6-4-2020 Work SessionWORK SESSION OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD IN
THE ROBERT C. CLAUD, SR. BOARD ROOM OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY
COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 17090 MONUMENT CIRCLE, ISLE OF WIGHT, VIRGINIA
ON THURSDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND
TWENTY
PRESENT:
Joel C. Acree, Windsor District, Chairman
Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District, Vice Chairman (Via Telephone from 415
Muirfield in Smithfield, Virginia following the invocation)
Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District
William M. McCarty, Newport District
Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk (Via Video)
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Acree called the work session of the Board of Supervisors to order at
6:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA/AMENDMENTS
Supervisor McCarty moved that the agenda be approved as presented. The
motion was adopted unanimously (4-0) with Supervisors Acree, McCarty,
Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and Vice Chairman Grice absent
for the vote.
Josh Jacob, Smithfield Baptist Church, delivered the invocation and led the Pledge
of Allegiance to the American Flag of the United States of America.
County Attorney Jones advised that under State code and the Board's By-laws, a
Board member can participate remotely in a meeting if a quorum is assembled and
if the member has requested and notified the Chairman that he/she wishes to
appear remotely%electronically. He advised that Vice Chairman Grice will be
participating electronically due to a medical condition which requires no Board
vote for him to participate remotely but does require him to state the remote
location from which he is participating.
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Vice -Chairman Grice advised that he would be participating electronically from
his home located at 415 Muirfield in Smithfield, Virginia due to a medical
condition. He thereafter joined the meeting.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
County Attorney Jones presented a request for the lease renewal of the County -
owned water tower with T -Mobile USA, Inc. located at 22097 Brewer's Neck
Boulevard in Carrollton to extend for a period of five years with an additional three
five-year term options.
The consensus of the Board was for County Attorney Jones to move forward with
advertising a public hearing for the Board's June 18, 2020 meeting on the proposed
lease renewal.
County Administrator Keaton was requested to provide a list of carriers on other
towers in the County.
Amy Ring, Director of Community Development, provided a briefing on the
purpose and associated design requirements of the County's three Development
Service Districts contained in the Comprehensive Plan, an overall policy document
which is updated every five years and based upon the community's priorities of
what they want their community to look like and desired services in the community
in the future which is used by staff as a guide to make future land use decisions.
Ms. Ring educated the Board on the history of The Crossings development
approved in 2002 advising that although it has been eighteen years since that
development's approval, the developer retains the right to develop the property as
it was originally approved in 2002. She stated that the developers of the
development are currently in the process of putting in a series of stormwater ponds
to serve that development and the new intersection and road improvements that
VDOT will begin in the next several months. She advised that the development is
approved for a maximum of up to 240 multi -family, however, they were only able
to fit 210 due to site conditions unique to that site.
The Board concurred that the public should be reeducated about The Crossings
development due to it being eighteen years later after its approval.
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Ms. Ring provided an overview of the County's septic tank pump -out program
required under State law that all localities implement a program requiring all septic
tank owners to pump out their tanks every five years. She advised that staff
annually sends out 1,200 notices to property owners who return a copy of their
receipt to the County following the pump out of their septic tanks.
Ms. Ring offered to investigate if there are any grant programs available for those
residents with limited funds.
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David Smith, Director of Parks and Recreation, updated the Board on the process
associated with opening the Blackwater River park property to the public.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson provided the history behind the
acquisition of the property which was purchased by the County with the intention
of developing a park facility.
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Following a break, a report was provided by Assistant County Administrator
Robertson on the Adopt -a -Highway Program.
Tony Wilson, Public Works Administrator, addressed the Board regarding supplies
provided by the County for trash pick-up along County roadways.
Responsive to Supervisor McCarty's expressed desire of Healing Waters Church to
pick up trash along Smith's Neck Road, Mr. Wilson offered to put together a kit
for distribution to Healing Waters Church.
The accumulation of trash along Route 620 at the transfer site was discussed and
Mr. Wilson advised that the Western Tidewater Regional Jail workforce has been
suspended due to COVID-19 but will resume following the pandemic.
County Administrator Keaton offered to speak with the Director of the
Southeastern Public Service Authority to see if assistance can be provided with
litter pickup along the Route 620 corridor.
The Board received a briefing by Mr. Wilson regarding ongoing renovation efforts
at the Old Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
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Assistant County Administrator Robertson updated the Board on the E-911 tower
in Rushmere which should be complete by the end of this calendar year.
Don Jennings, Director of Utility Services, addressed the Board concerning
potential reductions for water connection fees for new customers. He asked for the
Board's direction in whether to increase the current 50% reduction rate and extend
the time period from ninety days to six months.
Chairman Acree inquired if there might be a potential opportunity for commercial
properties to partner with the Economic Development Authority in the
development of grants to assist with connection costs. Mr. Jennings offered to
investigate.
Chairman Acree inquired if there is potential for development in the private
industrial park should the County be willing to partner with them. Mr. Jennings
responded that users have been turned away in the past because of the lack of
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volume to provide water for fire protection. Mr. Jennings was requested to provide
a list of those businesses that may have come to that industrial park had there been
water for fire suppression.
Vice -Chairman Grice recommended that for those who wish to tap and use
metered water, it should be a certain discount and if they are interested in just
paying for the tap, they can get a discount at this time, but not as much of a
discount.
Mr. Jennings advised the Board regarding scheduling impacts associated with the
County's project on Route 10, noting that Phase 1 will be complete and ready to
serve the County by June 15, 2020. He advised that the County's waterline should
be complete by that time and the City of Suffolk's line is already in place.
Supervisor McCarty asked Mr. Jennings what is the potential number of customers
and suggested he calculate the revenue (payback) amounts by multiplying the
average usage and report back on revenue (payback) amounts. Mr. Jennings
offered to research how many people are within the Development Service Districts
where there is available water, but the potential customer has not yet connected.
Mr. Jennings offered to prepare a letter with two options, the first option would be
for customers desiring to utilize water now and the second option would be for
customers desiring to wait. He was requested to prepare cost sceneries and to
bring back to the Board a list of those property owners within the Development
Service Districts that could connect, but have not done so to date.
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Assistant County Administrator Robertson addressed the Board regarding the
creation of a Broadband task force and disseminated an outline of what the task
force might look like consisting of a combination of staff, Board members, citizens
and several suggested goal/objectives.
Vice -Chairman Grice recommended that staff meet with Delegate Brewer to find
out what grants are available. He mentioned that Surry County has been successful
in obtaining grants.
Assistant County Administrator Robertson advised that Surry County committed to
local funding which enabled them to leverage additional funding from Prince
George County and Federal and State governments. He advised that there are
limited grant opportunities available, however, staff will find out on June 16, 2020
on the parameters by which CARES Act funding can be utilized to expand
broadband. He stated staff is hoping to partner with both Charter and Prince
George County to pursue funding in this round of grant application. The task force
will be helpful moving forward to look at other areas not as readily identified.
The Board members are to have suggested names of individuals to serve on the
Task Force at its June 18, 2020 meeting.
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ADJOURNMENT
At 9:15 p.m., Chairman Acree declared the work session adjourned.
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• Joel C. Acree, Chairm
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for , Clerk