e
oh I was
holler
e
testing
e
good let's good afternoon
I'm
sorry good afternoon everyone can you
pleas have a seat or try to is we got a
bigger crowd in here
tonight i' like it to welcome everyone
to the Russell County Board of
Supervisors April the 8 2024 at 6 PM in
the Russell County Board of Supervisors
room I like to first start off with a
call of order and rad call Andrew
Hensley here Nate Kaiser here terod die
here David Eaton here Luan Wallace here
Rebecca D here and Steve breeding here
sir you have a quarum okay okay first
item is your invocation Caleb would you
uh do the invocation and if you remain
standing for the
pledge let us pray father God lord we
love you thank you and we praise you
today Father father we ask that you
forgive us for where we fail you each
and every day help us to remember what
this Easter season has been all about
father Lord we thank you for allowing us
to come out and be a part of our local
government help lead guide and direct us
in everything that we do for it's in
your name we pray amen
amen I pledge alance to the flag of the
United States of America to the Republic
for which it stands one nation under God
ible with liy and justice for
all if everybody's had an if everybody's
had an opportunity to look at the
agenda I'll entertain a motion to
approve the agenda or if you need things
added to the agenda please let me
know
Mr chair I'll offer a a motion to accept
the agenda as presented I have a motion
do I have a second second have a motion
and a second any discussion if not all
in favor to signify by saying I I'll
oppose like sign dra
in okay next on the agenda is there
we're having a public hearing on our uh
Russell County Park
ordinance and to have some interchanges
to it so I'm going to go ahead and
declare the public hearing open on the
park ordinance if anybody would like to
speak just step up to the podium make
comment hi Sandy has sords Creek I just
had a a quick um request for a
clarification on something and I do know
this is not question and answer but
under Provisions 29 and 30 it speaks
about the use of the parks by groups of
more than five or five or more is the
way that's stated um and it does mention
the Russell County Courthouse the Old
Courthouse and all the parks and
campgrounds so does that mean that any
group of five that visits this it says
they have
to uh apply for a facility use
application must be submitted and pay a
$50 uh like a deposit so a family of
six couldn't go so I mean what's the
clarification on that any of the c or
just a group of like-minded individuals
that wanted to stop at the CGR one day
and have a picnic do they have
to can I go ahead board I'll clarify
that okay that those two paragraphs
stipulate to if you're having an event
there with more than five people like a
group like a birthday party or having uh
a historical event or at if you're
having a party that where we have to
schedule it and block off that time we
work with all the community centers and
all the others that pertains to vents
okay I know 29 does state that if they
are organizing an event within 30 does
not okay we'll make that correction yeah
and you know there was no exemption or
clarification for it to say family unit
or anything it just specifically says
groups okay so I just wanted to make
sure that you know that wasn't going to
be an issue for groups of five or more
especially families to use the parks or
anything I don't think it was intended
to be that way see we went from 29 which
you see it's a for events and I'll
proceed that on the 30 okay thank you
you're
welcome any anyone
else anybody else want to comment on the
park
ordinance once twice gone I'll declare
the public hearing on the park ordinance
is
closed okay
uh next on the uh aenda are
presentations and first have Dr hooker
from the school
board Mr
wanzo you have my presentation yes
ma'am do you have a clicker do do I need
to tell you when to click uh tell me
when to click
okay
go and
click Mr chair and the members of the
board thank you for allowing me to speak
before you today on the Russell County
Public Schools fiscal year 2025 budget
our budget was built on the enrollment
of 31 students 100 students which is
slightly lower than the current year you
can go ahead and
click this year our Focus for the budget
has been teacher salaries our teacher
discrepancy has become a critical matter
this matter directly impacts the quality
of Education in our
community just in the last two years we
have lost 51 teachers to neighboring
higher paying counties our dedicated
Educators play such a pivotal role in
shaping the future of our children and
Society teachers are more than just
instructors they are mentors role models
and advocates for our children's success
they invest countless hours in planning
lessons grading assignments and
supporting students students both
academically and
emotionally they invest their time
expertise and passion into nurturing
young minds and preparing them for
Success however the current compensation
levels for our teachers do not
adequately reflect the invaluable
contributions they make to our
community as the cost of living
continues to rise it is imperative that
we recognize the financial challenges
their teach Ed Educators face as a
matter of fact we have many teachers who
hold down multiple jobs to make ends
meet they are coaches bus drivers
custodians or they work a job outside
the school
system by providing competitive and
Equitable salary packages we can attract
and retain highly qualified teachers who
are essential for maintaining
educational Excellence competitive
salaries will boost morale job
satisfaction and overall retention rates
among
Educators which ultimately benefits
students and the entire School Division
as I said to you back in October when I
met with you this problem did not happen
overnight and we certainly realize that
it's not going to get fixed
overnight however we must realize that
insufficient salaries can lead to
burnout High turnover rates that we've
already seen and ultimately a decline in
the quality of Education our students
receive by addressing this concern now
we can demonstrate our commitment to the
well-being of both our educ Educators
and our students on this slide that you
see
here we have completely reworked the
teacher salary as you can see last
year's starting salary was around
36,000 this year we put it up to 42,000
and then we have it stepped down to 30
Years also given all the support scales
and increase of 3% and increase
part-time from $13 to
1350
I have also included a slide for the
Virginia and region 7 rank of salaries
we are last or next to last in all the
categories you can see this information
in detail in the folder I have given you
this information came from the 2023 24
Virginia Education Association and I um
I really wish that you all would look at
that so you can see how low we are both
in region 7 and the
state other budget consider itations we
have transportation needs of course
three buses are needed to replace
current inventory that is over 20 years
old and then our Fleet progression will
continue this year with replacing a few
high mileage
Vehicles also at this time we have 10
school resource officers four are not
Grant funded six are currently partially
Grant funded and we are awaiting Grant
approval for two okay for the six and
the two our part of that's going to be
around around
$127,000 we also pay for the vehicles in
the fuel which cost approximately $6,000
per school resource officer per year we
provide them computers and printers and
then also when they go to training we
pay for the officers that come in and
take their place in the school while
they're at
training okay due to legislation we will
be hiring a reading specialist that will
serve grades 6 through 8 and the
estimated cost for salary and benefits
to that is around
$888,000 vrs is adjusting wording in the
employers manual to create a dual job of
teacher and bus driver this would allow
the bus driver salary to be included in
the teachers vrs salary total increase
in employer paid benefits is
approximately
90,000 and then Castlewood High School's
roof is going to have to be completely
replaced which is approximate cost of
195,000
okay with that being said the estimated
revenue and the revenue for our proposed
budget comes from local state federal
food program textbooks project Bridge
which is a total of approximately 57
m924
49 and our estimated expenses with the
new budget addition
our expenses come from general fund food
program textbooks project Bridge which
comes up with a total of 58
m232
and2 which is you can see we have a
balanced deficit of $1.1
million and I also like to add due to
current
legislation concerning atrisk funds
there has been an increase of
approximately 800,000 to required local
effort and
match in closing I want to make clear
that all employees know that they are
vital for our schools to be successful
you cannot have one without the other
collaboration among all of us is
essential for the success of our
division the new proposal salary scale
will only put us up a few spots compared
regionally and to the state but it is a
huge huge start to something that has
needed to be done for a while now we we
understand that the lottery money can be
used for the public education and we
hope that you will consider this and
other options that will allow us to
balance our
budget I want to thank Mr breeding Mr
Eaton and Mr Lester which were a part of
the budget committee that we have worked
with for the last several months both
boards have been very supportive and I
appreciate everything that everybody's
done through this process thank you
again for your time and consideration
but together let's prioritize our
teachers and ensure they receive the
compensation that they deserve thank you
thank you
[Applause]
Kim nley Isaiah
house
good evening thank you so much for
having me today I'm excited to talk to
you all about Isaiah 117 house I'm the
expansion coordinator for Russell County
my name is AAA Nunley our goal is to
change the way that foster care begins I
want to share with you our current
statistics for Russell County there are
76 children in the foster care system
less than 10 Foster families which
