recognize uh three Gaylakes Carol Regional Library board members attending. So want to wave,

stand up, introduce yourself. Hello Thank you for coming. Appreciate it.

Um, in your packet you'll see the FY2025 Galax regional library infographic. This information was collected from the regional libraries fiscal year 2025 biblioat report. It's a required annual report submitted to the library of Virginia. Overall, FY2025 was again a year of growth for the Galax Carroll Regional Library. Um, I want to highlight our passport acceptance services that I gave you a a handout on. Please let uh citizens know that you don't even have to have a library card um to apply um submit passport documents and we'll send those to um the the US Department of State. Um we offer free notary service. We have the ancestry library edition and we also have um the historic Carol news and gay life gazette newspapers online. Now these are the old ones that were on microfilm. Um and those have been digitized and you can sit at home on Saturday morning in your pajamas and look up some local history. Um, in FY2025, we had 87,658 physical items borrowed from the library. Our total items borrowed were 111,618 and we had 23,960 e item usages. Now, that includes ebooks, e audio books, and e magazines. Um, we had 26,021 wireless user sessions,

over 87,000 website visits. There were 9,097 public internet computer uses. Uh, we've grown our social media following to 3,220. Last year we offered 404 programs between the two libraries and we had 12,320 attendees. There were 484 meeting room uses and 10,648 reference transactions. The Galax Regional Library has 1,024 new cards. Our hardware account is up to 10,660 and we had 95,967 library visits. Um last year program was entitled Color Our World and we had 693 youth signed up for the adult for the youth summer reading program and we had 366 adults signed up for the summer reading program. for a total of 1,049 participants. Um, I wanted to let you know that also in 2025, the regional library accepted 226 passport applications. That was up from 176 last year and we offered free laundry service a total of 122 pounds. Um, current programs at the Carol County Public Library do incl. This is where teens work together to solve mysteries.

Lego club is a fun time for youth to create their own Lego creations and work together. Twins and kings come to the library for an afternoon of self-guided crafting. The youth bring the creativity and the library provides the supplies. A youth book club. This program was requested by patrons for elementary school age children to read and discuss age appropriate books with youth services coordinator Jesse Campbell. Our family game night. It's been going for a couple of years and we continue to have a great turnout for that time for people to come together, meet others in the community um and they meet up and play board games. Usually we have some sort of refreshments. Um we've done programs of partnership with the Carol County public schools, family literacy nights and multicultural festivals. Um we're also participating in the Library of Virginia's 10,000 things before kindergarten. This is a prek program in which youth do activities and win prizes to prepare for kindergarten. And I want to let you know, I'm pleased to report that programs have expanded and been able to serve more citizens with the increase in funding for the youth service assistant provided to the library by the county last year. Um we sincerely thank you for that increase in funding that it's helped us to do more to serve citizens. We also have um or have from June to through December last year um a healthy eating and cooking program um hosted by Rita Workman who was embracing plant-based cooking and eating to

promote a healthy lifestyle. Almost every class has been full and free charge, attendees have shared positive feedback about the program and how it positively affected their lives. Adult DIY or do-it-yourself um programs feature a fun craft. We've done several um programs, but most recently participants have d tie dyed a t-shirt, a pillar case, or some piece of clothing that they brought. Um Carol County Public Library adult book club, which was started by Carol County native and has been continued by branch manager Emily Bowman. Um, we're having a good attendance on Monday nights when that is held. Also, the Carol County Public Library hosts a jam station on the second Friday of the month with support by library volunteer Joe Kerry to offer an intergenerational program to encourage young people to play music and learn from adults in the community and bring people together in our traditional music community. Also, we're super excited about the continued partnership with and the growth of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of the Twin Counties in order to support youth literacy in our communities for children ages five and under. Currently, there are 839 children registered for the program in the Gay Lakes Carol Regional Library Service Area. If you know of any children aged five or under in our service area that would benefit from this program, please encourage the parents to come by the library and fill out a registration form. April 19th through the 25th is National Library Week and I would like to invite each of you to visit the library apply

your library card if you don't already have one. I encourage you to check out the regional libraries website, Facebook page, and Instagram page. On April the 10th, our current branch manager, Emily Bowman, will be stepping away from her position at the Carol Library. And on Thursday, April 16th, Karen Northrup will be stepping into that position as branch manager to lead the Carol County Public Library stands. Looking ahead, I wish to close by strengthening the desire of the library to be an active Carol County department, helping meet community goals. I would love to talk with you about how the library can continue to help meet those community needs. So, if you have any questions about things we're doing at the library or um programs, anything, just want to encourage you to come by and uh and see what we have to offer.

