Buckingham County Board of Supervisors 6/8/2026

Added: 2026-06-10

[00:01:15]for invocation and pledge of allegiance.

[00:01:20]Let us pray. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the many blessings that you bestow upon each and every one of us. We ask dear God that you would guide our minds, give us wisdom as we make decisions that would affect the county. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus, your son. And it's his in his name we pray.

[00:01:39]Amen. Amen.

[00:01:41]I >> pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[00:02:01]>> First thing be on the agenda to approve have agenda for tonight.

[00:02:06]A motion.

[00:02:08]I move we approve the agenda, Mr. Chairman.

[00:02:10]>> Second.

[00:02:12]>> Motion and second that the agenda be approved. Are there any questions? All in favor?

[00:02:29]>> Yes. Next be to approve our minutes.

[00:02:32]>> Make a motion.

[00:02:34]>> I'll second.

[00:02:36]Motion and second our minutes be approved. Are there any questions?

[00:02:40]All in favor?

[00:02:47]>> Next on agenda be the approval of the claims.

[00:02:50]>> Make a motion.

[00:02:54]>> Motion and second that our claims be approved. All in favor?

[00:03:02]>> Yes.

[00:03:04]Uh the next bit approval of the first quarter appropriations.

[00:03:08]>> So move Mr. Chairman second.

[00:03:11]>> Motion in second. Are there any question the motion? All in favor?

[00:03:21]Yes. The next announcements.

[00:03:27]We got a new uh director of social service, Miss Megan Carl. Just let the people who you are.

[00:03:36]Want to welcome her to Buckingham County.

[00:03:41]Amen. What you see is what you got.

[00:03:44]Amen. Amen. We thank that you came this way and we looking forward to working with you. Thank you. Uh the next be presentations. Uh Mr. Cruz family here, Mr. D Cruz family. Thank you. Would you come up for five, please?

[00:04:22]just out. Glad y'all could make it here tonight.

[00:04:26]Davney was a a great friend and a and a great man.

[00:04:30]Honor for me to be able to present this to y'all. Whereas in his infinite wisdom, God called James Dabney Cruz senior on October 26, 2026 at the age of 89 years old. Whereas Dabney was preceded in death by his parents Harry A. and Bessie S. Cruz, a sister Christine Cruz Eids, brother Eugene Houston, Jesse and Cabell Cruz. Whereas Dabney left behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 66 years June Beard Cruz, son James Dabney Cruz Jr. and wife Jill. Daughters Ellen Cruz Hudgens and husband Terry. Deborah Cruz KS and husband Trey. Grandchildren Deb James Dabney Cruz III and wife Bailey Thomas Houston Hudgens, Jesse Clark Hudgens, Alexis KS Ferraro and husband Victor, great granddaughter Charlotte June Cruz, and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. Whereas Dabney worked as a lineman and technician for CNP telephone where he was promoted to supervisor and district manager through many mergers and he retired from Nokia after 35 years. After retirement, he moved back to his home place in Buckingham to care for his mother and brother Houston.

[00:05:50]Whereas Dabney served with dedication on the Buckingham County Planning Commission for 23 years, lifelong member and deacon of Malberry Grove Baptist Church, raised as a master mason of Buckingham Lodge 242 in 1958, and was a dedicated mason serving as worshipful master of Buckingham Lodge 242, secretary of George Lodge 32, district deputy grandmaster of District 17, and Grand Senior Steward of Grand Lodge of Virginia and also 32nd degree mason in the Richmond Valley ancient and accepted Scottish right of freemasonry. Whereas Dabney loved farming and John Deere tractors, working the land and raising black angler cattle. Whereas Dabney loved God, his family and community, he was loved and respected by all who knew him. Therefore, be it resolved that the members of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors do hereby recognize and express our deepest appreciation to D James Dabney Cruz, Senior, for his many years of dedicated service to Buckingham County. We expressed our deepest condolences to his family and friends and it is signed by uh Chairman Chambers and okay by all the board members of uh the board of supervisors. And again, James uh Dabney was a a good man. I'm glad I had a chance to know him.

[00:07:19]>> He's got a he's got a good family legacy there on that list to live to live on with his memory for many many many years.

[00:07:28]>> Right.

[00:07:29]>> We really appreciate it.

[00:07:30]>> Thank you. So you could be in >> Thank y'all.

[00:07:57]Thank you, Mr. Garrett.

[00:07:58]>> Yes, sir. Thank you.

[00:07:59]>> The next be on the agenda be um Miss Jackson. She here.

[00:08:20]while Carl gets us ready. Good evening.

[00:08:22]I'm I'm Kristen Jackson. I'm the executive director of the Commonwealth Regional Council. Thank you very much for having me here tonight to talk to you. I just wanted to kind of tell a little bit about the Commonwealth Regional Council and what we can do for our region. I have a PowerPoint, but >> Carl might be having some technical difficulty. Yes, I'm sorry.

[00:09:21]That's just the title. And then that's kind of who we are. That's just um we're a small group of five. And so I have a I have a um financial director, a planning director, and we have two planners now that have been there a little over a year, and they are really doing big things. Matt Swart out is our title five for VOTE, too. And um he does all of our GIS work and Ethan Bowman, regional planner, is also now our new um environment and resiliency planner. So he's getting certified in that as we speak. So very excited.

[00:10:01]Just want to tell you a little bit about what we can do, what we do, and what we can do for you. Um, the Commonwealth Regional Council is one of 21 regional councils across the state of Virginia.

[00:10:12]We actually cover the seven counties of um, Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunberg, Nawway, and Prince Edward counties, and the 11 townships within those counties. Um we were established back in 1969 under the different name of Piedmont um planning district and basically we're there to be sort of a liaison between local governments and uh state and federal governments. We kind of want to be able to be a sound in place for you guys to safely meet and talk to each other and that sort of thing. But we also offer some services too. So we do some free grant writing um for the localities and for fire departments we can we can do that or the EMS's um recently we've talked to your your guys fire departments about helping them with some grant applications and LSARES here in you know right here in the county. Um we also can do some grant pro grant and project administration.

[00:11:19]Um we develop comprehensive plans as you probably know we finished yaws like last year and then transportation planning is another thing that we do and um uh Buckingham actually has a potential we've started talking to some of our counties about designated growth areas and that might be something that you might be interested in in the near future. We do that GIS mapping, the graphic information systems as I was saying earlier. Um we we look up um statistics for people. We can do environmental planning, redistricting, historic planning, and then really anything, you know, if you've got something that you're not sure about and you don't have the manpower to do, just ask us. We'll see if we can come up with a way to get it done.

[00:12:06]Um, next we're also um an economic development district which means we are um of the 21 planning districts only 13 of them have that designation and that opens all of our counties to more funding opportunities which is really really nice for our counties. Um there's a public works economic adjustments assistance and that's for infrastructure and um they have rolling applications for that. Most counties are at a 5050 match, but Buckingham falls under a 6040 match. So, it's a little better.

[00:12:43]However, right now, based on Helen disaster, we're at an 8020 match. So, if there's construction and infrastructure or even just planning that needs to be done, we really need to take advantage of that. So, I'm hoping maybe we can um you know, talk to y'all a little more about getting some some funding if you've got any projects that you'd like to be like to be done. You know, they're actually talking to us, wanting us to partner with you. So, I'd be glad to set up a meeting with EDA about that. Their grants can be from like 600,000 to 3 million for um roadways and sewer lines and water waterways and water upgrades and stuff like that. We're talking to Keysville right now about their pump house and grinding station in the wastewater plant. So, it's a lot of things they can do. Um they they if we do use a publicly owned building, they do put a they put a 20-year lean on it.

[00:13:40]So, that's something that um you know just has to just means you can't sell it for the next 20 years if you upgrade your wastewater or something like that.

[00:13:50]And usually you're not going to do that anyway. So that's that's okay. Um we can work with the um publicly loan owned or privac industry and um workforce training facilities is another thing that they they really push doing and incubators to start new businesses. Um you can use other grants and we can help you with that like go Virginia or the tobacco commission. I'm sorry. I'll forget about that. Um but um but anyway that you can use other grants to match and we can help you with that. Um we also did our comprehensive economic development strategy we call our SS. We worked on that last year and that's for the whole region as well. And so that's kind of a stepbystep plan that um you can see on our website and we submitted it in December and finally in May we got the approval that that was a go and ready to go. So as long as you keep that active that keeps you open for those grant opportunities that I was me mentioning earlier. Um EDA can also do feasibility studies and site development studies if there's other things that you want to do there. Even if employers leave, if you want to do kind of a study of what what other employers you could get in there, they're open to those ideas, too. And again, because y'all are in that disaster relief funds right now, they're really wanting to work with you.

[00:15:16]So, we really need to look and see if there's anything we can do for you with that. Um, you can switch it. The next thing is our on call consultant program.

[00:15:27]And I'm not going to go through and read you each one of those, but I just want to tell you a little bit about it. You can switch.

[00:15:34]Um the the CRC actually put out a big RFP to a to a to a bunch all the consultants basically in Virginia that would go through EVA or go through um emails or that places have used before and we put out this RFP to for all of our counties. So basically we we had the whole process. We we chose we had a group that a committee that chose out of those we got 34 applications. I think we narrowed it down to 15 to give us a good variety of all sorts of consultants and anybody can use it in this county. So your school system can use it, the the um you know the townships, the fire departments, anybody can use those without having to put out an RFP. And if you've ever had to do an RFP, that's a long process. It could save you about two months of time. And so I kind of went through here. So if there's any project you want to do that you need a consultant for, um, you know, you can call us and say, "Hey, who have you got that can do this? We can look it up for you." Or Carl even has a list, like a spreadsheet that tells this. And so basically, I'll just kind of roll through them, let you kind of see a little bit. Carl, okay, you've got it.

[00:16:52]Um, AMT Engineering is one of the first ones. I'm just not going to read you everything that they do, but I do have it listed out here so that you can use this of all the activities kind of that they do. The next one is the Berkeley Group and they do all kinds of planning and public safety. The next one is EM Partners and they do another different types of planning and disaster recovery.

[00:17:19]The next one is called EPRPC and they do community community developing and transportation engineering is a big things there for the next one is Green Branch GIS and they um they do GIS work just strictly do do that on call for anybody. Um Hill Studios is another one and they do a lot of land landscape architecture.

[00:17:46]They do historical surveys, that sort of thing. Um, the next one is herd and profit and they do surveying and engineering, pipeline inspections. They have a gamut of things they can do. The next one is Julie Basic and they do landscaping and architecture work. The next one is Coun Bryant Johnson and Williams and they're like civil engineer form. So they do engineering and geological um tech technical stuff and survey and uh next is letter press communications and they do marketing and websites. They can build websites. Um the RHI which is a roadside Harwell Inc. they do small area plans. They can do some comprehensive planning and they do park plans. So if you've got a park or something they're really good with that.

[00:18:40]Um then rural resilience advisors, they they have a plethora of stuff that they can do. They do strategic planning and higher education and work workforce partnerships, that sort of thing, and real estate um analysis, too. Next is Snyder Electric. And this was a kind of new one that we put in there because they do a lot of energy. and with a lot of people talking about um you know the energy needs and the water waste needs.

[00:19:08]We thought it might be smart to have a consultant that did that. Um finally the the last two you've probably heard of before. One of them Summit and their architectural planning. They do all kinds of engineering and then the Timmans group does the same kind of thing but they also do some landscape and some engineering. But that's a down and dirty quick. But like I said, if if you need something rather than put out an RFP, maybe check with us first and we'd be glad to um reach out and see um let you know who we've got available that can maybe do that for you.

[00:19:45]Uh next is the hazard mitigation plan.

[00:19:48]And we had a meeting about this today because in 2024 we got our hazard mitigation plan for the region um sealed and by FEMA basically and but however the t the clock ticks on and they you've got to do another one and you know you got four years so I think 2029 early like u March of 2029 this one ends and we have to start a new one. So anyway, um we're already looking for funding opportunities, hoping that that won't cost their localities anything. So we had our first meeting today with some of the some of the like EMS responder um people that are over that because they're they're the ones that get a big benefit out of it with their grants that they provide um with you know with having a hazard mitigation plan. So um components of it are risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, mitigation strategies and community involvement and then of course implementation and maintenance. Some benefits from it. The next one um basically uh of course the enhanced public safety and the protection, but access to federal funding is a big one and right now they have their grants open. the hazard mitigation grant program that some people a a lot of people apply for around here and the building resilience infrastructure and communities that's the brick they call it and the HMGp and then there's the flood mitigation funding which is FMA you've probably heard any of your emergency services people talk about that because they cover stuff like um they can do generators and they can do um funding and actually like the um the the brick grant can do I mean the hazard mitigation can do several different um things with training and different things like that too. So there's a lot of opportunities that you can get out of having our region having this and we've got it and it's it's in place right now.

[00:21:52]We're just trying to look for funding because they're constantly asking y'all to get on board and write these things but they're not necessarily giving us funding. So we're we're working right now to figure out what the best way is that we can do it and not cost the counties much of anything for that. So air hazard mitigation plan is on our website and our website is www.

[00:22:14]Commonwealth regional RC and it's I mean CommonwealthRC sorry.org.

[00:22:23]And then um some other things that we kind of do regionally so far um I mean recently that we've done in the past couple years, we're we're just now starting a regional housing study.

[00:22:36]That's something that um a lot of our counties have been talking about because there's a big need for um workforce housing in the area and most of the counties that wanted to apply for some funds like from Virginia housing or other funding streams that need it um you can't get that unless you have a housing plan. So we asked could we get a regional one and cover everybody and they said absolutely. So we're working on that right now. So, we're working on a regional plan for that. We're also working on that regional flood resiliency plan. And it's kind of the same thing. You know, a lot of these government areas want you to have a plan and then they give funding opportunities to those that have them. Um, we also last year did the DHC's uh broadband affordability and adoption plan for the whole region. So when that opens back up and there's funding for after the broadband's laid, that's what they wanted us to help with the state writing plans of what other things need to be done so that people have accessibility to that broadband like um literacy classes, especially for the elderly.

