HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/22/2017 - Regular
August 22, 2017
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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 only scheduled meeting for the
month of August 2017. 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 a moment of silence was
observed. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.
IN RE: CALL TO ORDER
Chairman McNamara called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. The roll call
was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Joseph P. McNamara, Supervisors Al Bedrosian,
Martha B. Hooker and P. Jason Peters
MEMBERS ABSENT: Supervisor George G. Assaid
STAFF PRESENT: Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator; Daniel R.
O’Donnell, Assistant County Administrator; Richard
Caywood, Assistant County Administrator; Ruth Ellen
Kuhnel, 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 and celebrating Hollins University during
its 175th Anniversary (Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator)
RESOLUTION 082217-1 RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING
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HOLLINS UNIVERSITY DURING ITS 175 ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Hollins University is celebrating 175 years of preparing students for
lives of active learning, fulfilling work, personal growth, achievement and service in the
Roanoke Valley; and
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WHEREAS, Hollins University began as Valley Union Seminary in 1842 and
became an all-female institution in 1851; and
WHEREAS, the founding principle of Charles Lewis Cocke that “young women
require the same thorough and rigid mental training as is afforded to young men,” has
guided Hollins University as it has evolved into a women’s liberal arts institution of
excellence, with all-female undergraduate programs complemented by ten, coed
graduate programs; and
WHEREAS, throughout its history, Hollins University has contributed to the
vitality and cultural diversity of the Roanoke Valley through its performing arts programs,
the Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center, and the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum; and
WHEREAS, the University has been a community partner for Roanoke County
and the Roanoke Valley on projects such as the Hollins Area Plan and the Tinker Creek
Greenway connection through University property, which allows students and the
community to enjoy the area’s greenway system; and
WHEREAS, Hollins University continues to garner national attention and
recognition for its academics and campus life, including recognition for its strength in art
and design, film and television, and dance by Fiske Guide to Colleges, for its low
student-faculty ratios by U.S. News & World Report, and for its financial strength by
Forbes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke
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County, Virginia, that it recognizes and congratulates Hollins University on its 175
anniversary for its achievements and contributions to Roanoke County and Virginia’s
Blue Ridge; and
FURTHER, the Board expresses its appreciation for the strong relationship
forged between the University and the County throughout its history as a prestigious
higher education institution.
On motion of Supervisor Bedrosian to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor McNamara and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Bedrosian, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
2. Resolution recognizing and celebrating Roanoke College during
its 175th anniversary (Thomas C. Gates, County Administrator)
RESOLUTION 082217-02 RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING
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ROANOKE COLLEGE DURING ITS 175 ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Roanoke College is celebrating 175 years since its founding as a
small Lutheran preparatory school for boys; and
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WHEREAS, in 1842 two Lutheran pastors, David Bittle and Christopher
Baughman, founded the Virginia Institute in Mt. Tabor, Virginia and incorporated as
Virginia Collegiate Institute in 1845; and
WHEREAS, after searching for a better location and a larger population from
which to draw students, the institute moved to Salem, Virginia in 1847, and in 1853 it
was granted its collegiate charter as Roanoke College, making it the second oldest
Lutheran college in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Roanoke College has experienced tremendous growth in its
academic prestige and physical size to become a four-year, liberal arts college with
more than 2,000 men and women from diverse backgrounds and over 80 acres of
suburban campus; and
WHEREAS, students of the College benefit from over 101 areas of study and a
core curriculum known as Intellectual Inquiry, which is considered one of the most
innovative in the country, leading to graduates that strengthen the community; and
WHEREAS, Roanoke College ranked in the top 10% of American colleges and
universities by Forbes Magazine in 2015, and has been recognized several times
among national up-and-coming liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke
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County, Virginia, that it recognizes and congratulates Roanoke College during its 175
anniversary for its achievements and contributions to Roanoke County and Virginia’s
Blue Ridge.
FURTHER, the Board expresses its appreciation to Roanoke College for its
history as an institution of impact and influence in the community.