Just want to say thank you. I'm always impressed by your presentation, the work that you all do. And one of the things that's impressed me the most is the silent booth that you put in or whatever you all call it where you can go into and have some Oh. privacy or Yes, that that's beneficial. I'm in there quite a bit. So,

that's wonderful. Yeah, patrons use it on a regular basis. And for those of you who haven't seen it, it looks like a telephone booth, you know, and that's where patrons can go if they need to have like some sort of confidential Zoom meeting or if they need to just make a telephone call, you know, they can go in there and shut the door and and have some privacy. So, I appreciate appreciate you coming. Every time you do, I learn something new. things like that the library offers. Yeah. Well, thank you so much. Appreciate appreciate your time and all you do for us. The board does. Anyone else have anything? Thank you for

I I do have a couple things, Mr. Chairman. Yes. Go ahead, Mr. Moore.

One, I would like to say as well, echo what Ronnie and and Mr. Dixon had said there uh about your presentation and all you do for the community. I always get so much positive feedback from people that use the library and different things. I I do have one thing that I did want to to mention and uh back during when the Super Bowl when the guy that done the Super Bowl was a part of the advertisement on Facebook. I I did get a lot of of feedback from that as a board member as far as political views or whatnot. And um what what was the discrepancy in doing that? What was the thought process?

The the thought process was just to use a pop figure to gain attention and to promote the library. Yeah, that that was the one thing that I know throughout the year that was the one one of the biggest things that I did did get a lot of I got that sent to me a lot through messenger. people that didn't have my contact or emails or whatnot, you know, I did I've been did see that a lot and I was So, is that something that like is yearly that y'all do? We have Last year we did a post about Taylor Swift in the Super Bowl. Okay. And so,

usually part of the Super Bowl act. Is that just a a norm of it? Well, basically we were a copycat and copycatted other others out there on social social media to draw attention. But I appreciate you bringing that up because it may not have been the best way. Um

yeah, that was the one that was the one, you know, that I that I did. I I did get and and you know I I like I say I would uh just asking for my for myself you know to see what the library's point of view was for it because you know just like in anything whether it comes to you know public officials whether we're Republican or or Democrat or whatever we are we you know that's I guess a lot of the Republican representatives reach out to me you know well it wasn't really you know there was no political intent behind it. It was just a,

you know, we had done that a year or two and, you know, people thought it was funny and it did gather attention, but I appreciate you letting me know that and yeah, yeah, I don't know if any of the other board members had any any anything with it or not. I you know, really as far as been a discussion with them, but I know that that was one thing that I did get a lot of feedback to me. Mhm. Well, I definitely appreciate you letting me know, Mr. Moore.

Absolutely. Thank you for coming. I hate I missed you. Like I'm like the rest of the board. I always love your presentations because you you put real facts and real numbers out there and it's always good to good to see what the citizens were reaching. And one more question I did have. How many um took on the cooking thing that you had? How many people signed up and done yet? I don't have that statistic in front of me, but I can definitely find out and let you know. Yeah, just shoot me an email. Okay. Yeah, I'll be glad to. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. May I go ahead, Mr.

I'd like to piggyback on what Mr. Moore said. First, my wife uses the library. She reads probably two, three books a week. She really likes the library. So do I. But I took personal offense to the Bad Bunny post that the library had. Uh that may be an idol to some people, but that's not an idol of mine. And to post those pictures and sayings from someone who's very anti-American, I take great offense to that. And I ask that in the future you don't do that. Yes, sir.

