HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/8/2022 - Regular - DRAFT
February 8, 2022
479
Roanoke County Administration Center
5204 Bernard Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day at the
Roanoke County Administration Center, this being the first regularly scheduled meeting
of the month of February 2022. Audio and video recordings of this meeting will be held
on file for a minimum of five (5) years in the office of the Clerk to the Board of
Supervisors.
IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES
Before the meeting was called to order, Pastor Schemm of Cave Spring
Baptist Church provided an invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all
present.
IN RE: CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. The roll
call was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chairman P. Jason Peters; Supervisors Martha B.
Hooker, Phil C. North and David F. Radford
MEMBERS ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
STAFF PRESENT: Daniel R. O’Donnell, County Administrator; Richard
Caywood, Assistant County Administrator; Rebecca Owens,
Assistant County Administrator; Peter S. Lubeck, County
Attorney; Amy Whittaker, Public Information Officer and
Deborah C. Jacks, Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board
IN RE: PROCLAMATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
1. Resolution recognizing Captain Robert Mauck for his exemplary
leadership to the COVID-19 pandemic Medical Control Unit
(Richard L. Caywood, County Administrator; C. Travis Griffith,
Chief of Fire and Rescue)
The Clerk read the resolution.
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RESOLUTION 020822-1 RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN ROBERT
MAUCK FOR HIS EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC MEDICAL CONTROL UNIT
WHEREAS, in March 2020, Captain Robert Mauck was assigned to serve on the
COVID-19 Medical Control Unit under the Incident Management System to oversee
safety policies and protocols for employees and citizens; and
WHEREAS, Captain Mauck was instrumental in creating the Daily Health
Assessment that Roanoke County employees have been using before arriving at work
daily; and
WHEREAS, Captain Mauck implemented the Roanoke County COVID-19 testing
program in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health; and
WHEREAS, Captain Mauck was instrumental in the implementation of Roanoke
County becoming certified as a laboratory site which cleared the way for the County to
procure test kits; and
WHEREAS, Captain Mauck facilitated the ordering and procurement of
thousands of COVID-19 PCR test kits—first, the self-administered mail-in test kits, and
second, test kits that could be processed at the new testing site on Penn Forest
Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, Captain Mauck has now tested over 1,678 employees, including
swabbing more than 1,347 employees; and
WHEREAS, Captain Mauck has served as the primary contact for Roanoke
County employees regarding guidance and questions concerning COVID-19 questions
symptoms, policy and best practices for nearly two years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County expresses its deepest appreciation and the appreciation of the citizens
of Roanoke County to Captain Robert Mauck for nearly two years of dedicated service
to mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping Roanoke County employees safe; and
FURTHER, the Board of Supervisors does express its best wishes for continued
success in the future.
On motion of Supervisor Hooker to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
North and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Peters, Hooker, North, Radford
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
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IN RE: NEW BUSINESS
1. Resolution authorizing the execution of an amended
Memorandum of Understanding between Roanoke County and the
Town of Vinton (Rebecca Owens, Assistant County Administrator)
Also in attendance were Vinton Mayor Grose, Town Manager Richard
“Pete” Peters, Assistant Town Manager Cody Sexton, Town Council member Mike
Stovall and Mary Beth Nash, Senior Assistant County Attorney.
Ms. Owens outlined the request for resolution.
Supervisor Radford stated they will be selling assets on July 31, 2022, and
wanted to know if the Western Virginia Water Authority has looked at with Ms. Owens
responding Pete Peters has been working with the Authority on those assets.
Mayor Gross thanked the Board for the continuing partnership. There was
no further discussion.
RESOLUTION 020822-2 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF
AN AMENDED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN ROANOKE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF VINTON
WHEREAS, Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding dated April 9, 2019 (“2019 MOU”), to provide for the
sharing of certain local tax revenues and the sharing of the costs of certain public
services and assigning responsibility for certain aspects of public safety; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to memorialize the completion of certain
obligations under the 2019 MOU and amend the agreement with regard to the
disposition of certain assets, fiscal obligations and the provision of public services; and
WHEREAS, both parties employ a fiscal year that commences on July 1 of a
given year and ends on June 30 of the subsequent year (“fiscal year”); and
WHEREAS, Roanoke County and the Town have agreed to an Amended
Memorandum of Understanding and the Board of Supervisors needs to authorize the
County Administrator to execute same, with an effective date of July 1, 2022 and
terminating on June 30, 2027.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Amended Memorandum of Understanding is hereby approved in a
form substantially similar to the one presented to the Board of Supervisors and
approved by the County Attorney.
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2. The County Administrator is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the
County, to execute and then deliver the Memorandum of Understanding and any other
necessary documents in furtherance of the same.
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
North and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Hooker, North, Radford, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
IN RE: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
1. Ordinance accepting and appropriating funds in the amount of
$1,157.89 from the Asian American Business Owner Association
for the County of Roanoke Fire and Rescue Department (C. Travis
Griffith, Chief of Fire and Rescue)
Chief Griffith outlined the request for the ordinance. There was no
discussion.
Supervisor Radford’s motion to approve the first reading and set the
second reading for February 22, 2022, was seconded by Supervisor Hooker and
approved by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Hooker, North, Radford, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
2. Ordinance accepting and appropriating a donation from the
Friends of the Roanoke County Public Library in the amount of
$20,000 for use by the Roanoke County Library Department (Sara
McKnight, Acting Assistant Director of Library Services)
Ms. McKnight outlined the request for ordinance; used for summer reading
program. There was no discussion.
Supervisor North’s motion to approve the first reading and set the second
reading for February 22, 2022, was seconded by Supervisor Radford and approved by
the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Hooker, North, Radford, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
.
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IN RE: SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES
1. Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real property containing
approximately 2.25 acres, which is part of a parcel owned by
Parkway Wesleyan Church, Inc., located at 3645 Orange Avenue
NE in the City of Roanoke, Virginia (City of Roanoke Tax Parcel
No. 7110105), for fire and rescue purposes; and authorizing the
execution of a purchase agreement, a deed of conveyance, any
necessary zoning petitions or applications for use of said real
property for fire and rescue purposes and any other documents
necessary to accomplish the acquisition and proposed use of
said real property (Rachel Lower, Senior Assistant County
Attorney; Richard L. Caywood, County Administrator)
Mr. Caywood provided an update. He noted that the property would
require land use action by the City and preapplication was made yesterday.
Ms. Lower outlined the changes that have been made; the draft purchase
agreement has been changed to a 120 day due diligence inspection to account for the
rezoning requests that the County is going to have to send to the City. So, the date
have been changed to reflect that. The draft deed has been changed to reflect the
requirement of the County’s Charter to make a finding that there is a public necessity for
the acquisition that is outside of the County boundaries. There was no discussion.
ORDINANCE 020822-3 AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF
REAL PROPERTY CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 2.25
ACRES, WHICH IS PART OF A PARCEL OWNED BY PARKWAY
WESLEYAN CHURCH, INC., LOCATED AT 3645 ORANGE
AVENUE NE IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA (CITY OF
ROANOKE TAX PARCEL NO. 7110105), FOR FIRE AND
RESCUE PURPOSES; AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION
OF A PURCHASE AGREEMENT, A DEED OF CONVEYANCE,
ANY NECESSARY ZONING PETITIONS OR APPLICATIONS
FOR USE OF SAID REAL PROPERTY FOR FIRE AND RESCUE
PURPOSES AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO
ACCOMPLISH THE ACQUISITION AND PROPOSED USE OF
SAID REAL PROPERTY
WHEREAS, in order to enhance services for Roanoke County residents, and to
reduce demands on other fire and rescue stations, staff have identified a need for a new
fire and rescue station to be built near the Bonsack area and within the Route 460
corridor; and
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WHEREAS, the addition of this 12th Roanoke County fire and rescue facility is
expected to replace services currently provided by Read Mountain Fire and Rescue
Department, will reduce demands on Vinton Fire Department and Roanoke City Station
#14, and will improve response times to certain Roanoke County addresses; and
WHEREAS, the County must first acquire real property to build a new fire and
rescue facility upon; and
WHEREAS, Parkway Wesleyan Church, Inc. is the owner of a certain parcel of
real property located at 3645 Orange Avenue NE in Roanoke City, Virginia, bearing City
of Roanoke Tax Parcel No. 7110105 and containing approximately 70.7850 acres (“the
Church Property”); and
WHEREAS, Parkway Wesleyan Church, Inc. is willing to subdivide from the
Church Property and create a new parcel to sell to the County, said new parcel
containing approximately 2.25 acres, for the County to use and build upon for fire and
rescue purposes (“the New Parcel”); and
WHEREAS, funds were appropriated for the land purchase with the approval of
the FY 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program budget ordinance #051121-6 and are
available in the Capital Fund for this project; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County has determined that it
is in the public interest to acquire the New Parcel, under certain terms and agreements
outlined in a purchase agreement;
WHEREAS, § 2.03 of the Roanoke County Charter provides that the County,
upon a showing of public necessity, may acquire property within or without its
boundaries for any of its facilities or functions;
WHEREAS, the Board finds that there is a showing of public necessity for the
County to purchase the New Parcel which is located in the City of Roanoke due to the
following factors: (1) the limited availability of appropriate parcels in the Bonsack area
and within the 460 corridor for the County to acquire and build upon, (2) the need for
signalized access to and from a fire and rescue facility, and (3) the costs associated
with the acquisition and construction of a fire and rescue facility;
WHEREAS, § 18.04 of the Roanoke County Charter directs that the acquisition
and conveyance of real estate interests be accomplished by ordinance; the first reading
of this ordinance to be held on January 25, 2022, and the second reading to be held on
February 8, 2022;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke
County, Virginia, as follows:
1. That there is a showing of public necessity for the County to acquire property
without its boundaries for the purpose of building a new fire and rescue facility
near the Bonsack area and within the Route 460 corridor.
2. That the acquisition of approximately 2.25 acres located in Roanoke City
(identified as part of City of Roanoke Tax Parcel No. 7110105) is hereby
authorized and approved at the purchase price of $540,000.00.
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3. That the grant of an option to Parkway Wesleyan Church, Inc. to purchase
back approximately 0.60 acres of the New Parcel for development purposes
is hereby approved at no cost to Parkway Wesleyan Church, Inc., so long as
said development purposes do not interfere with the County’s use of the New
Parcel for fire and rescue purposes.
4. That the County Administrator or Assistant County Administrator are hereby
authorized to execute such documents, including but not limited to the
purchase agreement, the deed of conveyance (with any changes as approved
by the County Attorney’s Office), a memorandum of option, any necessary
zoning petitions or applications for use of said real property for fire and rescue
purposes, and any other documents necessary to accomplish the acquisition
and to take such actions on behalf of Roanoke County in this matter as are
necessary to accomplish the acquisition of this real estate, all of which shall
be approved as to form by the County Attorney.
