Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

I'll entertain a motion to come out of close session. So move. I have a motion to have a second. Second. Start the vote. Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes.

Mr. Bryant? Yes. and I vote yes. Come ask all the supervisors to certify certification resolution [clears throat] whereas the Crow County Board of Supervisors convene a close session this date pursuant to recorded vote and on a motion to close the meeting in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Whereas section 2.2-37D of the code of Virginia required certification by the board of supervisors that such close session was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. We went under close session for discussion section 2.2-3711D A1, A3, A6, and A29. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Carol 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 is by which this close session was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting to which certification applies. I'll start with Mr. Bryant.

I so certify. Mr. Collins, I so certify. Mr. Horton, I so certify. Mr. Early, I so certify. Mr. Moore, I so certify. And I so [clears throat and cough] certify. Excuse me. Okay. Next on the agenda is in theation and pledge. Um, I will ask Mr. Mant to lead us the invocation, please. Mr. Early will do the pledge. Heavenly Father, we just thank you once again for allowing us to be here. God, we just ask that you just help us uh in the decision making for the county and do what's best for the county and the citizens in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

Amen. 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. [clears throat] And next on the agenda, we have citizens time. Anybody sign up? Okay. On the agenda next is minutes January 5th, 2026 and January 15, 2026. I entertain a motion to do them both together or separate.

I'll make a motion to do them both together as presented. Okay. Have a motion to do them as presented. A and B. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? [snorts] I start the vote with Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. And I vote yes. And next on the agenda is the consent calendar that you received. I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented. I make that motion. Have a motion by Mr. Horton to have a second. A second. Second by Mr. Moore. Any discussion? If not, I'll start the button with Mr. Bryant. Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes.

And I vote yes. Next on the agenda is the invoices. I'll entertain a motion to approve the invoices as presented. Make a motion we approve the invoices as presented. Okay. Have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? Yeah. Start the vote to Mr. Collins? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. Mr. Early? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. And I vote yes. And next on the agenda is new business um lifesaver award presentation. I'm gonna ask Mr. Jason Fel if he'll come up, please.

Good evening. Thank you'all for your time this evening and uh had a couple of calls that we wanted to talk about. One from June the 13th and uh had a traumatic injury and uh the patient needed to go to Baptist and the weather didn't cooperate. They didn't feel the patient was stable to go to Baptist by ground. So they took the patient to Twin County, had some significant life-saving measures performed there, put the patient back on the truck and went straight to Baptist. And that patient is alive today and continues to recover. And uh without the dedication of our volunteers, our paid employees, our volunteer fire departments, outcomes like this don't happen. Uh the second call I want to recognize is on uh October the 14th, we had a call just across the the county line into Patrick County. And uh the Patrick County crew was an hour away. They were leaving the hospital in Martinsville. Our medic 5 crew and rescue 12 fire crew was in Laurel Fork and was on scene within minutes. uh when they come in's difficulty breathing. As they got there, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Uh the crew immediately initiated life-saving measures and resuscitated the patient, brought them back out to the LZ where several of us pitched in and uh got him on the helicopter and he was flown down, had 100% blockage after CPR and resuscitation, was discharged from the hospital

with zero deficits. alive today for the quick actions of our crew. And uh you know, without them, we ain't here to present this stuff before you all to them to show them how much we appreciate what they do every day. Uh I'll go ahead and give out your all's names and then we'll come up and do the presentation. On the June 13th was Travis Little, Sam Adams, April Large, Megan White, and Dale Edmonds. Like I said, that's the crew that wanted to fly. They couldn't get a helicopter. They got the patient stabilized and made the call to go straight because that's what the patient needed for the positive outcome. On October the 24, excuse me, October the 14th, 2025 was Samantha Riiffy, April Large, Richard France, Megan White, Wesley Y, Thomas Stman, Carl Smith, and Joel Young. And after they found out what was going on and people was getting cleared up and freed up, we had a lot of people there to to make a difference. And we had a lot of additional hands there at the helicopter pad at Micrometrics. Not micrometrics, Rotometrics. But at this time, I want to give them these awards and thank them for their hard work and dedication, not only to the citizens of Carol County, but our neighboring counties that need help, too, when their their call volume is suffering for a lot of calls and they need our assistance, and this is truly one that had a positive outcome.

Now, I appreciate you all's time to present these awards. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. All right. for the for the June the 13th. We want to recognize Travis Little.