Anyone else? Thank you. We appreciate you all coming. Appreciate it. Next on the agenda is collective bargaining resolution. Mr. Durban, you had a couple of changes I think on

Yes, Mr. Chairman. I um I took the resolution that was in the agenda packet. I added a few um a few additional points because I thought this is important enough and controversial enough that um we could voice some of the the the concerns that I've heard from other localities and just something that's um I think a concern across Virginia. I'm hearing from many um other local government attorneys to have their constituents. Um so you do have a revised um a revised resolution before you. The some of the key points made were that many local government employees already enjoy robust employment protection through existing greatness procedures and many local government employees already enjoy the right to participate in the retirement system making a one-sizefits all approach to quasy bargaining and other necessary and emergency process. I also include a clause um residing with the Commonwealth and Saddle back with the compensation board controls funded for any local employees and constitutional offices and the legislation would require the constitutional officer over issues such as compensation and benefits over which they have no budgetary control. I thought those were important

points to add. Um, additionally, um, there may be unintended consequences such as privatization of utility services or it may hinder localities and seeking to professionalize fire emergency medical services. If if you professionalize as opposed to public program um, suddenly they're subject to collective bargaining that may be a business center consequences. So, I wanted to make sure I'm going to make another point as well. And also just added a provision um that the board urges the governor to veto or amend the legislation to delay an referral to a committee further studying value concerns identified in the resolution.

Okay. So, with that being said, um what's the board's pleasure? Do you want to make a motion to adopt the revised collective bargaining resolution? I have a question concerning the resolution. Does it just apply to uh local government employees? The resolution itself? Yes. Do the Senate and House bills strictly limited to local government employees? counties, cities, and towns, political subdivisions,

but it's government employees only. Is that what the the Senate and the House bill they're trying to pass? Is is that all it concerns? Or is it any employee in the Commonwealth? I don't represent the state government, so I haven't looked at that issue as far as as whether it impacts state employees as well. Not just state employees, but private employees. It's just are they trying to mandate collective bargaining on everyone? I see your question. It's public sector only. Only. Okay. Anything else? Anyone else have any questions,

discussion? Okay. I entertain a motion to accept or table. I will move to accept the resolution as written. Okay. I have a motion, Mr. early to accept the resolution. I have a second. Second. A second by Mr. Bryant. And we'll start the voting with Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes.

And I vote yes. Next on agenda is the vocal uh rustic resolutions is Colonial Road, Pipim Road, and Walker Drive. These are to be hard surface, I believe. And I'll entertain a motion to accept this uh resolution for VOTE. I'll make that motion. Have a motion. Mr. Collins, I have a second. Second. Second by Mr. Horton. Any discussion?

I have a question. Yes. Well, we have an opportunity next month to add additional roads to the six-year plan. Is that when we'll be doing Should we come back and then we come back in May? All right. May May agenda. That's correct. Right. Okay. Okay. I'll send you the vote with Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. And I vote yes. Next on agenda is the FY 27 2027 tax levy.

I'll make a motion to leave it the same. I'll second it. I have a motion to leave the tax levy the same um in a second. So that's going to be real estate and personal property everything. Okay. All right. Any discussion? Motion by Mr. Moore, second by Mr. Early. will start the vote with Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Bryant, yes. Mr. Horton, yes. Mr. Early, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. And I vote yes. That leads us to old business. Um, we have committee appointments.

Uh, the one for the Whfield Community College. I make a motion that we reappoint. That's Jeff Holderfield. That is correct. Yes. Okay. Have a motion to put Jeff Holderfield back on WCCC board. I have a second. Second. Any second by Mr. Collins. We'll start the voting with Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. And I vote yes. Anyone have any more old business? If not, we'll go to board member comments and I will start with Mr. Bryant.

Yep. I'd just like to thank the staff and uh all the uh employees of the county and uh just uh hope everybody uh enjoy some of this upcoming weather after this little cold spell. I hope it's going to be good for everybody. All I got. Thank you, Mr. MR. Mr. Collins. Mr. Chairman, I have a a resolution that I'd like to read.

Okay. Uh it's resolution supported in recognition of 911 telecommunication officers as first responders. Says whereas 911 telecommunication officers also known as public safety dispatchers serve as the first point of contact for residents experience in emergencies and provide critical communication between the public and emergency responders. Whereas these professionals coordinate police, fire and emergency medical responses, monitor the safety of responses responders in the field, and provide life-saving information during highly stressful and time-sensitive situations. Whereas the United States Senate's PA Senate passed the enhancing first response act recognizing the essential role of 911 professionals as part of the nation's first responder system. Whereas, if this were to be adopted, Carol County Board of Supervisors recognizes a vital role of these individuals play in protecting the safety and welfare of the community and supporting emergency p personnel. Now, therefore, be it resolved that Carol County Board of Supervisors respectfully request that Virginia General Assembly enact legislation recognizing 911 telecommunications officers as first responders. Be it further resolved that the general assembly consider including 911 telecommunication officers within the hazardous duty retirement multiplier administered by the Virginia retirement system in recognition of the critical and demanding nature of their work. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to bring it to the floor as a motion that we adopt this resolution.