obviously were not meeting the need when
a child is removed from their home they
have to wait for placement at the
Department of Social Services sometimes
they spend hours sometimes they spend
days in the department with no bed no
bath they're often very hungry dirty
exhausted and they have little to no
possessions when they come to the
department take a
slide so we asked the question what if
there was a home instead of a Department
of Social Services to house children
what if there was a home where children
could go to in the mean time while they
wait for their secure Foster
placement our mission at Isaiah 117
house is to Pro to provide that Home for
Children awaiting their placement and
our mission is to reduce trauma lighten
the load and ease the
transition we reduce trauma by creating
a safe and loving environment with
certified volunteers to provide meals
baths clothing etc for a child awaiting
placement we lighten the load by
creating a fully equipped working
environment for DSS case workers
printers office space a secure place to
make phone calls and they're always in
sight line of the child in their care we
provide also loving emotional support
for our DSS case workers as well as
meals snacks and anything they need to
help them do their job
well ease the transition into foster
care supporting Foster families is one
of our top missions as children are
placed into secure Foster families they
often come with nothing to their name so
our goal is to send them with five to
seven new outfits and anything that they
might need like twin beds car seats
formula diapers meals Etc this makes it
easier for our foster families to say
yes and with more local Foster families
our children are less likely to have to
leave our County and go to other
counties this will reduce their trauma
as well because they won't be changing
schools and leaving the only homes that
they've ever know
known so what will it take for us to say
not our kids not our community here are
some fast facts about Isaiah 117
house there are 54 locations and 22 Open
Homes yesterday we kicked off the 54th
location here in Russell County we had
our kickoff it was extremely successful
we're very pleased with our turnout and
now we're going into our six months of
raising awareness during this time we
want to visit every organization that
will hear speak about this cause and
partner with us as we bring it to our
County we have a land donation currently
and we're so thankful for that we're in
the process of working toward closing
we've got our appraisal and our survey
done before we can break ground on the
land to start building our home we have
to have
$75,000 in the bank before we can open
our home we have to have
$175,000 additionally to the 75,000 for
our first Year's budget the home will
have three positions one full-time
location leader one part-time support
coordinator and one part-time care
coordinator now I'd like to share with
you a story from one of our Open
Homes I got a call this is not me this
is a story from an open home I got a
call as I was getting my own children
tucked into bed it was to help care for
three guests who were just removed from
the home they knew the same age as my
kiddos I immediately went into
preparation mode to be up and be what
these guests needed I was to be there
from 2: a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Once I arrived
at the home I was greeted by three very
tired yet very awake little guests
immediately they were attached at the
hip they loved to get undivided
attention and affirmations for every
single thing I happily obliged and made
sure they knew they're loved and
appreciated in the moments I had with
them the middle guests loved to hear
good job so every chance I could I made
sure they heard those two simple words
that I know I personally take for
granted they wanted to camp out and
sleep in a well-lit room without this
home their night could have been a lot
harder they may have not felt the love
they received because of the Isaiah 117
house I'm so appreciative of this home
and being able to serve our guests while
showing them unconditional love for the
time that they are here love you're not
alone so we would like to ask you all to
join us in our whole community and
here's how you can do that join us for
our next expansion meeting on April the
20th we talk about tangible ways and
actionable steps we can take in our
community to bring this house right
where it needs to be you can set an
alarm on your phone for 117 and pray
with us every day we believe in the
power of corporate prayer follow us on
social media like share and comment it
really really helps us and then also
help us spread the word by getting us in
contact with local churches and
organizations for speaking engagements
in the community become a sock buddy we
have information at our information
table outside of how you can do that and
that's to be a monthly donor 65% of our
funds come from monthly donors visit our
information table come ask us questions
afterwards check out our merch and grab
some promotional materials thank you all
so much for having me
today thank
you
Matt good evening uh for those of you on
the board who don't know me my name is
Matthew Boyd I am the newest planner
over at the kelan plateau and I'll try
to keep what I have tonight brief uh we
are trying to get under contract from
dhcd for the tiller trailer park
waterline extension project and in your
packets you should have a couple
documents in here that just needs the
board's
signature uh that should be an
anti-displacement policy business and
employment plan fair housing
certification non-discrimination policy
504 G procedure inter agency agreement
admin agreement and prior authorization
of costs if anyone on the board needs an
explanation of what those documents are
what they contain please let me
know the ordinance yeah you need a
motion on that yeah what we need is an
ordinance this is pretty much standard
on all our water parties I'll make a
motion okay I have a motion to authorize
these documents second second about
terara any discussion if not not all in
favor signify saying I any pose like
sign D thank
you okay Sharon
Dixon
Sharon is she here Sharon dickon Shar
Dixon she was going to try to make it no
it's a presentation sure okay I'll table
it while I get her next time okay she
should come in we'll heard okay next
item on the on the agenda is the
approval of our minutes for board uh
meeting March 2nd 2024 and March 8 2024
Mr chair um I only found one thing on it
that I could see down um let's see on
March 8th it's page two of two um where
it was talking about the C of an
advisory committee MH um Mrs Wallace
wasn't listed she
abstained
okay can you make that change lines yes
sir any other
changes I'll make a motion to accept
both unapproved minutes now with those
changes we have to do them separately
Terry you can do you can together yeah
the your motion was to prove those
together correct with the change okay
with the change with the changes all
right you need a second second any
discussion all in favor signify saying I
I all oppos like sign okay we're good
now we have the approval of our
expenditures if you've had an
opportunity to look at those I'll
entertain a motion that we approve those
expenditures I'll make a motion to pay
the
bills have a motion to need a
second second motion and a second any
discussion if not all in favor signify
by saying I I I'll oppose like sign Dar
n okay next we have committee
appointments and I think I don't think
we have any committee appointments Just
for information only that is right
correct chairman uh currently the
committee and board appointment
applications are still coming in uh at
the next meeting the board will be able
to start selecting for each one of these
boards and committees as as it comes
through so so um I have terod you asked
about two and we have received those we
went back in and we're going back
through the old system cuz some people
put them in early through before we did
the changes that y'all requested and so
we're going back through our data files
to make sure we're pulling them both
you're welcome man Lonzo what uh what
would be the timeline that they get
those in before the next meeting they
need to get them in at least by the
let's see hang on a second apologize
guys I've got this one I think the next
meeting would be May 4th so it may May
the 4th which will be at least by the
30th of April how make that easy last
day of mon for the public anyone
interested in any board appointments if
you want to serve on one of the county
boards make sure you get your
application in by April April 30th yes
sir thank
you okay next on the agenda is public
comment so I'm going to go I have the
list here so I'm going to call you up uh
by the order in which you signed these
things so first is Jim
Little Jim little 1660 Copper Ridge Road
district one there Mr Hensley call him
Andrew any other time
uh as all the turmoil has gone
on some of it Justified some of it not
with the actions on the Moss
3 with other things that have gone on
I'm not going to speak on that people
more well educated than I am on that
subject but what I want to speak on is
the lack of decorum and respect from
both sides of the aisle that I've
witnessed you know here in the country
in Russell County we put in a lot
of
time we teach our children to respect
and even if we disagree on subjects and
I'm afraid that right now we're seeing
on both sides some verbal assaults that
become personal I think that that has no
place here we can agree to disagree and
move on without making personal attacks
I think that maybe I'm from the old
school too much but I think the
Christian way I think that the proper
etiquette is to show
respect we may not agree with these
individuals setting up here I don't
agree with a lot of what goes on up
there but they're elected officials and
I believe we're called to show respect
to
them okay but by the same token that
respect goes both ways and I think when
someone appears before that to speak in
a condescending fashion is not
acceptable either so what I beg this
county is to come together a little bit
more we're going to disagree this Moss 3
issue is very emotional there's no doubt
