[00:00:03]
OKAY.[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
I AM GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, MAY 26TH ORDER.AND WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
ACTUALLY GOING TO, UM, MOVE ON TO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.AND TONIGHT I'M GONNA ASK BRIELLE WHITE IT TO COME FORWARD.
BRIELLE JUST GRADUATED LAST, UH, THURSDAY NIGHT FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL IN A VERY COLD AND WET EVENING, WASN'T IT? SOME OF US WERE THERE,
DURING HER TIME IN SCHOOL, SHE EARNED BOTH HER CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT CNA AND PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATIONS THROUGH BLUE RIDGE TECHNICAL CENTER AND THE FALL.
BRIELLE WILL ATTEND LAUREL RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN NURSING WITH OATS OF BECOMING AN IJO, HOPE I'M GONNA SAY THIS RIGHT.
I THINK ATHEIST NURSE IN THE FUTURE THIS SUMMER, BRIELLE PLANS TO ENJOY HER WELL EARNED TIME OFF, SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, GO HIKING AND FISHING AND DRINK ALL THE ALWAYS COFFEE THAT SHE CAN.
SO, IF YOU GUYS WILL PLEASE STAND TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION, ONE NATION UNDER, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, INJUSTICE.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, MS. PRESLEY, WE'RE GONNA, I'M SORRY.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GET THIS RIGHT, MS.
[3. ROLL CALL]
SWONG, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND DO ROLL CALL? MAYOR COCKRELL HERE.COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMENICO PAYNE.
[4. APROVAL OF MINUTES]
ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT UP IS, UM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES.I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE MINUTES OF APRIL 27TH, 2026, MAY 4TH, 2026, WORK SESSION.
AND MAY 11TH, 2026 WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED.
UM, MS. SWONG, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.
AND SHE, VICE MAYORAL WILL BE ARRIVING.
HER SON, UM, HAS HIS FIFTH GRADE GRADUATION TONIGHT, SO SHE'LL BE ARRIVING AFTER THAT.
SO NEXT UP IS OUR ADDITION OR DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA AND OR ANY REVISION TO ORDER A BUSINESS.
[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]
GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH, WHICH IS OUR RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS.[00:05:01]
PLEASURE OF, UM, SHARING WITH YOU ALL OUR CITIZENS ACADEMY, UM, PARTICIPANTS.SO IN THE TOWN OF MOUNT ROYAL CITIZENS ACADEMY BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025 AND CONCLUDED IN APRIL, UH, PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS WITH AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS AND SERVICES OF TOWN GOVERNMENT.
THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS EXPLORED DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS, WATER AND WASTEWATER, TREATMENT, PLANNING AND ZONING, ENERGY SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THE ACADEMY WAS DESIGNED TO FOSTER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENCOURAGE INFORMED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, AND SO BEFORE I ANNOUNCE THE GRADUATES, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT.
SO EACH MONTH WE GATHERED TOGETHER FOR A COUPLE HOURS, UM, AND WITH EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, WE, WE ACTUALLY TRAVELED TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR STAFF HOSTED THE EVENT.
AND, AND THAT EVENING SHARED LOTS OF INFORMATION AND THEN GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS.
AND AS I CALLED PEOPLE, THEY'RE ALL GONNA COME FORWARD.
BUT I'M GONNA ALSO ASK IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE SHARE SOMETHING YOU THOUGHT WAS VALUABLE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.
I PERSONALLY, UM, FELT LIKE THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST SESSIONS BECAUSE THE PARTICIPANTS WERE VERY ENGAGED.
THEY ASKED LOTS OF QUESTIONS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I EVEN LEARNED SOME THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
BUT, SO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL PROUDLY RECOGNIZED AS THE FOLLOWING GRADUATES OF THE 20 25, 26 CITIZENS ACADEMY.
AND THIS IS OUR GRADUATION TONIGHT.
SO IF YOU'LL JUST COME FORWARD AND MAYBE JUST START LINING UP OVER HERE.
SO, BRETT ETT, JOHN BRI CAR, MELANIE CLEMENTS, PAULA HACKMAN, MICHAEL NORM, UH, KEISHA PHILLIPS AND MICHAEL WHITLOW.
AND I WILL SAY THAT WE ALSO HAD FIVE OTHER, UM, PEOPLE AND MAYBE THAT THEY DIDN'T RSVP, BUT MAYBE THEY'RE HERE NOW.
GENEVIEVE, ELISE, ANDREW LAD, MARTA O'NEILL, AARON ROONEY, AND JEFFREY WILSON.
SO IF THEY'RE THERE, THEY'LL WANNA JOIN US AS WELL.
SO I'M GONNA BREATH, WE'LL GET ALL FOUR OF YOU GUYS UP HERE AND GET A PICTURE.
ALRIGHT, JOHN, WE, IT'S A SLIGHT FEE FOR THE, I'M SURPRISED THIS MAY WEREN'T HERE BECAUSE THE ATTENDANCE AT THE EVENTS WERE JUST GRADUATED.
WELL, SHE HAD IT IN THE ANOTHER FOLDER FOR AND SANDBOX THE LAST TIME.
I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER, IF YOU LAY HERE ON THE SUN AND GIVE TO HILLARY, HOW'S THAT? THIS
[00:10:01]
IS WHAT HAPPENED.WELL, NO, THAT'S, WE DON'T, WE DON'T NEED THE MIC.
WE'LL SPEAK FROM THE DIAPHRAGM.
THANK YOU, UH, MS. LAURIE LL AND, UH, THANK YOU JOE PETTY FOR, UH, WANDERING US THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, ESPECIALLY FOR A FEW OF US WHO ASKED MORE QUESTIONS THAN YOU QUESTIONER.
UH, WHICH WHICH DEFINITELY WAS US THREE UP TOP HERE AS WELL.
UH, AND IF IT WAS NOT PREMATURE, I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE INSPIRED MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE TO DO THEIR CIVIC DUTY.
I THINK SOMEBODY WAS GOING AROUND GATHERING SIGNATURES.
SO THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD SIGN OF ANYTHING.
SO THE FACT THAT YOU'VE DRAWN PEOPLE IN AS OPPOSED TO SCARED THEM AWAY IS, IS SOMETHING OF SUCCESS.
I KNOW YOU WILL NOT HAVE, YOU WILL NOT MINCE WORDS.
I HAD THE PREVIOUS JOE PETTY COME IN AND DO WATER TREATMENT AS A, UH, SIXTH GRADE, UH, ASSEMBLY.
SO I KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BUT BOY, I LEARNED A LOT MORE.
AND I THINK THE BEST SECTION, THERE WERE TWO REALLY GOOD ONES.
YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT'D BE INTERESTING OR IT WAS, AND, UH, WHEN WE WENT TO THE ING STATION, THEY HAD DONUTS.
ONE, I WAS CONSISTENTLY IMPRESSED WITH THE DEDICATION OF EVERYONE WHO WORKS FOR THE TOWN.
UH, AS, AS SOMEONE WHO'S ONLY LIVED IN FOR 18 MONTHS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, I CANNOT BELIEVE NEITHER LORI OR JOE SAID A WORD ABOUT THE, UH, OR EXCUSE ME, KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND COMING US.
I'M A I A YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY, IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL ANY BETTER, THEY DIDN'T KNOW EITHER.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK THAT THE HIGHLIGHT OF BUSINESS ACADEMY WAS BEING ABLE TO LEARN WHAT MAKES THIS TOWN REALLY SICK.
UM, MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND WE FELL IN LOVE WITH FIRM ROYAL.
AND THEN TO GO BEHIND THE SCENES AND REALLY SEE WHAT MAKES IT SO GREAT AND TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW THE WATER GETS INTO YOUR HOUSE AND HOW OUR OUR TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT, EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, WORKS TOGETHER AND BRINGS IN REVENUE.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT'S JUST BEEN FASCINATING.
I THINK EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF FRONT LAUREL SHOULD SIGN UP.
IF YOU'RE AT ALL CONCERNED, A CONCERNED, AND YOU'RE SITTING HERE TONIGHT, YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS ACADEMY.
OR YOU SHOULD TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS ACADEMY BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE WAY YOU'LL HAVE INTERACTION WITH LORI JOE, THE, UH, LEADERS OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, THAT RUN THE TOWN.
YOU CAN ASK THEM CANDID, DIRECT QUESTIONS.
SO THAT WAS MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY, AND I, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TELL YOUR PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS TO LOOK INTO ATTENDING THIS.
I HOPE THAT IT'S GONNA COME BACK FOR A THIRD YEAR.
SO THIS YEAR WAS SO SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK THAT, AND AS I SAID, I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ONLY FOUR OF YOU HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE NEVER HAD THIS FEW PEOPLE AT, AT, AT THE ACADEMY ITSELF.
THERE WAS ALWAYS LIKE A FULL ROOM AND WE WERE PUSHING IN CHAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, BUT, AND I JUST WANNA SAY TOO, THAT, UM, THERE WERE MANY NIGHTS THAT WE WERE THERE, BUT WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WAS WHAT, WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON
WE WERE IN THE THROES OF PLANNING AT THAT POINT, AND THEN I WAS LIKE, OH, WE HAVE CITIZENS ACADEMY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING AND CONGRATULATIONS THERE'S YOUR SON.
SO NEXT UP ARE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE SIX FOR TONIGHT.
UM, AND MS. ONG, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO.
SO I DON'T WANNA KEEP ANYBODY FROM SPEAKING, BUT I ALSO DON'T KNOW THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR ME TO READ OFF THE RULES IF NO ONE IS GONNA BE SPEAKING.
[00:15:01]
ONE AT A TIME AND IF FOR SOME REASON SOMEBODY DECIDES THEY WISH TO SPEAK, THEN I'LL READ THE RULES THAT WE WILL SAY SAVE SOME TIME.[7.a. Sale of 1,800 square foot portions of the unimproved alley located between W. 13th and 14th Streets, previously conditionally vacated by ordinance]
PUBLIC HEARING IS A SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 SQUARE FEET, UM, OF AN UNIMPROVED ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN WEST 13TH AND 14TH STREET.SO, MS. ONG, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY PURSUANT TO 15TH DASH TWO DASH 1800 SALE PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY TO WIT 1800 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNAPPROVED ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN WEST 13TH AND 14TH STREETS, PREVIOUSLY CONDITIONALLY VACATED BY ORDINANCE TO THE BUDDING PROPERTY OWNER WEST BROWN FOR THE AMOUNT OF $24,933 AND 88 CENTS PREVIOUSLY CONDITIONALLY CLOSED AND VACATED BY ORDINANCE ON APRIL 27TH, 2026, PRIOR TO WHICH A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT.
UM, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT REGARDING THIS? OKAY.
NO, WE'VE, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE APPLICANT AND THEY WERE GOOD WITH IT, SO, OKAY.
SO I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY.
SINCE NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVED THE SALE PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS A 1800 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNIMPROVED ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN WEST 13TH AND 14TH STREET, PREVIOUSLY CONDITIONED VACATED BY ORDINANCE TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER WEST BROWN FOR THE AMOUNT OF $24,933 88 CENTS.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO ROLL CALL.
COUNCILWOMAN DE DO PAYNE? YES.
[7.b. Special Use Permit to Allow a Short-Term Rental at 1521 N. Royal Avenue by Robert/ Melissa Mitchell]
UP AS OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM SEVEN B.UM, THIS IS FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 1521 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE BY ROBERT AND MELISSA MITCHELL.
MS. WIL, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY PLEASE? COUNSEL IS REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, PERMIT, AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY ROBERT AND MELISSA MITCHELL FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AS DEFINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE LOCATED AT 1521 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A THREE DASH THREE DASH SIX SIX DASH 21 A.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R ONE IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE HOUSE AS A WHOLE WITH SIX BEDROOMS AND NO MORE THAN 10 OCCUPANTS AT A TIME.
THE HOME IS THE APPLICANT'S SECONDARY RESIDENCE.
THERE IS A PERMANENT ACCESSORY STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT THIS APPLICATION'S NOT FOR THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL ON THE 18TH APRIL 15TH WITH NO CONDITIONS LETTERS WERE SENT TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFYING THEM OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL, BUT THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM.
UM, DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO SPEAK? SURE.
WE DON'T REQUIRE IT, BUT SOMETIMES THAT YOU ONE MIGHT HAVE WANNA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THEN, UM, YEAH, WE'VE GOT TWO MINUTES.
GIVE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO YOU.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVE LETTING US COME IN, UM, TELL YOU ABOUT US.
UM, MY NAME IS MELISSA MITCHELL AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND ROBERT.
UM, AND WE ARE THE OWNERS OF EDGEHILL.
UM, THE HISTORIC PROPERTY IN FRONT ROYAL EDGEHILL SITS ATOP RICHARDSON'S HILL, WANTS A COLONIAL ORCHARD AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIF SIGNIFICANT SITE FOR THE BATTLE OF FRONT ROYAL.
WE ARE HONORED TO ACCEPT THE BATON OF CARING FOR THIS HISTORIC PROPERTY.
I WANT TO SAY THIS CLEARLY FROM THE START.
THIS IS NOT A DISTANT INVESTMENT FOR US.
OUR PRIMARY HOME IS ABOUT AN HOUR FROM HERE.
WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MEANINGFUL TIME HERE AND OUR LONG-TERM PLAN IS TO RELOCATE PERMANENTLY.
