[00:00:53]
[Call to Order]
AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE MARCH 1ST MEETING OF THE, YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONIGHT.
UH, THEN I USUAL, FIRST OF THE MONTH MEETINGS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL HEARING FOR REDISTRICTING, AND WE'RE GOING TO START IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROLL CALL.
AFTER THE BOARD VOTES, WE WILL THEN TAKE A SHORT RECESS AND WE'LL MOVE DOWNSTAIRS TO HAVE OUR REGULAR EAST ROOM WORK SESSION.
A REMINDER FOR PEOPLE PLEASE, THAT ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT WILL BE DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SHOULD BE RELEVANT TO THE REDISTRICTING.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MR. ZAREMBA, MRS. NOLE HERE, MR. GREEN, MR. ROWAN, MR. SHEPHERD, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
BEFORE WE START THE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE, FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY OF UKRAINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE TV, I'VE BEEN BOUND TO IT AND IT'S JUST DEVASTATING.
AND IT IS, IT IS INDEED A REMINDER OF WHAT WORLD WAR TWO USED TO BE LIKE.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A SECOND OF SILENCE.
[1. Redistricting Plan. ]
PUBLIC HEARING IS REDISTRICTING PLAN, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO, TWO DASH SIX, TO APPROVE A REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR THE ELECTIONS IN YOUR COUNTY AND TIM CROSS.I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION.
WELL, UH, YOU ALL WERE BRIEFED BACK IN DECEMBER ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND WE PRESENTED, UH, FOUR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
AND, UH, WE NARROWED THAT DOWN TO TWO AND, UH, YOU ALL HAD SOME DISCUSSION AT YOUR FEBRUARY WORK SESSION AND YOU ALL SELECTED ALTERNATIVE ONE AS THE ONE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FOR ADVERTISING AND WRITE UP THE ORDINANCE AND EVERYTHING.
AND SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE WENT FORWARD WITH.
UM, I KNOW PLANNING DIVISION HASN'T RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS SINCE THEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, UH, ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY CITIZENS? I DON'T THINK SO.
UH, I MEAN THE ADVANTAGES OF, OF THE REDISTRICTING PLANS, IT MAKES PRETTY MINIMAL CHANGE.
IN FACT, JUST YOUR FIVE DOESN'T CHANGE AT ALL.
AND IT SHIFTS COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER PLANTS.
IT SHIFTS FEWER PEOPLE FROM ONE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER.
SO, UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
OTHER THAN THAT, ANY QUESTIONS IF TIM? YES, MR. CROSS, MY DISTRICT IS DISTRICT THREE IS ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT CHANGES.
UH, I NOTICED THE SHIFTS WERE VERY, UH, AS YOU SAID, MINIMAL, UH, HOW WILL THE PEOPLE BE NOTIFIED? UH, I PICK UP SOME MORE IN YORKTOWN FROM MR. ZAREMBA, MISS KNOLL PICKS UP, UH, SOME, SOME OF MY, OR ACTUALLY MR. ROME PICKS UP SOME OF MY, UH, OVER THERE, UH, WILL LIKES AND, UH, MS. SNOW PICKS UP SOME OF MY DISTRICT OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 17TH.
SO HOW WILL THESE PEOPLE BE NOTIFIED? THE, THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE WE'LL BE NOTIFYING THEM BY MAIL.
AND WE HAD, I SAID, THERE'VE BEEN OUR COMMENTS.
WE DID ACTUALLY RECEIVE, UH, AT LEAST ONE PHONE CALL FOR SOMEBODY JUST, IT WASN'T CLEAR IF SHE WAS STAYING IN THE SAME DISTRICT OR MOVING AND, UH, FOUND OUT SHE WAS MOVING FROM, UH, DISTRICT FOUR TO DISTRICT TWO.
AND THAT WAS THAT IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE ADVISABLE TO HAVE AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER POST, THE DAILY PRESS AND MAYBE THE GAZETTE AS WELL.
[00:05:01]
IN OTHER WORDS, UH, DESCRIBE IT A LOT OF PEOPLE, OF COURSE, LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTY, THE CITY, THE WHEREVER YOU LIVE AND JUST MAILINGS TO THE PEOPLE AFFECTED, YOU KNOW, IT'S REAL POSITIVE, BUT, UH, THE PAPERS DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR COUNTY, CAUSE WE'D NEVER SEEN AN ARTICLE IN THESE OF THE GAZETTE OR THE DAILY PRECEDENT.THIS IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL CHANGE.
AS FAR AS THE COUNTY'S CONCERNED, WUI DAILY HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD LATELY ABOUT COVERING THE COUNTY.
AND WE HAVE, I MEAN, ONCE YOU ALL DECIDED ON ALTERNATIVE A, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE PUT ON THE WEBSITE.
UH, WE PUT THAT OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE HAVE THE CITIZEN NEWS, CITIZEN NEWS WEEKLY.
UM, AND I'M SURE, UH, I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, BUT, UH, I'M SURE THEY COULD PUT OUT A NEWS RELEASE AT THAT WAY.
YOU KNOW, UH, PUBLIC AFFAIRS IS NODDING YOUR HEAD, MAYBE IT'LL HAPPEN.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THE, UH, PRIVATE MEDIA DOES, BUT WE CAN CONTROL WHAT WE COMMUNICATE THROUGH OUR OWN MEDIA.
AND I'M SURE, UH, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND YOU'VE MADE YOUR FORMAL DECISION, WE CAN PUT OUT ANOTHER ROUND OF INFORMATION WITH A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, UH, TO SUPPLEMENT THE MAILING HIM.
WELL, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PAPERS ARE POSITIVE FOR YOUR COUNTY, YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY AN ARTICLE IF WE HAVE TO.
UH, YOU CAN GET YOURSELF ON YOUR BACK.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YOU MENTIONED THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE WILL BE NOTIFYING THE PEOPLE WHO CHANGED DISTRICTS.
THAT PROBABLY WANT TO GO ON AND REGISTER VOTERS THOUGH, RIGHT? NOT TO EVERYBODY.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF, I DON'T KNOW IF NOT REGISTERED, PROBABLY BE, JUST BE DE-REGISTERED.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY WOULD LIKE A DATABASE THAT WOULD HAVE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'LL NEED TO RE-REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE NEW DISTRICT? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
THANK YOU, MR. CROSS, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE? SEE NONE.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BOARD COMMENTS, IF ANY.
UM, I THINK WE'VE PRETTY WELL HASHED THIS OUT.
HAVE WE MARKED I'LL MOVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 22, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MR. SHEPHERD, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
THE MOTION MADE BY MR. SHEPHERD IS TO ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 DASH SIX, TO AMEND CHAPTER NINE ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK COUNTY CODE TO MODIFY CERTAIN BOND BOUNDARY LINES BETWEEN ELECTION DISTRICTS, MODIFY CERTAIN PRECINCT BOUNDARY LINES AND TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN POLLING PLACES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA AND CODE OF VIRGINIA.
MR. ZAREMBA, MR. GREEN, MR. ROAN.
NOW WE WILL RECESS AND OPEN UP OUR WORK SESSION DOWN IN THE EAST ROOM.
[A. Virginia Department of Transportation.]
IT'S A REPORT ON THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND MR. ROSSY, CAROL, PLEASE JOIN US AT THE TABLE.'CAUSE EVEN HERE WE GIVE THE, UH, QUARTERLY UPDATE AND, UH, WE'VE HAD A PRETTY BUSY, UH, THREE MONTHS.
UM, THIS ONE HERE IS FROM DECEMBER 1ST TO FEBRUARY 28TH, BUT I THINK MY LAST BOARD MEETING WAS LIKE DECEMBER 21ST.
UM, SO I KIND OF WENT BACK INTO THE THREE MONTHS FOR OFFICIAL.
SO, UM, IN THAT TIME WE'VE HAD 202 MAINTENANCE WORK ORDERS COME IN.
MOST OF THEM, UH, DRAINAGE RELATED, UH, WE'VE COMPLETED 149 ARE CLOSED DOWN 149.
UM, IN THAT PERIOD, 53, OUTSTANDING.
SO ABOUT A 73 70 4% COMPLETION RATE.
UM, IN THE PAST QUARTER, WE HAVE BEEN AVERAGING SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 76, 77 FOR THE YEAR, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD AND THE RESIDENCY, A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS QUARTER, UH, POTHOLE PATCHING COUNTY-WIDE, UH, AFTER ALL THE SNOW EVENTS.
FIRST THING THAT POPS UP AS MODELS, UM, SNOW RESPONSES, UH, WE'VE HAD THREE SNOW RESPONSE, UM, ACTIVITIES HERE IN THE COUNTY, UH, DRAINAGE WORK IT, UH, 1100 FEET
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ON, UH, JEFF OR LANE DID SOME DRAINAGE WORK ON MAR REVERE, THEIR WORMLEY CREEK, UH, FACTOR TRUCK WORK ON CHARLES ROAD, WHISPER AND RURAL WAY.UH, DID SOME TREE TRIMMING AND BRUSH CLEARING ON A WATER VIEW IN HORNSBY BILL ROAD.
UH, SOME OF THE UPCOMING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE PLANNED, UM, OR EITHER THEY'VE STARTED, THEY HAVEN'T COMPLETED.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO START OUR COUNTY WIDE ROADWAY SWEEPING, UM, THIS MARCH.
SO, UM, THIS MONTH WE'RE GOING TO START THE SWEEPING.
HOPEFULLY WE GET OUT OF NORMALLY TRY TO GET OUT OF ALL SNOW SEASON.
SO I DON'T WANT TO SWEEP IT, THEN THROW A BRACE OF THOSE SAND BACK ON THE ROAD.
BUT, UM, I USUALLY START THIS UP ONE OF OUR CYCLES.
SO, UH, THAT'S COMING, UH, CONTINUING DITCHING THERE ON HARWOOD DRIVE.
UH, WE HAVE PLANS TO DITCH KATIE DRIVE, UM, DITCHING THERE IN THE COLDEST SACK ON MIDDLE LANE, UH, DRAINAGE WORK IN, UH, OLD PORT COVE COMING UP.
AND WE GOT BACK TO HER WORK ON JERNIGAN LANE, NOBLES LANDING WHILE AS COURT RICH ROAD AND WITHIN THE RUNNING MAN, SILVER SUBDIVISION.
UH, I PUT THIS ON HERE AS A COMPLETED PROJECT WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT, UH, I'LL DO IT, BUT THE I 64 WIDENING SEGMENT THREE IS COMPLETE.
UH, THE, UH, THE RIBBON CUTTING WAS, UH, HELD IN DECEMBER.
AND, UM, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING OUR PROJECT CLOSE OUT NOW.
SO, UH, IT SEEMS TO, SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE.
UM, IT WAS FINISHED ON TIME AND EVERYTHING WENT WELL.
UM, ONCE THAT COMPLETED, WE STARTED THE, UM, I CALL IT THE STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT, UH, THERE, UH, KIND OF WHERE IT RUNS INTO THE HEAD THERE AT QUEEN'S LAKE.
SO THAT PROJECT HAS STARTED, UH, IF YOU GO DOWN THE COLUMN PARKWAY, YOU'LL SEE SOME WORK GOING ON, BUT, UM, THAT PROJECT IS, OR DID, UH, WITH THAT DREAM RESTORATION OR REHABILITATION.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE THE ROUTE 1 99, UH, THERE THE I 64, WE'RE PUTTING FIBER OPTIC IN THAT SECTION OF 1 99, ACTUALLY ALL AT 1 99, UM, IN DIFFERENT PHASES, UH, REALLY FOR CONNECTIVITY, UM, SIGNAL HEADS, INTERSECTIONS, YOU KNOW, TYING ALL THAT TOGETHER CAMERAS, UM, ALL THAT'LL BE OVER A FEE TO THAT, UH, THAT NEW FIBER INSTALLATION.
SO THAT PROCESS IS ONGOING NOW, OR CONTRACT IS ONGOING.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME UPCOMING BITA ADMINISTER PROJECTS.
UM, WE HAVE A HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON, UH, ROUTE 1 34 FIRST STREET, INDIAN SUMMER DRIVE AND LONG GREEN BOULEVARD, UH, THAT IS SCHEDULED TO ADVERTISE THIS MONTH.
IT'S A MID-BLOCK PEDESTRIAN CROSSING PROJECT, JUST SOUTH OF COUNTRY AND ON 60 BYPASS.
AND THAT, UM, THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION THIS SPRING SUMMERTIME, UH, THAT IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH OUR RESEARCH COUNCIL.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE, UH, COUNTY SAFETY PROJECT FOR THE ROUTE 60 BYPASS CROSS-WALK PROJECT, WHICH IS AT WALLER MILL AND PALACE LANE UP TOWARDS WHERE, UH, I GUESS THAT'S GOLDEN CORRAL, UM, W WHAT'S CROSSWALKS AND THOSE KIND OF LIGHTS THAT STAGGER EACH OTHER RIGHT THERE AT PALACE AND WALNUT MILL WILL ACTUALLY BE PINK.
THERE'LL BE PAIN AND PET HEAD.
SO YOU'LL HIT THE BUTTON, YOU'LL GET A CYCLE IN THAT SIGNAL.
UM, THOSE TWO SIGNALS TALK TO OPENS UP.
SO THAT'LL BE A PHASE FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS IN THOSE INTERSECTIONS.
WE HAVE PAVING FOR THE 2020 SUMMER SPRING, SUMMER 2022, UH, MERRIMACK TRAIL, UH, WHICH IS ROUTE 1 43 NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND FROM THE RAMP FROM MY 64 WESTBOUND TO THE JAMES CITY COUNTY LINES, APPROXIMATELY ABOUT TWO MILES, UH, VICTORY BOULEVARD FROM, UH, WHICH IS ROUTE 1 71 EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND FROM THE NEWPORT NEWS CITY LIMITS TO, UH, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO 17.
THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE A SECTION BY SECTION.
SO I CAN EXPECT THAT TO BE TORN UP FOR AWHILE.
DON'T GO WITH NICK, UH, ROUTE 1 73 FROM 17 TO DANIEL LOOP.
AND THAT'S A FAIRLY LONG SECTION.
THAT'S ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILES.
HAVE WE DECIDED ANYTHING WITH THE RUMBLE STRIPS ON THE MIDDLE? I'LL GET TO THAT.
[00:15:04]
ORIANA ROAD, ROUTE SIX 20 FROM THE NUBER NEWS, UH, CITY LIMITS 2.8 MILES WEST OR OUT 17.SO PRETTY MUCH THAT WHOLE SECTION OF YOUR COUNTY ORIANA.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS ALL PAVING? THIS IS WHAT WE PAID THIS, UH, THIS COMING.
SO, UH, WHILE, WHILE OUR MILL ROAD, UH, ROUTE SEVEN, 13 FROM 60 BYPASS TO THE DEAD END, JUST A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO MILES.
AND THEN CARRIE'S CHAPEL ROAD, UH, ROUTE 7 82 FROM, UH, BECAUSE SENSEI LIMITS TO VICTORY BOULEVARD.
WE ALSO HAVE A, WE ADVERTISED A FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION.
SO IN THE SUBDIVISIONS WE GO IN WHERE WE HAVE SUB BASED ISSUES.
WE GO IN AND PRETTY MUCH POLARIZE OR GRIND UP ABOUT EIGHT INCHES OF MATERIAL.
IT TAKES THE MATERIAL AWAY COMPACT.
IT GIVES US A NEW BASE, NEW, NEW RIDING SURFACE TYPE THING.
AND THEN WE PUT THREE OR FOUR INCHES OF PAVEMENT ON TOP OF IT.
IT DID NOT, UH, JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO AWARD IT, SO WE ARE GOING TO RE ADVERTISE IT.
UM, SO I CAN'T PROMISE THIS UNTIL I KNOW I HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE.
UM, BUT THAT INCLUDES, UM, TAB MEADOWS, LOTS OF STATES.
SO I THINK IT'S LIKE HEAVEN'S WAY STELLAR.
UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE OTHER ONES, ORIENT, UH, RYAN, RYAN, AND, UH, POLARIS AND THANK TAURUS.
WHAT, SO WHAT DID YOU, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH US? I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GRIND THEM.
UM, PUT SOME ALMOST LIKE SEMEN TREATED.
HE PUTS MAD AT US IN THE SUB-BASE, RIGHT.
