Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Mhm.

I call this meeting to order. May 5th, cycle of May, Board of Supervisors meeting. Roll call, please. Mr. Holroyd? Yes. Mrs. Knoll? Here. Mr. Drury? Present. Mr. Rowan? Here. Mr. Shepherd?

Here. Mr. Chair, I'm you you have a quorum. All right. So, we are going through all the budget ordinances, resolutions that we discussed at the last meeting. I call on Mark to give any opening comments, please. While I'm talking, Mr. Owens uh come up. So, they're here with us in case you all have any questions as you walk through this. But, start with what I'd like to say is staff [clears throat] and I are truly appreciative of all the time and effort that you all spent on this. Besides, we've talked about several times about how much time you've spent on this and how many meetings we've had. Some of the things they don't know behind the scenes is the one-on-one meetings when you meet with finance staff, etc. There there's an incredible amount of time that is put into this on your part. And we want to thank you for that, for your leadership and guidance there, because it is super important to successful outcome. And I do feel like we are there. And then, my last opportunity before you vote to tell to tell Teresa and her staff, Amy, uh Greg and Virginia, all sitting back here to miss anybody? Okay. Uh are all sitting back here. They have put in countless number of hours on this and we're very proud of the work they've done. So, with that, I'll turn it back to you, sir. And uh you can start to walk through those. All right. So, the first one is on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget adopting the uh real estate uh rate and the personal property rate associated with the budget. So, that's the 78 cents and $4 for personal property, unchanged from the previous year. Uh do I have any questions or discussion? Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to approve uh proposed ordinance 26.9. So moved. Roll call, please. The motion made by

Mrs. Knoll is to adopt proposed ordinance number 26-9 to approve the calendar year 2026 real estate and personal property tax levies. Mrs. Knoll? Yes. Mr. Drury? Yes. Mr. Rowan? Yes. Mr. Shepherd? Yes. Mr. Holroyd? Yes. Motion carried. Number two is fiscal year 2027 proposed budget to approve the budgets and the appropriate and appropriate funds for the county and school division. So, are there any questions or discussion on the budget? Sir, I do have one question. Um I know we talked about this briefly. So, [snorts] you know

[clears throat] your proposal initially is uh 2,014, and then you found another I think that was uh after was it that extra money coming from what we think the meal tax? For that 467,000. Is that what that was? Some of it was the emissions tax and some of it was just growing up and Okay. calculating some of the business [snorts] licenses and stuff. And then now based on that, then where do we put that money? CIP

CIP, okay. All right. Thank you, that was it. Any further questions that proposed R26-48. Roll call, please. The motion made by Mr. Knoll is to adopt proposed resolution number R26-48 to approve the fiscal year 2027 budget. Mr. Drury? [clears throat] Yes. Mr. Rowan? Yes. Mr. Shepherd? Yes. Mrs. Knoll?

Yes. Mr. Holroyd? Yes. Motion carried. Number three is a change on the agenda. Uh this was adoption of a fiscal year 2027-2032 capital improvement program, CIP. And it had been missed on our original agenda. It's been added. So, any discussion [clears throat] or any questions on the CIP? Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to uh proposed resolution 26-49. So moved. And roll call, please. The motion made by Mr. Rowan is to adopt proposed resolution number 26-49 to adopt the FY20 2027-2020 2032 capital improvements program. Mr. Rowan? Yes. Mr. Shepherd?

Yes. Mrs. Knoll? Yes. Mr. Drury? Yes. Mr. Holroyd? Yes. Motion carried. Number four, in keeping with the state requirements to designate a portion of real property tax to the school purposes, I believe we have applied 40 I know here 45 45 cents of the property tax. Okay. Any questions or Is that really what it's really called, garbage and weeds? No. No, sir, that's the next one. Yeah, you're on I'm on I'm sitting here on [laughter]

I jumped ahead. Sorry. I'm on this four But, it is Oh, they agreed. [laughter] Okay, that was the added. Okay. I'm like, but it was easy question to answer. Glad I didn't answer it then. Somebody pays attention. No, it's not garbage and weeds. All right. Any questions on that uh [clears throat]

on that uh resolution? I now move it. Hearing none, Mr. Shepherd is moving it. Mhm. Roll call, please. The motion made by Mr. Shepherd is to adopt proposed resolution number R26-50 to approve the designation of real property tax for school purposes. Mr. Rone. Yes. [clears throat] Mr. Shepherd. Yes. Mrs. Knowles. Yes. Mr. Drury. Yes. Mr. Holroyd. Yes. Motion carried. Now you're at garbage and weeds. Now now you go to the weeds. That is the the uh title. [snorts]