about that it's emotional to me I had
family in the minds there immediate
family very emotional for some that are
sitting on the board up here for for
that definitely emotional for a lot out
here but that doesn't mean we lose our
respect for each
other that being said one other thing is
what our children and grandchildren see
I happen to know of History classes and
Civics classes that view this proceeding
right here and do evaluations on it and
is this what we want our students to see
is just what we want our kids to see is
the behavior that goes on here there are
times I'm downright ashamed on both
sides of the aisle to even be from
Russell
County you know I lived up north I went
to college in Baltimore lived outside of
DC in Prince William County for years
was in the service for
years I feel like I'm back in Northern
Virginia again
sometimes Mr kiler is laughing on that
one yeah I'm that's good but seriously
you know the behavior that's going on I
just call everyone to maybe extend an
olive branch a little bit I'm not asking
you to give up on your principles and
thoughts I'm just asking you to be civil
and disciplined towards each other thank
you for your
time thank you
Jim Sandy H I'm good she's good
for Josh
Burgess
Josh Burgess 1857 Archer Ro Southwest
Virginia I feel like I ain't seeing
y'all forever it's good to see you it
is anyways I very much opposed this
landfill and still hadn't met anyone in
his fort I feel like Russell County has
approached a Tipping Point with its
citizens and it it's a sad s it is
you're faced with the the decision to
look at two or three very wealthy people
and say I'm sorry but Russell County is
not the right place for this
Landfield or turn your back on the
26,000 people that are proud to call
this place home you will change our
lives
forever I urge and strongly support the
board the board members to do whatever
it takes to stop this L filling his
tracks
and that's all I got to say thank you
thank you
[Applause]
Josh Amy
Branson Amy Branson Castlewood Virginia
first I want to sincerely thank the
board members who are opposing the
Landfield and I can't imagine the
pressure that you're facing but I have
to admire your courage and um your
Independence to stand up and make your
own decisions for the Health and Welfare
of our citizens uh The more I've worked
on The Mosser Landfield the more
similarities between it and the opioid
crisis that we are all living through
that I see short-term windfall financial
gain for a few while the rest of us are
left to clean up the mess our area has a
rich history but some of that history is
tragic in how the citizens of Appalachia
are taken advantage of as a pharmacist I
have firsthand exper of the opioid
epidemic and has it stunted our growth
and prosperity in Appalachia addiction
knows no economic class no race and no
gender it grabs hold and it doesn't let
go until you're in jail or worse in our
County it's part of the reason that we
have difficulty in having so many foster
children and not enough homes for
them the opioid crisis is another
example of a for-profit company coming
to Appalachia with snake oil Promises of
a cure an opioid that doesn't cause
addiction and treats the pain of our
hardworking friends and neighbors while
making the pharmacy manufacturer Rich
beyond their wildest dreams and crushing
the dreams of our friends and
neighbors we wanted that cure so badly
that we did not think for ourselves and
we swallowed the lies like so many
swallowed the pills the companies had
scientists and Drug reps all proclaiming
how safe that the opioids were a modern
pular with no side effects where are
those scientists in drug reps now we are
smart kind driven hardworking and so
many more positive things we can and
should think for
ourselves we are not against all
Landfield just Landfield that stand a
high probability of being an
environmental and economic disaster for
our community we should do our own
thorough investigation of these landfill
promises and we should insist on having
Data before deals like hydrology and
geology studies we should not proceed
haphazardly with nothing more than
Promises of cash and Engineering
workarounds held together at best with
duct tape and paper clips I know none of
you want to bet you or your children's
future on engineering workarounds
especially by Engineers who are bought
and paid for by a private company who
stands to profit from these quick fixes
it just sounds way too familiar each of
those identified problems in the potia
report does not need to be finagled into
a MacGyver like fix these are not issues
that require workarounds these are
issues requiring investigation and are
possible deal breakers for the whole
project we don't know if that site is
acceptable for the Landfield but we know
we don't have the data anyone with a
lick of sense knows more than duct tape
and paper clips you use the greater
chance that at least one of them it
won't work all it takes is for one fail
for our community change forever thank
you thank
[Applause]
you Dr Jess
Jones hello um my name is Dr Jess Jones
I'm a biologist with the US fish and
wildlife Service uh stationed in the
Virginia field office and in the
Department of fishal Wildlife
Conservation at Virginia Tech where I
also serve as a associate professor and
director of the laboratory of freshwater
MOS conservation I want to first thank
uh the board for the opportunity to
speak about freshwater muscles and my
concerns about the development and
long-term operation of a mega landfill
in the Clinch River Watershed and
Russell County I've been working with
freshwater muscles in the clinch the pow
the Holston rivers and a scientific and
conservation capacity since
1994 primarily to restore muscle
populations to these rivers with the aim
of making their population larger and
less
endangered as you may be aware freshw
muscles are one of the most endangered
groups of animals in the country with 24
endanger muscle species known just from
the Clinch River which is widely
considered the highest concentration of
freshwater endangered species anywhere
in the United States in fact the Clinch
River in Virginia Tennessee is the last
stronghold and home for many of these
endangered muscles on the entire planet
the section of river Russell County is a
special important as many muscle species
are being restored here by the Virginia
Department of Wildlife Resources
Virginia Tech uh us fish and wildlife
service and The Nature Conservancy why
do muscles matter the millions of
muscles of some 45 species living in the
Clinch River are filter feeders
filtering the water every day to make it
cleaner for people using the river and
they're part of the Web of Life helping
sustain other plants and animals in
Russell County the site of the proposed
landfill is in the dumps Creek Watershed
which is a direct tributary to the
clinch entering the river at carbo
Virginia because the landfill site is
only a few miles away from the river
concerns about impacts to muscles are
real as endanger muscles and one
endangered fish are known to occur in
the river immediately Downstream of the
dumps Creek
Confluence I am concerned that if the
landfill is developed in an operation
for many years there's the potential for
a large spell or a chronic leakage of
pollution from the site to surface water
and groundwater Pathways that ultimately
could enter the nearby Clinch River
where the muscles live if pollution of
is of sufficient toxicity and magnitude
it could harm the muscles their fish
host and habitat and perhaps even kill
them the clinch pow and Holston River
watersheds have a history of various
types of industrial
spills uh even at carbo in the late
1960s and early
1970s uh two major spills occurred uh at
that time period hence concerns over the
potential impacts from spills in the
Clinch River are real in closing the
biod diversity of the Clinch River is
akin to a coral reef it is a place that
teams with life but is also one of the
last homes for many of the species that
live there the river mountains and land
of Russell County provide a sense of
Pride for the people who live there and
has helped sustain them for Generations
thus protecting the clinch River and its
surrounding landscape is a primary
concern for them and the conservation
community and finally if the board is uh
interested in additional questions on
the endangered species or The Endangered
Species Act I've left a contact there
with our uh Southwestern Regin field
officer thank you for the time yep thank
you Dr
[Applause]
Jones where's
Christian
afternoon Bo public my name is or
Christian I reside in the big city
section of Russell County uh first off I
want to let the general public know and
the board that I'm still in strong
opposition to any landfill here in
Russell County that would allow trash
from other counties and other states
come here and be dumped I cannot see a
positive thing on that next your board
members have eliminated this road Safety
Committee because you're feeding the
people that came and this that and other
to me they have been a big plus for
Russell County reporting
uh drainage being the draam pipes been
stopped up PO holes a lot of people
complain to me about hitting these
potholes and knocking those vehicle out
line and that's not a cheap thing to
have real line so I think we need
reconsider that uh Road Safety Committee
being put back in the session and to be
a service to the citizen Russell County
and next y'all cut these things out they
committed to save
money uh let me make this suggestion a
seven is on the board you make at least
$600 a month that's
$4,200 once you cut your pay down to 50
or $75 like these other committee people
as you cut out you complain about and
that would save the county a pretty good
chunk of money per month
4,200 minus 7 be
$3500 that you might have save the
taxpayer Russell County think about that
thank you thank you
[Applause]
ORS Betty
Dickinson
oh Betty Betty
Dickinson Betty Dickinson hls Valley
Road
Castlewood dumps Creek below the
landsite runs right along side of the
road and the railroad that'll be used to
bring in up to 6,000 tons of garbage to
this landfill every day dumps Creek Feed
right into the Clinch River less than a
mile away any rainwater runoff or leech
