March 3, 2025 A regular monthly meeting of the Russell County Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Russell County Government Centerin! Lebanon, Virginia. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL The Clerk called the meeting to order. Roll Call by the Clerk: Board Members Present - Andrew Hensley Lou Ann Wallace Tara Dye Steve Breeding aquorum Rebecca Dye Nate Kiser (arrived at 6:19 PM) David Eaton Board Members Absent - None Also Present - Lonzo Lester, Clerk Rhonda Lester, Deputy Clerk Will Wampler, County Attorney INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation performed by Jacob Musick followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Motion made by Steve Breeding, second Tara Dye and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to amend the Agenda to remove 1.) Paul Inskeep from Presentations and add 7.) Russell County Library Heat Pump Request under County Administrator Requests. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, and Rebecca Dye Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: Nate Kiser (Late Arrival) PRESENTATIONS 1. Brett Davis - Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands Motion made by Andrew Hensley, second Tara Dye and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the Request of $6,000.00/year for 5 years - OAA Individual Distribution Funds for Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 2. Ron Jenkins -Virginia Loggers Association - Off-Road Logging Equipment 3. Tim Dunaway - Raven Construction = Dante Fire Department Property Motion made by Lou Ann Wallace, second Steve Breeding and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to allow the Couty Administrator to negotiate the disposition of the Dante Fire Department Property. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 4. Southwest Virginia Static Organization = Cleveland Ball Park Motion made by Tara Dye, second Steve Breeding and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to waive the fee and allow Southwest Virginia Static Organization to use the ballfields at Cleveland Ball Park for practices. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None NEW BUSINESS 1. Approval of Minutes: Motion made by Steve Breeding, second Lou Ann Wallace and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the minutes of February 3, 2025 and February 18, 2025 as presented. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 2. Approvat of Expenditures: Motion made by Lou Ann Wallace, second Andrew Hensley and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the expenditures presented for payment. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 3. Committee/Board Appointments: a) Southwest VA Community Corrections - Doug Howard 2Year-Term March 6, 2025 Motion made by Steve Breeding, second Tara Dye and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the appointment of Greg Stoots for a two-year term ending March 6, 2027. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None b) Community Planning Management Team (CPMT) = Karen Clay 3) Year-Term March 6, 2025 Motion made by Rebecca Dye, second Tara Dye and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the reappointment of Karen Clay for a three-year term ending March 6, 2028. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER REPORTS AND REQUESTS None COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORTS AND REQUESTS 1. New Leaf Energy - Solar Project Motion made by Tara Dye, second Nate Kiser and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to allow the County Attorney to enter into sighting agreement negotiations with New Leaf Energy. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS AND REQUESTS Reports: 1. Russell County Road Reporting System 2, VDOT Monthly Road System Report Requests: 1. RC BOS Letter of Support - Protect Virginia's Hospitals by Supporting Medicaid Directed Payments - Motion made by Lou Ann Wallace, second Tara Dye and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the RC BOS Letter of Support - Protect Virginia's Hospitals by Supporting Medicaid Directed Payments. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 2. RC 2025 February Flood Event - Declaration of Emergency Resolution Motion made by Steve Breeding, second Nate Kiser and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the RC 2025 February Flood Event = Declaration of Emergency Resolution. The vote was; Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 3. Community Development Block Grant Belfast Waterline Project, Contract Amendment $106,000 - Install Two (2) Generators on Project - Motion made by Rebecca Dye, second Lou Ann Wallce and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the Community Development Block Grant - Belfast Waterline Project, Contract Amendment - $106,000 = Install Two (2) Generators on Project. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 4. County's Reassessment Equalization Board Appointment - Motion made by Lou Ann Wallace, second Andrew Hensley and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the County's Reassessment Equalization Board Appointment of Mike Bryant. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 5, Southwest VA Legal Aid Society, Inc. - OAA Renewal Grant Request - Motion made by Rebecca Dye, second Steve Breeding and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the Southwest VA Legal Aid Society, Inc. = OAA Renewal Grant Request. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 6. American Red Cross Month = March 2025 Motion made by Steve Breeding, second Lou Ann Wallace and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the American Red Cross Month - March 2025 proclamation. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None 7. Russell County Library Heat Pump Request Motion made by Lou Ann Wallace, second Tara Dye and duly approved by the Board of Supervisors to approve the Russell County Library Heat Pump Replacement Request for $10,000.00. The vote was: Aye: Andrew Hensley, Lou Ann Wallace, Tara Dye, David Eaton, Steve Breeding, Rebecca Dye, and Nate Kiser Nay: None Abstain: None Absent: None CITIZENS' COMMENTS The Chair opened the citizens' comment period. 1. Wanda Burke - On September 24th & 25th Mark Maro will be coming to the schools; we will be doing the community night at the middle school again and that of course is open for anybody. 2. Mark Matney -I sent a FOIAI request to Mr. Lester, who forwarded to the treasurer. She sent some information but, I couldn't make out which was actually being used, or which accounts were being used for your budget, and which was for savings. I'L be sending him another FOIA request tomorrow. I'd just like to know what the County's reserves are and what you have got in your savings. 58.1-3321 requires the Commissioner and the County Administrator to publish the tax rate that is calculated that doesn't raise people's taxes and that's required by state law. So, I'd like to get that out there on Facebook. You talked about Facebook Nate, the best way to defeat Facebook is transparency. If they know what's going on, then transparency defeats the rumor mill. know thaty'all are trying to do your best and everything, butyou have got to let the public know what's going on. About the Dante Fire Department, the only thing I'd say to you is hopefully this never happens in the county again. But next time you might want to build the fire hatl before you put public safetyi in danger.. before you just shut down the fire department, maybe ifyou'd have built the fire hall you wouldn't had all this struggle then you could have given it to the Dollar General after you built the fire hall. Thank you. 3. Jared Ring - I too would like to see Dante restored quickly. I have had my neighbor across the way's house burned down twice and went through two natural disasters in my asbestos death trap without a fire department in my district, solwould love to see it come back soon. On a related note, the money we have to build the road for Pure Salmon.... would feel a lot better about giving that to them especially in light of the natural disasters that have no doubt damaged our infrastructure all over the place. If we had some guarantee that woutdn't just end up being a road to nowhere, because that's been in development for over a decade now. I'm all fori incentivizing businesses coming into the county, but that's money that we could put to use elsewhere. Even though it's free money from the abatement, that is money that if we needed for something else, we would have to source elsewhere to repair infrastructure elsewhere in the county.s So,lwouldi feel better ift there was some guarantee that place and those jobs would actually materialize before we gave them that amount of money, because we're not exactly flush here in Russell County as 'm sure y'all seen in the budget. I'm not necessarily against that project; I would just like to express concern with building a road and wasting that money in case it doesn't materialize. So, ifthere's some way, we could set a threshold at which they give itto them like...the building's actually up and y'all need to start trucking in the fish and the water or whatever. I'd love to see it, but - - would just feel a lot better if that had some mechanism in there that we don'tjust lose that money, Thankyou. 4. RD: Snead -I Ijustwant to give a shout outto Mr. Hensley. Looks like you've been fishing in the budget a little bit and appreciate that. But hope with Pure Salmon not being here tonight, that's a good sign they're fishing somewhere else. Thank you all. 5. Jennifer Chumbley = our disc golf course is missing in Cleveland. .not only the disc course but the signs. I think one supervisor actually told me one time that f it gets broke, we fixi it. We have cameras there SO we can see if there's any type of vandalism going on andl think that should be taken care of because that does happen there. But lwould like to see the disc golf back. It's the only one in the county and al lot of people do use it...we all have our putters and drivers in different parts of the disc golf we've all tried it may not get used as much as some others around the state, but it does have a pretty good rating and it's like 129 out of over 200 in the state of Virginia. It's not the best disc golf course, butit's ours. We feel partial to it, sO we would like to see it back. Whatever it takes...it's simple baskets and I think that we can upgrade. The Health Coalition may help us with that. That's all have got to say. Thank you. 6. Gloria Killen - I have spoken to some of the neighbors...we live on Green Valley Road Morgan's Lane; that road is impassible now. I've got a new car, and it drug as lwent in this afternoon. know that it's a private road, but Iwanted to see what we could do about getting it repaired. Whether the state takes it over or the county takes it over. We've got just about everyfamily that lives up there (10 plus families) that are on fixed incomes, including my husband and myself. The road is about a mile long, but we live at the very end. There are three orfour families that live above Morgan's Lane that has to travel along that road to get to their residents. I'm trying to find out for all my neighbors what we can do what we need to do to get our road repaired, because there's a couple of places that are sO big that - could probably lay down in it and you still wouldn't be able to see me. After the snow, the pavement is just crumbling. BOARD DISCUSSIONS & REMINDERS None ADJOURNMENT The Chair adjourned the meeting at 7:55 PM. The next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM. Clerk of the Board Chairperson