When I put When I When I put trees in here, could it say garbage? Weeds and trees or shrubbery. We could have put a whole bunch of stuff in there. All right. Number five. Yes. Fiscal year 2027 budget solid waste rates to set the fees for solid waste and recycling services. [snorts]

Are there any questions on this? I did have one question and I'll raise it and it applies to both this one and the next one. Mr. Kucho at one of our meetings requested us to consider whether or not these rates could be and taxes. and used as taxes instead of as a fee. I and and we have and we've come to the conclusion that can't do that. [clears throat]

But more detail, Teresa. Um fees are not tax deductible. If you put it in the real estate rate, then it then it could potentially be tax deductible for somebody. Um we are a locality that doesn't require trash. So people that don't have trash and real estate and uh recycling would end up paying for other people's trash and recycling. Is it the same for sewers? Um yeah. Yes. So Mr. Mr. Hill joined the conversation with us this morning and also was kind enough to find the uh code at the IRS that says you can't do that. Well, that solves the problem, doesn't it?

Okay. They they under the SALT deduction, it specifically states that fees for local services are not deductible as those types of taxes. So even if we said even if we were able to designate them as taxes, which we can't [snorts and clears throat] lawfully because state law doesn't allow us to do that. They would they would the IRS would still say that they're not. Right. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions on that? Then I'll ask for motion on proposed ordinance 26-7. Roll call, please. The motion made by Mrs. Knowles is to adopt proposed ordinance number 26-7 to amend chapter 19 solid waste, garbage, and weeds of the York County code to change the fees for solid waste and recycling services. Mr. Shepherd.

Yes. Mrs. [clears throat] Knowles. Yes. Mr. Drury. Yes. Mr. Rone. Yes. Mr. Holroyd.

Yes. Motion carried. Next one up is chapter 18 on sewage disposal and sewers. So it's fiscal year 2027 budget sewer rates. Um I'll ask if there's any questions or discussion by the board. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion. I'll move. That's proposed ordinance 26-6. Roll call, please. The motion made by Mr. Rone is to adopt proposed ordinance number 26-6 to amend various sections of the York County code to increase the sewer rates and make administrative changes. Mrs. Knowles. Yes. Mr. Drury. Yes. Mr. Rone. Yes. Mr. Shepherd.

Yes. Mr. Holroyd.

Yes. Motion carried. Finally uh fiscal year 2027 budget to set a tax rate on prepared food and beverages. The infamous restaurant tax. This is to change the rate from current 4% rate to 6% rate. Are there any questions or discussion on this one? I will add that I've had at least a couple of emails on this one. It's been a a little bit of a hot topic, particularly as some review through the other municipalities. Um I think the point we're making here is the 2% meals tax is equivalent of adding 3 cents on property tax. And we felt that that leaving property tax at 78 was the fair thing to do and take the balance of money required for our for our budget out out of a increased meals tax. I think that pretty much explains why we are at 6%. I don't think there's much much of a way around that, but uh I think the public deserve the right to know that that is what we've done. And and beyond the

[clears throat] the impact it could have to the real estate tax rate. Um doing it this way it isn't just residents that contribute to it. Every visitor, every tourist that come into county and dine somewhere county restaurant helps contribute to it. So it helps spread that load out better than if you were to apply it to something like the real estate tax rate. I will pay my fair share because I enjoy the restaurants. I'm there, too. I'll ask for a motion then to approve uh proposed ordinance 26-8. I so move. I so move. Wayne. [laughter]

Roll call, please. The motion made by Mr. Drury is to adopt proposed ordinance number 26-8 to approve amendments to chapter 21 section 21-151 levy of tax amount of York County code effective July 1, 2026. Mr. Drury. Yes. Mr. Rone. Yes. Mr. Shepherd. Yes. Mrs. Knowles.