Okay. I have a motion to adopt the resolution. I mean that's what I understand I've talked on the board is to give them the leos that the police officers get. So, it's a good it's a good thing they're trying to get it. Um, I don't know how far they are on it, but have a motion by Mr. Collins. I have a second. A second. Okay. Second by Mr. Bryant. We'll start the vote with Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. And I vote yes. Mr. Chairman, I just like to thank everybody that came tonight. U special library. I do love to hear their updates and I use them a lot. So, I see that a lot of people there benefiting from it. just thank Mike and all the staff for what you all do. That's all I had.

Thank you, Mr. Collins. Mr. Early,

I'd like to start out by saying we have an awful lot to be proud of in this country. Uh just minutes ago, Artemis 2 circled within the closest distance to the moon and the furthest distance from the Earth. So, very excited about that and I know Mr. campaign is also excited about and will be asking us questions concerning our space program. And also I want to u thank our uh department of war, our administration and all the war fighters that are out there putting their lives on the line every day. I was part of that. I was very fortunate to be part of that for 30 30 years. I wish I was there now, but they are doing an extraordinary job and it's a job that should have been done 47 years ago and I hope they completed to completion. And other than that, just thanks to the staff and all the people that work here every day and our firefighters and law enforcement. Hope everybody has a good week. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Early. Mr. Horton, I'll just reiterate everything that Mr. Curly just said, I appreciate everything that uh her staff and all the county's doing to keep our county running the way it is. Special thanks to Waver Mosley for coming out tonight do the invocation and pledge. U really enjoyed him coming out and doing that for us tonight and enjoyed the presentation from the library. Just want to tell you guys thank you. I appreciate everything you guys are doing for us. So

thank you Mr. Horton, Mr. Moore. Yeah, I would like to echo what other board members said and thank uh Waverly for coming out. I hate I missed him and a good message and a good reminder of the service that we we all do to make Carol County better. Um I want to thank uh the dispatchers, EMS, our law enforcement, fire department. I know they have been extremely busy, not just over the holiday weekend, but all the time. And they're there to answer the call. and um just thinking about all a lot of the things that they do have done and do every day and and where they've come from as as as an organization, you know, and with that being said, I want to thank the board for for what they've done since each of you gentlemen's been on the board to make it better than what it was when we all got on there. You know, seeing it six years ago as opposed to now, it's uh it does the heart proud that that we're taking care of our citizens that way. And I know there's things that we could do to make it better, but we've come a long ways. And I want to thank each of y'all for your dedication to that. Uh, thank Mike and uh and Jason for helping me get on and thank the board and the citizens for allowing me to do it by phone. Um, thank Mr. Durban for his work. And u, thank the library for coming and doing another extraordinary presentation. And I look forward to my outline to to look back on. But some of the numbers, you know, with um over a thousand people getting a card over the last year, it's um it's great to know that we're have citizens still moving in that direction. And and with the the digital and all that stuff that's out there, it's still very impressive that we keep growing in inspects. And u with that, thank y'all again for allowing me to uh to be on my phone. And uh I mean that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moore. I just want to thank um the board members and the staff u everyone's work that that put into it um that a lot of people don't see behind the scenes and the county and the sacrifices that uh our EMS and volunteers and stuff make. in the 911 I dispatched for a few years and they definitely deserve um the Leo's retirement and I hope they're able to to get that. So I'm glad that we have a resolution that we stand with them on that want thank Mos church the beautiful prayer to meet with and the library they did a great job and presentation and that's all I have I will go to Mr. Watson,

Mr. D. No comments to see Mr. German. Thank you. Okay, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. Make that motion. Have a motion by Mr. Hord. Do I have a second? Okay. Start the vote with Mr. Moore. 36 minutes. I guess I'm the one talking a lot up there, huh? Is that yes or no? I vote yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Erlin? Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes.