04-17-2018 WS Meeting MinutesBoard of Supervisors
Work Session
April 17, 2018
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Work Session
April 17, 2018
VIRGINIA: The Work Session of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors began
at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in the Main Conference Room of the County
Administration Building, located at 1 Center Street in Chatham, Virginia 24531. The following
members were present:
Joe B. Davis Dan River District
Ronald S. Scearce Westover District
Ben L. Farmer Callands-Gretna District
Robert W. Warren Chatham-Blairs District
Dr. Charles H. Miller, Jr Banister District
The Honorable Elton W. Blackstock, Staunton River District, and the Honorable Tim R.
Barber, Tunstall District, were absent.
Mr. David M. Smitherman, County Administrator/Clerk of the Board; Mr. J. Vaden Hunt
Esq., County Attorney; Mr. Greg L. Sides, Assistant County Administrator for Planning &
Administration, Mr. Richard Hicks, Assistant County Administrator for Operations, Mrs.
Kimberly Van Der Hyde, Director of Finance, The Honorable Mike Taylor, Sheriff, and Mrs.
Kaylyn McCluster, Deputy Clerk, were also present.
Approval of Agenda
Motion was made by Dr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Farmer, to approve the Agenda, which
was unanimously approved by Board members present.
Presentations
Mr. Jay Craddock from VDOT presented the Secondary Road Six (6) Year Improvement
Plan. He proposed Roark’s Mill, Hudson, and Darby Roads be added. Mr. Craddock stated
there were over one hundred fifty (150) unpaved roads in Pittsylvania County, and offered his
opinion on the roads he thinks would be good candidates to add to the plan. Darby Road is a 2.2
mile road on the West side of Gretna. Hubbard Road is in the Straightstone area, which is a dead
end road, and it is listed at 1.2 miles, and that gets paved just past the last house; not to the end of
the road. Roark’s Mill Road is in the Hurt area at Business 29, and there is about .6 of a mile
that is not paved at this time. Mr. Sides stated that Mr. Craddock looks at the roads that VDOT
gets a lot of calls about and there are a lot of houses on. He stated that Roark’s Mill Road is the
road that will access the Runk and Pratt Retirement Community right outside of Hurt. Mr.
Craddock stated that these roads would be added in FY2024, but if the Board declared it as a
rural rustic if Runk and Pratt chose to improve the road themselves with their money they would
be able to do so at an earlier date and not have to build it to design standards. Mr. Warren
questioned if there was a program where if Roark Mill Road was already on the plan, but Runk
and Pratt decided to do it earlier if they could get reimbursed. Mr. Craddock stated that the
County could apply for revenue sharing and Runk and Pratt could put up fifty (50) percent and
submit their application by the end of October. Mr. Warren requested that staff look into that
and also requested a list of all unpaved roads in the County. Mr. Scearce asked for an
explanation of how roads become paved. Mr. Farmer thanked Mr. Craddock for adding Darby
Road to the list. He stated that he had a lot of complaints about that road. Mr. Davis requested
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Work Session
April 17, 2018
follow up on two (2) roads in his district. Mr. Craddock stated that last year they received
$157,000 for street widening in Pittsylvania County, and if they get the money again th is year,
the plan is to go to Route 844, Mount Cross Road. There are two (2) miles along there that is not
widened, and it runs about $80,000 per mile to do the widening. Craddock stated they would
know if the money was available in June. There was consensus to add the projects and to
advertise for a public hearing in May.
Dr. Jones, Pittsylvania County Schools Superintendent, gave a presentation on the
school’s intended use for the Armory. The schools have a “Ready for Success” program that
provided short-term intervention for elementary students experiencing behavioral difficulties.
The program is in its second year of operation and eighty-eight percent (88%) of its students
have been returned to their base school, with a 0% recidivism rate. This program is currently
housed in the Pittsylvania County School System’s STEM Academy, but it provides limited
opportunity for growth. Presently, the program capacity is capped at ten (10) students, but
moving into the Armory would allow for two (2) classes and would double the capacity of
students served. Dr. Miller asked about potential CSA savings and Dr. Jones estimated about 1.4
million per year, with that being a 75/25 split with the State. Mr. Davis asked ab out security at
that location. Dr. Jones stated that school systems are not concerned with security with students
for grades K-5. Also being in the Town of Chatham there would be easy access to Deputies if
needed. Mr. Smitherman stated that the project is in the permitting process with the Town of
Chatham. Dr. Jones stated that he met with Town Council, and they have turned it over to a
subcommittee, and he has also met with Mr. Black, who is Chairman of that committee, but they
are waiting to hear back.
