06-1-2023 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 FIRST DAY OF JUNE IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND AND
TWENTY-THREE
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
William M. McCarty, District 2, Chairman
Joel C. Acree, District 4, Vice -Chairman
Richard L. Grice, District 1
Don G. Rosie, II, District 5
Rudolph Jefferson, District 3
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman McCarty called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m.
INVOCATION
Gerald H. Gwaltney, Commissioner of Revenue, delivered the invocation and led
the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman McCarty called for a public hearing on the following Ordinance to Set the
Tax Rate.
County Attorney Jones advised that the public hearing is on the effective tax rate
increase which is necessary because the increase is greater than 1% due to the
recent real estate reassessment and to adopt the County's tax rates with the
exception of the personal property which was set earlier this year.
Chairman McCarty opened the public hearing and called for persons to speak in
favor of or in opposition to the proposed Ordinance.
Gerald H. Gwaltney, Commissioner of Revenue, showed a PowerPoint presentation
providing the final reassessment results which revealed a 34% increase in residential
properties; a 26% increase in multi -family properties; and, an 11% increase in
commercial properties. His presentation concluded with a review of the tax relief
program for the elderly and disabled.
Herb DeGroft of District 5 spoke in favor of tax relief for the elderly and disabled
and of the Board reducing the tax rate from $.85 to $.71. He further requested the
Board to consider reducing the tax rate even further to $.66.
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Ralph Caldwell of Woodcreek Lane requested the tax rate be reduced to $.66 range.
Dean Jones of Walters notified the Board that his property experienced an increase
of 58%.
Andrea Margrave of the Newport District referred to the slide shown by the
Commissioner of Revenue illustrating that the County has experienced a 28%+
increase in its tax base and suggested that it be used to offset the tax rate.
Chairman McCarty closed the public hearing.
The following budgetary achievements by the County were noted: No tax rate
change in the last eight years; the last tax rate decrease was in FY2008; the utility
subsidy was down $1.7 million since FY2016; there has been a $10 million savings
since 2017; and $400 thousand was returned to the local economy by way of COVID
gift certificates.
Supervisor Grice motioned to adopt the following Ordinance to Set the Tax Rates
with $.71 for Real Estate and increase the Machinery tax rate to $1.95 with all other
taxes remaining flat:
AN ORDINANCE TO IMPOSE TAX RATES FOR ISLE OF
WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA FOR
FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024
BE IT AND IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Isle of Wight, Virginia, to -wit:
Section 1: That there is hereby levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023,
a tax of $0.71 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation on all
taxable real estate, and all real and personal property of public
service corporations in accordance with Section 58.1-2606 of the
Code of Virginia (1950, as amended).
Section 2: That there is hereby levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023,
a tax of $1.95 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation on
machinery and tools used in businesses as defined in Section 58.1-
3507 of the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended).
Section 3: That there is hereby levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023,
a tax of $1.00 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of
boats, watercraft and aircraft as defined in Section 58.1-3606 of the
Code of Virginia (1950, as amended).
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Section 4: That there is hereby levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023,
a tax of $0.32 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation on
watercraft, including vessels and ships, weighing five tons or more,
excluding privately owned pleasure boats and watercraft used for
recreational purposes only.
Section 5: That there is hereby levied for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023,
a tax of one-half (1/2) of one percent (1%) of the gross receipts on
telephone and telegraph companies, water companies, heat, light
and power companies, except electric suppliers, gas utilities and gas
suppliers as defined in Section 58.1-400.2 of the Code of Virginia
(1950, as amended) and pipeline distribution companies as defined
in Section 58.1-2600 of said Code, accruingfrom sales to the ultimate
consumer in the County of Isle of Wight, Virginia, pursuant to Section
58.1-3731 of the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended), however, in
the case of telephone companies, charges for long distance
telephone calls shall not be included in gross receipts for purposes of
license taxation.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this Ordinance be entered in the Minutes of this
Board of Supervisors and that a copy thereof by the Clerk of this Board, be
furnished to the Treasurer of this County.
The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors McCarty, Acree,
Grice, Jefferson and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting
against the motion.
The Board took a short break and returned to open session.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
Under the County Administrator's report, under the subject of Ordinance
Amendments to the Ordinance to the Isle of Wight Code of Ordinances
Following an overview of the County's current Ordinance by County Attorney Jones
regarding the discharging of firearms, Chairman McCarty requested information
related to who will be inspecting berms and how they are inspected and monitored.
He requested the Board members to contact the County Attorney with their
comments and questions and that, in the meantime, the County Attorney continue
his research.
Following an overview of current prohibited uses and types of residential use in the
Isle of Wight County Zoning Ordinance under restrictions on recreational vehicles,
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County Attorney Jones advised that the act of visiting is not determined as a
residence, but at what point it stops being temporary and becomes permanent
needs to be defined. He advised there is no prohibition of a homeowner camping
with tents on their property, but running a campground without the necessary
permits is not permitted. Short-term and temporary needs to be defined and he
offered to provide the Board with the definitions of RVs and mobile homes and how
tiny homes are classified. In the meantime, Board members should contact the
County Attorney with any comments/questions.
Regarding Airbnbs, County Attorney Jones provided a PowerPoint presentation
illustrating the language proposed in the past for short-term rentals and the
language which has been added. It was his recommendation that because it has
been such a long time since the matter was last discussed that the proper recourse
would be to return the matter to the Planning Commission for public hearing with
the amendments to include any additional comments by the Board. He further
showed the Board proposed language regarding livestock and dogs running at large
under Animal Control.
The potential need to hire additional employees to manage Airbnbs was brought
up and the Board was advised that Airbnbs can be managed within current staffing
levels. There was general discussion regarding the safety of renters; law
enforcement will need to keep a closer eye on those properties; the creation of a
grant to assist with the cost of a business license, the cost of a zoning permit and
the cost to annually check it. Staff advised that it could be structured so that a one-
time zoning permit is charged and a renewal and inspection would be done every
year thereafter. The Board was further apprised that there is not language
prohibiting camping on private property. Board members were requested to
contact the County Attorney with any comments.
Supervisor Jefferson recommended that notifications to adjoining neighbors be a
requirement associated with Airbnbs.
Vice -Chairman Acree moved to appoint Gibby Dowdy to serve as the Town of
Smithfield's representative on the Energy Task Force. The motion was adopted
unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors McCarty, Acree, Grice, Jefferson and Rosie
voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the motion.
Supervisor Grice notified the Board that the County facility being provided to Camp
Community College at no charge, to include utilities, is not being utilized. He
reported that a meeting had been recently held between representatives of Camp
Community College and County staff regarding how the facility is being utilized and
he recommended that the Board direct the County Attorney to provide notice of
termination.
Supervisor Grice moved that County Attorney Jones be instructed to provide notice
to the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Camp Community
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College of termination of the lease agreement, effective June 30, 2024. The motion
was adopted unanimously (5-0) with Supervisors McCarty, Acree, Grice, Jefferson
and Rosie voting in favor of the motion and no Supervisors voting against the
motion.
County Administrator Keaton notified the Board of a meeting with WaWa
representatives at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2023 in the County
Administrator's Conference Room. He was requested to send notice of said
meeting to the Board members.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:05 p.m., Chairman McCarty declared the work session adjourned.
Carey Mils Storm, Clerk
William M. M rty, Sr., Chairman
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