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07-12-2018 Committee MeetingBOARD OF SUPERVISORS' WINDSOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE WINDSOR TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT THE WINDSOR RURITAN BUILDING, 14 COMMUNITY DRIVE, WINDSOR, VIRGINIA, THE TWENTIETH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHTEEN Present for Isle of Wight: Rudolph Jefferson, Board of Supervisor, Chairman William M. McCarty, Board of Supervisor, Vice Chairman Don Rosie, Board of Supervisor Richard Grice, Board of Supervisor Joel C. Acree, Board of Supervisor Randy Keaton, County Administrator Don Robertson, Assistant County Administrator Chris Morello, Interim Director of Economic Development Present for EDA: Ronald H. Pack, Chairman Carroll Keen, Jr., Vice Chairman Len Alphin Richard J. (Dick) Holland, Jr. Present for Windsor: Mayor Carita J. Richardson Vice Mayor Durwood V. Scott Councilman N. Macon Edwards, III Councilman Greg Willis Councilwoman Patty Flemming Councilman Tony Ambrose Chief Rodney Riddle At 10:00 a.m., Chairman Jefferson opened the meeting for the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors; Mayor Richardson opened the meeting for the Windsor Town Council; and, Chairman Pack opened the meeting for the Isle of Wight County Economic Development Authority. Regarding the location of a proposed youth development center in the County, County Administrator Keaton reviewed the timeline for the proposed project. He reported that in December of 2017, the County was advised that the State was in the process of developing a youth development center in the City of Chesapeake which was defeated due to the lack of a super majority vote to transfer the property from the City to the State. Andrew Block, Director, Department of Juvenile Justice, presented a PowerPoint presentation and briefed the Town and County officials on details regarding the facility and its operations. He stated that the proposed GO -bed residential facility will house youth ages 14-21 with the majority convicted of crimes such as assaults, burglaries, larcenies and robberies. He said the State is looking to develop a new model for youth detention that features a smaller facility closer to family and focuses on academic and vocational education and athletics, in addition to treatment and counseling. He said it was the ability to provide easier access to families that led to Isle 1 of Wight County becoming the desired location, as the youth that will be in detention will be from the Hampton Roads area. He said the facility is the first of its kind in the State and will have updated security infrastructure as well as a fence to keep the youth from escaping. Responsive to Councilman Ambrose's inquiry regarding who would be responsible for funding the transportation for the facility, Mr. Block responded funding for transportation will come from the agency operating fund. Responsive to Councilwoman Flemming's expressed concern with younger juveniles being integrated with the older juveniles, Mr. Block responded that younger juveniles will be housed in alternative settings in cottages and their own education programs. Councilman Edwards said the initial discussion indicated that the facility would be located along Route 258 which has an easier access to the proposed facility. He expressed concerns with increased traffic at the six -way intersection in the Town of Windsor and on Buckhorn Drive if this facility is in that area. He inquired if a traffic study will be conducted and improvements be made to the six -way intersection and Buckhorn Drive due to the increased traffic. Mr. Block advised that the Department of General Services would be responsible for making decisions regarding a traffic study and improvements. He explained that traffic may marginally increase from visitation days on Wednesdays and Sundays, at employee shift changes and visits from parole officers and service providers, but with input from the local government, the State will be mindful regarding these issues when the location and design work begins. Vice Chairman McCarty commented that the traffic impact of a 60-bed facility with 240 employees would have no comparison to the 300 employees working multiple shifts and hundreds of trucks entering and exiting at the Cost -Plus World Market facility. Councilman Edwards commented that employees and trucks entering and exiting at the Cost -Plus World Market facility would not be entering and exiting at the six -way intersection located directly within the Town and traveling down Buckhorn Drive which is a narrow road with sharp curves. Vice Chairman McCarty advised that the Western Tidewater Regional Jail houses 1,070 beds and Superintendent Smith, who lives in Windsor, has advised that there has been no major safety issues during his tenure at the Jail and that Superintendent Smith asked him to convey to the citizens and to the local government officials that he would be the first to speak against the youth development center if he had any concerns with safety. Mayor Richardson commented that when Council first heard of this project in December 2017, there were numerous positives