a from garbage trucks or trains is going
to quickly end up in dumps Creek and be
carried right down to the river at
carbo there it's going to spread its
pollution all the way down
river in 2018 then state senator William
Wampler successfully pled to the Tobacco
Commission for grant money to clean up
the 232 Acres that they were in
partnership with our
Ida uh cator Wampler acknowledged that
he was speaking as a member at that time
an owner of Russell County Reclamation
LLC when he said quote it's actually on
the fault f a l t fault line
unquote the geology of the land is cared
it's riddled with cave sink holes
underground aquafers that Supply the
water to our Springs private Wells and
Public Water
Systems cars
aquifers have well-known hydraulic and
hydrogeological
characteristics that make them highly
vulnerable to pollution from human
activities in fact setting a landfill on
carst is one of the most dangerous
places you could ever put a
landfill because it's a short hop from
any leakage right into the water system
no liner is going to withstand the
forces of Shifting Earth moving in this
geologically unstable location add to
the cars terrain and a fa line the
presence of Cheney Creek mine further
down in the earth underneath the
Landfield and it's a trample whammy for
a
disaster massive amounts of tax dollars
in time and energy have gone to cleaning
and restoring the uni ly biodiverse
Clinch River this has enabled us to have
the Clinch River State Park at Cleveland
and St Paul the first Blue Highway State
Park in Virginia this river is vital to
our growing tourism industry and
provides a safe nursery and home for
rare and endangered aquatic
species it's illogical to me and frankly
devise common sense to allow a private
Mega Landfield to be developed pra
practically Within inside of the Clinch
River sooner or later that landfill will
leak they always do and lee8 will
pollute the river our private Wells and
Public Water Systems vote no and stop
this
disaster thank you Miss
Dion Hunter
Norris
Hunter Norris
okay well if he shows up if he shows up
we'll let him count Hunter Hunter Hunter
yeah h n t e r
Hunter okay Tammy
Garrett Tammy's
here there she
is good evening and thank you all I'm
Tammy Garrett from Lebanon
Virginia um first of all some takeaways
from our public hearing uh Gentry lock
attorney could not answer the questions
uh the pesta representative could not
answer questions neither of them can
answer questions beyond their prepared
statements Mr Lester's budget was not an
accurate calculation of financial gains
and losses and he admitted that he used
no financial model to arrive at his
projections um Mr breeding's comment
regarding the
200e uh geomembrane liner was misleading
and probably inaccurate I have
researched those liners and from an EPA
study uh this is a quote examination of
both laboratory and field data indicate
the projected service lives of HDPE
geomembranes May range from many
centuries to less than a decade
depending on the material and the
exposure
conditions another study uh by Ian pegs
uh uh regarding hdp liners he concluded
at the end of this uh research we delude
ourselves if we think we have the
ultimate solution to waste containment
and Disposal using H uh DP geom
geomembranes so uh they are not
foolproof they are not guaranteed to
last hundreds of years um some of the
studies that I saw indicated that they
could last uh 15 to 20 years so um it
all depends on conditions of course no
uh L minor has been tested hundreds of
years they've not been in existence that
long so we really don't have enough
studies to know we know that train cars
full of trash will be sitting near homes
in the proposed Ida businesses if they
actually materialize for who knows how
long to be
unloaded so there appears to be many
concerns that were not clarified during
the uh public uh informational hearing
it also appears that those of us who are
opposed to the landfill must present
scientific proof of harm of a Landfield
however the board of supervisor members
and the county administrators are able
to just say that DEQ and the lawyers can
answer the questions thus avoiding
accountability for their statements or
for their decisions now and in the
future um we can prove 247 that
landfills have been harmful for every
Comm Unity that they've been located in
and that they have caused a multitude of
problems Russell County voters will hold
you accountable for this decision we are
expecting we are demanding that you who
work for the
people that we we voted for you we
demand that you listen to us and vote no
on any matter pertaining to a landfill
moving forward in our County thank you
thank you
Tammy
[Applause]
Jared ring is Jared out there there he
is good evening Jared ring Castlewood uh
Calvary Baptist
Road uh since we last met I've been
doing case studies on dozens of other
landfills and their host agreements the
circumstances around them how it worked
out afterwards um often enough the story
is the same the developers go into the
poorest counties they can find usually
when County governments are in debt and
they promise wealth they usually include
veiled threats of litigation too so it's
a pretty standard
Playbook uh and and that's an argument I
I have to tell you I'm sick of too um in
what sane world does a go uh does a
developer get to threaten a local
government into changing their own
ordinances so they can do a project
um there's been a lot of talk about good
faith negotiation but any
negotiation in good faith or How can any
negotiation be in good faith when veiled
threats of lawsuits hang over
it um I I'd also like to address the
argument of well it's got to go
somewhere I mean the the fate of global
consumerism isn't going to be decided in
Russell County and we owe people outside
this County and especially in cities
nothing
um I I'm here to tell yall I I don't
think this is half the deal after
looking at these other landfills and how
it turned out for their local
governments that it's been framed to
y'all as seldom did the local
governments I looked at get the deal
they thought they were going to get or
the wealth they were promised uh and
these were places too that had
established Industries and healthy
economies
somewhat um unlike us whose primary
industry will become waste disposal if
this happens and it also puts us in a
position um well I'll get to that in a
moment but uh I I really have to
question the fiscal policies that got us
into a situation like this to begin with
I mean uh how much debt has the county
acred since last time we
met um something that really sticks out
to me from a conversation I had with a
County Administrator at another Virginia
landfill is I don't know what we would
do without that extra ex million dollar
in our
budget and the reason that that sticks
out in my mind is if the county does
manage to get the money from this what
happens when the landfill closes and we
no longer have that money in our budget
after a decade of having it budgeted in
I mean it it really just shifts it on to
the next generation of board
members
um but uh it pushes the problem of
shrinking tax base and few generations
for forward to the next uh sorry I can't
talk this evening y'all but uh I'd also
like to remind you that all landfill
liners do have a lifespan it's not a
question of if it will fail and release
the liquids that are sequestered in the
trash that can't be pumped out it's a
question of when because they do have a
lifespan as Miss Garrett pointed out
earlier and that's usually right before
the bond expires for most of these
developers Jerry do you have time okay
one final thing uh nearly half of the
federal superf fund
sites are landfills and the number of
those that are modern lined landfills is
not
zero thank you
Jarry Tim
Wallace
Tim Wallace Tim
Wallace Tim is that I can't tell look
like Tim to
me or maybe is it
tinatin cim
five
I'm Kim 5 from Cleveland Virginia um I
just want to take a minute to thank all
the volunteers sponsors and participants
in solidarity Fest despite some cold
weather we managed to raise over $3,000
to help with the opposition to the
Landfield more Billboards are coming I
would also like to thank all those who
opposed the Landfield project who are
tirelessly working behind the scenes our
Facebook group has grown to over 3,100
people in addition to the umwa our
Landfield opposing allies now include
the International Brotherhood of
teamsters warehouse employee union
number 322 and the Western Virginia area
federa labor Federation I am here as an
elected representative from CWA local
2204 I do have a letter I believe you
guys received it from our president um
and it states in unity and solidarity
the members retirees and officers of
communication workers of America local
2204 stand in Alliance with those
fighting with the proposed Moss 3
Landfield in Russell County there is no
equality without solidarity there is no
justice without this social movement the
Landfield is uh This Land is rich in
Union history and is memorialized as a
sacred turning point in the 1989
Pittston coal strike it is also the
historical location that bore Camp
solidarity and the daughters of Mother
Jones We Stand proud with all those un
members of humanity as they fight back
to say no to the Moss 3 proposed
Landfield in unity there will always be
strength assign Chuck Simpson president
local to
204 he we have also got a letter
from the Western Virginia labor
Federation and Western Virginia
Coalition of labor union women um it
says to the office and member the
officers and members of the labor
Federation and clue stand in unity with
all those fighting the proposed Moss 3
Landfield an inquiry to one um is an
injury to all the moss3 area and
surrounding acreage is sacred land as it
is the location of enshrined a turning
point in the 1989 Pittston Co streak it
is as well helped to solid solidify Camp
solidarity and the daughters of Mother
Jones we are proud to stand with those
people as they March rally and stand in
unity to fight the proposed Landfield at
the Moss 3 Landfield and Community there
will always be
solidarity thank
you thank you
Kim okay next is Jessica a e a l b r t a
v i c t
alberic
Jessica all
right hello my name is Jessica Alber and
I am from Cleveland
Virginia
a a this International Brotherhood of
teamsters to whom it may concern
recently Teamsters Local 322 was
informed of a very disturbing
development one which threatens to
undermine and dissolve a proud Noble
history earned through courage hard
labor grit and sacrifice the event that
I am speaking of is a misguided attempt
to convert the historic monery work site
Lo located in clinch Virginia to an un
tremendous landfill on this hollowed
side members of the United mind workers
of America violently violently
stood and asserted themselves against
economic Injustice and worker
exploitation little did they know that
in 35 years the location of pitton Cole
would be underaged by certain entities
this this atrocity sets the sage for a
DEC a decisive
eradication of a crucial component of
local history for this reason it is
imperative that prudent steps are taken
to preserve worker history for which it
has ear bond to American history
anything to the contrary is morally
irresponsible Teamsters Local 322 stands
proudy with our F fellow un Union
siblings in the fight to protect this
historically significant location
sincerely Brian Payton thank
you thank you
Jessica or
sne
Rd thank you Mr chairman and members of
the board Mr ler Mr Kilgore we uh I want
to Echo and second this gentleman's
comments you gave me my lead in tonight
um but I want to make a real Point real
quick Point um the Board of Supervisors
you are the captain of this ship with
regard to landfill and many other
matters Mr Lester he works at the
direction of you guys Mr Kilgore is
legal obligation he can correct me if
I'm wrong is to the Board of Supervisors
he technically represents your body The
Entity and he his legal obligation is
not to us the citizens that's your guy's
obligation and I think sometimes
a lot of mix up about that so I want to
make that clear one thing I I enjoyed
being in Cleveland this weekend I was
there for the solidarity Fest and uh
Friday evening and um all day Saturday
um if you like music you missed a lot of
good music but I found it ironic I
couldn't get out highly maybe one out of
10 times on a cell phone text or
whatever and then I got to thinking
about that and I asked I said where's
this Self Service in down here and it's
about the store at the foot of the
mountain and I thought well no you know
the Board of Supervisors we got a
Bible town and we don't even have them
decent Self Service to be connected to
the rest of the county and I I just
can't believe that we' be talking about
dumping a landfill on them we won't even
get them Sal service you guys got some
power I would ask that you use that get
the Sal service in secondly um I'm also
and I'm trying to look into this and I
apologize for having to be so blunt
tonight but I don't have any choice as I
see it I understand um that the the
Cleveland made an application for solid
waste funds and somehow it's blocked I
don't have all the details yet but I'm
comfortable enough to say it didn't
application didn't get through now what
makes me wonder about that is you know
there's going to have to be a solid
waste facility at this Landfield God
forbid it goes
in and so it makes me wonder what's
going on here with regard to the solid
waste I'm going to dig into it some more
but if that's the case you know I ain't
happy about it it's it's not
good um also I'm really aggravated that
my friend Charles admans has been
removed from the Planning Commission I
didn't find this out till yesterday or
so um I wish I'd known he's been on
there 20 years he um he's had some
health problems but there's nothing
wrong with his mind he's a deep he's a
deep thing
thinker
and you know
Charlie I think he may have written to
you already if not is going to but I
talked to him and he wants one thing
corrected in the minutes supposedly he
was removed for one reason he hadn't
gotten training well I said he was a
20-y year man he got training when he
first came on some 20 years ago all
right so he would like to get that
corrected in minutes also I understand
another reason was to save 100 bucks a
month and I'm sorry
he's worth more than 100 bucks a month
and I think we made a mistake there and
I wish you all would take that into
account I'd rather pay the $100 a month
it's time they lose a 20 year
man sorry time time three minutes well I
didn't get much
done you talked a lot
R thank you R Jackie
Hanney he's in here uh Dr Jackie Hackney
B Fest Virginia this a is a Continuum of
what Dr Branson had started earlier so
hopefully I can get through it in the
time frame by the way ex Russell County
teacher making 31,000 with two master's
degrees left for greener
pastures Bristol started accepting waste
in 1998 and in April of 2022 an
independent expert panel was convened to
find solutions for the stinking problem
that Bristol had become in the panel's
final report they found at least two
major IND engineering workouts that did
not work over time sidewalls and leap
pumps we keep hearing from the TRC
experts that Bristol was unique and
didn't even consider it the same
situation well Bristol was a modern
Landfield with a liner per the expert
panel report the same exact liner system
presented back to us in January that was
leak proof by TRC maybe TRC was nervous
and had a senior moment during the
presentation to us which seems a little
hard to believe since he worked on the
landfill design the panel was also found
the panel also found groundwater in
Bristol that contained benzine above
actionable levels the panel believes
that the Benzene is likely being derived
from the waste Mass indicating an
internal source however the panel did
not have sufficient data to determine
the mechanism of the
Benzene this further suggests a low rate
of leee collection from the landfill
through the collection system and mixing
of the lee8 with groundwater lots of
fancy words to say it's leaking without
saying it's
leaking seems we have had similar words
on the opioids addictive properties we
has to ask ourselves how many
engineering workarounds will be required
at Moss 3 given the soil's potential
fault lines high water tables and
potential underground voids don't know
for sure what I am sure of is that it'll
take a buttload of duct tape and paper
clips to get this thing permitted in
closing we would like to once again
thank the Board of Supervisors who are
standing up for their citizens Health
and Welfare to oppose the
landfill thank you thank you
Jay
that's that finishes the list of people
that asked to speak so I'm going to
declare public comment
closed and we'll get on with the rest of
the agenda
here pardon
me
how many more people want to
talk I'll do three more
okay good evening board my name is Gary
Hughes I live at sword Creek Virginia
and I drink Clint river
water uh so I have a some kind of a Stak
in this uh Russell County Reclamation
top consultant said the Bristol
Landfield should not have been
imprisoned because of
water and this MOS three site has way
more water than Rock
C we've got all those PS and stuff from
the m I talked to a man that worked for
them they said they m one Zam and it was
on a
slope and they pump thousands of gallons
of water a day out of that mine just so
they could get the CO so we know there's
all kinds of water
there uh there's also the possibility of
stacking of trash on the initial
sales so they could build higher if they
want to
uh some land Fields I have seen about
have five different liners on the
bot each a different
material
uh do you know for sure that the 30 acre
pad is solid and not been mined
under has anybody done any testing C
driling
no answer sir that'll be we don't answer
questions during public comment that'll
be a part of the permitting process that
there will be extensive studies to do
that also I've got one more thing uh
when you mine and you pull back you call
it by Retreat mining most of the pillars
are removed so there is little holding
up the mount thank you very much thank
you
sir
next my name is David Dingus I live on
grack
road um I would like to encourage you to
please help out the teachers that were
here earlier if you possibly could I
have worked with not inside the school
but as a behavioral health assistant
inside the schools I worked at Copper
Creek Elementary for quite some time I
worked at Castlewood Elementary for
quite some time trying to help Behavior
problem kids um I had a good
relationship with a lot of the teachers
that work there those teachers work
hard they deserve better than what they
got better than what they get they
really do um Miss Wallace I'm from your
District I live on grab and this
proposed landfills going in a couple
miles from my house my my family home
but dad's
a union Co Miner he's sitting in the
Next
Room and the house I live
in is all I
got I got a whale the Count's
never it took you guys nearly 40 years
to PVE our Roe no water lines come up my
to my residence no no sewer what I got
is a
whale and if that whale goes I'm
sunk I don't make the kind of money that
I can just up and leave this is my
home I got a little girl that's being
treated by St Jude for medical condition
right now and I don't want you to put in
something that could
possibly cause that to get worse
I really don't I've lived my whole life
in this County I've tried to do
everything that I can to help people in
this County I'm still do everything that
I can to try to help people in this
County to this day I
do I don't have
much I don't want to lose my
home and I want you guys to please think
about that not I grew up on grack my
grandmother lived in Cleveland
right up River Road it's the first
swinging bridge that you come to when
you go up River Road not long ago when a
flood came they brought up some sewage
some sewage got in the river it shut
everything down nobody could get into
the river and like we're going to we're
going to put in a landfill we we can't
even secure sewers that are there like
this is something I want you guys to
please consider and I realize that you
know A lot's been said about respect and
emotions run high and my emotions run
high too and it's hard to not feel
disrespected to have been a lifelong
resident of this County to have your
father and your parents bring you up and
