05-14-2019 Work Session Minutes - DRAFT
May 14, 2019
Work Session
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Work Session
May 14, 2019
VIRGINIA: The Work Session of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors was
held on May 14, 2019, in the Main Conference Room, County Administration Building,
Chatham, Virginia 24531. Chairman, Dan River District, Joe B. Davis, called the Meeting to
Order at 4:30 PM. The following Members were present:
CALL TO ORDER (4:30 PM)
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Joe B. Davis Chairman - Dan River District Present 4:24 PM
Charles H. Miller Vice Chairman - Banister District Absent
Tim R. Barber Supervisor - Tunstall District Absent
Elton W. Blackstock Supervisor - Staunton River District Present 4:28 PM
Ben L. Farmer Supervisor - Callands-Gretna District Present 4:23 PM
Ronald S. Scearce Supervisor - Westover District Present 4:23 PM
Robert W. "Bob" Warren Supervisor - Chatham-Blairs District Present 4:22 PM
Also in attendance were Mr. J. Vaden Hunt Esq., County Attorney; Mr. Gregory L. Sides,
Assistant County Administrator for Planning & Administration; Mr. Richard N. Hicks, Assistant
County Administrator for Operations; and Mrs. Kaylyn M. McCluster, Deputy Clerk.
AGENDA ITEMS TO BE ADDED/REMOVED
Motion to remove item 5a., Go Virginia Robotic Grant Match Funding Request Discussion, from
the Agenda, and add, under Staff Reports, Website Refresh and Radio Tower Change Order
Discussion.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Robert W. "Bob" Warren, Supervisor - Chatham-Blairs District
SECONDER: Ben L. Farmer, Supervisor - Callands-Gretna District
AYES: Davis, Blackstock, Farmer, Scearce, Warren
ABSENT: Miller, Barber
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to approve Agenda.
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May 14, 2019
Work Session
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Robert W. "Bob" Warren, Supervisor - Chatham-Blairs District
SECONDER: Elton W. Blackstock, Supervisor - Staunton River District
AYES: Davis, Blackstock, Farmer, Scearce, Warren
ABSENT: Miller, Barber
PRESENTATIONS
a. VDOT Secondary Six-Year Plan Discussion (Staff Contact: Gregory L. Sides); (30
minutes)
Mr. Jay Craddock, (VDOT), was present to receive feedback from the Board about which roads
they would like to see included in the Secondary Six (6)-Year Plan for the County. Mr.
Blackstock stated he would like to see Pocket Road put on the list. Mr. Warren stated it looked
like they could possibly put six (6) of those roads on the Plan. Mr. Farmer questioned the
Districts that the roads were located in. Mr. Craddock responded with the following: Oliver’s
Lane - Dan River; Friendly Drive, Brushy Mountain Road, Berry Road, Victoria Road, Hawkins
Road, Oxford Road, Brown Road, and Craddock Lane - Callands-Gretna; Ponderosa Road -
Tunstall District; and Pocket Road - Staunton River.
Mr. Farmer stated he would like to include Friendly Drive, because it has been on there a number
of years and Mr. Davis asked for the Oliver’s Lane connection.
There was consensus of the Board to include Friendly Drive, Oxford Road, Pocket Road, and
Oliver’s Lane in the Secondary Six-Year Plan for the County.
Mr. Craddock will bring those back for approval at the Board’s June Business Meeting.
b. Library Feasibility Study Update (Staff Contact: Lisa W. Tuite); (15 minutes)
Mr. Gil Entzminger provided the Board with an update from the Library Feasibility Study. His
Presentation can be found on the County’s website at <https://www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov/>.
STAFF, COMMITTEE, AND/OR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER REPORTS
a. Building and Property Committee Update (Staff Contact: Richard N. Hicks); (10
minutes)
Mr. Hicks gave a brief update to the Board regarding the Courts and Jail Facilities Update that
was presented by Moseley Architects at the May 2, 2019, Property/Building Committee Meeting.