[00:23:44]That was something we found that was needed in a lot of places. And the more stuff we wrote into our plan, um, so they say, the more things like when the funding comes down, if we've got it in our plan, we can say, well, yeah, we talked about that. So potentially we could get some funding to help with that. So anyway, and then I did want to tell you about a little um super regional project that's going on right now. We're calling the Booms Project and it's building opportunities on Main Street. um actually you know know well Dillwin's your main town here and they they opted not to do it this first time we're doing a pilot pilot project there's 15 towns two of the towns did not have a historic district so we're helping them get their historic district and then the other 13 had one. So, we've got a consultant that's coming in two days and walk the town, put all the the historic parcels into a um into a database and then looking at five to six of the of the parcels or the buildings that the town would like them to look at and actually creating a proforma of each one of those buildings and saying this could be a restaurant with apartments over top or something else. and then then writing you know what kind of grant opportunities you could match to get make this happen. So then at the end you have this nice little toolkit basically when you're ready to start your revitalization of your first five projects you could do fairly easily and know what funding streams to go with.

[00:25:20]And we're hoping you know that this goes real well because if it does there's a you know there's a chance this is a pilot project and they want us to hit all the t all the rural towns we can do.

[00:25:31]So, I'm hoping maybe, you know, the next funding round we could take advantage of it for deal one or even maybe Buckingham Courthouse because we're doing a Millia courthouse and Cumberland Courthouse this time around. So, that might be something good to do.

[00:25:46]>> Yeah.

[00:25:48]>> Then then the final thing is um we do host some free trainings that are open to you guys to the board or to anybody in the in the localities that would like to have. We had Foya training, Freedom of Information Act, the Hoya, the Conflict of Interest Act. We've had cyber security preparedness training. We had EVA purchasing training at our office. And we're open like if y'all have some kind of training that you need to have and you need somebody to facilitate or you need us to try to find it at the best rate or whatever, we'll be glad to do that for you, too. So anyway, we're just trying to offer our services to you and let you know what we've done before and we'd love to help you any way we can. So thank y'all very much for your time. I appreciate it.

[00:26:32]Thanks.

[00:26:42]>> Then we move down to public comments.

[00:26:44]>> We have 12 signed up.

[00:26:48]Andrea and Jared Jones and Andrew Hartless will be next.

[00:27:01]>> Pardon me.

[00:27:04]>> Okay.

[00:27:06]>> Andrew Hartless, District 4.

[00:27:13]Amy Crawford will be next.

[00:27:17]Good afternoon, board members. How are y'all?

[00:27:19]>> Good afternoon, sir. Afternoon.

[00:27:21]>> Um, I'm here to strongly oppose the 12 house subdivision on Malberry Grove Road. Um, recently we all, most of y'all should know that we just formed a hunter hound hunter landowner committee.

[00:27:36]It'd be not wise to have 12 houses go up in the middle of 2,000 plus acres of hunting land that the individual that purchased the land has 400 acres right in the middle of it. So, you know, trying to trying to make with better land owner, hound hunter negotiations, putting 12 houses right in the middle of that would not go well. The land was purchased from Weirhouser about three years ago and I personally was involved with letting this individual that purchased the land onto the property, give him gate codes and everything, talk to him, everything was good and until he purchased it and then he didn't want to be friendly. Um, the other thing is we Ted Lloyd wanted to put houses up in Dillin town houses right in Dan where we already have a population of houses and that didn't get approved that got shot down. We definitely don't need to be putting houses up in rural area farmland around the Jones Reeds property that's that been part of their life forever.

[00:28:36]We have uh several people to sign the petitions opposing this. There's not any land owner locally that would want any of these houses going up.

[00:28:47]And uh that's the I live about a mile and a quarter as crow flies from where this property is and where the houses are looking to be done. My my well didn't hit water until 275 ft and had to put 425 ft of drilling in just so I can have some reserve. So groundwater in the area is definitely an issue. I'm proof of that. Just had my well dug six years ago. So, it's not much changes there.

[00:29:20]It's called the Black Rockck land.

[00:29:22]Everybody in the area knows the Black Rock land is not good land. It's just junk.

[00:29:28]>> That's all I got without uh getting too defensive. Thank you, gentlemen. Yes, sir.

[00:29:34]>> Thank you.

[00:29:40]>> Amy Crawford, District 4 and Joseph Anthony will be next.

[00:29:48]Good evening. I'm Amy Crawford, District 4, 3240 Oakill Road. I'm here to speak about the Valley Link Joshua Falls to Yeet 765 kilovolt transmission line.

[00:29:58]You've heard me speak about this topic before and I will continue to speak out until Dominion and until Dominion Energy and Valley Link pack up their toys and go home. On May 11th, we presented our Buckingham County Board of Supervisors with a petition requesting eight action items. Two have been accomplished and one is in progress. We thank you for engaging in that work over these last four weeks. No issue in this county is more important than this and your efforts have been essential to the opposition progress. Buckingham County residents stand ready to support you and keep the work moving. We've reached another critical stage in this fight and can't afford to hoham along like we're discussing repairs to potholes. If we let Dominion and Valley Link get a foothold with this transmission line, it is game over. The county as we know it will be completely destroyed. You've received emails from a concerned citizen and the recently formed 501c3 Virginia nonprofit Rural Virginia Coalition.

[00:31:01]These emails requested the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors to draft and submit a letter to PJM urging PJM to not approve the Valley Link Joshua Falls to Ye proposed scope changes. The changes made to the transmission line are not minor modifications.

[00:31:18]They do demonstrate that opposition efforts are working and Dominion Energy and Valley Link are scrambling to pivot.

[00:31:25]However, pressure must be put on PJM to fully and carefully investigate if the revisions are feasible, properly scoped, and adequately supported. PJM is expected to make a final decision on the scope changes in July. I support the request for this board to submit a letter to PJM on behalf of your constituents.

[00:31:47]Local and coordinated regional opposition is working. Each time Valley Link takes a defensive posture, it proves that they underestimated the brilliance, grit, and resolve of rural central Virginiaians. Our next Nov Valley Link community meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, June 13th, from 3:30 to 5:00 at the Cooperative Extension Building. We have a lot to discuss and hope that at least one of you will join in that discussion. Thank you. Thank you for your ongoing support, commitment, and work to protect our land, people, and legacy.

[00:32:29]Joseph Anthony, District 4, and Bobby Cruz will be next.

[00:32:45]My name is Joseph Anthony and I live on Oakill Road in District 4. Thank you for taking my comments.

[00:32:53]I'm taking time out of my day to urge you to act on the unressed items in the community's petition regarding the Valley Link transmission line.

[00:33:04]Specifically, these items include A communicate your efforts through a dedicated web page on the county website.

[00:33:15]B represent Buckingham at regional meetings, C. Contact state legislators about joining Buckingham in opposition.

[00:33:29]AI is here to stay and that means data centers.

[00:33:36]How Buckingham responds to Valley Link will set the stage for Buckingham's rural future, not just for months or years, but for generations.

[00:33:50]Thank you, M.

[00:33:55]>> Mr. Anthony.

[00:33:57]>> Mr. Anthony, I think you also uh should be commended. I was at the ceremony for the veterans on Memorial Day and I want to tell you people, this gentleman played the song for each uh individual uh service whether the Navy, Army, Marines, so forth and did an outstanding job and I think you should definitely be commended for that. Thank you.