5. That this ordinance is to be in full force and effect upon its passage.
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the ordinance, seconded by Supervisor
North and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Peters, Hooker, North, Radford
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
IN RE: CONSENT AGENDA
RESOLUTION 020822-4 APPROVING AND CONCURRING IN
CERTAIN ITEMS SET FORTH ON THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AGENDA FOR THIS DATE DESIGNATED AS
ITEM H- CONSENT AGENDA
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, as
follows:
That the certain section of the agenda of the Board of Supervisors for February
8, 2022, designated as Item H - Consent Agenda be, and hereby is, approved and
concurred in as to each item separately set forth in said section designated Items 1
through 4 inclusive, as follows:
1. Approval of minutes – September 21, 2021
2. Resolution expressing the appreciation of the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County to Kevin Hicks, Deputy Sheriff, upon his retirement after
more than fourteen (14) years of service
3. Resolution expressing the appreciation of the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County to Scott C. Morgan, Firefighter/EMT, upon his retirement
after thirty-six (36) years of service
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4. Request to accept and allocate grant funds in the amount of $35,350.70 for
two (2) heart monitor defibrillators from the Virginia Department of Health
(VDH)
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Peters, Hooker, North, Radford
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
RESOLUTION 020822-4.a EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION
OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ROANOKE COUNTY
TO KEVIN HICKS, DEPUTY SHERIFF, UPON HIS
RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN FOURTEEN (14) YEARS OF
SERVICE
WHEREAS, Kevin Hicks was employed by Roanoke County on April 17, 2006;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hicks retired on April 1, 2021, after fourteen (14) years and
eleven (11) months of devoted, faithful and expert service to Roanoke County; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hicks, through his employment with Roanoke County, has been
instrumental in improving the quality of life and providing services to the citizens of
Roanoke County; and
WHEREAS, throughout Mr. Hicks’ tenure with Roanoke County, he has served
the citizens of Roanoke County as a Deputy Sheriff, a Deputy Medic, a shift supervisor,
and most notably as the Assistant Director of the Roanoke County Criminal Justice
Academy when it evolved in 2007. While there, he was responsible for the training and
certification of an exceptionally large number of recruits during the formation of the
Western Virginia Regional Jail staff, over the course of several years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County expresses its deepest appreciation and the appreciation of the citizens
of Roanoke County to KEVIN HICKS for more than fourteen (14) years of capable, loyal
and dedicated service to Roanoke County; and
FURTHER, the Board of Supervisors does express its best wishes for a happy
and productive retirement.
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Peters, Hooker, North, Radford
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
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RESOLUTION 020822-4.b EXPRESSING THE APPRECIATION
OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ROANOKE COUNTY
TO SCOTT C. MORGAN, FIREFIGHTER/EMT, UPON HIS
RETIREMENT AFTER MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX (36) YEARS OF
SERVICE
WHEREAS, Firefighter/EMT Scott Morgan was employed by Roanoke County on
January 21, 1986; and
WHEREAS, Firefighter Morgan retired on January 29, 2022 after thirty-six years
and of devoted, faithful, and expert service to Roanoke County; and
WHEREAS, during Firefighter Morgan’s tenure with the Fire and Rescue
Department, he served on a number of specialty teams including Hazardous Materials,
Virginia Department of Forestry, and United States Forest Service; and
WHEREAS, Firefighter Morgan held training certifications including Emergency
Medical Technician, Firefighter 1-3, Emergency Vehicle Operator 1-3, Aerial Ladder
Operator, and Pump Operator; and
WHEREAS, Firefighter Morgan served on the following significant emergency events
over his 36 years including the 1989 Shenandoah Homes Retirement Community
Fire, 2001 Poage Valley Fire, 2002 Starlight Lane Tire and Brush Fire, 2008 Green
Ridge Mountain Fire and the 2012 Derecho; and
WHEREAS, Firefighter Morgan was deployed to Florida during the summer of
1998 as part of seven-person RCFRD crew who assisted with an unprecedented series
of wildland fires that burned nearly 500,000 acres, along with more than 150 structures
and 86 vehicles, in more than 2,200 individual fires; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County expresses its deepest appreciation and the appreciation of the citizens
of Roanoke County to Scott C. Morgan for more than thirty-six years of capable, loyal,
and dedicated service to Roanoke County; and
FURTHER, the Board of Supervisors does express its best wishes for a happy
and productive retirement.