He stated there was discussion about building a smaller jail off-site, but unfortunately the County
does not have enough property for this at the current time. There is a Meeting scheduled with
the Sheriff and the Judge to go over this Report on May 23, 2019. There will also be a formal
Presentation made to the full Board at the June 18, 2019 Meeting. Moseley Architects will then
finalize their Report and present to the Board at the July 16, 2019 Meeting. He also stated the
County was approached by Roy Ford requesting for the County to purchase a small piece of
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May 14, 2019
Work Session
property located on the Old Blair’s School soccer field. There is also the possibility of a citizen
donating two (2) parcels of land to the County due to her living in Washington and no longer
wanting the property. It is anticipated that a swap of the properties could take place between the
gifted land and Mr. Ford’s property. There will be a Public Hearing held at the June 18, 2019,
Meeting to take care of this.
b. Pet Center Update (Staff Contact: James P. McLaughlin); (10 minutes)
Mr. McLaughlin was present and gave a brief update to the Board on the Pet Center. He stated
they have a 92% live release for the year so far. Adoptions are not as high as they would like but
they have partnered with the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, which they are now a
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May 14, 2019
Work Session
member, and are very pleased. The total in Grants which includes in-care donations, such as
donated food, totals $24,800 during the first four (4) months. They have received over $9,000 in
cash donations from the public. They have surpassed the $50,000 fundraising goal for the first
six (6) months. The Pet Center has reduced the number of full-time employees and increased
part-time employees, which has helped the fixed costs. Mr. McLaughlin also provided the below
handout to the Board which outlines upcoming fundraisers for the Pet Center.
c. Website Refresh (Staff Contact: Scott Budd)
Scott Budd, Director of Information Technology, was present to give a brief overview of the
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May 14, 2019
Work Session
County’s website refresh. Mr. Farmer suggested that the County into an add-on for the County’s
website that would allow the County to have an app for smartphones in order for citizen to easily
access the County’s information.
d. Radio Tower Change Order Discussion (Staff Contact: Richard N. Hicks)
Mr. Hicks stated that construction has begun on the Callands and Old Mayfield radio towers. As
a part of this Project, Harris will be adding additional equipment to the Kentuck Radio Tower
(“Kentuck Tower”) behind Kentuck Middle School. After the bids were awarded, the County
was contacted by AT&T, and it expressed an interest in leasing space on the Kentuck Tower. To
move forward, County Staff required AT&T to perform a structural analysis of the tower and
provided it information on the additional equipment being installed by the County. After
completing the structural analysis, it was determined that the Kentuck Tower did not meet the
new loading requirements for the County’s new equipment or for AT&T’s proposed equipment.
Shortly thereafter, the County was contacted by Verizon about leasing space on the Kentuck
Tower. AT&T revised its structural analysis to include the Verizon equipment. None of the
equipment meets the current loading requirements. AT&T hired a firm to design a set of plans
and specifications to modify the footings and loadings for the Kentuck Tower that would result
in said Tower meeting the loading specifications for the County, AT&T, and Verizon’s
equipment. The Company that completed the plans and specifications for the Kentuck Tower
improvements was from North Carolina. County Staff contacted the Company about pricing the
improvements, but our Purchasing Director had concerns with their lack of knowledge of
Virginia Procurement standards. County Staff discussed putting the Project out for bids, which
would be a long process, and the County Staff would still need an Engineer to manage the
Project and sign-off on plans and specifications that were completed by another firm. The
selection of an engineering firm would again be a long process. The County’s intent is to have
all of this work completed during the construction phase of the two (2) new Towers, so Harris
Communications can complete its installation of the equipment at the same time. A bidding
process would not fit into that time line. Black & Veatch is the current general contractor for the
construction of the two (2) Towers. County Staff contacted Black & Veatch and asked if it was
willing to take those plans and specifications, review them, and provide the County with a cost to
have its current contractors perform the work by Change Order. Black & Veatch has submitted
the Change Order in the amount of $191,200. County Staff has advised AT&T and Verizon that
Kentuck Tower modifications will be necessary, and that the County will require each Party to
pay one-third (1/3) of the cost of said modifications. Both seem to be in agreement, contingent
upon the final cost. If the other Parties determine that a Tower Space Lease is not in its best
interests, the Kentuck Tower modifications would be the County’s sole financial responsibility.
County Staff is in the process of attempting to secure the execution of a Kentuck Tower Cost
Sharing Agreement.
Mr. Blackstock asked if this met the Procurement Policy, and Mr. Hicks stated that Ms. Gibson
may not agree that it does. Mr. Blackstock suggested amending the Motion for the night’s
Business Meeting contingent upon legal verification of compliance with the Virginia Public
Procurement Act.
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May 14, 2019
Work Session
e. Other Reports
BUSINESS MEETING DISCUSSION ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Davis adjourned the Meeting at 6:09 PM.