Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Thank you. you you you you

Let's call this June 10th, 2026, Carroll County Board of Supervisors meet the order. And I will ask Mr. Collins to lead us in vacation and Mr. Early to pledge, please.

Father, thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight to work with the budget, the finances, the county. I pray that you would just lead us and guide us and direct us in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

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. Hey, next on the agenda is the budget work session, and I'm going to ask the budget committee to make any recommendations or talk to us about the budget. Go ahead.

Mr. Chairman, I'd first like to thank Mr. Watts and Ms. Bowman for stepping in. You know, probably not what she expected to be doing this year, but thank her for stepping up and doing a really good job with the budget that's in front of you guys. I also wanna thank Justin. I know he's no longer an employee, but he worked hard to help the county get to the position that we're in. And as a recommendation from the budget committee, one of the things that I would, I know that this board has always been very adamant about giving back to the citizens of this county and doing everything they can. Number one, being transparent and always, being responsible with the taxpayer dollars. And I know that this board has always been interested in doing countywide trash collection for our citizens. And I think if the board sees fit, this is the year that they need to do that as a free service to the citizens of the county. And with that budget also work with the CIP and with the county administrator to move forward with some grading and over a phase project to start the EMS building as well. And I also think Mr. Early worked hard on this and he's, I'm sure has a few things to add and say, but it's like always, it's an honor and a privilege not only to be held to the responsibility of being on the budget committee, but to also be able to work with not only Mr. Early, Mr. Watson, Mrs. Bowman, but to the board. I know a lot of times we're working different things, but you always answer the phone and we can discuss things and come up with the best option for the citizens of this county. So all I have is recommendations to approve that budget with the trust court.

I'd like to also thank Mr. Watson, Ms. Bowman, and all those in the administration that helped us put this budget together. and especially thank Mr. Moore. He is an idea guy. He comes up with ideas. 99% of the time, I like him, but he is definitely an idea guy, and we both have the same interest at heart, which is to improve the lives of the citizens of Carroll County, give back to them when we have the opportunity, and this year, we do have that opportunity to give back to the people that work hard every day to pay their taxes. So I'm in support of those additional items, adding countywide trash pickup, and also starting to prepare the site for the MS building. So again, I just want to thank everybody for their hard work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Do any of the other board members have any comments or want to say anything about the budget?

Just to ask Mike, the countywide trash service, I know you've done the numbers, what's the cost?

I'm sorry.

Okay.

Getting that exact number is very difficult because even with the GIS and the census data, you're still doing sort of an estimate depending on, it's hard to break down exactly per home what it is. Okay. Just to give you a little breakdown, there's approximately around 16,692 different addresses out there. And you have about 4,000 vacant. That's homes that you see as you're going down that are unoccupied, can't be occupied. Their structures, you see them along the roads and stuff. They haven't been lived in a long time. And then with the county... That brings us down to about $12,572. Just depending on how we work out the agreement and what the additional cost is, you're somewhere between $2.7 and $3 million a year.

And I'm assuming that Mr. Moore and Mr. Early have looked at this. You're looking at that coming out of fund balance? I mean, there's not room in the budgets for this year. It'll be carryover and fund balance.

I think we have the opportunity to... with our current fund balance in order to support this for a year or two and still not be able to put us in a huge crunch as far as moving forward.

And one of the things that we want to make a recommendation to is to have a panel, a couple board members or whatnot, Mr. Watson to work with Meridian to try to, because you know, it's really hard to get a number because there's a lot, like trailer parks and rental properties, they're not going to be a part of this. You know, that will still be on the land. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, just to be clear, I'm all for it. I'd love to do it. I understand. I feel that right now is the time that we could carry over. But I would assume over the next two years, we're going to be looking at some way to fill that in the budget and not just keep taking out a fund balance.

That's correct.

This is something that... We're hoping that as we work forward, we'll be able to see the revenue as generated. We do have excess fund balance that can go toward this. We have a debt or two we're paying off next year, too, isn't it?

