Central Virginia
Nelson County
Board of Supervisors Meeting 1/14/2025
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Board of Supervisors Meeting
1/14/2025
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Moment of Silence
B. Pledge of Allegiance
II. REORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD AND ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
A. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
B. Resolution – R2025-01 Annual Organizational Meeting of the Board and Appointments
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Resolution – R2025-02 Minutes for Approval
B. Resolution – R2025-03 Budget Amendment
C. Resolution – R2025-04 Support for Repairs and Strategic Plan Implementation Funding for the Blue Ridge Parkway
D. Resolution – R2025-06 Budget Amendment
V. PRESENTATIONS
A. VDOT Report
B. 2026 General Reassessment – Gary Eanes
C. Nelson County Jail Utilization Report – Matthew Vitale, OAR
VI. NEW & UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Ambulance Transport Billing Rates (R2025-05)
B. Rockfish Valley Community Center Funding Request
VII. REPORTS, APPOINTMENTS, DIRECTIVES AND CORRESPONDENCE
A. Reports
1. County Administrator’s Report
2. Board Reports
B. Appointments
C. Correspondence
D. Directives
VIII. OTHER BUSINESS (AS PRESENTED)
IX. ADJOURN AND CONTINUE – EVENING SESSION AT 7PM
Evening Session
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Rezoning #24-0289 – A-1 Agricultural to B-1 Business
B. Ordinance O2025-01 – Amendment to Chapter 7, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article IX, Local Authority to Reduce Speed Limits
IV. OTHER BUSINESS (AS PRESENTED)
A. Special Use Permit #24-0014 – Large Solar Energy System, Wild Rose Solar
B. Proposed Siting Agreement – Large Solar Energy System, Wild Rose Solar
C. Wild Rose Solar Project Appeal of June 26, 2024 Planning Commission Substantial Accord Determination
V. ADJOURNMENT
SPEAKER_07
00:00:00
I order the January 14th meeting of Nelson County Board of Supervisors.
00:00:04
If you all would please rise for a moment of silence and then join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
00:00:19
Thank you.
00:00:26
of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
00:00:37
Thank you.
00:00:46
All right, so before we get started on the agenda, we have
00:00:54
A special guest with us that I would like to recognize.
00:00:58
We have a pending retirement.
00:01:00
So Linda Staton will be retiring shortly.
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And I have a statement.
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I just want to read this.
00:01:06
Linda began her career in Nelson County with the school board in September of 1995, worked as an accounting clerk and accounting assistant through March of 2006 until she took a position with the county and the finance department as accounts payable finance technician.
00:01:24
She worked in this capacity until she retired from the county July 1st of 2014, retirement number one, returning to serve in a part-time finance technician position two years later in July of 2016 until rejoining the county full-time in the county administrator's office in November of 2016.
00:01:45
In February of 2017, Ms. Staton returned to the finance department as the payroll finance technician and then ultimately was appointed Director of Finance and Human Resources in August of 2022, serving to present.
00:02:00
It is with utmost gratitude that we finish, wish Ms. Staton health, happiness, and relaxation in her retirement from the county service on this Friday, January 17th.
00:02:10
Congratulations.
00:02:21
Thank you for everything, for all of your service.
00:02:23
We certainly appreciate you.
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And Grace, good luck.
00:02:29
All right, moving on to the next item on the agenda.
00:02:32
I'm going to hand the meeting over for reorganization of the board and our annual organizational meeting to Ms. McGarry.
SPEAKER_03
00:02:50
Good afternoon.
00:02:50
Happy New Year to everyone.
00:02:53
As the board is aware, and most of the public is likely aware, that annually the board goes through the reorganization of the board and has an annual organizational meeting.
00:03:04
This is comprised of the election of a chair and vice chair for the upcoming year, 2025, and then consideration of a resolution that sets the meeting dates for the regular board meetings and also handles some board appointments.
00:03:22
So this is pursuant to our applicable code provisions of 15.2, 14.16 of the Code of Virginia, and also chapter two, article two of the Code of Nelson County.
00:03:35
And this prescribes that this happens at the first meeting in January of each year.
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As also code of matters to be determined by the board, in addition to the appointment of the chairman and vice chair, include the establishment of a schedule of regular and is applicable special meetings
00:03:52
The establishment of rules of order, the establishment of meeting agendas, and the establishment of board appointments.
00:04:03
Look at the election of chair and vice chair.
00:04:06
Does the board wish to consider each of these separately or together?
SPEAKER_20
00:04:10
I believe it's doing it combined.
00:04:12
Let's do it together.
SPEAKER_03
00:04:13
OK.
00:04:14
I'll now take nominations for chair and vice chair for calendar year 2025.
00:04:19
OK.
SPEAKER_20
00:04:20
I move that we appoint Ernie Reed as chair and Jessica Ligon as vice chair.
SPEAKER_07
00:04:25
Second.
SPEAKER_03
00:04:27
OK.
00:04:28
I will take that as a nomination.
00:04:30
Are there any other nominations?
00:04:33
I will close the floor for nominations and call for a vote on the election of Mr. Reed as chair and Ms. Ligon as vice chair.
00:04:46
Mr. Ralford?
SPEAKER_07
00:04:47
Yes.
SPEAKER_03
00:04:48
Dr. Ligon?
00:04:49
Yes.
00:04:50
Mr. Reed?
SPEAKER_07
00:04:50
Yes.
00:04:51
Mr. Bohn?
00:04:52
Yes.
SPEAKER_03
00:04:53
Congratulations.
00:04:56
Next we need to consider resolution 2025-01
00:05:00
annual organizational meeting of the board and appointments.
00:05:07
So the current resolution you have mimics the current regular meeting schedule, which are to be conducted in calendar year 2025.
00:05:17
Here in the general district courtroom located in the courthouse, second Tuesday of each month beginning at 2pm and reconvening thereafter at 7pm.
00:05:26
Should the regular meetings fall on any legal holiday, the meetings shall be held on the next following regular business day without any action of any kind by the board, unless otherwise canceled.
00:05:38
It also states that should the chairman or vice chairman, if the chairman is unable to act, find and declare that weather or other conditions are such that it's hazardous for members to attend regular meetings, the meetings will be continued on the following Tuesday.
00:05:52
Such findings shall be communicated to members, staff, and the press as promptly as possible.
00:05:58
All hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meetings and no further advertisement is required.
00:06:05
It also states that special meetings of the Board of Supervisors may be convened from time to time as determined by the Board in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Code of Virginia and Code of Nelson County.
00:06:17
It also states that
00:06:19
in accordance with the Code of the County of Nelson, Virginia.
00:06:23
Robert's Rules of Order shall be observed as the rules for conducting business of the Board of Supervisors and the agenda for all meetings of the Board shall be established by the Clerk of the Board in consultation with the Chair.
00:06:37
Okay, does the Board wish to make any changes to its regular meeting schedule or any of those housekeeping items?
00:06:46
Also included in your annual meeting resolution are consideration of the following appointments which you see there and on the second page of the resolution.
00:07:02
They've included names italicized and then bold for your consideration today.
SPEAKER_20
00:07:12
I'm willing to continue serving on the PDC.
00:07:16
One, I know we had discussed obviously earlier this year the transition of the Planning Commission.
00:07:24
Jessica, are you still interested in participating on that?
00:07:30
David, I guess, do you want to say something?
SPEAKER_07
00:07:33
Yeah, I'll, on social services and EMS, so are we, we're not necessarily tying Director of Emergency Services to EMS counsel, right?
00:07:47
That can be with the chair being a Director of Emergency Services.
SPEAKER_03
00:07:53
Right, so this, and you don't want to be on the other side, I want to.
00:08:01
So the Director of Emergency Services as listed here is
00:08:09
It pertains to that position listed in our emergency operations plan.
00:08:15
We have a director of emergency services, which is John Adkins, as far as his department head title.
00:08:21
The emergency operations plan also has an emergency services coordinator, which would be John as the staff member.
00:08:29
So does that help clear that up?
SPEAKER_07
00:08:31
No, not really.
00:08:31
What I was referring to, and I apologize, is the EMS council.
00:08:38
Does that have to be tied in with Director of Emergency Services position?
00:08:43
It does not have to.
SPEAKER_03
00:08:44
You can make a separate appointment for that.
SPEAKER_07
00:08:47
I'm just saying I'm willing to continue serving unless you want to start doing that.
00:08:51
I think having you on the AMS Council makes the most sense.
SPEAKER_03
00:08:54
So we can list that separately as Emergency Services Council and then... Yeah, and that's how it is on here.
SPEAKER_07
00:08:59
I just didn't know if we wanted to tie it in.
00:09:01
So I will continue to serve there.
00:09:04
Yes, it is there.
00:09:06
I'm sorry.
00:09:07
and Social Services.
SPEAKER_20
00:09:13
Yeah.
00:09:14
You want to stay on the Piedmont housing?
00:09:16
Or not Piedmont housing.
00:09:18
Piedmont career works, Piedmont Council.
SPEAKER_04
00:09:20
I'm fine with that.
00:09:22
Of course, jail board's not on here.
SPEAKER_03
00:09:23
No, that one is not.
00:09:29
And I believe it's not because we started making that appointment.
00:09:33
in July, yeah, with the fiscal year.
00:09:37
If you want to switch to an annual appointment, we can do that.
00:09:41
Let's add it here.
SPEAKER_20
00:09:42
It's up to you, Jessica.
SPEAKER_04
00:09:45
Seems cleaner.
SPEAKER_20
00:09:46
Yeah.
00:09:48
I know you'd indicated if there were some time constraints.
00:09:52
I have no problem serving on that capacity.
SPEAKER_04
00:09:55
I'm game to serve the county as much as I can, but I love doing it after business hours.
00:10:01
Understand.
00:10:02
So sacrificing a whole day to go to Charlottesville is hard for me.
00:10:07
So if he was willing to take that, I was willing to give it to him.
SPEAKER_20
00:10:10
I have no problem doing that.
00:10:11
And that was jail board.
SPEAKER_04
00:10:15
Jail board.
SPEAKER_08
00:10:27
And just to bring it all around, I'm happy to continue serving on the TJPDC.
SPEAKER_03
00:10:36
So am I correct in that the only thing is Dr. Ligon, I'm for Nelson County Planning Commission, and then adding the CRJ appointment with Mr. Rutherford.
SPEAKER_07
00:10:51
Do you want a motion going down saying the names?
SPEAKER_03
00:10:54
I don't believe that's necessary.
SPEAKER_07
00:10:56
Just the resolution as amended.
00:11:04
So we're looking for that motion.
00:11:05
I move that we approve Resolution R 2025-01, Nelson County Board of Supervisors annual meeting as amended.
SPEAKER_04
00:11:20
Mr. Rutherford?
00:11:21
Yes.
00:11:22
Dr. Ligon?
00:11:23
Yes.
00:11:23
Mr. Parr?
00:11:24
Yes.
00:11:24
Mr. Reed?
00:11:25
Yes.
00:11:27
OK, we'll now turn the meeting over to our new chairman, Mr. Reed.
00:11:30
Congratulations.
00:11:31
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
00:11:34
Just two things I'd like to make note of before we continue with the meeting.
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First, my thanks to Mr. Parr for the last year of service.
00:11:47
No small deal and was done exceptionally well, I think, so thank you for that.
00:11:51
The other is not something that we've discussed but something that we're all terribly aware of and that is that the absence of Mr. Harvey is something that we all take very seriously and very sympathetically as well.
00:12:10
We know how much he would love to be able to be more active in what's going on and we also know what he's dealing with and trying to
00:12:19
keep himself above water, much less be able to actively serve out his term.
00:12:26
But I do want to say that I know we're all deeply concerned for him and would hope to see him back in any capacity.
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And also, I think I've kind of found that in his absence, it's really necessitated that we work a little bit more as a team being a little bit tighter
00:12:48
Board than we would be otherwise.
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And so I know we're all going to do the very best we can to make sure that what's likely to be his last year as a supervisor is one that he can really be happy to have been not just a witness but also part of his legacy and such.
SPEAKER_07
00:13:11
So just wanted to make note of that.
SPEAKER_08
00:13:15
So that brings us to public comments.
00:13:23
And I have three people signed up for public comments.
00:13:26
You don't have to be signed up for public comments to speak, but it really helps us when you do sign up ahead of time.
00:13:32
And because it's my first time back as chair, I'm going to read the rules for both public comments and public hearing, which are the same for everybody and to remind me.
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So as the chair, I will open the public hearing or public comments and call speakers to speak from the sign-up sheet.
00:14:00
When your name's called, please come to the podium, speaking into the microphone.
00:14:04
Clearly state your name and address for the record.
00:14:07
If you're speaking on behalf of a group, please clarify and identify the group you're representing.
00:14:13
Only comment, excuse me, that's purely public hearing, I'll not say that.
00:14:19
individuals get to speak for three minutes or less the chair can grant more time at his discretion groups should have one person to speak on their behalf they should keep their comments to five minutes or less again the chair can grant more time and someone needs to be a timekeeper for me thank you for doing that
00:14:42
I'm grateful.
00:14:43
And so Jessica will let you know when there are 30 seconds left with the famous stop sign that we have.
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Okay.
00:14:56
First to speak in public comments is Ms. Valdry Walker.
SPEAKER_00
00:15:06
Good afternoon.
00:15:07
My name is Valdry Walker.
00:15:09
I live at 9897 Norman Road.
00:15:14
0014, large solar energy system proposed to be installed in Gladstone South District zone A1, agricultural land.
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The total acreage involves 4,646.8 acres.
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The project footprint will cover approximately 550 acres.
00:15:35
The Wild Rose Solar Project has been an item discussion since I know June when it was presented to the public here.
00:15:44
This is not an easy decision for the board.
00:15:46
As I've said each time I speak on this, the changing of regulations from one thing to another creates real problems in this one.
00:16:00
I think creates a problem for the governance of the board itself.
00:16:04
I respect what they're doing.
00:16:06
However, some things need to be pointed out for the public to be aware of.
00:16:10
For a board to act in favor of an exception to special permit, it undermines the power of the law itself, its regulation, its security.
00:16:24
All the things that a society must have and its citizens to recognize where they are, what they are doing, what is theirs, what is not.
00:16:35
Anything else such as proffers which are offered to sweeten the package for an exemption to occur no more than bribes.
00:16:46
This particular large solar system as proposed does not bring to the Gladstone community other than a large industrial operation sitting in the midst of an agricultural land and family homes.
00:16:58
The money proffered is dangly for the board and speaks only too loud of how this entire situation undermines our board of supervisors itself
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our county and our citizens are we so easily bought and are our laws that have been established over periods of time are they so manipulative
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that we think that our needs are greater than the respect of the Lord.
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This is a door we don't want nor do we need to open.
00:17:29
Respect, faith, and current zoning needs to go forward or allow us all to apply and receive special permits and projects that we need to put in place because why not?
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If one is allowed, others should be.
SPEAKER_08
00:17:50
Thank you.
00:17:51
Mr. Steven Bain.
SPEAKER_09
00:18:01
Steven Bain, 620 Farnock Climb, Nellysford, Board of Supervisors.
00:18:08
This is also regarding the review of the SUP application for the Wild Rose solar farm scheduled for the evening session, I believe.
00:18:16
I hope that the Board of Supervisors will follow sentiments
00:18:20
of County Residents, particularly those in the Gladstone District.
00:18:25
Number one, the jobs created both temporary and permanent would likely not benefit Nelson County residents and the estimated two to five permanent jobs are underwhelming and would certainly not benefit Nelson County residents.
00:18:41
The efficiency of the energy produced in terms of cost per kilowatt hour is not guaranteed or likely to be as advertised.
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Number three, the energy produced would likely not benefit Nelson County.
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In fact, most certainly not benefit Nelson County residents.
00:19:00
Number four, there is material credible concern that the proposed solar farm is not in substantial accord with Nelson County comprehensive plan.
00:19:11
I note the term sheets included in the meeting packet, which are the draft terms and conditions from the developer.
00:19:18
Following our observations, one, including the term sheets proposed by the developer suggests that these are the terms the county would likely be accepting.
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I hope that is certainly not the case.
00:19:32
Number two, consideration paid to Nelson
00:19:41
to be at least the greatest level realized by other peer counties.
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That is known information.
00:19:48
Number three, with respect to the Virginia Tech professor, Nelson County must not accept community economic benefits that are only above average.
00:20:01
Nelson County can and must command community economic benefits that are excellent or outstanding, in fact, best of breed.
00:20:11
Number four, we note in the term sheets that the developer holds the right to assign its responsibilities to any other entity with unilateral notice.
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Any such assignment must be bilateral with Nelson County.
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Also, there is no evidence that county staff performed a background check on the developer.
00:20:34
This is a critical step in due diligence.
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In summary, Nelson County holds the leverage
00:20:41
in the negotiation of terms and conditions that are absolutely best breed.
00:20:47
It is incumbent upon Nelson County to leverage the best deal for the county and residents.
00:20:53
We know that there will be continued growing demand to locate a solar farm in Nelson County.
00:21:00
It appears that this opportunity
SPEAKER_08
00:21:13
Thank you, Mr. Bain.
00:21:15
Mr. William Piercy.
SPEAKER_11
00:21:18
Good morning, Piercy, 608 Wilkins, Coney, Lovingston.
00:21:33
First of all, congratulations to Ms. Trane and Dr. Lee and all of your partners.
00:21:37
Happy New Year to you all.
00:21:40
Did you miss Coney?
00:21:47
which is the Blue Ridge Rising Strategic Plan.
00:21:53
As some of you may know, I have encouraged Mr. Kevin Brant to include advocating for the Blue Ridge Safety Act.
00:22:01
within their agenda.
00:22:04
This is still the bill pending passage in the U.S. Senate, which allows the Wintergreen Resort to build the exit road and connecting to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
00:22:18
The second I stand in favor of NC 2025-01 through 03, which you've already passed,
00:22:26
And the Curtis suggestion that less than five of the meeting minutes be included in one of these packets because they're getting pretty thick, hard to carry on and all.
00:22:39
But I do appreciate that there were this many plates spinning on the wheel before.
00:22:46
There are serious concern relative to the CHA report which is included in that packet.
00:22:52
and I believe that they owe Nelson County one more meeting or report on the Larkin property and I would hope that this would be in the format of something like a town hall where there's Q&A and the public has an opportunity to speak directly to some representatives from the CHA organization.
00:23:17
and I think there were some questions that Mr. Parr had asked in earlier meetings that had not yet been addressed by CHA.
00:23:29
Third, and I stand in favor of Nelson County, requesting RFP from Blue Ridge Solutions and now treatment ILSC regarding the schools under speed control.
00:23:43
The fourth one, I stand opposed to tearing down the recently purchased property on Tambar Road for the DSS.
00:23:53
How much time do I have left?
00:23:56
You have 30 seconds.
00:23:59
I'll get this one in.
00:24:00
I stand in favor of requesting VDOT to initiate a study and include the six year
00:24:09
improvement plan and smart scale evaluation for the proposed design of an overpass at Highway 29 and Calhoun Road.
00:24:19
Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_08
00:24:23
Thank you, Mr. Piercy.
00:24:26
That's the last person who had pre-signed up for the public comments.
00:24:33
If there's anyone else that would like to speak, this would be a chance for you.
00:24:41
And if not, I will close the public comments.
00:24:44
Do we have to do this for the public comments?
00:24:46
I don't know, but it feels good.
00:24:47
It does, doesn't it?
00:24:48
OK, we'll close the public comments.
00:24:50
And we'll move on to the consent agenda.
00:24:55
Does anyone have any comments on the consent agenda, or do we have a motion?
00:25:00
Mr.
SPEAKER_20
00:25:00
Chair, I move we approve the consent agenda as presented.
00:25:02
Second.
SPEAKER_08
00:25:06
If there's no discussion, we'll take a roll call.
SPEAKER_03
00:25:10
Mr. Alfred?
SPEAKER_08
00:25:11
Yes.
00:25:12
Mr. Palmer?
00:25:12
Yes.
SPEAKER_04
00:25:13
Dr. Lane?
00:25:14
Yes.
00:25:14
Mr. Reed?
SPEAKER_08
00:25:15
Yes.
00:25:18
OK. Our first presentation today is the VDOT report from Mr. Brown.
SPEAKER_13
00:25:33
Thank you.
00:25:34
Thank you, Chairman Reed.
00:25:36
I don't have a whole lot to report on, kind of getting back into the swing of things after the holidays.
00:25:43
Just like to, we had a great effort from our people for the recent snowstorms and ice storms and warm weather over the past two weekends and
00:25:57
Our guys did a great job and they worked very closely with Nelson County School System to look at trouble spots and put a lot of extra effort into roads that might keep you from going to school and we were very fortunate that the temperatures came up some but we were able to get the roads in condition to where you all could go to school.
00:26:24
yesterday, even though it was delayed.
00:26:26
That was a directive from the governor that we do everything possible to get these kids back to school.
00:26:34
And our guys up here, our staff up here did a great job.
00:26:39
I want to thank the Transportation Operations Director from Nelson County Schools.
00:26:46
I talked to David Saturday, Taylor Ashley,
00:26:53
Taylor and our folks, we've had a lot of conversations over the last few days and kudos to him for being so available to us and giving us information.
00:27:03
That was a good partnership.
00:27:07
I never announced that we have a new maintenance superintendent at the primary headquarters, a native of Nelson County, and very glad of that.
00:27:15
Jeremy Mays lives over, I guess over near Lowe's, a little back that way.
00:27:19
He is the new maintenance superintendent.
00:27:23
We also have a new supervisor over there also his name is Zach Gunner and we're very pleased with getting filling those positions and look I think we've got a great combination there so I think you'll continue to see some great great work come out of that area headquarters so but we do have some new people there
00:27:45
I do want to talk just a minute about our FY 25 budget, VDOT maintenance budget.
00:27:54
We are, we're going to be lean the rest of this year to the end of June.
00:28:00
We're going to be lean.
00:28:01
We are having to cover all of our extra costs from the
00:28:09
and Nelson County was hit pretty hard.
00:28:13
So we're gonna be lean.
00:28:16
We're gonna fix the safety sensitive issues and do all of that that we can.
00:28:22
But there's not a lot of extra for anything else until we get our new budget July 1 of 25.
00:28:32
So just want you to understand that we're not as fast getting some things done.
00:28:36
It's because we're being very frugal with our knowledge.
00:28:41
Hopefully this will change, but right now I'm not authorized to overspend our budget, and I've been told to hold the line.
00:28:50
We do have some additional flood damage to repair, and something I don't know if you all know about, we've got a slope repair
00:29:15
It's kind of on the lower end of 150 north toward 250.
00:29:19
It's right there where we have the asphalt millage pile at, where we have the extra right-of-way.
00:29:25
We store our millage right there.
00:29:26
I know it's north of land wade, but south of...
SPEAKER_07
00:29:37
Crop's from sunset.
SPEAKER_13
00:29:38
Yeah.
00:29:40
We are going to be
00:29:47
I have been told to fix it regardless of the money.
00:29:51
It's going to be close to $700,000 spent.
00:29:55
We're going to do a sole nailing on top and bottom, but that cannot wait until next year until I get a new bunch of money, so we are going to go on and do that.
00:30:11
We do have a couple
00:30:18
We made some temporary repairs to get a pipe in and also a warrant on 620.
00:30:24
So those will be coming up.
00:30:25
We are delaying those until next fiscal year due to funding.
00:30:31
And it's not rehearsing.
00:30:33
We're good.
00:30:34
But we are going to have to delay those.
00:30:37
But that is just some information I want to share with you.
00:30:40
I don't really have a whole lot of other information.
00:30:45
To share with you, like I said, we've been in snow removal mode and we're going to get back doing some of our basic maintenance work that doesn't require purchasing a lot of materials.
00:31:01
We'll be cutting brush, running our equipment, probably
00:31:14
That's kind of my plan for the rest of the winter and the spring, but we still want to hear if you have needs.
00:31:26
I still want to hear it.
00:31:27
If it's something we can pull the trigger on, we'll certainly do it.
00:31:30
If it's something that has to wait, I'll certainly let you know that too.
SPEAKER_08
00:31:37
Thank you.
00:31:40
We'll go down the line and see if we have any additional comments or questions for you.
00:31:45
Start with Jesse.
SPEAKER_20
00:31:48
First off, thank you for getting the info from me this morning for Whippoorwill.
00:31:54
I appreciate that.
00:31:55
That has been passed on to them, so we'll keep you apprised.
00:32:01
Moremenster, down in China way, I don't have the road number in front of me.
00:32:05
I tried looking on my GPS.
00:32:07
645.
00:32:07
645.
00:32:10
What is, I know we indicated about putting this on the six year plan.
00:32:13
Is it, it's pretty much at the, is it at the tail end?
00:32:16
I'd like to just see an updated six year plan if we could.
00:32:20
Okay.
00:32:22
What was that?
SPEAKER_04
00:32:23
They'd already done part of it.
00:32:25
Yeah.
00:32:25
I thought they, I thought that was closer to the top.
00:32:28
Closer to the top.
00:32:29
That's how I remember it.
SPEAKER_20
00:32:33
I don't
00:32:51
and you hit Eddie Embrey Bridge right there on 6 and 29.
00:32:54
It's a pretty sizable pothole.
00:32:58
I speak out of experience.
00:33:00
Someone got a flat tire, isn't it?
SPEAKER_13
00:33:02
Is that in the room?
SPEAKER_20
00:33:04
Yeah, it's in the bridge.
00:33:06
It's in the bridge.
00:33:08
Of course, they allege that it came from a pothole, but I'll have some folks head over there.
00:33:14
The next one, VDOT right of way related to the
00:33:21
Knew, do we have an update?
00:33:23
Is there anything else you need from VDOT, Jerry?
00:33:26
I had a conversation with Daniel via email yesterday.
00:33:31
Okay, so that's underway.
SPEAKER_13
00:33:34
Jerry, y'all working that out?
00:33:37
I saw what y'all emailed each other and
00:33:40
Whatever's outstanding, y'all working together to get that resolved, right?
SPEAKER_20
00:33:44
Yeah.
00:33:46
Yeah, I think you're welcome to accept.
00:33:48
Awesome.
00:33:48
OK. All right.
00:33:49
And I think that is all I got for the moment.
00:33:52
OK.
00:33:53
I have no problem calling you, as you know.
SPEAKER_07
00:33:58
OK. Mr. Parr?
00:33:59
Did you get my message a couple weeks ago about that sign that was knocked down on 151 at Avon and old 151 Route 6?
SPEAKER_13
00:34:09
I think so, Mr. Parr.
SPEAKER_07
00:34:12
It looks like it got knocked off by a truck and it's sitting in the grass on the other side of the guardrail.
SPEAKER_13
00:34:20
That's at 151.
SPEAKER_07
00:34:21
And Avon.
SPEAKER_13
00:34:23
151 and Avon.
SPEAKER_07
00:34:24
Yeah.
00:34:26
I was just there inspecting the piece of property and saw the sign
00:34:30
beside the guardrail.
00:34:31
It's the one that says no big trucks, I think, whatever.
SPEAKER_13
00:34:34
That one.
SPEAKER_07
00:34:35
Yeah, we need that back up.
00:34:39
And then were we going to discuss the guardrail at NIMS?
00:34:43
Is that something?
SPEAKER_03
00:34:45
I have a question.
00:34:46
Mr. Brown could possibly speak to that.
00:34:48
I did circulate the 2018 study that was done on that and the results from that.
SPEAKER_07
00:34:54
Is that this?
00:34:56
If you don't mind, please.
SPEAKER_13
00:34:57
I mean, nothing's changed since we looked at it in 2018.
00:35:03
I sent Candice some information this morning that, you know, with guardrail, I know we take, well,
00:35:10
Let's just put up some guardrail.
00:35:12
We have to understand what guardrail does.
00:35:15
Guardrail is to protect motorists from hazards.
00:35:18
It is not to protect private property.
00:35:23
And I know that's hard for people to understand.
00:35:25
I get requested all the time, people that live in a shop, carves, who put up a piece of guardrail.
00:35:30
Well that's, this guardrail is not to protect your houses, it's to protect motorists.
00:35:36
And there are,
00:35:38
There's a criteria in which we can put up guard rail and criteria in which we can't.
00:35:43
And just as that review from our traffic engineer stated, that location does not meet the warrant to put up guard rail.
00:35:53
And the reason that's important, the reason that's important, if we do not meet the engineering warrants or criteria to put up guard rail, and we put it up, guard rail is a fixed object.
00:36:06
When people hit it, it causes damage.
00:36:08
It causes injury.
00:36:11
And if we put a guardrail on a section on the side of the highway and it's not warranted,
00:36:17
then we put a hazard in the road and that's why we are very careful and where to put up at and what's not.
00:36:27
I will make a suggestion and I know I'm not, I mean this is, I don't think this is gonna change.
00:36:34
I've asked our folks to look at it again but I don't see anything that's changed since 2018.
00:36:40
I would make a suggestion to the board or to county
00:36:44
The contact may come out of Charlottesville, they are a guardrail company, and to put a line of guardrail down at the bottom of the hill in front of the building.
00:36:54
It would be just a parallel installation and they may, they may, they may, I know in some situations they do a pro bono
00:37:11
That's just a suggestion.
00:37:19
I don't think we're going to be able to do it simply because it's not warranted.
00:37:27
As much as I like to put it up, I'm not going to put it up and create a fixed object.
00:37:38
Does that help?
00:37:40
Yep.
00:37:40
Does that help help?
SPEAKER_07
00:37:42
Yes.
00:37:42
Thank you.
00:37:43
I appreciate it.
00:37:44
And again, congratulations on your staffing changes and filling positions in Bryant.
00:37:51
Yeah.
00:37:51
You got a good one.
00:37:53
Thank you.
00:37:53
I do.
SPEAKER_08
00:37:54
Yes, sir.
00:37:55
Okay.
00:37:56
Jessica?
00:37:57
I don't have anything.
00:37:58
Okay.
00:37:58
And I don't either.
00:38:00
So just again, thanks for keeping things clear and open and safe for us.
00:38:07
All right.
00:38:07
Grateful.
00:38:15
Okay, next presentation, Mr. Gary Eanes is here to speak about the 2026 general reassessment.
SPEAKER_19
00:38:25
Hello Mr. Chairman, board members.
00:38:27
Thank you for having me and I know it's hard to believe it's that time again but every four years
00:38:43
One thing I always point out that general reassessments are mandated by the state, not the Board of Supervisors, not by the Commission of Revenues Office.
00:38:53
These are required by the Code of Virginia to conduct a reassessment.
00:39:00
You can reassess every year.
00:39:02
The longest that you can wait is six years.
00:39:05
Nelson County and the state pretty much recommends at least a four-year cycle.
00:39:11
They would like you to do it more often, but at least a four-year cycle.
00:39:16
So again, it's not you, the Board of Supervisors, that calls these to happen.
00:39:21
It's the state of Virginia.
00:39:23
Our company, Wampler Inns Appraisal Group, I believe this is the fourth time that we've
00:39:30
This is a reassessment here for Nelson County so we've been through the lean times of real estate through the good times as far as I guess values increasing and we're still in a high real estate market right now.
00:39:46
Our company as of December had completed 162 reassessments in 54 different localities in Virginia and North Carolina.
00:39:58
consisting of about 2.7 million properties.
00:40:02
Also in December, our company merged with a national company, Vision Government Solutions.
00:40:11
They're large up in, through Pennsylvania, Ohio, up in New England, as far down as Arkansas.
00:40:22
So that gives us more resources
00:40:26
to pull from.
00:40:27
They've made us stronger, and we've made vision stronger.
00:40:32
Same group that started here last fall in 24.
00:40:36
We have not added any other individuals to the project, so you're looking at steel-wampering employees, and I have been in charge of
00:40:57
reappraisals every four years based on population.
00:41:01
If you're under 50,000, you can wait as long as six years.
00:41:10
Counties like Roanoke County, City of Lynchburg, they would reappraise every year.
00:41:16
Another reason to have reassessment would be if your ratio drops below 70%,
00:41:24
and that's saying that if a house sells for basically $100,000 and your assessment's at $69,000 then you're below that 70% ratio.
00:41:37
Right now your homes are below the 70% ratio so values have increased over the last few years since we did it effective 24 so real estate values are continuing
00:41:54
The first thing we do when we start a reassessment is we start looking at vacant land sales and building sales.
00:42:03
So we compile, these are all sales from Nelson County.
00:42:08
I gave Candy a book so at your leisure you can, that'll be in her office, you folks can take a look at that and look at the sales that we will be looking at.
00:42:18
We will keep these up throughout the process.
00:42:22
We will study the housing market all the way up until this coming fall, fall of 2025.
00:42:29
We'll send notices out hopefully November, no later than December of this year.
00:42:35
This reassessment goes into effect 2026.
00:42:38
So we will have hearings sometime this fall and
00:42:47
basically listen to the citizens to see if they have any concerns about their properties.
00:42:55
It's short and sweet, but it's always the same news.
00:43:00
There are four years and we follow the market.
00:43:04
We're not coming into Nelson County with any preconceived ideas.
00:43:07
We're studying your market right here.
00:43:11
We have five appraisers here right now.
00:43:14
We started with, there's one
00:43:16
In the Wintergreen, Stony Creek area, I have one appraiser that's in Afton, one that's north 29, working over through Schuyler, that area, coming 29 from the north.
00:43:30
I have another gentleman in the south, headed north on 29, and he will turn and go up toward Montebello, and then there's another gentleman that's in the Gladstone area of the county.
00:43:44
So we're spread out all over and studying your market.
SPEAKER_20
00:43:50
Any questions?
00:43:51
Do you represent any other counties around us right now?
SPEAKER_19
00:43:55
The closest one that we're probably working
00:44:04
I was just more curious on the, you know, what you're seeing on a regional basis.
00:44:17
It's everything.
00:44:18
We just sent notices out in Allegheny County.
00:44:23
Those, well the notices of what this Friday, I think it's over 50% increase.
00:44:35
have affected one 125 and we had a 45% there.
00:44:40
The real estate market, it's still a good place to put our money.
00:44:49
Tax wise, I guess not so good, but it's nice to know that our properties are going upward.
00:44:59
Reassessment is only part of the process.
00:45:03
Budgeting is the other part of it.
00:45:05
You folks will be looking at the tax rate once it's all said and done.
00:45:09
So if property values go up 10%, 20%, even 40%, that doesn't necessarily mean that
SPEAKER_04
00:45:29
I had a constituent, I think, run one of your people off his property.
00:45:37
Of course, I'm only getting one side of the story, but I was wondering how you were educating your people to talk to these landowners, because he presented himself as a county employee.
00:45:54
And I did think that was a little odd.
SPEAKER_19
00:45:58
No, we do have county IDs.
00:46:01
And our cars are all marked county reassessment.
00:46:06
And then most of them, I think, they're wearing a yellow vest.
00:46:11
This is a real estate assessor on the back.
00:46:15
I don't know if they've been over these big heavy coats we're having to wear now.
00:46:22
But we do represent the county, but we are contractors.
00:46:28
A lot of times, as soon as we walk up on the property, we're guilty of something.
00:46:33
So they associate us with a tax increase.
00:46:40
So we have to have a fixed stand.
00:47:00
I would have to climb over a gate and walk into a property, but you just don't do that anymore.
00:47:07
We use aerial photography.
00:47:10
We have to make an attempt to look at the property.
00:47:14
It's only fair that we appraise what we see.
00:47:18
So if they ask us to leave, our folks are supposed to be
00:47:30
And they still get a fair assessment.
00:47:34
We've been called some ugly things in the past, but we still have to just do what's right.
SPEAKER_04
00:47:42
So how long are you visiting properties?
SPEAKER_19
00:47:46
On average, or throughout the county?
00:47:50
Before this process?
00:47:51
It'll be a year.
00:47:53
We started in the fall.
00:47:59
It takes a little time.
00:48:00
You know, we're not remeasuring every house that was done, you know, years ago.
00:48:04
We're doing a walk around looking at condition and new decks, whatever changes that are made to the property.
00:48:12
Sometimes we're taking away things, structures that have been torn down or that were damaged in Helene or whatever.
00:48:20
So our company, we're working in Western North Carolina right now too.
00:48:25
So we're seeing some damaged properties there.
SPEAKER_20
00:48:32
One thought you could have if you're ever running into a scenario of trying to get publicity out to know that society sees that there's assessor maybe interactions with the sheriff's department and they could help advertise on their social media that you're present and what people can look for that where they know they ain't.
SPEAKER_19
00:48:52
A lot of the counties put it right on their website that have a link to the reassessment so maybe that's something.
SPEAKER_07
00:49:04
So I'm just curious, how do you handle, I'm sure you all have had your fair share of canine encounters on property.
SPEAKER_19
00:49:14
We, I tell our folks don't get hurt.
00:49:18
You know, a lot of times we'll pull up and blow the horn and see if someone will come out, but we won't get out of the car if it looks dangerous.
SPEAKER_07
00:49:26
Good answer.
SPEAKER_19
00:49:27
Yeah, we will not do that.
SPEAKER_08
00:49:35
Next presentation is the Nelson County Jail Utilization Report.
00:49:48
Matthew Vitale from the Regional Jail.
SPEAKER_18
00:50:00
So I'm Matt Natale, Jeffrey Saneria, Community Corrections.
00:50:05
I actually work for OAR.
00:50:09
So I prepared a PowerPoint for y'all today.
00:50:13
It's pretty lengthy, so I'll try to condense some things.
00:50:17
And if I'm getting short on time, just feel free to let me know.
00:50:22
And I don't know if y'all want to do
00:50:26
Questions as we go or save until the end, whatever you all would like to do.
00:50:31
I'm OK with that.
SPEAKER_08
00:50:33
OK, I would say have at it, and we'll let you know.
SPEAKER_18
00:50:36
OK, great.
00:50:37
So let's see if this quick works.
00:50:42
So this report spans 2014 through 2023.
00:50:48
So you get a pretty good idea of 10-year trends.
00:50:54
There's six parts and I've sent this report out to you guys.
00:51:00
We might not get a chance to go through all of these sections but we'll hit some of the highlights like I said.
00:51:10
So the COVID-19 pandemic as we know had a pretty significant impact which you'll be able to see on some of my charts.
00:51:23
Now also the second bullet item right here, reported crime incidents.