[00:34:19]Thank you.

[00:34:24]>> Bobby Cruz, District 3, and Jessica Jones will be next.

[00:34:32]>> Board of Supervisors, good evening.

[00:34:35]>> Thank you for the opportunity to share my feelings on the prezoning request from agricultural to residential on Malbury Grove Road. I am Bobby Cruz. I grew up in Buckingham County and went to school here.

[00:34:48]graduated from high school in 76.

[00:34:52]My mother lives on a farm diagonally across from the property that we're looking to resume.

[00:35:02]She's 89 years young and this is stressing her out.

[00:35:09]I'm also a county land owner and hopefully within six months if remodeling goes well, I plan to be a resident.

[00:35:17]There are multiple reasons we have concerns and I'll share a few of those tonight.

[00:35:22]Water. How will it affect their wells?

[00:35:26]Several years ago, my mother had to drill a new well.

[00:35:30]The old one kept running out. Water table apparently kept changing. That well had been there for many, many years. She had to go 300 plus feet on her new well.

[00:35:42]I'm a member and a deacon of Malbury Grove Baptist Church.

[00:35:45]Church has had numerous problems with their wells over the years. We've had to drill several.

[00:35:51]Other neighbors have had to deal multiple wells over the years.

[00:35:55]We do feel the availability of groundwater is limited in our area and it's scary to think adding 12 additional wells in that community. What effect will that have on the water table?

[00:36:10]There's also the concern of traffic.

[00:36:14]Many of you know that is a very narrow road.

[00:36:19]Um it does turn into dirt just past the tra the church. So most of the traffic does travel up to the church and back.

[00:36:27]There are only three families currently living on the road from 602 up to the church. Um two of those families have children.

[00:36:39]Two of those are active farms with livestock.

[00:36:43]One of our concerns is these children.

[00:36:46]These children have pets. These children have bicycles.

[00:36:50]Hard to keep a dog out of the road.

[00:36:51]Sometimes there is a concern. When you put 12 additional houses there with two cars each, that's 24 additional cars on that road a day.

[00:37:09]The physical road will suffer. the children will be at risk and there will be slowmoving farm vehicles on there.

[00:37:15]Think about that.

[00:37:18]There's also a change in our community.

[00:37:21]The face of our community will change and not for the better. Our neighborhood has always been quiet, peaceful, and safe.

[00:37:29]We've always known our neighbors and our neighbors knew us and we could depend on each other when needed. Adding 12 homes will totally change our neighborhood. It will not be peaceful or quiet with traffic, music, the hustle.

[00:37:40]>> Your time up.

[00:37:42]>> Thank you.

[00:37:42]>> Thank you, gentlemen.

[00:37:43]>> Thank you, SIR.

[00:37:50]>> Jessica Jones, District 6, and Seth Jones will be next.

[00:38:00]>> Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. Um, I'm here to express my opposition to the proposed housing development on Malbury Grove Road. While I understand the need for growth and new housing, this particular location is not suitable for a development of this size. And there are several serious reasons why I think you should be carefully considered before any approval is granted. First, this development will result in the loss of valuable agricultural land. Once farmland is covered with houses, it's gone forever. Agriculture plays an important role in our community, supporting local food production, preserving open space, and maintaining the rural character that many of our residents value. Protecting productive farmland should be a priority, especially when there may be more appropriate locations that are available for a development this size. Second, water availability is a major concern.

[00:38:53]Our area already faces challenges with water supply and their proposed development would place additional demands on our already limited resources. The wells in this area are known to be vulnerable to drought and seasonal fluctuations. Adding a large number of new homes could strain groundwater supplies and potentially affect existing residents who rely on their private wells for their daily needs. Before moving forward, there should be clear evidence that a sustainable water supply exists for both current and future residents. Third, the condition of the road itself raises serious safety and infrastructure concerns. The road is already in poor condition. Additional vehicles, including construction equipment during the building phase and daily traffic afterward, would place even more stress on an already inadequate roadway.

[00:39:42]Without substantial improvements, the road simply does not appear capable of supporting this level of a development.

[00:39:50]Growth should be planned responsibly and in a way that protects existing residents, natural resources, and community infrastructure. In this case, the loss of agricultural land, concerns about limited water resources, and the poor condition of the road all suggest, this is not an appropriate location for housing development. And lastly, and I almost think most importantly, as you can see by the petition that I hope you guys have, nobody wants this. This is not something that we want. We are the constituents. We are the people in this county that have been here our whole lives and we want to remain here. So I respectfully ask that the board consider these issues and reject this proposal.

[00:40:46]>> Seth Jones, District 6, and Amy Law Horn will be next.

[00:40:54]>> Thank you, gentlemen.

[00:40:56]Thanks for listening to me. Um, my name is Seth Jones. I live on Mobile Grove Road. You all know the issues with water, uh, sewage, traffic.

[00:41:07]Um, we live in agriculture-rich county and I hope you gentlemen all have a petition.

[00:41:21]As we the underside residents, property owners, and concerned citizens respectfully urge the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors to deny case 26-ZMA366, the request by Dickerson Survey and LLC to reszone agriculture land on Morberry Grove Road from A1 to R2 residential for a 12 lot major subdivision. We believe this reszoning is not in the best interest of our community and would negatively impact the rural character, traffic safety, infrastructure, environment, and quality of life in Buckingham.

[00:41:55]By signing below, we respectfully request the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors vote no on case 26-Zm366.

[00:42:06]And I hope you gentlemen have a copy of this. If you do not, we have the petition. We have constituents from every district in Bucketham who has signed this. Thank you.

[00:42:16]>> Thank you.

[00:42:23]>> Amy Law Horn, District 2, and Johnny Schilling will be next.

[00:42:32]>> Good evening. I'm Amy Law Horn, District 2. At the April meeting, uh, the board of supervisors meeting, during the public comment, a resident made a statement that there are a lot of people in this county who would gladly step up and take these board positions seriously. In response, Supervisor Davis jokingly stated that he needed to check his deal. And Chairman Chambers responded, "Don't believe everything you hear." So, I did what citizens are supposed to do. I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request. And factually speaking, the records provided through the FOIA show board members receive approximately $10,000 annually in compensation and are eligible for county funded insurance contributions that can exceed $1,000 per month depending upon coverage level. That means in some cases taxpayer funded compensation and benefits can exceed $20,000 annually. In Buckingham County, that's real money.

[00:43:23]Let me be clear. This is not about attacking anyone for being compensated for public service. Public service matters. Leadership and representation matter. But compensation comes with responsibility, not ceremonial responsibility or occasional participation and certainly not treating this position like a side hustle. The people of Buckingham County deserve active representation and respectfully.

[00:43:47]We deserve professionalism. We deserve to be heard and not dismissed. We deserve honest answers and not defensiveness. And we deserve to know that asking questions is viewed as civic engagement and not an inconvenience.

[00:43:59]Whether it's Valley Link, data centers, solar development, taxes, land acquisition decisions, or any other issue affecting Buckingham County residents, citizens deserve elected official who are engaged, informed, and willing to advocate on our behalf.