UH, YOU COMPACT IT AND NOW YOU DO TAKE SOME OF IT AWAY BECAUSE WHEN YOU GRIND, IT GETS A LITTLE, LITTLE BIGGER.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COMPACT IT? YOU'RE ABOUT THREE TO FOUR INCHES BELOW THE ORIGINAL ELEVATION OF THE ROADWAY.
AND THEN WE COME BACK AND PAVE TWO LIFTS.
SO IT'D BE LIKE A 12.5 MIX, WHICH IS YOUR SORT OF YOUR INTERMEDIATE TYPE MIX.
AND THEN YOU'LL PUT A SURFACE MIX ON TOP OF THAT.
SO ESSENTIALLY FOR THE CITIZENS LIBERATES BUILDING THE PAVED ROAD, BASICALLY IT'S, IT'S BETTER THAN REPAY PRO IT'S ACTUALLY A SORT OF A PSEUDO CONSTRUCTED ROADS.
WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN? WHEN IS THIS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS SUMMER? ORIGINALLY THIS SUMMER ORIGINALLY? I KNOW I CAN ONLY SAY BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO PUT IT OUT TO RE ADVERTISEMENT, YOU KNOW, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET IT AWARDED AND GET IT DONE NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THE RAIN PLAYED A ROLE IN THE, UH, COMPACTING.
IN OTHER WORDS, WELL, WE ADD SOME, IT JUST DEPENDS.
WE ADD WATER, UM, DURING THE PROCESS OR DUSTIN AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE.
SO, UM, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN ANY TIME WE'RE BUILDING SUBBASE, YOU ADD WATER FOR, TO SET UP, TO SET YOUR SUB BASE MATERIALS UP.
NOW, IF YOU GET A BIG GULLY WASHES, YOU KNOW, IT SORT OF TAKES A TOLL AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO DRY OUT.
SO YOU DON'T SEAL THE WATER WITHIN SOME DAYS, BUT WE GOT IT DOWN TO PRETTY MUCH SCIENCE, BUT YOU DO, UM, THE PENNIMAN ROAD, GOVERNMENT ROAD PROJECT, UM, Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE WIND TO THE T AND THE PEDESTRIAN AND ALL THAT.
UM, WE ARE, IT ISN'T THE RIGHT OF WAY, UH, RELOCATION PHASE RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY'RE RELOCATING RIGHT AWAY, BUT WE HAVE RAN INTO A SNAG, UH, WITH THE, UM, RIGHT, THE RAILROAD, UH, EASEMENT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE NAVY, UM, WHICH HAS DELAYED THAT UTILITY REALLY RELOCATIONS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING THE RAILROAD IT'S BEEN ABANDONED FOR 50 YEARS, CRITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY MATTER FROM MID.
SO WE, WE WERE WORKING, UH, WORKING TO GET THAT SOLVED AND, UH, AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
UM, WE HAD THE WIDTH CREEK ROAD PROJECT, UM, THAT, UH, BID LETTING ON THAT WAS FEBRUARY THE 23RD.
I DO NOT HAVE A DATE ON AWARD OR, UM, NOTICE TO PROCEED FOR CONSTRUCTION AT THIS POINT, BUT, UH, IT IS MOVING ALONG.
UM, SO WHICH, WHICH PRIDING CREEK IT'S NOT IN YOUR COUNTY, IT'S THE , BUT IT'S SO CLOSE.
I ALWAYS ADD IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO USE VICTORY OR WITH GREEK TO GET OUT OF THERE.
UM, SMART, UH, SMART SCALE PROJECT.
WE HAD THE ROUTE 17 WIDENING BETWEEN SIX 30 AND 1 73.
UH, I'M GOING TO SKIP ALL THE PARTICULARS, BUT, UH, SCOPE AND PHASE CLOSED FOR THIS PROJECT DESIGN APPROVAL SET FOR THIS SUMMER.
[00:20:01]
FOR APRIL 28TH FOR THIS PROJECT.AND, UH, WE EXPECT TO GET OUR CE OR NEPA DOCUMENT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO THAT'S MOVING ALONG AS PLANNED.
UH, WE HAVE A SMART SCALE 18, WHICH IS THE VICTORY BOULEVARD WIDENING BETWEEN 17 AND 1 34.
AND THAT'S ADDING A LANE GOING TOWARDS 1 34 AND, UH, THAT, UH, IT'S PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IS UNDERWAY, UH, IS SCHEDULED FOR ADVERTISEMENT NOVEMBER OF 2024.
AND CONSTRUCTION IS PROJECTED TO START MARCH OF 2025 WITH COMPLETION FEBRUARY 20, 26.
SO AS WE GET CLOSER IN THE SCOPING PROCESS AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING PROCESS, I CAN KIND OF DIAL IN INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING YOU A YEAR, A LITTLE CLOSER ON A MONTH, AT LEAST WHEN WE WERE, UH, PLANNING THESE PROJECTS OUT IN THE SKY RIGHT NOW.
SO THE WILLINGNESS PERIOD IS CLOSED AND THE DESIGN APPROVAL PACKAGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
UH, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SMART SCALE PROJECT, WHICH IS THE ROUTE, THE VICTORY BOULEVARD REV 1 71 COMPACITY AND HAMMOND ENHANCEMENTS, UM, BETWEEN ROUTE 1 34 AND 1740, UH, HAS INTERSECTION TURN LANE, SHOULDER IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE SHARED USE PATH, UH, BETWEEN, UH, 1 71, 1 71 BETWEEN 1 34.
AND HEAVEN'S WAY, UH, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING IS SCHEDULED TO START THE END OF THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THAT PROJECT ME THAT'S AT HEAVEN'S WAY.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DO THIS UP AT, UH, HOLLY MEET UP AT THAT THE PROJECT RUNS FROM 1 34 TO HAVING WAY IS WHAT I HAVE.
UM, SO IN THAT IS COMPLETION OF THAT PROJECT, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, WE HAVEN'T STARTED PO P YET, BUT 20, 28.
SO THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED.
AND NOW YEARS OF SIX YEAR PLAN, UH, COUNTY SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL PROJECTS, WE TALKED ABOUT THE REALIGNMENT FOR THE THROUGH LANE FOR 600 ROUTE 600 BIG POWERFUL.
THAT'S STILL ON THE LIST FOR COUNTY SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL PROJECTS.
UM, I STILL OWE YOU A SORT OF A SCHEMATIC OF HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK.
UM, BUT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT HOPEFULLY SUMMER TO FALL OF 2020 TO GET A RE STRIPING CREW IN THERE TO, UH, REMEDIATE THE CURRENT STRIPING AND RESTRIPE AND, UH, MAKE SURE THE LOOPS ARE SET UP CORRECTLY.
UH, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDIES, UH, WE DID A GRAFTON BETHEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CROSS-WALK REVIEW, UM, REALLY TO PROVIDE TO THE COUNTY IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN SOME SORT OF LIKE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
UH, THE RUMBLE STRIP STUDY AT GOODWIN NECK ROAD, THAT'S COMING TO, YOU WANT TO GET INTO IT RIGHT THIS SECOND? UM, WE'VE COMPLETED THE, UH, NO PARKING SIGNING STUDY FOR FREEDOM BOULEVARD.
UH, IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED, UM, PROVIDED THAT TO THE COUNTY ALREADY.
AND THEN WE DID A SPEED STUDY ON SPRINGFIELD, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE'VE DONE STUDIES COMPLETED OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, UH, YOUR COUNTY LAND USE PLAN REVIEWS.
UH, WE'VE ISSUED 147 LAND USE PERMITS, AND WE'VE ONLY CLOSED 21 OF THOSE, UH, PERMITS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING.
AND WE HAVE 0.2 MILE 2.29 MILES OF ROADWAY HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE STATE'S SYSTEM.
THIS, THIS, THIS SECTION, UH, EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS.
WE HAD A SNOW EVENT JANUARY 19TH, THE 24TH, 27 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1ST AND FEBRUARY 13TH TO THE 14TH.
SO, UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY QUARTERLY UPDATE.
AND, UH, BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
ANY QUESTIONS I'LL CALL YOU TOMORROW? YES, YOU'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THE RUMBLE STRIPS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THAT REPORT THERE.
UH, SPRINGFIELD ROAD STAY ON TOP OF THAT.