00:51:29
That is from the National Incident Based Reporting System.
00:51:35
So crime incidents actually increased 25%, and those are the numbers for that.
00:51:44
The largest reported increase occurred in the crimes against person category, which is assault type charges.
00:51:54
and bookings of Nelson responsible inmates increased by 17% from 2014 to 2023.
00:52:05
Keep in mind population estimates have increased quite a bit, I'm sorry, actually decreased and that bottom bullets, individuals serving weekend sentences have been removed
00:52:24
The way the jail management system operates, it would double count weekend bookings and releases.
00:52:31
So that was only 178 individuals in the past decade, so not a huge amount there.
00:52:41
I represent a couple different organizations, and one of them is the Jefferson Area Community Criminal Justice Board.
00:52:48
Mr. Rutherford mentioned earlier I replaced Neil Goodlow.
00:52:54
I don't know if you all recall his presentations.
00:52:57
He retired in 2023 so I have taken his position.
00:53:06
The overall intake rate is interesting.
00:53:08
It's 21 per 1,000 individuals and the average age of inmates entering the jail has risen
00:53:16
And we're seeing that sort of across the Jefferson region.
00:53:21
There's been a decrease in your 18 to 29-year-olds and an increase in the 30 and 40-year-olds.
00:53:30
So the average age is now 38.7 years.
00:53:33
All right, let's look at some of these slides.
00:53:42
OK, so here's your intakes.
00:53:46
on your y-axis is number of intakes and then we have the years on the bottom.
00:53:53
It's an increase of 17%.
00:53:59
And here's a representation of the average age.
00:54:04
So we were at 35.27 in 2014 and it's gone up and down over the years.
00:54:13
When you say average, do you mean median?
00:54:16
Yes, mathematical, yes sir.
00:54:23
Okay, so here we've split out intakes by race.
00:54:28
There's been a 42% increase in black inmates booked, which is this bottom blue line here, and a 12% increase when you look at 2014 to 2023.
00:54:45
We see that spike
00:54:47
kind of from 2016, 2020.
00:54:48
And it dips down significantly right as COVID pandemic has hit in 2020.
00:54:58
All right, I thought this was interesting.
00:55:03
This breaks out your population demographics and your jail intake demographics.
00:55:13
So not a huge difference.
00:55:17
Some other localities is pretty significant.
00:55:22
So in 2023, you had 310 jail intakes.
00:55:30
And there's the breakdown, 61 black individuals, 249 white individuals.
00:55:37
And the way the jail management system works is they're not capturing Hispanics at this time.
00:55:44
which is why the other is zero.
00:55:47
So the Hispanics generally are kind of lumped in with white individuals.
00:55:56
Okay, so what I've done here is provided a likelihood ratio based on your population and based on inmate population.
00:56:07
Black individuals in 2023 were 1.93 times more likely to be booked.
00:56:19
Now that is below the national statistic, which I don't have in front of me, but it's lower than the national jail average.
00:56:35
Okay, and here is just some limitations, missing context, and some possible future areas to explore.
00:56:46
It's not showing us, for example, criminal history.
00:56:53
It's not showing us the seriousness of the crime committed.
00:56:58
It's just the raw numbers that would be further analysis.
00:57:03
This is pretty much on par with national statistics.
00:57:11
The difference between male and female intakes.
00:57:15
I mean it looks bad, female inmates is up by 100%, but if you look at the actual numbers for the whole year, they're just a little bit above 50.
00:57:32
Okay, this is intakes by age group.
00:57:36
As we were talking about earlier, the younger individuals, which is this pie chart on the right, 2023,
00:57:44
You'll see the yellow, which is the ages 18 through 24 cohort has decreased quite a bit, as well as the age 25 to 29.
00:57:58
So you have less younger individuals entering the jail.
00:58:05
But on the flip side, you have an increase in ages 30 through 39.
00:58:13
and ages 50 plus.
00:58:17
And then this chart on the bottom right, it shows the percent change in the past decade.
00:58:24
So there's 25% less ages 18 to 24, but there's 109% more 50 plus individuals.
00:58:39
So we don't know exactly what's caused this shift in the past 10 years.
00:58:44
Here's some possibilities.
00:58:46
Diversion programs, specialty dockets.
00:58:51
I understand you guys now have a drug or recovery court.
00:58:57
Older individuals, they might not enter into these diversion programs as they have maybe a more extensive criminal history so they don't qualify.
00:59:08
It could be increased mental health and substance abuse treatment for the younger cohorts.
00:59:18
Okay, so this is just three different charge types I've broken out for you.
00:59:25
Narcotics is this yellow line here.
00:59:27
Assault charges is red.
00:59:30
And weapons charges is this purple line right here.
00:59:35
So this is your quantities of charge categories over the 10-year period.
00:59:47
So in 2023, narcotics bookings represent 11% of the total annual bookings.
01:00:02
OK, we've already looked at that.
01:00:08
I'm going to skip through.
01:00:09
This is mainly just population of the jail.
01:00:15
OK, this is an interesting slide.
01:00:19
Operation Rate is 679 per 100,000 people.
01:00:25
Now this is prisons, jails, juvenile and immigration centers.
01:00:33
We're above the United States rate, well above the UK rate.
01:00:44
Just to put things in perspective a little bit there.
01:00:50
All right, real quick, we'll look at some charge categories.
01:00:57
Felony bookings are represented here in your blue line, and misdemeanor bookings are in the orange.
01:01:10
You can see we had the dip right after COVID, and there's been a slight increase.
01:01:20
for misdemeanor booking volume, 6% from 2014, whereas felony bookings, 65% rise.
01:01:31
So it might be a good thing that more of the serious type crimes are entering the jail system and less misdemeanor.
01:01:44
Okay, so here I've broken out.
01:01:48
Top 10 charge types by booking volume.
01:01:51
And this is just 2023.
01:01:54
So your highest category of charges entering the jail for 2023 is assault charges.
01:02:03
That's followed by DWI, probation violations, narcotics.
01:02:11
It's pretty close to weapons charges.
01:02:15
Then you have larceny.
01:02:16
Contempt, which is like failure to appear, fraud, license type charges, could be like a driving on a revoked or suspended license.
01:02:30
And then alcohol is also includes intoxicated in public from other drugs, which are usually categorized as obstruction type charges.
01:02:44
Okay, so here's a comparison to 2014.
01:02:46
The top 10 charges are blue, and then 2023 is the orange bars.
01:02:58
So it's the same chart we just saw, but it's overlaid with the 2014 top 10 booking charges.
01:03:06
So you can kind of see how things have changed in the past 10 years, the salt charges,
01:03:18
Looks like it's about doubled.
01:03:22
DWI has gone down, and so on.
01:03:28
And we're seeing this across the Jefferson area.
01:03:31
Self charges generally are much higher.
01:03:34
Probation violations are much higher.
01:03:36
A lot of other localities, DWIs are actually higher, but for here it's gone down.
01:03:47
OK, so this is sort of like a community booking profile.
01:03:52
This is the percent change from the last decade.
01:03:56
So for example, this column on the left, it shows you charge categories that have increased.
01:04:04
And then the bullets on the right have showed you where it's decreased.
01:04:11
So DWIs have decreased by 19% bookings.
01:04:18
Assault charges have increased 117% and so on.
01:04:24
Probation violations have increased 70%.
01:04:27
This is just a heat map that kind of shows the same thing.
01:04:42
I just break down the assault charges
01:04:50
The second bullet point is interesting.
01:04:53
The 41 weapons charges were attached to 18 unique individuals.
01:05:00
So some individuals are getting multiple weapons charges there.
01:05:06
Okay, length of stay.
01:05:12
This is a field that the jail captures.
01:05:17
Your average length of stay
01:05:20
Spikes in 2020.
01:05:23
Now it's coming back down again.
01:05:26
One problem with the average length of stay is the data can be skewed pretty easily.
01:05:44
Let's say if you have someone in the age 18 to 24 category,
01:05:50
and they stay 200 days.
01:05:52
That's going to impact the average age of other individuals.
01:06:02
Bed day expenditures.
01:06:05
This calculates how many bed days are expended per inmate per day.
01:06:12
So for this county, the overall bed day expenditures increased 34%.
01:06:20
and those are the numbers there.
01:06:21
There's now 15,798 bed days expended in 2023.
01:06:31
And then it's broken down by demographics.
01:06:35
Looks like white inmates have an increase and black inmates have a decrease.
01:06:46
Male and females both are increasing
01:06:50
And then I've broken it down by age cohorts.
01:06:54
So as we were talking about earlier, the younger people, age 18 to 24, their bed day expenditures have gone down quite a bit by 62%.
01:07:04
And so your big category here is 30 to 39.
01:07:10
They've had a big increase in bed days expended.
01:07:16
Also the 50 plus age cohort.
01:07:21
So kind of interesting how the younger folks, and we don't know if it's that same group of people, if they just aged 10 years, if they're still having difficulties with the justice system.
01:07:39
All right, that's just a 10 year chart of that.
01:07:49
As you can see, the majority of VEDA expenditures are white individuals represented by the orange and the black individuals represented by the blue.
01:08:11
Gender, this is pretty common across the Jefferson region and across the country.
01:08:19
Most of your bed days are going to be male inmates.
01:08:27
We touched on this a little bit.
01:08:28
This is the different age groups.
01:08:30
Notice how the 18 to 24 age group, they're using only 8% of the bed days expended in 2023.
01:08:41
46% of your bed days are used in the 30 to 39 category.
01:08:53
So potential for impact there.
01:08:57
And then here's just the percent change for the past decade for the same age categories.
01:09:04
Significant change in the 18 to 24 age group.
01:09:10
They've gone way down.
01:09:15
I think this is the last part of this presentation.
01:09:20
This is use of home electronic incarceration.
01:09:24
So ACRJ, they've been using like the ankle monitors pretty frequently since COVID.
01:09:35
And as COVID restrictions lifted, they're still using it because it's worked out fairly well.
01:09:43
And we had a study in partnership with UVA and the research shows that individuals placed on HEI
01:09:54
When they look at their 18 month return to custody rate, like if they are re-incarcerated at the same facility, it's 12.2% lower than traditional custody.
01:10:05
And they compared similar cohorts, similar age groups, similar charges to try to get the most significant results.
01:10:16
So I thought that was interesting, 12.2% lower return to custody rate
01:10:23
It also reduces costs on the jail for individuals who have a high level of medical care.
01:10:29
They can receive that at home.
01:10:35
For folks that have employment or family, it's less disruptive than serving a traditional sentence.
01:10:45
So traditional custody, they studied 555 people.
01:10:50
They had a 37
01:10:52
0.7% return to custody or recidivism rate.
01:10:56
And those on HEI only had a 25.5% return to custody rate.
01:11:10
And the cost of that program is minimal.
01:11:16
And then they also looked at the correlation between race
01:11:21
and return to custody rates, and black individuals had a 19.35% reduction in return to custody rates.
01:11:34
So it was even greater among that cohort.
01:11:38
And then the top three charges placed in the ATI are generic DUIs, probation violations on felony offense, and drug possession, schedule one or two.
01:11:59
And then here is just sort of a lengthy summary I won't read to you guys.
01:12:04
And then some next steps that we could possibly look into.
01:12:10
And of course a list of sources, where the data came from, and the various studies that went into this.
01:12:22
And there's my website as well.
01:12:25
Thank you guys.
SPEAKER_08
01:12:27
Thank you, Mr. Vitale.
01:12:28
Let's see if we have any questions.
SPEAKER_18
01:12:29
Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_08
01:12:30
Jesse?
01:12:32
OK.
01:12:34
Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_18
01:12:35
All right.
01:12:36
If you all think of any questions, feel free to email me.
01:12:39
Do you see Neil learning?
01:12:40
What's that?
01:12:41
Do you see Neil learning?
01:12:43
I don't, but I have a meeting with him, I believe, next week.
01:12:46
He's pretty much retired.
01:12:47
Yeah.
01:12:48
But, yeah, you see him saying a lot for me.
01:12:51
OK. Will do.
01:12:52
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
01:12:56
Okay, I move on to new and unfinished business.
01:13:02
The first item is considering a change in the ambulance transport billing rates.
01:13:10
Andy will walk us through this.
SPEAKER_03
01:13:26
Last meeting in December, the board asked that we take a look at the ambulance transport rates and bring back a presentation for you on that.
01:13:35
So here we are.
01:13:36
Our authorizing statutes are Code of Virginia 32.1-111.14 and 38.2-34 and 7.9.
01:13:43
Additionally, it's authorized in the Code of Nelson County, Section 13.1,
01:13:53
B's for Emergency Ambulance Service, subsection C and D of chapter 13, Emergency Services, article 1, Emergency Ambulance Service.
01:14:07
This slide depicts our current ambulance transport rates, which have been in effect since March 22 of 2012.
01:14:16
So basic life support, the current rate is $470.
01:14:20
for advanced life support one is $550 and these are per trip.
01:14:26
Advanced life support two is $775 and mileage at all service levels is $13 per loaded mile.
01:14:37
We've received the updated 2025 Medicare rate analysis from our billing company, EMSMC, and some recommendations.
01:14:47
This chart shows the 2025 Medicare allowable charges for a rural area as compared to our current charges and then shows recommended 150% of the Medicare allowable, 200% of the Medicare allowable, and then a middle range of 170% of the Medicare allowable.
01:15:13
And you can see there's quite a difference there and that's because our rates haven't changed since 2012.
SPEAKER_04
01:15:17
What is the standard?
01:15:25
for Virginia for just whatever you decide.
SPEAKER_03
01:15:30
Yes, it is where you decide we didn't compare Virginia.
01:15:34
We do have some comparisons for you with some other localities that are using the same billing company that did provide us with that.
01:15:45
I think that's coming up.
01:15:49
So the billing company did provide us with some estimated annual revenue gains per
01:15:54
rate increase options for 150% of the Medicare allowable.
01:16:00
They're estimating at a 60% confidence and collection rate, we'd get about $30,000 in new revenue.
01:16:09
At 80% collection, it would be about 40,000.
01:16:11
For 170% of Medicare allowable, for 60% collection, it'd be about 48,000.
01:16:22
for 80%, about 63,000, and at 200% of the Medicare allowable, they're estimating the gain to be 74,000 at 60% collection and almost 99,000 at 80% collection.
01:16:38
And from our statistics, from January 24 through September of 24,
01:16:44
Our net collection rates range from 63.2% to 92.6%.
01:16:50
It does take about 90 days from date of service to realize payment collection.
01:16:58
Also in our FY 25 budget, our transport billing revenue is budgeted at $781,000.
01:17:04
This helps to offset the FY 25 budgeted EMS council expenditures, which is our volunteer fire and EMS agency contribution of $628,279.
01:17:17
And then the budgeted career EMS expenditures of $1.6 million.
01:17:27
Here's a chart that shows the similar EMSMC billing agency rates as compared to Nelson County.
01:17:35
You see Appomattox rates in the first column, Greene Counties in the second, and Washington Volunteer in the third, and then Nelson is on the end there.
01:17:50
I can't really tell what level of Medicare liabilities are because
01:17:54
We don't know where they are in terms of when they might have raised their rates last.
01:18:02
A little information for you all on our transport billing collection policy.
01:18:13
No one will ever be denied the necessary medical transport services due to either the inability to pay or lack of insurance.
01:18:21
If you're not covered by insurance, billing to the consumer occurs within 30 days of the date of service.
01:18:29
The billing company sends past due notices after 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days overdue.
01:18:35
Then after 120 days, the account is considered uncollectable and is written off.
01:18:40
We also do offer financial hardship waivers that are available, and the established financial hardship waiver fees guidelines are used to evaluate the request.
01:18:50
and we use 200% of the US Department of Health and Human Services federal poverty levels table.
01:18:59
The billing company is currently authorized to establish payment plans of $50 a month with a minimum monthly payment of $25 per month.
01:19:07
The county up to this point has only authorized soft billing.
01:19:11
No debt collection agency recovery is authorized without express authorization from the county administrator or their designee.
01:19:22
This is what the 2024 200% of federal poverty level table looks like.
01:19:30
So you have the number of persons in the household and then that 200% threshold over to the right.
01:19:35
Once you get beyond eight people, then you would add an additional $10,760 for each additional person.
01:19:45
So the applicant or responsible party concluding and submitting the financial hardship waiver request form does qualify for 100% waiver of fees after any insurance if the following guidelines are met.
01:20:02
We did provide some statistics for you for January of 2024 through December 2024.
01:20:08
That report that we got from the billing company was included in your packet.
01:20:13
We had a total trip count of $1,348.
01:20:16
The gross charges were $1.2 million.
01:20:20
The contract allowance amounts that were deducted were $349,478.
01:20:25
The net charges after those allowances, $912,037.
01:20:30
We had a few revenue adjustments, $3,299.
01:20:36
Received total payments of $544,425.
01:20:41
We had $21,000 in write-offs, $518 in refunds, and we have an accounts receivable balance due of about $347,000.
01:20:53
This resulted in a net collection percentage of $59.6.
01:20:56
Our billing company does retain 5.29% of the receipts as payment for their services.
01:21:06
I'll note again from January 24 to September 24,
01:21:10
Our net collection rates range from 63.2% to 92.6% and it takes about 90 days from data service to payment collection.
01:21:21
The patient data transfer issue that we previously talked about has negatively impacted these statistics and then we'll do the reverse and positively affect them in the near future once these enter the payment collection cycle.
01:21:38
So again, from January 24th through December, we have some data service statistics here.
01:21:43
Our primary payer mix for the six to 12 month mature average.
01:21:50
You can see on the left side, Medicare was paid for 30% of the trips.
01:21:57
Medicare Advantage, 27%, Insurance, 11%, Medicaid 1%, Medicaid MCO, 17%.
01:22:07
and the patient paid 13% and then other government payers 1%.
01:22:12
So about 86% of the transport payments came from private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid and then 14% from individuals and other.
01:22:24
And then the chart next to it just shows the net collection percentage by primary payer with of course Medicare and insurance and Medicaid being the highest collection percentages.
01:22:42
This is just a couple of graphics showing data service and number of trips.
01:22:51
You can see there's a dip there.
01:22:52
I believe that's probably where we had the issue in the billing company being able to download the trip data from our providers.
01:23:04
As we previously reported, that's being resolved, and so we should be seeing an uptick in payments received here in the next, over the next few months, I would say.
01:23:18
Okay, does the board have any questions so far?
SPEAKER_08
01:23:31
Do we have any?
SPEAKER_03
01:23:33
Okay then I guess staff would like to request that the board consider a rate increase option of either 150% of the Medicare allowable or the 170% of the Medicare allowable rather to the nearest dollar which we can make this effective January 1.
01:23:54
If you all would like to make a rate change then
01:23:58
Please consider adopting resolution 2025-05.
01:24:03
We have included two options in the resolution, so you would need to choose either option A or B.
01:24:10
Option A, I believe, is the 150% of Medicare allowable, and option B is 107% of Medicare allowable.
01:24:21
Again, this would be effective January 1, 2025.
SPEAKER_08
01:24:29
OK. Board, what's your pleasure?
01:24:34
Anyone have some comments or some direction or some proposal?
SPEAKER_04
01:24:47
It's a long time coming.
01:24:48
I think we should go to 170.
01:24:50
Yeah.
01:24:51
Personally.
