City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome to everybody. This Posen City Council meeting is called to order. We have an amended agenda tonight. Uh we're going to add uh one topic under item F new business a resolution to ratify that declaration of the state of emergency in the super coen on January 24th 2026 and the special presentation that we had planned tonight by Miss Nikki Johnson the regional economist from the Hampton Rose Plann and District Commission. Uh we're going to postpone that to another night just out of concern for her safety having to to drive some distance to get here. So with that, we'll move on to item B, which is the invocation and pledge of allegiance, and that will be led tonight by Vice Mayor Debbie Bunding.

Please stand. Dear Lord, we enter your courts with praise and your your gates with thanksgiving this evening, Lord, acknowledging your goodness and your thank you for the opportunity that each of us have been given by the citizens of this city to serve them and give us the wisdom and the guidance that you um will provide and can provide to us. Father, as we make decisions that will affect these citizens, help us to value others above oursel and help us to serve one another and love. We ask these things Jesus name. Amen.

The flag of the United States of America and for which it stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice. Thank you, Debbie. Moving on to item C. Uh we have our audience for visitors. Uh at this time, we will open the floor for public comment related to the city. Uh for comments not related to the pre-budget hearing, we'll have an opportunity to speak to that a little later in the agenda. Uh we're pleased tonight to have with us uh our former delegate uh Mr. AC Cordoza. So AC, welcome.

Thank you, mayor. I really appreciate it. Uh it has been a joy serving the city of Picosen for the last four years. Uh unfortunately that time has come to an end for now, but I really appreciate the invitation to come and and speak before you one last time to uh say thank you and thank you to the residents of the city of Picosen. Uh and hopefully I've done a great job for them and uh we will see what the what continues in the future. So thank you so much. I appreciate it and it's a great honor.

AC appreciate you being here. Uh we just wanted to recognize and thank you uh in public uh for your contributions to the city of Picosen. And like you and I talked about earlier, a very small percentage of the population have ever had the opportunity to to serve at at the state level in the state government. So, we commend you for that and appreciate the fact that you're willing to to take the high road, the hard road, and to step up and take on the burden and responsibility of leadership. So, thank you so much for that. And I do have a couple of items to present you to remember us by. Thank you. She is the lady that actually Thank you all. I appreciate it. Do we have any other speakers? Okay, then we'll close the floor and we will move on to item D, the approval of the minutes of the regular session of January 12th, 2026. Do we have a motion and a second?

So move, Mr. Mayor. Second. Any questions or comments? Christy, call for vote, please. Councilwoman Hubard, I. Councilman Southhaul, I. Councilman Freeman, I. Councilwoman EMTT. Hi. Vice Hunting. I. Councilman B. Mayor Hugs. I carry by a vote of seven to zero.

Thank you, Christie. We'll now move on to item E uh which is a public hearing. We have two separate public hearings tonight. The first one has to do with a resolution requesting state legislative action to amend the city charter uh article six schools. So we'll now open the public hearing and I'll ask if we have any speakers to address the council on this topic. Okay. Then we will close the floor and and I will ask for a motion in a second related to that topic.

Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt the resolution requesting state legislative action to amend the city charter charter article six schools. Second.

Thank you. Any questions or comments on that? Uh I do I cannot support this as uh as written and I propose to amend uh this motion by striking paragraphs five and six. The reasons for that is currently the school board is balanced. We have two members from each voting precinct and one at large and I see no need to change the appointing procedure for that. Secondly, there's no need uh to change or increase the applicant pool. We have more applicants now for the school board than any of the others. We had eight two times and 11 once for the last uh three or four. And I think this would lead uh possibly for elected school boards uh because if we pass this where we make four at large and one uh each for each voting precinct, you could have five school board members from one voting precinct. And I think that uh upsetting that balance is just not necessary. And I think the citizens would feel like they're not well represented. And our current procedure have resulted in the Picosen City Schools being in the top uh 10 statewide for at least 30 years that I'm personally aware of. And I didn't check history back further than that, but probably longer. And so it's working well. It's not broken. And so I don't see any need for a change in how we do that. Um, this uh amendment needs a second or it dies before we can have discussion.