Yes. Mr. Holroyd. Yes. Motion carried. Again, I'll reiterate with Marcus that completes the ordinances on our the resolutions for the budget. Um thank you staff for the work that you've done. Thank you, Mark. Thank you for a very well prepared budget right from the get-go and I think we were all in line and on board right from uh the early portion of uh of the year based on what you've come up with for a recommendation. We thank you. And we thank the staff for bearing bearing with us as we work through this compensation uh package because this is really what it's all about. It's it's ensuring that we have a a good compensation package for our staff moving forward. Thank you. I'll I'll reflect in your pay stub.

[laughter]

I just like to say I I agree with Doug and um really for the general public, I don't think they realize how much time we [clears throat] pour into this budget this year and last year. Um lots of hours, lots of meetings. Staff has been great getting us information we're asking for and pouring over the budget and doing the best we can for the people at York County. And so I appreciate all the staff and hard work that was put into that. So thank you, Mark and your staff. I I'll go along with what you have to say because a lot of the work that the board of supervisors does is really not visible to the public. There are a lot of hours that have been put in, a lot of thought that's gone in, a lot of research has been going on, and you all have done a I think a really great job and the staff has been so helpful. And I I really think that I've done a lot of budgets. I shouldn't [clears throat] keep saying that, should I? But nonetheless, I think you all stepped to and we had more meetings than we thought we would ever need. But it it shows in in the product that we have. And I can't thank you enough for all the work that you've done. Thank you again.

[snorts] We've been at this for about a month. I I mean we we've been at it, but you know, they the whole right away. The whole development [clears throat] process has probably been 9 months as departments have to figure out what they need and so forth. And pretty much everybody in this room and outside this room has contributed to it to one degree or or another. It's been a long and arduous process. Um but at the end of the day, we just got to ask the basic questions. What do we need to operate the county for a year? What do we need to plan for the future? How do we meet our commitments and liabilities? And what is that bare minimum number? And that's what all everything we just passed here a few minutes ago addresses that. [snorts]

And it's it really feel like you're walking a nice edge that if you go a little bit one way or the other, the whole thing just falls apart. So I I don't know how to shave it any more than than than what we did. And we're already talking about some of the challenges we expect to see for next year. So really the next budget cycle is already already started as far as that goes. So um but this one's done. We're we're good we're good for a year. We know what we got. We can take care of business. And on on to other things now. And let me just add my my gratitude. Um one of the things that um [clears throat]

you know, we talk about the the proportions of the budget. [clears throat] In York County, one of the things I've really noticed in the county um education, public safety, you know, the big areas like that take up a huge hunk of our budget. And then you get down, you look at the the administration parts and you and you know, which are not easy to explain unless you got a cheat sheet in front of you to be able to describe each one. Um what folks don't really understand and seeing that is that we operate on three budgets. Our staff is dealing with three budgets at the same time. Not only do they put the future budget together, but they still have to deal with the current budget and the past budget. And so there's three budgets you got to deal with. And and so you say, "Well, you got too much staff to do this or too much staff." That's wrong because you don't understand that there's a lot of stuff going on and that's what makes the county work. And for for all you folks in here, you know, probably in in I know Sheila talks about this budget and I said at the very beginning when you first presented it, I thought this is probably the best budget I'd seen. And part of that was the iterative process we went through and the you know, the worrying and trying to figure out what trying to trying to stay with our priorities, our strategic priorities, and stuff like that. But um one of the to me the most important thing we do as supervisors is this budget because it reflects everything we talk about in terms of policy, everything we would like talks about our future, what we want to do in the future, things we want to see. And and you guys, you know, I know you're you're sitting here looking at the supervisors like a bunch of monkeys in in a in a cage trying to figure out how to do stuff, but you guide us. You help us,

okay? And and we represent all the citizens of the of of the county, all 70 What is it? 2,000 now nowadays? So um it's it's not an easy job. It's not easy for us. It's not easy for you. We together as a team and we're all rolling in the God we end up rolling in the same direction. And we hope we're not rolling off a cliff. And and so we're not doing that. So you guys are wonderful. You did great job. You know, you pat yourself on the back. Take the rest of the day off. [laughter] And another thing too, I think we're working on a 16th month forecast too. It's not just 12 months we're trying to We're trying to do that.