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Peters, Hooker, North, Radford
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
A-020822-4.c
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IN RE: REPORTS
Supervisor Hooker moved to receive and file the following reports. The
motion was seconded by Supervisor Radford and carried by the following recorded
vote:
AYES: Supervisors Hooker, North, Radford, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Mahoney
1. Unappropriated, Board Contingency and Capital Reserves Report
2. Outstanding Debt Report
IN RE: REPORTS AND INQUIRIES OF BOARD MEMBERS
Supervisor Hooker reminded all her constituents in the Catawba Valley
there will be a Catawba Neighborhood Watch Meeting on Wednesday, February 16,
2022, at 7:00 p.m. We will be discussing some of their landline issues and broadband
initiatives. She and staff will be there; love to have more residents there. It should be
very good and informative meeting. Next, she advised that tomorrow is her Dad’s
birthday and he will be 92 years old. Happy birthday to her dad, Dale Baird, who lives in
Houston, Texas. She added there was a great announcement about Lowe’s distribution
for the Glenvar area was announced this week. It is very exciting; 60,000 square feet
and $11 million investment, 70 jobs will be included. It will be located in the Catawba
district at Valley Tech Park, which is in the Glenvar community so we are very excited.
She thanked staff, especially Jill Loope, for all her good work. Sometimes these
projects take years to come to fruition and she knows that Jill has worked for some time
on this. We are very excited.
Supervisor North stated he was recently appointed chair of the Virginia
Association of Counties (VACo) Transportation Steering committee for 2022 and
reappointed to the Economic Development Steering committee. He understands that
Mr. Caywood will join him on the Transportation Steering Committee. So, good things
will happen in the Commonwealth. In other news, in Richmond this past week at the
VACO General Assembly Day County Administrator Caywood, County Attorney
Lubeck and he shared our Board's legislative agenda with various delegates and
senators in our area and otherwise. On Wednesday afternoon, he attended the
Finance committee where the HB 90, grocery tax exemption bill was considered. It
passed 13-7 and was sent to appropriations committee. This bill would save on
average $70 per person or $280 per year for a household of four; currently the tax
is 2.5%, with 1% to the County, 1% to the Schools and .5% to our transportation fund.
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However, the County's share of this is estimated at $2.9 million, which is proposed
be passed along as a supplemental payment to the Schools share of $3 million for a
total of $5.9 million each year or an increase of $2.9 million for schools and a
decrease for the County or $2.9 million. On the Senate side, their companion bill,
SB 451, their grocery tax version is a 1.5% reduction and was defeated 9 to 8, but
was brought back immediately for further debate tomorrow because the Senate feels
like they need to have some leverage when they go to conference, which is when the
House and Senate get together to figure out their budgets. This bill proposes to keep
the County whole, but reduces school and transportation, relying on the general fund
to keep schools and transportation funded. Another bill, with local general assembly
bi-partisan support, which was presented last Thursday to the House Rules
committee, HB 105, presented by Delegate Rasoul concerned Catawba hospital in
Roanoke County. This bill proposes a study and funding for adding substance
abuse treatment and addiction recovery facility to the Catawba Hospital current
services. In our region, substance abuse has increased 42% in 2021.The bill passed
17 to 0 and reported to the appropriations sub-committee for funding consideration.
Yesterday, The General Government and Capital Outlay sub-committee voted to
pass 7-0. The bill also had unanimous support of the Roanoke Valley Allegheny
Regional Commission and was supported to the committee by speakers from
Carillon, VACO, Roanoke County and himself as Chairman of the RVARC. One last
note is it is hoped that a State budget is passed before County budgets are
finalized. That remains to be seen.
