The ayes had it in a 3-1 vote on a motion to approve the rezoning of 1321 Happy Creek Road from R-S Suburban Residential District to R-1 Residential District; the application from the owner, Rappahannock HC, LLC, was forwarded by the Front Royal Planning Commission to the Town Council with a recommendation for approval. The nay came from Commissioner Megan Marrazzo, balancing her desire to see intelligent growth with some of the concerns she hears from residents in that area. All of this transpired at a regular planning commission meeting on Wednesday, June 26, starting at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue. 

The town planning commission meets for a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Approximately forty-three acres in size and located approximately one thousand two hundred feet from the intersection of Leach Run Parkway with Happy Creek Road, the Marshall’s Glen project, formerly known as Ashton Green, sits on the south side of Happy Creek Road, and if it comes to fruition, it will be accessed chiefly by means of Oden Street, although there will be a “right-in and right-out” on Happy Creek Road as well. One of the owners of Marshall’s Glen, Chris Hornung, chief development officer of the Rappahannock Development Group, was present at the meeting and was accompanied by his attorney, Ty Lawson. Both gave presentations to the commission as well as follow-up responses after the public hearing in which several citizens voiced concerns about safety, logistics, and financial impact. 

Deputy Zoning Administrator John Ware is prepared for an evening of presenting applications.

The evening’s events were designed by the planning and zoning department to address every possible concern. Out of an agenda packet exceeding four hundred pages, which the commissioners were asked to read before attending the meeting, Deputy Zoning Administrator John Ware made a concise bullet point presentation that streamlined the contents of the packet. During that presentation, everyone watching learned the significance of rezoning from R-S to R-1. The latter allows the developer to build at higher density, creating as many as one hundred four single-family detached dwelling units, as opposed to the sixty-one he could build by right in an R-S zone. The higher R-1 figure is still by right, but it is a higher number by virtue of being in the higher-density R-1 zone. This type of development is in keeping with the 2013 iteration of Warren County’s comprehensive plan, and it is in keeping with the state of Virginia’s requirement that localities incorporate Urban Development Areas (UDA) into their comprehensive plans. 

Ty Lawson, the attorney serving Rappahannock HC, LLC, addresses the commission regarding an application for rezoning at 1321 Happy Creek Road.

Everyone who is even loosely following this development will ask: what is the impact on the school system? Within a two-mile radius of Marshall’s Glen are three schools, Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary, Warren County Middle School, and Warren County High School. None of them are currently exceeding their capacity. In the exigency that Rappahannock HC, LLC builds one hundred four single-family detached dwelling units at the 1321 Happy Creek Road location, those schools taken together will exceed capacity by seven students. This may mean the Warren County Public Schools must consider building a new elementary school. While there are no plans for that cemented yet, the owner has taken into consideration that potential need as he crafted his proffers. The total cost of building a new elementary school would be $29,874,000. The source for that figure is the Warren County Public Schools. To support the school system as they use the money to handle excess capacity, an effort which could be expressed in a new elementary school, Hornung and company are proffering $348,530. This comes in addition to the $320,840 they are proffering for other expenses like roadway improvements and the expenses they will incur from building in the subdivision a playground, a privacy fence, and an entry monument sign. Total contributions come to $859,370. 

Chris Hornung, Chief Development Officer of Rappahannock Development Group and an owner of the Marshall’s Glen project at 1321 Happy Creek Road addresses the commission regarding the rezoning application for that location.

In a fiscal impact analysis conducted by S. Patz & Associates, Inc., it was determined that one hundred forty dwelling units would result in an annual fiscal surplus of $407,620 for the Town of Front Royal. A VDOT study found that if certain roadway improvements are made, namely the widening of Happy Creek Road, the impact on traffic will be “minimal.” The owner has agreed to dedicate the necessary right-of-way to the Town at the time that the Town makes roadway improvements, assuming that none of the dwelling units are negatively affected. Also, the Town expects the owner to construct the necessary stormwater management facilities within the subdivision; the future homeowner’s association will be responsible for the maintenance of the retention ponds. The HOA will also be responsible for maintaining the percentage of open space that is preserved on the property. Water and septic capacity already exist at the site, and it will be the owner’s obligation to install it at his own cost and dedicate it to the Town. 