We're looking at a year and a half or or more and with some unknowns such as we're we're making assumptions what we're going to see in the state budget, but that hasn't been filed last yet. So that could come back and and bite us. So it's a little bit of crystal ball there as well as factual stuff and and hoping you can predict 16 months in the future. I'm I'm lucky to get past next week. And office stuff, so it it's a lot to it. Good job. Thank you. We'll move over to consent calendar. We've got [clears throat] two items, approval of minutes from March 17th, March 19th and then accommodation of the 2526 Youth Commission proposed resolution. So moved. I had one correction that was on the March 17th minutes. It was page 696 and correction was just uh two words added. I have a problem. You fix it. So it's a motion. All right, so moved. Roll call. Motion made by Mr. Sheppard as to approve the consent calendar as amended. Mrs. Knoll? Yes. Mr. Durrery?

Yes. Mr. Roan? Yes. Mr. Sheppard? Yes. Mr. Holroyd? Yes.

Motion carried. We'll open discussion. I'll call on each board member if you have anything else you care to raise. Sheila? Okay. I'm going to say you usually call on me first anyway. Ladies first. Let me start. Um Saturday [clears throat] night I participated in Relay for Life. And I have to tell you there was 150 survivors who were there plus their families. And it's always very very moving as they they do the the walk around the field to show that they can do it and they do. Um the vice mayor talked a lot about um raising money for for cancer, which is very very important. And he stressed it um so much because there's been a lot that's been done in research in many many years. Each year something comes up that's even more important than the year before and things that they can look at. I talked to the survivors. And because I'm looking around this table and I am and looking at the groups here, I am sure many of us are survivors and many of us have relatives who are survivors [clears throat] and many of us are worried about tests that people will be having. And you know that every year I say something about making sure that the women get their mammograms and the men get their checkups because [clears throat] cancer is silent in many many ways and it's only by having these tests done that they can find it. I am eternally I am eternally grateful that someone who I had met knocking on doors and said, "I haven't seen you for a while." I said, "Oh well,

telephone calls, you know, I couldn't get through and I'll do it." And she made me make an appointment. And I'm very thankful that you did. Because yes, I did and now I'm fine. And that's for everybody here. Please please make sure your health is so very very important not only to you, but to your family. And you owe it to yourselves and to your families to take care of yourself. And to do all the take all the tests that you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it and follow the regimen that you're given whatever the case may be. So I can tell you that that it was very very emotional to see all those people out there walking. And I have to say we had three Fife and Drummers that were there that played and we had some high schooler [clears throat] army junior ROTC that also were there. So they went through the official I yes. Pledge allegiance to the flag and and all the all the the things that that go on. But you know they've been doing the Relay for Life well I remember when it was in York County. I've I think it's got to be almost 30 years that that they have been doing it. Um and I know that the the numbers of people that are are participated are not as high as they were when they initially started. But those of you out there that have not participated in Relay for Life and are eligible to do so please think about it next year because it it makes you it gives you a special feeling to talk to other people who have been like you. And you see how they're doing. And I I think it's a very special

thing. Now I'll get off that subject. I've got another subject if I may. Uh Tonight [snorts] [clears throat] it ends at midnight is Give Local 757. And there were 260 nonprofits that the Community Foundation has put together. And this they do this every year. They've been doing it now I forget how many years. They've raised a ton of money for those nonprofits. And smaller nonprofits don't get the exposure except maybe to their friends and their neighbors, but this allows them to do it on television and to reap the benefits of the training that they get. And just in the lower county, I will name the ones that you might consider getting online to Give Local 757. Lackey Clinic, Natasha House, York Foundation for Education, Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula, Olde Towne Medical Center, Friends of the Library, FISH, CDR and so many more that you could go on. And you can you can charge it if you will. You there's a small charge to be able to use your credit card, but it's made it much simpler than it was when it first started out. And they've raised several millions of dollars. They're up to they're up to I think a million now when I last checked it. But just think of all the money that's raised that goes to help our neighbors.

[clears throat]

It's a community. It's keeping it here. It's not going to some place else. And you know what the board does and how we try to give money to charities and nonprofits to help them along uh each year. But you you citizens who are listening and I hope you're listening can do so much more. Just if everybody would to call in and donate $50. It's it's over it's over a million dollars. A million 79 615 dollars that they have been able to raise for charity today. And I have to admit I serve on the committee Community Foundation. We don't get any money out of it. What it's one of our purposes is to help others help themselves. So I'll get off my soapbox. Thank you. Wait. Yeah.