ALTHOUGH EDGE HILL WILL SERVE AS A SECOND HOME FOR NOW.
THIS, UM, IS THE BEGINNING OF A TRANSITION TOWARD BECOMING FULL-TIME RESIDENCE OF FRONT ROYAL.
WE PLAN TO MAKE A HOME HERE AND TO BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE TOWN.
ALTHOUGH EDGEHILL IS IN TOWN, IT IS A LARGEST HISTORIC HOME ON 4.3 ACRES.
IT HAS SIGNIFICANT SETBACKS IN NATURAL BUFFERING FROM ITS NEIGHBORS BECAUSE IT'S OF ITS SIZE, COST, AND UPKEEP.
IT'S NOT WELL SUITED FOR TRADITIONAL LONG-TERM HOUSING RENTAL, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE ONGOING INVESTMENT TO
[00:20:01]
MAINTAIN RESPONSIBILITY.WE ARE NOT APPROACHING THIS AS AN INVESTMENT, BUT A LABOR OF LOVE.
WE EXPECT TO INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY IN MAINTAINING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE PROPERTY AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE VALUE WHAT IT REPRESENTS.
OUR GOAL IS STEWARDSHIP, NOT MAXIMIZATION.
WE'RE AWARE THAT WE COULD HAVE REQUESTED HIGHER OCCUPANCY THAN IS ORDINARILY PERMIT PERMITTED IN TOWN.
THE SIX BEDROOM, 4,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY COULD JUSTIFY SUCH A REQUEST.
WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY CHOSEN NOT TO PURSUE HIGHER OCCUPANCY BECAUSE WE VIEW THIS FIRST AND FOREMOST AS A SECOND HOME AND A HISTORIC PROPERTY, NOT AN INVESTMENT TO BE MAXIMIZED.
WE WANT TO RENT TO PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS OF SUSTAINING THE PROPERTY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL INEVITABLY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND WE'VE DESIGNED OUR APPROACH TO ADDRESS THEM DIRECTLY.
FIRST, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE DO NOT INTEND TO ALLOW INSTANT BOOKINGS.
EVERY GUEST WILL BE SCREENED FOR THE REASONS THEY WILL VISIT, AND THEY MUST TELL US WHO THEY, WHO WILL BE STAYING AND WHY.
WE WANT TO TARGET PEOPLE WHO WILL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND RESPONSIBLE RENTERS WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF AND PRESERVE THE HISTORIC PROPERTY.
SECOND, THERE IS A COTTAGE IN AUXILIARY DWELLING ON SITE.
WE WILL NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE RENTAL BECAUSE WHEN THE MAIN HOUSE IS OCCUPIED WITH GUESTS, WE WANT TO RETAIN THE ABILITY TO HAVE ONSITE PRESENCE.
THIRD, WE INTEND TO INSTALL NOISE AWARE, A NON-INTRUSIVE DECIBEL METER THAT REPORTS INSTANTLY TO US.
IF OUTDOOR SOUND EXCEEDS A SET THRESHOLD.
THIS DEVICE ALLOWS US TO MONITOR AND ADDRESS ISSUES PROPER PROACTIVELY IF OUTDOOR NOISE REACHES AN UNREASONABLE THRESHOLD.
FOURTH, WE HAVE PREPARED A VERY THOUGHT THOROUGH MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WILL ENSURE THAT GUESTS SIGN THAT THEY HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THE CONDITIONS OF STAYING IN THE PROPERTY.
THIS PLAN INCLUDES PROHIBITIONS AGAINST PARTIES OR GROUP GATHERINGS.
SET QUIET HOURS AND CLARIFY THAT WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO REMOVE GUESTS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW OUR REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS.
FIFTH, WE CAN BE AT THE PROPERTY WITHIN AN HOUR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LOCAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT THAT CAN BE ONSITE WITHIN MINUTES.
FINALLY, WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORS AND WE WANT THEM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT DIRECTLY IF ANYTHING EVER ARISES.
OURS IS A CONTROLLED, INTENTIONAL USE, NOT ONE WITHOUT LIMITS.
THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL OPTION ALLOWS US TO SUSTAIN AND PRESERVE A HISTORIC PROPERTY, SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH VISITORS WHO ENGAGE WITH FRONT ROYALS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY, AND PREPARE FOR A TRANSITION TO BECOME PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.
EDGEHILL HAS STOOD ON RICHARDSON HILL SINCE 1880.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARE FOR IT IN A WAY THAT HONORS ITS HISTORY, RESPECT ITS NEIGHBORS, AND CONTRIBUTES TO WHAT MAKES FRONT ROYAL SPECIAL.
WE HOPE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A POINT OF PRIDE FOR FRONT ROYAL FOR MANY MORE GENERATIONS TO COME.
AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I BELIEVE NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M JUST GONNA WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO GO FIRST.
I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN.
CODE 1 75 DASH THREE, THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY ROBERT AND MELISSA MITCHELL TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 1521 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A THREE DASH THREE DASH SIX SIX DASH 21 A SECOND.
SO MADAM MAYOR, UH, I NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT ON THIS.
UH, IF ANYONE HAS BEEN FOLLOWING, UH, MY VOTE ON, UH, R ONE, UH, PROPERTIES WITH REGARD TO SHORT TERM RENTALS, UH, I HAVE CONSISTENTLY VOTED NO AND I WILL VOTE NO TONIGHT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, LOW DENSITY IMPACT THAT, UH, R ONE IS, IS DESIGNED TO DO QUIET LIVING ALSO BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT, IF YOU WERE OWNER OCCUPIED, OKAY.
I WOULD LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO TREAT THIS AS YOUR FOREVER HOME.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING HERE.
[00:25:01]
SO WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANT IT TO BE CON, I HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT BECAUSE THIS IS A NICE PROPERTY.I KNEW, I, I'M QUITE AWARE OF THE FORMER OWNERS, UH, OF THE PROPERTY AND, UH, THEY LOVE THE PROPERTY.
I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THE PROPERTY.
IT'S JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT OWNER OCCUPIED.
AND I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
WHETHER IT'S A, A A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HOME OR A MILLION DOLLAR HOME, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
I JUST WANTED TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.
OH MY GOSH, I LITERALLY JUST TURNED MY PHONE OFF.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THIS TOPIC? OKAY, MS. ONG, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? NO.
LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BECOMING FULL-TIME RESIDENTS HERE.
[7.c. Zoning Text Amendment to Town Code Chapter 175 to Define Firearms Retail Establishment and Firearms Manufacturing, to permit Firearms Retail Establishments by-right in the C-1 Community Business District and to permit Firearms Manufacturing by Special Use Permit]
OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS ITEM SEVEN C, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE APPLICATION FOR A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE TO DEFINE FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT AND FIREARMS MANUFACTURING.AND TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH 39 POINT A TO PERMIT FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS BY RIGHT IN THE C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT INTO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH 39, UH, POINT B TO PERMIT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
MS. WIL, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY FOR US? OKAY.
AN APPLICATION FOR A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO DEFINE FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT AND FIREARMS MANUFACTURING AND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE AND AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH 39 A TO PERMIT FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS BY RIGHT IN THE C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT AND TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 0.39 B TO REMIT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
THE CONTEXT OF THIS TEXT AMENDMENT IS WHETHER THE ASSEMBLY OF GUNS, WHICH BY TOWN CODE CLASSIFIES AN INDUSTRIAL USE, IS APPROPRIATE FOR IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONE.
THE PRIMARY USE OF THE PROPERTY IS FOR RETAIL SALES OF FIREARMS. THE FFL OH SEVEN CREDENTIALS FROM THE A TF PERMITS THE APPLICANT TO ASSEMBLE AND REPAIR THE GUNS AT THE LOCATION, BUT TOWN CODE DOES NOT AT THIS TIME.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE AN SVP IF THE ASSEMBLY USE OVERTAKES.
THE RETAIL USES PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL ON THE APRIL 15TH WITH NO CONDITIONS.
SO AT THIS TIME, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO OFFER? DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UH, THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE C3, CORRECT? CORRECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO SPEAK? I JUST, I JUST LIKE, YEAH, COME ON.
I I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, JUST LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, WE DON'T REQUIRE THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK, BUT SOMETIMES UM, IT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THEN IT ALSO GIVES COUNSEL AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS DIRECTLY.
I AM THE OWNER OF JACK LIP ARMS AND TACTICAL.
UM, I DID SPEAK ON APRIL 15TH.
UM, I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO SAY, BUT I AM SO FULL READY AND WILLING AND TRANSPARENT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNSEL MAY HAVE.
ALRIGHT, COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KRESSEL? THE ONLY, ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, MR. CRES, UH, YOU WILL NOT BE MODIFYING THE LOWER RECEIVER, UH, CORRECT ON SITE.
UH, AS FAR AS MODIFYING GOES, UH, THE ATFS DEFINITION OF THE UH, MANUFACTURING IS JUST LITERALLY THE ASSEMBLY OF A SAID LOWER RECEIVER.
WHAT WE DO PURCHASE COMES ALREADY COMPLETELY DONE AND BUILT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
AND ALL WE ARE DOING IS LITERALLY JUST ASSEMBLING.
THERE IS NO MACHINING OR LATHING OR MILLING, DRILLING, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
SO THERE'S, AS FAR AS THE, THE WHOLE OF THE LOWER RECEIVER, THERE IS NO MODIFICATIONS.
AND THERE, THERE WILL NO, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY TESTING ON SITE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. KRESSEL? OKAY.
WE MIGHT CALL YOU BACK UP IF ANY QUESTIONS COME UP.
SO I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.
IS, IS, AND THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ONLY 'CAUSE WE KNOW NOBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS APPLICATION?
[00:30:01]
OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP TO COUNSEL.MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE SECTION 1 1 75 DASH THREE TO DEFINE FIREARMS RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT AND FIREARMS MANUAL FRACTURING TO AMEND TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH 39 A TO PERMIT FIREARM RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS BY RIGHT IN THE C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT.
AND TO AMEND TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH 39 B TO PERMIT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT AS PRESENTED.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MADAM MAYOR? I'LL JUST REITERATE SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE AT OUR WORK SESSION BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THE PUBLIC DOESN'T WATCH OUR WORK SESSIONS AND THEY DON'T, UM, ALWAYS GET THE JUSTICE THAT THEY DESERVE, UM, IN THE PRESS OR THE COVERAGE THAT I THINK THAT THEY DESERVE.
UM, I THINK THAT A, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN SOMEONE CHOOSES TO OPEN A BUSINESS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
UM, I DO KNOW THE OWNER WHO'S BEEN OPERATING THIS EXISTING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY OF WARREN FOR YEARS.
SO I THINK IT'S EXCITING THAT WE HAVE A NEW STOREFRONT COMING IN.
WHAT WAS A VACANT BUILDING THAT WASN'T BEING USED OR GENERATING ANY TAX REVENUE FOR THE TOWN WHATSOEVER? UM, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE TOWN AND THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE TIMING WITH THE NEW GOVERNOR WHO'S DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT I THINK, UM, IT'S GONNA DRAW A LARGE CROWD FROM THE SURROUNDING NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY IN TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN SERVICE THEIR FIREARMS TO PURCHASE FIREARMS, UM, TO BE EDUCATED WHEN THEY COME IN.
ESPECIALLY, I KNOW UP UNTIL NOW WE'VE HAD TO TRAVEL TO OTHER AREAS AND LOCALITIES TO HAVE THAT, UM, ABILITY.
AND AS FAR AS THE MANUFACTURING GOES, TO ME, UM, I'D LOVE TO SEE MANUFACTURING AND WHAT WAS A VACANT BUILDING DOING NOTHING.
UM, SO I WISH YOU GUYS ALL THE SUCCESS AND I'M VERY EXCITING AND YOUR GRAND OPENING WAS VERY FUN.
SO THANKS FOR HAVING THAT AND BRINGING A LOT OF ATTENTION OVER TO YOUR NEW STOREFRONT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, JUST, JUST TO, UH, QUELL ANY CONCERNS, UH, THERE, THERE, THIS IS ASSEMBLY, UH, JUST LIKE THE FIRM THAT I WORK FOR, WE DO, WE DO PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU ARE DOING, UM, ASSEMBLING THINGS THAT WE BRING IN FROM OTHER SUPPLIERS, AND THEN OF COURSE WE TAKE 'EM TO AN OFFSITE, UH, UH, RANGE AND, AND TEST ACCORDINGLY.
UH, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY BE DOING SOME GUNSMITHING, WHICH IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.
UH, SO, UM, AS THE VICE MAYOR INDICATED, I I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HERE.
UH, THIS TO ME IS SORT OF AN ARTESIAN TYPE OF MANUFACTURING, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, WINCHESTER CITY HAS, UM, UH, DONE SOME OF THIS AS WELL, ALLOWED, UM, UH, MANUFACTURING INTO THEIR, UH, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THAN WE DO.
I THINK IT'S B ONE AND MAYBE B TWO DISTRICT.
UM, BUT WITH THAT SAID, UM, WELCOME.
I APPRECIATE IT AND I WAS AT YOUR GRAND OPENING AS WELL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL.