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor Peters and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Bedrosian, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
IN RE: BRIEFINGS
1. Briefing on police activities and issues in Roanoke County
(Howard B. Hall, Chief of Police)
Chief Hall provided a PowerPoint presentation, a copy is on file in the
office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
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IN RE: NEW BUSINESS
1. Resolution granting signatory authority to the County
Administrator, or his designee, to execute an updated project
administration agreement with the Virginia Department of
Transportation, for the Plantation Road Bicycle, Pedestrian and
Streetscape Improvement Project (David Holladay, Planning
Administrator)
Mr. Holladay outlined the request for resolution. Supervisor McNamara
asked if this is specific to the Plantation Road project, is this specific to funding we have
already approved with Mr. Holladay confirming both. Supervisor McNamara then asked
if this will allow revenue sharing money that is undesignated to be a part of this project
without Board approval with Mr. Holladay responding in the negative. This is specific to
Plantation Road and what was approved last January.
Supervisor Hooker asked specifically about VDOT asking for this
resolution designating signatory authority and how is this different than we have
proceeded in the past and what is the motivation. Mr. Holladay stated in some
instances where we have acceptance and allocations, we have attached a signatory
statement to the resolution or ordinance. We have done it numerous times on
Plantation Road and in hindsight it would probably been best to attach a signatory
statement to the ordinance that was passed in January. They have tightened their
regulations and their procedures for locally administered projects as they move into this
realm of working with local governments to administer their own projects.
Supervisor Bedrosian just wanted confirmation that after somebody signs
it is done with Mr. Holladay responding in the affirmative. Any additional action on this
project would need to come back to the Board for approval.
Supervisor Peters stated he takes this as streamlining to have the
designee to prevent coming back before this Board multiple times for appropriations.
Mr. Holladay stated it is just another step from what the Board approved in January.
Supervisor McNamara stated the reason he is supporting this because it is
not a blanket signatory that we were considering several months ago. It is specific to
what we already approved. So, if we want to change the project, if we want to add
money to that project, this does not allow it to happen without the Board’s approval.
Supervisor Bedrosian commented that it is not streamlining with Mr.
Holladay responding in the affirmative.
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RESOLUTION 082217-3 GRANTING SIGNATORY AUTHORITY
TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO
EXECUTE AN AMENDED PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
AGREEMENT WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PLANTATION ROAD BICYCLE,
PEDESTRIAN AND STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
WHEREAS, the County of Roanoke desires to have a safe and efficient road
system; and
WHEREAS, from time to time, the County of Roanoke and the Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT) work together to enhance the transportation
system; and
WHEREAS, certain agreements between the County of Roanoke and the Virginia
Department of Transportation must be executed for this cooperative work to be
accomplished; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2017, the Board of Supervisors adopted an
ordinance accepting and allocating additional funds for the Plantation Road Bicycle,
Pedestrian and Streetscape Improvement Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County, Virginia does hereby grant signatory authority to the County
Administrator or his designee to execute an amended project agreement with VDOT for
the Plantation Road Bicycle, Pedestrian and Streetscape Improvement Project.
On motion of Supervisor Peters to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
McNamara and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Bedrosian, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
IN RE: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
1. Ordinance authorizing the lease of the house and one acre of real
estate (Tax Map No. 75.00-2-36) located at Happy Hollow Park at
6697 Mt. Chestnut Road in the Windsor Hills Magisterial District
(Doug Blount, Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism)
Mr. Blount outlined the request for the ordinance. Supervisor Bedrosian
asked if the rent pays for upkeep with Mr. Blount responding in the affirmative.
Supervisor McNamara’s motion to approve the first reading and set the
second reading and public hearing for September 12, 2017, was seconded by
Supervisor McNamara and approved by the following vote:
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AYES: Supervisor Bedrosian, Hooker, McNamara, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
2. Ordinance authorizing the granting of a new public drainage
easement by Charles S. Kroll and Annette W. Kroll to the Board of
Supervisors of Roanoke County tax map no. 087.05-04-16.00 for
the purpose of facilitating storm water management, Cave Spring
Magisterial District (Tarek Moneir, Deputy Director of
Development)
Mr. Moneir outlined the request for the ordinance.