[clears throat]

Um Uh [sighs] so I talked to my friends today at Q Daddy's and I talked to my friends at Chick-fil-A the other day. And uh I think um the [snorts] good news is um we have a ribbon cutting on May the 20th for the new Chick-fil-A. So they're right around the corner. Uh we're going to get that done. But the one thing I wanted to bring up, um I did some projections. One I do know pretty much what the sales are. I won't disclose that for Q Daddy's and I know what the projected sales are going to be for Chick-fil-A. This the the sales tax just with those two restaurants will bring us about 2 million bucks a year. Amazing. So that's almost 2 cent on our taxes. So you know, I've been beating this drum since I got on this board that we've got bringing good business to York County cuz when we do it helps take the tax burden off of the taxpayers. And when we don't, when we lose good business, it puts the tax burden back on the taxpayers. So we've got to keep doing what we're doing to bring really good business to York County. Um and hopefully that will help us on our taxes year in year year and over and over. So I just wanted to bring that to people's attention cuz I don't think people really realize how much good business brings to York County tax wise. So that's all I got, Jim. If I can interrupt for a second and just introduce uh I'm sorry. Delegate Virgil Force So step into the meeting and join us. Thank you. Always welcome. That's it. Thank you. Steve All right, thanks, Doug. Um so a couple things I want to share with folks

um cuz we're moving into this season of the year here in York County. Want to make sure people are kind of have it on their mind that they're aware. Uh first of all time of the year where you got to start thinking about storm prep. So let's get let's get ready. Let's get prepped. Especially if you're new to the area and really been through tropical storm or even a hurricane. I've been through a few of them over the past 60 years. A lot of fun but a little bit better if you're if you're prepared. So um looking at the uh Dominion Energy 20 26 Atlantic hurricane season forecast you know, they're looking at 11 named storms all tropical storm strength or stronger uh in the Atlantic basin during this tropical season. So that doesn't mean right off our coast but in the in the basin and and those storms can hit hit wherever. Um but you can't stop that but you can get prepared. So we've haven't been through a prep season yet. Um consider it. Uh if you go to dominionenergy.com right on that front page there's a a link to storm prep. Read it. Figure out you know, just how much water you need per person. You may be surprised how much water you need to have on hand. Um first aid stuff. If you got a generator, great. Make sure you got fuel. If you going to run it for an extended time, make sure you got oil oil filters so it keeps running. Don't run it inside. That's a bad idea. Um so be smart. Be prepared. Be ready. Um every year we have to we have to plan on something coming coming our way that could knock power down for a while and kind of make us a little bit more self-sufficient. Second thing, a little little bit happier news is it's also the time of the season where the Classic Cruisers Car Club starts their annual car shows here in the county. Um they do a big thing at uh Coastal Isle Church there in Kiln Creek. Um dozens of classic cars, hot rods muscle cars, whatever. I've been through there a couple times. Always enjoy

looking at different cars, talking to people. They love talking about their cars. Maybe one day I'll find a deal and I'll I'll get one myself. We'll see. Um but it's not just a fun time cuz that group like several groups in in the county but that that group also does a lot of charity work. They work with a lot of groups within the county to raise money for things like Natasha House, um a few others here uh um the um Virginia Food Bank, Animal Aid Society, the Wounded Foundation and so forth. So go in there, participate, you're helping you're helping local communities. They also will go and do the little mini car shows at some of our senior centers and so forth. So people can check that out. So it's a great organization. It's a good time. It's a good night walk around, look at nice cars. And again, they're they're a big benefit to the county with all the uh charity work that they do for us. So just wanted to give them a shout out. If you get a chance, swing by, check them out. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Shepherd Yeah, I had uh it's interesting. I really appreciate the comments uh that you make about um and we've recognized the charities and things that uh that people in America Mhm. participate in. And I talked about our country. Uh I've had folks that are um not originally from the United States and um I remember this one lady who was talking to me about cuz she was from Russia and um and and the first time they participated in a charity golf event. And she said, "We don't ever do anything like this in Russia. This is you [clears throat] know, I I it's just uh they just they don't." And um but in the United States uh we see this all up and down the country. And it's really um heartwarming to know that that in York County and in fact on the peninsula the municipalities all get together and uh participate in this. Uh I got to

participate in one that uh my neighbor who's a member of the Rotary um and I'm sorry, I can't tell you which one cuz I there's so many of them but the chapters or whatever and it was called Rise Against Hunger. Yes.