Yeah, we're losing some debt. Quite a bit of money. And I think we've even went as far as in our discussion with the budget. The committee is building roughly 400 houses a year in the county as well. That's helping with some revenue that's coming in.

And just to be transparent on it, we have been very, the board has been very conservative over the years. We did have some projects that were taken off a few years ago that will help support this as well. So as we move forward, we're continuing to be financially, I'm going to say efficient with what we receive and what we spend. And this board has done a real good job on being very conservative on spending money.

And you said, Tracy, preparing the site for the EMS building. You're not talking about...

I think it needs to be over a three-year phase, you know. I would like to see so we see back where we're at next year. I mean, nobody... We're not committing to any debt? No, no. I don't think we should do that. I think we should start with the grading and RFPs for the building and, you know, just... wrap it over a couple of years.

Yeah, absolutely. And they need it. We went down there the other day. I mean, there's rodents, snake holes. I mean, they desperately need a place.

And that was a lot of the things, like I say, with the budget committee, you know, you're looking at things that help the entire county, you know, and the trash and MS service are both that every citizen can use.

I agree. Anything else, Mr. Collins? No. Mr. Horton, do you have anything? Mr. Bryant? I don't have anything.

I'd like to thank the Budget Committee and Mike and all their hard work. We've talked about this, and I know litter, we did a litter task force trash. It's probably been the biggest issue in the county, in my opinion, for a long time, and this is a first. It'll take some patience if that's what the board decides to do. I'm very excited for it. I think it's something that We can help do, we can't control power bills, but we can help some of the people on fixed incomes have trash picked up and not have to pay for that. And I know we have some things in the budget that's coming off so we can keep the tax rate and everything the same. And there's always a few cuts we can look into next year if we need to as well. But I think this is heading in the right direction. And the EMS, we can build it as we go. Um, I'd like to get it done in two years instead of three if possible, but we'll just see where we're, where we're at. Um, I know that's something that they deserve and need. And then the, uh, building we can, the other building is not really worth anything we can use for PSA and get rid of the county, old county garage building. So that's, that's all I've got. So, um,

Just one more question. Yes, sir. We have a plan worked out where we can tell people how to get prepared for this.

Most likely what we'll have to do is we'll provide the service. The customers that are paying now will continue to pay until we have the opportunity. You're talking about 12,000 containers and equipment and also working out this agreement with the provider. It'll be a few months before it. Before it, it would be opportunity. But the ones that want the service now can sign up and pay for the service moving forward.

Gotcha. So they need to go ahead and sign up and pay with Meridian. They need to sign up. Yes, sir.

Yeah. And a lot of people have already done that. That's one reason the website, I think, crashed. But just pick up the phone. That's the simplest thing to do. Everybody I've talked to got through pretty quick, and they'll call you back. But get signed up with them. Everybody that's with JFL now that wants to continue their trash pickup and the rest of the citizens, it will take a little time. Probably a few months, but we will get to everybody as soon as we can. And Mr. Watson will be releasing information and everything on it.

But just to be clear, they will need to keep paying until it's provided for the entire... We don't know exactly how long that's going to be.

And once we do, we'll be able to work with Meridian in order to figure that out. The specifics, that's the reason why a small committee... to work on some of these things. There's a lot of decisions that have to be made, whether who provides the service. We'd like to provide it to every road we can possibly do. And how it's going to be, we'll have to work with them on how they push the policy forward, whether they do certain areas or they work along wherever paths are and continue to do it. So there's a lot of logistics and crossing T's and dotting I's. When you make changes like this, it's not something that happens overnight. It's easy. I guess once the committee reaches a decision on it, we can release something to the public in the paper or something. And we can do a press release in order to let the citizens know that's what we're working toward. Yeah, I mean, I think it's public.

We're in a public meeting now. We do have a press release. I have a question. That committee would be more like a task force, wouldn't it, to to do the legwork behind making sure all the addresses are covered. Meridian's not doing all that by themselves, are they? They would.

To have a task force or committee, what that would be is to have an internal discussion on what we feel is the board's to work with staff in order to be able to provide us with some guidance. I mean, that way the board and staff can go through and be going down the same path. Because, you know, there'd be nothing worse than me saying everybody gets half a container and the board wants a whole container. So it's the little things that get lost in translation. Do we need to go ahead and do a committee tonight?

It'd be great. Two members? Yes. Who wants to volunteer? I'd be glad to work on it with you.

Okay. Who else?

Mr. Collins and Mr. Bryant. Okay.

I think we should try to, a couple people from the trash committee or from the county, I think we should appoint those as well.

Yeah.

I think it's a good idea. Whether it be Mike and Ronald and Chris or whoever. Okay. You want to let go? Mike's going to be working with it anyway. Oh, yeah. Yeah, one of the biggest things, you know, that I thought that we should do that is because, you know, I'm hearing of a lot of people that are GFL customers. They own a trailer, being a trailer court, but they pay that as lot rent.

How about the lady over the litter task force?

She resigned. I think Ronald over the litter task force now, right? Yeah. You want to get two on the litter task force, is that what you're saying, and two more members or just one on the litter?

Yeah, we could do, let's just do the four here. I'll make a motion to add Mr. Newman, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Brunt to the task force. Mr. Watson. And Mr. Watson to work out the logistics.

I have a motion, I have a second. Second. Okay, I'll start to vote with Mr. Early. Yes. Mr. Brunt. Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes.

Mr. Collins?

Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. And I vote yes.

Mr. Chairman, may I say one thing? I think the intent, the commander's intent of this is that every household in the county will be served. Correct? Yes.

Yes. And there may be, you know, some places they had to bring a trash can out a little farther. Sure. And that's what they're going to work through.

Okay.

Just make sure that they're not going to leave anybody out just because they're They're willing to set up here in Carroll County, invest in Carroll County, and buy smaller trucks. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. And does anybody want to... Mr. Moore, do you want to put what you had into a motion on the...

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I've got a couple statements I'm probably able to read before we go any further. Today's discussion involves a county budget and discussion may include funding for Carroll County School Board. As many of you know, I have a position in employment with the Carroll County School Board with regard to proposed funding. The school board's proposed funding would affect the entire school system generally, not myself individually. As a consequence, I'm a member of a group of three or more individuals who are employed by the Carroll County School Board, similarly affected by the decision of proposed funding. Therefore, in this section, the exception to the Virginia State and Local Conflict of Interest Act, Virginia Code Section 2.2-3.1.1.2, B1 applies to this situation in compliance with that section. I hereby declare that I'm able to participate in this discussion, voting on this topic fairly objectively and in the public interest. And also, as many of you may know, serve in an unpaid volunteer position at times with the Carroll County Sheriff's Department as chaplain because no compensations received from the Sheriff's Office of Virginia State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act does not apply. I want to assure the public that I can participate in consideration of this matter fairly and objectively and in the public interest. Thank you, Mr. Collins.

Mr. Moore?

Yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve a budget as presented with the amendment to add the money to make sure that the trash is done, the $2 million, $2.2 million, whatever it comes to is added to that. Okay. I'll carry over and CIP.

Does that include grading for the MS building? We'll do that through our CIP, yes. Okay. I'll second that.

Okay. I have a motion by Mr. Moore, second by Mr. Early. Any more discussion? If not, I'll start by voting with Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Bryant. Yes. Mr. Horton. Yes. Mr. Early. Yes. Mr. Moore. Yes. And I vote yes. Now we entertain a motion for adjournment. I'll make that motion. Motion by Mr. Bryant. Second. Second by Mr. Collins. I'll start the vote. Mr. Moore? Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Wharton? Yes.

Mr. Early?

Yes.

And I vote yes. Thank you.