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09-10-2024 Legislative Committee Meeting - FINAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE September 10, 2024 VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ (“Board”) Legislative Committee Meeting was held on September 10, 2024, in the County Administration Conference Room, 1 Center Street, Chatham, Virginia 24531. CALL TO ORDER (4:30 PM) Tucker called the Meeting to Order at 4:30 PM. ROLL CALL The following Committee Members were present: Robert M. Tucker, Jr. - Banister District Timothy W. Dudley - Staunton River District Kenneth L. Bowman – Chatham-Blairs District The following Board Members were present: Darrell W. Dalton - Chairman, Callands-Gretna District Eddie L. Hite, Jr. – Dan River District Murray W. Whittle – Westover District William V. (“Vic”) Ingram - Tunstall District APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve Agenda. RESULT: 3-0 (APPROVE) MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Dudley AYES: Dudley, Tucker, Bowman NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None NEW BUSINESS a. 2025 Board/County Legislative Priority List The Committee reviewed and discussed the Board's Legislative Priority list as below: a. Oppose HB 636 (Siting of energy facilities; Approval by State Corporation Commission) and SB 697 (Solar and energy facilities; Local regulation); resolution and letter for opposition for solar bills - to legislators and to VACo • The proposed bills aim to shift the regulation of solar energy projects from local governments to state-level entities, such as the SEC. HB 636 would allow the SEC to override local decisions or delays in approving siting agreements. SB 697 would limit the ability of local governments to impose size restrictions on solar projects until 4% of total county acreage is covered by panels. It also changes how acreage is calculated, potentially leading to larger solar projects encroaching on properties. If these bills were passed, local governments losing control over siting agreements and project sizes could negatively impact adjacent property owners and local communities. The committee agreed to draft a resolution or letter to express opposition, possibly collaborating with VACo (Virginia Association of Counties), which shares similar concerns. b. Amend Virginia Code § 15.2-1414.3 (to make County BOS pay based on population the same as recently revised Virginia Code § 15.2-1414.6, increasing City Council Members pay based on population) • Recent changes in Virginia law benefitted cities like Danville but excluded counties. The proposed amendment would create parity between cities and counties regarding pay adjustments for elected officials. The committee agreed on the need to advocate for legislative changes to ensure fairness between cities and counties. c. Secure Cherrystone/Roaring Fork Dam Rehabilitation Project funding • The county faces a significant financial challenge with the rehabilitation of two dams— Cherrystone Dam (Cherrystone 1) and Roaring Fork Dam (Cherrystone 2)—due to updated federal standards imposed by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The federal government offers a 65% cost-share but requires adherence to their design standards. The cost estimates for Cherrystone 1 (larger dam) is $21 million, and Cherrystone 2 (smaller dam) is $11 million, with a total of $32 million. The County's potential share is $11 million (factoring in that Soil and Water Conservation has no funds and the Town of Chatham's contribution will likely be minimal). These federal requirements cause challenges such as a high-cost burden because the county must address a large share of the costs, even though it derives limited benefit from the dams. Both the County and the Town of Chatham face financial strain to meet these financial obligations imposed by federal regulations. The Committee agreed to lobby local legislators and the General Assembly for creative solutions, including multi-year state budget amendments, exemptions for the dams from certain regulations, and dedicated funding for dam repair projects. d. Transportation: Secure Rt. 57 Bridge over Banister River repair funding; Secure Route 41 (Mt. Hermon area) road improvements funding • Tucker stated he is satisfied with the progress on the Rt.57 Bridge and agrees to remove this project from the legislative priority list to focus on higher priority items. Concerns with Route 41 is that it is a heavily traveled, dangerous stretch of road (16,000 cars/day, multiple fatalities) and has been proposed for median and roundabout improvements. The Orphanage Road Traffic Signal project was selected for a full Smart Scale application and is awaiting final funding approval in June 2025 by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB). This remains a high- priority project. e. Education: Revise/simplify Composite Index funding formula; Secure adequate School funding • The state is considering changes to the school funding formula, currently based on a locality's ability to pay. While intended to create fairness statewide, this could disadvantage rural counties like ours by aligning funding requirements with wealthier metropolitan areas, such as Fairfax and Loudoun. These adjustments could increase the local funding burden, with rural areas unable to compete financially. The board plans to await updates from Dr. Jones' meeting before deciding whether to oppose potential changes during legislative discussions. f. No more unfunded mandates • Unfunded mandates, such as drug box compliance, special election costs, and jail procurement requirements, continue to strain local budgets, forcing reliance on limited general funds.While unfunded mandates are universally opposed, the board agrees to address this issue in discussions with legislators as a general concern rather than a formal legislative agenda item. The aim is to emphasize the impact on rural counties with restricted revenue streams and advocate for careful consideration of mandate impacts before state-level votes. The committee also discussed the importance of Virginia maintaining control over its emissions standards rather than adopting California’s regulations. The board plans to express opposition during legislative discussions to protect local autonomy. Bowman and Ingram facilitated discussion regarding potential revisions to the Board of Supervisors Bylaws. b. AI Generated Photos and Voice-Overs and the Use of Those Items on Social Media The board highlighted concerns regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing its rapid advancements and associated risks. These include potential misuse on social media, privacy violations, and significant impacts on education and communication. The board intends to closely monitor AI's implications and consider developing future policies in alignment with state and federal guidelines. ADJOURNMENT Bowman adjourned the Meeting at 5:55 PM.