And we have a motion on the table. Do we have a second? I had seconded the original uh you haven't seconded the amendment. Right. Correct.

I think he just dies if there's no second. Okay. So, uh we have a motion and just to be clear, we have no second. That was for the the original not the way amended. Councilman Freeman, thank you for your for your your motion for that amendment. Do do appreciate your thought and appreciate your input and uh always welcome your advice and suggestions. Okay, with that, uh do we have a motion? We already have a motion. Okay, motion and a second. Okay, Christie. Councilman Southhall, I. Councilman Freeman,

no. Councilwoman Hubard, hi. Vice Mayor Bunting, I. Councilman B, I. Councilwoman EMTT, I. Mayor Hu, I. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of six to one. Okay. Thank you, Christie. With that, we will close the public hearing for that item on the agenda and we will open the public hearing for topic number two. Uh under item E, public hearing, uh this topic is a pre-budget public hearing. Do we have any

uh Mr. Mayor? There is no um specific presentation. Each year, uh by custom, we hold a pre-budget public hearing to allow members of the public to come and share with us their thoughts before we get uh too far along in the preparation of the budget. In addition to that, should the council as a group wish to provide specific direction manager in the preparation of the budget, this also affords an opportunity for council to do that. That's all.

Okay. Uh thank you Randy. I appreciate that. Uh we do have one speaker tonight. Uh this Roxan Overby uh from 47 Woodland Road, Posen, Virginia. And Roxanne, welcome. I appreciate you being with us. and we are we're here to listen and uh e eager to hear what you have to share with us.

Thank you. Um yes, my name is Roxan Overby. I'm at 47 Woodland Road and um I'm here to talk about sidewalks. Um conversation's been going on since about September of 2024. Um and this conversation started up then and we have come quite a far long way. um because now we have two plans for sidewalks. So great um great start. Um and so the conversation started like I said up in September of 2024 with the help of the citizens speaking out and the swift action of our city um council here, our um city manager um listened um and we currently have two plans for sidewalks going on. A small portion of Little Florida and a small portion of the upper Picosen Avenue. Um, with that being there is no other groundwork that I know of um for budgeting or resources that I have seen or heard um to connect the existing sidewalks that we currently have on the Coasten Avenue um or any other projects for sidewalks in the city. Um the time that it takes to plan sidewalks, which I did have a great conversation with um Mayor Hu and he told me the timeline of everything that was going on. And so with that being in the back of my head, I'm like, "Okay, it takes it takes some time." Um, and I realized that. Um, so the time that it takes to plan sidewalks with the time that it takes to actually install them is another reason for planning why planning is so important. Um, the planning the budget planning and budget has not been allocated for more future sidewalks that I can see. When looking into the budget for the fiscal year of 2027, it only seems appropriate to include additional funds for sidewalks so that we can continue the planning portion um from the city and so forth. Um we had a grow great momentum going at the beginning of the sidewalk conversation and now that the planning

of the city side is done, I just feel like the project has kind of hit a roadblock um for future plans it seems. Um, so I'm just asking for more planning, more budgeting for sidewalks to connect our schools with our community. And I appreciate all the work that is going into what we're doing thus far. So, so if I miss something about future planning, please let me know. Um, but that's just what I was hoping to see something in the fiscal year of 2027. So, thank you.

Thank you, Roxan. Appreciate you being with us and sharing your thoughts. Council members, any comments on this topic? I'll just throw a thing in there when we when we get in the conversations and I failed to mentioned the other day when we were talking uh our support of Virginia Potential Community College is is very important. I think they they've done a lot to help support us getting more into the schools. We have more students I believe now enrolled than the dual enrollment program ever had. And I'd like to enforce that. I I my own children did not benefit from that because it was so long ago, but now that it's there and present in the schools, any support we can give Virginia Peninsula Community College, I think would be a good idea.

Very good. Thank you, Keith. Yes, sir.