and dedicate their their lives to
working in this County to have like all
of a
sudden be
faced with losing your home or having to
move because you don't want your kid to
be
sick you know for and somebody said it
best earlier for the board members that
are opposing it I thank you from the
bottom of my heart I appreciate you
please stand on that and please
remember to look out for us thank thank
you
[Applause]
sir David David
Dennis guess I'll finish it up Jennifer
chumbley 765 Egg Farm Road our folks are
giving you information that's cited I
mean this is real information and it
it's
important um I want to remind everyone
that a host agreement is required by law
we did figure that out last time and
that this board does have the ability to
say no to that host agreement and I hope
that all of you say no hope everyone
single one of you say no make me wrong
um we also learned that an ordinance or
possibly a solid waste management plan
will need to be changed before this goes
any further you're shaking your head and
no that's what they said before see
there's misinformation you can't go back
um I'm still concerned with the landfill
in the site is not a good location we
know that I'll continue to stand up for
the people in Cleveland carbo
clinchfield my surrounding area I don't
care whose feelings are hurt this
particular location is too
vulnerable and people's lives and home
values and health and our future is just
not worth it and you guys won't be here
forever but our future Generations will
be here and they'll have to deal with
this we can hold off this landfill for
at least eight
years this is not the solution to
Russell County's issues this is not the
solution to your budget this is not the
Saving Grace we have some brilliant
folks here telling you that there is
ways to work around this we can find a
way but this is not going to y'all may
not even be here by the time this
landfill goes in so you're going to make
a decision on something that you may not
even be here to see to
fruition we all know the location is
where our Wildlife live we know that we
have moved trash jumps for that location
because of the Bears and the wildlife
getting into them before so what makes
us think this will be any different what
makes us think this is going to change
that location in any way to put a big
fence around it I mean I got fences
around my farm and don't keep them out
there you can put the biggest fence
around it they'll still get in it at
some point and they're still going to
take trash out of that location the
Bears the raccoons the birds the
buzzards that Roost on that Ridge that
entire Ridge Mountains so I'm going to
keep it short and sweet I'm going to ask
that you please say no to the host
agreement and if that is the case Lonzo
then we're going to need more
information on why this doesn't need to
be changed now thank you thanks
Jennifer that'll be that'll close public
comment
okay I don't think we have any
constitutional officers here do nope
okay County attorney report
request nothing all right Mr Lester it's
up to
you let me get all this stuff
straight thank you chairman first thing
on the County Administrator request is
of course the um Russell County bylaws
we're um we're still looking at the
updates on that to make sure that uh
We've we have changed the dates of the
meetings and also the um uh our format
that we're looking at I've got some of
the changes in I would just want to
remind somebody to do a last Mee look at
it and we'll have that approved at the
next board for you know things that
y'all want to look at for comments Etc
so
um Schoolboard
next on the county mistr request and
reports is the of course as mentioned
before the roog county road reporting
system as y'all have seen with the ones
that have come through us and has been
conveyed on to V Dot for to look at
these issues on a continuous basis also
the
um along with ours and is in the reports
that you'll see is the vop monthly road
report as you see in there that has a
complete activity request uh that has
been completed activities that are
planned Ru rustics and of course the
roads and the routes are looking at in
projects for that so that's for y's
review next on the County Administrator
request the first one up is a the
Russell County calendar year 2024 tax
rate and public caring notice so uh as
youall know that as part of the
parliamentary we pulled the board to
keep the tax rates the same the
Commissioner Revenue and the treasurer
wants to proceed as as the U at the
current tax rates so to move forward to
keep their tax rates the same there will
have to be a motion before that I'll
make that motion so I have a motion to
keep the tax rate at what it was which
is 0.63 cents per 100 yes sir okay do I
have a
second
I'll second that I have a motion and
second okay
discussion
when are we going to have a public
Hearing in May in regards to setting the
tax
rate yes we have to have a public
hearing on the tax rate and the budget
but the but the tax rate can be changed
in in May if you have yes that the board
I got the attorney yes yes yeah during
the public hearing during after the
public hearing yes after the public
hearing like the public to review any
kind of documents as far as our budget
goes a lot of stuff's online for
previous years um things change year to
year but there's a lot of smart people
out there take a look at that see what
you come up with come to the May meeting
I'd be glad to listen to your
ideas any further discussion
if not I'm going to call for a vote all
in favor of this motion signify by
saying I I all oppose like sign
oppose have Andrew
oppos next on the County Administrator
request is of course the uh Pier Salon
request this is a VT resolution and
request for a commercial um Grant for uh
commercial interest development this is
part of the agreement that we have
between meanon County Taz County and
Russell County on the development of the
P peer salmon
project uh this is the V resolution and
of course this is a Economic Development
Access program that can provide up to a
maximum of $500,000 for the project and
it requires if it goes above the 500,000
it requires matching funds for dollar to
dollar up to
$800,000 this is the um the route itself
commercial curbing guttering and the
road and the road inance into the
facility itself as a commercial
entrance I need a motion for approval on
the
resolution I'll make that motion I have
a motion to approve this resolution to
have a
second second
have a second any discussion discussion
please yes
ma'am I was reading this I was reading
this letter and it says um the Eda which
is economic development access will fide
up to 500,000 but it's going to be
800,000 and we are taking 125,000 of our
coal Severance funds is that correct
Lonzo currently right now the route is
been evaluated by Thompson Linton and V
Dot for U for the cost on it if as part
of the agreement that we've got between
the Three Counties you know tazel county
is in installing water and sewer and
possibly natural gas but Canon county is
cost sharing in the cost of it if it
goes above 500,000 it is a full 100%
Grant up to 500,000 if it goes above
that 500,000 it's a dollar for dooll
match up to
$800,000 so the maximum amount if it
comes to the
$800,000 is to put in it would only be
$125,000 of co- Severance the reason we
ask for the co Severance is that's not
part of the general fund that's not
coming out of the taxpayers dollars
those things are dedicated to Road and
restricted only to Road building so
that's that's why we ask for it to be
coming so do we will we need to give an
additional money because uh it'll still
be short I mean it won't be where will
the
other come from V do gives a match
dollar for dollar up to it uh
and do will match that
125,000 okay up to up to 150 actually
they they put the wrong amount in there
it's actually up to 150 each that still
doesn't get you to 800,000 plus well he
said V will match that 15 if we put in
15
the 150 of ours and the 150 match got
goes to eight I've got 175
short the 125 was changed to 150 so I
apologize if you got okay yeah so there
there's where the the miss the numbers
are coming in yes thank you okay what's
Buck hanon County's responsibility
during this project in the project that
was agreed by board the board
supervisors it's a three-way share the
same way three equal shares uh well not
three equal shares the host counties get
actual we get 35% of the revenue that's
from it and tazwell the county does too
but we're talking about the cost of this
road does banan and tazwell will they
put in on the cost of this road yes
ma'am us as Rosa County we are the
financial fiduciary so what Revenue that
would come out of it uh
whatever benefits or performance
agreement that we give to Pier salmon at
the front based off their machine and
tool the real estate and personal
property we've got an estimate of what
we're going to clear on Revenue after we
pay the bills those bills that cost will
come equally out of our revenue and then
the remaining net will be shed equally
across us for the remaining of the Year
yes everybody clear on
that it's m I'm going to call for a vote
in favor one more one more thing I'm
sorry Mr chair I've found my note um
there are timelines on this thing so are
are we going to meet those timelines and
if we don't what happens with that
because there's 90 days here six months
there it takes us if you do the math and
like I do which is kind of fuzzy but um
it gets us back to March of next year
yes it does and that was one of our
concerns when we sat and met with them
we actually have a meeting with
the developers the V do uh the state
agencies the uh financing and the
legislators on April 11th we actually
got a meeting tomorrow yes to lock some
of these timelines down
yes we were always concerned because the
project was on it was off it was on when
did you meet with them we met with them
uh approximately about two weeks ago but
you're going to meet again yes tomorrow
yeah it's not tomor no it's the 11th the
11th yes yes sorry
yes and I was looking in their letter it
says um economic access road project
because Russell County must apply for
the funding so we have to apply for the
500,000 what we do on on the edv Eda uh
Grant is because the facility in the