Supervisor McNamara’s motion to approve the first reading and set the
second reading and public hearing for September 12, 2017, was seconded by
Supervisor Peters and approved by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisor Bedrosian, Hooker, McNamara, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
3. Ordinance authorizing the granting of a new public drainage
easement by Donna R. Moran to the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County tax map no. 071.10-04-36.00 for the purpose of
facilitating storm water management, Vinton Magisterial District
(Tarek Moneir, Deputy Director of Development)
Mr. Moneir outlined the request for the ordinance.
Supervisor Peter’s motion to approve the first reading and set the second
reading and public hearing for September 12, 2017, was seconded by Supervisor
McNamara and approved by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisor Bedrosian, Hooker, McNamara, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
4. Ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute a
contract for the purchase of a facility situated on +/- 1.82 acres
located at 5285 Hollins Road in Roanoke County (Rob Light,
Director of General Services)
Mr. Light outlined the request for the ordinance.
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Supervisor Bedrosian’s motion to approve the first reading and set the
second reading for September 12, 2017, was seconded by Supervisor McNamara and
approved by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisor Bedrosian, Hooker, McNamara, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
5. Ordinance to amend the fiscal year 2017-2018 Capital Budget and
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus capital project by accepting
and appropriating Federal grant funding in the amount of
$860,455, appropriating County Capital Reserves in the amount of
$879,545, and reducing planned bonded indebtedness by
$1,600,000 (Stephen G. Simon, Chief of Fire and Rescue;
Christopher R. Bever, Director of Management and Budget)
Chief Simon provided the detail specific to the grant. Mr. Bever outlined
the financial impact.
Supervisor Peters’ motion to approve the first reading and set the second
reading for September 12, 2017, was seconded by Supervisor Hooker and approved by
the following vote:
AYES: Supervisor Ass Bedrosian, Hooker, McNamara, Peters
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
IN RE: CONSENT AGENDA
RESOLUTION 082217-4 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 August 22,
2017, 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 6 inclusive, as follows:
1. Approval of minutes – May 23, 2017
2. Request to accept and allocate a 50/50 matching grant in the amount of
$25,883 from the Virginia Department of Health (VDOH)
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3. Request to accept and allocate grant funds in the amount of $92,565.20 from
the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services for the Four-For-Life
distribution
4. Request to accept and allocate a 50/50 matching grant in the amount of
$49,652 from the Virginia Department of Health (VDOH)
5. Confirmation of appointments to the Social Services Advisory Board
(appointed by District)
6. Request for appointment of representative to the Roanoke County
Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT)
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by
Supervisor Hooker and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Bedrosian, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
A-082217-4.a
A-082217-4.b
A-082217-4.c
A-082217-4.d
A-082217-4.e
IN RE: CITIZENS’ COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Chairman McNamara asked the speakers to please stay at three minutes.
Kathy Chandler stated she was here to talk about surveying again and the
articulation with how that matches with issues about water, the County’s response to
DEQ, the use of resources assessed by the County on landowners without their consent
or knowledge and the lack of collaboration with landowners and especially with
surveying. There is a new round of blanket letters that continues to be persistent,
abusive and costly. It is persistent because it is properties that have been done before
and MVP continues to come and improve the job that they have not done well the first
time. It is abusive because they are blanket dates that do not allow working landowners
to be present to object with Police presence or to be present on their property. These
are working adults who are trying to earn a living wage and they are being put in a
situation to use their vacation time and their sick time to be present on their property
and that is because surveying is continuing to be allowed to happen. She would dare
say to the Board, “Have you missed a day of living wage in your job in Roanoke County
since surveying has begun?” and most clearly, this is rhetoric, you have not, but
landowners have been placed in that position every day. She knows a man that used
his last sick day in May to stand and be present on this property when they surveyed. It
is costly because of that to people; safety and security are at risk and it is an issue.
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These surveyors, you think you know what is going on, but you do not because you
have not been there. The police are not always on site when she has asked them to
come. They do not always accompany us. She meets them at the highway. The
people who accompany these surveyors outnumber the surveyor crew with security
almost every time and they are paramilitary trained people who have been to war-torn
areas of this world to recover bodies. They have told us that. These are not people
simply looking for Native American artifacts; these are big thugs who now disregard our
County’s police recommendation to go get a court order or whatever else they may ask
them to do. This last round of surveying, Mr. Caywood stated, “we have not heard of
any other dates” that now means they are not including the County anymore in what
their plans are because they did come again and we helped defend a gateway property
on the Parkway. What they are after is water. She believes, it is her opinion, that this
survey plan has all been played out, certainly since last October, when the County
Attorney crafted her “gentlemen’s agreement” with MVP staff to create a survey plan to
come onto our property and the Terry property specifically and that was discussed in
this room last fall; that plan has set the stage for more of the same. Now, ironically in
June while she stands defending her property, we have an effort by Roanoke County to
gather more information where we have been surveyed from the air with LIDAR
technology. This technology and mapping was not included with landowners on Bent
Mountain and we are not included in the discussion or how it would be used and she
thinks that needs to happen. She thinks citizens need to be aware that there is more
information tantamount to surveying by the County of landowners as we fight the MVP
surveyors. She is asking you, Mr. Caywood, to find a way to stop this survey abuse
now. There are people with 12 days of surveying that they face. Impossible to be
present on their property.
Mary Beth Coffey stated she lives at 10303 Russwood Road in Bent
Mountain. She has served Roanoke County Public Schools as a speech-language
pathologist since 1995. She and her husband moved to Bent Mountain following the
flood of 1985 that devastated the Roanoke Valley and surrounding communities. Our
house was swept off its foundation and was a total loss. This flood of 1985 taught her a
healthy respect for the power of water and now with the threat of a 42 inch transmission
pipeline ploughing through the watershed of Bent Mountain, her respect for the power of
healthy water has depended. This 42 inch, behemoth that twists it ways across the
steep slopes of Bent Mountain will cross many waterways, farms and homes, her
included. It will completely bisect our property passing less than 300 from our house
and well. October 2016 saw out last mortgage payment. What should have been a
cause for celebration was soon followed by a heartache when we were sent an insulting
easement offer from the pipeline company. We have lived in this home and been part
of this community for more than 30 years. This is where we raised our sons and this is
where we expect to grow old. How can you place a price on someone’s life? Well,
MVP can and it was $7,000. $7,000 for an easement that will make our home unlivable.
We would have no choice but to move but after we are gone, what is left? Not just a
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homestead devastated, but a landscape forever changed, desecrated and ruined.
$7,000 is not fair remuneration for ruining people’s water, homes and lives. Members of
the Board are our first line of defense. You may not have final decision making power,
but there is much you can do to protect your citizens. Please hold MVP accountable for
their damages by requiring a substantial bond. Please help document our water quality
by providing subsidies for testing. Citizens should not have to bear the brunt of
damages caused by a pipeline that carries so many risks. At any rate, $7,000 will not
go very far. In conclusion, she would like to share these words of Southwest Virginia
singer/songwriter, AP Carter, “ Sow 'em on the mountain reap 'em in the valley, Sow
'em on the mountain reap 'em in the valley, Sow 'em on the mountain reap 'em in the
valley, Cause you're gonna reap just what you sow.” Thank you for listening and
helping.
Roberta Bondurant stated she is here for her community and non-profit,
preserve Bent Mountain and she volunteers with the Pipeline Advisory Committee. She
would like to address quickly a couple of things. First, an appreciation for the work of
the County. She realizes that your work directed through the County Attorney, Ruth
Ellen Kuhnel and Assistant County Administrator is a team effort. We appreciate the
County’s participation and comments in requesting delay and denial of a permitting
decision by DEQ. She will be filing the same this afternoon on behalf of the community.