Paul 102 Hudins uh here in Picosen. Um, I absolutely back up what Roxan said. Want to make sure that that the sidewalks keep continuing and it's accounted for in the budget. Um, but I rise only. I had another thought regarding budget uh of an item that could use some focus. Um, I noticed we're getting a Planet Fitness. So, I went online because I come to council meetings every once in a while and I never heard anything about Planet Fitness showing up. So, I went and did a little research to get a little background how that came about. So, I figured, well, board of zoning appeals, maybe they had something on it. Um, didn't find much. Um, architectural review board, didn't see anything there. Economic development, let me pick on them a minute because I do have their uh last agenda dated August 5th of this past year. Um, first item, approval of minutes from April 1st. So I was a little surprised that our economic development authority hadn't met but maybe twice last year I clicked on the link that said see our videos went there. Uh the latest video was dated 2017 eight years ago. I bring this up because I think there's there's maybe two things that could be visited in the budget is either one um we don't have enough city staffers to sit with these meetings to generate the minutes to get them posted even if they have infrequent meetings. And the second thing which is a little near and dear to my heart because I am a retired broadcast television engineer a lot of work in audio video and one of the problems that we have with the online meetings is our our microphone system doesn't pick you guys up very well if you're not

in front of the microphone but not I'm sure and I know for a fact there's maybe some upgrades that can be done for the audio system here in the council chambers to make that more effective. And moreover, maybe the staff needs to be bolstered. So something more um easier, workable for when there is a meeting seated here that it's recorded and streamed on YouTube for guys like me who want to find out where Plant Fitness came from. That's all I got for you. Thank you, Paul. Welcome. Uh thank you for being with us and appreciate your regular attendance. Appreciate your comments tonight as well. a second pause comments.

Thank you, Keith. Appreciate it. Uh, any other speakers? Uh, Mr. Mayor, before we get too far away from it, we had the comments about the sidewalks. Yes, sir.

And while Roxan was speaking, I had a thought and I'm sure that I don't lose it, which I'm easily able to do. Um, we there's an opening that's being made between the legacy circle here. Whether it whether or not it ever gets really opened or not, you know, I don't know. And and it is what it is. But all of us know the problems we have with sidewalks in city. The roads in the city have been here for a long time. They weren't designed for sidewalks. We have the ditching. We don't have rights of ways. There are a lot of things that we don't have that makes further planning difficult for us. Okay? Especially when it comes to funding to do actually do something. But we're we're doing what we can so far. But there is a new road going through there. Okay. That may have easy access into Legacy that we could sidewalks from Legacy into the shopping center. And that makes access to other sidewalks back and forth in in the city. There's hundreds of new residents there. And right now they're having to walk down Victory Boulevard to get there. And we we have a easy path that I think we can get right aways to that won't take a lot of extra work to do. And I I just had that thought you'd have heard it before this meeting. Okay. But I think it's worth talking about that there's a way to get a lot of citizens into a shopping center not having to walk down Victory Boulevard where we we I think we could probably get easy access to my comments. Sir,

good point, Mr. South Hall. Thank you for sharing that with us. Any other comments from council members or staff? Okay. All right. That being said, we will close the public hearing for that topic as well and we will move on to item F, new business. Uh the first topic is an ordinance making additional appropriations fiscal year 2026 in the general fund. United States Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant and we have with us tonight Battalion Chief Joe Breeden. Welcome Joe. Appreciate you being with us.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh adjust this thing. Um, Mr. Mayor, members council, Mr. Manager, before you this evening is an ordinance making additional appropriations for the FY 26 general fund. Um, this is in regards to an FY24 and FY25 port security grants that we were successful in obtaining. uh the 24 grant and everything runs about a year behind with the federal government as far as the grant cycle goes. So we actually re received that in late or early 25 and then the other one in late 25. So with that the first one the 24 port security grant that was for additional personal protective equipment for our staff with regards to floods and marine response. Um, as we all see, the flooding is getting worse. And what this does is we're actually going to get some dry suits. So that way when crews are in the lower end or in any part of the city and they're waiting through water, um, they're protected from anything that might be in the water. With that being said, um, that's pretty straightforward. the FY25 grant. Um, as you see in the the memo that was sent out, um, you know, we were fortunate. We got a grant, we bought a new fire boat. When we bought that, we had an older center console boat that was, uh, it was great for the job at hand as far as being quick response. It was on a trailer. We could drop it anywhere in the city quickly. Uh, we've had numerous discussions. I know the manager, myself, the fire chief, and and different individuals um about why do we keep our big fire boat where it's at. And that

