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08-27-1997 Continued Meeting I~ ~o~~ 1? r~~:.3~~ CONTINUED MEETINGS OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE WINDSOR TOWN. COUNCIL HELD THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE .YEAR NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY SEVEN PRESENT: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: Henry H. Bradby, Chairman. Robert C. Claud, Sr., Vice Chairman O. A. Spady . Malcolm T. Cofer Phillip A. Bradshaw 1 WINDSOR TOWN COUNCIL Wesley F. Garris, Mayor J. Edward Hall, ChairmanBoundary Adjustment Committee H. Cecil Eley, Jr. Marvin A. Crocker, Jr. Shelton A. Spivey William L. Jones Wesley Ray Holland Cari E. Eason, Jr., Attorney Also Attending: H. Woodrow Crook, Jr., County Attorney W. Douglas Caskey, County Administrator Carey H. Mills, Recording Secretary Chairman Bradby called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. // Mayor Garris stated the purpose of the joint meeting between the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors and the Windsor Town Council is to discuss a proposed boundary adjustment, to share. information between the Town of Windsor and the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors, and to listen to comments from the. public concerning the proposed boundary line adjustment. // i~ Attorney Eason stated the purpose of the meeting is for the Town of Windsor to provide information to the citizens about the Town's consideration of a proposed boundary adjustment that the Town of Windsor has been considering over the past several months. Attorney Eason stated the Windsor Town Council and the Board of Supervisors want to hear the comments and concerns of its citizens. Attorney Eason stated the joint meeting tonight provides an opportunity for the Windsor Town Council and the Board of Supervisors to meet to discuss between themselves the issues and concerns of both parties, the differences, and 1 8o0K ~7 ~;,,:- 3f3~ how they can be resolved. Attorney Eason stated this is not an annexation issue being discussed as annexation is the moving of properties. from one jurisdiction- to another and no property is being proposed to be taken from the. County. Rather, the purpose tonight is to allow the Windsor Town Council and the Board of Supervisors to listen to citizens' comments and, based on those comments, study the issues involved. Lastly, the Windsor Town Council will present a proposal to the Board of Supervisors as it relates to this boundary adjustment process. Attorney Eason stated the Town of Windsor, in its ninety-five (95) years, has never increased its boundary lines and has been stagnant in its ability to develop because there is not that much land in which development can take place. Attorney Eason stated without growth in the .Town of Windsor, the Town of Windsor will deteriorate. Attorney Eason stated with the recent installation of HRSD lines and the County's creation of a central sewer collection system for the Town of Windsor, residential, commercial and. industrial growth is anticipated. Attorney Eason stated developers are now discovering Western Tidewater and desiring to build developments throughout the area. Attorney ...Eason stated the County feels commercial and industrial growth will follow and the Towrr of Windsor must be prepared to manage and control this anticipated growth. Attorney Eason stated the Windsor Town Council feels that growth will occur outside the existing boundaries of the Town of Windsor and a boundary line adjustment is necessary to protect what is existing, as well as the residents of the Town of Windsor. Attorney Eason stated as development occurs, its property owners will reap benefits without having to be involved. Attorney Eason stated by expanding the boundary lines you can spread out on a per capita basis and it will help infrastructure grow within the Town of Windsor. Attorney Eason stated the Town of Windsor envisions the eastern portion of the expansion area as .being the .area for commercial growth over the next several years. Attorney Eason stated to the north, residential growth is anticipated; to the west, potential commercial and industrial growth is anticipated; and, to the south, commercial and industrial growth is also anticipated. Attorney Eason stated that while there will be an increase in property taxes, there will be substantial offsets and savings, i.e., refuse collection will be available, BPOL taxes will be lower, water rates will be lowered, and there will be lower purchase prices of burial lots. Attorney Eason stated the Town of Windsor will be better able to determine how properties are managed and developed and the citizens will have more ability to control the life around them. Attorney Eason concluded his. comments stating that Windsor Town Council members have concerns that as elected officials for the Town of Windsor that they .have a duty to make sure there is a delicate- balance. Attorney Eason opened the floor for comments from the public. Attorney .Eason noted the purpose of the meeting tonight is not to answer questions, but. to hear and listen to the concerns of the public. Billy Gwaltney, Deer Path Trail, proposed the following four (4) questions to the Board of Supervisors and the Windsor Town Council: 2 800K' 1Tr~t;'~•7J 1. What will the Town of Windsor be able to provide in the future that it currently does not? 1 2. Regarding his peanut and. shelling operation located in the Town of Windsor, what will be his proposed tax situation? 