And um and this second year I participated in my family. We went down there. And uh Rise Against Hunger, what they do is they bring in these 50 lb bags of soy, rice, uh freeze dried vegetables that are chopped up and uh gosh, what else they've got in there? Anyway, that uh and then they we got some spice package you you put in it. And and for 2 hours uh the Rotary uh sponsored the Rise Against Hunger event. And what we did is pack uh 30,000 meals. It was that well, 30,000 packs. [clears throat]

And the packs um that each pack is actually is a meal. But the way they they talk about this is that across the United States there's other um organizations that are sponsoring the Rise Against Hunger. And um it was amazing that when they you do the the math on how much effect or how big the effect is they expected uh this year to provide 50 million meals. 50 million meals. Now, the ones we were working on uh this pack uh or the 30,000, they were going to go to the Philippines. Um they that was nice that they could tell us. And then every time you got to a thousand, one of the kids could go over there and hit the the you know, the bell or the dong, whatever you want to call it. And and then it was fun. So um seeing that, it's just if you if you have never participated in a in a either I do. Relay for Life or you know, March for

[laughter]

this or March for that, get in get involved in it. YMCA's got a ton of them. Uh Bright Beginnings, it's uh First Tee program. There's all these things that you can participate in. And I'll tell you what, it's you know, it's not [clears throat] a lifetime commitment. It's it's go there that day, participate. And I mean, if you're feeling down, it's going to make you feel good, okay? Um now, one of the subject I've harped on before [snorts] and this I'm really now getting really worried about it. And it's these electric bikes. Um The uh it I wrote about this in my newsletter. I talked about it before on the board and I'm I'm just just it it seems like it's getting progressively worse week by week. And um the sheriff the sheriff told me that you know, there's um that that he was absolutely amazed. He told me about a report where the kids had come all the way from Lakeside Drive and ended up on Big Bethel Road over at uh um Tab Tab Elementary. Thank you. I got a brain did there for a It's okay. And he was amazed that they had crossed 30 134 17 to get there

[cough]

on these on these e-bikes. Yeah. Now parents if you're buying your kid an e-bike, you got to uh realize [clears throat] that these things can easily go get up to around 28. I think there's a limit the speed limit's supposed to be set at about about 28 miles an hour, which is not terribly fast cuz if you got a you know, you got a racing bike, you can get 50 60 miles an hour even more. But you got to talk to your children about the safety cuz there's just like, "Hey, here's a bike." And there's no there's no no guidance on it. See, if you can ride it, [clears throat] I mean, you get you you know, you got to ride learn to ride a bike. That's a big passage of life. But if you going to get on a bike and you're going to go in the middle of [laughter] heavy traffic, you better talk to your children about riding in in single file um things like that and which way to ride on the road. You're not supposed to take a bike out in the middle of the bike or middle of the road and be doing wheelies and stuff like that. That's actually there's a state law, and there's a reason for these things. Unfortunately, they're have been enforced. The big thing about the bikes that it's not all bikes or bike all of e-bikes are are are are I don't know what I would say bicycle, not traditional bicycles. A bicycle that's an e-bike is supposed to have a cutoff. In other words, you take your foot, you keep pedaling, you stop pedaling, it is actually supposed to deliberately slow down. All right? They're modifying [clears throat] them now so that they don't slow down. You just keep gliding and gliding and gliding, which is illegal in the state of Virginia. But the big one that really concerns me is that if if it doesn't have pedals and it's an electric bike okay, it is a what they call an electric dirt bike. That's how they're classified. And they are not allowed on state roads in Virginia. They're just flat out not allowed. So, I'm coming out of the YMCA Victory YMCA the other day

and damn near got run over by bike that did not have any pedals, and you could hear it zoom zoom zoom. And I looked, the first thing I did is okay, he had he did have a helmet on, and I looked, but he had no tag on my on the bike. So, what our sheriff is doing now is pulling the kids over, okay, that that are not It's not just for helmet violations because the district court gets plugged up with these these It's like a $25 fine. It's all it is. It's a nuisance, and it it just plugs up the the plugs up the court. [clears throat]

But you get caught driving an unauthorized vehicle on a road, then it becomes way more serious, okay? And so, we're about to find out how the judge is going to handle these. It's gotten to the point where they um I think it's on Big Bethel Road where they stopped they they tried to stop a couple of the kids. There were like three of them, and they take off and their their dirt bikes through the woods, okay? And so so now, the sheriff's going to start using the drones. [laughter] Okay? And they'll just track you right to your house. And then they'll come over and visit you there. Um parents, this is not I mean, the way it sounds funny and ridiculous and stuff like that until your kid gets run over, okay?