the the short answer is because that's where our highest risk and highest hazards are. And it takes time to deploy a boat that size. Time is of the essence. So that's why we keep it over there. What we have found unfortunately sometimes through incidents and just through planning and training and doing things is as we got rid of our old center console boat um that actually left a little bit of a hole in our operations. Um having that rapid response, rapidly deployed asset um and we got rid of that because it just got to a state of disrepair. It was old. Um it was wore out and it had structural issues. So, the best thing to do was let it go. Um, numerous conversations, we actually apply applied and were successful in getting a grant to get another center console or small boat that could be rapidly deployed. Um, with that, it had a match. Um, last council meeting, y'all approved, which I great greatly appreciate, a a part of that match, and then the volunteers have actually said they wanted to contribute to part of the match as well. What that leaves, that's a total of a $91,000 grant. That leaves uh $68,250 that the federal government's putting towards the project. So with that, I would be more than happy to answer any questions um regarding either of the projects and the grants in general

boat come with a trailer too or is it going to be on the case?

When we get it, um we're looking at we've got to the point we like aluminum hall boats. One because if you're dealing with fire situations, they don't burn as fast. Um, number two, um, we're we're pretty proficient. They're good for ice and we don't have to worry about cracking and that type of thing if we're dealing with ice. Um, the other thing is if they are damaged, they're pretty easily repaired. So, we're looking at another aluminum hole boat um that would be specific built for us and uh it would have would have a fire pump on it, portable fire pump, but it would have a fire pump on it and would be functional both in deeper water and shallow draft. So, it can it can get into the creeks and tributaries that we have fairly easy. Um a lot of things on the other side of the city um where water is shallow and then it's deep and then it's shallow again. So it will be ideally suited for those types of operations.

I just comment it takes a good while to get from your uh boat launch around to uh anywhere on the back river side. Uh yes sir. I I think the last time that we had a fire over near your area, um it took the fireboat about 25 minutes and I had a all my crews are top-notch, but I had a I had my ace on the boat that day and it still took him 25 minutes to get there. Or there's a boat ramp right at the end of the road that would been just a few minutes around. Yes, sir. So, I think this is a good idea.

Any other comments or questions from council members? Joe, you are very good at what you do. Another fine presentation and we appreciate that. Um, appreciate Chief Bryant being here with us as well. And also wanted to to thank each of you and please extend our gratitude uh to the firefighters here tonight uh demonstrating our new tower 2 truck. Yes, sir. I appreciate that. That's that's kind of the crown jewel right now is that new tower and uh as chief said earlier, that truck right now is the talk of the region. All positive. So, well, it's it's a blessing and we're very thankful that we could get that and it has a coffee maker.

That's that's a fact. And Joe, you had commented that the Picosen volunteer fire department had contributed to that as well. Yes. And I just want to recognize and thank everybody associated with the Picosen Volunteer Fire Department. Uh in particular, uh Chief Buster Ensley, uh that group of people put and and with that I don't I'm sorry I don't mean to cut you off, but with that that it's actually all three organizations were chipping in together to to support that. So it was the ladies auxiliary, the fire company, and the rescue squad.

Yes, sir. Well, thank thank you for the clarification on that and just want to let the citizens know uh that organization contributed $2,750 to this grant to get this fireboat and that's $2,750 that did not have to be paid by the taxpayers. Correct. So we all work together and that's another indication of the strength of this community and and and the depth that we have that we they also uh have contributed to equipment that's on the tower right now. Yes, sir. Well, please pass along our gratitude to them as as well.

