Regular Meeting – October 8, 2008
Regular Meeting, Wednesday, October 8, 2008, 7:00 p.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.
PRESENT: David R. Beyeler, Chairman
Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., Vice-Chairman
Wendell L. Coleman
Gerald W. Garber
Larry C. Howdyshell
Jeremy L. Shifflett
Nancy Taylor Sorrells
Patrick J. Morgan, County Attorney
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Director of Finance
John C. McGehee, Assistant County Administrator
Patrick J. Coffield, County Administrator
Linda Hughes, Administrative Secretary
VIRGINIA: At a regular meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 233rd year of the Commonwealth….
Chairman Beyeler welcomed the citizens present.
The following five Riverheads High School students led the Pledge of Allegiance: Aubree Armstrong; Kevin Chambers; Katelin Fletcher; Cheyenne Dollarhite; and Stephen Murphy.
County Attorney, Patrick Morgan, delivered the invocation.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – PROCLAMATION
Chairman Beyeler presented a proclamation to Rita Handley, Secretary of the Board of Directors, Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, and Meg Shrader, President, of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, Blue Ridge Chapter.
Nancy Sorrells moved, seconded by Wendell Coleman, that the Board adopt the following proclamation:
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, this year nearly 182,460 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States and approximately 40,480 women in the U.S. die from the disease; and WHEREAS, it is estimated that 4,680 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in Virginia and that 1,140 Virginia women will die of the disease; and WHEREAS, one in eight women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives; and WHEREAS, approximately 450 men in the U.S. will die from the disease this year; and WHEREAS, every woman is at risk as nearly ninety percent of all women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history or known risk factors; and WHEREAS, there is no known cause of non-inherited breast cancer and there is no prevention; and WHEREAS, Caucasian women are more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women, however, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than Caucasian women; and WHEREAS, mammography does not prevent or cure breast cancer – it can only detect it earlier. Earlier detection followed by treatment increases the odds of living longer and when breast cancer is not diagnosed earlier, it is more deadly and expensive to treat; and WHEREAS, breast cancer costs this country more than $6 billion each year in medical costs and lost productivity and it costs families much more; and WHEREAS, Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, founded in 1992, is the only statewide grassroots organization in Virginia committed solely to the eradication of breast cancer through education and advocacy, and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Augusta hereby proclaims the month of October 2008 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and call upon our citizens to join the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation in its quest to eradicate this devastating disease.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, Pyles and Coleman Nays: None Motion carried.
Rita Handley spoke on behalf of the Foundation and thanked the Board for the recognition.
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC – NONE
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
The Board discussed the following issues:
Mr. Coleman commended the Board of Assessors for their public informational meetings yesterday.
Mr. Coleman moved, seconded by Ms. Sorrells, that the Board reappoint James Curd to serve a four-year term on the Planning Commission, effective January 1, 2009, to expire December 31, 2012.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, Pyles and Coleman Nays: None Motion carried.
Mr. Howdyshell discussed several officer positions within the Fire-Rescue Department and NIMS training requirements.
Mr. Howdyshell moved, seconded by Mr. Shifflett, that the following standard operation guidelines be adopted:
Officer Standards – Rescue Rescue Chief/Captain Minimum of:
– Three years EMS service experience; – Minimum qualification of a current EMT-B certification; – Serve one year as an operational officer in Augusta County; – 15 hours of officer training annually (if offered); – Vehicle extrication awareness; – NIMS (ICS 100, 200, 300, and 700) Comments:
– There should be no application of these standards to a newly organized company for the first three years of operation.
– Officer training from outside the County may be substituted if approved by the Augusta County Fire-Rescue Chief for the 15 hours required.
Exception:
– If these qualifications cannot be met, exceptions can be presented to the Augusta County Fire-Rescue Chief for consideration.
Officer Standards – Fire Fire Chief/Assistant Fire Chief Minimum of:
– Three years fire service experience; – Minimum qualification of a current Firefighter 1 certification; – Serve one year as an operational officer in Augusta County; – 15 hours of officer training annually (if offered); – Vehicle extrication awareness; – NIMS (ICS 100, 200, 300, and 700) Comments:
– There should be no application of these standards to a newly organized company for the first three years of operation.
– Officer training from outside the County may be substituted if approved by the Augusta County Fire-Rescue Chief for the 15 hours required.
Exception:
– If these qualifications cannot be met, exceptions can be presented to the Augusta County Fire-Rescue Chief for consideration.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, Pyles and Coleman Nays: None Motion carried.
Mr. Howdyshell also indicated that Rockingham County will be staffing Grottoes and Bridgewater 24/7 and charging the County on a pro-rata basis. He wanted the Board to keep this in mind when considering various emergency services issues.
Mr. Pyles discussed the financial hardships that County citizens are experiencing in the current economy, the composite index, and property values.
Mr. Pyles moved that the general reassessment be postponed for two years.
Mr. Garber moved, seconded by Mr. Pyles, that the Board table the discussion regarding postponing the general reassessment until October 20, 2008.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, Pyles and Coleman Nays: None Motion carried.
Mr. Howdyshell had questions about the legality of holding the reassessment for two years and whether current property values will be honored. The Chairman asked the County Attorney to look into the matter.
Ms. Sorrells had attended the reassessment meeting and talked with Mr. Hickey, who indicated that a 90-day extension could be requested in order to see if the market settled down. This may be a potential delaying action that could be considered. The tax relief cap for the elderly and disabled could also be extended.
Mr. Garber said there are many points and needs to be considered.
The Chairman said the reassessment brings property values in line for the buyer and seller.
Ms. Sorrells:
1. Citizens on Pines Chapel Road have expressed appreciation for their Rural Rustic Roads paving.
2. An application was on its way to add a building in Greenville to the County’s current pump and haul permit with the State Health Department.
3. She had accompanied the Sheriff’s Department in a drive-around through the Greenville area, and this invitation was extended to any other supervisors for their districts.
BLUE RIDGE DISABILITY SERVICES BOARD – APPOINTMENT
Mr. Shifflett moved, seconded by Mr. Howdyshell, that the Board appoint David F. Law, Jr. to serve a three-year term on the Blue Ridge Disability Services Board, effective November 1, 2008, to expire October 31, 2011, and accept the resignation of Marie Overstreet with a letter of thanks for her service.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, and Coleman Nays: None
Absent: Pyles
Motion carried.
Chairman Beyeler indicated that he and Mr. McGehee participated in a conference call with VACo, and it was anticipated that the Governor would be announcing a $2 billion shortfall.
ARTS AND HISTORY ALLIANCE
Ms. Sorrells explained that she was a member of the Augusta County Historical Society and on the Smith Center, LLC, and would not be participating in this discussion or the vote.
The Board considered agreements for year four (4) of the Arts and History Alliance agreements.
R. R. Smith Center Foundation $20,000 Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation $20,000 New Dixie Theatre, Inc. D/B/A $10,000 Wayne Theatre Alliance, Inc. $10,000 $60,000 Patrick Coffield, County Administrator, provided some background information.
Katherine Brown and Rick Chittum, of the R.R. Smith Center Foundation, expressed their appreciation to the Board for its grant assistance.
Mr. Browning, of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation, also thanked the Board.
Mr. Coleman moved, seconded by Mr. Garber, that the Board approve the agreements with the changes as noted.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, and Coleman Nays: None
Absent: Pyles
Abstained: Sorrells Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Howdyshell moved, seconded by Mr. Shifflett, that the Board approve the consent agenda as follows:
MINUTES
Approved minutes of the following meetings:
• Staff Briefing Meeting, Monday, September 22, 2008
CLAIMS
Approved claims paid since September 10, 2008 Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, and Coleman Nays: None
Absent: Pyles
Motion carried.
MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY STAFF
Staff discussed the following:
1. The 2009 holiday schedule was presented to the Board.
Mr. Howdyshell moved, seconded by Ms. Sorrells, that the Board adopt the following holiday schedule for 2009:
Holiday Schedule 2009 Holidays Observed New Year’s Day January 1 Day after New Year’s Day (Extra) January 2 President’s Day February 16 Memorial Day May 25 Fourth of July July 3 Labor Day September 7 Columbus Day October 12 Thanksgiving Day November 26 Day after Thanksgiving Day November 27 Day before Christmas (Extra) December 24 Christmas Day December 25 Personal Day (King Day-Lee-Jackson, Veterans Day) Total Days (12) Twelve Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, and Coleman Nays: None
Absent: Pyles
Motion carried.
2. Delinquent tax collection briefing on future Staff Briefing
3. Drought relief – no response to date from Governor
4. FFA donations – Board may be receiving requests
5. Verona Park grant awarded for trail
6. Health insurance rates for 2009; revenue recovery impact; percentage rate of increases; flu shots; “wellness fairs” discussed 7. Thank-you letter from Judge Wood 8. E&S report from State distributed 9. School Board joint meeting with Board of Supervisors – Board proposed
ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to come before the Board, Mr. Howdyshell moved, seconded by Ms. Sorrells, that the Board adjourn subject to call of the Chairman.
Vote was as follows: Yeas: Howdyshell, Sorrells, Garber, Beyeler, Shifflett, and Coleman Nays: None
Absent: Pyles
Motion carried.
Chairman County Administrator
H10-8min.08