Supervisor Radford stated we lost a couple of the economic engines in
the County this past week. A developer builder by the name of Doug Dalton, who
created Kingston Court and Meadow Creek both in the Windsor Hills District as well as
other subdivisions and developments. He met him for the first time in 1988 at a
homebuilders meeting and convinced him to buy a property and the rest is a long
story. He has a son, D. Dalton, who is a builder in our community right now. He left a
good basis with his son to continue on his work and will be sorely missed. The second
individual just passed away yesterday due to COVID complications. A long-time CPA
from North County, he had been our family CPA since the 1960’s, so we have over 60
years. We pray for his family and he served a lot of builders, not only in our County,
but also in Montgomery County and other areas because he knew that industry, knew
what our balance sheets and income statements needed to look like; he was very
helpful to our industry. Both of those gentlemen will be sorely missed in our
community.
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Supervisor Peters spoke about broadband noting he is hearing more and
more about that lately and the lack of sufficient broadband. He was asked by a group
he met with two (2) weeks ago that he would present to Administration. Have we
looked into; we are seeing all the advertisements on TV with Glo Fiber. Is anything
like that coming into Roanoke County that would give people other options rather than
what they are currently using? County Administrator, Richard Caywood responded
that it is his understanding they are looking at the idea of expanding into the County;
he can reach back out to them to see what time horizon, but they are certainly allowed
to do that and does not require any approvals from the County to do that. They have
expressed interest, but will find out the timetable.
rd
Vice Chairman Peters recessed to the 3 floor at 3:37 p.m. for work
session.
IN RE: WORK SESSIONS
1. Work session to review with the Board of Supervisors fiscal year
2022-2023 projected General Government Fund operating budget
revenues and review updates to the County of Roanoke Fee
Compendium (Steve Elliott, Budget Manager; Laurie Gearheart,
Director of Finance and Management Services)
Mr. Caywood provided and overview and turned the meeting over to Mr.
Elliott who provided a PowerPoint presentation to review the projected operating budget
and the fee compendium.
Supervisor Peters inquired who much revenue is expected with the
cigarette tax with Mr. Elliott responding approximately $500,000.
Supervisor Radford inquired with regard to recordation fees noting with the
threat of the interest rate being raise a couple of times how has staff forecasted based
on that. Mr. Elliott responded we are not projecting at the same level that we have
been, but it's still higher than what we had budgeted this year. We had lowered our
budget anticipation of some changes from the state legislation a couple years ago. So,
we have some room to adjust up, to kind of meet in the middle on that. So, we don't
expect it to stay at the same level. But the decline that we may see will still be above
what we have budgeted.
Supervisor North noted there was a bill that was supposed to restore
recordation funds, but he does not think that will help. Mr. Elliott responded he would
check and advise.
Supervisor Radford asked if we are getting sales tax off internet sales with
Mr. Elliott responding we are still. The data we saw, and the way we came up with this
calculation, is we projected, trending our kind of normal trend growth on sales tax,
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would take us into the $14.6 million neighborhood. It was over $14 million, but then
information we saw from Jim Regimbal, with the State, his analysis was that we would
lose about $2.9 million from the elimination of the grocery tax. But we share a portion of
that with the Town of Vinton. So, we did the calculation, it would be a net loss to us of
about $2.67 million. So, we pulled that off. Then there is natural growth with just the
remainder of sales tax. However, the elimination of the grocery tax would, if it stays in
place, would be about two and a half million dollars more than what we have here.
Supervisor Radford responded so you are being influenced by the
supposed legislation with Mr. Elliott responding in the affirmative.
Supervisor North explained because one house has got one bill, which
takes the money away from us. The other house has got a bill that doesn't. So, you've
got two opposing bills. You have to go to conference; and that's when the money
committee chairmen sit down and four people figure out what they're going to do. Who
knows what that's going to be?
Mr. Caywood stated he feels we're better off to build our assumption
around not having the money, and then receive it, than the other way around.
Supervisor Radford stated back to the internet sales. He does not quite understand how
you arrived at that. But let me give you an example. If I go over to Best Buy, and buy it
over there in Roanoke City, they receive the sales tax. If I go on the internet, buy the
same thing, don't we receive the sales tax? Mr. Elliott responded in the affirmative.