Yeah. You're welcome. Uh I think we're ready to ask for a motion in a second. Mr. Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt an ordinance making an additional appropriation for fiscal year 2026 in the general fund US Department of Homeland Security port security grants. Seven. Thank you, Christie. Councilman Freeman, I. Councilwoman EMTT, I Councilman South, I. Councilman F. I. Councilwoman Huard, I. Vice Mayor Bunting, I. Mayor Hu, I. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to

Thank you, Christie. We're moving on to topic two under new business. Uh this is an ordinance to amend and reordain chapter 78 traffic and motor vehicles of the code of the city of Posen Virginia by amending article one in general by adding section 78-8 helmets required for riders of electric powered assisted bicycles. And we have with us tonight our police chief Stephen Kates. So chief welcome. Thank you for being with us.

Thank you mayor. Good evening uh mayor, council members. U as as you all know this discussion goes back several months uh with the proliferation for a lack of a better word to use at the moment of the u electric power assisted bicycles in our community uh over the last several months and and I noticed an additional increase of those after the recent holiday season. uh as well at we had the work session where much discussion was had concerning the helman ordinance. And so following that and and taking your feedback through that session and and conversations since then, uh I bring before you tonight an ordinance that would require those 14 and younger on ebikes in the city of Pakos and operated on public rideaways uh to wear a helmet that that fits the definition in the code of being approved. uh by the appropriate body. So, I'll take any questions you have for tonight.

What was the age you just referenced? Uh age 14 and that's that's what uh state code 46.2 906.1. I thought you said 15. Just clarify. 14 and younger. Okay. Other questions or comments? Council members, just one comment. Yes, sir.

I'm I I think it's a good idea. I mean, like you said, after Christmas, they popped up everywhere and uh which is good. And I don't always think that everybody realizes the difference between riding a bicycle at 5 m an hour and one of these little things, scooters, what I call them, uh at 20 mph is big difference if you go over the handlebars. Um so, this is this is a good thing. And I'm also hoping that once we approve it, which I'm pretty sure we're going to, that you're you're good with warnings before we start actually taking people. Yes, sir. In most cases, we would do on any new ordinance like this, we would have a warning period.

Great. And but we also do have u I've got mailing uh ready to go in the queue pending your action tonight. Uh and so on once you guys make your decision tonight, then we'll move forward with that to make sure our community is educated on this issue as well as some others. Excellent. Thank you,

council members. Your comments and input are always appreciated. Um want to recognize Chief Kates as well. He applies his vast experience when it comes to law enforcement and and crafting this ordinance. And uh also want to recognize staff for your contributions as well. Uh also our city attorney Mr. Wayne Moore. Uh I've said on numerous occasions everything we do all the decisions we make are done under the opaces of uh the fine legal counsel that we have. So well done chief. Another great presentation. We appreciate that. And ask for a motion and a second.

Mr. Mayor, I move the council approve an ordinance to amend and reordain chapter 78 traffic and motor vehicles of the code of the city of Posen, Virginia by amending article one in general by adding section 78 tac 8 helmets required for riders of electric powered assisted vehicles or bicycles. Second. Thank you Christie. Councilman F. I. Vice Mayor Bunting I. Councilwoman EMTT I. Councilman Freeman. Hi. Councilman Southhaul. Hi. Councilwoman Huard. Hi. Mayor Hugs. Hi. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero.

Thank you, Christie. And that'll bring us to item or topic three under new business. Uh resolution making appointments to the library advisory board. Uh do we have a motion and a second? Mr. Mr. Mayor, I make a resolution making appointments to the library advisory board with the name Crystal Forest uh listed for the Eastern District whose term will expire January 31st, 2029 and Richard Hedgecock II for the Central Precinct whose term will expire January 31st, 2029. Second.

Thank you. Any questions or comments? Christie. Councilwoman EMTT. I Councilwoman Huard. Hi, Councilman Fi. Hi, Councilman South. Hi, Vice Mayor Bunting. I Councilman Freeman, I mayor Hooks, I Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero. Thank you, Christie. Uh, number four, resolution making an appointment to the Colonial Behavioral Health Board. Do we have a motion and a second?