[7.d. Zoning Text Amendment to Town Code Chapter 175 to Redefine Urban Agriculture and Agricultural Pursuits Amend Performance Standard to Clarify Lot Sizes and Permitted Animals]
UM, ITEM 70, UH, AS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A ZONING TAX AMENDMENT TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS AND TO AMEND THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE 10.5 TO CLARIFY MINIMUM BLOCK SIZES AND PERMITTED ANIMALS.UM, SO, UH, MS. ONG, IF YOU CAN READ THE SUMMARY, THE CURRENT URBAN AGRICULTURE ORDINANCE HAS INCONSISTENCIES WITH OTHER CHAPTERS OF TOWN CODE, WHICH HAS LED TO ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES WHEN ENFORCING THE CODE.
THE LANGUAGE ITSELF IS CONTRADICTORY AND UNCLEAR AS TO LIMITATIONS ON LOT SIZE AND PERMITTED ANIMALS.
THE DRAFT BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE AND PROVIDE A TIERED SYSTEM TO DEFINE AND LIMIT URBAN AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES BASED ON LOT SIZE STAFF CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURE EXTENSION AGENCIES TO DERIVE BEST PRACTICES FOR ANIMALS WELFARE AND HUMAN SAFETY.
THE PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE ARE TO ENSURE THE ANIMALS ARE PROPERLY CARED FOR AND TO REDUCE IMPACT ON
[00:35:01]
NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.THERE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL ON THE APRIL 15TH WITH NO CONDITIONS.
UM, STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO SHARE OR IF COUNSEL HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I SAID I CAN GO THROUGH THE TIERS IF YOU'D LIKE, OR I CAN JUST ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
UH, I JUST, UH, WANTED YOU TO REITERATE THE RULE AROUND THE, UM, INCIDENTAL SALE OF, UH, EGGS OR OTHER PRODUCTS.
THAT WHAT WOULD BE ALLOWABLE AND HOW THAT WOULD BE? SO WE'RE NOT LIMITING ANYTHING, UM, THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER INCIDENTAL SALES OR TRADING, UM, AMONG NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, UH, THE POINT AT WHICH IT BECOMES A COMMERCIAL OPERATION AND YOU ARE USING THESE SALE OF THESE PRODUCTS FOR YOUR INCOME, THAT IS WHEN, UM, IT'S NO LONGER INCIDENTAL TO THE MAIN USE.
SO URBAN AGRICULTURE IS DESIGNED TO BE, UM, SUBORDINATE TO THE PRIMARY USE OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL.
WHEN YOU GET INTO LARGE SCALE FARMING OR THE MAJORITY OF YOUR INCOME IS DERIVED FROM THESE PRODUCTS, THAT GOES INTO AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS.
SO YOU CAN TRADE EGGS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, THEY CAN COME TO YOUR HOUSE, GET SOME EGGS, BUT IF YOU'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING VEHICLES SHOWING UP AND PEOPLE ARE PURCHASING FROM YOU, THAT'S WHEN IT'S, IT'S NOT PERMITTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNSEL? GO AHEAD.
MS. KAKI, IF YOU WOULD, FOR PEOPLE, THIS IS RATHER LENGTHY.
CAN YOU STATE FOR THE RECORD WHAT LIVESTOCK WILL BE ALLOWED UNDER THIS REVISED ORDINANCE? SO THERE WOULD BE NO LIVESTOCK UNDER URBAN AGRICULTURE.
THAT WOULD BE UNDER AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS.
SO IN TOWN LIMITS TO HAVE AN AGRICULTURAL ZONED LOT, YOU NEED A MINIMUM OF 10 ACRES.
UM, SO IF YOU ARE ON AG ZONED HAVE AT LEAST 10 ACRES, THEN YOU CAN HAVE LIVESTOCK.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SLAUGHTER OF THE CHICKENS AND THE RABBITS? UM, LET ME GET TO THAT SECTION OF THE CODE.
SO WE DO NOT PERMIT THE SLAUGHTERING IN TOWN LIMITS OF THE CHICKENS OR ROCKETS.
SO THEY, IF YOU'RE GONNA SLAUGHTER IT NEEDS TO GO OUTSIDE OF TAKE THE RABBITS OR TAKE THEM TO BE PROCESSED ELSEWHERE.
AND FOR THE FOLKS AT HOME WATCHING IN, HOW MANY ROOSTERS CAN YOU HAVE? THE ROOSTERS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE LOT SIZE.
UM, SO AT UH, OVER, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S FIVE ACRES, YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 18 HENS AND ONE ROOSTER IS ALLOWED.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 10 HENS PER ROOSTER FOR THE SAFETY OF THE HENS.
AND HOW'S THAT VERIFIED? THAT WAS THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENCY, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE SPOKE WITH AN AGENT FROM VIRGINIA TECH WHO REVIEWS ALL OF THE URBAN AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT ARE SUBMITTED TO STAFF.
SO WHEN PEOPLE SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION, THEY GIVE US THIS PLAN, WE ROUTE IT OUT, THEY REVIEW IT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SUFFICIENT HABITAT SPACE, SO COOP SPACE, RUN SPACE, AND THAT, UM, BASED ON THE BREED THAT AT THAT ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET FOR THEIR, THEIR HEALTH BASICALLY.
AND HOW OFTEN ARE THESE? UH, IT, WE DO ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.
SO TWO WEEKS OR COMPLAINT BASED? CORRECT.
BUT TYPICALLY, UM, WE HAVE IT FLAGGED IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO ABOUT A MONTH OUT FROM THEM NEEDING THEIR INSPECTION, OUR STAFF WILL GIVE THEM A CALL AND SAY, HEY, IT'S TIME FOR YOUR ANNUAL CHICKEN INSPECTION OR RABBIT INSPECTION AND WE'LL SCHEDULE A TIME.
WE HAVE NOT REVOKED ANY PERMITS YET.
UM, IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES, WE TYPICALLY GIVE THEM A, YOU KNOW, A, A WARNING AND THEN THEY COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
WHAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CALL AND COMPLAIN ABOUT A ROOSTER? WHAT IS THE PROCESS? THEY CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND SUBMIT A COMPLAINT THROUGH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT PAGE, OR THEY CAN CALL US OR THEY CAN EMAIL PLANNING@FRONTROYALVA.COM.
I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, MISS.
COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT, GO AHEAD.
I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR YOUR PERMISSION.
I'M JUST MESSING WITH THE BRUCE.
[00:40:01]
OKAY.UM, SO CAN, CAN YOU GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CHICKENS? UH, PER, UH, PER UH, LIKE TIER LOT? OKAY.
SO, UM, CAN WE, CAN WE GO THROUGH THAT SO THAT THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW ON LESS THAN ONE ACRE, YOU CAN HAVE UP TO SIX CHICKENS, NO ROOSTERS.
UM, FROM ONE TO FIVE ACRES YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 12 CHICKENS.
AND THEN A LAR ON A LOT LARGER THAN FIVE ACRES, YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 18 INCLUDING ONE ROOSTER.
AND THE SAME GOES FOR RABBITS AND THEN BEEHIVES.
UM, YOU CAN'T, YOU COULD NOT EXCEED MORE THAN 12 BEEHIVES IN TOWN.
UH, SO PREVIOUSLY I, I UNDERSTOOD THAT MO MOST PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE MANAGING THREE CHICKENS.
SO NOW, UH, WELL HERE, HERE'S MY, MY CONCERN IS PREDATORS AND RODENTS IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
RATS, BECAUSE CHICKENS BRING RATS.
UH, IF YOU DON'T KEEP YOUR COOPS CLEAN AND YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE COMPLAINT BASE UNTIL IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS FOR JUST ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.
IF, UH, SO CAN YOU, CAN YOU WEIGH IN ON THAT? IF WE SEE EVIDENCE OF RATS, WE CAN REVOKE THE PERMIT IMMEDIATELY, UM, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OVER AGAIN.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE REQUIREMENTS THAT, UH, THE, THE COOPS HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN A CLEAN STATE.
AND TYPICALLY, IF THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT IS NOT MAINTAINING IT WELL, WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT FROM THE NEIGHBORS.
IT'LL, IT DOES NOT SMELL PLEASANT.
UM, AND IF THERE ARE RATS RUNNING AROUND EVERYWHERE, WE WILL GET A CALL.
SO, UH, WE HAVE NOT HAD, WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE WHERE THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF RATS AND THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE VERY QUICKLY.
UM, AND WE'VE HAD MAYBE TWO COMPLAINTS LAST YEAR ABOUT ODOR.
UM, BUT AGAIN, CODE ENFORCEMENT WENT OUT THERE AND THEY EITHER REMOVED THE CHICKENS OR THEY, THEY CLEANED IT UP.
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS LOTS OF DISCUSSION BEFORE, UM, THIS, UM, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO COUNSEL.
WE DO NOT AT THIS TIME ALLOW ROOSTERS.
'CAUSE THERE WAS LOTS OF, THERE WAS LOTS OF MISINFORMATION FLOATING AROUND.
SO, BUT THIS WOULD CHANGE THAT IF IT PASSES? YES.
FIVE ACRES OR MORE AND, AND AT LEAST 10 HENS.
YOU NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST 10 HENS PER OKAY.
I'M SAYING YOU HAD TO HAVE AT LEAST 10.
MY QUESTION IS, UM, UNDER THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL USE WHERE IT SAYS SCHOOLS EXEMPT FROM THE POPULATION LIMITS, COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY THAT FOR ME? SO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE THE FFA PROGRAMS. THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THEM TO KEEP THE CHICKS AND RAISE THE CHICKS, UH, THERE, BUT THE SCHOOLS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THESE REQUIREMENTS, IS WHAT THAT WOULD DO.
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE SCHOOLS COULD THEN LIKE, HAVE LIKE LOTS MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS ALLOWED IN TOWN.
RIGHT? THEY WOULD COME IN FOR AN URBAN AG PERMIT AND WE WOULD, WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY LIKE REVIEW IT UNDER ZONING.
UM, WE WOULDN'T, LIKE THERE'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL NOW THAT IS ON, UM, I THINK IT'S TWO ACRES, THREE ACRES.
THEY HAVE SEVERAL CHICKENS NOW.
UH, THEY HAVE MORE THAN SIX, BUT THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY GRANDFATHERED FROM YEARS AGO.
UM, BUT IT JUST MADE SENSE AS WE TALKED WITH THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT
[00:45:01]
FROM THE LIMIT OF SIX BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE ANIMALS, LIKE THE CHICKENS THAT THEY RAISE, THEY INCUBATE THE EGGS.IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'VE GOT A COOP OUTSIDE THAT THEY, AND THEY'RE NOT SELLING THEM, THEY'RE NOT RAISING THEM ON.
WELL THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE RAISING THEM ON SITE.
AND OBVIOUSLY AT A CERTAIN TIME OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THERE AREN'T KIDS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THEM, I JUST WAS ASKING 'CAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT CITIZENS TO FEEL LIKE WE WERE MAKING EXCEPTIONS FOR SOME AND, AND NOT FOR OTHERS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS BEFORE COUNSEL TAKES ACTION? I, OKAY.
SO IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? THERE IS NOT, BUT DOES ANYBODY WANNA SPEAK TO THIS? LET'S JUST MAKE SURE.
DID YOU, IS THIS IS, IS THIS THIS ONE YOU WANTED? I WAS NOT IN THE ROOM SO I'M WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WELL THEN I'M ASSUMING YOU DIDN'T WANT TO THEN
UM, THEN I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.
I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE TO DEV, REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS AND TO AMEND THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE 10.5 TO CLARIFY MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND PERMITTED ANIMALS AS PRESENTED.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY DID THE QUESTIONS, BUT IS ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THE ONLY DISCUSSION THAT I'LL ADD IS THAT I'M GLAD THIS IS BEING RE-REVIEWED BY THIS COUNCIL.
UM, CHICKENS IS OFTEN A TRIGGER WORD FOR LAUGHTER ON THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE MY, UM, FORMER FELLOW COUNCILMAN SCOTT LLOYD ASKED ME TO CONTINUE CARRYING THE TORCH AFTER WE HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHICKENS AFTER HIS TIME ON THIS DIOCESE.
AND I JUST THINK URBAN AGRICULTURE IN A TOWN LIKE FRONT ROYAL MAKES SENSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WERE SEEING EGGS AT $12 A DOZEN WHEN WE HAD PEOPLE IN FRONT ROYAL WHO WERE PERFECTLY CAPABLE AND ABLE OF PROVIDING THEM FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY ON THEIR OWN LAND AND BEING VERY PRO PROPERTY OWNERS RIGHTS.
I FEEL LIKE IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF AND MAINTAIN AND AFFORD ANIMALS, THAT IS YOUR RIGHT TO DO SO.
UM, AND I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOLS REGARDING THEIR AG PROGRAMS. UM, WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS FROM THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS YEAR TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH THE FFA PROGRAM AND THE AG CLASSES.
AND I CURRENTLY HAVE A BUNNY LIVING IN MY HOUSE BECAUSE SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER EFFECTIVE THURSDAY.
SO WE ARE NAVIGATING, HANDLING A BUNNY AND ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS WERE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT ALL THE OTHER WILLING FAMILIES.
WE WEREN'T THE WILLING FAMILY, BUT IT CAME HOME.
UM, AND I, I THINK I'M STILL PERSONALLY NOT PLEASED WITH THE RUN SPACE AND THE COOP SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE THAT, UM, WEREN'T HERE BEFORE THE TIME.
WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST, WE HAD A CONSTITUENT AND A HOMEOWNER IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL COME FORWARD WHO'S OWNED FOUR HENS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
SHE HAS AN EIGHT FOOT PRIVACY FENCE AND ALL OF THEIR WINGS ARE CLIPPED.
AND THIS ORDINANCE, UH, REQUIRED HER TO BUILD A RUN AND A COOP TO ACCOMMODATE THEM DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY COULDN'T ESCAPE HER VERY LARGE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO I STILL HOPE THAT THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO THE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WHO SEE WHEN WE TAKE ACTION ON A CODE TO REVISE IT, TO AMEND IT, TO CHANGE IT, THAT IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT AND IT CONTINUOUSLY CAN BE DONE.
UM, SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD REMINDER FOR ALL TOWN CODES AND ZONING THAT WE DISCUSS.
UM, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE CHANGES AS WE SEE FIT AS A GOVERNING BODY IN A TOWN WHEN WE HEAR THE FEEDBACK OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE, UM, AND HAVE TO MAKE THESE INSPECTIONS.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE MAKING STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY, UH, OF THIS COUNCIL'S CONSENSUS TO HAVE AGRICULTURE RUNNING AROUND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, BUT ONE DAY IF ONLY WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET GAS CHEAPER.
IF THEY WERE PERMITTED, EGG PRICES AREN'T GONNA BE HIGH FOREVER.
COUNCILMAN MEDINO MANANG? YES.
[00:50:01]
SO OUR NEXT[7.e. An Ordinance to Amend Town Code §158-6 for the Re-adoption by Reference of State Vehicular Laws]
PUBLIC HEARING IS ITEM SEVEN E, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REENACT TOWN CODE 1 58 DASH SIX, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026, PERTAINING TO THE ADOPTION BY REFERENCE OF THE STATE VEHICULAR LAWS CONTAINED IN THE TITLE 46.2 CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950 AS AMENDED IN ARTICLE TWO OF CHAPTER SEVEN OF ONE OF 18.2 CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950 AS AMENDED.I'M JUST GONNA READ THE SUMMARY, MS. ONG, 'CAUSE IT'S LITERALLY LIKE TWO SENTENCES.
UH, COUNSEL'S REQUEST TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE SECTION 1 58 DASH SIX, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026, PERTAINING TO ADOPTION BY REFERENCE TO THE STATE VEHICULAR LAWS CONTAINED IN TITLE 46.2 CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950 AS AMENDED IN ARTICLE TWO OF CHAPTER SEVEN OF TITLE 18.2 CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950 AS AMENDED.
UM, UH, I'M NOT EVEN GONNA ASK STAFF 'CAUSE I I KNOW THIS IS MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING THING.
UM, WHEN, UM, WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS AND CHANGES THINGS, UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, WE, WE, THIS COMES BEFORE US EACH YEAR, BUT I'M GONNA OPEN UP, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REENACT TOWN CODE SECTION 1 38 DASH SIX FOR THE RE ADOPTION BY REFERENCE OF THE STATE VEHICULAR LAWS AS PRESENTED.
[7.f. An Ordinance to Amend Town Code §§134-22.C & 134-31.1.C to Remove the Pilot Fee Agreement Form]
THIS IS OUR LA LET ME JUST MAKE SURE.THIS IS OUR LAST PUBLIC HEARING OF THE NIGHT.
UM, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE TO MEN TOWN CODE 1 34 DASH 22.1 C AND 1 34 DASH 31.1 C BY REMOVING THE OUT OF TOWN WATER AND SEWER SERVICE AGREEMENT, PILOT AGREEMENT AND CONTRACTUAL TERMS FROM THE TOWN CODE, THE PILOT AGREEMENT BEING SUBJECT TO REVISION AND SHOULD NOT BE CODIFIED.
UM, MS. ONG, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE SUMMARY? THE OUT OF TOWN WATER AND SEWAGE SERVICE AGREEMENT PILOT AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO DRAFTING ON SUCH TERMS AND ADDITIONS FOR THE PAYMENT OF SEWER AND WATER RATES AND CHARGES AND PILOT FEES.
AS THE TOWN AND SUCH COMMERCIAL USERS IN THE CORRIDOR AREA MAY AGREE AND SHOULD NOT BE CODIFIED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE TOWN CODE.
UM, IS THERE, DOES STAFF HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANNA OFFER FOR THIS? THANK YOU MAD MAYOR.
UM, THE ONLY THING I WANT TO ADD IS IN REVIEWING THE MINUTES FROM, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2014, UM, UH, I COULD NOT FIND ANY RATIONALE, REASON, OR RATIONALE STATED FOR INCLUDING THE CONTRACT ITSELF IN TOWN CODE, THE CONTRACT, OR THE PILOT AGREEMENT BEING A LIVING DOCUMENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE REVISION, UH, BETWEEN THE PARTIES INVOLVED.
SO AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP TO COUNCIL.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE 1 34 DASH 22 DASH ONE C AND 1 34 DASH 31 1 C BY REMOVING THE OUT OF TOWN WATER AND SEWER SERVICE AGREEMENT, PILOT AGREEMENT AND CONTRACTUAL TERMS FROM THE TOWN CODE AS THE PILOT AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION AND SHOULD NOT BE CODIFIED.
AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
UM, MS. WOLF, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.
WE MIGHT HAVE JUST HIT A RECORD.
WE HAD SEVEN PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]
ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.I KNOW NOBODY SIGNED UP AND I'M ASSUMING THERE ARE THOSE THAT WISH TO SPEAK.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GIVE, UM, THE RULES OF, OF THIS, UM, THIS ITEM.
SO WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION
[00:55:01]
OF THE AGENDA.IT IS THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN 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 COUNCIL, 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 COUNCIL 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 HAS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF.
REFRAIN FROM WORDS 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 CHIEF, UH, OF CHIEF OF THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE ROOM SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN.
UM, MS. ONG, I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO NOW AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? GO AHEAD.
HELLO? UH, I AM MEGAN MARRAZZO.
I LIVE AT 3 1 6 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND THAT IS HERE IN TOWN.
UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT, UH, THE ONGOING, UH, SITUATION WITH THE DATA CENTER ORDINANCE.
UH, IT WAS, I KNOW ORIGINALLY GIVEN OVER TO COUNSEL, UH, BACK IN OCTOBER I BELIEVE IT WAS.
AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE WAS A LAWYER BROUGHT IN.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN THINGS GOING ON AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE ALSO RUNNING OUT OF TIME AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS PURCHASED THE OLD AVTEX PROPERTY, THEY'RE IN THEIR DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD, BUT THEY COULD END THAT AT ANY TIME AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND THIS SECOND, AN APPLICATION HITS PLANNING.
IT'S WHATEVER'S IN CODE AT THAT MOMENT.
SO I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAFT ORDINANCE PRESENTED TO YOU.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE IDEAS THAT Y'ALL HAVE ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULD IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE A DECISION SOON, EITHER PAST WHAT'S THERE AND THEN KICK IT BACK FOR, FOR THE REVISIONS, KICK IT BACK AND SAY, HEY, GIVE US SOMETHING NEW AND IT'LL BE TURNED AROUND.
OR IF THERE'S AN OUTRIGHT BAN, JUST DO THAT SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE PROTECTED AND THE TOWN CAN KNOW WHAT OUR FUTURE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR DATA CENTERS MOVING FORWARD.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? YEP.
HELLO? UM, MY NAME IS RACHEL DOERING.
I LIVE AT 1 2 5 WEST FOURTH STREET, WHICH IS HERE IN TOWN.
UM, I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD MAKE AN EMERGENCY CONSIDERATION ON THE EXTENSION OF AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE SALE OF MY HOUSE TO GO THROUGH.
UM, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY ON THURSDAY AND THE TITLE COMPANY CAME IN TODAY AND IS REQUESTING THAT IT BE IMMEDIATELY RENEWED.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE TIME, YOU KNOW, TO ASK FOR IT OR IF THIS, I WOULD HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN MEETING, BUT I FIGURED I'D GIVE IT A SHOT NOW.
WE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY LIKE DISCUSS BACK AND FORTH FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IS THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE THIS EVENING, YOU CAN TALK TO STAFF OKAY.
AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE, WHAT THE PATH FORWARD IS OR IF THERE IS ONE OR IF THERE'S A PLACE FOR IT.
ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? HOW'S IT GOING GUYS? MATTHEW PURDY, BREITBART NEWS, I HAPPEN LIVE IN THE COUNTY, NOT IN A TOWN, SO I GUESS YOU TAKE MY OPINION WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, RIGHT? LITTLE BIT.
LITTLE BIT LESS IMPORTANT I GUESS, BUT, UH, NO.
SO, UH, I WANTED TO BRING AN ARTICLE FROM BREITBART NEWS FROM, UH, LUCAS.
NOLAN, FRIEND OF MINE WORKS FOR BBAR NEWS.
HE'S OUR TECH GUY, ONE OF THE FEW TECH GUYS.
WE GOT VERY GOOD ARTICLE STATES, GEORGIA DATA CENTER CONSUMED 30 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT.
[01:00:01]
A REPORT SAYS THAT A MASSIVE DATA CENTER CAMPUS NEAR ATLANTA CONSUMED NEARLY 30 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER WITHOUT INITIALLY PAYING FOR IT.DISCOVERY THAT HAS INTENSIFIED LOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE GROWING INDUSTRY AMID SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE'S A STUPID ARTICLE IN THE WAY, LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET AROUND IT.
UM, BUT BASICALLY, UH, YEAH, THERE'S 3 MILLION GALLONS THAT WE'RE UNACCOUNTED FOR.
PEOPLE WE'RE NOTICING DISCREPANCIES IN THEIR WATER SUPPLY.
SO I SEE NO REASON WHY WE WOULD JUST, WHY, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS JUST BAN DATA CENTERS AND PREVENT THIS POTENTIAL DISASTER FROM EVEN BEING POSSIBLE UNLESS THERE'S A FISCAL INCENTIVE FOR ALLOWING THEM TO COME FOR YOU OR YOUR FRIENDS? I HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
I MEAN, IF IT IS THE CASE, IT'S FINE.
YOU'LL GIVE, YOU GIVE BREITBART AND SOME OTHER NEWS OUTLETS, SOME CONTENT AND I'M SURE THEY DO PRETTY WELL.
'CAUSE THE DATA CENTER OPPOSITION IS PRETTY POPULAR THESE DAYS.
SO, BUT JUST REMEMBER THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVAL FOR PEOPLE.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RARE TIMES WHEN BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT ARE COMING TOGETHER AND OPPOSING IT.
AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY YOU WOULD NOT BAN DATA CENTERS.
SEEMS LIKE A VERY SIMPLE THING TO DO.
IT WOULD ONLY P**S OFF ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S THE DATA CENTER PEOPLE ZUCK, AMAZON, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THOSE GUYS.
SO THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVAL FOR PEOPLE AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT THEIR FAUCETS ARE OUTTA WATER OR THAT THEY'RE LOWER ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE THEY WERE HIT WITH DATA CENTERS IN AN AREA THAT'S VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DROUGHTS, EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE.
SO PLEASE DON'T GIMME ANY CONTENT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK THIS EVENING DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.
[9.a. Report of Town Manager]
UP IS, UM, TIME NUMBER NINE.SO THE REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER.
UH, COUNSEL, I JUST HAD A FEW QUICK ITEMS THIS EVENING.
UH, WE'LL BE POSTING THIS ONLINE AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, BUT JUNE 1ST AND JUNE 2ND, THE RAILROAD CROSSING AT MANASSAS AVENUE WILL BE CLOSED.
SO THE FARM WILL BE CLOSED TO ANY PUBLIC ACCESS AT THAT TIME AS THE RAILROAD DOES WORK.
JUNE 4TH, THERE'LL BE A JOINT LIAISON MEETING BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
THAT AGENDA WILL BE OUT LATER THIS WEEK ON JUNE 19TH.
UH, TOWN OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FOR JUNETEENTH.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE CITIZENS ACADEMY.
IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR WITH THAT, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK NEXT YEAR.
AND FOR THOSE WHO MISS THE SPECIFIC MONTH, WE WILL BE INVITED BACK TO THE NEXT YEAR.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T MISS ANYTHING, UM, EACH YEAR IT GOES ON.
AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK OUR TOWN STAFF AND THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE AND SCHOOLS AND COUNTY TO HELP SUPPORT AND OUR OVERALL COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT THE VISIT THAT WE HAD ON APRIL 30TH WHEN WE HAD SOME SPECIAL GUEST VISIT FROM ENGLAND.
SO, UM, THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF WHO REALLY STEPPED UP IN ADDITION TO THEIR TYPICAL DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS THE SUCCESSFUL EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
[9.b. Report of Council members]
OKAY.SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA DO COUNCIL REPORTS AND WE ARE GONNA MIX IT UP AND GO ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
I WAS JUST, YOU'RE A DI DO, I KNOW MY ABCS.
SO I, I WAS RATHER BUSY THIS PAST, UM, MONTH.
UM, OF COURSE I DID PARTICIPATE IN THE ROYAL VISIT, BUT DID NOT GET TO SHAKE ANY HANDS.
UM, I ALSO DID NOT DO REALLY ANY WORK AROUND IT OTHER THAN SHOW UP.
AND SO I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO KEPT IT A SECRET, WHO MADE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS, UM, THAT TURNED OUT SO WELL.
AND THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC FOR BEHAVING YOURSELF.