Yeah. [laughter] You stay up there. Sam Adams. Moving on to the October the 14th April. Samantha Ricky. Samantha was on the medic crew that arrived first on scene and the patient on that call and we also got a call from the hospital commending the job that she does and saying this guy's giving him another chance. Thank you. Wesley Jones

and Joel Young Richardes I want to recognize you. We have one more. Mr. Fails.

Thank you, sir. Well, smile, Wesley. [laughter] Thank you.

Tell me when to stop. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. F. Absolutely. Thank you. Like to thank y'all we for what you do and for coming and uh the work you do. It doesn't go unnoticed and really appreciate the effort and that you do. Not only these two events, but I'm sure the last few weeks has been really tough with the weather. How many times have y'all failed? Few. But it's just not too many. This is every day. We appreciate all y'all do.

We do. We do. Appcate. Thank y'all. Yep. [snorts] And next on the agenda is National uh Police Week. And I'll read a little bit on the on the email. Um we did this form last year. Uh 1962, President John F. Kenny signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers [clears throat] Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as police week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Uh Car County Sheriff's Office was able to honor Deputy Curtis Bartlett in 2018 and Corporal Charles Catherine in May of 2023. It's on an honor to attend this memorial service and never forget the ultimate sacrifice these brave officers encounter. During police week, the Carol County Sheriff's Office is able to attend the candle lot service where each fallen officer's name is read and honored by loting candles in the National Mall at the nation's capital. Also attending the law enforcement museum and observe in the law enforcement wall where each fallen officer has their name and grace that they will never be forgotten. May 15th of each year is the final ceremony where top leaders of our nation present a final speech in remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice each family mayor have endured in his profession. National Police Week also provides multiple different events that include department competitions and mental health support groups. So on the agenda, they're asking um the board to send like we have in the past some officers to National Police Week and I'll entertain a motion if we want to do that.

I'll make that motion. Okay. Have a motion on Mr. Horton. I have a second. I second it. Okay. Second by Mr. Moore. I'll start the vote with Mr. Collins. Yes. Mr. Bryant. Yes. Mr. Mr. Horton. Yes. Mr. Early. Yes. Mr. Moore. Yes. And I vote yes. Okay. Next on the agenda is old business. Um have committee appointments. I'll entertain a motion if anyone wants to put on for committee appointments. Uh I'd like to make the motion, Mr. Chairman, to appoint Greg Hawks to the PSA board. Okay. Have a motion to appoint Greg Hawks to the PSA board. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. I'll start the vote with Mr. Collins. I was staying. Mr. more. I abstain. Mr. Early, yes. Mr. Horton, yes. Mr. Bryant,

yes. And I vote yes. Okay. Next on the agenda um is board member comments. And I will start with Mr. Bryant. Just uh reiterate the uh how we thank the uh uh EMS and fire and all the first responders. Uh I know it's tough out in the the cold weather, but they do a great job. We thank them for that. And I just like to thank the staff and and all the all the board for what they do. That's all I got. Thank you, Mr. Bryant. Mr. Collins.

Yeah. First of all, I've got several. I'd like to start with uh like to make a motion that we reaffirm the county's Carol Countyy's 2019 second amendment sanctuary resolution. Um and I've got that if anybody needs to see it. Mr. Collins, I did have Mr. Durban work on that to redo it to 2026. We're going to put on the agenda for next month.

Okay. All right. Um, just just for the record, my abstension from voting on Mr. Hawks. He's a wonderful man. I have a an issue with how the vacancy is there to start with and that's the reason for my abstension. Mr. Chairman, I have several things that I would like to submit for the minutes. I won't read them in their entirety, but just want to make I'll I'll give you a two sentence what they're about and then we can just I'll give them to the secretary and she can put those in the minutes. Um first one regards the social media policy. I have asked for review of the social media policy from an independent agency and just I've got notes here about that where I requested that. Um, next one would be a formal statement for the record withheld communications disclosed through citizen for you. I'm submitting this statement uh because as a board of supervisors, we've had an agreement for the entire time I've been on the board that any information that's shared with some of the board and some board members left out that it will be shared with them, especially when it has to do with them. through a recent foyer that was done, I was uh made aware of at least a dozen emails that had been sent that were in direct relation to me and never disclosed to me. [snorts] So, I'm just going to leave these for the record. Just a second. That may be it. That's all of it.

That's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Collins. Mr. Horton, I just want to reiterate. I really appreciate everything our EMS crew is doing. This weather out here has really been nasty. This ice has been something to deal with, guys. And uh I just want you guys to know we appreciate what you do. And uh we see it. We see it. I've heard a lot of our our county come to me and told me a lot of good things that they're seeing. I feel like the citizens in the county are [clears throat] seeing the the new activity we got through EMS. So just want to tell you, Jason, thank you for what you do and all your crew. But thank you for the staff. Thank you for everything you guys are doing. It's all I got. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Horton.

Mr. Early.

Thank you. Uh Mr. Chairman, I have a statement that I would like to read and discuss or at least just read it. [clears throat] First, I'd like to thank all the first responders, community organ organizations, citizens, and county staff for coming together during the recent winter storm and frigid temperatures for our community. That's a true testament to all of you that together we can do anything. It has truly been an honor to serve the citizens of the county. I took several O's in in my life. One for the military, the country that I serve and love, and one for being elected to the board of supervisors of the county and citizens that I love. [snorts] [clears throat] Personally to me, my service on this board ranks up there along with my marriage to my lovely bride and my military service. Laws, rules, and policies are passed every day. Some we like, some we may not, but we can have open, honest dialogue. And then in the end the majority majority decides that is true democracy and that is what makes this country the best in the world. As elected officials we are no better than the citizens that we serve. We are held accountable to the same rules, regulations and laws and we should continue to all strive to hold ourselves to higher standards as we are seen as leaders of our community. In regard to the social media policy that was just brought up, uh I was found to be in violation of that policy back in May last year. Uh this board u directed that I be punished. I may not have agreed with what the punishment was or that I had even broken any part of a social media policy, especially since I don't do social

media. I was found guilty because I spoke to a newspaper without permission by the county administrator. And that same thing has happened to another board member here, [clears throat] but I accepted it, read a statement in public in public. I read it. I did not have the chairman read it for me because I disagreed with what the findings were. [snorts] Despite what happened to me, I focused on what the citizens elected me to do, serve them. Rules apply all the time to everyone, not just when it's convenient or for a personal or political gain. As I stated before, in my personal opinion, considering recent events, the citizens and taxpayers should not pay for an independent attorney to review county policies and procedures when the county has its own attorney to advise and guide us. If there is a member of this board that wants an second opinion, they can pay for it. Other than that, I just thank the staff for all you do. That's all I have.

Thank you, Mr. Early. Mr. more.

Yeah, I'd like to echo what everybody else on the board had said. Thank [clears throat] our EMS and [snorts] fire and um sheriff's department and all all of our emergency services for all they do. It's tough right now. It's tough every day, but these conditions and Mr. Felts very appreciative of all you and your staff do to make sure that our citizens taken care of. you know, firsthand seen ambulances have to come to houses and stuff right now and carry stretchers through ice that nobody wants to do and frigid conditions, but they still show up every day and you not going to go through Hillsville without seeing one going somewhere, you know. So, I know it's sleepless job, but I uh you know, y'all are always on our heart and in our prayers. Just know that. So, and uh thank staff for all they do. We thank Crystal, Mike, and Mr. Durban for all he does to to make sure that county is run properly. Um, Felicia, congratulations on moving up, I guess you'd say, or having a bigger headache, but we look forward to working with you through this budget year and in the future. And thank you for being willing to serve in that capacity. So, and um, I want to thank the board for all they do. You know, it's a thankless, timeless job. We get phone calls all the time with a little bit of everything. So, I know what each of you go through every day. And I just want to say I appreciate your dedication and I enjoy serving with each and every one of you because I know that ultimately at the end of the day, you have the citizens first in your heart. So, thank you for that. And u with that being said, good.

Thank you, Mr. more. And I would just like to thank the u the PSA um all the weather we've had to keep the water and everything flowing throughout the county. Um whe they've had to work in our county maintenance for keeping everything um out here or everybody come to work on the parking lot. Vo of course has done a great job all our emergency services and appreciate them coming tonight. Makes us proud Mr. Phelps and all the ones that do the lifesaver award. Um it's good job. We really appreciate you all. Um we have I have had two fires in my community. Uh one burnt down uh the Frost family on on the gap and then Mr. Bun. Um so if you would keep them in their prayers during this time as well. Um and also keep David Hutchkins family in prayers. Um he was a previous Silver Springs district supervisor that passed away and they had his funeral this past Saturday. And one one more thing on if if any of the supervisors like to attend the EDA meeting, if you let me know sometime if you want to kind of know what's going on and I'll put you on a schedule and get in contact with them.