Mr. Mayor, I would like to move that we adopt a resolution making an appointment Colonial Behavioral Health Board. Um I would like to um suggest that we appoint Gerald Pel for that um to that board. Uh Mr. Pil is a lifelong resident of Mosen. he has um his his career and serving others um in or around this capacity and very excited that um he's willing to be appointed this position. Um his term he's actually filling a term that John Shainer had served since a um August of 23 um until November of 2025. That's Dr. Shainer and we would like to thank him for his service as well. Um, so again, making this resolution to appoint Gerald Hatesel with the term expiring June 30th, 2027.

Second. Thank you. Questions or comments? Christie, Vice Mayor Bunting, I. Councilman Fi, I. Councilman Southpaw, I. Councilman Freeman, I. Councilwoman Huard, I. Councilwoman EMTT, I. Mayor Hook, I. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero. Thank you, Christie. And the additional topic we have under new business, the resolution to ratify the declaration of a state of emergency in the city of Pakosen on January 24th, 2026. Do we have a motion and a second? So move, Mr. Mayor. Second. Thank you. Questions or comments? Christie. Councilwoman Huard.

I. Councilman Southall. I. Councilman Freeman. Hi. Councilwoman EMTT. I Vice Mayor Bunting I Councilman five I Mayor Fox I Mr. Mayor the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero. Thank you Christie and that'll conclude the new business. We can move on to item G comments of the city manager. Randy.

Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh two items this evening. One is to express my appreciation for um the police, the fire, the public works, and uh utilities folks that worked throughout the weekend uh to make our city as safe as possible given the uh the weather event that we had um through their collective efforts. We were the only city that opened on time today. That is, may I say again, the only city again?

Yeah. the the only city that was fortunate enough I would say that our friends on the western part of the area got more than we did but uh through the efforts of a lot of people including this morning uh we were able to safely open the city and um also I just want to take a moment to share with the sad news of the recent passing of our former fire chief Robert Holloway he passed away uh last week um Robert was fire chief for about 14 of my almost 17 years with me. That is that's important. But what really important about his city service is when he retired, he retired with more than 47 years of of service as a member of of our fire department. I don't know exactly how many he was chief chief when I got here, but uh at the time of his retiring, he was the last active in the workforce member of the town of Picosen's um staff that transitioned with us or to us in 1975. To say that he a huge footprint of public service and leadership would be an understatement. But I just wanted to take a moment in case members of the community hadn't heard. If if you never even knew who he was, you were probably served by the people he and our community was made safer by his effort.

Thank you. Thank you, Randy. And knowing Robert personally for many years, uh our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to to Diane and all Robert's family. And I know in the old days, the way the firefighters described it, they started as a tailboard fireman. And uh we have Chief Bryant, I believe, also started as a tailboard fireman. And like Chief Robert Holloway, uh, both gentlemen started at that level and worked their way all all the way to being fire chief right here in Mosen and in their hometown where they're both born and raised. So just another indication of of the the strength of this community that we're so thankful for. Thank you, Randy. All right, we'll move on to council directives. Uh Jeie,

just wanted to say thanks to delegate AC Cordoza for serving our community for these last four years. Do appreciate it. whether it was at a Lions Club meeting or the seafood festival or here in the council chambers. It was always fun to to see you and I had a good time talking with Sam out front uh for the 45 days prior to it. I don't know if he ever told you that. Uh the first day I saw him out there, which was like the first day of early voting, he asked me, said, "You wouldn't happen to have an umbrella." And because it was kind of sunny out there and rather warm and I didn't think anything about it, but I came inside the building and went back out and he was still sitting there in the sun and I did have an umbrella, so I went and got it for him. And 45 days later, he returned the umbrella to me. So that it was fun talking with Mr. Sam. So if you see him again, give him my regards. Thank you.

Thank Keith Debbie.