UM, I THINK THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY STEPPED UP AND, UM, I WAS PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT DAY.
UM, I DID GIVE SOME GREAT PICTURES THOUGH, IF YOU GO ON FACEBOOK.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE BLOOMERS LUNCHEON, WHICH I'D NEVER ATTENDED.
IT'S ALL BASICALLY AN ALL FEMALE THING, AND IT'S, UM, VERY, IT'S VERY FUN.
I WAS INVITED TO THE SKYLINE IN WARREN COUNTY HIGH
[01:05:01]
SCHOOL GRADUATIONS, AND I WAS HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.I THINK, YOU KNOW, GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MILESTONES IN A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE.
AND I WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED.
I'VE ATTENDED A FEW GRADUATIONS OF MY TIME AND I, I WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY THE AMOUNT OF LOVE AND CARE THAT WAS EXPRESSED.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT, I THINK BY FACULTY, BY ALSO THE ADMINISTRATORS.
EVERYBODY COULD, YOU COULD TELL NOT JUST THE STUDENTS, BUT EVERYONE WAS ENJOYING, UM, IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS FOR WARREN COUNTY.
BUT STILL, IT WAS, IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND, UM, AGAIN, THANK THIS COMMUNITY FOR CARING FOR THE, FOR THE YOUTH.
AND, UH, IT REALLY DOES STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN INCOME AND LIVELIHOOD TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WE CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE IT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS STILL SUCH A PUSH FOR BEYOND THAT.
UM, I ATTENDED THE NORTHERNS SHENDO VALLEY REGIONAL COMMISSION AND WE GET TO GO AROUND AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS, UM, HAPPENED LATELY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WAS VERY PLEASED TO BE THE ONLY ONE TO SAY THAT WE WERE VISITED BY THE KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
AND, UM, AND THAT WAS JUST REALLY, AGAIN, REMARKABLE.
UM, I ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO, UH, ROB MCDOUGALL AND SKIP ROGERS AND ANYBODY ELSE.
I WAS NOT ANNOUNCED THAT I WAS THERE, BUT AGAIN, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
SO, UM, THAT WAS FINE BY ME, BUT I WAS THERE.
UM, AND, UM, ALSO, UH, TO DISCLOSE TO SOME, TO, TO MAKE IT TRANSPARENT, I WAS CON UH, I WAS APPROACHED THIS WEEK BY A DEVELOPER, UM, WHO IS DEVELOPING IN ONE OF OUR INDUSTRIAL AREAS, NOT AVTEC, UM, WHO, UH, HAS NOT DECIDED WHAT THEY WILL DO THERE, BUT DATA CENTERS WERE A POTENTIAL FOR THEM, AS WAS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WAS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, OF COURSE I SPOKE FOR MYSELF, WHICH IS ALSO COMING OFF OF I REACH, I RECENTLY WATCHED A STATE OF THE HOMELESSNESS, UM, FROM THE WESTERN VIRGINIA CONTINUUM.
THEY DID A NICE VIDEO ON ALL ABOUT THE HOMELESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE TOP REASON FOR PEOPLE, UM, WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO HOMELESSNESS IS LACK OF INCOME AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND THAT FALLS ABOVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO TO ME, MY PREFERENCE FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN INDUSTRIAL AND WHAT I COMMUNICATED TO THIS PERSON WAS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE JOBS, AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT WOULD NOT TAX OUR RESOURCES.
UM, ONE THAT WOULD PROVIDE JOBS BUT NOT HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC OR UGLY VISIBILITY IN OUR BEAUTY BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TOO TALL IN ORDER, BUT THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
I THINK WE DON'T TURN THAT INTO RESIDENTIAL.
I'M NOT SEEING RESIDENTIAL BE, YOU KNOW, A HUGE WAY FOR US TO GET OUT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, TAXING PEOPLE AS WE ARE NOW.
YOU KNOW, I WANNA FIND A WAY TO IN, TO CREATE INCOME FOR THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I AM ONE OF SIX, BUT, UM, SO IT, YOU KNOW, IT IS TRUE THAT FOLKS ARE ARE COMING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO, TO MAKE MONEY.
UM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE A COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO IT'S TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE.
BUT TO SAY THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE INDUSTRY IN AN INDUSTRIAL IS RIDICULOUS.
WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORD IT OR BAN IT OR WHATEVER WE'RE GONNA DO.
BUT ANYWAY, SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT TRANSPARENT THAT YES, SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME AND JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, I'LL TALK TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK TO ME, UM, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE LETTER I,
BUT, UH, YEAH, I DO HAVE THREE, THREE THINGS MATTER.
MAYOR, UH, ONE, OF COURSE, I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT WAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE ROYAL VISIT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I WAS THERE AND, AND, UH, I GOT A LOT, UH, GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE AIR REACHED OUT TO ME AS WORD SPREAD AROUND.
AND, UH, SEEMS TO BE, IT WAS A, IT WAS A, IT WAS, WE WERE SEEN IN A GOOD LIGHT THROUGHOUT THE, UH, NOT JUST THIS COM, THIS AREA, BUT ALSO THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER.
SO PEOPLE FROM OVER THE CO AROUND THE COUNTRY SAID THAT THEY SAW THE NEWS AND, AND, UH, SAID THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY SAW HELP SUCCESSFUL, IT SEEMED TO BE SO, UH, SO IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR.
UH, SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS THE WINE AND CRAFT FESTIVAL.
I WAS IN ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR FOR THAT.
UH, THAT SEEMED TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS.
[01:10:01]
I WAS THERE PRETTY MUCH, WELL, THE BULK OF THE DAY, I SHOULD SAY.UH, THIS YEAR SEEMED TO BE CENTERED AROUND A LOT OF FRUIT FLAVORED WINE, WHICH IS DEFINITELY NOT MY FORTE SO MUCH.
BUT, UH, I WILL SAY THAT IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THE ONE, THE NUMBER OF VENDORS THAT WERE THERE.
I MEAN, THERE WERE 20 SOME VENDORS, I BELIEVE, AND OR WINE VENDORS AND ALMOST 200 VENDORS ALTOGETHER FOR CRAFTS.
SO, UM, HAD SOME FRIENDS THAT COME DOWN FOR IT AND, AND THEY STAY, HAD A REALLY GOOD TIMES.
SO, UH, THE BUSINESSES SEEMED TO HANDLE EVERYTHING WELL ON MAIN STREET AND CHESTER STREET.
SO KUDOS TO THEM AND KUDOS TO OUR STAFF, UH, POLICE AND, AND, UH, CHIEF WHITEHEAD AND AND CREW FOR, UH, KEEPING EVERYTHING IN ORDER.
UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, THE LAUREL RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO THEIR GRADUATION.
I HAD A LITTLE COUSIN THERE AND UNEXPECTEDLY SAW SOME FACES OF OUR COMMUNITY THERE AS WELL, SO I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY REARED SOME OF THOSE TO STUDENTS TO WHERE THEY WERE AFTER
SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES THERE, BUT, UH, THAT WAS, UH, VERY WELL ORGANIZED AND, UH, IT WAS, UM, GOOD EVENT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, TO GET TO SEE, UM, OTHER STUDENTS THERE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR THIS MONTH, MA'AM.
OUR NEXT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE GOT A LOT OF END OF THE ALPHABET LETTERS OVER HERE.
SO I GUESS YOU DO
UM, ON, UH, APRIL THE 18TH, I ATTENDED THE, THE LANTERN LIBERTY VA TWO 50 EVENT, UH, DOWN AT THE, UH, WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY.
UM, OBSERVED A FARRIER IN THERE, UH, WAS TAKING A HORSE, WHATEVER.
UH, THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.
UM, AND OF COURSE, UH, MICROPHONE
OH, YOU MEAN MY VOICE DOESN'T CARRY.
UM, I ATTENDED ON THE 30TH OF APRIL, UH, ROYAL BLOCK PARTY CELEBRATION.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY I WAS BLOCKED BY THE VIRGINIA STATE LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AND
I COULD NOT, I COULDN'T GET TO THE KING AND THE QUEEN WHEN THEY CAME THROUGH, SO I DIDN'T GET TO SHAKE THEIR HAND.
UM, BUT THE LITTLE LEAGUE, THEY, THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
SO THEY, THEY CERTAINLY WOULD TRUMP ME.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES OVER IN ENGLAND THAT I SPEAK TO EVERY DAY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT.
IT'S NOT AROUND THE PORTSMOUTH AREA YET.
UH, ON THE NINTH OF, UH, MAY, I ATTENDED CNCS 11TH ANNUAL FAMILY, UH, FUN DAY.
UH, I DID NOT PARTAKE IN THE, I THINK IT WAS THE, THE CRAY FISH BOIL.
I'M TOLD THAT YOU SAID, YEAH, THAT'S, BUT MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE, UH, OF COURSE, UH, THE WINE FESTIVAL ON, UH, MAY THE 16TH, UH, AS, UH, A COUNCILMAN INGRAM INDICATED, UH, IT WAS A WELL ATTENDED EVENT, AND, UH, I DID NOT PARTAKE IN THE WINE.
UM, I HAD TO MOW GRASS AFTERWARDS.
SO YOU'RE USING HEAVY MACHINING.
UH, ON THE 20TH, I DID ATTEND THE SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, UM, THE, AS I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, DEMON PAYNE INDICATED THE COM COMRADERY, COMRADERY, CAMARADERIE, UH, THE TEAM, UH, THE TEAM TYPE OF FEELING THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE REALLY PROUD TO BE THERE.
AND YOU HAD TO BE, I GUESS, UNCONSCIOUS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LUMP IN YOUR THROAT WHEN
[01:15:01]
NATHANIEL STEEL RAMEY GOT UP OUT OF THAT WHEELCHAIR AND WALKED ACROSS MM-HMMYOU TALK ABOUT DETERMINATION, I'M GOING TO WALK ACROSS AND GET THAT DIPLOMA.
AND, UM, IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND, UM, I'M JUST SAYING THAT REALLY TOOK ME BACK AND, AND IMPRESSED ME.
UH, ON THE 21ST, UH, I SAT OUT IN THE RAIN WITH WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
UM, AGAIN, THE ENERGY, THE ENERGY THERE WITH THEIR PRINCIPAL, HE, HE IS JUST, HE'S OFF THE CHARTS.
K UH, KI THINK HIS LAST NAME IS.
AND, UM, HE WALKED UP AS I WAS WALKING OUT, HE WALKED UP TO ME AND HE SAID, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UH, YOU GOT COUNSEL, UH, BEING THERE.
AND, UH, THAT MADE ME FEEL GOOD.
UH, ON THE, ON JUNETEENTH, UH, I JUST WANT TO, THIS IS A FOOTNOTE,
APPARENTLY ROYAL CINEMA IS HAVING A SOFT OPENING THERE.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
AS ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TWO THEATERS OPEN, OR NOT TWO THEATERS, BUT TWO, WHAT ARE THEY CALL TWO THEATER, TWO THEATERS.
I THINK OF THEATER AS THE WHOLE THING, BUT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE THEY'RE HAVING SHOWINGS.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOVIES IS TOY, TOY STORY.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA TOO, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD ON THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT, MAYOR, UH, I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, EVEN AN ENGLISH TEACHER, UHHUH AND LORI'S NOT EVEN AN ENGLISH TEACHER, DOESN'T THAT I WAS LONG TIME
I DID HAVE THE APPROACH OF ATTENDING THE, SEE THE SPECIAL GUEST THAT WE HAD.
UH, WE DIDN'T GET TO REALLY SHAKE HIS HAND OR ANYTHING, BUT, UM, THAT WAS, I THINK OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS A LOT OF THINGS.
'CAUSE I, THOSE GUYS, I THINK EVERYBODY WAS ON, I BELIEVE WEREN'T THE CHIEF, SO HE HAD ALL, ALL HANDS OUT FOR IT.
UM, PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE DAY.
UH, I DID HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO WARREN COUNTY GRADUATION, NOT ONLY TO REPRESENT THE COUNCIL, BUT TO SEE MY GRANDSON GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, UM, AND THEIR RIGHT, THE PEOPLE IN, IN THE, THE STANDS.
AND, UM, WE WERE SETTING OUT NEXT TO WHERE THE GRADUATES CAME OFF STAGE.
BUT THE PEOPLE WERE WONDERFUL, UH, CONGRATULATING THE STUDENTS AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING.
UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, AND I WILL SAY THAT, UM, I GUESS MY COMPANION GOT TO GIVE, UH, TWO SETS OF BOOKS THAT SHE HAD WRITTEN TO OR FOR THE KING TO TAKE BACK TO ENGLAND FOR HIS GRANDCHILDREN.
SO, OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S IT.
OH, VICE MAYOR BETHAL V MY HEAD.
UM, IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY MONTH.
I WAS TRYING TO RECOLLECT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE PARTICIPATED IN, IN WAYS THAT I'VE SERVED OUR TOWN OVER THE LAST MONTH.
UM, AND I KNOW I'LL FORGET SOMETHING, BUT I'D BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION A FEW OF 'EM.
UM, DURING THE ROYAL VISIT, I GOT TO SIT WITH MY GOOD FRIENDS, UM, DELEGATE DOLORES OATS AND SENATOR TIMMY FRENCH.