SPEAKER_03
01:24:52
Yeah.
01:24:53
Yeah.
01:24:54
And you're also welcome to do so.
SPEAKER_04
01:25:00
How about we reassess in another year or two and see where we stand?
SPEAKER_20
01:25:08
I think that would be a healthy practice.
01:25:12
There's many things like this in the county that go one-offs and this is something that probably needs to be revisited often.
01:25:23
Honestly, I know we've talked about this just about every budget.
01:25:28
But this doesn't necessarily have to be part of the budget process.
01:25:32
This is a situational thing.
01:25:34
And nowadays we have, I believe it is two 24-7 crews now, or one?
01:25:39
Yes.
01:25:40
It's two.
01:25:40
And so we're providing more services as well.
01:25:43
And I see this as, you know, with the light mechanism of billing, you know, if you can't afford it, you know, we have metrics to be forgiven and, you know, this isn't going to show up in your credit report if you can't pay it and it's forgiven.
01:25:57
So this is really largely reflecting on insurance companies that already have this built into their algorithm.
01:26:05
So to me, this isn't necessarily a fee increase on the person.
01:26:10
It's for the pieces of our life that we already have that's built it in their algorithm to pay it.
01:26:18
I agree.
01:26:18
I'll be supportive of 170s.
SPEAKER_08
01:26:19
Yeah, same.
01:26:20
I'm in agreement as well.
01:26:22
So would someone like to make a motion on this?
SPEAKER_04
01:26:29
I move we adopt R2025-05 with a 170% increase.
SPEAKER_08
01:26:41
Which under the resolution that we've been given would be Scenario B.
SPEAKER_07
01:26:47
Second.
SPEAKER_08
01:26:52
Okay.
01:26:53
We have a motion and a second.
01:26:54
Do we have any more discussion?
SPEAKER_20
01:26:59
Yes.
01:27:00
Yes.
01:27:01
Yes.
SPEAKER_03
01:27:01
Yes.
01:27:02
One thing I'd like to mention too that's in our policy is that it's a great benefit for our volunteers because volunteer members of our EMS system or their immediate family members who live in the same household receive an administrative write-off of amount due after any insurance that's billed
SPEAKER_08
01:27:32
Thank you.
01:27:33
Thanks, Candice, for adding that to it.
SPEAKER_04
01:27:34
Not to put more on your plate, but when's the last time we shopped around other companies that provide this service and check rates to make sure they're comparable and doing a good job?
SPEAKER_03
01:27:46
It has been a little while.
01:27:47
We started out with a company out of Virginia Beach when we first began the program and then went to this one.
01:27:54
So it has been a while since we've done an
01:27:59
I mean as things get digitized sometimes it gets cheaper.
01:28:09
I will say this has been a good company to work with so far but we can see what else is out there.
SPEAKER_08
01:28:23
Okay, very good.
01:28:25
Next we have a funding request from Rockfish Valley Community Center.
SPEAKER_03
01:28:32
Okay, I want to introduce this.
01:28:33
We do have Stu Mills here from RBCC.
01:28:36
He can answer any questions you might have.
01:28:40
I'll just briefly note that RBCC is in the development of two dedicated pickleball courts on their campus, plus the completion of their partially built
01:28:52
0.3 mile walking and exercise path and circling the recreation fields.
01:28:57
They assert this project will enhance recreational and physical fitness opportunities for all county residents and are requesting a contribution from the board in the amount of $25,000 to complete their fundraising effort.
01:29:11
The completed walking path will include a multifunction exercise station enabling community to focus on both cardio and strength conditioning.
01:29:20
The path will also serve others who will now have a safe car-free venue for running, rollerblading, biking,
01:29:25
Longboarding Scooter Riding and Kids Ride on Cars.
01:29:32
So they have shown in their project budgets that they provided, let's see, that they have received pledges totaling over $55,000 from some organizations.
01:29:47
In addition to that fundraising, they have launched a direct appeal campaign that began in October
01:29:53
with their membership in local residence in hopes of raising $50,000 from that effort.
01:29:58
They have raised, I believe, $33,000 as of the writing of their request.
01:30:06
So again, they're requesting $25,000 contribution to enhance the project, which would provide them the needed amount to cover all of the expenditures related to the pickleball courts and the PATH projects.
01:30:26
I'll let Mr. Mills address you and answer any questions.
SPEAKER_08
01:30:31
Very good.
01:30:31
Thank you.
SPEAKER_16
01:30:36
Thanks, Candy.
01:30:38
We don't have a formal presentation to offer you.
01:30:41
The request is sort of our presentation.
01:30:47
Well, we would very much appreciate the consideration of the board in entering into a partnership of a sort of quasi-NGL government partnership that we've talked about in the past between county government and your local community centers, we being one of those.
01:31:07
I think you all know about Pickleball and what's happened recently with
01:31:15
That I'm not old enough to play pickleball yet, but I'm thinking about taking it.
01:31:21
There's a tremendous amount of desire on the part of our membership and the community in developing the capability to do that.
01:31:31
Here today in the audience is one of our board members, Ken Schultz, who also represents the Nelson County Pickleball Association, who could respond to any questions you have about the sport and its growth.
01:31:46
But we would very much like to develop this capability.
01:31:52
It has wide appeal.
01:31:54
As important as the pickleball is to us, also our walking path, completing our walking path is very, very important to us.
01:32:04
A third of a mile uninterrupted paved walking path isn't available anywhere in Nelson without dodging cars.
01:32:12
and we would very much like to be able to complete that.
01:32:17
The first half of that path was almost accidental.
01:32:21
We budgeted it as an add-on to our skate park expansion project a couple of years ago and it has become really highly used.
01:32:35
We'd like to be able to complete the loop around the entire recreational fields though so that we would be able to
01:32:41
have circuit training rather than linear training.
01:32:48
That would be also very important to us.
01:32:53
We're happy to report that the fundraising that we've been able to do last fall has been very successful.
01:33:04
We have tremendously generous members in the local community.
01:33:09
and right now we have raised $35,000 of our targeted $50,000 from individuals and local businesses and we just need some help getting over the top.
01:33:25
This has been a very difficult process for us in a way.
01:33:32
We always try when we're doing projects like this to time the fundraising
01:33:39
so that it just doesn't interfere with our annual fund raising process.
01:33:45
It wasn't possible with this project.
01:33:48
This is a very large project for us.
01:33:50
This is only the third time that we've done recreational projects in excess of six figures and this being one of them and we are competing with ourselves in a way to develop the funds for it.
01:34:05
We appreciate your consideration.
01:34:08
Like they say, in all fundraising, anything will help, but a $25,000 contribution from the county would put us over the top.
01:34:17
With that, I'm happy to answer any of your questions.
01:34:21
Okay.
01:34:23
Yes, real quick.
01:34:24
So, your target's $50,000 total?
01:34:29
Our target was $50,000 from individual contributions.
01:34:34
From individual contributions?
01:34:35
Yeah.
01:34:36
And then you need the additional $25,000 on top of that.
01:34:39
Yeah, we've received $55,000 from foundations and businesses.
01:34:46
We're really proud of that.
01:34:48
But we've exhausted our foundation resources now.
01:34:52
So we're at a total right now of committed funds.
01:34:58
of $90,000.
01:34:59
And I'm very pleased to tell you that we had a grant from the Perry Foundation, which many of you are familiar with, of $30,000 if we could match that $30,000 dollar for dollar.
01:35:11
And as of today, we matched it.
01:35:14
So we're guaranteed those funds.
01:35:18
And we'll be writing a letter to Perry Foundation shortly to request them.
SPEAKER_08
01:35:27
OK.
01:35:30
I have no comment.
SPEAKER_04
01:35:34
Mine's more of a statement than a question.
01:35:36
Of course, I grew up playing soccer.
01:35:41
It wasn't even the Rockfish Community Center there.
01:35:44
At that point, I don't think it was an abandoned soccer field that they just kept mowing.
01:35:50
So I drive past there every day.
01:35:54
It makes me smile every day, except for maybe the traffic on 151 there.
01:36:00
But I love to see the success.
01:36:04
What you all have done has impressed me and continues to.
01:36:08
So I'm happy to support.
01:36:12
This is probably wrong to say is truly what I would want a community center to look like and have the people smiling there.
01:36:23
I don't see that at these other community centers.
01:36:26
Give them time.
01:36:28
Oh, yeah.
01:36:28
I agree.
01:36:29
But I just hopefully they're asking you what you've done and what you've done right.
01:36:34
So the fact that you reclaimed that building brings me joy.
01:36:40
The Playground, My Children Love It, so good job.
SPEAKER_08
01:36:50
I totally concur with Dr. Ligon.
01:36:56
RVCC is pretty near and dear to my heart for a lot of reasons and support of our community centers is really paramount I think for a healthy community and a vibrant community and
01:37:12
We've recently had opportunities to support some of the other centers in capacity as they're trying to play catch-up in some ways, but they're also being recognized for the communities they represent.
01:37:24
This is something that can benefit not just people in
01:37:29
Tommy's district and my district and those who live close by, but other people in the county as well.
01:37:37
RVCC has a great relationship with our Parks and Rec Department and I think that this would be a real asset for the entire community.
SPEAKER_16
01:37:47
Just to respond to that, we are so pleased with the leadership that Jerry has provided to Nelson County Parks and Recreation because it's a truly collaborative stance
01:37:59
that he has taken with us.
01:38:02
And we're doing some new things.
01:38:03
We may even be having lacrosse play at RBCC soon.
01:38:09
So yeah, we're very happy to work with the county in that capacity.
SPEAKER_04
01:38:16
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
01:38:19
OK. OK. Can we have a motion?
SPEAKER_03
01:38:23
Mr. Chairman.
SPEAKER_08
01:38:25
Yes.
SPEAKER_03
01:38:26
I want to say one more thing before you all vote.
01:38:29
In terms of where these funds might come from, I just wanted to alert the board that we do have some forest sustainability fund monies on hand that is through the state.
01:38:41
And it assists localities with providing a portion of foregone revenue that's due to forest use value taxation.
01:38:50
And these funds must be used for solely public
01:38:56
Education, generally, or for projects related to outdoor recreation or forest conservation.
01:39:02
So I think these funds would be appropriate to use in this case if you were so inclined to do that.
SPEAKER_04
01:39:08
How many funds are available?
SPEAKER_03
01:39:10
So we have, well, in FY23, we got $41,389.
01:39:15
And just yesterday, we received $95,321.
01:39:20
So we have a total of $136,710.
01:39:26
So if we devoted this 25, we'd have a balance of $111,710.
SPEAKER_08
01:39:35
Great timing.
SPEAKER_03
01:39:37
Very good timing for two of us.
SPEAKER_07
01:39:40
Mr. Chairman, I move that we allocate $25,000 as requested for the Rockfish Valley Community Center funding request.
SPEAKER_04
01:39:47
I'll second.
SPEAKER_08
01:39:49
OK. We have a motion and a second.
01:39:51
Any further discussion?
01:39:54
Hearing none.
01:39:56
Thank you so much.
01:39:58
Thank you.
01:40:04
We'll have you all over for a pickleball party in the fall.
SPEAKER_20
01:40:16
I've fallen in the kitchen a couple times if y'all have ever played pickleball.
SPEAKER_03
01:40:22
Just to clarify, will you use those sustainability marks?
01:40:24
Yes.
01:40:25
I would appreciate that.
SPEAKER_08
01:40:25
Thank you.
01:40:30
OK. Kennedy, you have the lectern for your current administrative report.
SPEAKER_03
01:40:42
OK. All right.
01:40:42
First, a report on the status of the DSS building.
01:40:47
Previously reported that there were some underground storage tanks that needed to be removed down at the site.
01:40:54
That has been removed and the associated testing shows no adverse environmental impacts.
01:41:00
So closing on the property purchase is being finalized by the county attorney with the property owner's attorney.
01:41:09
PMA is working on building construction design documents and furniture sampling with DSS staff.
01:41:15
Timmons, the geotechnical subcontractor, has submitted the storm water management plan to DEQ and the major site plan for review by county planning and zoning, building inspections, the health department, VDOT, and DEQ.
01:41:30
And finance and admin staff are working with PMA and Davenport to develop an integrated timeline of construction and permanent financing for the project.
01:41:42
As most of you already know, the Region 2000 landfill expansion rezoning and special use permit application was denied on the 4-3 vote by the Campbell County Board of Supervisors and that occurred January 7th.
01:41:57
We'll start looking at the feasibility of other disposal options for when the landfill is anticipated to reach capacity in 2028 or early 2029.
01:42:06
Does this require RFP?
01:42:12
I think that would probably be the best way to go.
01:42:16
I'm not sure it's required, but I think we should definitely issue an RFP for that.
SPEAKER_20
01:42:22
Yeah, see if we have any trash contracting entities that want to pick it up directly.
SPEAKER_03
01:42:30
As far as the FY26 budget, there's no change from last report.
01:42:34
We're still working on collecting and developing departmental CIP data and entering departmental budget data within the system.
01:42:44
We will be providing a preliminary budget calendar here shortly as soon as we get that more solidified and we can send that out to the board in between meetings if we get that put together for y'all to start thinking about budget work sessions.
01:43:00
I've given you a list here of the General Assembly 2025 session dates from January 17th through April 12th.
01:43:10
So we'll be watching what the state's doing pretty closely over the next few months.
01:43:17
Also provided you all with the BACO summary.
01:43:19
It's rather lengthy.
01:43:20
I apologize for that.
01:43:22
It's a summary of the governor's proposed amendments to the 24-26 biennium budget.
01:43:29
Last meeting we talked about dog licenses and the board was interested in more information on that.
01:43:36
So I gathered some information from the treasurer's office and according to Ms.
01:43:42
Hull, the FY24 cost of issuing dogs and kennel licenses was $2,600.
01:43:48
She wasn't sure what the postage costs were to mail a tag or license back to the citizen once they paid for that.
01:43:58
So that's not included in that $2,600.
01:44:01
Revenues collected were $14,821 for an approximate gain of $12,207.
01:44:07
And as of November 2024, they've sold 564 annual licenses, 16 $10 kennel licenses, six $20 kennel licenses, and three $50 kennel licenses.
01:44:24
Additionally, they've sold 1039 lifetime licenses since the implementation of that on July 13, 2021.
01:44:31
The Virginia State Code requires dog licensing and imposing a fee for such licensing in the sessions below that I'll read in just a moment.
01:44:46
These are also incorporated into the code of Nelson County chapter three animals article two dogs and cats.
01:44:52
and Section 3-26 and 3-28.
01:44:54
So State Code 3.2 6524 says that it shall be unlawful for any person other than a releasing agency that has registered as such annually with a local animal control to own a dog four months or older in the Commonwealth unless such dog is licensed as required by the provisions of this article.
01:45:16
Section 3.2-6528 says the governing body of each county or city shall impose by ordinance a license tax on the ownership of dogs within this jurisdiction.
01:45:27
So that is not something that we can just say we want to do away with.
01:45:40
Let's see, I'm happy to report that
01:45:44
The county received a FEMA Virginia Department of Emergency Management grant award and congratulations to John Adkins in his submittal of a successful grant application.
01:45:56
And I also want to thank all the volunteer fire and EMS agencies that worked with him on this application.
01:46:03
The county's been awarded a $275,100 grant to provide backup generators at seven local fire and EMS locations.
01:46:11
These locations are designated as emergency shelters in the county's emergency operations plan.
01:46:18
So these are Montebello Fire Department, Nelson EMS, that's the NEMS building on 29th, Roseland Rescue Squad, Piney River Volunteer Fire Department, Bulburt Volunteer Fire Department, Lovingston Volunteer Fire Department, and Rockfish Valley Volunteer Fire Department.
01:46:35
The grant funds are comprised of $209,600 in federal funds,
01:46:40
$52,400 in state funds and $13,100 in local funds, which can be either in-kind or cash match.
01:46:49
So the county intends to meet our match obligation through in-kind services provided by county staff in implementing the project.
01:46:59
This period of project performance expires March 11, 2026.
01:47:04
And we're in the process of scheduling a kind of a grant kickoff meeting
01:47:10
with a VDIMM representative here in the next week or so to get this going.
01:47:17
I just heard a little bit about the Schuyler vote takeout, but as you heard, Jerry West is working with the VDOT staff and the property owner to finalize and submit the required land use permit to VDOT.
01:47:29
So in this case, the property owner must be a permit applicant and Parks and Rec can be their agent in the application process.
01:47:38
We also heard a little bit about the guardrail request at the Nims building, so I'll go over that again.
01:47:44
We did provide the meals and lodging task collection and lodging entity tracking charts.
01:47:50
We had an increase of lodging units from 802 to 806 since the last report.
01:47:58
That's all I have for you.
SPEAKER_08
01:48:06
Any questions or comments?
SPEAKER_07
01:48:11
On the generators, that's replacing existing generators for the most part?
01:48:19
Yes.
SPEAKER_20
01:48:21
Do we sell them old ones?
SPEAKER_03
01:48:23
That is something we can look at doing, yes, because some of them, most of them are functioning, they're just maybe not sized for an emergency shelter.
SPEAKER_20
01:48:31
Should be able to get some, I guess, to be, I don't know what we normally do, how do we sell stuff as a county?
SPEAKER_03
01:48:39
A lot, well lately we've been doing like govdeals.com kind of online auction outfits.
SPEAKER_20
01:48:48
Is it the same thing the sheriff does to sell stuff?
SPEAKER_03
01:48:51
Yes, I think we've kind of collaborated on that for a couple of sales.
SPEAKER_20
01:48:56
Yeah, I was going to say you might as well throw it in something that he's selling and get a bigger crowd.
SPEAKER_03
01:49:00
Yeah.
SPEAKER_20
01:49:03
We're keeping the money though.
SPEAKER_07
01:49:06
He'll let us forward back anyway.
SPEAKER_20
01:49:08
He's going to give us a 10% commission fee.
SPEAKER_03
01:49:13
I want to add just to add to what Mr. Parr said about Ms. Staton's retirement and just want to say how lucky we all are the county has been to have her in that position and serving both the schools and the county for all those years.
01:49:41
I just want to publicly thank her for all she's done and she's been a tremendous asset.
01:49:47
Wishing her the best in her retirement even though we miss her.
01:49:51
One other thing is
01:49:54
I did get a response with an email proposal from Mr. Steele from CHA on the follow-up, so I had planned to discuss that under correspondence, so we can either do it then or now, whatever your preference might be.
SPEAKER_08
01:50:09
Why don't we do it now, since you've introduced it, if that's okay?
SPEAKER_03
01:50:14
You would like to do.
01:50:15
I think, do I have a copy of it?
01:50:18
Okay.
SPEAKER_03
01:50:25
So he's broken it down into two different areas, the Dillard Creek water source evaluation.
01:50:30
For about $15,000, he would use the U.S. Geologic Survey flow gauge data and historical drought data to determine existing flows in Dillard Creek.
01:50:42
This would determine how much water can be taken from the creek.
01:50:46
They will also evaluate permitting requirements associated with withdrawing water from the creek.
01:50:51
A summary of all findings and estimated cost of developing a creek withdrawal system would be prepared.
01:50:57
And then they would present the findings to the Board of Supervisors.
01:51:02
Secondly, they would perform a phase one well evaluation for a cost of $18,000.