commercial ENT is in the jurisdiction of
but Russell County yes if it was setting
in tazel would they' be
applying and turn tassel applied for all
the money to bring the water and sewer
in there yes and do you expect it to be
taken into the highway system you've
seen in the v do letter it is going to
be brought into the system if we do it
to V do standards well one of the
agreements is and that's why we've got V
Dot at the table it's going to be
designed to V Dot specifications that
way when it's completed it will will'll
be able to move it into the system thank
you anything further if not I'm going to
call for a vote all in favor of this
motion signify saying I I'll oppose like
sign I'm not opposing but I just want to
obstain till I get some more information
I'm not opposing it 64 and one
exstension 64 reain
okay next on the County Administrator
request is the com Plateau Regional
Waste Management Authority Solid Waste
user and manow agreement that's a
mouthful um we do every year it's the
same one that we do every year so this
is I hope that y'all have had an
opportunity to take a look through the
uh maner agreement and the user
agreement and I need a motion for
approval Mr chair I'll offer you a
motion um to approve this as it's
presented but just to verify that it's
the same thing that we continually do
yes sir and for discussion okay okay I
have a motion I need a second I'll
second it okay discussion now yes it
also says in here that this has a plan
of operation this is not included in
this do we normally get that when we're
approving this because I'm just curious
where is that we Russell
County Disposal has an operation plan
it's under the Regional Waste Management
Authority plate Regional Waste
Management Authority operation yes which
all three counties are under the same
plan so it's not included in their
packet at this time to go it's in the
folder it's in the folder on y''s packet
as an attachment on my digital yes ma'am
not my okay yes ma'am thank you because
it's approximately I think it's 232
Pages yes it's
digital
are there any changes to that Waste
Management plan uh only the
dates and we don't we don't change the
plan of operation either no that will
that is the Regal Waste Management
Authority it's under their Authority
thank you
yes anything
else if not I'm going call for a vote
all in favor of this motion signify by
saying I I I'll oppose like say DOR
thank you chairman next on the County
Administrator request is hang on just a
second let me get through all this
documentation Park
ordinance yeah that's that we just had
ping
yes yes on on paragraph 30 yes so you so
you need a motion to approve the the
Russell County Park ordinance that was
drafted and amended as is with the
correction to paragraph 30 to include
the vents Mr chair I'd like to offer a
motion that we approve the Russell
County Park ordinance with the
Amendments as Mr Lester stated I have a
motion do I have a second I'll second it
have a motion and a second any
discussion if not all in favor I do I do
and I'm sorry the commission who is the
commission should we CH are we supposed
to change that to the county or the
commiss the commission was olved under
the previous board there is no Park
ordinance so we don't remove that
wording yes I'm removed it from my m
still has the old ones had the
Commission in it it's been removed from
the new mine my my correction has
removed all the commission terminology
in that in that ordinance okay thank you
very
much okay now all in favor of this
motion signify say I I I'll oppose like
sign
next on the County Administrator request
is of course the March 2024 primary
election
results I need approval to accept those
results so move Mr chair both the
Democrats and Republicans have a motion
and a second to approve those election
results any discussion on this matter if
not all in favor signify by saying I
I'll oppose
like
uh next uh right behind it is the
Russell County electoral board ice
scanner tabulator and this is the uh
security requirements that's mandated by
the general assembly
uh cos me money all the time I needed
approval for an an ice tabulator in
amount of
$820 I need a motion for approval I'll
make that motion second have a motion
and a second to approve that purchase
question it will be reimbursed correct
that is not
reimbursed we need to work on
that it
now done messed up okay any further
discussion now that we know it's not
reimbursed all in favor this motion
signify saying I I oppose like say we
don't have any choice no choice no it's
it's the law you have no
choice so next on the County
Administrator request is of course the H
Acer Little League they've asked for
they've got a little safety issue down
there with the um at the Little League
field that actually is part of the
softball field too so it's a it's a
fence safety repair on both the quotes
that we have got in your board packet I
need a motion for approval to
approve the haker little league and the
softball field I'll make it
motion I'll second it are there two
quotes Lono yes sir yes ma'am one is for
the softball field one is for the Little
League okay all how much is going to be
covered by Insurance because I know that
trees fell on it during a storm up a
couple so will insurance pay on any of
this uh we had them to look at it the
section on the trees but the linear
footage that we're having to go back
with with new changes out on the post
and the type of fence it is it's this
one is not covered under the we got the
roof taken care of we got the other
parts taken care of but they wouldn't
take care of the fence it was enough let
let me speak on that a little bit as far
as the safety issue they had a kid that
uh the fence was curled out and the kid
slid going after a Fly ball and went
underneath the fence and tore the leg
torch leg pretty bad and uh I went down
there I been been down there with them a
couple times looking at and evaluating
and it is a safety issue I mean because
as time goes on as fence settles we need
to be kind of mindful of that and do
some preventive maintenance on some of
that stuff before this happens and then
the fence curls out you can't get that
stuff to be back we tried but it's it's
uh thank God the kids okay and it didn't
hurt it too extensively but it could
have been a lot
worse any other discussion on this
matter well this is just a comment um
and I'm all for safety and and the
children and everything but I got a I
got a little league down my way so just
so everybody knows Clinch River Little
League you need to help them out we've
we've done too yeah all right thank you
David I'm I'm helping you all right okay
have we got any other bids on this oh
this is just a quote for materials this
is yeah the L is going to work with it
yes do they're going to do the work
anything
further if not all in favor this motion
signify by saying I I I'll oppose
like thank you
sir next on the County Administrator
request is another uh this is a donation
to the r the 30th annual Russell County
kids fishing day oh W neat um this is uh
the previous years yall have donated
$500 in the previous year here so uh I
need to remove whatever it's whatever
desire you now are all the well mean I
know there's multiple different that's
what we going to ready say that's what
we going say let's just do them all
three make sure I'm covering all three
yes that's what I'll make a motion to
give to all three you got
money so that's for all three Kid
Fishing Day events including the
Cleveland the Lebanon and the Russell
County right three 500
each what what are you sending down to
the Kids Day at St Paul they're they're
hosting it on the Oxo which is the
Russell County side have they ever asked
you for money no okay then I I'll leave
it there okay I mean if they're going
to I need a
second need a second on this motion I'll
second it have a motion any further
discussion if not all in favor signify
by saying I I I'll oppose
likon now back to County Business at
Russ County Planning Commission plat of
course y'all got a plat in your package
that uh is a division of property as let
me pull this up as y'all have
seen this is
the the pla surveys that's showing the
battery lines and the line adjustments
on the Willow Spring
Estates I need approval on that platin
motion the the Planning Commission has
already approved it they approved it on
marc8
2024 motion to
approve second have a motion to approve
and a second any discussion if not all
in favor signify by saying I I I'll
oppose like say there are none chairman
that concludes the county administrative
reports and request very
good okay Mr Hensley we'll start with
you any anything you want to bring up
talk
about I'm good tonight Mr chair thank
you all right
sir Mr
Kaiser good Miss
D um I just kind of want to Echo what
Andrew said about the taxes just look at
everything and come to us with concerns
um you know you might see something
somewhere that we don't or whatever so
um also thank you all to the ones who
came out and supported Isaiah house
yesterday was the biggest um turnout for
the kickoff that they had ever had we
also raised more money for uh more than
any other kickoff um thus far so we
appreciate the community support it was
awesome yes
sir thank you Amy um so thank you I
appreciate that so um Henson is a little
boy in our community that is suffering
he has brain tumors and um his family
they're really precious people um he is
uh they're doing a fundraiser for him
Thursday this Thursday at um Wendy's I
think it starts at four o'clock 5 5 to 8
okay so it'll be from 5 to 8 so if you
all could come out and eat something um
I know a portion of the proceeds go to
him um and his family as well as there's
I think there's going to be Bingo and
some different things um so if you could
just come out and support that family
and just love on them
Mr eat I just got a couple of things uh
kind of what Tera said I went to the
kickoff and I've never been involved
I've heard a lot of great speakers I've
been in and settings but I've never seen
a move of God like I've seen in a
setting like that over 200 people there
and I've seen the Lord work in ways that
it made coach chills I said with Pastor
Woody Scott and I was crying he was