[00:44:14]Valley Link is simply the most visible example today. For the past two months, resident after resident stood before this board asking for leadership, communication, coordination, and action regarding what may become one of the most significant issues this county has faced in decades. Yet tonight, Valley Link is not even on the agenda.

[00:44:34]Meanwhile, neighborhood counties are openly discussing the project, coordinating efforts, and communi communicating with their residents. The citizens elect the board of supervisors to lead, ask hard questions, make difficult decisions, and represent their constituents. Advisors, consultants, attorneys, and staff provide information and recommendations, but ultimately the leadership and accountability rest with the elected officials that sit in front of us. The citizens of this county should never feel like the tail is wagging the dog. So, I would respectfully ask each of you on this board to once again ask yourself, why are you in this role? Why did you seek this office? People are paying attention. They're engaged and they're willing to serve. And we're expecting leadership. This should not be viewed as a criticism. It should be viewed as an opportunity because the title of supervisor means something. And the people of Buckingham County deserve leaders who are fully engaged, accountable, and willing to carry the responsibility seriously. Thank you, >> Miss Langghorn.

[00:45:37]Um, Miss Langghorn, a a lady came before this board of that night and said, "We get $12,000 a year."

[00:45:47]She heard that and I told her, "Don't believe everything you hear." And I still say the same thing.

[00:45:52]>> Okay. Don't believe everything you hear.

[00:45:55]>> I I gave you the facts.

[00:45:56]>> I know, but she said we made $12,000.

[00:45:58]Yeah. That was not true.

[00:45:59]>> I I you appreciate you doing that. I said she was wrong.

[00:46:03]>> Okay. That's why I said don't believe everything you hear. I didn't want to call her loud. That's you know in public. I just said don't believe everything you hear.

[00:46:12]>> Thank you.

[00:46:14]Who's next?

[00:46:15]>> Johnny Schilling District 7 and David Ball will be next.

[00:46:23]>> Hi everybody. I'm Johnny. I live on Concl Road over in District 7. I sent you an email yesterday. Did you get it?

[00:46:32]Show of hands. Everybody got it?

[00:46:34]Everybody got it? Okay, >> great. So, in that email, there's a really convenient template for a letter PJM modeled after what Cole Peppers Board of Supervisors have sent. And I'm really hoping that you all will take that opportunity to, you know, read over that template letter and say, "Hey, how can I put Buckingham's information in here? Send it off."

[00:47:07]Because we've done so much work in this county to keep Valley Link out.

[00:47:15]One of the things that I prize most about living in Buckingham is having space. Is having space. I live on a road with generational farmers.

[00:47:27]People have been in this county their whole lives, their parents' lives, their grandparents' lives and so forth.

[00:47:35]I live at the end of a gravel road and I prize that it is so important and Valley Link wants to put a power line over our watershed across farms across people's cattle land. And I just think that's a shame and you all have so much power and so much responsibility to help keep it out. And I really, really urge you to take some of those steps that have been laid out real easy in front of you and say, "Hey, Valley Link, no thanks. I appreciate your effort, but no thanks, Valley Link. We're not interested. We don't want the data centers. We don't want this high voltage line. We'd like to keep Buckingham County farmland because that's why we're here is to farm." Thank you.

[00:48:32]>> Thank you.

[00:48:39]David Ball, District 2, and Irene Leech will be next.

[00:49:01]Sure.

[00:49:04]David Ball, District 2. How are you gentlemen today? Good. I want to take up a little different subject. Um, one that has been in the news but not very heavily covered. And the fact is that we do have a lot of people coming here and certain religious groups that are against vaccinations and medical treat, you know, prevention so the disease doesn't take off. We have almost 100 cases of measles in the county isolated to Buckingham County. It's not all over the state. It's here. We have commercial centers that are bringing goods and people in from outside the county. So exposure has come in from outside, probably from areas and people who are coming from areas that have never been treated. and knowing that with the eventual uh treatments that have reduced the recurrences of these diseases, well, the fact is, do we have all of our young children in this county treated prevention against these critical diseases? And I know it's not just one religious group. There are several religious groups that are against vaccinations. They're against hospitals.

[00:50:23]They're against certain treatments. And that doesn't make sense, but it's their choice.

[00:50:30]The other thing that I want to talk about is how much business has been leaving the town of Dillwin.

[00:50:39]And it seems like there's more business leaving than business coming in. And the town is slowly fading out of existence.

[00:50:48]There seems to be one person who's been purchasing up property in order to control everything that's going on in that town and that's not to the best interest of the town or the community as a whole. And we talk about Dillwin being a town that has residents, that has houses, but for the most part, there are also people that need basic services.

[00:51:16]And so they don't want to have to drive half hour, hour, 2 hours to get those basic services. They want to see that in their community. They want to have the ability to get what they need close to home without having to spend all their time, which a lot of them do, spend a lot of their time away from home driving to jobs because there aren't jobs here.

[00:51:40]So, I think these are primary concerns and I am definitely against that power line and I know that Northern Virginia can easily set up their own nuclear plant to supply all their energy. They don't need that power line coming from down here and we really need to fight that too. But there are so many issues that we have to have a better engaged community. Thank you.

[00:52:05]>> Thank you, sir.

[00:52:12]Irene Leech, District 5, and Ted Flipping will be next.

[00:52:20]>> Good evening.

[00:52:22]>> Evening, ma'am.

[00:52:23]>> I'm Irene Leech. I live at Mount Rush, the geographic center of the state. uh and we're looking at the Valley Link pipeline uh transmission line wanting to come through our property. As I read the comprehensive plan that you all have approved, um it seems that you all look at the county in the future being much like I believe I do.

[00:52:53]It doesn't appear to me that a backbone for industrial development that has towers taller than the Statue of Liberty every quarter mile fits with what Buckingham wants. They've said they want to be able to take off from any place along that and add industrial infrastructure.

[00:53:22]PJM is uh the entity that will make some decisions now with its stakeholders. Its stakeholders are the utilities only the utilities. When uh Virginia allowed Dominion to move to PJM, the state and state corporation commission gave up the opportunity to have uh a decision-making process that involved everyone in Virginia. All of our SEC cases do.

[00:53:58]Consumers can only watch what's happening at PJM.

[00:54:05]There's no system that they have to get our input.

[00:54:11]They talk to the states a little bit, but not much.

[00:54:17]The only way that we can give input is before they make decisions.

[00:54:23]We didn't know about this project when they made the original decision. So, we couldn't weigh in.

[00:54:30]But much has changed and PJM is going to need to make uh to approve some of these changes. It could happen before your July meeting. We don't know.

[00:54:44]uh land owners and citizens are speaking up and we'd appreciate it if our board could weigh in about the county's goals as a rural county that wants to be rural, not an industrial corridor for future generations.

[00:55:04]This is your opportunity to speak up in the PJM part of the Valley Link process and I hope that you'll take advantage of it.

[00:55:23]>> Ted Flipping, District 1.

[00:55:41]Good evening, gentlemen. Mr. Chairman, y'all got a lot of weight on your shoulders to be in the position that you're in to listen to the citizens of this county that bring these issues to you. It's a lot of weight. These folks, poor folks here in Mol Grove, that doesn't help this county a bit to let 12 this housing development in. Not one thing in this world. It doesn't help us a bit. This these solar farms that are coming, they don't help us a bit. They might send a little bit of money here and there. And that's in Valley Link. I don't know if you guys have seen the new improved maps, but I got mine and one of the dotted line options crosses my property from start to finish right down the middle diagonal.