Staff Reports
Mr. Hicks spoke regarding the Cherrystone Dam Economic Analysis. He stated that the
NCRS completed an economic analysis to evaluate the costs and benefits of purchasing flood
easements or land rights to the top of the dam versus the crest of the auxiliary spillway. This was
to fully understand the issues surrounding the potential for induced damages arising from flood
water that backs up behind the dam during major storm events. There were five (5) different
alternatives to move the project forward to the next step. Mr. Hicks recommended, at this point,
the Board stick with Option One (1), which is to do nothing, i.e., accept the potential flood risk
for flood events greater than the elevation of the crest of the auxiliary spillway. Hicks stated that
he was just looking for consensus on going with Option One (1).
The Honorable Mike Taylor, Sheriff, spoke on the VA Rules Camp Grant. This is a
camp he holds the first part of the summer in the Sutherlin community, and they usually have
forty (40) to forty-five (45) students they transport to and from this day camp. This camp is
provided at no cost for the students. This is a reimbursable State grant that gives up to five
thousand dollars ($5,000). The students that attend this summer camp are identified at the
schools by the guidance counselors; some of the students are at risk students. Mr. Davis stated
that he had been to this camp before and commended how well it was run.
Mr. Smitherman notified the Board that there would be a request for items to be added to
the agenda at the Business Meeting; one (1) related to the recent storm, one (1) relating to
acquisition of equipment for the Landfill, and a storm related tipping fee waiver. Mr. Hicks gave
a quick overview on the request of a pan scraper for the Landfill. Mr. Warren also brought to the
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Work Session
April 17, 2018
Board’s attention an item on the consent agenda, purchase of iPad by a former employee. He
stated that there needed to be a policy established. Mr. Farmer requested that it be postponed
until they could hold a Legislative Committee Meeting.
Closed Session
Motion made by Mr. Scearce, seconded by Mr. Farmer, to enter into Closed Session,
which was unanimously approved by Board members present.
a. Closed Session - Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the
expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has
been made of the business' or industry's interest in locating or expanding its facilities
in the community.
(1) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5)
Subject Matter: Project Alphabet
Purpose: Prospective Business Update
(2) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5)
Subject Matter: Project Big Sky
Purpose: Prospective Business Update
(3) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5)
Subject Matter: Project Homeland
Purpose: Prospective Business Update
(4) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5)
Subject Matter: Project 1200
Purpose: Prospective Business Update
(5) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(5)
Subject Matter: Project Calcium
Purpose: Prospective Business Update
b. Closed Session - Consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public
body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such
counsel. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit the closure of a
meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body is in attendance or
is consulted on a matter.
(1) Legal Authority: Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(8)
Subject Matter: Mountain Valley Pipeline
Purpose: Discussion of Pipeline Legal Issues
Board of Supervisors
Work Session
April 17, 2018
The Board entered into Closed Session at 5:25pm.
Upon a Motion by Dr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Davis, the Board re-entered Open Session
at 6:26 pm and the following Certification was recorded:
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CERTIFY CLOSED MEETING
BE IT RESOLVED that at the Work Session of the Pittsylvania County Board of
Supervisors on April 17, 2018, the Board hereby certifies by a recorded vote that to the best of
each board member’s knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open
meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and identified in the motion
authorizing the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered in the closed meeting. If any
member believes that there was a departure from the requirements of the Code, he shall so state
prior to the vote indicating the substance of the departure. The statement shall be recorded in the
minutes of the Board.
Vote
Tim R. Barber Absent
Elton W. Blackstock Absent
Joe B. Davis Yes
Ben L. Farmer Yes
Charles H. Miller, Jr. Yes
Ronald S. Scearce Yes
Robert W. Warren Yes
Adjournment
Mr. Warren adjourned the meeting at 6:27 pm.
__________________________________________
Robert W. “Bob” Warren, Chair
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
__________________________________________
David M. Smitherman, Clerk
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors