Regular Meeting – June 10, 2020

Regular Meeting, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 7:00 p.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.

PRESENT: Gerald Garber, Chairman
Pam L. Carter, Vice-Chair
Butch Wells
Michael L. Shull
Scott Seaton
Jeffrey Slaven
Steven Morelli
Timothy K. Fitzgerald, County Administrator
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Deputy County Administrator
James Benkahla, County Attorney
Angie Michael, Executive Assistant (Via Electronic)

VIRGINIA: At a regular meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Wednesday, June 10 2020, at 7:00 p.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 244th year of the Commonwealth….

Chairman Garber welcomed the citizens present.

Mr. Morelli led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ms. Carter, Supervisor for the Pastures District, delivered the invocation.

INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

The Board considered a funding request for additional Fire-Rescue staffing in the amount of $236,191.00.

Funding Source: Pastures Infrastructure 8014-105 $78,730.33 North River Infrastructure 8013-64 $78,730.33 Beverley Manor Infrastructure 8011-100 $78,730.34 Timothy Fitzgerald, County Administrator, stated that there has been a funding request for Fire-Rescue staffing at Churchville Volunteer Fire and Rescue in the amount of $236,190.38. The Churchville Volunteer Fire and Rescue has been working with Administration, Mrs. Carter, and Mr. Slaven to create 24/7 staffing with career personnel to provide service for Churchville and the western part of the county. The first year of the additional staffing will be covered from Pastures, North River and Beverley Manor Infrastructure accounts. Next year the cost will be included into the normal operating budget. Also included in this request are Lt. Upgrades, bunkroom improvements, and roof replacement. An increase in Revenue Recovery of $59,800.62 has been accounted for to offset the total cost.

Chief Williams of Churchville Volunteer Fire and Rescue thanked the Board for considering this.

Ms. Carter thanked him for collaborating with the County on this project. She realizes the financial concerns.

Ms. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. Slaven, that the Board approve the funding request as presented.

Mr. Shull asked what the funding would cover for the Lt. Upgrades.

Mr. Fitzgerald stated that this funding is for the increase salaries for upgrades for Lieutenants. There will be three people promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Churchville Volunteer Fire and Rescue to manage the western side of the county.

There is one Lieutenant located at Company 10 and they manage from Company 10 to Craigsville.

Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.

REVENUE RECOVERY POLICY

The Board considered staff recommendations for policy revisions.

Misty Cook, Director of Finance, stated that there is a need for revenue for ambulance transports and EMS personnel. Ms. Cook has worked with the Public Safety Committee to create a proposal to revise the Revenue Recovery Policy. Currently the County has a compassionate billing policy, which means that County residents are not billed for services once their insurance company has paid. All other patients outside of the County are sent three statements and then the balance is written off if not paid. Finance is proposing the following amendments to the policy:

1. Amend the policy to allow non-resident patients to be sent to collection.

Currently there is no hard collections policy.

2. Amend the policy to state that any patient who receives payment for services directly from their insurance, but does not remit payment to the County for these services will be held responsible for their bill regardless of the locality they reside in. If payment is not received within 90 days, the account will be turned over to collections.

3. Amend the policy to add that the County will honor financial assistance letters from local hospitals. Invoices will be adjusted based on the assistance percentage in the letter.

4. Amend the policy to offer a 10% cash discount for all uninsured patients who do not fall under the compassionate billing section.

5. Add a policy to allow the County to bill commercial payors for treatment but no transport.

6. Add a policy to allow more billable services on the fee schedule.

7. Several life members of volunteer agencies have stated that they will not have to pay balances owed to the County. If it is the Board’s desire to adhere to this, it should be clearly stated in the billing policy.

REVENUE RECOVERY POLICY (CON’TD)

Finance recommends that rates for transports be increased. The cost of operating an ambulance has not decreased, it only continues to increase. Rates in surrounding localities have been reviewed as well as Medicare allowable rates. It is recommended that the rate be set at 125% of Medicare allowable. This increase will benefit Revenue Recovery and the volunteer agencies because they get a portion of the rates that come in.

Ms. Carter asked several questions regarding the spreadsheet that Ms. Cook gave to the Board.

Mr. Morelli asked when this would be effective.

Ms. Cook stated that she would like to see it become effective July 1, 2020.

Mr. Shull asked if Augusta County had Mutual Aid with Highland County Mr. Fitzgerald stated that it was in progress.

Dr. Seaton thanked Ms. Cook for her hard work on the amendments to the policy. He would like to have an update on a yearly basis regarding the policy.

Mr. Wells commended Ms. Cook on her hard work and agrees with Dr. Seaton with getting an annual update on the matter.

Ms. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. Morelli, that the Board approve the Revenue Recovery Policy revisions as presented.

Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.

WAIVERS

The Board considered a waiver request from Sally Behm from the requirement to connect to public water and sewer.

Mr. Fitzgerald stated that Sally Behm submitted a waiver request from the requirement to connect to the public water and sewer lines in order to create a new 10.538 acre lot from TM 82-70, located in the Urban Service Area. Ms. Behm has provided an estimate to extend water and sewer lines from a local contractor, but the cost is unreasonable. An easement would be required across the adjoining property to extend the public water and sewer line to her property. The adjoining property owner has declined her request for an easement. The Augusta County Service Authority has stated that this connection would be very difficult without access through the adjoining property. Staff recommends approval of the request.

WAIVERS

Mr. Shull moved, seconded by Mr. Wells, that the Board approve the waiver request.

Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.

CONSENT AGENDA

Ms. Carter moved, seconded by Mr. Shull, that the Board approve the consent agenda as follows:

CLAIMS

Consider claims paid since May 1, 2020.

Vote was as follows: Yeas: Garber, Carter, Wells, Shull, Slaven, Seaton and Morelli Nays: None Motion carried.

MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC

Steve Morris, 203 Hotchkiss Road, Churchville, thanked the Board for looking out for Churchville. He feels Augusta County needs more volunteers in the Fire/Rescue stations.

Steven Grepps, 63 Eastgate Drive, Verona, thanked the Board for what they done for Churchville. He is concerned with the number of members leaving Augusta County to other jurisdictions. Pay, staffing, and opportunities are many of the reasons for leaving.

An incentive pay have been taken out of the budget, but it is needed to retain the fire/rescue personnel that we currently have.

MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE BOARD

Dr. Seaton gave an update on COVID-19.

Mr. Shull has spoken with Delegate Campbell and Eric Bond on school opening up in the fall. Transportation to and from school will one of the biggest issues.

MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY STAFF

Timothy Fitzgerald, County Administrator discussed the following issues:

1) Steve Landes, Clerk of Court, has been researching the history of the courthouse. He would like to place a historical marker at the courthouse. No funding support has been mentioned.

CLOSED SESSION

On motion of Ms. Carter, seconded by Mr. Shull, the Board went into closed session pursuant to:

(1) the personnel exemption under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(1) [discussion, consideration or interviews of (a) prospective candidates for employment, or (b) assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific employees]:

a) Boards and Commissions: Youth Commission, Economic Development Authority, Ag & Forestal Dist., Planning Commission, Shenandoah Workforce Development (2) the real property exemption under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(3) [discussion of the acquisition for a public purpose, or disposition, of real property]:

a) Ladd Elementary School b) Verona Elementary School c) Augusta County Courthouse (3) the economic development exemption under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5) [discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of its interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the county]:

a) Proposed Office space, flex space, storage facilities, manufacturing facilities, utility and mixed use development.

On motion of Ms. Carter, seconded by Mr. Shull, the Board came out of Closed Session.