She wanted to explain a little bit about the bond issue and ask that you folks keep an
open mind. She has been informed today that DEQ does not think that is able to
require a bond of MVP. If that sort of conversation continues, again her understanding
is that folks with the County are looking into that and certainly that is not necessarily
something that DEQ will be comfortable enforcing, but it may be an absolutely
necessary requirement to the potential destruction brought here. It has been done in
other communities; she has been researching it for a handful of years and will keep the
Board advised. The point is that the full cost, the external cost, beyond the input output
be assigned to the developer and that they be assigned and secured upfront so that you
the government and that the people will have a fund to rely on. Finally, she would like
to explain a little bit real quickly and open for questions if she may because we do have
a very serious situation. She is at one minute and would ask the Board for their
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indulgence and again ask her questions. On June 11 the day after June 10, you are
probably aware that the surveyors advanced on Green Hollow Road a little bit before 6
in the morning. It was dark. She thinks that the survey statute is complicated and is up
before the Supreme Court again, in fact, this Thursday. She can tell you that there will
be no argument for attorney Chuck Lawler as he has been advised that his argument is
going to the Supreme Court without oral argument, simply on briefing and that is
remarkable. The Supreme Count is looking forward to hearing his thesis and that is the
point we have been making and she would respectfully ask for more time to explain this
to you. Chairman McNamara asked Ms. Bondurant to keep it to another minute; it is not
fair as we have people all year long that stayed at 3 minutes. We have done a lot with
the pipeline; we are not against you. Ms. Bondurant stated that she is trying to inform
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the Board. So, what she would like to explain given your familiarity with the statute is
that 6 o’clock in the morning does not constitute most people’s business hours. People
conducting responsible business on other people’s property never arrive at 6 o’clock in
the morning certainly without noticing that intention and that happened the day after
highly respect Sergeant Chris Kuyper consulted with County police authority and
suggested there at Green Hollow that MVP surveyors get a court order to come to
Green Hollow to do their surveying. They have done that before and will be able to do
that and that is what was expected. Certainly, what citizens would do if it was
suggested to them to get a court order, any one of us would go get a court order. MVP
did not do that. The thing with the trespass law is to protect against the surprise and
any other behavior that comes from people advancing onto your property when you are
still asleep. Imagine whether you are a city dweller or if you 50 acres in the county,
what that feels like. So, especially when you know you don’t want them there. So, she
would ask the Boar to be mindful as we continue to explore answers to these questions.
There are several people noticed on Bent Mountain and we have had conversations
with the County Attorney and County Administrator and appreciate the time and
consideration and she would be glad to follow with the Board if you have questions.
Chairman McNamara stated that he knows personally and thinks the
Board is very up to date. His last update was today at 10:00 am. We are very much
aware and we very much have an interest in “holding someone accountable for what
might occur” and having a bond. There are not a lot of things we can control, but we
are certainly working on what we can.
IN RE: REPORTS
Supervisor McNamara moved to receive and file the following reports.
The motion was seconded by Supervisor Hooker and carried by the following recorded
vote:
AYES: Supervisors Bedrosian, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
1. Unappropriated, Board Contingency and Capital Reserves Report
2. Outstanding Debt Report
3. Treasurer's Statement of Accountability per Investment and
Portfolio Policy as of June 30, 2017
4. Comparative Statement of Budgeted and Actual Revenues as of
July 31, 2017
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5. Comparative Statement of Budgeted and Actual Expenditures and
Encumbrances as of July 31, 2017
6. Accounts Paid - July 31, 2017
7. Proclamation signed by the Chairman
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IN RE: REPORTS AND INQUIRIES OF BOARD MEMBERS
Supervisor Bedrosian thanked all that spoke on the Pipeline. He has had
one stance on the pipeline since the beginning and that was the whole issue of eminent
domain; he just does not believe government has the right to come onto your property.
