* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] OH, THERE YOU GO. WE WELCOME. I'M [1. MOMENT OF SILENCE] GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, JULY 28TH TO ORDER. AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. OKAY. SO [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ] NEXT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND I JUST WANNA SAY, MOST, MOST OF YOU'RE REMEMBER THAT I NORMALLY HAVE A STUDENT DOING THIS. WE WERE GONNA HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS TONIGHT, BUT THEY ARE NOT GONNA MAKE IT. I'LL EXPLAIN LATER, BUT WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PRESS. MR. BRENDAN MCHUGH FROM THE ROYAL EXAMINER IS GONNA LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR RICHES STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY. LIBERTY BEING JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU, BRENDAN. AND I OWE YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE. . YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULDA HAD LAUREN TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU. FOR . OH, THAT SLOW NIGHT AT THE COUNCIL. . [3. ROLL CALL] ALL RIGHT, MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? MAYOR COCKRELL HERE. VICE MAYOR VIAL. HERE. COUNCILMAN D DEMON PAYNE? HERE. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE. COUNCILMAN RAPORT? HERE. COUNCILMAN OCK? HERE. COUNCILMAN WOOD HERE. [4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] OKAY, NEXT UP IS OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES. DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? OH, SORRY, GO AHEAD. GO, GO AHEAD. I MOVE. COUNCIL, APPROVE THE COUNCIL MEETING. MINUTES OF JUNE 23RD, 2025, REGULAR MEETING. JULY 7TH, 2025, WORK SESSION. AND JULY 14TH, 2025. WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. VICE MAYOR ENTAL? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES. OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR A REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS? I, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHEN WE GET TO ITEM SIX A, IT'S GONNA BE MORE OF JUST A DISCUSSION AND WE'RE GONNA REPEAT THAT AGAIN, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT AT THAT TIME. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, NECESSARY. RIGHT. SO [6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS ] SPEAKING OF NUMBER SIX A 'CAUSE THAT'S THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA GO TO IS OUR RECOGNITION, OUR AWARDS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. TONIGHT, WE HAD HOPED THAT WE WERE GONNA RECOGNIZE THE FRONT ROW LITTLE LEAGUE 11 AND 12-YEAR-OLD ALL STARS FOR WINNING THE, UH, 2025 VIRGINIA STATE LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. UM, THEY HAVE BEEN SO BUSY, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT IN MY MAYOR'S REPORT, BUT THEY'VE BEEN SO BUSY WITH FUNDRAISING AND PREPARING, THEY'RE LEAVING IN THE MORNING, UM, FOR GEORGIA, UM, THAT THEY, UH, NEEDED TO PRACTICE TONIGHT. AND SINCE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING, THEY'RE PRACTICING AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW. BUT SPEAKING OF THAT TEAM, I JUST WANNA SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT TOMORROW MORNING THEY WILL BE LEAVING, UM, FRONT ROYAL TO HEAD TO GEORGIA. THEY HAVE TO BE CHECKED INTO THEIR HOTEL IN GEORGIA BY THE, UM, BY THE END OF THE AFTERNOON. AND WE ARE PLANNING A SENDOFF. SO OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FRIAR AND RESCUE, AND AS MANY CITIZENS THAT WE CAN GET TO COME OUT, ARE GOING TO BE SENDING THEM OFF IN THE MORNING, AND THEY WILL BE LEAVING AT 5:00 AM. SO, I KNOW IT'S SUPER EARLY, BUT I'LL, YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY THIS LATER ON AGAIN TONIGHT. I THINK THEY'RE SO WORTH IT. SO, UM, ALONG COMMERCE AVENUE FROM, UH, THE INTERSECTION OF HEAVY CREEK ROAD DOWN COMMERCE AVENUE GOING TOWARDS NORTH ROYAL AND OUT, UM, TO THE EXIT 66 OVER THE DOUBLE BRIDGES. SO ANYWHERE ALONG THAT WAY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN, UM, JOIN FOLKS OR BY YOURSELF, JUST PARK SAFELY, HOLD POSTERS, YELL, WAVE AS THEY'RE GOING BY. UM, BUT WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO SEND THEM OFF TO GEORGIA WHERE THEY ARE REPRESENTING, UM, VIRGINIA, NOT JUST FRONT ROW, BUT VIRGINIA. SO, [7.A. Special Use Permit for a Farmers Market Submitted by Julie Vaught on Behalf of Vaught Associates, LC at 515-B N. Commerce Avenue.] NEXT UP ARE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. UM, AND SO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A FARMER'S MARKET. UM, AND IT'S SUBMITTED [00:05:01] BY JULIE VAULT ON BEHALF OF VAULT ASSOCIATES LC AT FIVE 15 B UH, NORTH COMMERCE AVENUE. AND SO, MS. PRESLEY, DO YOU WANNA READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A FARMER'S MARKET SUBMITTED BY JULIE VAULT ON BEHALF OF VAULT ASSOCIATES LC AT FIVE 15 DASH B COMMERCE AVENUE, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A FOUR, SECTION 10 LOT EIGHT. THE PROPERTY IS ZONED C DASH ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO INSTALL FOUR TO SIX RAISED GARDEN BEDS IN AN EXISTING PARKING LOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF GROWING AND SELLING PRODUCE. THE APPLICANT ANTICIPATES EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF GARDEN BEDS AND CREATING AN ORCHARD AREA IN THE NEXT YEAR. TOWN. CODE 73 DASH ONE DEFINES FARMER'S MARKET AS A COLLECTION OF TWO OR MORE VENDORS SELLING FARM OR DOMESTIC PRODUCTS, GARDEN PRODUCE OR NURSERY PRODUCTS, ORNAMENTAL OR OTHERWISE, WHICH HAVE BEEN GROWN OR PRODUCED BY THE VENDOR, OFFERING THE SAME FOR SALE IN AN OPEN AIR SETTING, OR WITH TEMPORARY OR PARTIALLY ENCLOSED STRUCTURES. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT SHALL MARK DIRECTIONAL ARROWS IN THE PARKING LOT TO GUIDE TRAFFIC FLOW PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF USE. NUMBER TWO, THE APPLICANT SHALL RETRIP THE PARKING SPACES TO TOWN STANDARDS PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF USE. NUMBER THREE, FARMERS MARKET AREAS MUST BE CONFINED TO THE PARKING LOT AREA HIGHLIGHTED IN THE APPLICATION AND IN THE UNDEVELOPED AREA IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE APPLICATION. AND NUMBER FOUR, FARMER'S MARKET CANNOT INTERFERE WITH UTILIZATION OF EXISTING BUSINESSES. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF 39 PARKING SPACES ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED OF TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY. SO, AT THIS TIME, UH, NORMALLY WE ALLOW STAFF OR THE APPLICANT IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED TO OFFER? I DON'T. I DON'T, NO. IF, IF AM PARKING AREA WAS PAVED, SO THEY MET THAT. OKAY. STANDARD. ALRIGHT. DO YOU, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THE APPLICANT'S GONNA SPEAK. SO I WOULD LIKE TO, I'VE JUST BROUGHT PICTURES, UM, TO SHOW YOU THAT THE LOCK HAS BEEN STRIPED AND MARKED, UM, ACCORDINGLY. AND THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION THE LAST TIME ABOUT WHAT THE RAISED BEDS WOULD LOOK LIKE. SO I BROUGHT A PICTURE OF THAT TO YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO MY NAME IS JULIE VAULT AND, UM, I RESIDE AT 18 MEADOWBROOK LANE IN HUNTLEY, VIRGINIA. AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST, UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE SECONDARY INVITATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU THIS EVENING. ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE PERMIT TO ADD THE FARMER'S MARKET AND COMMUNITY GARDEN TO MY PROPERTY AT FIVE 15 NORTH COMMERCE AVENUE IN FRONT ROYAL, THE GOALS OF THIS EDITION ARE MUCH MORE THAN JUST OPENING A FARMER'S MARKET. THIS IS ABOUT COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE, EXCUSE ME, TO ADD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY, WHICH CREATES A SPACE THAT IS SAFE, COMFORTABLE, AND INVITING FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENCOURAGE COMRADERY, THE VERY SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AND FRIENDSHIP, ESTABLISHING TRUST AND SUPPORT TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL WELLBEING OF ALL CITIZENS. TO BE ABLE TO OFFER QUALITY GOODS AT A FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE, TO TAKE STEPS TOWARDS ELIMINATING HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE THE GOALS THEMSELVES CAN BE SIMPLY STATED, ESTABLISHING THEM MAY PROVE TO BE MORE CHALLENGING. WHY WOULD I, WHY SHOULD I ASK YOU TO TRUST ME TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A FEAT? I CAN ONLY STAND ON MY OWN CONVICTIONS TO ASSURE YOU THAT I ALWAYS HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO LOVE OUR SMALL TOWN WAY OF LIFE. THIS IS THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED BUILD ME. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND TRUST ME, IT TOOK A VILLAGE. NOW I HAVE A WAY TO GIVE BACK. MY EFFORTS ARE TO SUPPORT OTHERS AT ALL LEVELS, WHO ALSO WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT TO PRO, TO PROVIDE THE BURDEN OF PROOF. I HAD TO REFLECT A BIT. SO HERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF MY EFFORTS, MOST OF WHICH TURNED OUT FAVORABLY, THE ONES THAT MISSED THE MARK. HOWEVER, DISAPPOINTING JUST LEFT ME MORE DETERMINED TO TRY AGAIN. [00:10:01] AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, I HAVE FELT A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY, A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE PART IN HELPING OTHERS IN SOME WAY. POSSIBLY BEING THE OLDEST SIBLING AS WELL AS THE OLDEST GRANDCHILD ON BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILY, PUSHED ME INTO A CAREGIVING ROLE. ALTHOUGH MY SISTERS MAY ARGUE THAT IT JUST MAY BE BOSSY . IN ANY CASE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMPELLED TO TAKE THE LEAD. AS A 14-YEAR-OLD, I RECALL ASKING MY MOM FOR WORK PERMIT SO I COULD APPLY FOR A POSITION AS A COUNSELOR FOR THE PARKS AND REC SUMMER IN THE PARKS PROGRAM. I WORKED THERE FOR MULTIPLE SUMMERS AND WITH MENTORS, I GREW THROUGH THE RANKS. I HAVE BEEN A COACH AS WELL AS SPONSORED SPORTS TEAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE TUTORED AND WORKED AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I HELD AN EVENT AT OUR LOCAL CARNIVAL GROUNDS IN 2001. THE COMMUNITY UNITY BENEFIT, AS IT WAS CALLED, WAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE WOMEN'S SHELTER AND OTHER LOCAL CHARITIES. THIS ONE TURNED OUT TO BE A COLD, RAINY, AND WINDY FLOP, BUT I LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS FROM THE EXPERIENCE. I'VE BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, AND I HAVE TRAINED ALL AGES OF PARTICIPANTS. I LET OUR DAUGHTER'S GIRL SCOUT TROOP FOR ALMOST A DECADE, AND MY EAGLE SCOUT HUSBAND ENJOYS HOSTING A LOCAL BOY SCOUT TROOP AT OUR FARM FOR THEIR ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP. I TOOK A TEACHING POSITION AT WAKEFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL IN 2002, WHERE I STAYED UNTIL 2017 WHEN MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER GRADUATED AS THE PE TEACHER. THERE, I STARTED NEW PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THE PE DEPARTMENT, A SKI TEAM, A BASEBALL TEAM, AND A HORSEBACK RIDING PROGRAM, WHICH I HOSTED AT OUR FARM ARE A FEW OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ADDED ENRICHMENT. IN 2018, I WENT TO WORK FULL-TIME AT TNT TRANSPORTATION. THE TRUCKING COMPANY STARTED BY MY HUSBAND IN 1986. AFTER RESTRUCTURING THE TRUCKING COMPANY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I FEEL THE NEED TO AGAIN, BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE HIGHLIGHT FOR ME WHILE WORKING AT THE TRUCKING COMPANY WAS OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRIDGES THAT SO MAJESTICALLY FLOAT ABOVE THE SHENANDOAH RIVER. I FOUND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES BY HAULING FOR LOCAL COMPANIES AND HOSTING A HALLOWEEN TRUCK OR TREAT EVENT FOR A FEW YEARS. ALTHOUGH WE WERE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN A FEW WAYS, I HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE THE TRUCKING TO MY HUSBAND AND FIND WAYS TO BE MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED. THESE DAYS, I'M ENJOYING THE TIME I'M ABLE TO SPEND WITH MY FATHER REMINISCING OVER HIS COLLECTION OF ANTIQUES. I ALWAYS HAD HOPES OF HIS HOBBY LEADING TO A STOREFRONT. THUS HAPPY CREEK ANTIQUES WAS FINALLY BORN. AS THE DREAM CAME TO FRUITION, I COULD SEE THAT IT WAS MEANT TO BE MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING FILLED WITH ANTIQUES. THE MOTTO OF OUR SHOP IS QUALITY ANTIQUES, EVOKING FOND MEMORIES. THIS MOTTO IS MORE ABOUT, IS ABOUT MORE THAN THE PHYSICAL ANTIQUES IN OUR STORE. WE WANT THE EXISTENCE OF THE STORE ITSELF TO LEAVE EACH PERSON WITH A FOND MEMORY OF US, THE SHOP, THE COMMUNITY, AND OUR TOWN. HISTORICALLY AND PRESENTLY, THE ADDITION OF A FARMER'S MARKET AND A COMMUNITY GARDEN WILL HELP LIGHT THE WAY FOR DEBBIE'S LIGHTHOUSE AND HAPPY CREEK ANTIQUES TO TRANSITION FROM A SHOP TO A NEIGHBORHOOD BACKYARD. WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY. IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY, THEN I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL. OH, ACTUALLY, I, I GUESS I GOTTA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND NOBODY SIGNED UP. NOBODY WANTS TO SIGN UP. CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. NOW OPEN UP THE COUNCIL. SORRY, MADAM MAYOR, IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE BI MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A FARMER'S MARKET SUBMITTED BY JULIE VAULT ON BEHALF OF HAPPY CREEK ANTIQUES AT FIVE 15 B COMMERCE AVENUE, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A FOUR, SECTION 10 LOT EIGHT A PROPERTY, WHICH IS ZONED C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT. SECOND. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST APPRECIATE THE PICTURES THAT WERE PROVIDED TO COUNSEL. I THINK I HAVE RAISED GARDEN BEDS AND MINE ARE NOT AS PRETTY AS THOSE . UM, THEY LOOK VERY NICE AND I THINK, UM, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN ASPECT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL TREAT. I GREW UP HANGING OUT AT GILLUM LUMBER THAT USED [00:15:01] TO BE AT THAT LOT, RUNNING AROUND THE PARKING LOT. UM, AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY NICE TO HAVE PICKED SOME FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WHILE I WAS RUNNING BAREFOOT THROUGH THAT PARKING LOT ALL DAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR, MADAM MAYOR? UH, CAN, CAN THE MOTION BE REREAD OR IS IT TOO LATE? UM, CAN IT BE, I I WAS JUST, I MUST HAVE MISSED SOMETHING. I DON'T THINK YOU DID. I THINK, I THINK THAT WAS THE MOTION CHANGED. I DID MAKE A DIFFERENT MOTION THAN THE PROPOSED MOTIONS IN THE PACKET. UM, WHICH FOR ANYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL, UM, OR WATCHING FROM HOME THAT'S WATCHED THESE MEETINGS BEFORE, I, I APPRECIATE THE CONDITIONS, BUT AS A COUNSEL WHO HAS SAID THAT WE SHOULD REVITALIZE OR DIE, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND TO SEE A USE OF THAT. THERE'S A, AN ABUNDANCE OF PARKING THERE AND WE JUST SAW PICTURES. IT'S BEEN REPAVED, IT'S BEEN RES STRIPPED. I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULD ADD THAT CONDITION TO IT. SO I MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AS IS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM MAYOR? I I, I'VE BEEN BY THERE. I'VE LOOKED AT IT. IT LOOKS BETTER THAN IT HAS IN YEARS. UM, IT'S BEING USED. YEAH, EXACTLY. BUT IT REALLY LOOKS NICE AND I NEED TO MAKE A DISCLOSURE, I GUESS. UM, I'M NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED. I, I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS. UM, MRS. V IS PART OF MY DECEASED WIFE'S FAMILY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? BRUCE DID. YOU