01:51:08
This would be subsurface investigations that would allow them to map the geologic conditions on the Larkin property.
01:51:15
The information would be utilized to identify favorable well sites based on geologic conditions.
01:51:20
They prepare a proposed wellsite drawing and provide estimate costs to drill test wells and perform drawdown tests to determine how much water can be withdrawn from the wells.
01:51:32
I received this earlier today.
SPEAKER_20
01:51:34
So you said it was $18,000?
01:51:38
I don't have it.
SPEAKER_03
01:51:39
$15,000, $18,000 for each total.
01:51:43
So $33,000 total.
01:51:45
I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_20
01:51:47
$15,000, $13,000.
01:51:47
Here's the deal.
01:51:49
Doing the valuations is one thing.
01:51:50
Drilling a well and doing a drawdown test doesn't cost $18,000.
01:51:54
I guess my question is, when he says $18,000, how many wells is that?
01:52:01
If we really wanted to do something like this it's not going to be that hard to just get two well drillers and Nelson go out there and use the best looking fruit tree out there and see where the stick sticks and then drill a couple wells for five grand do drawdown test is nothing.
01:52:23
That's just as simple as sitting there with a gallon bucket and seeing how quick it fills up.
01:52:29
And then seeing where the static head of water sits at.
01:52:34
I would ask the question, how many wells is in 18K?
01:52:36
If it's just one well, that's way too expensive.
01:52:39
And say, we'll just go, you really want to do the $15,000 geologic thing just for the things we do, and then go get Kenny Seitz at McGann's or someone like that, and go drill a well or two.
01:52:51
We can make it a competition about who can get the best water.
01:52:56
That's just the only thing I would say.
01:52:58
If it's just one well for 18 grand, that's way too expensive.
SPEAKER_03
01:53:01
especially if you ain't dropping a well pump and a pressure tank and all that.
01:53:13
I think it needs more than one but it better be three.
SPEAKER_20
01:53:16
I mean and even if we're just drilling a hole and not putting a pump in it it shouldn't cost much more than six seven thousand dollars a pop.
SPEAKER_03
01:53:25
Yeah I think a lot or a good portion of it is the subsurface investigation using that recessivity testing if that's the correct way to pronounce that.
01:53:36
The more engineered response on the second page using the engineering lingo that
01:53:43
I might ask for clarification because I'm not an engineer.
SPEAKER_20
01:53:52
So it sounds a whole lot more scientific than... All our wells were drilled without much science.
01:54:00
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03
01:54:01
But I mean one benefit might be that if he's mapping out the preferable locations and we can overlay that on our
SPEAKER_04
01:54:13
We have two people in the room on the service authority board in this room, but they may not be willing to comment.
01:54:27
If the goal is to increase, these wells are for the service authority essentially, in my opinion, right?
01:54:34
Am I correct in that?
01:54:36
What permits do they have to pull?
01:54:38
What information do they have to provide to get those permits to get this ball rolling?
01:54:42
If we call a well driller and do this ourselves, are we able to collect the information needed to push forward with whatever the service authority needs to actually use this situation?
01:54:56
That's my question.
SPEAKER_03
01:55:00
Yeah, I guess I'm not
01:55:01
completely sure whether or not this would involve the service authority unless the wells are going to be connected to their system.
01:55:09
If it's just going to be an internal Larkin property water provision, then not.
01:55:16
But if it's connected to their system, then we wouldn't need some collaboration.
SPEAKER_04
01:55:22
After the water study, do we have enough water to develop Lovingston and do all those things?
01:55:28
So this was the secondary thing to that report.
01:55:32
So the service authority is involved, right?
SPEAKER_03
01:55:36
Yes, if it's more than just looking at the water supply on the working property, but I think he's understanding it that that's localized to that particular piece of property, maybe not necessarily the alternative system.
01:55:48
I don't agree.
SPEAKER_08
01:55:50
Well, if it was going to be incorporated into the service authority, it would be a whole different valuation, not in terms of volume, but in terms of responsibility and engineering.
01:56:02
Could it be more engineering than just, would it be required to do this?
01:56:08
So I would- And I suppose that would be the worst direction.
SPEAKER_03
01:56:12
Do we want it to be more encompassing?
01:56:15
Right.
01:56:15
For overall learning?
SPEAKER_08
01:56:16
And the information that we get from this would inform that.
01:56:21
I would think.
01:56:25
I would not be averse to having a little more information about the well evaluation, what exactly they're actually doing and providing as a result of that.
01:56:39
The water source evaluation is pretty clear, I think, in terms of what flow projections and all those kind of things, which
01:56:50
We'd like to get something certainly similar for our money if we're going to be asking to do this.
SPEAKER_04
01:57:01
I guess I need more clarity.
01:57:02
I really thought that we did the water study.
01:57:05
How much can the service authority handle to provide?
01:57:09
And then this segued into this.
01:57:11
Do we have water?
01:57:15
Can we get water from this situation?
01:57:17
How is that not connected?
SPEAKER_20
01:57:19
Well, I mean, we definitely were interested because the expansion of something is going to be needed because Lovingston is limited.
01:57:26
And that's why I thought the Dillard Creek, you know, when we talked about the retention aspect of it for the creek, we wanted to explore also the well drilling situation to see if that's also a feasible option.
01:57:37
This is really kind of a compounding ask for the expansion of Lovingston's needs and potentially whatever happens down that direction as well.
01:57:45
We have limited capacity.
01:57:47
We know that's material fact.
SPEAKER_08
01:57:49
So right now the service authority is I believe looking into or we already have the information that the options that the service authority has for increasing capacity
01:58:11
Outside of the Dillard Creek is drilling more wells that would serve the current system.
01:58:18
So certainly there's a relationship here, but I don't see I don't see an issue or a problem.
SPEAKER_04
01:58:33
I guess my issue, these are my issues.
01:58:35
One, we have two entities spending the same amount of money
01:58:39
in two different locations that doesn't sound like they're talking to each other.
01:58:42
Two, I don't mind doing the investigation cheaper, but if it goes to the service authority and they're able to use it and that's the path we're going to take, are we shooting ourselves in the foot by not doing it with the engineer guy?
01:58:58
That's my two issues with this.
SPEAKER_08
01:59:02
I would agree that using CHA might be the best alternative for sure.
01:59:08
I'm not saying not.
SPEAKER_04
01:59:09
I also agree with one well.
01:59:10
I'd like to see more of the well department.
01:59:13
I think we need to have a clearer path.
01:59:19
It doesn't sound like we're all on the same page.
SPEAKER_20
01:59:23
What was the last discussion you had at the service authority related to Dillard Creek?
SPEAKER_08
01:59:32
that it's a possibility.
01:59:37
That's all.
01:59:38
Really, that's it.
01:59:39
It would be great to have information about what flow data it would be because the service authority is responsible for providing the Lovingston system.
01:59:53
And historically, the service authority does not, in and of itself,
02:00:03
O'Brien, John F. Burdette, John C. Burdette, John C. Burdette, John C. Burdette,
02:00:23
I believe that having information allows us to chart a course as opposed to we don't have a course pre-charted for this at all.
SPEAKER_04
02:00:47
Talking to the people that know more about this, which I'm assuming the service authority board is, are those people, should we ask them, it sounds like they have a path for more wells.
02:01:00
They should come talk to us maybe.
SPEAKER_08
02:01:04
We're looking at, you know, we're trying to get as much information as possible.
02:01:08
And I don't see that trying to get information and having an agenda are the same thing.
02:01:19
because you can't make a decision or have an agenda unless you have the information.
02:01:25
And I believe that this, of course, would be valuable for anyone who's concerned about water resources.
SPEAKER_04
02:01:32
I have one more question.
02:01:37
From the direction this is going, it sounds like we were going to take it upon ourselves to deal with the water on Larkin
02:01:49
to supply Larkin and or Lovingston and not include the service authority?
SPEAKER_20
02:02:00
I didn't know we didn't have the intentions of including the service authority.
02:02:03
I don't think that was, maybe there's a breakdown in communication that I'm completely missing.
02:02:11
What has been the interactions between the county and the service authority related to
02:02:16
Whether it was the water retention or the wells, what was the dialogue back and forth?
02:02:22
Was there any?
SPEAKER_03
02:02:25
It's been a while since we've had any because we decided we were going to work with CHA on, you know, through their term contract to get more information about the water and sewer capacity and we really haven't had any discussions since then.
SPEAKER_07
02:02:40
Isn't this the guy that we've been waiting to hear from for six months?
SPEAKER_03
02:02:42
Yes, and that was my whole reasoning and wanted to bring this up today, you know, so that I could get some direction from you all and if you're interested he can develop a more detailed proposal
02:02:53
to bring back.
02:02:55
I'm not necessarily asking for any decisions today, just want to get it back in front of you because we have been waiting.
SPEAKER_07
02:03:00
Because this was our July 9th Board of Supervisors meeting is when we discussed this.
02:03:06
Sounds to me like we're ready to move forward with the Dillon Creek water source evaluation and we need more information on the well evaluation and while we're getting that information perhaps maybe George or somebody could be
02:03:21
Contacted and have a conversation with them as well.
SPEAKER_20
02:03:25
Yes.
SPEAKER_03
02:03:26
Yes, he has.
SPEAKER_20
02:03:41
Yeah, I think the evaluation makes sense.
02:03:44
Definitely getting more information about the well conversation.
02:03:48
I do think that a stronger dialogue between service story and board on kind of like what the future is, I guess maybe that's after we get a little bit better of an evaluation on that end.
SPEAKER_07
02:03:59
Because we, regardless of whether there is enough water
02:04:06
on the property to service Lovingston or the service authority in whatever capacity, there's still going to be water needs on the walking property.
02:04:16
We're going to still have stuff going on.
02:04:18
We're going to need a water field, and we're going to need water spigots, and we're going to need bathroom, whatever.
02:04:24
So we still need to know what's going on there.
02:04:27
And we talked about the
02:04:33
Diller Creek Water Source Evaluation, and can we turn that into some sort of recreational use or not.
02:04:40
So that's why we need to know is there enough water or not.
02:04:43
And then we need to know what's going on with well water.
02:04:46
And if that shows, hey, we've got lots of water, send some to Lovingston.
02:04:52
If not, we're still going to need it at Larkin.
SPEAKER_20
02:04:57
I'm fine moving forward with the evaluation with getting further details out of him for the well portion.
SPEAKER_03
02:05:03
So if you send me back a more formal proposal for the Diller Creek water source evaluation, I can go ahead and sign that and get that rolling.
SPEAKER_08
02:05:14
I think so.
SPEAKER_03
02:05:15
And then just bring back the other phase one evaluations.
02:05:17
Yes.
02:05:18
Yeah.
SPEAKER_08
02:05:18
OK. You in agreement?
SPEAKER_04
02:05:20
Yeah.
02:05:21
I'd like to hear from you.
02:05:23
The conversation.
02:05:24
Exactly.
SPEAKER_08
02:05:24
Yeah.
02:05:25
OK. Yeah.
02:05:27
And maybe at some time a joint meeting would be a good idea or something that would, if you think there's not good communication between the two, that's pretty subjective, then getting together on it would be a good idea.
SPEAKER_03
02:05:48
Sounds good.
02:05:48
Thank you.
SPEAKER_10
02:05:50
Thank you, Candy.
SPEAKER_08
02:05:53
So we have board reports.
02:05:57
I'm going to go to Jessica first this time.
SPEAKER_04
02:06:01
The only thing I really need to report on is that things are progressing with the jail board renovation of the jail.
02:06:17
I'm really impressed with the people that have been hired to find contractors, make sure that they're kosher in a sense with their past history, their ability to allow the jail to keep running and cloud things on.
02:06:37
But it's been nice for me because it sounds like we're going to be getting
02:06:42
are financing around the same time we will be doing financing for social services.
02:06:48
So doing everything twice.
02:06:52
But otherwise, things seem to be progressing.
02:06:55
Of course, the amount that we're going to pay in next year is going to be higher, because our incarceration rate is higher, it seems.
02:07:03
Or our percentage.
02:07:05
The percentage of people there, more of Nelson County.
02:07:10
Look for that in the budget.
02:07:13
That's all I got.
SPEAKER_07
02:07:15
Mr. Parr?
02:07:16
EMS council didn't meet in December.
02:07:20
We'll meet next week.
02:07:21
And social services, of course, we got a building update already.
02:07:28
But I'm not going to get into details.
02:07:32
But if you see Brad and his staff out and about, take a minute to thank them for the work that they do.
02:07:43
An emotionally strenuous position.
02:07:48
And they deal with a lot of things that we might not know about.
02:07:53
And it's tough on them.
02:07:58
So just next time you see them, tell them thank you.
02:08:02
And the team, Brad has put together a great team.
02:08:05
He's got positions filled.
02:08:07
And they get along well.
02:08:08
They work well together.
02:08:10
And they do a fantastic job.
02:08:11
So yeah, that's all.
SPEAKER_20
02:08:15
We did not have, we had a virtual PDC meeting.
02:08:18
Not much was discussed there.
02:08:20
And then related towards, we had a chance to go take a look at the property in question over in Gladstone.
02:08:29
Got to see views of Gladstone from an angle I've never seen.
02:08:32
So that was kind of neat.
02:08:34
And then beyond that, I don't think we had too much crazy stuff other than the holidays for me.
SPEAKER_08
02:08:45
It was a slow month for me too.
02:08:48
The service authority did me nothing earth-shattering to report.
02:08:54
Still standing by for the
02:08:57
The Wintergreen Wastewater Project is operational, but there's going to be, I believe, when the weather changes a little bit, there'll be something community-wide that we can actually hang our hat on for having that, you know, that
02:09:20
Very long-standing and costly and important project to be pretty much complete.
02:09:29
So that'll be coming up.
SPEAKER_07
02:09:32
And I have nothing else to report on that.
SPEAKER_08
02:09:37
We do have appointments to look at here.
SPEAKER_20
02:09:41
Bless you.
02:09:44
We saw we had, was it Mark Stapleton?
SPEAKER_08
02:09:48
We have two applicants for the Criminal Justice Board, Mark Stapleton and Steven Poff, and we have their applications.
SPEAKER_20
02:10:00
Yeah, Poff was the guy from Rona, if I remember correctly.
02:10:04
I mean, I think Mark will
02:10:06
This would be intriguing for him, and he's a good guy.
02:10:09
He's sort of planning to commission well.
02:10:10
I think he'd be a good fit if you're ready for a motion.
SPEAKER_08
02:10:15
See if there's any more comments, if not.
02:10:18
And he's a resident.
SPEAKER_20
02:10:19
Yes.
02:10:22
OK. Mr. Chairman, I move that we put Mark Stapleton in the CCJB position.
SPEAKER_08
02:10:33
Okay.
02:10:34
Second.
02:10:35
Okay.
02:10:35
Motion and a second.
02:10:36
Any further discussion?
02:10:39
Okay.
SPEAKER_04
02:10:41
Mr. Rutherford?
02:10:41
Yes.
02:10:42
Mr. Parr?
SPEAKER_08
02:10:42
Yes.
SPEAKER_04
02:10:43
Dr. Ligon?
02:10:44
Yes.
02:10:44
Mr. Reed?
SPEAKER_08
02:10:45
Yes.
02:10:49
Okay.
02:10:51
Correspondence?
02:10:52
Dr. Ligon?
SPEAKER_04
02:10:56
Well, I am probably batting 50% at this point for people that want the solar project and people that do not.
02:11:07
And that's pretty been the majority of the correspondence I've been getting over the last two weeks.
02:11:13
So yeah, that's where we're at.
SPEAKER_20
02:11:22
I too have gotten that same correspondence.
02:11:26
Beyond that and other correspondence that I got,
02:11:32
constituents related towards the sidewalks in Lovingston and how the snow piled up.
02:11:40
Though I think historically the snow usually melted quick enough to where it didn't stay there and mass long enough.
02:11:46
So I've been talking to some residents about what it is that we could think about as a community about snow removal in those spots.
02:11:53
where it tends to dam up.
02:11:56
VDOT obviously does not have a responsibility to clear the sidewalks.
02:12:01
This responsibility is kind of a statewide thing, but in instances like this, isolated ones, you know, is there something that we can think about?
02:12:08
Some community and I are interacting on some strategies that aren't
02:12:13
crazy costly, just at least maybe even if potentially a network of contractors who might be willing to shovel at a lower rate.
02:12:22
Work from within.
02:12:24
I did have a directive if we're back to you.
SPEAKER_08
02:12:27
Okay, let's bounce back on that then.
SPEAKER_20
02:12:28
Go ahead.
02:12:29
Directive, I have been interacting with Appalachian Electric Power Company about
02:12:35
Lighting over here coming up Main Street to Court Street.
02:12:38
It's kind of short a few lights over there.
02:12:40
It gets really dark and there's a lot of people who are, whether it's recreating, are trying to interact in the village itself.
02:12:48
We've noticed this especially in the holidays when we shut down Ford.
02:12:53
The Trick or Treat parades, stuff of that nature.
02:12:59
I spoke with AEP just to get a general idea of what a couple lights on poles might cost just to create a better lighting situation in there.
02:13:07
They were supposed to get back to me and said yes, it's something practical.
02:13:11
It's just what the means are for dollars and cents.
02:13:13
And one question I have for staff,
02:13:15
The current lights on Main Street, is that county funded similar story with Shipman and whatnot?
02:13:21
Or is that resident specific?
SPEAKER_03
02:13:23
No, I believe any of the actual street lights are county funded.
SPEAKER_20
02:13:28
Got it, okay.
02:13:28
So I just asked them on a practical, I'll connect once they kind of answer a couple more of my questions.
02:13:33
And then next month I was gonna potentially make a directive to add a couple more lights in Livingston.
02:13:40
So it's a directive that I'm figuring out some of the groundwork first.
SPEAKER_08
02:13:47
Yeah.
02:13:48
OK. Wouldn't mind seeing that on the agenda?
SPEAKER_20
02:13:51
Yeah.
02:13:51
I'll let you know once I'm done arguing with this person.
SPEAKER_08
02:13:55
OK. And I have none.
02:13:58
So none what?
02:14:00
No directives.
SPEAKER_12
02:14:02
Oh, I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_07
02:14:03
Yeah.
02:14:04
Mine's more of a request for the Chair, but in the future, if we could add a break in the middle of the agenda, that'd be great.
02:14:12
Sorry.
SPEAKER_08
02:14:14
Okay.
02:14:16
So, any other business that we need to consider before we do that?
02:14:20
Doc has paid for every time he does it.
02:14:23
Okay.
02:14:23
Thank you.
02:14:24
Well, if there's no other business, then we will adjourn to our evening session, which will start up at
02:14:32
So I will call to order the 7 p.m. session of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors for January 14, 2025.
02:14:43
We're going to start the meeting with our public comments.
02:14:50
Thank you to those who signed up on the sign-up sheet for public comments.
02:14:54
Just to let you know, for those who may not be familiar, when I call your name, please come up to the podium, give your name and your legal address, and you have three minutes to tell us what's on your mind and why you're here.
02:15:13
If you are representing a group you may have five minutes but you need to speak for that group and then other people for the group don't basically.
02:15:30
Dr. Ligon will put up the 30 second sign when you're getting towards the end at the end of three or five minutes.
02:15:43
She'll put up the stop sign and at that point you need to wrap it up basically.