However, he does believe that if you want it, you could on your own negotiate with the
pipeline, you could. So that is a free-market person. Even some on the mountain did
not agree with that because they felt that no one should come on the mountain and put
in a pipe, but his thing was if you want to, negotiate yourself and if four landowners want
it, they should negotiate, but the bottom line was if you don’t want somebody on your
property, you should have the right not to have them on your property. It is a simple
stance on the issue. So, he is totally with you. He does not think anybody should come
on your property. Unfortunately, there is a State statute and they have the right to come
onto your property because eminent domain is being enforced and he does not agree
with that. That is his stance and does not go any further than that and does not get any
more about issues about gas or this or that. If you don’t want them on your property
you have the right as an American citizen, not to have them on your property so he
would agree with you there. He also wanted to take some time to talk about what is
going on in our Country and wants to make a point. He has been on this Board and
came on the Board just as a regular citizen not having been in public office before. He
is not really a good politician. He has ideas and things that he thinks are right and
things that he thinks are wrong, but he is really concerned about what is going on in this
Country. It seems like if somebody has a disagreement, we kill people and we burn
things and we destroy things. He has sat on this Board where there is a lot of
disagreement. He has had disagreements on United Way and Planned Parenthood.
He made a big issue of it. He has had disagreements on the debt that we are going
into. He has had disagreements on our budgets. No one on this Board has touched
each other because we get mad at each other. We haven’t called each other names.
We have passionate discussions about issues. He does not believe he is the only
person in the world that can change things. He is one person and is doing his duty. He
puts forth his ideas and many times he walks away from here being outvoted. He
smiles; we go upstairs to another meeting, he smiles. We are cordial with each other
and that is a great system to have. It is called a representative republic. He represents
the people in his area and tries to represent the people in all of Roanoke County. It is
not about life and death. What he is seeing right now in America is very scary to him. It
is, “I don’t agree with you and now I am going to destroy everything you have; your
property and if I kill you I had a good excuse for doing it.” It is not happening in
Roanoke County, but you know what, it does happen in places like ours and it is getting
very close; Charlottesville, Virginia. He thinks that everybody should just take a
moment, take a deep breath and realize that not everything in life is the way you think it
is. You have a right to express it, just like he does. He has a viewpoint and he will
express it, but everything in life does not happen to be like he wants it to be. He gives
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his interpretation, outvoted, that is fine and he moves to the next one and that is okay.
We need to come to that realization in America or we are going to lose everything that
we have and this will become a disaster. He just prays for this Board coming up next
year because he thinks in the next several years we will be moving in a very fast clip,
the way he has seen things already moving. He just prays for this Board and asks this
Board when it reconvenes in January to really stand up to some of the challenges that
he thinks are going to be coming to us as he sees them sweeping across the County.
Our Country does have a history. Each one of us in the room have done things that are
wrong; we are all sinful people but that is okay. We are not perfect so we ask for
forgiveness and move to the next step. It seems like in our Country right now we just
hold everybody accountable; if you have done anything wrong, we are just going to burn
it down and that is not the way we should do it. We have to work together; it is not
always going to be the way we want it. We need to voice our opinions and that is fine,
but we have to watch out about how we go. This is the greatest Country on earth and it
has the greatest system ever invented on earth and has provided the greatest
opportunities and the greatest prosperity for so many people he would hate to see us
lose it.
Supervisor Hooker stated she just wanted to mention quickly that she is
proud of Roanoke County schools and what they are doing. The education of young
citizens for our community and beyond. There are approximately 14,000 young people
who are starting school tomorrow in Roanoke County. It is a great day for teachers,
students and the community. It is wonderful to see young people, kindergarteners and
their excitement as they start the school year and it is exciting to watch seniors as they
prepare and are prepared more than even to meet the challenges of the world even
some that Supervisor Bedrosian was commenting on. She looks forward to working in
that capacity.
Supervisor Peters stated he has a couple of things. His wife had handed
him something that was on the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors that he was glad
to see. It talked about Roanoke County receiving the designation as the top ten mid-
th
sized communities in the nation for 2017 through the 4 Economy Community Index.