AND WE WERE ACCOMPANIED BY, UM, AN OFFICIAL FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
AND I ASKED HER WHAT HER ROLE IS, AND SHE SAID, I'M THE MARCO RUBIO OF MY COUNTRY, SO THINK OF ME THAT WAY.
AND, UM, WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION.
SHE REALLY ENJOYED THE APPLE HOUSE DONUTS.
AND THEN MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, UM, SHE ESCORTED MY HUSBAND AND I OVER TO, UH, SHAKE THE KING'S HAND WHEN CAMILLA CAME JUTTING BACK FROM VISITING THE GOATS.
AND, UH, ALSO GREETED US BOTH WITH A FIRM HANDSHAKE AND A, AN EMBRACE.
AND SO WE GOT TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
WE LATER LEFT THAT EVENT, AND I GOT SOME PICTURE.
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE OUR PHONES OUT OR TAKE PICTURES.
I GOT A FEW PICTURES, UM, SENT TO ME.
AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS SAID, I THOUGHT YOUR HUSBAND WAS THE SECRET SERVICE.
AND ALL OF THOSE PHOTOS THAT WERE ON, I COULD SEE THAT.
UM, SO THAT WAS KIND OF IRONIC, UH, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR
[01:20:01]
LORI COCKRELL AND THE TOWN MANAGER, JOE PETTY, AMONGST ALL OF THE STAFF, THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY.I, I, UM, FOUND OUT ABOUT IT BEFORE ANYBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO.
AND I TEXTED THE MAYOR MULTIPLE TIMES ASKING WHAT THIS WAS I WAS HEARING OF, AND THE DETAILS OF IT THAT I HAD HEARD.
AND IF IT WAS TRUE, AND SHE GHOSTED ME, SHE LEFT ME ON RED FOR WEEKS, WHICH IS VERY UNLIKE HER.
WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR MANY YEARS,
THEY DID THEIR JOB, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT.
AND EACH DAY WHEN I WOULD DRIVE BY CHESTER AND MAINE, I WOULD SEE SOME VERY INTERESTING DRESSED GENTLEMEN WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE VERY NONCHALANT, UM, AND THE MAYOR AND JOE PETTY.
AND THEN I SAW MEN WALKING ON TOP OF A, A BUILDING THAT I MANAGE ON MAIN STREET.
AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, SOMETHING'S UP.
BUT THEY STILL, THEY DID A GREAT JOB KEEPING IT UNDER WRAPS, AND IT WAS FOR GOOD REASON.
I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESSES WHO WERE INTERRUPTED BY, YOU KNOW, 48 HOURS OF BLOCKED TRAFFIC OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT WE MADE INTERNATIONAL NEWS FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS BECAUSE FRONT ROYAL IS CHARMING.
I LATER SPOKE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BRITISH EMBASSY AFTER THE EVENT WAS OVER, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M HEARING A LOT OF MIXTURE MUSIC.
WHY FRONT ROYAL, THEY ONLY CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE SKYLINE DRIVE.
THEY ONLY CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER.
AND HE SAID, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
HE SAID, WE CHOSE FRONT ROYAL.
HE SAID, AFTER THEY HAD THROWN A FEELER OUT THE YEAR BEFORE LAST FALL, UM, HIMSELF AND SOME SECRET SERVICE MEMBERS CAME DOWN FROM DC AND DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY.
AND THEY WALKED MAIN STREET AND POPPED IN AND OUT OF SOME OF OUR SHOPS, AND HE LEFT FRONT ROYAL AND SAID, THAT'S SMALL TOWN.
USA, THAT'S SMALL TOWN AMERICA.
THIS IS WHERE THE KING AND QUEEN WILL COME IF THEY MAKE THEIR VISIT.
AND SO IT WAS BECAUSE THEY LOVED FRONT ROYAL.
THE ALL THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT IT, IT'S CHARMING, IT'S UNIQUE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
AND THE PEOPLE, UM, I KNOW SOME OF 'EM ARE LOUD AND A BIT OBNOXIOUS, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF IT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY HERE THAT REALLY PULLS TOGETHER IN TIMES OF NEED.
UM, NEXT UP THIS MONTH, I ATTENDED THE ROTARY.
UM, I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE ROTARY, BUT IT WAS REALLY NICE.
I ATTENDED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY GIRLS LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION, WHERE THEY AWARDED OUR, UM, SOFTBALL LEAGUE A CHECK TO SPONSOR A TEAM.
AND THOSE FUNDS GO TO THE PLAYERS WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN OUR LEAGUE.
SO THEY GET A SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY SOFTBALL FOR FREE.
AND WE ARE ABOUT TO ADVANCE TO ALL STARS.
UM, AND I WOULD EXPECT WE'LL HAVE SOME GIRLS THAT WILL BE PLAYING IN STATES AND SOME OF THOSE TOURNAMENTS WILL BE HOSTED RIGHT HERE IN FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY.
SO THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO ATTEND.
CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATES ON THAT.
UM, I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A CLOTHING DRIVE FOR THE HEIGHT KIDS FOUNDATION, ANOTHER BOARD THAT I SET ON AS THE PRESIDENT.
AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT THE YOUTH OF THIS COMMUNITY, MEAN A LOT TO ME.
A MOM OF THREE KIDS AND THREE BONUS KIDS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH, UM, IN AND OUT OF OUR HOUSE THESE DAYS.
UM, AND THAT WAS THANKS TO THE BROWNTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH, AND ACTUALLY MISS TINA PRESSLEY IS WHO LED THAT CHARGE.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY SHORT STAFFED ON VOLUNTEERS AND HELP, AND THEY CALLED AND THEY SAID, WE NEED, BROWNTOWN HAS SHOWN UP IN A BIG WAY, BUT NOBODY CAN GO GET IT, AMBER CAN YOU.
AND I WAS VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO SEE BAGS OF BRAND NEW, UNUSED, UM, A LOT OF WINTER STUFF.
SO THAT'LL BE GREAT FOR THE KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY THIS WINTER.
UH, AND THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY FOR TAKING TIME OUT.
I, I DIDN'T EVEN CLICK UNTIL I WAS READING ALL THAT YOU LED THAT MISSION BEHIND THE SCENES.
UM, AND WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
THEN I WENT ON TO, UM, VOLUNTEER TO COOK, PREPARE AND SERVE FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS THAT'S HELD AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL ON MONDAY NIGHTS.
UM, I GOT A TEXT AROUND NOON THAT DAY SAYING THAT THE PERSON WHO WAS SPONSORING DINNER THAT NIGHT COULD NO LONGER DO IT.
COULD I DO IT? UM, I SAID, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? AND THEY SAID, YOU NEED TO FEED AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE.
SO MY KIDS AND I AND, UH, CODY WEATHER HOLTS AND RHONDA MCDANIEL ALL PULLED TOGETHER.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO, TO SECURE A DONATION FROM MARTINS OF A GIFT CARD.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE EVERYTHING AND COOK AND FEED 41 PEOPLE AT FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, WHICH IS A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
I REALLY ENJOYED VOLUNTEERING AT THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN I THOUGHT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH ALL THESE LEFTOVERS? SO I REACHED OUT TO CHRISTINE MAHONEY, WHO HAS SPOKEN BEFORE THIS COUNCIL MANY TIMES, AND SHE HAS INVOLVEMENT AT THE HOUSE OF HOPE.
AND I SAID, I HAVE A CAR FULL OF FOOD.
I HAVE A COUPLE KIDS WHO NEED TO DO SOME WORK.
UM, WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? AND SHE SAID, BRING IT HERE.
AND WHATEVER'S NOT USED WE'LL TAKE TO THE BLESSING BOX REFRIGERATOR.
AND TO MY SURPRISE, BEFORE WE GOT PARKED AT THE HOUSE OF HOPE, UM, THERE WERE SOME EAGER YOUNG MEN COMING OUT TO UNLOAD ALL OF THE FOOD AND GRATEFULLY ACCEPT THAT.
SO IT WAS NICE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ABOUT 70
[01:25:01]
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NIGHT.I TOO ATTENDED SKYLINES GRADUATION.
UM, IN MANY WAYS I'M THE FIRST HAWK TO SIT ON THIS DAIS.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I ALSO, UM, MY ADMINISTRATOR WAS MR. JODY LEE.
AND, UH, HE'S A GREAT ADMINISTRATOR TO, SO TO SEE HIM SET AS THE PRINCIPAL OF THAT SCHOOL NOW, AND THEN MY OLDEST STEPDAUGHTER WHO GRADUATED SECOND IN HER CLASS WITH I BELIEVE 4.35 GPA, WHO'S HEADED TO UVA ON A PRE-LAW TRACK.
UM, AND SHE'S ON THE CLASS COUNCIL.
AND THOSE GIRLS ON THE CLASS COUNCIL HAVE DONE SOME REALLY COOL MARKETING IF YOU LOOK UP THEIR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK PAGE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE SAD TO SEE THEM OFF TO COLLEGE, BUT VERY PROUD INDEED.
UM, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE BATTLE OF FRONT ROYALS ANNIVERSARY OVER THIS WEEKEND, THIS NASTY RAINY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
AND THEN IN REGARDS TO DATA CENTERS, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WATCH THE MEETINGS OR READ THE MINUTES, UM, SEVERAL OF US ON THIS DI HAVE TALKED ABOUT PROPOSING A BAN SINCE BEFORE DECEMBER, FOURTH'S WORK SESSION.
UM, THE DATA CENTER ORDINANCE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID PUT FORTH IS ON A COUNCIL MEETING.
IT'S SCHEDULED AND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR ADVERTISING FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IT'S ON THE JUNE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA.
UM, IF THAT'S NOT OUT THERE ENOUGH, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP ON THAT ORDINANCE WHERE THIS COUNCIL WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF FRONT ROYAL WITH WHAT WE WILL DO WITH DATA CENTERS.
UM, AND THE REALLY COOL THING IS RIGHT NOW, SINCE IT DOESN'T EXIST IN OUR CODE, I KNOW PEOPLE CAN THREATEN TO SUE, BUT LISTEN, UH, EVEN THE DEVELOPERS HAVE TOLD US DATA CENTERS PRODUCE AN UNGODLY, THAT'S THEIR WORDS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND SO THEY DON'T WANNA WASTE THEIR TIME SUING A LOCALITY TO ADD IT TO THE LANGUAGE RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY CAN MOVE OVER TO STRASSBURG WHERE THEY'RE GOING, OR WINCHESTER.
SO THE COOL THING IS, IF THEY APPLY RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOTHING ON THE BOOKS.
UM, THEY CAN SUE US, BUT THAT'S THEIR RIGHT IN AMERICA.
AND I AM NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER TO SHY AWAY FROM A LAWSUIT WHEN I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT FOR THE LAST MONTH, OTHER THAN I AM A DANCE HERO AT THE DUELING DISCO SECOND ANNUAL HEIGHT KIDS FOUNDATION.
IF I DON'T BACK OUT ON, UH, I'M NOT A DANCER.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THAT.
UH, SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH, I BELIEVE IS THE DATE TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE.
IT'S ALMOST SOLD OUT, OUT AT THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY GOLF COURSE.
AND THE, THE FUNDS AND THE WINNER OF THAT DANCE OFF GET TO HAND OVER THE KEYS TO A, A DONATED CAR THROUGH CARS CHANGING LIVES TO A, A SINGLE MOTHER IN NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE DID THAT LAST YEAR, AND WE'LL DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND WE CLOTHED OVER 260 KIDS LAST SUMMER FROM THE FUNDS RAISED FROM THAT PROGRAM.
UM, SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN.
BUY YOUR TICKETS, COME OUT, WATCH ME, MAKE A FULL OF MYSELF, UM, OR PERHAPS WIN A DANCE OFF.
I'M, I'M PRACTICING AT HOME, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.
COLIN MILLER DID THE WORM LAST YEAR AND KILLED IT.
JOE PETTY IS THE REASON I'M DANCING.
HE REFUSED TO DANCE AGAIN THIS YEAR, ONE SHOT.
SO THEY SAID, WELL, WHO ELSE IS AT THE TOWN IN FRONT? AMBER CAN DANCE AND HEY, AMBER CAN DANCE.
BUT I BET YOU IT GOES TO A GOOD CAUSE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TELLING MYSELF.
I GOT TIRED OF LISTENING TO ALL THAT
NO, ALL OF YOU GUYS, I MEAN, FOR YOU AND THE, IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE AT HOME, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WHO SERVE YOU ON THIS COUNCIL, NOT ONLY AS A PASSION FOR BEING HERE, UH, SERVING YOU AS YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT ALSO I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS GROUP BECAUSE AS YOU CAN HEAR TONIGHT, THIS IS JUST ONE MONTH OF THE THINGS THAT OUR COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND AND TOWN MANAGER GIVES BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST, IT DOESN'T STOP AT THE, UH, CORPORATE LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL.
IT'S THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS AND SUPPORTING, UM, THE MANY NONPROFITS WE HAVE HERE.
AND AS VICE MAYOR SAID, AND, UH, FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS THAT THERE'S NO QUALIFICATIONS OTHER THAN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR AND YOU GET FED.
UM, THE HOUSE OF HOPE IS ANOTHER GREAT NONPROFIT.
UM, THE HEART SHELTER CLOSED AFTER A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR WHERE THEY SERVED IN ACCESS OF, I BELIEVE, 40 DIFFERENT CLIENTS.
UM, TWO DOGS AND A CAT, I THINK.