02:15:50
The chair has the ability to grant more time if it turns out that you need it and it's the right thing to do.
02:15:58
So that being said, the first person who signed up for public comments is Denise Toussou.
SPEAKER_01
02:16:14
I'm Denise Toussou, 249 Lobbins Lane, Afton, Virginia.
02:16:20
So I learned that Savion is a good neighbor program that would provide rooftop solar systems to the two homeowners in the project area who request this system.
02:16:30
The Virginia solar renewable energy credits for those rooftop installations will belong to the homeowners and not Savion.
02:16:38
The same is true for any rooftop solar installation in our county.
02:16:42
The renewable energy credits belong to the system owner, which is normally the homeowner.
02:16:47
Renewable energy credit pricing is related to the total amount of solar power generation in Virginia.
02:16:53
Denying a large-scale solar installation in our county has no effect on pricing of renewable energy credits because an equivalent solar installation is sure to occur in another county.
02:17:07
I understand that Savion has recently updated their site plan proposal with additional funds for the county of a total of $20 million.
02:17:17
and also would award a $10,000 scholarship every year to students from the 7th district of our county.
02:17:25
I believe that Savion is doing their best to be a good neighbor and share as much of the project income as possible.
02:17:32
There are many ways the county could use the income from this project such as more support for our schools or adding solar installations at the high school campus and other county buildings.
02:17:43
If approved, I hope that Nelson County and SABM will work together to make the project a showcase of best practices, especially for the stormwater controls, erosion management, and agrivoltaic possibilities.
02:17:57
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:17:59
Thank you.
02:18:03
Michael Tussaud.
SPEAKER_15
02:18:08
I'm Mike Tussaud, and I live in Afton.
02:18:11
Good evening.
02:18:16
At the December 10th public hearing for the Larkscale Solar Project, several of the negative public comments included some incorrect claims.
02:18:27
Here's three of those claims.
02:18:29
First, the claim that Savion solar panels made by USA manufacturer First Solar will poison the environment.
02:18:37
Well, the metal layer in these thin-filled panels is one-thirtieth the thickness of a human hair, and the metal is encapsulated by glass layers on both sides.
02:18:49
That glass is so strong that running over a panel with a 50-ton compactor leaves the encapsulation intact.
02:18:58
Researchers at our very own Virginia Tech published a report on these first solar panels.
02:19:05
They found that the panels are not toxic,
02:19:07
even when damaged by hurricanes, tornadoes, or fires.
02:19:13
Second, the claim that leaving the 500 acre site as a tree plantation is the best way to limit atmospheric CO2 pollution.
02:19:21
The purpose of the solar farm is to reduce CO2 pollution by displacing fossil fuel energy.
02:19:27
The 90 megawatt solar farm would produce about 200 gigawatt hours of energy per year with a CO2 footprint mostly from the panel manufacturing
02:19:37
of about 5,000 tons per year.
02:19:41
Gas fire generation with the same energy production would have a CO2 footprint of at least 100,000 tons per year.
02:19:50
So the solar farm prevents 95,000 tons a year of CO2 emissions that would have come from gas fired power.
02:19:58
Now compare that to the 3,000 tons per year of CO2 sequestered by a 500-acre pine forest.
02:20:05
The solar farm is going to keep 30 times as much CO2 out of the atmosphere as that 500-acre forest.
02:20:15
Third, the claim that approving the Savion project would automatically open the door for additional projects.
02:20:21
Our comp plan and zoning ordinances are very clear.
02:20:25
Every large-scale solar project has its own special use permit.
02:20:29
Each project is evaluated only on its own merits, not the outcome of previous SUP requests.
02:20:37
Do I have 30 more seconds?
02:20:39
All right.
02:20:40
There's one more claim made that the total amount of solar needed in Virginia would cover 3,329 square miles.
02:20:49
Well, the best information I've found is from several sources, and they all say that we
02:21:02
I'm sorry, it's 16 gigawatts and that takes up about 251 square miles if you figure 10 acres per megawatt.
02:21:17
So 251 is a far cry from 3329.
02:21:20
Okay, if the Savion project is approved, it's fine with me.
02:21:25
If there's no other large-scale solar project,
02:21:36
and not incorrect information.
02:21:38
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:21:39
Thank you.
02:21:43
Next is Ann Michie.
SPEAKER_02
02:21:50
My name is Ann Michie and I live at 1856 Monacan Drive in Nellysford, Virginia.
02:21:57
I have listened to the comments that were made in December, and I spent a good bit of Christmas vacation researching solar farms and the needs for electricity in Virginia.
02:22:08
One of the questions that was asked that I considered particularly poignant was, living in Nellysford, would I be willing to have one of these in my backyard?
02:22:16
And after everything I have read,
02:22:20
and everything I have seen, I have decided that if I can manage to stare at the electrical lines that run right in front of my property, I can handle looking at one of these given what it contributes to Virginia.
02:22:35
Virginia is facing an energy crisis as is most of America.
02:22:40
We haven't
02:22:41
been able to keep up with the demand that we have created through our use of data processing and the data farms.
02:22:52
And unless I am willing to give up my cellphone, which I realistically don't think is likely to happen, stop doing online banking, never use a credit card again because it gets processed through those farms, the demand is there.
02:23:07
and we are going to be in a power shortage.
02:23:11
I consider this solar farm considerably like a victory garden during a war.
02:23:17
It's not going to solve the energy crisis but we've all got into our heart and this one goes a long way.
02:23:25
It's environmentally neutral from the research that I've done.
02:23:29
It's not going to cause the terrible runoff problems that a lot of my fellow neighbors have been concerned about
02:23:37
Its major flaw is they're ugly.
02:23:39
And if you can stand living near sheep, which I understand that bleeding is not really that bad, they will bring along with other solar farms in other locations the power that we need to continue living the lifestyles that we have all decided are essential.
02:23:59
I think it's realistic.
02:24:01
I think it's important.
02:24:02
And Mr. Reed, as my representative, I'm staring at you.
02:24:06
Please vote yes.
02:24:12
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:24:20
Next, Ed McGann.
SPEAKER_10
02:24:29
Good evening, board members.
02:24:30
My name is Edward William McGann.
02:24:33
I reside most of the time at 94 Farsilley Road, Masses Mill, Virginia.
02:24:38
I appreciate the comments of several constituents from the county.
02:24:42
and their pro-advocacy for the solar farm.
02:24:49
Just as the previous speakers have mentioned, I've also done some research and I've also called Virginia Tech.
02:24:55
In fact, I've talked with people associated with the Biosystems Engineering Program at Virginia Tech and found it very interesting some of the things they said about hydro-voltage and they weren't very popular.
02:25:11
Mind you to be careful in the decisions you make tonight, regardless of the opinion of some of the people who have spoken previously, which I respect their opinion.
02:25:19
I trust they'll respect mine.
02:25:22
Be careful.
02:25:24
Once this is approved, you've opened the door for any solar farm that wants to come into this county.
02:25:30
And although it may not ultimately hold up, it will bring litigation costs to the county, which I'm not sure you're ready to prepare for, once you're sued before denying their opportunity.
02:25:42
I'm very concerned that this, as I said before, in my opinion, is opening up Pandora's box.
02:25:50
It's interesting how the company representing the solar industry tonight has upped the ante on what they're willing to give Nelson County because they're concerned, as are many people that share my thoughts.
02:26:04
Many of my fellow Farm Bureau board members could not be here tonight because they had a very important
02:26:13
So I share with you all their concerns also.
02:26:16
Be careful tonight.
02:26:18
Once that door is open, it can't be closed.
02:26:21
Thank you.
02:26:23
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:26:27
James Bibb.
SPEAKER_12
02:26:36
Hello, my name is James Bibb.
02:26:41
and Arrington not too far from the project site along the Tyre River.
02:26:47
Savion wants us to believe that by allowing them to build their industrial solar installations on forest lands in Gladstone that we will be producing enough energy to power all of Nelson's homes, something that they cannot in any way guarantee.
02:27:00
Well, unfortunately, that point is moot.
02:27:02
The very next day, following your last meeting and public comments on this project, a press release came out about an approved data center project
02:27:10
just a few miles down the road in Appomattox by Avio Digital.
02:27:14
According to sources, this data center has had confirmation of 500 megawatts of power from CVEC and its suppliers.
02:27:22
A few points I'd like to make.
02:27:25
It is reasonable to assume that electricity generated by this proposal will be used in this data center since its energy is sold back to the providers that CVEC obtains its electricity.
02:27:35
300 megawatts of electricity
02:27:39
would be more than enough to power 100,000 homes.
02:27:42
But since we are talking about demand, not supply here, this proposal would not even come close to powering even the new data center down the road.
02:27:48
For perspective, there are, excuse me, 112,000 homes in the city limits of Richmond.
02:27:56
It is also very obvious that the press release of the data center approval was withheld from the public until after the previous board meeting in which Savion hoped to get its approval vote.
02:28:07
With that being the case, it is probable
02:28:10
that Savion had knowledge of the data center project and had played a role in its timely, or so they felt, release.
02:28:16
Based on that, it is within reason that Savion intentionally withheld this information from you, the board, and us, the constituents, because it is very counterproductive to their consistent messaging.
02:28:27
Savion hires lobbyists and have been lobbying our Virginia Senate and House legislators that serve on the Commission of Electric Utility Regulation until recently they voted seven to five in favor
02:28:37
of legislation to create the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board.
02:28:42
This proposed review board would create an appeal process that would go over your head, effectively taking the decisions on these, signing these projects away from you, the board of supervisors, and thereby the constituents themselves, one step away from eminent domain.
02:28:57
This is the dark reality that many states already have this power, the power to overrule our local decisions.
02:29:05
With that being said, the conversation has now changed to what kind of company are we planning on doing business with you?
02:29:10
Does the money that they are offering you to dilute into the general fund negate the concerns of such shady practices that undermine your constitutional authority in order to get what they want?
02:29:21
What else are they not being upfront about?
02:29:23
The conversation about the Wild Rose Project and other energy developments need to go nowhere further than the data center debacle that Virginia has gotten into.
02:29:31
And Virginia utility customers are bearing the real cost of this burden.
02:29:35
Nelson County's residents will have no benefit from either the Wild Roads Project nor the Appomattox Data Center.
02:29:40
Thank you, I'll wrap up.
02:29:42
In fact, we will continue to see our utility bills increase until demand continues to outpace supply and production and on a massive scale.
02:29:54
Please wrap it up.
02:29:55
So why should residents of Nelson's southern communities be responsible for the cycling of this solar project and any fallout from its construction implementation?
02:30:02
Simply put, it shouldn't.
02:30:04
I encourage each of you to vote no on this project and send this corporation that has no interest in its people, the environment, or the culture of Nelson back to the Midwest where they came from.
SPEAKER_08
02:30:14
Thank you.
02:30:17
Mary Catherine Allen.
SPEAKER_17
02:30:25
Mary Catherine Allen, 7763 Richmond Highway, Gladstone.
02:30:31
I can honestly say I've never heard the word Gladstone mentioned so much over the last three months.
02:30:36
It's pretty awesome actually.
02:30:38
I do live within a mile of this and I don't have anything planned to say other than ask you to vote no.
02:30:49
I've said it before, I've said it during the planning commission reasons, I've talked to you all individually why I am not in favor of this.
02:30:56
Any project that requires this much, what did I say this morning?
02:31:01
Anything that requires this much work, favors, proffers, and promises, the project is only as good as the paper is written on.
02:31:12
My mom and dad always told me if it's too good to believe, you can bet your butt it is.
02:31:15
So I'm telling you, this is not what our county needs.
02:31:19
This is not what my home district needs.
02:31:24
I do not think five years from now that if this is passed that we're going to say thank God and pass it because I don't think Savion or Wild Rose or whoever is going to own it.
02:31:34
I think somebody else is going to own it because they're going to sell it.
02:31:37
And I do not think that the 90 megawatts that they're going to produce is really going to matter to the Appomattox Data Center.
02:31:46
That's what they're doing it for.
02:31:47
So I ask you to vote no.
02:31:51
Take that into consideration.
02:31:52
If people want solar in their house, by God, go get it.
02:31:55
I could care less what you put on your house.
02:31:57
But I don't want it in my backyard.
02:31:59
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:32:02
Thank you.
02:32:06
That was the last person who signed up.
02:32:07
Is there anyone here who would like to take advantage of the opportunity to tell us what's on their mind about anything pertinent to the Planning Commission?
02:32:17
Yeah.
02:32:20
Of course.
SPEAKER_06
02:32:22
Paul Davis, 2514 Rockfish Valley Highway, Nellysford.
02:32:27
Some of the concerns I had, I've heard other people already talk about.
02:32:31
You know, the whole database, I was kind of concerned with that.
02:32:33
I was here in December myself, and then the very next day, I'm like, you know, I'm kind of suspicious in nature, I guess, but I'm thinking, that was never mentioned during the whole presentation that night, and I'm like, this is strange.
02:32:46
Somebody with that old outfit had to have knowledge of this, and yet they, like, shielded it until, you know, everybody heard about it the next day, which raised my suspicions about the company.
02:32:56
We've heard other people have their own suspicion.
02:32:58
I have some, my own concerns,
02:33:00
There's a whole litigation cost that could come down the road.
02:33:03
This county cannot, I mean, these companies have their, like some people have already said, they hire their own lobbyists and legal teams and they have money to get what they want.
02:33:13
And getting back to that, I've been in this numerous meetings about special use permits.
02:33:17
You know my biggest complaint, the county has really little enforcement.
02:33:21
They don't have an enforcement team that goes and oversees special use permits.
02:33:25
So if you're in violation, you almost have to, as an individual, dig them up and see what they can or can't do.
02:33:31
And then the other problem is that I've seen, unlike with this company, that's, you know, I've been through a lot of these special use commit hearings.
02:33:40
They're usually citizens just asking for something on their property.
02:33:43
They're not offering money to get it approved.
02:33:46
They're just basically laying out their plan for this project.
02:33:50
And this is another special use permit, except they're throwing money at the county and basically to try to get the approval, which again raises my suspicions where others in the county, myself included, if I wanted to do something, I don't have the money just to throw at the county to get what I want for special use.
02:34:06
And again, the special use permits by state code, it goes with the property, not the company.
02:34:12
And so these companies buy and sell all the time.
02:34:15
You can see through the whole stock exchange.
02:34:17
This money is guaranteed for these years to come.
02:34:19
Does the county have the litigation money set aside to fight to try to get that money?
02:34:25
If this company says sorry, we sold out.
02:34:28
That was another company that promised you this money.
02:34:31
With some of the stuff I've already seen, those are really big concerns that could come up.
02:34:35
And then if you already passed this, like I said, it goes with the property.
02:34:38
You all know this.
02:34:40
Stays Forever.
02:34:41
So those who live in Glanstone saying, you know, I've read it, you wouldn't want to see it in the backyard.
02:34:46
I don't think nobody would.
02:34:48
I know from listening to the presentation, just excluding the construction, I think it only gives less than 10 full-time jobs.
02:34:57
It's not a sightly thing where people are going to come to see it.
02:35:02
And so really other than the money,
02:35:05
And that's what I would say.
02:35:06
Take the money aspect away.
02:35:08
I know a county can use it, but take it away.
02:35:10
Is it worth voting for them?
02:35:13
And then, as every community, we've all had the elders always tell us that when we want to buy a car or something, our dad or somebody would tell us, son, it seems like it's too good to be true.
02:35:23
But it usually is.
02:35:24
If something's wrong, if it seems like it's too good to be true.
SPEAKER_08
02:35:33
Well, I'll get back to you if that's okay.
02:35:37
Anyone else from the public would like to speak to anything?
SPEAKER_00
02:35:45
Once again, it's a podium and one day, second time, try again.
SPEAKER_08
02:35:50
This zoning... Can you give us your name and your address, please?
SPEAKER_00
02:35:55
Valtteri Walker, 9897 Norwood Road.
02:35:58
My concern is not to
02:36:00
Eve and Savion and solar systems they shall be.
02:36:04
But for this county and this situation, the way this has gone about will work to destabilize the integrity of zoning in this county.
02:36:16
If land has been A1 since time beginning when under governance, and yet there are these companies and organizations or people who have their own agendas
02:36:33
And the problem with special permits is that they are favor-induced.
02:36:39
They are not necessarily based on what is good, what is best, what is rational, what will sell, or anything else.
02:36:47
It's who has the money, who has the power, who has the law.
02:36:52
And I am very afraid that for 81, in the South District itself, where every meeting I go to,
02:37:03
South District doesn't have that.
02:37:04
South District is not a good place to live overall.
02:37:09
But we can never move forward if we turn block by block and just give away by give away to companies that want to call or ask this board or any board for special permits.
02:37:23
Because if that is the case, then what is the purpose of zoning?
02:37:27
What is an A-1 zoning?
02:37:29
This one can be stabilized whatever little integrity that exists in the A1 South District.
02:37:38
We will be vulnerable and for those others who live across the county or live in the central area or wherever
02:37:46
This isn't happening to them, but the county has put more attention and attention into those areas.
02:37:52
We're still waiting for something good to happen and not something that we have to lose our land.
02:38:00
We're not able to do these things ourselves, but yet the one who comes in with the power, with the money in hand, is the one who is nodded to.
02:38:11
what is being nodded at us who've been here many of us for hundreds of years.
02:38:18
This is not the good that we were waiting for.
02:38:21
We expect more of the county and we will tolerate more of the slack and not having if it means keeping this kind of situation out of A1 zoning.
02:38:35
Thank you.
02:38:38
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:38:42
Anyone else?
02:38:49
I think it would be more proper for you to speak when we look at the project, not during public comments, if that's okay.
02:38:56
So I will then close public comments.
02:39:03
and we'll move on to our two public hearings that we have today.
02:39:07
The first of these is rezoning from A1 Agricultural to B1 Business.
02:39:16
Ms. Bishop, can you take us through this?
SPEAKER_05
02:39:22
Alright, this is a request to rezone property from A1 Agriculture to B1 Business to align the zoning designation with the current use and allow for additional permitted sign area
02:39:33
This is located at 10761 Thomas Nelson Highway in the East District.
02:39:38
This is commonly referred to as the Sunny Mountain store.
02:39:42
Operates as a convenience store, gas station, and the Indian oven restaurant.
02:39:47
All are legally vested non-conforming uses.
02:39:49
They've been in existence and are grandfathered.
02:39:53
The owners are proposing to rezone to business, to allow the zoning.
02:39:58
It would also allow them to expand their signage.
02:40:01
In the A1 district, which is what this is currently zoned, only 50 square foot of sign area is permitted for businesses.
02:40:09
The B1 zoning designation will allow for up to 150 square feet of sign area.
02:40:15
In 2023, the owners replaced the freestanding sign for the Marathon Gas Station.
02:40:20
This is close to 50 square foot limit, so they would like to expand the signage on this existing sign for additional advertisement of the business.
02:40:32
It's adjoined by other A-1 agricultural zoning.
02:40:35
There are flood zones on the property.
02:40:37
It restricts development through the flood ordinance but no additional uses or constructions proposed.
02:40:43
It's accessed on Thomas Nelson Highway.
02:40:45
VDOT will review the proposed signage when they apply for that.