DID? I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU PUSHED YOUR BUTTON 'CAUSE YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING. NO. OH, OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, SINCE, UH, COUNCILMAN SEAHAWK IS NOT GONNA BE VOTING, UM, THERE WON'T BE ANY NEED FOR THE MAYOR TO BREAK THE TIE. UM, BUT FULL DISCLOSURE, JULIE IS ALSO A COUSIN OF MINE . UM, SO, UM, OUR, OUR, UH, GRANDPARENTS WERE, UM, BROTHER AND SISTER ANYWAY, UM, BUT, UM, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I MET WITH MS. BALT WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WHEN SHE WAS FIRST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO. AND THIS ACTUALLY, EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T SAY THIS IN HER, IN HER COMMENTS, AND I'M SURE IT WAS TO, UM, CONTAIN HER COMPOSURE, BUT, UM, SHE HAS A NON-PROFIT IN MEMORY. IT'S, UM, BECAUSE OF HER MOTHER WITH HER SISTERS. AND THIS WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO, UM, TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT, UM, NONPROFIT. AND SO, AND, AND THERE IS MENTION ABOUT THIS TOO, BUT I KNOW EVENTUALLY SHE WOULD LIKE TO USE THE BACKSPACE AS A GARDEN, WHICH ACTUALLY THE GILLUM'S YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A GARDEN THERE. AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING OR WHAT JULIE HAD SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE HEARD FROM FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MS. GILLUM ACTUALLY USED TO LET COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, SHE WOULD SHARE THE HARVEST FROM THE GARDEN WITH OTHERS. SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE BRINGING IT BACK TO A PURPOSE THAT IT, THAT IT HAD. YEP, YEP, YEP. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. SO, MR. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A VOTE? MM-HMM . COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. VICE MAYOR VIAL? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK. AB SUSTAIN. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN DE DAMCO PAYNE? YES. ALRIGHT. MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS. SORRY. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR AS JIM ANDERSON. THANKS FOR THE EFFORT. AMAZING. GOING TOO GOOD. I'LL CREATE SOME CUCUMBER FOR HIM. , THANK YOU. I BROUGHT YOU A WATERMELON, BUT ALSO WE'RE GONNA GET A TEA. . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU WHAT JULIE? THANKS JULIE. [8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS ] SO NEXT UP IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE ONE. OKAY. I'M GONNA GO AHEAD THEN AND, UM, SAY, UM, OUR, OUR PART ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE'RE COMING TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA, AND IT'S THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN OUT ORDERLY MANNER. PERSONS ADDRESSING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNCIL. UPON RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNSEL, THE SPEAKER SHALL STATE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, AND INDICATE IF THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNSEL SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING. STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT. AFTER THAT TIME IS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF. REFRAIN FROM WORDS [00:20:01] OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING. THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE WARNED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND THE MAYOR WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. BUT TO ASK THE MAJOR OF THEWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE ROOM SAID THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT, CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN. MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU CALL UP OUR FIRST SPEAKER? THERESA BROBECK. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MS. MAYOR AND MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL. MY NAME IS THERESA BRUBECK. I LIVE IN RILEY, VIRGINIA. I WORK IN FRONT ROYAL AS I HAVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. UM, AND I HAVE LONGSTANDING TIES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, MY SON WENT TO DAYCARE WHEN JULIE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE DAYCARE WORKERS THAT WAS ABOUT OVER 30 YEARS AGO. UM, SHE'S WONDERFUL WITH ME. HERE TODAY IS MILES FROM FRONT ROYAL. UM, ACTUALLY HE LIVES IN WARREN COUNTY, BUT I GUESS YOU PAY TAXES TO BOTH, RIGHT? ? OKAY. YES. AND, UH, YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN? MCCORD. MCCORD. SORRY. OKAY. SO I DO HAVE RELEVANT TOWN BUSINESS BECAUSE WE ARE A COMMUNITY AND, UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD CONCERN, THAT DOES CONCERN EVERYONE LIVING IN FRONT ROYAL, THE STATE, THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THIS COUNTRY, GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH. BUT THE SITUATION IN GAZA IS, IS DIRE. UM, YOU ONLY HAVE TO WATCH THE NEWS, UH, TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE. OKAY? UH, IT IS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE. IT STARTS WITH AMERICA. THIS WAR WILL NOT END UNLESS AMERICA INTERVENES AND TAKES STRONG ACTION. IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT VANCE, UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF END, WELL, NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT CRITICAL. THEY HAD CRITICAL MARKS OF AGAINST THE WAR AND HOW IT'S BEING MANIFESTED. I MET, UH, AN ARMY CAPTAIN FROM FRONT ROYAL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HE WAS RETIRED, HE WORKED IN AFGHANISTAN, HE SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. HE SAID THEY NEVER, UH, NEVER FOUGHT A WAR LIKE THAT. THEY ALWAYS WENT IN WITH THE IDEA OF SPARING AS MANY, MANY INNOCENT LIVES AS POSSIBLE. HE COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WAS UNFOLDING. AND THIS WAS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. TO DATE MORE THAN 51,000 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GOD, GAZA, MOST OF THEM. I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP. THIS IS THE UN DATA, UN STATISTICS. THEY'VE BEEN HELPLESS SO FAR TO TO CHANGE ANYTHING. UM, 51,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, MOST OF THEM WOMEN AND CHILDREN. UM, NO ONE CONDONES. THE WAR THAT HAMAS STARTED ON OCTOBER 7TH, NINE, UH, 2023, 1500 ISRAELIS, UH, WERE KILLED. UM, NO ONE CONDONES KILLING. I MEAN, THIS IS ABOUT PRESERVING LIFE. AND I SPOKE WITH A SURGEON, A US SURGEON WHO SERVED IN GAZA RECENTLY, HELPING THE VICTIMS. I SAID, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? I SAW HIM ON TELEVISION SOMEHOW I GOT HIS EMAIL ADDRESS AND I EMAILED HIM AND HE WROTE BACK. I SAID, CAN I GO OVER THERE? CAN I VOLUNTEER ANYTHING I CAN DO? AND HE SAID, NO. UM, BUT YOU CAN START WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL TO GO TO LOCALITIES AND ASK THEM TO PASS A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ENDING, UH, A SUPPORT OF PEACE IN GAZA. VERY SIMPLE, UM, PEACE IN GAZA AND ENDING SUPPORT OF, UH, ENDING THE BLOCKADE OF AID TO GAZA. THANK YOU, MS. BRUBECK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESOLUTION ALONG THOSE LINES. I WILL BE APPROACHING OTHER TOWN COUNCILS AND BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS ACROSS VIRGINIA. THANK YOU, COCO. GETTING THE SAME THING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE'S NO ONE ELSE. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? NO. OKAY. [9.A. Report of Town Manager] THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE REPORTS. AND FIRST UP IS THE [00:25:01] REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. AND COUNSEL, UH, JUST HAD A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT, OBVIOUSLY EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE, STILL ONGOING. UM, PLAN TO WRAP UP FEBRUARY, 2026. NORTH ROYAL AVENUE BETWEEN SIXTH STREET AND COMMERCE IS STILL ONGOING, BUT THEY SHOULD BE WRAPPING THAT UP AT THE END OF AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER. UM, JUST A HEADS UP THAT TONIGHT THE WARREN COUNTY FAIR STARTED AND IT RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 2ND. UH, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WILL BE DOWN AT THE GAZEBO ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 5TH FROM FIVE TO EIGHT. UM, OUR FRONT RURAL PD WILL BE HOSTING THAT WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT FIRST RESPONDERS. AND LAST UPDATE IS, UM, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STARTS NEXT TUESDAY, OR I'M SORRY, FEW WEEKS. AUGUST 12TH. IT'S NOT RUSSIA TOO QUICK. IT'S NOT A FEW WEEKS. THE ONLY WISH. IT WAS A FEW WEEKS, BUT, UH, WE JUST SEND THE REMINDER, JUST WATCH OUT FOR, UM, STUDENTS AND THE BUSES, AND THEN OBSERVE THE SCHOOL'S OWN REGULATIONS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO [9.B. Report of Council members] A REPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? I'LL GO FIRST. OKAY. I USUALLY GO LAST. YOU CAN GO WHEREVER. TODAYS FIRST. I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH FOR YOU. UH, MAYOR. UM, UH, TWO SATURDAYS AGO I ATTENDED THE, UH, WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY'S EIGHTIES PARTY. HOW WAS THAT? OH, WOW. IT WAS A, IT WAS A GOOD TIME. UH, IT WASN'T AS WELL ATTENDED AS LAST YEAR. I, I THINK THE RAIN HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT, BUT, UM, THE DOGS WERE GOOD. OKAY. AND, UH, AND, UH, THERE WAS, UH, AND THE TACOS WERE GOOD. AND, UH, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY SOME TICKETS TO, UH, SINK THE, UH, CELEBRITIES INTO THE, UH, ICE WATER. OH. UH, IF YOU WERE ACCURATE ENOUGH WITH THE SOFTBALL. SO WERE YOU I DID NOT TRY. OKAY. , I THINK, I THINK, UH, THE TWO CELEBRITIES, UH, WERE, UH, HUGH HENRY AND, UH, UH, GEORGE KLEIN, IF I RECALL. OKAY. SO, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, MAYOR, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU EXCEPT I DID ATTEND THE VML INFRASTRUCTURE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING ON JULY THE 23RD FROM 1130 TO 2:00 PM AND ONE AREA, UH, I, I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE AREAS, I'LL SAVE THAT FOR NEXT MONTH. UH, BUT, UH, ONE AREA OF CONCERN THAT I THINK CONCERNS OF US AS THE, UH, SPEED, UH, ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT AREAS, UM, THERE, THERE IS CONCERN THAT NEXT YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO, UH, THERE THERE'S GOING TO BE, UH, SOME CHALLENGE TOWARD, UH, THE LOCAL FUNDING. UM, SO THERE'S A BELIEF THAT, UH, THEY COULD BRING THAT BACK AND TRY TO, UH, MOVE THE FUNDING TOWARD THE STATE AS OPPOSED TO IT COMING TO THE LOCAL, UH, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. UH, HOWEVER, VML, I THINK IS GOING TO CHALLENGE THAT. UH, OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I GOT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO, UM, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANNA REPORT? MAD MAYOR. MM-HMM . UM, COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO SAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. CAR CHANGING LIVES GAVE AWAY CAR NUMBER 75, UH, IN, UH, COOPERATION COORDINATION WITH THE HEIGHTS KIDS FOUNDATION DURING THEIR, UM, FUNDRAISING EVENT AT SENATOR VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB LAST MONTH. UH, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, FUNDRAISER AND, UH, JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY'RE DOING IN RAISING MONEY AND FOR CARS CHANGING LIVES. UH, IT'S ONWARD AND UPWARD TO A HUNDRED, UH, ATTENDED THE FIREMAN'S PARADE. UM, BOY, IT WAS TOUCHY ON AND OFF UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, UH, WITH RAIN EVERY NIGHT THAT WEEK. UM, I CERTAINLY HAVE CONCERN OVER FUNDRAISING BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I KNOW THE NIGHT OF THE PARADE, I WORKED IN THE, UH, COOK BUILDING FOR A WHILE AND IT RAINED, AND THERE WAS MORE OF US [00:30:01] IN THE BUILDING THAN OUT ON THE CARMEL GROUND. SO, UM, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, RAISES MONEY THROUGH THE FIREMAN'S, UH, CARNIVAL AND BINGO AND OTHER EVENTS, UH, TO BUY THE FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT THAT YOU SEE ACCOMPANY ONE, UM, THAT'S NOT PROVIDED BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT'S FUNDED, UH, BY WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RAISES ON THEIR OWN. THEY HAD 250 GALLON OR PINTS, 250 PINTS OF RELISH LEFTOVER. COUNCILMAN TELLS EM YOU'RE, THEY'RE DOWN AROUND 45 NOW, SO IF YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR RELISH, STOP BY THE FIREHOUSE AND GET THAT. ALSO, UM, I ATTENDED, THEY'RE ARRANGING BY RELISH. SORRY, COUNCILMAN. MORE RUSHING OUT THE DOOR TONIGHT. BUT I'M ALSO ALSO ATTENDED THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH NOTHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I'VE PASSED, REPORTED BACK TO COUNCIL REALLY HAPPENED OR CAME UP. I ATTENDED THE, UH, COUNTY TOURISM MEETING ALONG WITH, UH, LIZZIE LEWIS. AND, UH, GOT THE PARTICIPATE WITH THE MAYOR AND SEVERAL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PICNIC LAST WEEK. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, THAT WAS A SUCCESS. THE EMPLOYEES REALLY APPRECIATED IT. UM, AND THIS YEAR IT WAS HOSTED BY THE FRONT DOOR, FRONT ROYAL RIVER ADVENTURES, RIVER ADVENTURES, WHICH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE DOWN WHERE THE OLD VFW WAS LOCATED AT THE END OF ROYAL AVENUE. YOU GO UNDER THE UNDERPASS, UH, MARVELOUS, MARVELOUS FACILITY. THEY WERE GRACIOUS HOSTS FOR US. AND AGAIN, UM, I THINK EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD TIME. THANK YOU. UH, I GOT TWO THINGS, MAYOR MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY REAL QUICK. UH, FIRST OFF, UH, AS COUNCILMAN WOOD JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE APPRECI APPRECIATION PICNIC, UH, LAST WEEK, I, I WAS THERE FOR THAT AS WELL. UM, CONGRATS TO OUR STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, UH, JOE AND TEAM, THAT THAT WAS, I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY NICE SETTING. UH, AS CONSTABLE WOOD SAID, THE, THE, UH, HOST WAS, WAS, UM, WAS EVER GRACIOUS FOR US TO BE THERE. IT SEEMED LIKE, UH, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT AT A, AT A BUSINESS HERE, HERE IN TOWN, I THINK IN PARTICULAR. UM, AND, UH, I SAID I GOT TO SERVE TEA WITH, WITH, UH, MAYOR OR SERVE, I SHOULD, WELL, I'M SAYING SERVE TEA, BECAUSE SWEET TEA IS BY FAR, WHICH NO SURPRISE TO BE IN THE SOUTH. THAT WAS THE FAVORITE DRINK OF FAVORITE. SO, UM, BUT, UH, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME, UH, CAMARADERIE AND SHARE SOME GOOD FOOD AND, AND SOME, UH, SOME GOOD TIMES THERE. I, I WAS, I WAS, UH, QUITE, UH, SURPRISED TO SEE WE HAVE OFFICIAL, UH, UH, CORNHOLE, UH, BOXES. SO I SET UP, SO FRONT ROYAL HAS OFFICIAL OFFICIALLY LICENSE, UH, WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT A LICENSE FOR THAT, I THINK JOE. BUT YEAH, BUT WE HAVE OFFICIAL CORNHOLE SET. SO, ANYWAYS, UH, SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS THAT, UH, YESTERDAY, UH, THANKS TO, UH, MAYOR CROCKER'S POST, I WAS AWARE OF A PANCAKE BREAKFAST BEING HELD AT THE MOOSE FOR THE LITTLE LEAGUE, UH, TEAM. OF COURSE, IT'S, UH, JUST WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, SO I WAS GLAD TO BE THERE FOR THAT. UH, AS, UH, MAYOR CORAN WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, UH, IT WAS REALLY NEAT TO SEE THE TEAMS THAT WERE FROM 1953 AND 1961 THERE AND THE FAMILIES. AND, UH, I KNOW THEY HAD ANOTHER EVENT AT, UH, AT THE, AT BRICK HOUSE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. BUT I'VE JUST SEEN SO MUCH POSTS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THOSE, UH, SUPPORT THOSE FELLOWS. AND IT'S, IT'S GOOD. IT WAS KIND OF NEAT. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER THERE. SO I WAS, UH, I WAS GLAD TO MEET THE FOLKS THAT GOT, GOT TO MEET AND GRABBED A FEW PANCAKES AND, AND SOME SWEET TEA. AND, AND I WAS GOOD TO GO FOR THE DAY. SO, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAN. MADAM MAYOR. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY KIND OF ECHO WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN WOOD SAID, UM, FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BASICALLY ALMOST SELF-SUPPORTING. UM, IT SAYS VOLUNTEER ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, EXCEPT WE'RE ALL, IT'S AUGMENTED BY CAREER STAFF. UH, BUT THE GUYS OVER THERE, THE VOLUNTEERS, THEY REALLY WORK HARD. THEY DO A GREAT JOB ON MAKING THE RELISH, SELLING THE RELISH. UM, I THINK THEY MADE, I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK IT WAS 600 GALLONS THIS YEAR. UM, BUT, AND THEY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS. YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER, YOU MISS OUT ON FAMILY DINNERS AND BIRTHDAYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHEN THE TONES GO OFF, UM, THE PARADE, YEAH, IT FRONT ROW IS REALLY GOOD WITH THEIR PARADE, UM, THIS YEAR. YEAH, IT THIS LIKE COUNCIL, IT WAS, IT RAINED, IT THUNDERED, IT LIGHTENED, [00:35:01] IT DID EVERYTHING IT COULD DO ON 'EM. UM, BUT THEY HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT PUT THAT PARADE TOGETHER AND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB. AND I'LL MENTION THEIR NAMES. IT'S, UH, BRAD KRESGE AND, UH, AMANDA COCKRELL. SHE MARRIED MY NEPHEW . THAT'S GREAT. SO, UM, BUT THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND THEY HAD FOR YEARS. UH, THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK ALL THE COUNSEL GETS THE REPORT, UH, EVERY WEEK OF THEIR CHARGES AND ARRESTS THAT THEY MAKE. UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE GUYS DO IT. UH, THEY'RE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME. UH, THEY MAKE SOME, I MEAN, TRAFFIC STOPS AND GOOD ARRESTS. AND I CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE AFTER BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SO MANY YEARS. UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING IT AND DOING IT RIGHT. AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD WITH US. UM, THEY PUT TOGETHER NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. UH, I PARTICIPATED IN THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IT, THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB OF THAT. SO KUDOS TO YOUR FORCE. MAJOR. ANYBODY ELSE? MADAM MAYOR, I, UM, SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET, UM, NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM BASEBALL WHATSOEVER, BIG BASEBALL FAN, BUT MY, UM, ONE OF MY BONUS CHILDREN ACTUALLY WENT TO STATES WITH THE WARREN COUNTY GIRLS LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION. SO I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BE OVERLOOKED. THEY DID GO DOWN TO, UM, ARLINGTON AND THEY WERE COMPETING WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE MAJORS TEAM, FOR THE GIRLS LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL TEAM. AND THEY HAD A HECK OF A TEAM PUT TOGETHER THIS YEAR. UM, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB DOWN THERE REPRESENTING US. AND THEN, UM, KIND OF TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF COUNCILMAN SEA LOCK'S COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, ARRESTS AND INDICTMENTS, I DID WANNA BRING UP, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PUBLIC HAS EMAILED CALLED OR ASKED OR STOPPED US IN PUBLIC ABOUT VAPE SHOPS, UM, AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED WITH WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH SOME OF THE RAIDS THAT HAPPENED ON THE VAPE SHOPS. SORRY FOR THAT REDUNDANCY. UM, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INDICTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC THAT HAVE ROLLED OUT FROM THOSE, UM, RAIDS ON THOSE VAPE SHOPS. ALSO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, SINCE OUR LAST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING THE VARIATION AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VAPE SHOPS AND DATA CENTERS AND OUR ZONING ORDINANCE. UM, AS THIS COUNCIL KNOWS, I'M NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IT'S PROBABLY FOR EVERYBODY'S BEST INTEREST, BUT I'M BEING TOLD THAT IT'S STILL A VERY HOT TOPIC SINCE ONE OF OUR WORK SESSIONS LAST MONTH WHERE WE DECIDED TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN STAFF TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE DATA CENTERS ADDRESSED IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCES OR THE TOWN CODE. UM, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. SO THIS CITIZEN ASKED ME, OR THEY STATED, UM, THE LACK OF VISION FROM THE TOWN COUNCILS, UM, PRIOR AND CURRENTLY, OR HOW WE ENDED UP WITH 17 VAPE SHOPS. AND I JUST WANNA CORRECT THIS MISINFORMATION AND FAKE NEWS. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN OUR TOWN CODE ADDRESSING VAPE SHOPS AND THEY WERE ALLOWED BY, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH ADDRESSING DATA CENTERS. THERE'S NOTHING THAT DEFINES THEM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A LIABILITY THAN TO CLEARLY DEFINE THEM AND DECIDE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO ALLOW THEM IN. BUT BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT, WHICH SEEMED TO BE THE APPETITE OF THIS COUNCIL, WHEN WE GAVE STAFF THE DIRECTION TO ADDRESS PLANNING COMMISSION TO WRITE SOME KIND OF ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS IT. I WILL SAY WHAT I'VE SAID FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE ARE NOT IN TALKS AS A COUNCIL WITH ANY DATA CENTERS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY APPLICATIONS BEFORE US. UM, AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTRACTS ON ANY LAND IN FRONT ROYAL NOR WARREN COUNTY. SO THEY'RE NOT COMPARABLE TO THE VAPE SHOPS AND THAT WAY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ADDRESS THEM. SO WE DON'T HAVE 17 DATA CENTERS, LIKE 17 VAPE SHOPS, UM, WHICH I WILL SAY THE VAPE SHOPS SEEM TO BE TRICKLING OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PART OF THE RATE OR A PART OF THE LEGISLATION THAT I'VE HEARD HAS BEEN PASSED REGARDING VAPES. NEXT UP, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE HIKE KIDS FOUNDATION. WE DID HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER, UM, AROUND THE TIME OF OUR LAST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, THE DUELING DISCOS. AND, UM, THAT NIGHT, THIS COMMUNITY DID SOMETHING THAT NO NON-PROFIT IN THIS, UH, VALLEY HAS EVER DONE. WE RAISED OVER $100,000 IN ONE SINGLE NIGHT, UM, TO CLOTHE THE KIDS, THE UNDERSERVED KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I'VE GOT TO BE A PART OF HELPING CLOTHE THOSE KIDS, UM, FROM ELEMENTARY KIDS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. UM, AND ACTUALLY THE MAYOR AND I KIND OF DEBRIEFED ONE DAY AFTER ONE OF THE EVENTS WHERE WE GOT TO HELP CLOTHE HOMELESS AND UNDERSERVED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. AND I THINK WE BOTH CAME TO THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT THAT WE PROBABLY TOOK MORE AWAY FROM THAT EVENT THAN THE CHILDREN DID. UM, IT'S EXTREMELY HUMBLING [00:40:01] TO SEE THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY AND FACING ADVERSITY, FACING HUNGER, FACING HOMELESSNESS. AND THEY'RE STILL SO RESILIENT AND SO STRONG AND SO HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC. UM, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND FOUNDATION BECAUSE WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS TRANSFORMATIVE. AND THEY'RE GIVING HOPE NOT JUST TO THE CHILDREN, BUT TO THE FAMILIES AND THE PARENTS. THESE ARE PARENTS WHO, SOME OF THEM AT NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES AND HAVE TO LOOK THEIR KIDS IN THE FACE AND TELL THEM THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO MAKE ENDS MEET, UM, EACH WEEK. AND THEY STILL ARE TRYING, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD GOOD JOBS AND THEY FELL ON HARD TIMES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, AS A STATE ESPECIALLY, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE WORKING CLASS POOR. AND YOU HAVE THESE MOTELS THAT ARE CHARGING MORE THAN RENT, BUT THEY'RE PAYING WEEKLY AND THEY'RE MAKING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS. AND IT'S THIS TRAP THAT'S KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY, UM, FROM BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION THAT THEY'RE FACING. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I UNFORTUNATELY MISSED THIS YEAR'S EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PICNIC FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. I TYPICALLY ENJOY SERVING THE STAFF, EVEN THOUGH ALL OF OUR STAFF ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO LET US PUSH THEM OUTTA THE WAY AND SERVE THEM. UM, THEY'RE ALL VERY DEDICATED AND LOYAL AND WORKING. BUT THAT DAY I HAD A VERY LONG MEETING WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES OUT OF RICHMOND FROM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING. UM, AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BRING SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME WORKFORCE HOUSING TO THIS COMMUNITY. THE LAND IS THERE, THE DEVELOPERS ARE THERE, AND VIRGINIA HOUSING HAS THE MONEY TO PUT INTO THIS COMMUNITY. UM, SO I FELT LIKE NOT ATTENDING THAT MEETING VERSUS THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PICNIC WOULD'VE BEEN A DISSERVICE TO THE TOWN AND MY DUTY HERE ON THIS COUNCIL. AND SO I HOPE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE TO REPORT BACK FROM THOSE MEETINGS. WE ALL LEFT WITH WHEELS TURNING IN OUR HEAD. ALSO REGARDING THE HI KIDS FOUNDATION. I RAN IN HERE AT 6 59 TONIGHT. SOME OF YOU MAY NOTICE, VERY SWEATY. I WAS ATTENDING, UM, HANDING OVER A CHECK FROM THE HEIGHT KIDS FOUNDATION TO THE STATE CHAMPIONS, THE BOYS LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STAR TEAM. UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO RAISE OVER $26,000 IN THE LAST 48 HOURS TO GIVE THEM NOT ONLY A CHARTERED BUS, UM, BUT THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO, FOR THEM AND THEIR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO GO AND ENJOY THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION IN THEIR CHILDHOOD. I GOT TO GO PLAY IN STATES, UM, AS A YOUNG PRETEEN IN WARREN COUNTY. AND THOSE ARE JUST MEMORIES THAT CAN'T BE REPLACED. AND TO NOT HAVE THE HURDLE OR THE BURDEN OF FINANCES OR TRANSPORTATION HOLDING THOSE KIDS BACK FROM THIS IS JUST AMAZING. AND TO SEE A HUNDRED THOUSAND PLUS DOLLARS TO CLOTHE THESE CHILDREN, AND THEN 26,000 PLUS DOLLARS IN 48 HOURS TO GET THEM TO, YOU KNOW, ATTEND A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TOURNAMENT. IT WAS JUST REALLY AMAZING TO SEE. AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL SAY THAT THIS SUMMER WE SAT ON THIS DIOCESE WITH A MUCH DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. I KNOW WE HAD A BIG ELECTION IN THE TOWN LAST YEAR, BUT ALL WE HEARD ABOUT WAS DROUGHTS AND RAIN. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK THE TOWN SHOULD GIVE ME A CREDIT FOR HOW MUCH MY SUMP PUMP HAS ADDED BACK INTO THE SYSTEM IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. A NEIGHBOR ACTUALLY CAME OVER AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. 'CAUSE OUR RETAINING WALL HAS PUSHED OUT SO MUCH WATER INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND WE HAVE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF RAIN. AND I HOPE FOR ALL THE FARMER'S MARKETS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE GOOD RAIN BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF CUCUMBERS AS A RESULT THIS YEAR. AND THE TOWN IS NOT FIGHTING OVER DROUGHTS. THAT'S IT, MADAM MAYOR. I WILL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR LAST YEAR WHEN YOU CALLED FOR RAIN . AND, UM, AND THE COUNCIL, YOU MEAN MY RAIN DANCE? YEAH, . UM, WE GET BLAMED FOR A LOT OF THINGS. LET'S GET SOME CREDIT GOING . UM, BUT, UM, I DID WANNA RESPOND WITH ONE THING THAT, UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN AL SAID, UM, FOLKS, UH, SAYING OUT THERE SAYING, WE DON'T HAVE VISION. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I, I DO OUR SCHOOL CLASS REUNION, SO I HAVE TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE SOMEHOW, BUT OTHERWISE I WOULD GET OFF OF IT. UM, THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OUR ROLE SITTING UP HERE, WE ARE PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT GODS. AND THE WAY THAT THE UNITED STATES WORKS IS, THIS IS A SHARED GOVERNANCE SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE SPEAK THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVES. SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOT SEEING SOMETHING OR WE DON'T KNOW SOMETHING, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO GIVE US A HEADS UP ON IT. I WOULD'VE NEVER ENVISIONED, FOR INSTANCE, AI WAS AT COMING OUR WAY. UM, DATA CENTERS WEREN'T EVEN A THING FIVE YEARS AGO. THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT EVEN IN OUR CODE. 'CAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. OTHER COMMUNITIES DID, BUT WASN'T ON OUR RADAR. YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING'S ON OUR NOT ON OUR RADAR THAT NEEDS TO BE. AND [00:45:01] YOU'VE GOT THAT INSIGHT. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO SHARE IT WITH US. UM, NOW AS FAR AS MY ACTIVITIES, UM, I DID ATTEND THE NORTHERN SHENDO VALLEY REGIONAL COMMISSION, UM, WHICH IS A, A GROUP THAT HAS A LOT OF INITIATIVES GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AND, UM, A LOT MORE OF THEIR STUFF PROBABLY GOES THROUGH COUNTIES AND GRANTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT, UM, IT'S BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, UM, SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE BENEFITED. I THINK SOME OF OUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS I KNOW OF SOMETHING, I DO COMMUNICATE WITH THE TOWN MANAGER AND HE BRINGS IT ON TO THE CONSTITUENTS. UM, I DID ATTEND THE VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE. AND, UM, JOE ALSO ATTENDED, UM, VIRTUALLY AND, AND THE PRIORITIES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, THEIR CONCERN IS THEY, THEY TRY TO PROTECT THE LOCAL, UH, GOVERNMENTS AND THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THE CUTS OR CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WILL INFLUENCE THE LOCALS. AND SO THEY WANT TO PROTECT THAT. YOU KNOW, THE, THE LOCALS DON'T HAVE TO SUDDENLY PICK UP EVERYTHING BECAUSE THE FEDERALS AREN'T PICKING IT UP. AND, UM, SOME OF THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, UM, THAT ARE AGREED UPON ARE THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT, WHICH DOES STUFF FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, UM, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ALSO THE, UM, THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS. THEY'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY CAN, UH, SCALE THOSE DOWN, BUT FIGURE OUT WHAT ALTERNATIVE THEY HAVE. UM, A COUPLE, A COUPLE OF NOTES ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, WE, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN DOESN'T PAY FOR, WE, WE DON'T PAY FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM PER SE. WE'RE NOT IN CHARGE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN I'M OUT AND ABOUT TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS, SO MANY CONSTITUENTS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT EDUCATION. I TRIED TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE TO ALSO LOOK AT PRIVATE EDUCATION WHEN, WHEN THE PUBLIC DOESN'T WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT QUITE