[00:56:30]There's going to be a minimum of three towers on my property. Seven generations.

[00:56:39]We need to take a proactive stance at this point. I don't know what we can do, but if they are hellbent on bringing a power line diagonal across Buckingham County, what's it? 30 miles maybe across diagonal. I don't know. But four towers for every mile. You do the math. That's a lot. That's 120 towers if it's 30 miles. Why can't Buckingham set an ordinance or stipulation that if you help if you're going to do it and it does pass and they're going to do it, why can't Buckingham County pass an ordinance to charge them for a permit for each tower.

[00:57:24]Each and I don't mean a little $2, $300.

[00:57:27]I mean make it hurt. Make it hurt.

[00:57:29]Charge them several million dollars to do it. We have the You guys have the option. You can do it. You can set that.

[00:57:36]You can. Y'all are the governing body of Buckingham County. And all of us in this room look to you guys to do the right thing. All of us. We bring issues to you every month.

[00:57:49]And hopefully you make the right decision. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But Buckingham is losing. We're losing on this Valley Link and these developments.

[00:58:02]These these guys are farmers. They've been on just like I just like on my property seven generations and it hurts.

[00:58:11]>> Thank you.

[00:58:12]>> Thank you, SIR.

[00:58:18]>> OH, we are.

[00:58:20]>> All right.

[00:58:22]Matters.

[00:58:26]>> Evening chairman and board. Thank you for having me. Uh you've probably seen u us mowing with a we're using a contractor to mow. We're about to wrap up the secondary system and we're switching over and starting the primary system. So you'll see us picking up litter on the primaries and then following that with mowers. Been doing a lot of asphalt patching. I think last month I told you that we were going to do Route 636 Francisco Road and Stage Coach Road. So we've done a lot of patching on there and we're about to finish that up. Uh still a little bit more to complete on the Francisco side.

[00:59:01]We've also uh have some work planned to do on Plank Road and Twin Creek Road.

[00:59:06]We've uh been patching on Glenmore Road last week. Did a lot up that way. Um specifically between 20 and the trash transfer site. Uh we were on 610 today patching uh on the Molita side and u we paved on Golftown Road as well.

[00:59:28]Uh I think we've done some patching and paving on Route 671 Pinland Road and I think later this week we'll be out on St. Andrews Road, Route 649 patching. So a lot of asphalt work this month and the and in the coming weeks. So, please tell your constituents to watch out for us while we're out there. We also uh just following up on a couple of the comments from last month. We uh were out on 60 today uh cutting some brush and mowing, trying to get the sight distance better out there at Payne's Creek. Um and then, uh I know we addressed one of the trees on Ranson Road. I'm not sure if we I think we have a couple more tagged that we're going to get a contractor to take those down.

[01:00:15]>> I was talking on Ransom Road the third double wide.

[01:00:19]>> Yes, >> that's the tree right on the right at the mailbox.

[01:00:22]>> Yes, sir. I think that's one of the ones that we're going to use a contractor on.

[01:00:25]>> Thank you, sir.

[01:00:26]>> Yes, sir. But that's all I came prepared to present on this month. I can take questions, comments, or concerns from y'all.

[01:00:33]>> Uh District One.

[01:00:35]>> Well, you just addressed one of mine.

[01:00:36]You said y'all addressed some of the potholes on 610. So, and I want to thank y'all for taking a tree down on Chapel Road by the Chapel. That thing was going to be across the road, but really quick.

[01:00:49]>> Yes, sir. Thank you.

[01:00:51]>> Just a few more deadlines around through there that I'll be contacting you about.

[01:00:56]>> Okay, good. Thank you.

[01:01:00]>> District two, I had a couple different uh constituents call me, but a couple of things, but I talked to Mr. walk the stone and I know they contacted the constituent and I'm almost positive that they took care of it so I'm stayed right on top of it.

[01:01:15]>> Made it easy for me. Thank you.

[01:01:17]>> All right.

[01:01:19]>> District three.

[01:01:20]>> I don't have anything at this time.

[01:01:21]>> District four.

[01:01:23]>> Uh yes. U Mr. Frederick, I just heard you mention just now two of them that are in my district that I had I know one of them specifically I asked you about was Twin Creek and St. Andrews. So be interested to see once y'all get some work done on those had hat comes out.

[01:01:38]>> Yes, sir.

[01:01:39]>> But thank you for including them in it.

[01:01:43]>> Fine.

[01:01:44]>> Yeah. Run road uh right up from Route 20 done a good job of asphalt on that doing a good patch.

[01:01:54]Right up as soon as you go up around the first curve there what it was a asphalt patch part of it has come up and it's a real bump right there that just needs a little bit of >> okay >> cleaning out that's all.

[01:02:08]>> Yeah, we can take care of that.

[01:02:09]>> Got nothing else for us.

[01:02:13]>> District 6, we thank you for taking care of 655 at the recycling center. You took care of that problem we had there.

[01:02:18]>> Yes, sir.

[01:02:19]>> Thank you.

[01:02:20]>> Thank you.

[01:02:21]>> District seven. Sorry.

[01:02:24]Oh, Mr. Allen's out.

[01:02:25]>> He's not here tonight.

[01:02:27]>> Okay, he's not here.

[01:02:28]>> Thank you, board.

[01:02:29]>> All right. Thank you, sir.

[01:02:33]>> We're in public hearing, Miss Edmonson.

[01:02:37]>> Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, the first zoning item this evening is a public hearing for case 26 SUP 368. Our applicant is George Goodwin of 263 Belme Lane, Scottville. The properties on which the requests have been made are tax map 4 parcel one approximately 6.3 acres and tax map 4 parcel 9 at just over 102 acres. And of course this case was presented last month as an introduction. His request is to obtain obtain a special use permit for the purpose of operating an event center um for attendees up to 300. um his conditions are attached and um I did receive an updated item from VOTE to include the entrance at Belme Lane along with um the entrance to tax map parcel um tax map 4 parcel one which is the 6.3 acre parcel and it's located just north of the 263 BME lane on route 20 and Mr. locker, the assistant resident engineer, um, indicates that both of those entrances are acceptable for the intended use. So, I did want to bring that update to you.

[01:03:43]>> Thank you.

[01:03:44]>> Yes, sir.

[01:03:44]>> Anybody sign up a public sign?

[01:03:46]>> We'll open the puppet here and close it out. We need a motion to approve this.

[01:03:52]>> I'll make a motion, Mr. Chairman.

[01:03:54]>> A second.

[01:03:58]>> I'll second.

[01:03:59]>> Motion and second that we approve this.

[01:04:00]Are there any question? A motion? All in favor?

[01:04:09]six. Yes. All right.

[01:04:18]>> And Mr. Chairman, the next public hearing is um in regards to um the codification of solar policy standards in the Buckingham County zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan in regards to state legislation. And there are three bills 347,443 and 7-Eleven. These were explained um last month. It um the changes to the zoning ordinance and the amendments therein. Um there is also um I wanted to bring out that's uh the bill 443 separately addresses the battery battery energy storage projects associated with solar projects. And um the integrated comprehensive plan amendments would um impact chapter 5 land use, chapter 7 goals, objectives, and strategies, and the executive summary um with the addition of the renewable energy sighting policy.