Uh I would like to thank everyone here tonight and also former delegate uh tonight um for serving the citizens of our community. Would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Diane um Robert Holloway's wife and to their son and their family. Um, I've known Robert for a long time and back in the 70s I was a um a member of the volunteer rescue squad and spent a lot of time at the fire departments uh with a lot of those who were who have been around for a long time. So, um he did serve the city well and just want to uh extend those sympathies to his family and again um for the city, the staff, uh public works, um whoever Dominion Power, you know, ready to stand by to help the citizens of our community. Um want to thank them as well. And um did hear some uh rumbling of the forecast that we may have some snow coming the weekend. um hoping that doesn't happen, but um I'm sure we'll be ready for it um in case we just want everyone to stay safe as the kids head back to school tomorrow with a two-hour delay. Um everybody be mindful of that. The bus is on the road and the kids out again. All I have. Thank you.

Thank you, Debbie. Mr. Freeman, I don't have anything else. I was going to comment on the public works, fire, and uh our first responders in general and what Debbie said. So, I have nothing else to add. Thank you, Mr. Freeman. Angie,

um, echo what everybody else said. Um, also for those in the audience and those at home, um, the Virginia Municipal League every year has an essay contest for seventh and eighth graders. If I were mayor, and it is open for this year. Um, last year we had a Picosen student, Ellie Stevens, who was our regional winner. So, she got a little bit of money and a plaque and a a write up in Virginia Town and City magazine. Um, so it is open through March 23rd. It's just a brief essay, 300 to 500 words. Um, and if you were a mayor, a problem or an issue in your city that that you would like to solve. Last year's or yeah, Ellie Stevens was on sidewalks and walkability in the city. So, um, like that to inspire, uh, other Picosen students to submit and maybe we'll have another Picosen winner.

Thank you, Angie. Appreciate your words of encouragement. Hall, I started to be quiet tonight, but I changed my mind. I uh I would like to thank everyone who came out here tonight to support the city council. more people in the city should pay more attention to the city council. We're a good group and you could help us. Um, I'd like to thank everyone at home who's watching the city council and a special thanks to Paul. He's here all the time. Okay. Roxan for paying attention to the sidewalk projects and Joe Breeden for all the work he does getting the various grants and so forth. Same thing for Chief Kates and um again my support for the the city manager and police, fire and public works for keeping our city safe. They did an excellent job. Um and um I'd also like to uh remind people that this is my favorite city. Okay. I still love this. And um we're still there's still a lot of little town and little picosen in this city. Although we continue to change, we will forever change. But um we care about people, you know, uh our fire chief, Mr. Holloway, Gay, who recently passed. We care about him and his family and our prayers. I wish everybody in the city would do the same thing. We care about our people. We do what we can. Thank you all very much for supporting the council.

Thank you, Mr. South Hall. Could talk a while if you want me to. I do appreciate your comments. Thank you. Yes, sir. Did you have anything else? You You don't want to start me. Okay. And Keith, I apologize for last week. You're good. Uh I just want to thank our IT staff. Uh Miss Alisra Barefoot, Miss Jen Canella, and Mr. Jonah Easley. Uh another job well done. Could not put these meetings on without y'all. So appreciate being here as well, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. I

I rarely say anything, but I've been sitting in this chair for over 20 years, and I can't tell you how many times Joe has appeared, but he's found and rounded up money for this city, and how much money he's saved the taxpayers. Yes, sir. He was here again tonight was another.

Mr. Moore, your comments are always welcome and appreciated. And uh like I said earlier, Battalion Chief Breeden very good at what you do, my friend, and we're so thankful for our entire staff. So, appreciate the reinforcement, Mr. Moore. And that brings us to adjournment. Uh do we have a motion and a second? Mr. Mayor, one one final comment. Okay. Yes, sir. Sometimes we get spoiled a little bit, but we appreciate being spoiled. So move. Thank you. Second. Thank you, Christie. Councilwoman Huard, I. Councilman Southaw, I. Councilman Freeman, I. Councilwoman EMTT,

I. Vice Mayor Bunting, I. Councilman F. I. Mayor Hugs. I. Mr. Mayor, the motion carried by a vote of seven to zero. Thank you, Christie. We are adjourned.