THERE. UM, THE OTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING WAS THE DISCUSSION OF MEDICAID. LOTS OF FOLKS ARE FREAKED OUT ABOUT WHAT, WHAT IMPACT MEDICAID WILL GIVE YOU. AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT PART OF HOW MEDICAID WILL BE DISPERSED, UM, GOES BY THE AIR RATE. AND THE FOLKS THAT WERE TALKING SAID THAT REALLY, THERE WAS ONLY A HANDFUL WHO DIDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ERROR RATE, UM, AND WE'RE LIKE IN THE MIDDLE. UM, I WASN'T REALLY SATISFIED WITH THAT APPROACH. I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR MAYBE HAVING RESOURCES TO PUT IN WHATEVER SYSTEM WE NEED TO PUT IN. SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ERROR RATE, NOT TO JUST SAY, WELL, GO AHEAD AND GIVE US RESOURCES EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A HIGHER ERROR RATE. NO, WE NEED TO GET THAT ERROR RATE DOWN. AND I ALSO KNOW THERE'S SITUATIONS WHERE, UM, I, I SHARED WITH THEM, UH, IF YOU GO ON DISABILITY FROM YOUR RETIREMENT, A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL FORCE PEOPLE TO GO ONTO MEDICAID, EVEN IF THEY HAVE ALTERNATIVE INSURANCE. SO THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE ROLES WHO DON'T NEED TO BE ON THE ROLES. SO BEFORE WE JUMP AND GET CATASTROPHIC ABOUT IT, LET'S TRY TO FIX OUR SYSTEMS AND BE, UM, AND JUST DO THE RESEARCH OURSELF AND HELP HOW WE CAN. UM, I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN HEIGHT KIDS EMPOWERMENT DAY, UH, WHICH WAS JUST AS GOOD FOR ME AS, UM, AS IT WAS FOR GIVING. AND MY, MY SPEAKING WAS ON MENTORING, WHICH IS KIND OF MY THING. UM, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A GREAT FAMILY, THAT'S WONDERFUL. UM, BUT SOME FOLKS DIDN'T GET THE GENETIC LOTTERY. UM, AND SOME FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF, UH, STEPS THEY HAVE TO MAKE TO, TO JUST GET TO THE SAME LEVEL AS EVERYBODY ELSE TO START OUT WITH. BUT MENTORS ARE THE CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY IN THEIR LIFE AND THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO CAN BELIEVE IN THEM, SUPPORT THEM, AND HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT RESOURCES THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD. EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FULFILL THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS, IS THEY HAD ALL THESE WONDERFUL LEADERS I I ATTENDED ON THE, ON THE FEMALE DAY, BUT, UM, ALL THESE WONDERFUL LEADERS, NOBODY ESCAPES HARDSHIP IN THIS LIFE. YOU KNOW, NOBODY, EVERYBODY HAD A STORY. EVERYBODY HAD, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULTIES THAT THEY HAVE OVERCOME, AND IT HAD MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LEADERS THAT THEY BECAME. UM, AND SO ALWAYS, YOU CAN ALWAYS TRANSCEND WHATEVER SITUATION YOU WERE IN. UM, AND THE LAST THING IS, I, I ATTENDED THE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION ALSO, AND, UM, IT WAS A HOT DAY, UM, WONDERFUL. AND I FELT REALLY BAD FOR THE PEOPLE GETTING OUTTA THE CANOES AND COMING UP IN THEIR BATHING SUITS IN FRONT OF THIS BIG CROWD OF PEOPLE, . I THOUGHT, GOSH, IT WOULD'VE NEVER HAVE BEEN A, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A TERRIBLE SITUATION. BUT, UM, BUT IT WAS GREAT TOO. IT'S EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ARE CRITICAL. DON'T EVER, THERE'S, THERE'S WAYS TO STILL GET THEM FREE. THERE'S WAYS TO STILL FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN DO THEM AT, AT A LOW COST, BUT THEY'RE SO INVALUABLE TO KEEPING PEOPLE. AND I THINK IT SHOWS IN OUR STAFF, UH, HOW LONG, HOW MUCH LONGEVITY WE HAVE IN THE, IN THE TOWN GOVERNMENT. SO [00:50:01] I APPRECIATE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE EFFORTS AND, UH, AND APPRECIATE PEOPLE WHO DO VERY GOOD WORK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [9.C. Report of the Mayor] ALL RIGHT. SO THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR. UM, THE LAST MONTH I'VE, SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ATTEND MANY DIFFERENT MEETINGS OR EVENTS IN MY ROLE. ON JULY 2ND, I MET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR AUDIT COMPANY. AND THIS IS A STANDARD MEETING THE MAYOR HAS EACH YEAR TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TOWN'S FINANCES IS PART OF THE AUDIT PROCESS. OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR THE TOWN WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE FALL, AND IT'S ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. UH, JULY 3RD, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY, WATCHED THE TOWN'S FIREWORK SHOW FROM MY CHILDHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, NOT THAT I JUST ROLLED UP IN SOMEBODY'S NEIGHBORHOOD, MY FAMILY ALL STILL LIVES THERE. BUT, UH, AND I WILL SAY IT, IT WAS AMAZING, ALBEIT IT WAS LATE DUE TO, UM, THE UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES OF A CLOSE CARDINAL'S BASEBALL GAME THAT WENT LONGER THAN EXPECTED. UM, THE TOWN IS GOING TO REVIEW HOW WE CAN ENSURE THE FIREWORKS SHOW CAN HAPPEN SOONER IN THE EVENING, IN THE FUTURE. UM, FIREMEN'S PRAYED. SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT I, I AS WELL PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND, UM, I WILL SAY IT WAS INTERESTING. IS IT ON, IS IT OFF? IS IT ON? IS IT OFF? 'CAUSE THE RAIN, I KNOW COULD, UM, MR. PETTY WAS GETTING TEXTS FROM ME TOO, LIKE, IS IT ON, IS OFF. UH, BUT IT WAS ON, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE WERE, THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE ON EVERY STREET ALL THE WAY TO THE END. SO, UM, THEY WERE STILL ANXIOUS TO PARTICIPATE AND I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THAT. UM, AND I WILL SAY ABOUT THE FIREMAN'S CARNIVAL, WHAT WAS CHALLENGING THIS YEAR WAS, WHILE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT RAIN, BECAUSE AS VICE MAYOR VIAL SAID, THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF HITS ABOUT THE DROUGHT. UM, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T OUR FAULT, PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS, BUT WHATEVER. I DIGRESS. UM, BUT THAT IS THE SHAME OF THE FIREMAN'S CARNIVAL IS THAT THERE WERE MANY NIGHTS OF THAT WEEK IT RAINED, AND THAT DOES CHANGE THINGS. I'M HOPING THE FAIR DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME, UM, BAD LUCK, UH, THIS YEAR. UM, BUT THE RELISH WAS GOOD. I I BOUGHT FOUR OF 'EM. SO ANYWAY, UM, JULY 15TH AND 16TH I WAS IN WINCHESTER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING AND ACTION MEETING. UH, ALSO ATTENDED A RECEPTION WITH THE VIRGINIA SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AT THE MUSEUM OF THE SUNDO VALLEY, AS WELL AS THE I 81 CORRIDOR PLAN, IMPROVEMENT UPDATE AT SHENDO UNIVERSITY. MR. PETTY ATTENDED ALL OF THAT WITH ME AND COUNCILMAN WOOD ATTENDED THE ACTION MEETING WITH ME ON OR WITH US ON THE 16TH WHERE WE SHARED THAT, UH, EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED, UM, IN THE SHENDO RIO TRAIL PARTNERSHIP ARE STILL IN SUPPORT OF THAT. UM, PROJECT, UM, JULY 16TH, SO THAT WAS IN THE MORNING, JULY 16TH. IN THE AFTERNOON, I ATTENDED THE WARREN COUNTY ADULT RECOVERY COURT MEETING. UM, THEY'VE NOW HAD A SECOND GRADUATION FOR WARREN COUNTY RECOVERY COURT AND HAVE OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN SOME OF THE ADVANCED PHASES. SO THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE SOON. AND MANY OF THOSE, UM, PARTICIPANTS, WHEN THEY GET TO CERTAIN PHASES OF RECOVERY COURT, THEY HAVE PROJECTS AND, UM, AND THEY ARE PROJECTS THAT CAN IMPACT THE COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THE MOST RECENT RECIPIENT WAS COLLECTING THINGS THROUGH THE HUMANE SOCIETY. SO AS I DO HEAR ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENT PHASES AND THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF, UM, THE RECOVERY PROCESS FOR THEM, I'M GONNA SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC. SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORT THOSE