Supervisor Radford stated so if we doing more internet buying than we are walking
over. So, to me, that ought to have a nice growth on it. Mr. Elliott stated it is.
Supervisor Radford responded it ought to overcome the $2.4 million. Mr. Elliott
responded it does not grow quite that fast. The grocery tax does account for more sales
than we kind of anticipated. When we saw the data of actually how much of our sales
tax comes from the grocery tax. Supervisor Radford responded he felt that the
projections seem low on internet sales. Mr. Elliott responded we have a few years of
data, at this point, two or three years of data on the internet sales tax, which you see
there in fiscal year 2020 and 2021. So, we were projecting that for the remainder of this
year. If things were to stay the same, that trend would continue, from our projection for
this year of $13.6 million up to $14.4, let's say. But then the grocery tax is $2.67 million
of that. So, we would have to take that off, if it's totally eliminated. It's just money we
won't have next year.
Supervisor Radford next stated he has gotten complaints over the years
with the category of professional, of us taxing a real estate agent versus a doctor or
lawyer, going to be in the same category. Is that common across the State? Mr. Elliott
responded in the affirmative.
Supervisor Peters asked with regard to Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, is it
something that is re-certified so many years, or is it just forever, with Mr. Blount
responding he believes it is permanent. He explained when the General Assembly took
action to allow the County governments to be able to change their transit occupancy
tax. He believes that unless the jurisdiction decided not to provide the funding to that
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organization anymore. Additionally, my understanding is, is that percentage then would
go away. If we decided, if there wasn't a destination marketing organization for Roanoke
County. Supervisor peters asked what our current rate is with Mr. Blount responding
7%. Supervisor Peters then asked what was Roanoke City allowing with Mr. Blount
responding the City is 1% higher on transient occupancy tax, and thinks it’s a higher
percentage that goes to Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
Supervisor Peters stated if everything else falls flat on funding for the
schools, would we be allowed to do something as the City did a number of years ago,
say, to raise our meals tax to 6% for three years, and have a sunset on it? Or is it, once
it's done, it's done? County Attorney Peters Lubeck responded in the affirmative.
Supervisor Radford inquired with regard to the building fees, are these
numbers the minimum amount charged with Tarek Moneir, Director of Development
Services responded in the affirmative.
Supervisor Peters asked is it fair to ask or is this going to be a surprise for
us when we're doing the budget development, do we know where we stand with the
employees? His concern is that he has seen, and many of the supervisors have seen
through the years, we always get behind the inflation numbers out there, and it carries
on year over year. We already know 3% in the step payment for police, fire rescue, and
sheriff is not going to hold. So, do we have any idea what we're going to do there?
Mr. Caywood responded staff has been working on that and is going to be
his highest priority as far as budget priorities, when we bring this to you. A good portion
of what we will do at the next meeting is going to be to talk about employee
compensation. He would probably rather not totally preview that in a public setting
tonight, but I'd like to let you all see that as a full group. But he thinks that if we don't, at
a minimum, keep up with inflation and have some ways to do some more than that,
we're going to have a whole lot of problems on our hands that won't be financial, that
will be lack of talent. Supervisor Peters responded it's hard to find talent, and it's hard
to keep it. Mr. Caywood continued stating he thinks that it both attracting the people we
would like to have, but in my mind, almost more importantly, retaining the people that
we have today. Another thing we're looking at that I know will be of interest to you in
particular, because we've discussed it in the past, is some options for our ECC folks.
And we're looking at playing around with some ideas for a great step system for them,
and what that might look like, because we have some critical staffing issues there. So, I
expect that to be a very robust and maybe somewhat lengthy work session, but I think
one that is very important.
The work session was held from 3:56 p.m. until 4:31 p.m.
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
February 8, 2022
493
Vice Chairman Peters adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m.
Submitted by: Approved by:
________________________ ___________________________________
Deborah C. Jacks P. Jason Peters
Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board Vice Chairman
February 8, 2022
494
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