02:40:51
The properties within the Lovingston designation of our future land use map where the core concept is to prioritize regional scale development, redevelopment, and infill to protect the rural landscape, ensure more efficient and effective provision of community services, bolster economic development, and improve quality of life.
02:41:09
Primary land use types include commercials such as retail, shopping and dining, business and employment.
02:41:14
One of the planning guidelines identified is to preserve existing structures and traditional patterns of development while allowing mix of uses.
02:41:23
The approval of rezoning requests should be based on these factors.
02:41:26
One, good zoning practice.
02:41:28
Two, public necessity.
02:41:29
Three, general welfare.
02:41:30
And four, convenience.
02:41:32
and at their meeting in December, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of this rezoning to the board.
SPEAKER_08
02:41:45
So I'm going to open the public hearing on the rezoning from A1 Agricultural to B1 Business, rezoning number 24-0289.
02:41:57
I'll open the public hearing.
02:42:02
I don't have anyone signed up for the public hearing.
02:42:04
Is anyone here like to speak to this?
02:42:11
Okay.
02:42:12
I will then close the public hearing.
02:42:16
and before we start discussion, oh, never mind.
02:42:27
I'll just open it up to the board.
02:42:29
It's your pleasure.
SPEAKER_20
02:42:31
Dylan, as a reminder, were there any conditions that were added?
SPEAKER_05
02:42:37
Since it's a rezoning, no conditions.
SPEAKER_20
02:42:38
Perfect, okay.
02:42:43
My whole life and generations before me, it's had a huge integral part in a lot of people's commutes.
02:42:50
I'd like to support everything that they're doing there, and if the board is ready, I'm prepared to make a motion to approve rezoning number 240289 as presented.
02:43:01
I'll second.
SPEAKER_08
02:43:05
Okay, we have a motion and we have a second.
02:43:07
Now we have an opportunity for discussion if there's any further discussion among the board.
02:43:12
If not, we can take a roll.
SPEAKER_04
02:43:17
Dr. Ligon?
02:43:17
Yes.
02:43:18
Mr. Parr?
02:43:19
Yes.
02:43:20
Mr. Rutherford?
02:43:20
Yes.
02:43:21
Mr. Reed?
SPEAKER_08
02:43:21
Yes.
02:43:24
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:43:24
Okay.
02:43:27
Next we have ordinance 0 2025-01, an amendment to chapter 7, motor vehicles and traffic for local authority to reduce speed limits.
SPEAKER_03
02:43:59
As Chairman Reed noted, this is a public hearing on proposed ordinance 0-2025-01 which would provide local authority to reduce 25 mile per hour speed limits in a business or resident district.
02:44:14
This public hearing was authorized by the board adopting resolution 2024-82 on December 10th.
02:44:21
Our public hearing notice was published December 26th and January 2nd, 2025 and is authorized by Virginia State Code 46.2-1300A4.
02:44:34
So the provisions of the state statute
02:44:38
Provide that the governing body of any county, city, or town made by ordinance authorize its chief administrative officer to, one, reduce the speed limit to either 15 miles per hour or 20 miles per hour on any highway within its boundaries that is located within a business district or residence district where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour.
02:44:58
and also a restore speed limit that has been reduced pursuant to the subdivision to the speed limit that had been previously posted at that location and provided that such reduced or restored speed limit is indicated by lawfully placed signs and a written notice of the speed limit change must be provided to the Commissioner of Highways at least 30 days prior to changing the speed limit.
02:45:21
State Code 46.2-100 defines the business district and residence districts
02:45:27
as shown here.
02:45:30
Our proposed ordinance O 2025-01 amends Nelson County Code Chapter 7 Motor Vehicles and Traffic adding Article 9 local authority to reduce speed limits.
02:45:41
Section 7-149 provides the provisions of this local authority which would be granted following a public hearing and consent by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
02:45:54
Section 7-150 provides for notifying the Commissioner of Highways prior to changing a speed limit at least 30 days beforehand.
02:46:05
And the ordinance also is effective upon the enactments as presented.
02:46:12
We'll take some questions and answers or discussion from the board.
02:46:16
And otherwise, staff recommends adoption of ordinance O 2025-01 as presented.
SPEAKER_20
02:46:22
All right.
02:46:23
If you could go two slides prior.
02:46:27
One more.
02:46:29
There we go.
02:46:30
So in the first bullet, reduce speed limit to either 15 or 20 miles an hour.
02:46:37
And this allows us to authorize you to do this.
02:46:40
Do we have to do a public hearing every time we want to do a road that is within that threshold?
SPEAKER_03
02:46:45
That is the way the current ordinance is proposed, yes.
SPEAKER_20
02:46:49
Got it.
02:46:50
Good.
02:46:50
Okay.
02:46:50
It's just way over.
02:46:51
It made me feel like we could just tell you go do it.
SPEAKER_03
02:46:55
If it weren't for that language as said after a public hearing and resolution by the board, yes.
02:47:00
Great.
02:47:01
Sounds good.
SPEAKER_11
02:47:04
Yeah.
SPEAKER_08
02:47:07
Any other questions for Candy?
02:47:10
Okay.
02:47:10
Thank you, Candy.
02:47:11
I'm going to then open the public hearing on the amendment to chapter 7, ordinance 0-2025-01.
02:47:21
I do not have anyone who has signed up to speak at this public hearing.
02:47:28
Anyone here wish to speak to it?
02:47:33
Okay.
02:47:34
And I will close the public hearing and present this to our board.
SPEAKER_04
02:47:41
Well, this came to fruition because of my district, but it applies everywhere.
02:47:49
I think this is more of an organizational thing.
02:47:58
I don't see any reason this doesn't work, but I'm sure you can give them one.
SPEAKER_20
02:48:06
And when Lovingston is booming and bustling, we might have to use this ordinance too.
SPEAKER_08
02:48:13
And in Nellysford, it's possible that it would be something down the line to deal with.
SPEAKER_20
02:48:19
Where do you have 25 miles an hour?
SPEAKER_08
02:48:21
Not now.
SPEAKER_20
02:48:22
Oh, OK.
SPEAKER_08
02:48:24
Playing the long game here.
SPEAKER_04
02:48:32
OK.
02:48:33
I move we approve the ordinance 2025-01, amendment to chapter 7, motor vehicles and traffic, article 4,
02:48:42
of the local authority to reduce speed limits.
SPEAKER_20
02:48:46
Second.
02:48:47
OK. We have a motion and a second.
SPEAKER_04
02:48:51
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07
02:48:52
That's OK.
02:48:53
Damn Romans.
02:48:55
Is there any further discussion?
SPEAKER_20
02:49:01
Dr. Lee?
02:49:01
Yes.
02:49:02
Mr. Rutherford?
02:49:03
Yes.
02:49:03
Mr. Barr?
SPEAKER_07
02:49:04
No.
SPEAKER_08
02:49:05
Mr. Reed?
02:49:05
Yes.
02:49:10
OK.
SPEAKER_08
02:49:13
So this brings us to other business as presented.
02:49:19
Special use permit 24-0014, a large solar energy system, a waterless solar, proposed siding agreement, and a project appeal to the Planning Commission determination.
02:49:33
So we will start with discussion of the special use permit.
02:49:41
Do we have a quick overview to bring us here to where we are?
SPEAKER_05
02:49:50
Sorry.
02:49:50
All right, so as everyone's familiar with,
02:49:53
Special use permit request for large solar energy system.
02:49:57
The total property area is approximately 4,600 acres and the area under panels is about 470 acres called Wild Rose Solar Project.
02:50:10
This is Nelson County's first request for a solar project of this scale.
02:50:16
It is 90 megawatt, utility scale solar.
02:50:20
Lands and active timber use.
02:50:23
Remaining land is planned to remain in silvicultural use during the life of the project, which is 40 years.
02:50:29
Electricity generated sent to inverters converts it to a kernel where collection lines transfer to the substation.
02:50:36
Then it's transferred overhead transmission line to the glass zone substation then into AEP's power grid for distribution.
02:50:46
Local zoning approval currently is one of the first steps in a lengthy review process.
02:50:52
Should the special use permit be approved, the applicants then are required to proceed with DEQ's permit by rule process, which requires that any impacts be avoided, minimized, or mitigated.
02:51:04
There are various reviews that the state requires for that process.
02:51:11
Do you have any questions for me?
02:51:14
It's kind of a brief overview.
SPEAKER_08
02:51:18
We might call you back.
02:51:22
I'll let you know.
02:51:24
Did you have something you wanted to add?
SPEAKER_05
02:51:27
Gary was going to give a summary of the siting agreement.
SPEAKER_08
02:51:31
Oh, you want to do this first?
02:51:33
Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_03
02:51:45
All right, as the board is aware, we have received a revised siting agreement from Savion.
02:51:53
Just briefly, I can run through what things are in the solar siting agreement very broadly.
02:52:01
and these siding agreements are pursuant to chapter 22, title 15.2, article 7.3 of the Code of Virginia, titled Siding of Solar Projects and Energy Storage Projects that the applicant and county may enter into a siding agreement for such facilities.
02:52:18
So the first part of the siding agreement is such recitals.
02:52:23
Article 1,
02:52:27
overviews some project features, conditions and mitigations.
02:52:35
The next article, article three is miscellaneous terms related to the siting agreement.
02:52:49
And then we get into the exhibits.
02:52:52
which the siding agreement makes the special use permit a part of this particular document.
02:53:03
The other thing is exhibit B which is an illustrative schedule of payments.
02:53:10
This is where the compensation factor comes in.
02:53:15
So the changes to the siding agreement are mostly related to this exhibit B.
02:53:23
wherein column E, additional voluntary payments, operational years one through 40.
02:53:29
There's an additional voluntary payment of $230,000 per year for 40 years, which would total $9,200,000.
02:53:37
This is an additional $4 million from the previous signing agreement proposal.
02:53:43
Additionally, a reference was added on page three in article two payments.
02:53:49
to add an annual $10,000 scholarship fund for 40 years or for $400,000 in total payable to a student from the south district of the county.
02:54:00
And those really are the only changes from the previous siting agreement.
SPEAKER_08
02:54:13
Any questions for Candy about the siting agreement?
02:54:20
Thank you, Candy.
02:54:24
I'm going to, again, I might call you back, too, and see what happens.
02:54:29
Would you give us your name for the, so everyone will know.
SPEAKER_14
02:54:34
Certainly.
02:54:35
Thank you, Mr.
02:54:35
Chair.
02:54:36
Eric Miyarka.
02:54:36
I'm with Savion, 422 Admiral Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri.
02:54:41
So I just wanted to address some of the comments that were made earlier today during the public comment section.
02:54:48
And then I'm available to answer any questions you have, but I'll be brief.
02:54:52
The data center, the Appomattox data center, I had no knowledge of that.
02:54:56
I learned that last week.
02:54:57
So there was not any sort of intent for us to time it with the announcement of that data center.
02:55:03
We had no idea.
02:55:04
Further, we can't sell power directly to that data center.
02:55:08
The only entity that can sell power directly to a residential customer or a commercial or industrial customer is the utility.
02:55:16
Utilities have the sole right to provide
02:55:19
generation or provide electricity to everyone within their service territory.
02:55:25
That's why we can't sell power directly to the neighbors, which is why we wanted to do the residential solar systems for folks.
02:55:31
Same reason we can't sell power directly to any data center.
02:55:35
Also, that's in a different utility.
02:55:37
Technically, we're tying into the AEP grid.
02:55:39
The Gladstone substation is actually where the grids change, but technically we're on the AEP side of that substation.
02:55:46
We're not on the CBEC side of the substation.
02:55:49
Some of the electrons may flow into that side of the grid, but we have no business interaction with SEVA.
02:55:56
The other statement that was made was about the signing agreement and how it might be too good to be true.
02:56:01
I certainly understand
02:56:03
The skepticism, but these siting agreements are standard business practice for renewable energy projects in the Commonwealth.
02:56:11
There's a lot of reasons for that.
02:56:12
I think the big one is that several years ago there was a state law that was passed that abated the taxes, reduced the property tax liability for renewable energy projects.
02:56:23
And it reduced it significantly, candidly.
02:56:26
So if you look at the siting agreements, column on the exhibit that shows the
02:56:33
I don't have a total for that, but it's
02:56:50
and a couple million dollar range.
02:56:52
Everything else is voluntary payments.
02:56:54
So I think the big reason that you saw siting agreements become so prevalent is because the amount of tax reduction at one time was appropriate for renewable energy projects, but since the technology has gotten cheaper, it has become cheaper and cheaper to build and generate solar electricity, that level of tax abatement is really not needed anymore.
02:57:13
So these siting agreements are a way for us to essentially make voluntary tax payments to the host communities.
02:57:20
And whether or not you think it's too good to be true, the good thing is that this is a contract.
02:57:24
This is a legally binding contract, so you don't have to believe it.
02:57:27
It's here in paper.
02:57:28
We sign it.
02:57:29
The county signs it.
02:57:30
We're held to it.
02:57:31
Same with the conditions of the special use permits.
02:57:33
So we felt like it was very important for us to
02:57:37
make a very strong commitment to the county.
02:57:40
That's why we have such an aggressive high number with the voluntary payments here.
02:57:46
That's also why we wanted to make the $10,000 scholarship contribution to the South District.
02:57:51
Mr. Reed, we heard during the public
02:57:53
Here in December that it was important for us to have a connection with the education community.
02:58:00
That's definitely something I want to continue to explore with the high school.
02:58:03
We weren't able to piece it together in time for this meeting, but that was one of the things, one of the benefits of doing the scholarship is that that's a way for us to reach into higher education or get folks that are in high school and provide them with resources to get to a college.
02:58:19
So those are the only comments I was going to make, but if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer any questions you all have.
02:58:24
Thank you.
SPEAKER_08
02:58:29
Okay, thank you.
02:58:36
Okay, so the special use permit is before us.
02:58:42
Probably each one of us wants to take a
02:58:44
Crockett speaking our mind on this.
02:58:46
So we would like to go first May.
SPEAKER_04
02:58:54
I guess I can start.
02:58:56
Why not?
02:58:58
I have concerns about the special use permit being the life of the, you know, being with this land for life.
02:59:10
And I know of at least one other special use permit in this county that has to come back around and be accepted again.
02:59:21
And I was hoping that that could be something we discuss today.
02:59:28
or it's limited to this company.
02:59:35
If there's a sale or something, they need to circle it.
02:59:38
Nope, can't do that.
02:59:40
But I don't think it should be carte blanche.
02:59:44
I would like to really limit it as much as we can.
02:59:52
So I will open that door and see what you all have to say.
SPEAKER_07
03:00:04
You asking us or zoning?
SPEAKER_04
03:00:07
Oh, I have run it by some people.
03:00:11
It's allowed.
03:00:14
So discuss.
SPEAKER_07
03:00:25
Anyone have a question?
03:00:26
Sure, come on up.
03:00:27
Yeah, I think it'd be good to hear what that means.
SPEAKER_05
03:00:30
So I believe what you're asking was if you could put a condition that the SUP would expire after the 40-year life of the project.
03:00:44
So that way, if after that project, they couldn't just roll it into a new solar farm, they would have to come back and get that re-approval.
03:00:55
Now do we know what it's going to look like in 40 years?
03:00:56
No.
03:00:57
But that is one way
03:01:00
to ensure that the special use permit would actually expire.
03:01:04
And we would recommend that be 40 years from the date of, from the start date of commercial operation is what we would recommend.
SPEAKER_08
03:01:16
So that would require if they were to, they could reapply at that time.
SPEAKER_05
03:01:24
And in the contract, if I remember correctly, the first right of refusal on the,
03:01:30
Mark D. Ed goes to the county.
SPEAKER_07
03:01:42
That answers that.
SPEAKER_08
03:01:43
Yeah.
03:01:48
If there's no other comments on that, then I guess we'll deal with that at the time a motion is made.
SPEAKER_04
03:01:58
Yeah, yes, whatever else is on your mind.
03:02:05
For the project itself?
03:02:06
Yes, for the SUP.
SPEAKER_08
03:02:10
We're discussing the SUP here.
SPEAKER_04
03:02:14
I guess I'd like to start with saying I, Chairman Parr was chairman at the time.
03:02:27
and myself were the ones designated to meet with the solar people to make these agreements and chat things out and I think they could not have picked two people that were more negative on a project on this board than were chosen.
03:02:46
But I think that that benefited the county in a sense because we were going to vote no
03:02:54
to almost anything.
03:02:57
I do feel that we got offered money because of things that we said and things we did, and I feel that we got a substantial amount offered.
03:03:16
No other locality for this size project has gotten anywhere near
03:03:21
this dollar amount.
03:03:23
And I have lost a lot of sleep over this decision because I thought we had done the county good by our negotiations, but it also makes me sick.
03:03:43
So I wanted to bring up a few subjects and just discuss things
03:03:51
Erosion is a common one we've been hearing.
03:03:57
I also agree that's a huge problem.
03:04:00
I want to have faith in the site plan, the DEQ,
03:04:09
I agree solar projects five, ten years ago were very new and it takes a long time for the government to step up to the plate and deal with what they're dealing with.
03:04:27
I feel we have people in place to really critically look at the site plan.
03:04:38
and I, nothing's perfect, but I, replacing agriculture, that was another huge, well not huge, only a couple people bring this up.
03:05:00
I, in my heart, love agriculture, grew up on a farm,
03:05:06
I actually can't stand monoculture, which is what pine land is.
03:05:11
So I have a hard time saying this is replacing agriculture.
03:05:15
In the true sense, yes, it is.
03:05:17
I just don't know.
03:05:26
Yes, it's ugly.
03:05:27
You're right.
03:05:27
I wouldn't want to look at it.
03:05:28
I actually don't enjoy solar projects.
03:05:33
This one, if it goes with the site plan, is not really seen.
03:05:42
Now when we're building it, yep, the foliage has to be mature.
03:05:48
I wanted the board to visualize this solar project in Bath County that I had passed a lot and that foliage is nice and low and you see everything.
03:06:01
So I realized there's time involved in that.
03:06:05
I
03:06:10
I do not agree with the opening up to other solar projects.
03:06:14
That is a comment that I've gotten a few times.
03:06:17
I've seen other counties that have said yes to solar projects years ago that have now stopped.
03:06:25
So I'm not sure in the manifestation of that.
03:06:29
I have asked, and each project is its individual thing,
03:06:37
and needs to go through the same process.
03:06:42
So I'm not sure what to do with that, but that gets thrown at me a lot.
03:06:53
Anybody got anything else to say?
03:06:57
I'm bumbling around.
SPEAKER_07
03:06:59
You want to go?
03:07:04
You want me to go?
03:07:09
I do not like solar projects.
03:07:19
You know, you drive up 29 and you see that solar project there in Red Hill and that's just ugly.
03:07:31
I mean, it's right on the side of 29.
03:07:33
It's not even straight.
03:07:34
I mean, you know, did they not measure the thing?
03:07:38
but you know I was, Dr. Ligon's right, they picked two skeptics to go in and as of right now, I've been in public service in Nelson County for 21 years and I have never lost as much sleep over a project or a vote as I have on this one.
03:07:59
I've been up since 3.15 this morning doing searches and reading and
03:08:06
It's just, it's been, this one's been tough because, you know, on the one hand, they're ugly.
03:08:13
We've talked about that.
03:08:14
On the other hand, I've never driven past West Mayco Land and said, ooh, isn't that pretty?