PARTICIPANTS. UM, JULY 17TH AND 18TH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE HEIGHT KIDS FOUNDATION, EMPOWERMENT AND SHOPPING DAYS. UM, BOTH AFTERNOONS INCLUDED GUEST SPEAKERS WHO SHARE TOPICS LIKE OVERCOMING ADVERSITY OR CHALLENGES, HOW TO USE YOUR STRENGTHS, DREAMING BIG. AND THEN OF COURSE, EACH CHILD DID ONLINE SHOPPING WITH A VOLUNTEER VICE MAYOR ENTAL, WHO'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE I KIDS FOUNDATION AND COUNCILMAN COUNCIL WOMAN DE DOMENICO PAYNE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE GIRLS DAY. UH, VICE MAYOR BETHAL WAS THERE FOR BOTH DAYS LIKE MYSELF. AND SHE ALREADY SAID IT, IT WAS IN MY PLANS TO SAY, I AM SURE SHE CAN AGREE THAT IT WAS SUCH A REWARDING EXPERIENCE. UM, AND, UH, THAT, THAT I GOT AS MUCH OUTTA THE EXPERIE AS THE YOUNG PEOPLE DID. UM, I BELIEVE THIS WEEK THEY'RE DOING THE SHOPPING WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE PICNIC, UM, ATTENDED THAT. AND AS, UM, WITH COUNCILMAN WOOD AND COUNCILMAN DE DOMINICAN PAIN AND COUNCILMAN INGRAM. AND AS HE SAID, WE PROVIDED, UM, THE DRINKS. ALTHOUGH WE, THERE WERE QUITE A FEW REQUESTS [00:55:01] FOR SOME OF THE DRINKS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE SITTING IN FRONT OF US. BUT, UH, , THAT WAS FUNNY. UM, JULY 22ND, I TRAVELED TO CAROLINE COUNTY TO WATCH THE FRONT ROW LITTLE LEAGUES, 12-YEAR-OLD ALL-STAR TEAM PLAY IN THE SEMI-FINAL GAME AGAINST ATLEY. AND THEN I RETURNED THE NEXT NIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. UM, AND SO WHEN, IF YOU HEARD WFTR ANNOUNCE THAT IT WAS LIKE A SEA OF MAROON THAT NIGHT WITH EVERYONE FROM FRONT ROW ACROSS THE OUTFIELD, BEHIND THE PLATE, ALL THE WAY UP THE THIRD BASE LINE AND RIGHT FIELD, IT WAS TRUE. UM, AND THAT SIXTH INNING WAS INTENSE. UH, WE HAD A GOOD LEAD AND THEN WE HAD A LEAD. BUT WHEN THEY GOT THE LAST OUT AND CAPTURED THE VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, UM, BEING THERE WITH HALF THE TOWN WAS PROBABLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY SUMMER THAT EVENING. AND SO FAST FORWARD TO SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT, IT'S BEEN A LOT. IT'S A, BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE INVOLVED SUPPORTING AND FUNDRAISING FOR THAT ALL STAR TEAM. UM, YOU KNOW, SO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES AND SO MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THAT. FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M WEARING A SHIRT FROM BUCKLE AND BELL BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVEN 20% OF THEIR SALES LAST FRIDAY. SO I HEAD DOWN TO MAIN STREET WITH MY NIECES, UM, TO SHOP THERE TOO. UM, BUT YESTERDAY IT BEGAN AT 9:00 AM UH, AT THE MOOSE LODGE, ALTHOUGH I WAS THERE AT QUARTER OF, BUT UM, FOR A PANCAKE FUNDRAISER AND THEN OVER TO BRICK HOUSE BAR AND GRILL FOR ANOTHER FUNDRAISER. BUT I, I, I SAID THIS OFF CAMERA, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT ON. SO BOTH EVENTS HAD MEMBERS OF THE PREVIOUS LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS. UM, THE BREAKFAST AT THE MOOSE INCLUDED ARCHIE FOX AND FROM THE 1953 FRONT WORLD TEAM THAT WENT TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES. AND THEN THE BRICK HOUSE EVENT INCLUDED JEFF BOARD AND DANNY POND FROM THE 1960 AND 61 ALL STAR TEAM WHO CLENCHED THE STATE TITLE MR. BOARD. AND MR. POND BROUGHT SOME MEMORABILIA, SOME PHOTOS, NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FROM THAT TIME HERE IN FRONT ROYAL. UM, AND IT REALLY WAS SO COOL TO LOOK AT IT ALL AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE BOOKLETS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT BOOSTERS AND SPONSORS. LIKE SO MANY OF THOSE PLACES ARE GONE, BUT, UM, BUT SOME ARE STILL THERE. AND SO THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING AND SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN OUR TOWN, BUT SOME THINGS HAVE STAYED THE SAME. AND ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED IS THE WAY THAT THIS TOWN AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS OTHERS. SO WATCHING 'EM BEING A PART OF THE LAST WEEK REALLY MAKES ME PROUD OF NOT ONLY THOSE BOYS BUT THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE STEPPED UP. UM, ALSO, WE NEED YOU ONE MORE TIME FOR THESE BOYS. WE WANNA GIVE 'EM A BIG SENDOFF TOMORROW. I THINK I ALREADY SAID THAT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA TO COMPETE IN THE SOUTHEAST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AND THEY WILL BE REPRESENTING TEAM FOR VIRGINIA. ONE OF THE THINGS THE COACHES TALKED ABOUT WAS, IS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO GET JERSEYS THAT SAID TEAM VIRGINIA, 'CAUSE OTHER STATES HAVE THEIR TEAM NAME, BUT THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY ALMOST WERE TEMPTED TO JUST LEAVE THEIR FRONT ROYAL JERSEY BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE FRONT ROYAL HAD JUST REALLY CAME OUT FOR THEM AND SHOWED UP FOR THEM. SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL COME OUT TOMORROW AND SEND THEM OFF. UM, THEY PLAY THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 PM IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO WATCH THE GAME, UM, THEY'RE PLAYING ON ESPN PLUS, BUT BREAKOUTS AND ON Q ARE DOING WATCH PARTIES. SO YOU CAN WATCH THE MAYOR AND WFTR IS, UM, GOING WITH THE BOYS AND THEY'RE GONNA BE ON THE RADIO STATION SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE GAME. SO LOTS OF WAYS. YEAH, LOTS OF WAYS FOR YOU TO HEAR, UM, HOW OUR BOYS ARE DOING. LASTLY, A PLUG FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT NEXT TUESDAY FROM FIVE TO EIGHT DOWN AT THE, UM, JOHN MARLOWE PLAZA. I'M GONNA START PRACTICING SAYING IT THAT WAY, RIGHT? UM, COME ON OUT. THERE'S LOTS OF ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS FAMILIES AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US THERE. I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING. SOME DAYS I FEEL LIKE I DO A MILLION THINGS AND SOMETIMES I DON'T. AND THEN WHEN I START TO WRITE 'EM ALL DOWN, I'M LIKE, HOLY MOSES, IT'S A LOT. UM, [10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] SO NEXT UP IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS PRESENTED SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? I AM GONNA MENTION THAT WE'RE REAPPOINTING ANDREW BROOKS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THROUGH, UM, THIS CONSENT AGENDA. AND I JUST, I ALWAYS WANNA POINT OUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UM, AND HELP US DO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN. SO THANK YOU MR. BROOKS FOR DOING THAT. MR. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. VICE MAYOR AL? YES. COUNCILMAN ? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMON PAYNE? YES. OKAY. AND THERE SINCE THERE ARE NO, UM, NO NEW BUSINESS, [01:00:01] UM, WE'RE [12. CLOSED MEETING] GONNA MOVE INTO, UM, THE CLOSED MEETING. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 2 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES, ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A THREE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR 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, MORE SPECIFICALLY, A PORTION OF THE PAYTON STREET PARKING AREA. AND TWO, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A EIGHT OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS AND REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE INSOLVENCY AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND THE COUNTY OF WARREN, VIRGINIA. SECOND. OKAY. MS. PRESLEY ROCA. I'M SORRY, WHO'S SECOND? UH, YOU COUNCILMAN WOOD? THERE WAS A MULTITUDE, BUT WE'LL GO WITH COUNCILMAN WOOD. . COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. VICE MAYOR VIAL? YES. COUNCILMAN ? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAINT? YES. OKAY. SO WE'RE NOW MOVED INTO CLOSED MAJOR KING. CAN I JUST GRAB YOUR EAR FOR ONE MINUTE? * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.