Special Meeting – March 21, 2016
Special Meeting, Monday, March 21, 2016, 11:00 a.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.
PRESENT: Carolyn S. Bragg, Chairman
Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., Vice-Chairman
Gerald W. Garber
Terry Lee Kelley, Jr.
Wendell L. Coleman
Marshall W. Pattie
Michael L. Shull
John R. Wilkinson, Community Development Director
Melissa Meyerhoeffer, Finance Director
Carson Holloway, Fire Chief
Amanda Glover, Economic Development Director
Timmy Fitzgerald, County Administrator
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator
Patrick J. Morgan, County Attorney
VIRGINIA: At a special meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Wednesday, March 21, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 240th year of the Commonwealth….
Chairman Bragg called the meeting to order.
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT PRIORITIES – 2016
WAYNE:
1. Drainage issues-Kensington Birchwood Road 2. Ordinance Process: trash-Calf Mountain Road and Dooms Crossing; Industrial zone permitting; discharge firearms in residential district; animal cruelty 3. Shared path at Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center and Lifecore 4. Fishersville Trail at Lifecore (cooperative agreement) 5. Traffic signal-Wellington and Airport Drive and Phase II Bridgeport 6. Volunteer Model (PLY) 7. Funding for safer positions in the future
BEVERLEY MANOR:
1. Mill Place Walking Trail and Pavilion 2. BRIGHT bus stop at Community Center (Rite Aid Shopping Center) 3. Drainage-Skyview Subdivision 4. Would like emergency access built from Green Hills through the south end of the Government Center 5. VDOT Acceptance-Spring Lakes 6. Traffic Study-Barterbrook Road Subdivision 7. Phase III Scholastic Way Timeline 8. Small Area Plan-Stuarts Draft
MIDDLE RIVER:
1. Weyers Cave Rezoning (Blue Mountain Property)
PASTURES:
1. Infrastructure Funding 2. Broadband/Cell Service in Rural Areas 3. Brownfield Remediation-Bad Property to Better Property; Rural Renewal of Houses 4. Possibility of a Blight Ordinance
NORTH RIVER:
1. Broadband (Awareness Economic Development) 2. Natural Chimneys Master Plan 3. Berry Farm PUO (walking trails, horses, hunting policy adjustments) 4. Exit 235 turn lanes (current Federal money prep) 5. Route 262/613 Intersection-short term improvement 6. Non-Hard Surfaced Roads 7. Chicken Ordinance
RIVERHEADS:
1. Funding for non-hard surface roads 2. Drainage issues 3. Riverheads School Walnut Ridge Subdivision-what are the Counties commitments (road, water tank) 4. Roads-Mailbox Placement 5. Fire and Rescue Policy-First Responders (Fire) on rescue call (rural areas)
SOUTH RIVER:
1. Small Area Plan-Stuarts Draft 2. Library Branch-Stuarts Draft area 3. Stuarts Draft Park upgrades-electric/stage 4. Drainage Route 340-Wayne Avenue 5. Lyndhurst Sewer Extension
COMMON ITEMS
1. Roads (9) 2. Planning (14) 3. Drainage (4) 4. Parks and Recreation (5) 5. Fire and Rescue (2)
COUNTYWIDE ISSUES
Board members presented their thoughts on countywide issues. The following issues were presented:
1. Court House to Government Center 2. Workforce Development (Robotics) 3. Grow Economy/Create Jobs (Economic Development) 4. Westgate 5. Consolidate Fire and Rescue Stations 6. Zero based budgeting 7. Executive Summary-Department Reports 8. Evaluate reassessment options 9. Financial Plan (debt on projects) 10. Fire and Rescue Employee Retention and Volunteer Retention 11. County-Beautification 12. Education-Technical and Better Partnerships (BRCC/School Board)-Get information to students 13. Equality of Education among all high schools; partner to have college credits in high school 14. Consider moving the Governors School and Vo-Tech to BRCC-This share would allow for credits (savings to County and parents) 15. Mill Place priorities 16. Water Monitoring Plan 17. Facilitating Development; consider the use of Electronic-Plans Software 18. Pipeline
DEPARTMENT HEAD PRIORITIES
1. Finance Software (HR/TR/COR/BI/SCH)-website/transparency 2. Library-technology needs of citizens (more locations, more computers, more staff) 3. Aging population: Health and Fitness, Technology Awareness 4. Mill Place-sign, road 5. E911 Radio System (Law Enforcement and Fire & Rescue) 6. Federal Regulations/ADA, polling sites (set-up, staff time/contractor) 7. Government Center 25+ years old-HVAC and general maintenance 8. Replace UPS 9. Pay and Class studies (DSS-lose 42% staff 5 years ;lose experience) 10. Regional Building DSS-Relocation 11. Relocate School Bus Garage 12. Focus on Real Estate collections (20 years delinquent). Staffing with focus on collections; ACSA collections 13. IT-Power distribution dates back to Smith’s Transfer 14. Parks & Recreation Master Plan ideas 15. Park maintenance requirements 16. Review shared use facilities-cost to use and number 17. School-routine maintenance and depreciation funding 18. School Digital Initiative (1/1 ratio student/computer) 19. School Recruit and retain quality employees (salary study) 20. Fire and Rescue Infrastructure Stations 21. Trained Fire and Rescue employee pool; recruit volunteers, focus on school population and number of stations to staff
NATIONAL PRIORITIES
Mr. Fitzgerald discussed a report from the Alliance for Innovation regarding the next big things in local government. The list included four major trends.
RESOURCE TRENDS:
1. Water Shortages and Access 2. Energy Grid Disruption 3. Mining
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS:
1. Digital Citizens 2. Sharing Economy 3. Unmanning
DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS:
1. Elder Expense 2. Rural v. Urban
GOVERNANCE:
1. Declining Federal Government Effectiveness 2. City-City Collaboration 3. Citizen Engagement Mr. Fitzgerald thanked the Board for providing input in the priorities presented today.
Their thoughts will help staff focus on what the Board feels important and provides a basis in which budget decisions going forward can be made.
Chairman Bragg also thanked the Board for their participation. She felt the meeting was very beneficial and provided guidance moving forward.
Chairman County Administrator H3-21SpecialMtgmin.16