UH, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT, UH, THAT'S GOING TO BE, UH, IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
UH, HORNSBY VILLE ROAD STILL NEEDS SOME WORK, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THE SAFETY, THERE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, YOU ALREADY TALKED ABOUT ROADWAY SWEEPING, WHICH, UH, UH, AFFORDED YOU SOME, UH, SOME INTEREST ON THAT.
SO, UH, THANKS FOR GETTING ON TOP OF THAT.
UH, AND THE LAST THING WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT I'VE HAD SOME INTEREST IN THIS WHEN WE PRE-TREAT THE ROADS FOR SNOW EVENTS.
WE USE, UH, BRINE SOLUTION ASSAULT
[00:25:01]
SOLUTION.WHEN THAT GOES INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, CAN IT CHANGE THE SALINITY OR PH UPON, OR, UH, IS IT DETRIMENTAL TO GRASS OR TO THE BAY? THEY HAVE STUDIED IT.
UM, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE SOLIDITY, THE SALT SOLUTION IS ONLY ABOUT 22% OF THE WATER.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY GET 20 TO 23% SALT IN WATER.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, SODIUM CHLORIDE DIRECTLY.
UM, THE I'VE LOOKED AT THE SAFETY DATA SHEET FOR, UM, BRIAN, WE HAVE ONE, IT'D BE DOT AND THERE'S NO NOTHING ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, PRECAUTIONS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
UH, VERY MINIMAL, JUST, JUST LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU USE A SALT WATER FOR, LET'S SAY EYE DROPS AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE, SORTA SORTA THE SAME THING.
UH, SO NO WE'VE HAD STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE AND BEEN A PART OF.
WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY, UM, ISSUES WITH KILLING GRASS, CHANGING PH LEVELS, YOU KNOW, STORM SEWER SYSTEMS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS RUN OFF ANY TYPE OF PASSENGERS, UM, ISSUES OR THINGS.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, NO, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING COME UP.
IT IS A, UH, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL BECAUSE SODIUM CHLORIDE IS HOW DOES, SO IT REQUIRES A, A TANKER ENDORSEMENT AND QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT THAT PUTS IT DOWN AND CALIBRATIONS AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE.
UM, BUT, UM, AS, AS FOR HAVING ANY ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTALLY, NOT AWARE OF IT.
UM, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT ABOUT VEHICLES? THAT BROAD SOLUTION IS A PARTICULARLY CORROSIVE LIKE YOU SEE MAYBE UP NORTH OR NO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S THE SAME.
WE DON'T USE AS MUCH BECAUSE THEY CONTEND, YOU KNOW, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE MORE SNOW.
UM, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, A GOOD WASH AND WASH IT OFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER, OTHER TYPES OF CHEMICALS THAT LIKE NEUTRALIZERS AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE, YOU CAN SPRAY ON YOUR VEHICLE THAT NEUTRALIZES SALT.
BUT, BUT, BUT YEAH, IT'S BASICALLY A GOOD WASH OR THE SNOW EVENT.
IF YOU WEIGH THE TWO THINGS BETWEEN THE SAFETY PIECE OF IT AND WHAT EFFECTS IT HAS ON A VEHICLE, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GO TO, UM, I'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME TYPE COMING BACK TO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, UH, FROM THE FOLKS OVER IN THE RAINBOW VILLA AREA, GRAFTON AREA, TO BE ABLE TO GET ACROSS 17 OVER TO WASHINGTON SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ON ANYBODY'S RADAR RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS SOME ISSUES WITH 17 BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES OUT THERE NOW.
UM, AND THEY ARE REQUIRED FOR ACROSS WALL.
SO, UM, IS THAT THE SAME AS, UH, VICTORY BOULEVARD WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING THE MID-BLOCK HAS PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES, THERE'S SIDEWALKS OUT THERE.
SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO GO WALK TO, DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE FACILITIES TO AND FROM.
SO I WOULD JUST MAKE THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO HAVE A BOARD ENDORSED PROJECT IN THE WORKS TO EXTEND SIDEWALK FROM THE GRAFTON COMPLEX ALL THE WAY THERE.
AND YOU MIGHT SEE THAT AS A FIRST STEP IN GETTING THERE.
AND WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING ON THE SHOPPING CENTER SIDE AS WELL.
I MEAN, THE CONNECTION, LOOKING AT IT KIND OF GIVE WHAT, WHAT ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES ARE.
SO I'M GOING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THESE DOMINOES NEEDS TO BE SET UP AND KNOCKED DOWN.
AND IN THE LAST THING, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN CORRESPONDING AND TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE TRAFFIC CONCERNS, THE SPEED CONCERNS OVER ON, UM, LEN VERNON, UM, DRIVE AND BILL AWAY.
AND I GOT YOUR EMAIL AND YOUR REPORT APPRECIATE LOOKING THAT UP FOR ME.
AND I KNOW THE SPEED STUDIES DON'T SUPPORT ANY TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES, SO, SO FORTH, BUT I WANT TO KIND OF PICK YOUR BRAIN.
IS THERE ANY, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GIVE THE FOLKS ON THAT ROAD, SOME RELIEF FROM THE FOR THE CURRENT OF THE GUYS, WHOEVER THAT ACTUALLY DO SPEED UP DOWN THAT SHORT STRETCH OF ROAD, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO OR BEAT UP PERSPECTIVE TO KIND OF HELP THOSE FOLKS OUT? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE, WE DID THE STEALTH STUDY, BUT YOU KNOW, ENFORCEMENT IS PROBABLY THE BEST ITEM THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, IT'S, IT'S POSTED NOW, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S, AS PEOPLE SPEED THROUGH THERE, IF YOU GET THE WORD OUT THAT THERE'S BEEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE SPEED LIMITS AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO TALKING TO THE DEPARTMENT TOO, SO IT WAS KIND OF TWO-PRONGED APPROACH.
AND IF I, AND IF I, AND IF I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
[00:30:03]
IT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR TRAFFIC CALMING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HIT THOSE CRITERIA THAT ARE THERE.UM, BUT YOU KNOW, FOR SAFETY SIDE OF IT, MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE CLEAR SIGHT DISTANCES AND TRIMS TREES ARE TRIMMED AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROAD IS SAFE.
SO IF SOMEONE IS SPEEDING, IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE LONGER DISTANCE TO SEE, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE PULLING OUT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, JUST, YOU KNOW, LET'S LOOK IN ON THE SAFETY SIDE.
UM, WOULD, UM, SIGNAGE THAT SAYS YOUR, YOUR SPEED, YOU KNOW, THE DIGITAL SCIENCE OF YOUR SPEED IS X, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED AS TRAFFIC COMMENT OR IS THAT AN OPTION IS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.
I WAS WANTING A MORE PERMANENT.
THAT DOES FALL ON THE TRAFFIC COLUMN.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS OUT THERE FOR TRAFFIC CALMING, BUT IT NEEDS TO MEET, I MEAN, WE CAN'T JUST ARBITRARILY THROW IT UP.
IT NEEDS TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA BEFORE, BEFORE WE LOOK AT WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR THAT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 85TH, THAT'S ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR OVER THE ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LIKE I SAID, IT JUST TAKES ONE PERSON APPLYING TO THAT ROAD AND WITH THOSE HOUSES, SO CLOSE TO, TO THE ROAD AND NO SIDEWALKS, IT DOESN'T LEAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF ROOM IF SOMEBODY DOES DROP A TIRE OFF AND YOU END UP IN YOUR, YOU NOT TALKED ABOUT PEDESTRIAN USE TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE ON THE ROADWAY, BECAUSE IT ISN'T RIGHT.
OR IN THE YARD CUTTING THE GRASS OR WHATEVER.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON GETTING OUT OF CONTROL WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
I HAVE A COMMENT THAT MOST OF YOU KNOW, THAT SHEILA AND I HAVE BEEN AS POOR FOR SOMETHING AGAIN TO 27 PLUS.
SOME OF YOU WOULD SAY, AND THAT'S WAY TO WALK.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, JUST THIS AFTERNOON I WAS TALKING TO MR. CAROL AND THE POINT BEING IS THAT IT DEPENDS, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN ON ANY PARTICULAR BOARD OR PROJECT OR SUBJECT.