03:08:19
You know, I mean, but it's, the view sheds from the top of that site are just incredible.
03:08:27
But I did visit the site,
03:08:28
and where the panels are located and seeing the site plan, I was impressed with where they had put the panels.
03:08:38
My big thing that is my concern is not the solar project itself.
03:08:47
And I don't mean this to sound greedy, but it's the money.
03:08:50
And what I mean by that is,
03:08:53
I'm sure most of you have heard the proposal that Cree Deeds and other Democrats are trying to push in Richmond that will take away control of these projects from the local government and give it to Richmond.
03:09:10
and right now the governor's kind of standing on his own you know and so it's a good chance that if Cree Deeds and Sam Rasool and whoever else if they get together and pass this two years from now if we don't approve the project which I will say
03:09:32
They put a couple of bulldogs on this negotiation and we went from $8 million to $16 million and we thought, damn, they want $16 million?
03:09:39
And we ended up at $20.2 million plus a $10,000 a year scholarship for 40 years.
03:09:45
It's not about the money.
03:09:47
It's about the loss of the money.
03:09:50
If that decision making is taken away from local government officials and given to Richmond, they can come in here two years and build that solar farm right where they're talking about doing it and we don't get that money.
03:10:05
And that's what I'm struggling with because
03:10:09
I don't want a solar farm on East Branch, and you see it when you're driving down 151 or up 56 going to Montebello.
03:10:17
I don't want it in my backyard.
03:10:19
I don't want it in your backyard.
03:10:23
But I fear that the loss of control, because the state of Virginia has said they have clean energy goals.
03:10:32
And those goals aren't going to be met without some solar projects.
03:10:39
They're going to meet those goals.
03:10:41
And they're going to do it, I fear, by taking control away.
03:10:46
Because no board of supervisors is going to sit up here and, well, maybe some.
03:10:52
But most board supervisors are going to know that a solar farm in their constituents' backyard is not wanted.
03:10:59
And so we all like that.
03:11:03
what we're doing and want to get re-elected and you know so we think about that but in this situation this is not about the special use permit it's not necessarily about the special use permit and and that process my fear is them taking away control from the locality and that's where I'm leaning right now you know I'm still not a plan I mean not a fan of the project and
03:11:30
You know, there have been a lot of negatives that have come up.
03:11:33
I will hit a couple of things that, you know, diluting the funds into the general fund, you know, yes, that is an accurate statement, but at the same time, we have a board of supervisors who mentally, and we've said to each other,
03:11:48
If we do this, we know we want to spend money in Gladstone.
03:11:52
We want, and the scholarship is helping with that, but more than just a scholarship.
03:11:57
We want to invest the money as much as we can into the community.
03:12:02
On the other side, we just gave the school system the equivalent of $10 million of our capital project budget last year.
03:12:12
and we can make up for part of that if we do a project like this.
03:12:16
By giving them that $600,000 a year increase, it accounts for $10 million of capital improvement.
03:12:24
On the other side, what happens when the solar farm gets hit by hail and you've got all those broken panels?
03:12:30
Who knows?
03:12:32
The runoff, we have to put a lot of trust in DEQ and those officials to make sure that the storm water management practices are in place
03:12:41
and being adhered to.
03:12:46
I know the data center thing is kind of like pulling the rug out from the timing of that announcement.
03:12:55
And this power goes into the grid.
03:12:59
It does not go into data centers.
03:13:02
It's not sent to any one location.
03:13:04
It goes to the power company, and then it's just
03:13:08
like dropping some water in the ocean.
03:13:10
It's absorbed into that.
03:13:14
This is a very difficult decision, so I might have more to say later, but that's it for now.
SPEAKER_20
03:13:28
First and foremost, thank you all for being here, seeing your faces again.
03:13:37
It's an important piece of the story of us being able to govern as Dr. Ligon and Mr. Parr have indicated.
03:13:46
This is not as simple of a vote.
03:13:49
I do have some thoughts and opinions on the situation.
03:13:53
You know, I'm first going to preface this.
03:13:55
I grew up in a household that, you know, my dad was in the beginning phases of doing solar back in the 70s, back in the Jimmy Carter days when they had all those tax credits and whatnot.
03:14:08
So it's not an unfamiliar concept.
03:14:11
I'm proud to have been able to make what I call seasonally net zero houses in my career as a home builder and just being able to create some of that independence.
03:14:22
From a perspective of solar in the concept itself, certainly I have not been able to experience what it's like to build even remotely near a megawatt.
03:14:35
Some of that technology is not new.
03:14:36
It's been used around the country.
03:14:38
However, as we look at what our goals as a county and what our goals as a community are going to be in the future, I'll look at you and say, I've voted yes on a lot of special use permits.
03:14:50
That's material fact.
03:14:51
and I've always looked at it from the guys of Lovingston and Schuyler and you know one of those biggest pieces is job creation and I'm speaking towards just my philosophy not the specific project you know if something that creates recurring jobs for my community is a good thing because as many of you know and lots many portions of our community you know there is a need for high-paying jobs
03:15:16
Obviously, this project doesn't really do that.
03:15:19
It creates a one-time economic incident where you've got construction crews coming in, and though that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's not a recurring thing, and I certainly do enjoy having the recurring aspect of that.
03:15:35
that I would rather have.
03:15:37
As I look at the dollars and cents, if I were to seriously just look at you all, you know, this doesn't, it doesn't lower your electric bills.
03:15:45
It doesn't, you know, necessarily protect farmland.
03:15:48
It doesn't do a lot of these things.
03:15:50
It's helping some of the neighbors and I'm happy that they are doing that.
03:15:55
However, as I kind of look at this project and the $20 million
03:16:00
We don't even, as we look at the maneuvering of what potentials the state has and what they're going to take from us.
03:16:09
And as Mr. Parr has said, there have been a lot of conversations about that.
03:16:13
It's not hard to find those articles.
03:16:16
Now, that's not enough of a reason for me to vote yes.
03:16:20
I kind of look at this with a skeptical mind and what the future outlay is going to be with energy.
03:16:26
What is the true answer?
03:16:28
Solar is yes.
03:16:29
I think that's going to be a piece of it and I think it's probably one of the quickest mechanisms that the Commonwealth has to produce energy, but it's not even remotely going to even touch the demand requirements that it needs.
03:16:41
These data centers that are coming into this community, they're swapping up hundreds of megawatts at a time.
03:16:47
Putting into perspective
03:16:49
If this solar facility were just taking care of residency, it would take care of a serious amount of energy needs for our residential purposes.
03:16:56
But as it hits the grid, it's going straight to these data centers.
03:17:00
It's going straight to the cities.
03:17:01
It's going straight to these industrial areas.
03:17:05
And the state has seriously put some pressures on you, the consumer, that I think we're definitely
03:17:13
Not thought through the entire way.
03:17:15
If you thought paying taxes were bad, well just wait until your electric bill is $500 a month.
03:17:20
And I don't necessarily think this solar facility is going to be lowering your electric bill.
03:17:24
It might keep it from hitting a thousand, but man, we're talking about a problem much greater than the one that we here sit at this table can resolve.
03:17:33
I certainly look at this and yeah it does come down to the money and what that means for you know maybe not raising taxes maybe this goes towards some school capital funds maybe this goes towards some pieces of where we want to develop our community that's a maybe and we're talking only three four hundred thousand dollars a year you know that's a drop in the bucket into some pieces of the needs that we have
03:18:00
So as I look at this, I do look at it skeptical.
03:18:04
I do question, you know, of course, I want to say this.
03:18:08
I appreciate my colleagues who have also worked very hard on this topic.
03:18:12
And you all should rest easy knowing that this discussion has been taken very seriously.
03:18:18
And I, of course, you know, I don't normally think especially, but you guys, thank you for the interactions.
03:18:25
Some pieces of the story of what the mass solar is, you guys have taught us something.
03:18:31
Obviously, I do rest a little easier in learning that you have to have those high transmission lines available for a large solar facility to happen, so Nelson County is limited to where these locations happen.
03:18:45
I'm actually extremely grateful for that in the event the state takes the authority away from the local government.
03:18:51
But, you know, I still sit here skeptical about what the true answer is on the energy topic, on what this community needs.
03:19:01
I'll always sit here and tell you I'm going to be pro creating high paying jobs for our kids and our future generations and the generations that we have here today.
03:19:11
And checking that box is probably one of the most important aspects for me into voting on a special use permit.
SPEAKER_08
03:19:21
I too want to thank everybody that spoke on this because you informed us all on the pros and the cons and want to thank my colleagues of course who have done the same and articulated their thoughts and feelings really well and we've added these things around
03:19:49
individually and kind of one-on-one in terms of things.
03:19:58
You know, I started thinking about energy systems in 1979 when I designed my home off the grid, and my wife and I did that.
03:20:08
We took the approach at that time that minimizing your energy needs was the most thoughtful way to build a home, because in doing that, you did for yourself what
03:20:26
You would have used energy to do otherwise and you get to use the energy that you have as opposed to the energy that they have and you won't have to pay for it.
03:20:35
And that's a pretty simplistic way of saying that we wanted to be responsible about where the energy came from and how much of it we used and that we were effective and efficient in terms of what we did with our lives.
03:20:49
And as a teacher I always put that forth when I was teaching physics about energy that those things were very important.
03:20:57
Of course when you're teaching energy you don't get to
03:21:01
Always do that.
03:21:02
I was in a fortunate situation where I could speak directly to students doing energy audits in their homes and figuring out how much energy to their appliances used and how much it cost them to do that.
03:21:17
And it was always enlightening to the students and myself how everyone responded to that.
03:21:25
So I've been thinking about energy and energy systems for a very long time.
03:21:31
For those people that say the system is rigged, I can't agree with you more.
03:21:37
We have a really bad energy model, which was at that time my way of rebelling against what the normal energy generation, almost having a nuclear power plant sited in Nelson County would do to you.
03:21:57
and knowing that the model that we have today, one grid to serve everybody, no redundancy, no opportunity for communities to generate energy on their own behalf, communities that live within their own means to generate energy or focusing on conservation in any way, energy conservation.
03:22:17
It's a bad model, and I think a lot of the responses that we've all had to this has a lot to do with we have a model that is not a good one and not one that really serves individuals or the community ultimately in ways that it could and arguably should.
03:22:38
So if we're stuck with a bad model, what do you do when you have something like this come in front of you?
03:22:46
You know, what would a good model be?
03:22:47
And I think that for individuals to live within their means, I think for individuals to live within their ability to sustain themselves in a healthy and
03:23:00
positive kind of way.
03:23:01
I think for communities to be able to generate and live within their own energy abilities to generate it is a good model, and of course that's not one we have at this point.
03:23:13
The closest we have is a net metering system that they allow us to do in Richmond, which does not really serve the homeowners and the people that do have the ability to generate energy on their own.
03:23:29
You know, but we're in a position where we have to make a choice, and we've got an opportunity here to make a choice, so what the heck's it going to be?
03:23:36
Well, I think first of all, if we know there's a better model out there, and if we know that ultimately the model that we have now has to change
03:23:53
or our grandchildren are going to live and suffer in a world that none of us would want to live in.
03:24:03
I think that we have to make a choice based on what we have and do the very best we can.
03:24:10
So in doing that and acknowledging that I think that
03:24:22
This project is really not a proxy for data centers.
03:24:30
Data centers are their own black hole.
03:24:35
I mean it's one that all of us are connected to in some way.
03:24:40
All of us have to pay the price some way, the costs, to get the benefits that we have become accustomed to because we haven't had much choice except to live in the time where we are and live with what we have.
03:24:54
And I believe that data centers will maybe be one or one of many things that will have to be reined in just realistically.
03:25:09
I don't know how that's going to happen.
03:25:12
Other people are going to have to make those types of decisions.
03:25:15
But the kind of decisions we can make have to do with us being able to live within our means and doing what serves the county.
03:25:22
And the greatest coincidence with this model was that 90 megawatts can power our entire county now with plenty left over.
03:25:33
And that was something, when that first came up, that was, well,
03:25:40
Why don't we power ourselves and serve the county with what that is?
03:25:46
Well, of course the model that we have doesn't allow that to happen.
03:25:50
It's a different model that we've got to work with.
03:25:55
What are things going to look like in the future?
03:25:57
Well, I know that things are going to have to change.
03:25:59
There's going to have to be redundancy.
03:26:01
Communities are going to have to be more involved in
03:26:06
both the generation and the use of the amount of energy that they have.
03:26:10
There's just no question.
03:26:11
In my mind, that's going to happen.
03:26:13
But I may not live that long to actually see that happen.
03:26:17
But I do believe that's going to happen and that's why I thought that it was a great idea for us to be able to have the right of first refusal on this at the end of 40 years because in the event that would happen that could possibly give us an asset that could fit a good model if one does exist at that time.
03:26:38
Whose job is it to create a good model?
03:26:41
Well, it's all of ours.
03:26:42
It's the people in Richmond.
03:26:43
It's the people in the federal government.
03:26:44
It's us.
03:26:46
But not only to have a good model, but the steps that we take along the way, we have to make sure that those can feed a good model as opposed to only feeding a bad one.
03:27:00
And I also believe that making a decision on something
03:27:07
keep you from having to ever pay attention to it again because if we approve this tonight, and I'm going to vote that we do.
03:27:22
It's going to mean that the decision that we make today means that we're going to have to continue being responsible to make sure we do have a good model that this can at some time fit into and that the model that we have becomes a better one.
03:27:36
And we can do that as individuals.
03:27:37
We can do that with groups we are a part of, with communities, with our board, with the state.
03:27:44
We can do that at all these different levels.
03:27:46
I've played those games at all those different levels.
03:27:48
I know what they're like.
03:27:49
I know it's like beating your head against the wall.
03:27:52
When you make a decision, you have a responsibility to live that decision, and I think that if we're able to make a commitment to a better model and a better future, then I can approve this despite all the costs involved with it, and they are many, that
03:28:16
at least give us something positive that we can hang our hat on and work towards that can serve both the community and the individuals in it and beyond.
03:28:27
I'll welcome any more comments from anybody that would like to add anything or make a motion.
03:28:57
In the absence of other board members making a motion, I would make one.
SPEAKER_05
03:29:11
Dylan, you have a comment?
03:29:14
Thank you.
03:29:16
Just since I know you're going to make a motion to approve, I have some language to add amended to the conditions if you want to limit the special use permit to expire on the 40th anniversary of the commercial operation date.
SPEAKER_08
03:29:44
Well, I will make a motion.
03:29:47
to approve the
03:30:10
And actually, before I do this, Ms. Parr and Dr. Ligon, thank you so much for all the hard work that you guys put into this and Jesse for bringing all the resources that you have to help inform us as well.
03:30:24
It was a lot, and I'm glad it was you guys doing that.
03:30:30
Anyway.
SPEAKER_08
03:30:31
I would like to make a motion that we approve Special Use Permit 24-0014 Large Solar Energy System Wild Rose Solar Project with the amendment that the SUP shall expire on the 40th anniversary of the commercial operating date unless otherwise extended by the Board of Supervisors, which is the language that Dylan suggests.
SPEAKER_04
03:31:04
I'll second it.
SPEAKER_08
03:31:07
OK, we have a motion and a second.
03:31:08
Is there any further discussion?
03:31:10
Anyone would like to contribute to our decision?
03:31:18
Amanda?
SPEAKER_04
03:31:22
Dr. Legan?
03:31:23
Yes.
03:31:24
Mr. Rutherford?
SPEAKER_07
03:31:25
No.
SPEAKER_04
03:31:26
Mr. Parr?
SPEAKER_07
03:31:26
Yes.
SPEAKER_04
03:31:27
Mr. Reed?
SPEAKER_08
03:31:28
Yes.
03:31:38
We have the proposed siding agreement before us as well.
03:31:47
The siding agreement has been proposed and submitted and we have the current version of that.
03:32:01
So I assume that ultimately we need a motion to accept the siding agreement.
03:32:06
I would like to
03:32:09
I'll open that for discussion for anyone that would like to, whatever hasn't been already discussed in terms of the signing agreement, if they have anything to add to it.
SPEAKER_07
03:32:28
There aren't any changes that we've made that need to be reflected in the signing agreement, are there?
03:32:33
No, that's completely separate, okay.
SPEAKER_04
03:32:40
When it comes to the scholarship, if it were more than one student and we split it up, how it's written now that's allowed, does that make sense?
03:32:57
It does say one or more students.
SPEAKER_08
03:33:12
Any further questions or clarifications?
SPEAKER_07
03:33:18
And that scholarship is selected at the discretion of the county and Wild Road Solar Project LLC for their designee.
03:33:28
So we will have input in that as a locality.
SPEAKER_08
03:33:34
I don't think it specifies a process that we'll have to figure that one out.
SPEAKER_07
03:33:47
OK, would anyone like to make a motion?
03:33:51
Well, we've done it now.
03:33:55
And I will hang my hat on the dollar amount a little bit.
03:34:00
So I move that we approve the proposed siting agreement, large solar energy system, wild rose solar, as presented.
SPEAKER_04
03:34:10
I'll second.
SPEAKER_08
03:34:12
OK, we have a motion and a second.
03:34:13
Any further discussion on the siting agreement?
03:34:18
OK, Amanda?
SPEAKER_03
03:34:21
Dr. Ligon?
03:34:22
Yes.
03:34:22
Mr. Rutherford?
SPEAKER_08
03:34:23
No.
SPEAKER_03
03:34:24
Mr. Parr?
SPEAKER_08
03:34:25
Yes.
03:34:25
Mr. Reed?
03:34:26
Yes.
03:34:31
OK, the other item listed here is the Wildrose appeal for the Planning Commission determination that
03:34:44
that the proposal was not concurrent with our comprehensive plan?
SPEAKER_05
03:34:50
By approving the special use permit that already automatically appealed the planning commission's, or I'm sorry, overturned the planning commission's determination.
SPEAKER_08
03:34:59
Okay, so there's no action.
03:35:00
Correct.
03:35:01
We need to take a decision.
03:35:02
That's correct.
03:35:03
Okay.
03:35:03
Thank you, Dylan.
03:35:04
You're welcome.
03:35:08
Very much.
03:35:09
Okay.
03:35:10
Any other business to take up this evening?
SPEAKER_20
03:35:16
I did get an answer on the lights in that Lovingston area.
03:35:22
For three lights it's $12 each.
03:35:24
They'll install for free.
03:35:26
I'll send Candy the email.
SPEAKER_04
03:35:28
$12 a month?
SPEAKER_20
03:35:29
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04
03:35:32
Per light.
SPEAKER_20
03:35:34
And I'm thinking two to three.
03:35:37
OK.
03:35:37
But February, I'll get up so they can talk to AP people.
03:35:40
Fair enough.
SPEAKER_08
03:35:40
But I just wanted to bring that up.
03:35:42
OK.
03:35:42
Thank you.
03:35:43
Thank you.
03:35:44
OK.
03:35:44
I will recognize a motion to adjourn.
SPEAKER_15
03:35:49
So moved.
SPEAKER_08
03:35:50
Second.
03:35:51
OK. Motion and a second.
03:35:53
Amanda?
03:35:56
Yes.
03:35:57
Yes.
03:35:59
Yes.
03:36:01
Yes.
03:36:02
Yes.