3. What kind of impact will buying cattle for his farm have on him? 4. What services will he receive for becoming. a part of the County? Attorney Eason stated these questions relate to policy questions that will have to be discussed later. John Atwood, Hidden Acres Subdivision, stated thus far he has only seen an increase in his taxes and, if this is all he can expect, then he is not in favor of a boundary line adjustment. Mr. Atwood stated he only sees the County providing services for him at this point.. Mr. Atwood .stated he hopes a referendum will be brought before the public prior to any action taken by the Windsor Town Council and Board of Supervisors. Mr. Atwood requested the County's representatives fight against the proposed boundary line adjustment. Betty Alphin, East Windsor Boulevard, stated she is a property owner on Route 610. Ms. Alphin stated she opened a business in 1957 which she ran until 1977 and the Town of Windsor has been supportive and helpful throughout this period of time. Ms. Alphin stated she will support whatever. the Town of Windsor proposes. Durwood Scott, Shirley Drive, stated he owns a business in the Town of Windsor and lives in the County. Mr. Scott stated the Town of Windsor needs to grow and the present boundaries are limited. Mr. Scott stated growth must be around the Town. of Windsor and a boundary adjustment will bring unity. Mr. Scott stated the Town of Windsor appears to be business friendly and revenue would enable the Town of Windsor to meet the needs of its citizens. 1 Harold Bowden, Hidden Acres Subdivision, stated he moved from the Denbigh area of Newport News where he had street lights, and curb and gutter. Mr. Bowden. stated he is currently paying $4.40 per $100 for personal property taxes and the proposal will raise that tax $.27 to $4.67. per $100. Mr. Bowden stated this amount is higher than the City of Newport News which i currently $4.15. Mr. Bowden stated the proposed boundary line adjustment should be brought to a vote of the people it will affect, as this is the democratic way. Wilson Holland, South Johnson Avenue, stated he would be in favor of a boundary line adjustment as he would like to have trash collection. Chairman Bradby opened the floor for discussion between the Windsor Town Council and the Board of Supervisors. 3 ene~ 17 ;x•-400 Council member Holland stated the Windsor Town Council has to continue to provide help to the County to provide services to: the citizens of Windsor. Council member Holland stated the .Town of Windsor initiated a survey in 1989/1990 and residents. were most concerned with police protection and emergency services (fire and rescue). Council member Holland stated the Town of Windsor contributes to fire and rescue and all these things come about through a cooperative effort. Supervisor Claud stated he is aware of the needs of the Town of Windsor. Supervisor Claud stated he believes the need for some boundary adjustment is in .keeping with the needs of the entire community and he would like to take the comments received from citizens tonight, evaluate them, and get back with the Town of Windsor in an effort to resolve these issues. Council member Spivey stated he agreed. with comments by several citizens tonight on tax issues. Council member Spivey stated the Town of Windsor implemented a meals tax this year and that, while the actual figures are yet to be determined, the Town of Windsor anticipates an additional $75,000 to $80,000. Council member Spivey stated the Town of Windsor is in need of extra funds to do different projects and he hopes that in the future the Town of .Windsor can lower its real estate tax rate. Mayor Garris stated without additional revenue the Town of Windsor .cannot do the things that need to be done and the Town of Windsor cannot continue to support fire and rescue as done in the past. Mayor Garris stated the comments made by citizens tonight will be evaluated in the near future. County Attorney Crook stated the attitude between the Town of Windsor and the Board of Supervisors is the best that the Board of Supervisors has ever had in the County. County Attorney Crook warned that everyone must keep in mind that the County does not lose any of its expenses. County Attorney Crook stated the County still has to provide for schools, but the County will lose revenue. County Attorney Crook stated a boundary line adjustment is just another word for annexation. County Attorney Crook stated if a boundary line adjustment takes place, the County must have revenue to offset its expenses. County Attorney Crook stated we must share revenue to offset any loss. County Attorney Crook stated the Town of Windsor can provide services like street lights and curb and gutter, but the County still must ,educate the Town of Windsor's children. County Attorney Croak stated the process begins first with determining how citizens in the area feel about annexation, what compensation will the County receive to offset loss of revenue, and the area to be annexed must be determined. County Attorney Crook stated then the Board of Supervisors and the Windsor Town Council can talk with the citizens.. Lastly, the Board of Supervisors has its accountants and financial experts determine the anticipated losses, stated County Attorney Crook. Supervisor Bradshaw stated his concern is that we are all citizens of Isle 4 11 1 .: 1 1 1 eoo~ ~ 17 r~~40i of Wight County and the Board of Supervisors is trying to improve the quality of life for all citizens in the County.. Expenses are not going away, they are increasing, stated Supervisor Bradshaw. // Supervisor Cofer moved the Board adjourn its. joint meeting between the Windsor Town Council and the Board of Supervisors at 7:40 p.m. The motion was adopted unanimously (5-0). enry H. Bradby, Chairm n W. Doug as skey, Cler