Can I ask one more question about trash? About what? Trash can I? Okay.

Uh Mike and uh Mr. Durban be a question for you all. Uh in January, I believe it was, we awarded contract to Richardson Waste Management for Cane Convenience Center. It came out in the paper this week, and I don't believe everything that I read, but it said that they sold all their assets that the the company employees would still be there, but it's now Meridian Waste. Did we have a contract in place already with Richardson? Do we still have a contract? Who's it with? What is the status of that? And I think they said Meridian is a Charlotte, North Carolina based company.

Uh I have a meeting with them tomorrow. So we'll be able to work that out. We are uh uh we didn't exercise the agreement until we find out exactly who needs to be on that agreement as well. So we we don't know who did we have one already solidified with Richardson signed? No. the uh the agreement that uh the board approved it was approved with Richmond uh Richardson's waste management um you know if they purchase the assets then uh that would go along with it but uh I am going to meet with tomorrow discuss these things uh the biggest goal that we have that I feel like we have is to make sure we continue operating that site

right yeah I guess my question was is there any question that Meridian will continue not that I'm aware So hopefully it will continue as all u uh but we'll find out exactly how we're going to have to structure it. Thank you. Happy to assist the you saying they sold because in that last paragraph it says they merged. I didn't see anything about merge. Said they sold all their assets. Okay. Said that Meridian bought all the assets is what way it read. All right. And I don't pretend to know that. Somebody else would have to educate me on exactly what that means as far as whether it's I mean it reads to me as though it's now Meridian.

Okay. Only, but that's just the way I read.

All right. Well, they'll find out. Um and and since the social media um policy was brought up again and by you, Mr. Collins for another review. We were contacted by the Carol News um because they've been contacted, I guess, by you um about this. So, I will read you the statement that has been sent that the board has approved. I'll read his statement now. Mr. Collins was determined to violated the policy because he did not include a disclaimer making it clear that he was only speaking for himself and not for the county or the board as a whole. The disclaimer he pointed to on Mr. Collins Facebook page was modified after the policy violation was called to Mr. Collins's attention. Prior to that modification, he did not comply with the county's policy. This policy has been in place for several years and Mr. Colin is not the first board member to be sanctioned for violating the policy. The board and the county attorney determined in both cases that a violation had occurred. In both cases, the board members in question face similar consequences [clears throat] for the violation and a policy was applied equally. We have rules and procedures that all board members must follow. Because it has been several years since the policy has been reviewed or amended, the board has considered whether updates or clarifications are warranted. Any modifications will be adopted publicly and made available to the public. The county's policy is not intended to have a chilling effect on public discourse and all employees and officers of the county, including Mr. Collins are free to speak for themselves on all matters of public concern provided they take reasonable steps to make it clear that they speak for themselves only and not the county government as a whole. Mr. Collins has asked for independent review of social media policy. As previously stated, the board has consulted with the county's attorney and the remaining members of the board and have concluded it is not an appropriate use of taxpayer money to seek a second opinion. Mr. Collins has a right to seek it a second opinion, but he would need to do so at

his own expense. and county administrator comments.

Okay. Um I just wanted to make a quick statement. I was just uh going to uh tell uh uh Mr. felt that I appreciate him and that um you know a lot of times as we go through these jobs we know that the people around us do great work not only in the uh fire and rescue but in the PSA and and as a board and also as uh many of our staff but a lot of times we don't hear that. You know, some of us uh listen to the radio or or see a siren going by and we don't really have know what's going on. Okay. I just I want to say it's great when you have somebody ahead of the department that brings in their employees and uh um shows what a good job they do. Okay. I'm guilty of not doing that as much as I should, but that just shows good leader. And um you know I just want to tell him thank you for bringing that in making us aware of the people that did this and that uh uh not only that um it it gave me just two incidents of how these people expire on a daily basis but it also brought to us and gave us the ability. So I just wanted to thank Mr. Felt for bringing that.

Thank you Mr. Pson. Mr. Durban. No comments this evening Mr. Mr. Chairman. All right. Next on the agenda, I'll entertain a motion for adjournment. So move. Okay. Have a motion and a second. We'll start the vote with Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Collins? Yes. Mr. Bryant? Yes. Mr. Horton? Yes. Mr. Erling? Yes. And I vote, please.