[clears throat]

Or worse, he runs over somebody else, okay? Or and really gets seriously hurt. This is this I I'm just astounded by this new technology. And before I came down here tonight, I just did a quick look on um on the the uh website to see about these dirt bikes and speeds, and some of these things are getting up to 60 mph. 60 mph, and they're and they're being advertised as this, and they're they are dirt bikes. Dirt bikes are the e-dirt bikes are not allowed on the on the roads, okay? And if it does come on the road, then the person's got to have a driver's license. Okay, on in your your for your your license for the bike like that, you got to have a license plate. Okay? You got to have insurance. You have to have everything a person has a car. And and if you just give your kid this, it's like giving them a gun. All right? And without any training. So so I just please I just I can see it coming and I just please ask parents to pay attention to what's going on with these because if the cops end up coming over to your house, that's pretty serious, and hopefully they'll get your attention that way. But uh zooming through neighborhoods, running off the roads, doing doing wheelies down the middle of the road, this is is not cool. Sorry I'm getting on that soapbox, but It's okay. It's a good one to be on. Just just recently, I saw three young god boys come out of the Mac on motorcycles and went across 17 in that traffic. The bikes No, they were motorcycles. These were dirt bikes. Dirt bikes. They were dirt bikes. It was three boys. I'm like this is not good. Somebody's going to get hurt. And I think you know, the way the judge probably needs to handle it is some community service. Put them on community and community service and make them think about it.

Well, I would I would I personally would ask the supervisors, if you're seeing this sort of thing, tell Ron about it. Tell Ron Montgomery, our Sheriff Montgomery. Because then he will, you know, then we get more and more people involved and concerned about this. And I'm getting complaints. I mean, I'm getting I get complaints out of Running Man that people on on just traditional bikes are being, you know, they're In the state in the state, when you are on a path that may say bike or have a sign of a bike, that doesn't mean that that bike has the right of way. A person on the on the the person in the path, okay, has the right of way. Walking, running, whatever. And a bike's responsibility, by law, you have to notify them some way, shout, tell them you're coming left or something like that, ring a bell, whatever. But you have to do that. That's your responsibility as a bike rider. People that are really really know know what they're doing on bikes will know to do this. And I've seen this up in Herndon uh when I was on a trail there, and I kept hearing these people coming on your left, on your left, you know? And as they're coming around, and it's by law Yeah. So, there's there's a laws for this. And and and in the they're there for a good reason, okay? To keep people safe. A quick rule of thumb just for people who have a hard time identifying what's what, if it has pedals, [snorts] it's probably considered officially by the state code of Virginia an e-bike, which means it has the same rights and responsibilities as any other bike. If you don't see pedals, then it's probably an off-road type vehicle that probably isn't registered to be operated on on public highways. So, so when you see, you know, kind of look what you're looking at, but My neighbor's son on the weekend uh was pulling wheelies on his e-bike, and the front wheel came off, and he drove the forks into the ground, and of course, somersaulted off of it. Broken jaw, broken teeth, completely flattened nose. But he he

spent [clears throat] most of the weekend in surgery. Um it it's very serious. I mean, had that been, you know, concussioner or uh or or uh hit the skull instead of his his face, he he would have been uh Did he have a helmet? Did he have a helmet? He had a helmet on. Okay. Was it open-face? Yeah, open-face. [clears throat] Brain bucket. I had uh two items. Um For those who don't realize it, May 15th coming up, 8:00 a.m., [clears throat] we've got the Today Show in CW. And then um uh Boots and Brews was moved to the 17th. Um so, that's uh before our next meeting. So, I wanted to mention that. That's Sunday, I think, the 17th. [clears throat]