crying uh Tara done a wonderful job the
director done a wonderful job all the
people that spoke it just so fitting and
that has always been a real passion of
mine uh not only seeing it from the
numbers as far as Financial but the need
as helping foster children and the kids
and I'm telling you you want the lord to
bless our County you take care of the
widows and the elderly and the children
and everything else will take care of
itself
and all this other stuff we're dealing
with I would ask this crowd to pray and
not I mean I you know we've had threats
against us as family members we've had
threats against my kids stuff like that
and I'm like M Mr little it's uncalled
for it does cause a parent to get very
upset when you hear stuff like this if
I've offended anybody I apologize if
it's anything that I've said I do
apologize we've got to work together to
make this County best place that it can
actually be and I tell you if you pray
God can move when we can't do it he can
do it and I and I'm just telling you
that I have a strong faith in the God I
serve and I I I don't care to publicly
speak that they can lock my high in up
for all I care when I come when it comes
to that but we can work together and it
doesn't have to be with threats and uh
things like that uh against our families
and against our um my kids and stuff so
I I'm grateful for the interaction that
we've been able to to do and have I
appreciate everybody's concerns about
this we have a tough job to do we can't
print money in the basement like the
federal government does we're going to
have to figure out ways and be very
mindful of all the obstacles that this
County faces and this is one of them
because I served like Nate and Andrew I
served on the Waste Management Authority
and I told them years ago this is not
going to be good guys it's something
that's never going to go away and we're
going to have to figure out how to how
to address it one way or the other and
but I do appreciate everybody's concerns
and everything and I have the same
concerns as you do so I just wanted to
let you know that also one more thing I
want to bring it to the board's
attention that in our budget meetings in
our budget discussions it's so critical
that we dive into this thing to see what
can be done and what can be cut what
cannot be cut right now we're at a we're
at a very serious situation in our
County because of the escalating
inflation we're seeing things go up in
every aspect from Regional Jail to
Department of Social Service to all
these other things we're going to have
to have the money to be able to do this
not only that you're going to be faced
with this next upcoming assessment and
if you look around to the other counties
you're seeing they're trying to throw
them under the bus and run over them
about six or seven times over the assess
I think you got a good board here
that'll work through these issues and
try to do the best thing and the right
thing for this County one thing I'd like
to see and I'm going to be doing some
horse trading with our school system is
on our parks and on our baseball fields
I think that they use them as much as as
this private citizen does the the eighth
grade the JV and these use them and they
got a lot more maintenance people than
we do so I'm going to bring it to their
attention that it might be a better fit
since they're end Athletics and we're
not as a county that they they might
want to take over the fields and take
care of the maintenance on those fields
and do the things and we'll still help
them we'll still work with them but that
might be something that we need to
discuss I just don't want to take
anything away from our citizens and the
opportunity they would have to utilize
those fields just like what was brought
up but I appreciate everybody thank
you Miss Wallace no I don't have
anything thank you you're surprised
unusual I see
your I thought you was going to ask for
the
look Mr I'll save it you save it okay
yes thank you um and I'm part of the um
problem if you want to say that from
last month we were given the information
that these gentlemen that we took off
the Planning Commission were not
certified well I have learned from two
of them personally that they are
certified and have been certified for
years cuz they have worked here they
bring a wealth of knowledge who's K to
Who who how did that farm get divided
who moved in who moved out um I did not
speak with Mr Keith Ray but I do know
he's an engineer he is teaching upper
level math so I figure he's probably a
pretty smart fell and he probably could
pass this and then I noticed in the
Planning Commission minutes that they're
asking to certify another person here's
two people we kicked off three and we're
going to recertify two more understand
Miss D because she's going to serve on
the board she serves here on this board
and I understand that Crystal she's one
of my children from years ago she's
working now but she will not be a voting
member of the Planning Commission but
we're paying for her to be certified and
that's why we kicked three gentlemen
off
so it may not go anywhere but it's my
apology to these three men I'm going to
make the motion that we put them back on
the board because that was wrong
information that was given to us and I
voted thinking that that information was
correct and it's not I know two of the
men are certified so I'm making the
motion that we put at least the two back
on that I spoke
with I have a motion on the
floor to reinstall the you got say you
got to
know pardon have to have their names oh
I had I'm sorry that's uh Mr Charlie
Edmonds and Mr Jack
Compton I have a motion to put Charlie
Edmonds and Jack Compton back on the
board someone will need a second I'll
second it have a motion and a
second Mr chair doesn't the have to come
come from someone that was voted in the
in the affirmative I was in the
informative the second
wasn't no no she's uh well you I thought
you second much yeah I did but you don't
have to take it okay that's your choice
any further discussion on the
matter well I know as far as the
certifications what was explained to me
was that the other two having been on
there for so long that they hadn't went
through the new rounds of certifications
like the others had um and I know Mr Ray
unfortunately hadn't got his
certification yet and as far as Crystal
Ernie made that suggestion who's the
chair um because she does look at a lot
of things and process things um you know
certain times so that was that was the
reasoning behind that now as far as who
got picked or whatever I know he him and
a few others talked and that's how that
worked because they looked at the
certifications um the new ones that sort
of thing so but you have to be certified
yes yes and because of those were they
were they had served for so long and
they hadn't went through the new
certification um and there have been
things that have changed um that was
that was the whole reasoning I think
that Ernie went with who he went with
and and U the attorney may need to
correct me U but on voting inside the
Planning Commission I'm understanding
that you may not be able able to vote at
all until you're certified could I get
clarification on
that that's
correct you're correct okay so in our
minutes Miss D has been making motions
and seconding motions in the Planning
Commission and she's not fully certified
at this time to make those motions in
those
seconds is that
correct as a board here say that again
say that again say that one more time a
somebody not not she's not certified yet
are those motions valid so they've
removed their certific certified members
so they don't you're a member if you're
a member of the Board of Supervisors you
can make a motion you but the planning
the Planning Commission oh on the
Planning Commission yeah that's why we
can't hear it we're sorry this thing is
blowing
uh we have to be certified you have to
yeah you going have to be certified to
to so
have to get those certifications done in
other words any further discussion on
this matter anybody else got anything to
say I I think we're going to re-evaluate
these boards next month my understanding
so I want to encourage if you want to be
on a board please put an application
in if you're on the board put it in
again let us see what everybody's got
going on and I don't by no means know
everybody um let let us see who's doing
what and we'll go from
there any further
discussion call for the vote Mr I'm
going to call for a vote
now we just do show
hands everybody in favor of this motion
please raise your right
hand all
oppos vot is four to three motion
fails isn't all you have begging that's
thank you okay we need
to have a budget
workshop and we need to adjourn to
reconvene and what what date are we
talking about wday the 18th yes
sir
if we could all if we could adjourn to
reconvene on the 18th at 6 o' which is a
Thursday hopefully I'll be out
session
pardon yeah you can it's it's reconvene
meeting yeah it's what time 6
o' Thursday yeah 18 18 18 18th yeah it's
a workshop Thursday
is everybody good on that that's only
day I've got always got a meeting there
well that was with
intent Steve is there any other days is
there any other days that would work
I've got a conflict on that day
too okay good thing I if at all possible
is there another day that we can do that
on if you delay any F farther than that
I can't get the two we notice for the
public notice how about 17th
see that's on Wednesday does that I can
do you can do the 17th just keep be no
later than the 18th you can do the 15th
16th or the 17th see I've got to have
that two week I say the 15th or the 17th
I'm good with either one of those how
about the
17th cuz that that's I know it
interferes with somebody that's going to
miss somebody's church heav but I've got
the regional jail on the 16th and then a
doctor's appointment that after
afternoon sometime we can do 17 1 17 6
o00 it's a Wednesday it's a Wednesday
that's fine it's Wednesday 17 Wednesday
the 17th at 6: p.m we're going to be
here and it's a budget Workshop only
it's budget Workshop
yeah okay I'll entertain a motion to
that effect some have a motion do have a
second second any discussion all in
favor signify by saying I I
okay we are we're now Jour to reconvene