presented which included 2 extending water and sewer service to Phase III of the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park with the assistance of State funding. She said this could possibly bring in more industry and businesses to the area and create a larger tax base for citizens, the Town and the County; however, because of a wetlands issue, there may not be sufficient dry land approved by the Army Corp of Engineers on the site to draw industry after the 20 acres are donated for the facility. Mr. Block advised that if these sites are not workable, the State will pursue other sites in Isle of Wight County. Mayor Richardson also expressed concerns with increased traffic at the six - way intersection within the Town and the narrow two-lane road if the Buckhorn location is approved. She said if this site is selected, the State needs to be prepared to make these roads safe and accessible due to the increased traffic generated by this facility. Mayor Richardson commented that the Marshall Project Study indicates that the promise of local jobs is not always the case and that most employees working in professional positions at a detention center live in suburban areas. Mayor Richardson commented that when she was first approached about this project, she had advised the County that she would keep an open mind until additional information was received; however, she now believes that this may not be the right location for this facility and that it would be better located somewhere near Route 10 in the County where the facility would be closer to Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk and Norfolk due to the proposed wetlands issues, the need for improvements to the six -way intersection and to Buckhorn Drive, the promise of 240 local jobs, transportation and possible decreases in property values. Mayor Richardson clarified that the intent of the letter sent by Council to Delegate Emily Brewer in April 2018 was to support keeping funding for the facility in the State's 2018-19 budget and was based on preliminary information. Chairman Jefferson commented that there are residential neighborhoods within 100 yards of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk. He stated locating the facility in Windsor would provide employment opportunities for local college graduates and additional revenue for the Town and the County. Supervisor Rosie commented that community programs and local churches could become involved with the facility. Responsive to Dick Holland, County Administrator Keaton explained that the property is owned by the Economic Development Authority (EDA); therefore, approval is only needed by the EDA. He advised that the State budget has given authorization to build the facility in the County and that the wetlands, 3 site location and water and sewer availability issues remain to be worked out. He advised that the State is not subject to local zoning laws. Responsive to Mr. Willis inquiry if the facility will need to utilize any services from the school system and what would the State do to protect the public perception of the community, Mr. Block said the facility will have its own teachers employed by the State. Chief Riddle expressed his concerns regarding the classification of the inmates and the impact the facility may have on his agency and its resources. Mr. Block explained that this facility does not have classifications like an adult prison. He said the facility will need to use minimal resources from the Town and County, but that the State Police will handle most issues. Len Alphin, EDA, questioned the recidivism percentages for a 5-year period for those inmates who have been released and will reenter the system again. Mr. Block advised that statistics have shown approximately 70% of youths who have been released from a detention facility have been arrested again within three years and that this new facility will hopefully decrease those numbers. Responsive to Mr. Alphin's inquiry if there would be another meeting prior to approval and if any other localities were being considered for this facility, Mr. Block replied that no other localities are being considered for this facility and that he believes the County intends to conduct public information meetings in the future. Responsive to Mr. Holland's inquiry if the State would have considered this site if it would have to purchase it and if $500,000 had not been offered for water and sewer, Mr. Block advised that the State would have considered this site regardless of how it was acquired as it was looking for sites in Hampton Roads. Assistant County Administrator Robertson requested citizens interested in receiving further information about the facility to sign up on the sheet being distributed. County Administrator Keaton advised that legislation states that the facility will be built in the County, but that no specific site has been picked yet. He advised that a public information meeting will be held at the Windsor High School for the public to ask questions and have their concerns addressed. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m. OjoLq�(,�L S�km�- Carey M I Storha, Clerk RX" AwwD Rudolph Jefferson, Chairman n