And one other one um I'm I'm having more and more issues again with trailer parks and ordinances and and being uh you know, and being maintained. Um I'd I'd I'd like the county to go through our ordinances for trailer parks and see if we can't clean that up and bring it back to the board and see if there's some improvements we can make in that area. With board with the board's permission. Anything specific you're you're you're hearing you're working on looking at? being built illegally and occupied by multiple people, [clears throat] and no drainage, no sewer. Ooh, really? Well, there's there's some codes on that already. So, there's some issues. Thank you. Can I add one thing to your to your to this? Um some of you I've talked to before, and I know I've talked to Mark about this. It We've got to look at um what is what was what we can classify as affordable housing. And the reason I bring this up is that every time somebody builds a for thing, they call it affordable housing in York County, it becomes unaffordable, okay? So, but I think a lot of it deals with size. You know, trailer parks are one thing, or um they've kind of got a bad reputation, and um but we're not allowed by law to be able to, you know, tell them to go away. I I don't and I would not encourage that because as an alternative form, I lived in a trailer when I first got married and and down in Florida. Um so, uh but there are there are other things that I think we can uh in our planning department think about how placement of certain housings, for example, tiny houses, okay? Uh in trailer parks. They're kind of they can, you know, instead of it being a trailer park, give them a chance to put a tiny house in there. Um they're kind of they kind of look neat. They're not junked up, and they and they have the same they have requirements. And that's a that to me is affordable housing. Um it doesn't necessarily have to be a tiny house, but

it is some alternative some thinking. We need to think that way. If we don't, I'm afraid the state's going to come down eventually here and make us do this. And they're going to make us do it in places we don't want to do it, okay? [clears throat] Well, I I really like the the the thought process around the tiny homes because I think there's a tremendous opportunity there for many folks starting out, even downsizing, um and and [clears throat] we we just we just need to build some guardrails up around that so that we can offer places for that so people can take advantage of it. And um Well, and and if I I kind of I kind of wish we could get away from that misnomer of affordable housing cuz it really there's no such thing. Somebody pays for it, but when you look at a tiny home, you're actually seeing something that could actually be considered affordable housing for somebody. Also, accessory homes, you know,

[clears throat]

build a small house on the property for their in-laws or whoever to to to live there. And I think that's something that we should allow. We do allow them of little garages. Remember we've read into that a lot. And I thought that was a good thing that we did, but we haven't seen one in a long time. Well, they got to be when we first started getting into these accessory apartments and stuff like oh my gosh. I mean it was it was it was a knee-jerk reaction not only by the supervisors but by the communities. I mean that there'd be whole communities would go get up in arms or whole street would get up in arms over somebody putting a an accessory accessory apartment to their house. And so then they had to come before us and we were you know we were I mean we were just having one after another after another. They became like tourist homes was for a while. So um But it was a special use permit and y'all didn't want to Yeah, I know. And so it it it wore us I think it wore us out. But uh the uh we need to we need to think about in the planning of these

[snorts]

things like uh I don't want to I don't want to see a concentration to the point where it becomes a slum. Okay? Uh cuz we you we got to you can do these in a manner that I think is it's I've seen it in Florida where they're not in some places even in Arizona where they're not they're not they're they're actually kind of neat looking. And and I think about different places I've seen up and down the peninsula the those same type of tiny homes on little inlets and creeks. Mhm. Little little little piece of property little tiny home and they they use them more for weekend type stuff but that same concept can be made to look very neat for provide housing for somebody. We just need to be smarter about setting up the right guardrails and conditions for it. I mean most people in this room us around the board we know York County we know how to manage manage that you know land the best cuz we're right here we we live it right here. So I'm I'm sure we can But well we also have to think about the utilities the water and sewer and access to that. Right. I mean it right it's a whole it's that's part of the that's a whole part of the but it's not nothing nothing that can't be overcome. We just we just need to put some thought into it. Well, there was a while here um I was stunned to find out that uh um before some of the neighborhoods were built

[snorts] uh people were living in tents. Okay? Back in the woods. And not far from Cab High School for example there was a big [snorts]

big group down in there huge group. And then down on Mansion Road there was a couple that were living back in a tent back in there and people were bringing them food and whatever. And then we had some down there near to one of the churches kids uh get thrown out of their house and they're living in a car. Okay? And um so there's an element that we need to kind of kind of help out a little bit here. And I I would I would love to see us kind of do something but we need to do it now before it's taken away from us and we're forced down our throat. Before the fact instead of after the fact we can't do anything. With that [clears throat]

I will close the open discussion. Okay. Thank you for bringing this up. I think uh I think we're moving on to adjournment. The next regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19th in the board room of York Hall. Board of Supervisors minutes.