[01:05:10]>> A public hearing on it.

[01:05:11]>> Public hearing. Yes, sir.

[01:05:15]>> We set a public hearing, Mr. Chairman.

[01:05:17]>> I second it.

[01:05:18]>> This is the public.

[01:05:19]>> This is a public hearing, ain't it?

[01:05:20]>> I think this is the public hearing.

[01:05:23]We had one person sign.

[01:05:25]>> Okay.

[01:05:28]>> Open the public here.

[01:05:29]>> Guess you can take your second back off of it, too.

[01:05:31]>> Donnie Doryer, District 6.

[01:05:44]>> Thank you for allowing me to speak. Down your District 6. Yes, sir. Um, a few years back, uh, we had a, uh, solar policy put in place. Mr. Davis, Mr. Matthews, uh, Mr. Carter, Mr. Wright, Miss Ebson, they were all involved in that thing.

[01:06:06]It's a long process. I think it took about two years or maybe even more than two years to get that thing done.

[01:06:11]uh I think it was over 30 pages of a detailed policy that tried to protect the county.

[01:06:20]Um the thing about that is now now we're going to come up with a solar ordinance and that ordinance is different than the policy.

[01:06:35]So my question is why are we going to get in a hurry to to vote on something that uh is in conflict with the policy that we had and this this uh solar ordinance will supersede the policy.

[01:06:50]So the very first thing right there, one of the things, the main things is the the setbacks. The setback on uh a dwelling to a solar facility in the policy was 500 ft. But in this one right here of the ordinance is 150 to 200 feet. So you know, we're we're we're getting worse all the time instead of getting better. You know, I think what we need to do is table this motion, table this uh item and and do a little bit better research, a little bit better digging of what we got here before we decided to vote on this thing. Uh a lot of people don't know um we had I said we got this solar policy done two years ago well a little over two years ago and uh since that time we've had or even in that time we've had uh a nine solar projects going on in this county. Three of those projects a lot of people in this room don't know that three of those projects cover over 4,000 acres of land.

[01:07:55]4,000 acres of land already tied up in only three. We got nine of them. So, you know, I stand side by side and all all the people that's being affected by solar stand by side by side with Valley Link people in opposition. We're all in this together. Um, so that's something I think we need to think about. Something we need to do is uh do a little bit more research before we decide to make this motion and pass it. That's what I'm asking that uh you table this thing for now and let's see what happens. Thank you for your time.

[01:08:28]>> Yes, sir. Anybody else?

[01:08:37]>> I think Huh.

[01:08:38]>> I think we need >> I think we need to table that policy. I didn't realize that it changed it made the boundary shorter instead of longer.

[01:08:47]>> I appreciate your comment, Mr. Doy. Can we get a motion to table this right now?

[01:08:51]Do some more research on it?

[01:08:52]>> I'll make that motion.

[01:08:54]>> I'll second it.

[01:08:57]>> Motion and second that we will table this and do more research on it.

[01:09:01]>> Are there any question? All in favor?

[01:09:04]>> Show our motion.

[01:09:06]>> It's hung up because of what we did, I guess.

[01:09:24]Yes. All right, Miss Evson.

[01:09:27]>> And the final case this evening um under the zoning department is going to be case 26 ZMA 366. Uh the applicant is Dickerson Surveying LLC. And um the request was to obtain a zoning map amendment from A1 to R2 residential for the development of a 12 lot major subdivision. Um and the property on which the request was being made was tax map 107 parcel 28. The whole parcel is over 380 acres, but this particular site for the requested uh zoning map amendment was at 29.413 acres, all located on Malberry Grove Road. Um the public hearing was held uh last month in May. Uh Mr. Goen with Dickerson Surveying is here this evening to address questions and concerns.

[01:10:14]We already had the public hearing on this and hearing the complaints from the constituents in the community. I think we need to send this back to the planning commission and let them have a p uh townhouse meeting.

[01:10:26]Yes, sir.

[01:10:32]>> Hello board. I'm sorry I'm I'm dealing with some voice issues, >> but I'm Michael Gwen Dickerson surveying and in light of the water concerns from the different citizens who have spoke tonight, my client has asked to pull the reszoning permit.

[01:10:48]>> Good.

[01:10:48]>> Thank you.

[01:10:59]All right. Thank you.

[01:11:04]Thank the citizens uh for Marberry Road.

[01:11:07]We thank you for bringing the information to us and uh thank you for the petitions.

[01:11:15]>> All right, let's move on to um to the uh in department of agent report and items for consideration. The sheriff request. What is the pledge of the board in one?

[01:11:34]>> I need a motion to approve it. I hear the sheriff.

[01:11:37]>> Well, let's let the sheriff get up here.

[01:11:38]He don't never get to talk to us. No.

[01:11:42]>> Get some equal time.

[01:11:43]>> Turn mic problem.

[01:11:49]Uh recently we got a uh received money from the heat equipment reimbursement program through the Virginia State Police.

[01:12:02]The program allocates up to $10,000 for department for purchasing equipment that will help aid in the prevention and prosecution of autotheft.

[01:12:12]The sheriff's office was able to receive that $10,000 and we ask that you move that money over to the maintenance service contract line so we can pay for the equipment. What is pledge of the board?

[01:12:28]>> Make a motion that we do move.

[01:12:30]>> Second it.

[01:12:31]>> Motion and seconded. We will honor this request. Are there any questions? All in favor?

[01:12:39]>> Yes. Thank you, sir. We thank you.

[01:12:45]Move down to O. Appointment to committee boards and agency.

[01:12:50]>> The library board. Consider the appointment of Miss Hill to the Central Virginia Library Board of the Trustees.

[01:12:56]>> We make a motion to be accepted.

[01:13:00]>> Motion and second. We'll appoint Miss Hill. Are there any other questions? All in favor six. Yes.

[01:13:12]>> Float but I'm coming.

[01:13:14]>> Can attorney matters.

[01:13:28]>> Thank you sir. Uh can administrative report.

[01:13:32]>> Yes sir Mr. Chairman. Uh in your packet tonight, there should be a recommendation from the finance committee for some much neededed repairs at Gene Dixon Park. Uh there was a list of several items in that packet tonight.

[01:13:45]Finance committee is recommending if you approve these repairs that those funds come out of ending your balance from sometime monies we received during the fiscal year. Um as you know, they're starting to have ball tournaments and things like at the park. So we need to get these repairs done as soon as possible. So that's a recommendation from the finance committee. We have a motion to approve. Can we approve this?

[01:14:03]A motion to approve this.

[01:14:04]>> I'll make a motion.

[01:14:05]>> Second.

[01:14:06]>> I'll second it.

[01:14:07]>> Motion and second that we approve this work to be done at the playground. Are there any questions? All in favor?

[01:14:17]>> Yes. M.