I MEAN, I'M, WE VERY PROUD OF OUR AREA WITH THE KING AND QUEEN VISITING AGAIN, I DON'T
[01:30:01]
WANT TO HEAR WHY FRONT ROYAL.WHY NOT? WHY NOT? SO, I, I HAVEN'T BEEN AS BUSY.
I WAS A LITTLE LAID UP WITH, UH, SOME LEG SURGERY, BUT, UM, MANAGED TO HELP PULL OFF A GOLF TOURNAMENT FOR CARS CHANGING LIVES.
AND VICE MAYOR MENTIONED THEM.
WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH I'S KID TO GIVE A CAR AWAY AT THIS FANTASTIC FUNDRAISER THAT VICE MAYOR'S GONNA DANCE AT.
UM, I KNOW WHY YOU GOT TO MEET THE MAYOR, UH, MAYOR, YOU MEET THE MAYOR.
I KNOW WHY YOU GOT TO MEET THE KING SECOND DEAN.
ELEVATED, MAN, IT WAS THAT DRESS.
AND IF I WERE THE KING, I'D BE SHAKING YOUR HAND TOO.
AND CHRIS WAS NICE TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, UH, I CAN'T SAY ANY MORE THAN WHAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THE EVENT.
UH, KUDOS TO THE MAYOR, KUDOS TO JOE.
AND WE FORGOT TO MENTION LIZZIE LEWIS, OUR, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DIRECTOR WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES AND FINALLY GOT A WELL DESERVED WEEK OF VACATION LAST WEEK.
UM, AND OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, I, I SEE, UH, OUR COUNTY SUPERVISOR COLORS BACK THERE.
NOTHING CAN BE DONE JUST AS A ONE OFF.
I MEAN, WE NEEDED OUR COUNTY PARTNERS.
EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTHLY THAT DAY.
THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON UNDER THE SURFACE THAT CAN'T BE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I THINK WE WERE 99.9% SUCCESSFUL.
AND I'LL, I'LL LEAVE AT ONE 10TH AND LET IT GO.
UM, I WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING AND OUR, OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, TWO OF THEM, WHICH TONIGHT THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.
UM, THEY DO THE HEAVY LIFTING, THEY WORK THROUGH THE ITEMS, THEY PRESENT ORDINANCES.
AND, UM, I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO TONIGHT.
WE GOT THROUGH THE HEARINGS PRETTY FAST.
WE GOT ANOTHER GOOD ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS.
AND IT, IT DOES TAKE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.
I WILL MENTION IN SAYING THAT, THAT WE HAD OUR MEETING TO SET OUR TAX RATE.
AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION, WE HAD A MEETING ON THE TOWN BUDGET, WHICH WAS ADVERTISED CONTINUOUSLY, UM, IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY AND ON ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.
AGAIN, NO ONE CAME TO SPOKE, BUT YET THERE'S A, A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND I TRY TO MINIMIZE MY TIME ON THERE 'CAUSE I WANT TO BE POSITIVE, NOT NEGATIVE, BUT WHY DID THE TOWN DO THIS? WHY DID THE COUNTY DO THAT? WELL, OUR FOUR ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS, ELECTRICITY, WATER, SEWER, AND TRASH.
MY TOWN CODE CANNOT MAKE MONEY.
BUT IT CAN'T LOSE MONEY EITHER.
AND JUST LIKE IN ALL OF OUR LIVES, THINGS HAVE GONE UP OVER THE YEARS AND WE WERE CHARGED REALLY BY LAW THAT WE HAD TO RAISE SOME RATES AND WE HAD PROFESSIONALS COME IN AND STUDY IT.
AND I'M PERSONALLY INSULTED WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL, THAT'S Y'ALL GETTING KICKBACK FROM THAT.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY MAKING ANY MONEY, UM, OFF OF THAT.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THAT'S A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT.
I APPRECIATE TONIGHT WHEN PEOPLE STOOD UP AND SPOKE.
UM, WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT JUST A MONTH OR SO AGO ABOUT A REZONING REQUEST UP ON GRAND AVENUE.
AND IF WE COULD ONLY HAVE THAT TYPE OF PARTICIPATION EVERY NIGHT, WOULDN'T THAT BE GROUND? UM, I MISSED THE GRADUATION SERVICES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I MADE SOMEBODY ANGRY LAST YEAR.
I HAD THE HONOR OF GOING TO THE SKYLINE GRADUATION SERVICES WITH THE MAYOR AND, UH, SUPERVISORS OF COLORS AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
BUT I, I SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR, OUR STUDENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, NOW THE YEARS BEGIN TO FLY BY REAL LIFE KICKS IN, WHETHER IT'S ON TO COLLEGE OR, UH, GETTING A JOB.
AND WE HAVE A VERY GOOD BOTECH HERE THAT TURNS OUT PEOPLE WITH LIFE SKILLS.
UH, IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO EXPAND IT, WE CAN TURN OUT MORE.
WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE SO MUCH IS GOOD.
WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE A LOVE FOR THEIR FELLOW NEIGHBOR AND THEY WANT TO HELP EACH OTHER.
AND, AND I CAN TELL YOU, WE'RE ALL HERE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A TYPE OF COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL WANT.
[01:35:01]
THOSE WHO STUCK AROUND FOR THE END OF THE NIGHT FOR THE SPEECH.AND MADAM MAYOR, IT'S ALL YOU.
[9.c. Report of the Mayor]
THANK YOU.SOMETHING YOU JUST SAID MADE ME THINK ABOUT, UM, THE PASTOR YESTERDAY IN CHURCH TALKED ABOUT LIKE TAKING YOUR GIFTS AND SERVING AND IT REALLY HIT HOME.
SO THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR THIS PAST MONTH HAS HAD SO MANY MEMORIES.
UM, SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ACTUALLY JUMP AHEAD TO MAY AND THEN GO BACK TO LAST WEEK, APRIL.
YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW I, SO MAY 2ND.
I HAD THE PLEASURE TO ATTEND THE DOWNTOWN LOCAL ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY RIBBON CUTTING AND CELEBRATION.
IT WAS A HUGE TURNOUT THAT DAY.
UM, AND THEN I LEFT THERE WITH A REEN 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY HUSBAND LIKES.
AND HE SAID IT WAS LIKE THE BEST REEN.
UM, MAY 5TH, I ATTENDED THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SPECIAL DINNER, RECOGNIZING ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO WILL BE RETIRING THIS YEAR.
UH, THERE WERE PROBABLY OVER 300 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE ROOM THAT NIGHT, INCLUDING MYSELF, UH, WITH MY 36 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A TEACHER IN WARREN COUNTY.
UM, I HAVE TWO DAYS LEFT AND PRAYERS APPRECIATE IT 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH COUPLE DAYS FOR ME.
UM, I'M EXCITED, BUT A LITTLE SAD TOO.
MAY 8TH, I ATTENDED WARREN COUNTY'S ADULT RECOVERY COURT GRADUATION.
UH, THESE GRADUATIONS ARE EXTREMELY HEARTFELT AS EACH GRADUATE HAS A FAMILY MEMBER, FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND WHO STANDS UP AND SPEAKS ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY.
UM, AND REALLY TALKS ABOUT LIKE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE THEY WERE IN RECOVERY.
UH, THEN THE GRADUATE THEMSELVES SPEAK, THEN THAT'S FOLLOWED BY JUDGE FUNK, UM, WHO ALSO PROVIDES WORDS DESCRIBING THE GRADUATE AND WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, UM, IN ORDER TO FINISH THE FIVE PHASES OF THE PROGRAM.
AND WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME IS THAT JUDGE FUNK HIS WORDS, OR IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT THERE'S THAT, THAT HE GETS TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND WHAT GOES ON, UM, IN THEIR LIFE AND THE CHALLENGES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR MONTH, UH, THE GRADUATE, UM, HAD FINISHED THE PROGRAM AND THEN ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THEY FINISHED, THEY FOUND OUT THEIR PARENT WAS, UM, TERMINAL AND ONLY HAD SO MANY WEEKS TO LIVE.
AND, AND THE FACT THAT THEY CONTINUED ON WITH THE PROGRAM IS, IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.
BUT THERE'S LIKE STAFF THERE AND, UM, WE HAVE OUR, OUR FRONT ROW PD HAS A MEMBER AND THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES, WAR AND COALITION AND PAROLE.
JUST, IT, IT'S JUST A, UM, A A REALLY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO ATTEND AND JUST TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THAT'S MAKING.
NOT ONLY WITH THE GRADUATE, BUT THEIR FAMILIES.
EVERY TIME I'VE WENT, THERE'S USUALLY CHILDREN THAT ARE THERE INVOLVED.
UM, SO LATER THAT EVENING I ATTENDED THE ROTARY DERBY CRAWL ON MAIN STREET WITH THE PHONY PONY RACE, WHERE OUR OWN TOWN MANAGER EDGED OUT ALL THE COMPETITION TO WIN AGAIN THIS YEAR.
UM, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE SPONSORED MR. PETTY THE LAST TWO YEARS.
'CAUSE I, I CAME IN THE LAST PLACE, I THINK THE FIRST YEAR I DID IT
SO, AND HE REALLY TOOK, CAPTAIN MYRTLE TOOK, HE REALLY, REALLY HAD HIM THIS YEAR.
UM, AND HIS PERFORMANCE DID NOT DIS DISAPPOINT MAY 12TH.
I ATTENDED THE YOUNG LIFE COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED SOME OF THE ANNUAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE GOLF TOURNAMENT IN THE FALL, AS WELL AS THE SUMMER CAMPS.
I GAVE THE WELCOME ADDRESS FOR THE VIRGINIA STATE CONFERENCE FOR EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA AT THE DOUBLE TREE HERE IN, UM, YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE THE DOUBLE TREE IS? UM, BUT THERE WERE SORORITY MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE STAYING IN FRONT ROYAL FOR THE WEEKEND.
UM, AND IT WAS A, UH, IT WAS REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, OF COURSE THEY WANTED TO KNOW LOTS ABOUT FRONT ROYAL, BUT THEN OFF THE CUFF THEY WANTED TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE KING OF QUEEN VISITS.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GONNA BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION FOR ME FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT SO MAY 19TH I SPOKE TO A LOCAL SCOUT TROOP ABOUT VOTING ELECTIONS AND SERVING IN LOCAL OFFICE.
AND THEN MAY 20TH AND 21ST ALONG WITH OTHER, UH, MEMBERS HERE.
I ATTENDED, UM, BOTH SKYLINE AND WARREN COUNTY'S GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
UM, AND COLLECTIVELY, UH, THAT WAS CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OVER 500 YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, UM, JUST WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU SEE THERE AND WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE.
AND, AND I KNOW I'M AN EDUCATOR, SO IT HITS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY FOR ME, BUT IT'S REALLY SPECIAL, UM, TO GET TO
[01:40:01]
SPEND THAT EVENING.AND, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE THE KIDS EXCITED, BUT THE PARENTS ARE EXCITED AND THE TEACHERS ARE EXCITED AND THE GRANDPARENTS ARE THERE.
AND IT'S JUST A, JUST A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, UM, OUR FUTURE.
UH, SO I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE, TALKING ABOUT GRADUATIONS.
UM, SO IN OUR LOCAL STUDENTS IN THE FORM OF OUR TOWN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SO LAST MONTH WE AWARDED THREE TOWN SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL TOWN STUDENTS TO HELP TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE COLLEGE COSTS.
UM, JUST THIS PAST MONTH, I MADE NOTE OF THREE STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE WITH EITHER THEIR BACHELOR'S OR THEIR MASTERS WHO WERE FORMER RECIPIENTS OF OUR TOWN SCHOLARSHIPS.
UH, JOCELYN MOYER GRADUATED FROM JMU, SHE SENT A, UM, GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MYSELF AND ALL OF COUNCIL DECEASED, I'LL SHARE THAT WITH YOU GUYS.
UH, IAN HOLSCHER GRADUATED FROM VIRGINIA TECH AND KARA ATHE, MY NIECE GRADUATED FROM GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY WITH HER MASTERS.
SO SEEING THE SUCCESS OF THE STUDENTS WHO I KNOW THAT THE TOWN INVESTED IN THEIR EDUCATION MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO KNOW THAT WE PLAYED A SMALL PART IN THEIR SUCCESS.
YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE AT THE COURTHOUSE.
A LOCAL VETERAN, DICK MASON GAVE A REALLY MOVING SPEECH.
UM, AND EVEN THOUGH HE SAID HE WAS SHORTENING IT UP 'CAUSE WE WERE IN THE RAIN, BUT IT, IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT.
SPEAKING OF RAIN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, WE SAT THROUGH THE RAIN AND THEN YESTERDAY WE SAT THROUGH THE RAIN.
AND THEN TODAY OUR FIFTH GRADE POOL PARTY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FOUR HOURS IN THE RAIN, UM, YEAH, THE KIDS DIDN'T MIND BECAUSE THEY WERE WET ANYWAY.
UM, BUT MIGHT BE WHY I LOOK A LITTLE DISHEVELED.
UM, BUT UM, I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WANT, THAT ARE FEELING SAD ABOUT ALL THIS RAIN.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL IS THAT YOU APPLAUD RAIN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR ABOUT DROUGHT.