SO AGAIN, MOST OF YOU AROUND THE ROOM KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IN THERE FOR COUNTY FOR AWHILE NOW, QUITE A WHILE HAS BEEN THE INTERSECTION OF MOORESTOWN ROAD, A VERY HEAVILY TRAFFICKED ROAD AND BOULEVARDS, WHICH COMES INTO A LARGE PROFESSIONAL PARK CALLED MICHAEL'S COMMONS.
AND THEN AS YOU DRIVE BACK IN THERE, IT'S IT'S ORDEAL.
SO A HUGE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, UH, THE DEVELOPER IS THAT HE FELL BY THE NAME OF MR. HENDERSON.
UH, AND, UH, FOR FOUR, IT'S NOT YOURS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNTY'S BACK, MR. CARROLL'S.
BACK WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO SEE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THAT INTERSECTION.
HE GOES RIGHT, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ALMOST RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET IS SEDENTARY REGIONAL HOSPITAL.
SO ABOUT HOW, ABOUT HOW MANY MONTHS AGO IT WAS, IT WAS THE FIRST VERTICAL POSTED THREE MONTHS, FOUR MONTHS, PROBABLY FOUR MONTHS AGO.
WE BEGAN TO SAY, OH MY GOD, SOMEBODY HIGH UP HAS SPOKEN.
AND YOUR ENGINEERS ARE OUT THERE.
THE CONSTRUCTION GUYS ARE OUT THERE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF.
AND THERE IS A LIGHT AT EACH OF THE CORNERS IN THIS INTERSECTION, EXCEPT ALL THESE LIGHTS THAT ARE UP THERE NOW, 60 FEET OR WHATEVER, OR COVERED WITH BLACK PLASTIC.
AND SO THE FIRST HALLELUJAH WAS A LITTLE BIT JIM, THE, BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT WE LIVE UP THERE AND GO TO WORK UP THERE IS THAT TRAFFIC PLACE, NOT REALLY WORKABLE UNLESS STATE OR FREE OF STUFF LIKE BLACK.
SO MY QUESTION TO THE, THE ADMINISTRATOR, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES DID HE ANSWER? WHEN ARE THOSE LIGHTS GOING TO BE TURNED ON? WHEN ARE THEY GONNA BE TURNED ON? ONE OF WE GET TURNED DOWN.
AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE LAYMAN THAT I AM, THAT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ALL THE PLAYERS, WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS? I WOULD THINK BE DONE.
WELL, THE OTHER DAY TALKING TO THE ADMINISTRATOR, I FOUND OUT THAT MAY BE PARTLY TRUE, BUT THE KELLY'S GOT A ROLE IN THIS THING.
I'M NOT REAL SURE WHAT, BUT HE SAID, IF I'M GOOD TO HIM, HE'LL TURN THE LIGHTS ON.
AT SOME POINT I'M NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
WELL, I FOUND THAT TODAY INVOLVED AS WELL.
MR. HENDERSON, UP HERE, WHO'S BUILT BUILDING AFTER BUILDING, AFTER BUILDING.
IT WAS INVOLVED WITH, I GUESS RON BERG OKAY.
SO, SO MY POINT ON ALL OF THIS IS THAT HAVING BEEN ON THIS BOARD WAS MY DEAR FRIEND, SHEILA.
[00:35:01]
LEARNING NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S LIFE'S JORDY YOURSELF OR SPECIFIC SPECIFIC PROJECTS.BUT AGAIN, I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE NOW I GOT THREE PEOPLE TO KILL.
WE STILL HAVE PLASTIC BLACK PLASTIC ON THESE LIGHTS.
IF YOU DIDN'T REMEMBER THE COMMENT I TOLD YOU, CORRECT.
WHICH WAS THIS? THIS HAS BEEN THE QUICKEST AND YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN THE QUICKEST THING.
WELL, WHY DID YOU FINALLY GET THE PLASTIC OFF? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE BALLOONS AND CELEBRATION? IT IS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A BURDEN SESSION.
SO IT'S GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO SIT THERE AND BLINK FOR A WEEK.
NO, IT'S CLOSED WHEN IT STARTS PLAYING HERE.
WHEN I COME OUT OF WORK EVERY DAY.
TO GO TO MY HOUSE, WHICH IS DOWN NEAR QUEEN'S LAKE, I WOULD TURN LEFT OUT OF BOULEVARDS ONTO MOORESTOWN ROAD AND GO ON DOWN TO BYPASS ROAD AND DOWN TO QUEENS LAKE.
UH, EVER SINCE THOSE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN UP OKAY.
WITH THE PLASTIC ON THEM, I COME OUT OF, THAT WAS MY, NOW MY WIFE GOES TO WORK WITH ME.
WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THE PROFESSIONAL PARK, WE'RE ON BOTH BONDS.
I WANT TO TURN LEFT TO GO HOME, SHUT UP.
WE GO ALL WAY DOWN TO THE LIGHT AT THE EMERGENCY ENTRANCE TO THE HOSPITAL MAKING YOU TURN BACK.
BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS ACCORDING TO HER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ON THAT MOOD IS TOO IT'S TOO HEAVY.
SO 60 DAYS, 60 DAYS, YOU SAID THAT TWO WEEKS AGO.
I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU BRING US UP TO DATE NUTRITION.
I'M HERE TO SERVE AND DO WHATEVER.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL HERE FOR.
[B Preliminary Budget Expenditures.]
TOPIC WE HAVE IS ELIMINATED BUDGET EXPENDITURES, BUT THEN I'M GOING TO CHURCH, OUR COUNTY MINISTRY.AND TERESA'S, UH, JOINING US HERE.
SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, WE'RE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, WHICH I'LL BE PRESENTING TO THIS BODY AT THE NEXT MEETING ON MARCH 13TH.
AND SOME OF THE FINAL, UH, PRECISE NUMBERS WILL HAVE TO AWAIT THAT.
AND OF COURSE, AS THERESA'S GOING TO MENTION THAT A MINUTE, UH, WHAT GOES ON IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS A PRETTY MAJOR FACTOR IN ALL THIS, BECAUSE TO SOME DEGREE, WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING A RECOMMENDED BUDGET BASED ON SOME HEROIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR OUR BEST JUDGMENT.
UH, BUT IT IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE LIKE TO START ENGAGING YOU IN A WORK SESSION WITH SORT OF THE, UH, SOME OF THE MAJOR DRIVERS IN THE BUDGET.
SO WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO TONIGHT IS FOCUS ON THE EXPENDITURE DRIVERS, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TO PUT SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND NOT GO THROUGH THE LIST OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH.
SO THE WAY WE'D LIKE TO DO THIS AS, UH, THERESA'S GONNA START WITH KIND OF THE BIG PICTURE BUDGET EXPENDITURE DRIVERS.
IF THIS WAS A SPORTING EVENT, SHE'S GOING TO BE THE PLAY BY PLAY PERSON AND I'M GOING TO BE THE COLOR GUY.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WHEN WE'RE DONE AND WE RESPONDED TO YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK, UH, MARK AND CAROL FROM HR TO COME UP AND CONTINUING THE THEME OF EXPENDITURE DRIVERS.
THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON, UH, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS AS WE TYPICALLY DO TALKS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE, WHAT THE LABOR MARKET SITUATION IS, WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO DO IN RESPONSE TO THAT.
AND ALSO, UH, WHAT OUR, OUR HEALTHCARE SITUATION IS, WHICH OF COURSE IS AN EXPENDITURE THAT IS SHARED BY THE EMPLOYEES AND THE COUNTY AS AN EMPLOYER.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BASIC PLAN OF ATTACK, UH, AT POINTS IN THIS PRESENTATION, I SUSPECT YOU WILL SAY, WELL, WHAT IS THE EXACT NUMBER THERE? UM, AND, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO ASK AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO GIVE YOU MEANINGFUL INFORMATION WITHOUT BEING, UH, PINNED DOWN TO THE A HUNDRED PERCENT OUT JUST YET.
SO, UM, LIKE MR. MORGAN SAID, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO OVER A FEW THINGS, BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME EXTERNAL CHANNEL CHALLENGES WE HAD, WE HAVE THIS YEAR ON BEFORE WE REALLY GET INTO THE BUDGET DRIVERS.
AND, UM, THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET DRIVERS.
THEN I WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF, UM, AND REMIND THE PUBLIC OF SOME KEY DATES COMING UP.
SO, UM, AT FIRST, OBVIOUSLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UM, ACTIONS AFFECT WITH ONE SCHOOL BUDGETS.
UM, AND THIS YEAR HAS BEEN NO EXCEPTION.
[00:40:01]
AND SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS OUT THERE THAT DO AFFECT OUR BUDGETS, BUT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON ONE THAT ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS THIS BUDGET, WHICH IS THE, UM, CUTTING OF THE GROCERY TAX, UM, HOUSE BILL 90 AND SENATE BILL 4 51.SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENCE IN EACH OF THEM, ONE OF THEM, UM, DISCONTINUES THAT LOCAL 1% GROCERY TAX THAT WE GET AND THE OTHER ONE KEEPS IT IN.
SO, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SOME ACTION YESTERDAY ON IT.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH WHAT ALL THAT MEANS, BUT, UM, IF THEY DO ELIMINATE IT, IT'S ABOUT A $3 MILLION HIT TO OUR BUDGET.
YOU SAY, IF I COULD INTERRUPT, YOU HAD ACTUALLY ASKED ME ABOUT THESE TWO BILLS.
IT LOOKS LIKE EACH ONE OF THEM HAS NOW FLIPPED AND BECOME THE OTHER.
UM, AND I WAS WORKING AT THAT ACTUALLY EARLIER.
SO SENATE BILL 4 51 WAS ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE THIS MORNING.
CAUSE IT'S AFTER, YOU KNOW, AND THEY ADMIT THEY HAVE A SUBSTITUTE, TOOK THE LOCAL OPTION OUT OF SENATE BILL 4 51 HOUSE BILL 90 CAME OUT OF SENATE FINANCE THIS MORNING AS A SUBSTITUTE, PUTTING IT BACK IN.
SO AS OF THIS MORNING, THOSE, THOSE ACTUALLY HAVE REVERSED SLIGHTLY.
SO THEY'VE PUT, IT'S STILL A SET UP FOR THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CITY.
IT'S JUST THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE BILL IS NOW BECOME THE SENATE BILL SENATE BILLS NOW BECOME HOUSE.
SO THE POINT HERE THAT THERESA AND I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS STUFF THAT GERALD SILLY'S IS DOING THAT AFFECTS US, BUT THIS IS 2% OF OUR WHOLE GENERAL FUND.
SO THIS IS ON A SCALE THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN, THAN MANY OF THE THINGS.
YES, THEY BOTH COULD PASS THEM THERE AND THEY CONFLICT.
SO THEN THEY COULD APPOINT A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO TRY TO WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, EITHER A COMPROMISE OR ADOPT ONE OR THE OTHER, UM, OR IT COULD BE THAT THEY REFUSE TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, NEITHER BILL HAS PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS.
AND SO YOU END UP, YEAH, IT DIES.
AND THEN YOU END UP WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE THAT TAX WOULD REMAIN.
I CAN'T PREDICT HOW IT WILL GO FORWARD, BUT, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN YOU GET BILLS THAT DIFFERENT, USE IT ON DIFFERENT QUITE THIS SUBSTANTIALLY, BUT THEY HAVE EACH, EACH CHAMBER HAS TO AGREE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
SO, SO WHILE WE'RE ON THAT, DIDN'T WANT TO GET TOO BOGGED DOWN IN THE LEGISLATIVE STUFF.
BUT AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, OF COURSE FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, THE SENATE BILL WAS FAR PREFERABLE BECAUSE OUR RELIABLE, PREDICTABLE $3 MILLION IS PROTECTED, BUT IT WAS BUT NOT WELL, WHAT WAS THE SENATE BILL ? SO THE OTHER ONE, WHAT WAS THE HOUSE ONE PERHAPS NOW THE SENATE ONE, THERE IS LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THE STATE IS GOING TO MAKE THE LOCALITIES WHOLE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO PULL MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES.
AND SO THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IN THE SHORT RUN THAT WE WILL NOT LOSE THE 3 MILLION EITHER WAY, BUT SOME OF YOU ALL WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR A WHILE, KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE STATE, UH, THE FIRST TIME THEY RUN INTO A MONEY PROBLEM, THINGS THEY'VE PROMISED TO GIVE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT GET PULLED OUT.
AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY IN TERMS OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WE WILL HAVE THAT MONEY, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING OUT TWO OR THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY TO COUNT ON THAT MONEY TWO OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW IS IF THEY LEAVE THE 1 CENT GROCERY TAX ON THE LOCAL PARK.
SO THE SECOND CHALLENGE THAT I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS OUR RATE OF INFLATION.
SO WE'RE SEEING THE LARGEST RATE OF INFLATION SINCE 1981.
UM, SO WE, UM, PASS BUDGETS HAVE REALLY BEEN PREPARED WITH JUST A NOMINAL INFLATION RATE.
SO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS BEING PREPARED WITH A MUCH LARGER INFLATION RATE.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE, BUT A LOT OF IT IS JUST GOING TO BE INFLATIONARY.
SO THIS REALLY CAN BE ILLUSTRATED HERE WITH, UM, THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY HAS PUT OUT.
SO THIS IS THE LARGEST SINCE 1982, AT 5.9%.
SO THE EXPENDITURE DRIVERS, UM, SO THERE ARE BASICALLY FOUR MAIN DRIVERS IN THIS BUDGET, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR, YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
SO THE FIRST ONE BEING THE CASH CAPITAL ONE CONTRIBUTIONS
[00:45:01]
IN DEBT, UM, THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OPERATING BUDGET AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET.SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHERE THERE'S CASH RESOURCES TO FUND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN WE WANT IT THAT FINANCE, UM, WHERE APPROPRIATE STRATEGICALLY SOUND.
SO, UM, THE CIP WAS PRESENTED IN DECEMBER.
AND SO THAT PLAN OF FINANCING THAT'S IN THE, THAT WAS PRESENTED IN DECEMBER IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO IN THAT, UM, CIP PLAN, THERE WAS, UM, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING AND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING WAS GOING TO BE DEBT FINANCED AND 23, 23, EXCUSE ME.
AND SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING, UM, YOU KNOW, INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP, WE'RE LOOKING, LOOKING AT THE COST OF FINANCING.
SO KEEPING THAT IN MIND ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT AS A RESOLUTION THAT, UM, DEBT FINANCES, ALL THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRE PREVIOUSLY, UM, APPROVED, AND THE CIP, THE LIBRARY, SOME FIRE APPARATUS EQUIPMENT, UM, AND THE SITE WORK FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING, BUT WE ALSO INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING.
AND SO THAT IS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, PRINT.
AND IF I COULD JUST ADD A COLOR COMMENT HERE, UM, IN PAST YEARS, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER WE DID THAT ONE MONTH SOONER OR ONE MONTH LATER, BUT I'VE BASICALLY BEEN SAYING THERESA, HURRY UP AND GET THIS SET UP WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BORROWING ENTITY BECAUSE, UM, EVEN A FEW WEEKS MIGHT MAKE UP HALF PERCENT OF 50 BASIS POINT DIFFERENCE IN OUR BORROWING.
SO IT'S A, TO OUR ADVANTAGE OF FOUR, WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THESE PROJECTS, WHICH I BELIEVE WE ARE.
THEN WE JUST NEED TO GET THE MONEY WHILE THE INTEREST RATES ARE AS LOW AS WE CAN JUST FOLLOW THIS LINE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO JUMP AHEAD AND ASK THE QUESTION, BUT IN, UM, OUR RO CONSENT CALENDAR HERE, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTY IS ADVANCED FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL FUND TO FINANCE THE PROJECTS UNTIL THE BOND SALE IN MAY.
WHERE'S THE, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE IN A CAPITAL FUND? SO, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER IS.
IT'S, UM, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO THE WAY THAT WORKS IS THIS VERY COMMON PRACTICE.
FORTUNATELY, UM, UH, THE COUNTY, UNLIKE SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UH, IS IN A CASH RICH POSITION, THE WAY OUR TAXES COME IN AND THE WAY WE, UH, HAVE RESERVES AND THE WAY WE COMMIT TO THINGS.
AND THEN THERE'S A LAG BETWEEN WHEN YOU SAY DO IT AND WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY.
SO IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME THINGS YOU VOTED ON IN THE PAST, LIKE PROJECTS, UH, YOU BASICALLY SAY, UM, UH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, WE AUTHORIZE YOU TO SPEND MONEY NOW, BUT WE WANT THIS TO COUNT TOWARD, YOU KNOW, THE DEBT WHEN YOU BORROW IT.
SO THEN ESSENTIALLY WE'RE TEMPORARILY DRAWING DOWN OUR CASH RESERVES TO KEEP THINGS ROLLING.
AND THEN THERESA GOES AND GETS THE MONEY BORROWED MONEY.
AND THEN WE REIMBURSE OURSELVES FOR WHAT WE SPENT.
I BE CAREFUL USING THE CASH RICH PHRASE, AND WE JUST, WE JUST WISELY USE OUR, OUR RESOURCES.
WELL, THE REASON I SAY THAT IS, UH, SOME LOCALITIES, MANY LOCALITIES ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM.
CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF RUN SHORT OF MONEY AND HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYROLL? AND BECAUSE WE, THIS BOARD AND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE ALWAYS HAD A POLICY OF HAVING STRONG RESERVES, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CASH FLOW PROBLEM.
SO WE CAN DO THINGS WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT.
UH, NOT WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE SOME MONEY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE OTHER ITEM TONIGHT IS GOING AHEAD AND BUYING THE GENERATORS FOR THE SHERIFF'S BUILDING.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T ACTUALLY BORROW THE MONEY FOR SOME, BUT WE'VE ALREADY LEARNED THROUGH EXPERIENCE THAT, WELL, WE BETTER GO OUT IN THE, WHERE THESE GENERATORS NOW, OR THEY WON'T BE HERE WHEN THE BUILDING'S DONE.
AND SO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT CAUSE I WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
SO ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SORT OF TOM'S QUESTION.
UM, SO, SO WE HAVE THE LUXURY AND YOUR COUNTY BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, PRUDENT FINANCIALLY OF IT.
WELL, IF IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AHEAD AND BUY THIS NOW, EVEN IF WE KNOW IN THE LONG RUN, WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT WITH BORROWED MONEY, UH, BECAUSE THIS, THIS GENERATOR IS GOING TO BE PART OF THIS BUILDING FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO GET THE BORROWED MONEY IN HAND TO MAKE THIS $600,000 PURCHASE.
UH, AND BY DOING IT THAT WAY, WE GET THAT IN THE QUEUE.
[00:50:01]
AND WE KNOW THAT THE GENERATORS WILL GET HERE IN TIME TO, FOR THE BUILDING.THE OTHER SCENARIO WOULD BE, WELL, WE WAIT AND WE JUST DO IT WHEN WE AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND WE GOT THE WHOLE BUILDING FINISHED AND THERE'S NO EMERGENCY POWER AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT THE WAY.
HOW DOES HE DO IT? NOT TO MENTION THE PRICE HE PRIESTS? WELL, THAT'S A FACTOR TOO.
WELL, IT ALSO THAT RELATES TO THE INTEREST RATES OF BORROWING.
AND NOW MY UNDERSTANDING FROM READING, IT WAS THAT WE'RE TALKING LIKE ALMOST OVER A YEAR, SO THE TIME YOU GET THIS TO BUY THIS THING, I ACTUALLY GET IT RIGHT.
SO YEAH, LOOKING, HEY, WE SHOULD HAVE THE BUILDING COMPLETED PRETTY CLOSE BY THE NIGHT.
RIGHT? WELL, I MEAN, IF ALL THIS SCHEDULE WORKS AT IS WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT MEANS WE'LL GET THE GENERATORS A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE BUILDING STOCK, WHICH IS WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT'S THE GENERATOR OR THE CIRCUITRY TO TITLE IN, OR IMAGINE UPS THAT YOU NEED TO INSTALL IN THE BUILDING, THE POWER DISTRIBUTION UNITS AND EVERYTHING ALL IS PARKED WRAPPED UP IN THAT.
AND, UM, UH, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ASSIST SLUR, UM, HAS BECOME VERY EXPERT IN BUILDING GENERATORS.
AND, UM, SO, UH, HE'S KIND OF LEARNED THROUGH EXPERIENCE THE TIMING AND HOW TO TIE IT TOGETHER.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT RITA HAD POINTS OUT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE GONE WITH ONE GIGANTIC GENERATOR WITH ONE POWER SOURCE, BUT INSTEAD I THINK WISELY, WE'RE DOING TWO DIFFERENT ONES THAT ARE SMALLER THAT HAVE DIFFERENT POWER SOURCES.
SO WE DON'T, WE WON'T HAVE ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY POWER, UH, CHICKENS IN ONE BASKET OR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
YOU MANUFACTURE THOUGH, RIGHT? SAME, I BELIEVE SO SEEM TO SEEM, SEEMED EXPENSIVE.
AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF BUILDING GENERATORS ARE ONLY PARTIAL POWER, BUT IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING, THIS, THIS IS BASICALLY GOING TO POWER.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S COMPUTER FRIGERATORS, YOU KNOW, HPAC, BASICALLY EVERYTHING IN A LARGE BILL, IF POWER WENT OUT, IT WAS A BACKUP GENERATOR BACKUP TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN RECENT YEARS IS WE HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR RESILIENCY BY INVESTING IN EMERGENCY GENERATORS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR CALL AND EMERGENCY GENERATOR NOW, AND FOR YEARS WE'VE COST OUR FINGERS.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE POWER GOES OUT THE NIGHT OF THE BOARD MEETING, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO CANCEL THE MEETING.
WE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
AND, AND NOW THE POWER IN YOUR ACCOUNT'S SOMEWHAT UNRELIABLE.
SO FINANCE BUILDING COURTHOUSE, COUNTY ADMIN, AND YOUR CALL I'LL HAVE GENERATORS NOW.
AND JUST IN THE LAST YEAR, THERE'VE BEEN THREE OR FOUR TIMES WHEN, BECAUSE WE HAD A GENERATOR, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY, WELL, WE NEED TO SEND EVERYBODY HOME.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD USE THAT, WE'LL WORK THROUGH IT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, IT'S EVEN MORE, IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, MORE OBVIOUS THAT IT'S NEEDED BECAUSE THIS IS A CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING THAT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO HAVE BACKUP POWER.
AND YOU GUYS WOULD NOT, I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE EXPLAINING TO YOU AND YOU WOULD NOT WANT HIM TO BE ASKING ME WHY WE JUST BUILT THIS $20 MILLION NEW, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING.
AND THE IT'S A YEAR BEFORE THE EMERGENCY POWER WORKS.
ARE WE STILL ON TRACK TO APPROVE THE ART BUDGET FIRST WEEK OF MAY? AND HOW ABOUT THE STATE? WHAT'S THEIR TRACK? WELL, WE KNOW WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES BY THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, BUT, UH, SO PROBABLY MY BUDGET WILL HAVE GONE TO PRINT AND I MIGHT EVEN HAVE TO MAKE A FEW, YOU KNOW, OFF THE CUFF COMMENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S IN THE GONE TO PRINT, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY DO.
AND THEN JIM, I GUESS IT'S ANOTHER 30, 45 DAYS.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT BIG THINGS WILL MOSTLY KNOW ABOUT THE TIME YOU RECEIVED MY RECOMMENDED BUDGET A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WELL, THE REASON I RAISED THE QUESTION IS YOU DON'T, YOU JUST TOLD US, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF OUR STEWARDSHIP, WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE WAS WHAT'S OUR RESERVE.
UH, EVERYTHING I READ ABOUT THE STATE IS THEY'RE FLUSH WITH RESERVE.
UM, ANYBODY EVER LOOKED AT THE IDEA OF MAYBE KNOW, BORROWING FROM THE STATE INSTEAD OF THE PUBLIC BANKS, WHICH SUPPORTS HAVE AN INTEREST RATE, UH, NO DOUBT HIGHER THAN WHAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN THE STATE.
SO WE USE ENTITIES THAT ARE SPONSORED BY THE STATE AND POOLED COUNTY BAWLING, BUT FROM THE COUNTY SIDE, AND THEN THE SCHOOL SIDE IT'S, YOU CAN'T REALLY TECHNICALLY BORROW DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE, BUT THEY SET UP THESE PUBLIC FINANCING BODIES FOR LOVING GUM.
REMEMBER THE YEAR WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO THE PUBLIC MARKET
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FOR THESE JUST THROUGH VRA.SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT.
SO THE VIRGINIA RESOURCE AUTHORITY IS EFFECTIVELY THE STATE VEHICLE FOR DOING THIS.
IT'S NOT PER SE STATEMENT, DISCREET, BIG CASHEWS.
YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? I CAN'T.
SO THE NEXT ONE REALLY IS SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION.
SO THE SUPERINTENDENT PRESENTED HIS BUDGET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND JUST LIKE US THEY'RE FACING THE SAME, YOU KNOW, INFLATIONARY ISSUES.
SO THE, THE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT USUALLY GET TOGETHER PRIOR TO THE, TO THE BUDGET KNICKERS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS A GOOD NUMBER TO, UM, A WORKING NUMBER.
AND SO THIS WORK, A NUMBER IS JUST A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN IT IS LAST YEAR, BUT PROPORTIONATELY FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT'S, IT'S LOWER.
SO WE THINK THAT OUR, MAYBE SHE SAID HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE COST OF LIVING THE BIG THEM UP ALSO.
SO THAT'S REASONABLE THAT, BUT AS A PROPORTION OF OUR BUDGET IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN.
SO, SO THE NUMBER FOR THE SCHOOLS, THE YEAR WE WERE IN WAS AN INCREASE OF 1.5 MILLION, THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION, THE WORKING NUMBER THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT I HAD ARE RECOMMENDING FOR THE BUDGET YOU'LL RECEIVE IN TWO WEEKS IS 1.8 MILLION.
SO IT'S 300 IN NOMINAL DOLLARS.
IT'S $300,000 OF ABOVE THE YEAR WE'RE IN.
BUT AS A PROPORTION OF OUR NEW REVENUE, IT'S A SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER PART.
SO, BUT AT $300,000 IS AN OFFSET IN THE INFLATION THOUGH.
IT'S HELPING THEM WITH, THEY ARE HAVING, DESPITE ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WRONG, THE STATE UNDER MOST PROJECTIONS, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY GOOD YEAR FROM THE STATE AND THEY DID NOT FEEL LIKE THEY NEEDED TO PRESS US HARD ON THE LOCAL SIDE FOR THAT REASON.
SO, UM, SO THE BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BECOME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, UM, IS GOING TO HAVE SOME PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO YOU, THE NEED FOR, YOU KNOW, FIREFIGHTERS AND, AND DEPUTIES, AND THEN THOSE, UM, OFFICES THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORT THOSE POSITIONS, THOSE OFFICES THAT YOUR COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY, THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COURTS.
UM, SO THE BUDGET THAT, THAT NEIL'S GOING TO PRESENT A FEW WEEKS, OR IT'S GOING TO FOCUS ON THOSE MAIN AREAS WHEN IT COMES TO POSSESSIONS.
I KNOW WE'RE GETTING MORE FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR THE NEW STATION.
SO THAT'S SOME OF IT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME NEW DEPUTIES TOO.
I THINK THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR, SO, UM, AGAIN, UM, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE ON THESE NUMBERS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
SO, SO THE, THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS THAT I'LL BE RECOMMENDING IS 10 AND THE NUMBER OF SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES POSITIONS THAT I'LL BE RECOMMENDING AS FOR TWO OF THE FOUR SHERIFF'S POSITIONS WILL BE SRS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR HIGH SCHOOL SRS AND FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS SHARE TWO.
SO THIS WOULD ROUND THAT OUT SO THAT ALL OF THE UPPER SCHOOLS HAVE A DEDICATED SRO.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M RECOMMENDING TO SUDDENLY TWO ADDITIONAL SHERIFF'S PATROL DEPUTIES.
AND THAT'S JUST BASED ON THEIR RATIO AND THE POPULATION AND ALL OF THAT ON THE FIREFIGHTER SIDE, THERE'S REALLY TWO DRIVERS.
UM, AND SOME WILL REMEMBER FOR, FOR MANY YEARS, WE'VE BEEN INCREMENTALLY TRYING TO INCREASE THE STAFFING ON OUR HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
UH, SO THAT ULTIMATELY ALL OF OUR HEAVY EQUIPMENT RUNS FOR THREE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF TWO.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT ALLOWS YOU TO DISPATCH A SINGLE UNIT INSTEAD OF TWO UNITS.
SO YOU GET BETTER RESPONSE TIMES AND BETTER COVERAGE.
UH, THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD SORT OF TAKE THAT ON ALL AT ONCE.
AND SO OF EIGHT OF THE 10 WOULD STAFF, A NEW PARAMEDIC UNIT FIRE STATION, 7 24, 7, AND THE OTHER TWO, WHAT SORT OF REPRESENT TO SORT OF OUR ONGOING INCREMENTAL GROWTH, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATION-WIDE AND YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE OTHER OFFICES HAVING ADDITIONAL HEAD COUNT, WHAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND WHICH SUPPORT THE, THE COURTS AND THE SHERIFFS AND THE ALL, AND THEN YOU COME OFF THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THEN THE COURTS ARE WE SUPPORT THOSE, ARE THEY CONSTITUTION BOOK? YES.
AND YES, PART OF THE, PART OF THE FUNDING FOR THOSE OFFICES
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DOES COME FROM THE STATE, BUT A LARGE PART IS LOCALLY FUNDED.SO, AND THE RULES FOR EACH ONE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES IS DIFFERENT.
BUT GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, THE STATE COMP BOARD SAYS, WE WILL REIMBURSE YOU FOR X NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN THIS OFFICE BASED ON YOUR POPULATION.
AND, UH, ALL OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS HAVE MORE POSITIONS THAN WHAT THE STATE, WHERE YOU IN VERSUS FOUR.
UH, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THEY ARE TREATED LIKE OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
NOW THERE IS AN UPSIDE REVENUE PART OF THAT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE COMP BOARD SAYS, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER EMPLOYEES A 5% RAISE, THEN WE REALIZE THAT AS SIMPLY A STATE REVENUE LINE ITEM, AND A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER WE'RE DONE WITH THE BUDGET, WE MIGHT FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE BUDGET IT AS OUR THING IN OUR BUDGET WITH LAST YEAR'S BASELINE OF STATE COMP AWARD REVENUE.
AND THEN THERE'S USUALLY A SMALL UPSIDE ONCE THE STATE BUDGET.
SO, AND IT'S BASED ON THE, UM, THAT LIKE THOSE RAISES ARE BASED ON THE COP SALARIES, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES ARE LESS THAN, OH, THEY GO UP 5% AND WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR OTHERS THAT ARE NOT BEING SUPPORTED BY THE STATE COMP BOY.
SO THOSE SALARIES HAVE TO GO UP ALSO, RIGHT? AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE INCREASING THEIR SALARIES, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD WITH OUR OWN.
AND IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, YOU CAN'T SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THIS EMPLOYEE GETS THIS PAID EMPLOYEE GETS A DIFFERENT PAY CAUSE ONE'S IN THE COMP BOARD AND ONE'S NOT.
SO WE, WE SMOOTH ALL THAT OUT AND ALWAYS DO THE SAME AND THEY ALWAYS GET WHATEVER WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN WHATEVER THE STATE GIVES THEM, WE JUST TAKE THAT REVENUE.
SO THIS EXTRA BUDGET FOR THESE OFFICES IS THAT, OR ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT OR SO THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE MORE STAFF.
UM, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THERE FOR HERE KIND ADDITIONS THERE'S, THERE'S TWO AND A HALF FOR ALL THREE OFFICES COMBINED.
SO BASICALLY WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE MILITARY ANALOGY IS, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WANT TO THINK IN TERMS OF THE SHARP EDGE OF THE SPHERE, WHICH IS THE FIREFIGHTER OR THE DEPUTY, BUT ALL THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT STUFF HAS A WHOLE BACK OFFICE OPERATION WITH THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY AND BODY CAMS AND CLERK OF COURT SUPPORT AND, UH, DRUG COURT AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF RELATE TO IT.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE DETAILS ON THAT.
I MEAN, OUR, OUR, OUR MAIN POINT HERE IS THAT 90% OF ANY NEW POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET ARE GOING TO BE RELATED TO YOU DON'T