Roanoke County was cited especially for a vibrant outdoor recreational economy, short
commute times to work, strong average wages, housing and transportation affordability
and healthy talent base. Roanoke County’s ranking was based on the analysis of 19
different categories. That was pretty cool. He does want to touch on the incident this
morning over in Vinton. As many of you know, the Town of Vinton is in his district. He
does want to say a special thanks to Chief Tom Foster and to our County Police
Department and to City Police Department that helped us in the incident this morning.
Luckily, no one was hurt, but it was nice to see those jurisdictions come together for a
common cause. He did a really good job over there and he appreciates the officers.
Fire and Rescue was here earlier and touched on the fact that we did receive the
SAFER grant that will allow us to add 11 more firefighters to our system. We have
needed firefighters the last several years and we have been incrementally trying to add
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321
a couple or three each year but this grant will allow us to do it on a much larger scale to
fill some of the vacancies that we have. He advised that he will probably not be at the
th
next meeting; his surgery is scheduled for September 13 at John Hopkins so he will
ask for your prayers.
Supervisor McNamara stated that Supervisor Peters will definitely have them.
He added that the Supervisor of Vinton and he were at the Festival of India, which was
downtown. The County Administrator was there as well. Hope he is not missing
anybody else. It was really nice to be invited to it; it was a real nice celebration. The
food, if you like Indian food, there was a lot to choose from. It was great. He had Indian
ice cream, which is something new to him. It was a real nice event. He would like to
comment, he meant to bring it with him, as he received a letter yesterday in the mail
talking about couple of our employees in the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office. He
will get with those employees and the Commissioner. The letter writer took the time to
pen to paper and talk about what they had done to help this individual work through the
tangles of taxations and some identity issues, refiling and on and on, well beyond their
stated job function because they are. So many of our employees do the same on a
daily basis. It is greatly appreciated and super environment to be associated with.
Congratulations to those folks.
At 4:40 pm Chairman McNamara recessed the meeting to work session
and closed session.
IN RE: WORK SESSIONS
1. Work session to discuss Explore Park with the Board of
Supervisors (Doug Blount, Director of Parks, Recreation and
Tourism)
Mr. Gates provided a brief introduction.
Mr. Blount provided a PowerPoint presentation, a copy is on file in the
office of the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Peters commented that he is very pleased with what he is
seeing; potential to be a huge success.
Lee Wilhelm, Virginia’s Blue Ridge gave a brief overview of what Explore
Park means to Virginia’s Blue Ridge as a destination attraction.
Joyce Waugh, Roanoke Regional Chamber added her encouragement.
The work session was held from 4:54 p.m. until 5:26 p.m.
IN RE: CLOSED MEETING
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At 4:40 p.m., Supervisor McNamara moved to go into closed meeting
following the work sessions pursuant to the Code of Virginia Section 2.2-3711 A 3.
Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of
the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting
would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body,
namely Explore Park. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Peters and was carried
by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Bedrosian, Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid
The closed session was held from 5:37 p.m. until 6:14 p.m. Supervisors
Assaid and Bedrosian were not in attendance.
RESOLUTION 082217-5 CERTIFYING THE CLOSED MEETING
WAS HELD IN CONFORMITY WITH THE CODE OF VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia has convened a
closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with
the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the
Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, that such closed meeting was conducted
in conformity with Virginia law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke
County, Virginia, hereby certifies that, to the best of each member’s knowledge:
1. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements
by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting which this certification resolution
applies; and
2. Only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the
closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Board of Supervisors of
Roanoke County, Virginia.
On motion of Supervisor McNamara to adopt the resolution, seconded by Supervisor
Peters and carried by the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Hooker, Peters, McNamara
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid, Bedrosian
322 August 22, 2017
ABSENT: Supervisor Assaid, Bedrosian
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
Chairman McNamara adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
bmitted by: Approved by:
/ AS/
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Deborah hr ks Jos- ph P. McNamara
Chief Dep Clerk to the Board , airman