SO, UM, SO ALRIGHT, THE END OF APRIL, UM, AND EVEN ALSO IN MAY, SO APRIL 28TH, 29TH AND 30TH REALLY, TRULY ARE, ARE ALMOST A BLUR TO ME AND PROBABLY ALSO TO MR. PETTY AND WAS LEWIS.
UM, AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FOUR MONTHS OF LEADING UP TO IT, THOSE LAST FEW DAYS WERE REALLY JUST LIKE A BLUR.
THEY WOULD, I FEEL LIKE IT COULD BE TRAUMA, TRYING TO GET ALL THAT DONE.
BUT, UM, SO THE DAYS LEADING UP TO, AND THE WELCOMING OF KING CHARLES II AND QUEEN CAMILLA, PAULA, SHE'S CALLED QUEEN CONSORT, WE LEARNED, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT SHE'S CALLED.
UM, QUEEN CAMILLA, AS WELL AS THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR AND THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY.
AND I SAY SECRETARY 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHO WAS SITTING WITH YOU.
UM, AND THEN ALSO GOVERNOR BAMBERG TO OUR, OUR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TOWN.
SO I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL WONDERING HOW THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY CAME TO US.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THE ROYAL EXAMINER INTERVIEW THAT WHERE LIZZIE, JOE AND I DISCUSSED IT IN FULL DETAIL.
UM, SO IT REALLY IS STILL JUST SO SURREAL TO ME THAT WE WERE SELECTED FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES TO BE A DESTINATION FOR THE ROYALS TO VISIT AND SPEND TIME WITH, UH, WHAT THEY CALLED REAL AMERICANS.
AND I KNEW ALL THE COMPETITION THAT WE HAD, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, IN MAY WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AGAIN, AND THEY WERE TALKING, BRITISH STAFF WAS TALKING AMONG C STAFF WAS TALKING AMONGST THEMSELVES ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WAS LIKE YOSEMITE AND THE GRAND CANYON.
AND I'M LIKE, LIKE, WHOA, OKAY.
WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, UM, AS, AS THE VICE MAYOR SAID, I KNOW THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT SAID, WELL, IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF THIS.
THEY PICKED US BECAUSE WE ARE A GREAT PLACE AND IT'S NOT JUST THE WAY WE LOOK, BUT IT'S THE WAY WE ACT.
UM, AND I, I COULD GO INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, UH, JUST WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT, WHEN WE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE COMING AND WE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE HERE.
UM, AND AS SHE SAID, THEY, THEY CAME BEFORE AND LIKE THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR JUST TOOK THAT ASSIGNMENT IN JANUARY AND HE CAME IN FEBRUARY WITH HIS FAMILY.
UM, AND THEN BACK AGAIN WHEN HIS CHILDREN WERE HOME FROM SPRING BREAK.
'CAUSE THEY GO TO COLLEGE IN THE UK.
AND, UM, HE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW LIKE EVERYBODY WAS JUST NICE AND KIND AND UM, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, YOU JUST KNEW THAT, I MEAN, HE EVEN TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES HE WENT IN AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT THESE WERE LIKE REAL CONVERSATIONS.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO HELPED US PULL IT OFF AND TRULY HELPED US PULL IT OFF FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
[01:45:01]
ABOUT RAIN THE DAY BEFORE THEIR VISIT THAT WEDNESDAY, UM, WE WERE ON MAIN STREET ALL DAY IN THE RAIN.UM, AND WE HAD STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE LITERALLY BUILDING THE STAGE FOR THE CLOGGER.
UH, THEY BUILT THE PLATFORM FOR THE PRESS.
UM, WE WERE MOVING THINGS, YOU KNOW, WRAPPING TABLES THAT I JUST, I DON'T EVEN, I CAN'T EVEN JUST IMAGINE LIKE PLANNING A WEDDING EXCEPT THERE WAS 5,000 PEOPLE COMING.
UM, IT WAS JUST KIND OF A CRAZY THING.
UM, BUT SO WITHOUT OUR STAFF AND THE EMBASSIES, ALONG WITH JOE AND LIZZIE AND OUR, AND OUR VISION, IT, IT JUST REALLY WOULDN'T, THE DAY WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE AND, AND MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR US.
SO I DO WANNA ALSO THANK OUR MAIN STREET BUSINESSES AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR CHESTER STREET BUSINESSES AND VALLEY HEALTH FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST US IN THE SECRET SERVICE AND ALL OF THE LITTLE SECURITY MEASURES THAT HAD TO TAKE PLACE IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT HAPPENED AND THE WAY IT HAD TO HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S THEIR JOB, THEIR JOB, UM, AND SECURITY.
AND SO THEY TOLD US WHAT THEY NEEDED AND, AND AS THEY SAID AT THE EMBASSY, WE MADE IT HAPPEN.
SO, BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PATIENCE.
UM, AND REALLY LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I, I WANNA THANK THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY WHO CAME OUT THAT DAY AND THEY STOOD IN LONG LINES AND THEN THEY WAITED ON, ON SIDEWALKS, FOUR PEOPLE DEEP, UM, TO GIVE THE KING AND QUEEN A WELCOME THAT THEIR CLOSE STAFF RELAYED TO US, UH, WAS OVERWHELMING.
UM, AND THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THEIR VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES.
AND MR. PETTY CAN, UH, HE CAN ATTEST TO THAT.
THEY SAID THAT, UM, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SHARED WITH US, UM, WAS THEY WERE COMING DOWN RURAL AVENUE.
AND THIS IS EXTRA, THIS IS EXTRA, IT'S NOT ABOUT NOTES, BUT IT'S FUN FACT.
SO THEY SAID THAT AT ONE POINT THEY STARTED TO WORRY THAT WE WERE OVER PROMISING BECAUSE THEY WOULD ASK US FOR SOMETHING AND WE, LIZZIE ESPECIALLY BE LIKE, OKAY, WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, AND THEY SAID ABOUT FIVE WEEKS BEFORE, THEY WERE HAVING LIKE A STAFF MEETING AND THEY WERE LIKE BASICALLY QUESTIONING LIKE, ARE, DO WE THINK THEY CAN REALLY DO ALL THIS? LIKE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE ASK, THEY JUST SAY YES.
AND UH, PART OF THAT WAS, WELL, WELL OF COURSE WE WERE GONNA SAY YES 'CAUSE WE WANTED IT TO HAPPEN, RIGHT? UM, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT, THEY CAME INTO TOWN AND THEY STARTED DOWN ROYAL AVENUE AND THEY STARTED TO QUESTION LIKE, IS THERE GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE? AND UM, THE CONS GENERAL WAS FOUR CARS BACK FROM THE KING AND QUEEN AND SHE WAS IN THE CAR WITH THE AMBASSADOR.
SHE SAID THEY WERE COMING DOWN ROYAL AVENUE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY STARTED TO SEE PEOPLE ON THE SIDES OF THE STREET WAVING.
AND THEY, THEY WERE LIKE, OKAY, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE HERE.
AND THEN SHE SAID, WHEN THE KING TURNED ONTO MAIN STREET, THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN.
AND SHE SAID, IT WAS LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY JUST HEARD THIS ROAR.
AND THAT REALLY WAS WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE FROM, FROM DOWN AT THE GAZEBO.
BUT SHE SAID WHEN THAT HAPPENED, SHE STARTED CRYING.
EVERYBODY IN THE CAR WAS TEARING UP AND THE AMBASSADOR SAID, LIKE, TAPPED HER IN THE LEG AND SAID THEY DID IT.
AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR HELPING US DO IT BECAUSE THAT WAS PRETTY MEANINGFUL FOR ME, UH, TO, TO HEAR THAT.
SO, UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF FRONT ROW'S GONNA EVER BE ABLE TO TOP THAT DAY AS I TOLD THE KING AT THE GAZEBO, LIKE THE LAST BIG THING FOR US WAS BING CROSBY COMING AND HE, HE KNEW WHO BING CROSBY WAS AND THEN I SAID, THIS IS MUCH BIGGER.
HE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, I WILL SAY.
BUT THEN ON MAY 9TH, AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE THAT DAY, 'CAUSE WE WERE ALL CLEANING UP, FOLDING UP TABLECLOTHS AND EVERYTHING, MAY 9TH, UM, JOE PETTY, LIZZIE LEWIS AND I WERE ACTUALLY INVITED TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY FOR A DINNER TO EXPRESS THEIR THANKS FOR OUR ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE KING AND QUEENS TWO 50 VISIT.
UM, AND IT REALLY WAS JUST A SPECIAL NIGHT HEARING THE AMBASSADOR TALK, UM, AND SHARE STORIES ABOUT WHEN THEY WERE SELECTING FRONT ROYAL AND THE MONTHS OF PLANNING AND THEN THE SUCCESS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS THAT THEY GAVE EACH OF US THIS, UM, WE EACH, UH, GOT ONE OF THESE.
SO THIS IS A UNION JACK FLAG THAT FLEW OVER THE BRITISH EMBASSY.
AND SO THEY HAD EACH OF THESE FRAMED FOR US.
AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE THESE CHALLENGE COINS, WHICH HONESTLY I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN INTO CHALLENGE COINS, BUT I, IT'S, I'VE GOTTEN A FEW FROM THIS EVENT.
AND SO, UM, THIS ONE IS FROM THE NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY AND THIS IS REVENUE AND CUSTOMS AND THOSE TWO PARTICULAR PEOPLE WE WORKED WITH A LOT, THEY ALSO, UM, SENT A LETTER AND
[01:50:01]
I ACTUALLY WANNA SHARE THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY WAS ADDRESSED TO ME, BUT IT'S REALLY FOR ALL OF US.AND I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY Y'ALL ARE GONNA HEAR THIS UNLESS I SHARE IT.
SO, DEAR MAYOR, I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR HOSTING HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III AND HER MAJESTY QUEEN CAMILLA IN FRONT ROYAL LAST WEEK AS PART OF THEIR STATE VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES.
THEIR MAJESTIES WERE DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU AND MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY AT THE BLOCK PARTY.
THERE WERE SO MANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS.
THE FOOTAGE AND PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HAVE BEEN SEEN ACROSS THE WORLD ARE A TESTAMENT TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT LAST WEEK WAS THE CULMINATION OF MONTHS OF PLANNING, DEDICATION, AND HARD WORK ALL WHILE CONTINUING TO RUN A TOWN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLES THAT YOUR TOWN MANAGER, JOE PETTY AND YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DIRECTOR LIZZIE LEWIS, HAVE PLAYED.
MY TEAM TOLD ME THAT THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, COLLABORATION, AND DEDICATION WERE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING THIS A SUCCESS.
THE TEAMS THAT VISITED FRONT ROYAL IN ADVANCE OF LAST WEEK SPOKE WITHOUT EXCEPTION ABOUT THE GENEROUS WELCOMES AND GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY FROM THOSE THAT THEY MET.
THIS WAS REPLICATED BY THE THOUSANDS THAT TURNED OUT ON THE DAY DRIVING UP MAIN STREET AS PART OF THE CONVOY WITH FLAGS.
WAVING IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL LIVE LONG IN MY MEMORY.
I HOPE THAT YOU, YOUR TEAM AND THE PEOPLE OF FRONT ROYAL ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS THEIR MAJESTIES DID.
YOUR TOWN NOW OCCUPIES A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
CHRISTIAN TURNER, BRITISH AMBASSADORS TO THE UNITED STATES.
[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
NEXT UP, ITEM NUMBER 10 ARE A CONSENT AGENDAS.MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL.
[11.a. Adoption of Annual Appropriation Ordinance (Budget) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027]
UP ARE BUSINESS ITEMS. THIS IS AN ADOPTION OF ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE THE COUNCIL, APPROVE AND ADOPT THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1ST, 2026 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026 AS PRESENTED SECOND.
I I THERE HAS TO, UM, THERE'S A MISTAKE THERE.
AND SO WE NEED TO AMEND THE MOTION RIGHT NOW.
MR. SONNETT, DO WE NEED TO AMEND IT RIGHT NOW? WELL, I THINK THE MOVEMENT CAN, THE MOVEMENT CAN JUST RESTATE IT.
COUNSEL, APPROVE AND ADOPT THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1ST, 2026 TO JUNE 30TH, 2027 AS PRESENTED SECOND, I JUST WANNA ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.
SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND AND NOW DISCUSSION.
YEAH, I MADE THE MOTION SO I GET TO HAVE DISCUSSION FIRST.
AND I WAS ADDING, I READ FROM THIS SCREEN.
I DID NOT SEE THAT TYPO BEFORE I READ IT OUT LOUD.
MAYBE WE'VE TALKED THIS ONE TO DEATH.
MS. ONG OL COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.
[12. CLOSED MEETING]
OUR LAST ITEM IS OUR CLOSED MEETING, AND I WILL ENTERTAIN THE MOTION TO TAKE AS CLOSED.MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL CERTIFIED, OR SORRY, 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 PURPOSE.
ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 71, SECTION A A OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, MORE SPECIFICALLY TO 2018, AMENDMENT TO THE VOLUNTARY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF WARREN, VIRGINIA AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA REGARDING THE COMPROMISE FOR PILOT MEALS AND LODGING TAXES.
AND TWO, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A THREE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, OR FOR THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY OR DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING, WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATION STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
[01:55:01]
SPECIFICALLY TO SELL A VACATED 6,211 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNIMPROVED LOW LANE BETWEEN BRAXTON ROAD AND LOT 27 A SECOND.THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MS. ONG, CAN WE DO ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.