[01:14:18]>> Yes sir. And another mention next month in our July meeting you will be getting uh present presentation from the artist regarding the FY25 fiscal year audit. So she'll be here next month to do that presentation. I've also provided you a personnel committee report under separate cover just for your information. And then I got a couple other little announcements. Um the 2026 deal and truck and tractor pool will be held on Saturday, July 18th with the rain date of July 19th and it's going to be at the new park on Route 20. Uh those gates will open at 3:00 and the pool will start at approximately 5:00.

[01:14:53]Also passed out to you guys a sample program for the Virginia 250 celebration. We're going to have that celebration on Saturday, June 27th at 11 o'clock in front of the courthouse. Uh please attend if you can. It's going to be a presentation with some activities for family and friends. So if you're around and out on the holiday schedule, please stop by and attend.

[01:15:13]That's all I have, Mr. Chairman.

[01:15:15]>> All right.

[01:15:17]Um I I made I got on a school bus a few weeks ago. If I get a my great or grand off, it about 100 degrees on that bus.

[01:15:28]And I feel sorry for those kids got to ride those buses in the heat like that.

[01:15:31]And I recommend to the board that we put some air condition on some more of those buses. And I got a figure for $56,000.

[01:15:39]But my understanding had went up $4 more,000 the last time we got some of the done. Is that right, Mr. Palmer?

[01:15:46]Will you come down here? I'm sorry. I didn't see you, Miss Dr. Re. You come to the I'm sorry. I didn't I apologize. I didn't see you come down. It's >> okay.

[01:15:54]>> And while Mr. Palmer is walking up here, I just wanted to thank you all publicly, all of you for your flexibility with allowing us to get a jump start on some of our capital improvement projects uh using some end of the year money um instead of having to come to you formally. That would have wasted an a month on the on the calendar and time is of the essence when we don't have students in the buildings. And so Mr. Mr. Heslip's been fantastic, his team.

[01:16:20]Um, we have 10 projects right now going on simultaneously. Um, and we'll be providing you next month at the July meeting a full rundown of everything we accomplished. Um, with that and we appreciate it so much. Thank you.

[01:16:35]>> Thank you. I talked to Dr. Risner, but the school also does a couple bus and they could do a couple buses too. That's right.

[01:16:45]We're going to discuss that in our meeting on Wednesday.

[01:16:47]>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up >> Oh, no. No, we're going to discuss that on Wednesday at our meeting.

[01:16:51]>> Okay. Thank you. But Mr. Palmer, the last time we done the buses, I think were like $14,000. 14. And then >> if you if you remember back four years ago when we started started getting air condition on the school buses, it was $15,000 extra then, >> right?

[01:17:07]>> We actually had some had Kore supplied.

[01:17:10]They put some air conditioning on the buses last year for 14,000.

[01:17:15]>> But anyway, I think they realize they messed up, but that's that's irrelevant.

[01:17:19]>> The new price is and they sent me a quote is $18,000.

[01:17:23]>> Okay.

[01:17:24]>> But you got to consider >> four years ago there was 15,000.

[01:17:28]Everything's gone up, but that's exactly what it is. I got an email pertaining to that. It's $18,000 to put air condition on school bus. We presently have 13 buses with air condition. Um after the school board meets, we will have two more coming from last year's money. We going to have two. We had to put us up to 15.

[01:17:49]>> All right.

[01:17:49]>> And hopefully we'll get a couple more.

[01:17:51]>> All right.

[01:17:52]>> So, it's it's really helping. It really is helping because it is it it gets real high on them school buses.

[01:17:56]>> You ain't got to tell me, brother. I got it on.

[01:17:59]>> But if y'all got any more questions, that's I'm just updating you on what's going on. Um, could we get a motion to approve this? I'm sorry.

[01:18:06]>> You had something to say. I thought you had something. I'm sorry.

[01:18:11]>> We need a motion to approve this to get four more buses with the air conditioner on.

[01:18:15]>> So, we're looking at a total cost of >> about 72,000,000 instead of >> 72,000.

[01:18:22]>> 72,000.

[01:18:23]>> 72,000 I believe it is. That right, Miss Palmer?

[01:18:27]>> Okay. We got a motion to appropriate $72,000.

[01:18:30]>> I made the motion, Mr. Chairman.

[01:18:33]All right. The motion is second that we appropriate the $72,000 for the air condition on the buses. Are there any question on the motion? All in favor?

[01:18:44]>> Um, thank you. Six. Yes, Gillian. Um, couple things before we go on the other board matters. First of all, we have a visitor here tonight that I'd like to recognize standing in the back. He came in. I guess he forgot what time at board meetings come in earlier.

[01:19:02]>> But uh Jordan, will you want to stand up? I'm glad to see you back in Buckingham. We thank you for everything that you've done for the county and your services. We're glad to see you back.

[01:19:12]>> Don't stay past dark. All right.

[01:19:15]All right. Second of all, I had a constituent call me this week um about the steps at the library.

[01:19:23]Um, I went down and met with her and I'm not in construction, but I did have some concerns about your steps. Um, if we could get somebody or have somebody check it out this week. She gave me different dimensions that she had a contractor come down and take a look at it. Um, they were and it was not right. It was a depth between the steps. It was a rail in the middle and I had some concerns myself.

[01:19:56]Um, also if it's any way that we can put an extra light down at night, have a lot of people coming at night. Fall the year be getting darker earlier. Um, and it is a voting precinct as well. Uh, so if it's any way possible, if we could have somebody check that out.

[01:20:13]>> Yes, sir. So, we have already done that.

[01:20:16]We're we're have a contractor. We're just waiting for him to come do the work. So, we're on his schedule already to repair repair those steps.

[01:20:22]>> Okay.

[01:20:23]>> That's been done already. Yeah.

[01:20:24]>> All right. Thank you.

[01:20:26]>> And we'll look at getting the calls for the light out there. But the steps we already on somebody's schedule >> like you on top of it.

[01:20:33]>> Uh of board matters and of boarding matters. If not, we need to go in executive session.

[01:20:39]>> All right. Mr. Chairman, I move that we go in, excuse me, executive session consultation with legal counsel and briefing by staff members or consult consults consultants, sorry, pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. and consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel and that is under the code of Virginia 2.2-3711.

[01:21:22]A7 and I make that motion.

[01:21:25]>> A motion and second that we will go in the executive session under the code that was stated. Are there any questions?

[01:21:33]All in favor take a five minute break.

[01:51:27]Uh, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to return to regular session and certification. We return to regular session and certification that to the best of each board member's knowledge only business matters related to the code of which the executive meeting was convened was discussed or considered in the closed executive session. And I make that motion.

[01:51:51]>> You heard the motion. We need a second.

[01:51:53]>> I'll second Davis.

[01:52:06]Okay.

[01:52:08]>> Six. Yes. Then uh in a motion after Yes, sir.

[01:52:14]>> Mr. Chairman, as a uh result of the executive close session, we uh advised the county attorney and the county administrator to uh send a letter that was already under draft to uh PJM expressing the concerns with this uh Val Link project, the concerns related to Buckingham County specifically project. That was a that was a result of the executive session.

[01:52:43]>> All right. Can we get a second?

[01:52:48]Yes, sir. Motion was a motion.

[01:52:52]All right. Have a motion and second. All in favor of the motion.

[01:53:01]Six. Yes.

[01:53:04]There. No other business. We need to adjourn.