 With a density of 2.42 units per acre, the proposed Marshall’s Glen scheme compares to neighboring subdivisions as actually being less dense since the average between Oden Ridge and Happy Creek Knolls is a density of 2.77. Studies report no environmental hazards, and the wetland delineation report indicated no suspect wet areas. Coming after an application for a short-term rental on East Main Street, which was also presented by Ware and unanimously favored by the commission, the Marshall’s Glen rezoning was approved, and after commission member reports and a report from Planning Director Lauren Kopishke, the meeting was adjourned. 

While the news lead may be the county supervisors unanimous approval of a coming fiscal year budget, approval of that $97,350,000 budget, including a long discussed flat local funding of $28,650,000 for public schools, was not reached prior to a full late afternoon and early evening schedule.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors began its busy Tuesday, June 25, with the 4:30 p.m. presentation of the first of eventually a total of five, new emergency service ambulances on order — see linked Royal Examiner video and story. The one on display is immediately going into service with Linden, Company 4, the supervisors were told, with the second also in line for operational assignment going to Front Royal Company 3. The third, still awaiting receival, will go to North Warren Company 10. The final two remain on order until available.

Captain Austin Cucciardo chats with board Vice-Chair ‘Jay’ Butler and Chair Cheryl Cullers prior to official start of presentation of tech advancements in newly acquired emergency services ambulances. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini; EMS presentation Video Mark Williams

With that vote on its Fiscal Year-2025 Budget scheduled for later in its regular meeting beginning at 7 p.m. the supervisors may have gotten an example in the Fire & Rescue/Emergency Services new-vehicle presentation of saving money by spending it sooner rather than later on items the County will eventually need.

That presentation led by Captain Austin Cucciardo and Assistant Chief Gerry Maiatico, noted that the five ambulances ordered at a purchase price of ‘just under $300,000″ each are now on the market at a price of “over $400,000” each. Operationally, receipt of this first unit may have been a bit late for one emergency services staffer still utilizing the to-be-replaced equipment, who it was noted recently suffered several smashed fingers in manually attempting to load a patient by stretcher into the old vehicle. Captain Cucciardo demonstrated the mechanically operated stretcher lifting mechanism designed to avoid such transport-loading accidents.

Capt. Cucciardo explains automated stretcher lifts that could have a huge safety factor impact on emergency response operations as illustrated by recent staff injury on call in older ambulance.

From this presentation in the Warren County Government Center parking lot, it was into the  main meeting room for a 5 p.m. work session with a two-item agenda. Those items were a proposed training and shooting range for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office followed by discussion of the proposed fiscal year budget. However, the presentation and subsequent question-and-answer discussion with Sheriff Crystal Cline and Deputy Jay Roy on that first item took up the entire hour prior to the work session adjournment at 6 p.m.

Sheriff Cline introduces WCSO presentation on proposed training/firing range property acquisition proposal. Capt. Jay Roy, below, made that presentation, addressing a number of public safety considerations, existing area noise variables, natural berm backdrop protections in direction of firing, and positive logistical impacts on deputies in training remaining in county for emergency response availability

The board was on a tight schedule set to convene into Closed/Executive Session at 6 p.m. to discuss the various litigations with the town government and others surrounding the FR-WC Economic Development Authority “financial scandal” liabilities.

Then at 7 p.m. it was into the meeting with two scheduled public hearings related to proposed Tipping and Gate fee increases at the County solid waste station. All were approved, from $69 to $79 per ton on Commercial and Industrial waste; and a $40 fee on Municipal/Residential waste was imposed. It was noted during Public Works Director Mike Berry’s presentation that the last tipping fee hikes occurred in 2014. Also recommended for various increases were Gate Fees related to disposal of certain items including tires, paint, yard waste, and dead animals. Berry told the board those rates had not been adjusted since the spring of 2003. Those recommended increases were also approved without dissent.

Under “New Business” Public Works Director Berry updated the board and made recommendations on four projects in the Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District: Old Oak Lane 4, Youngs Drive, Lake Drive, Old Oak Lane 5 and Western Lane, the latter two recommended for cancellation at this time. Again, the public works director’s recommendations were approved without dissent

County Public Works Director Mike Berry had the podium for some time at Tuesday’s meeting, handling staff briefings on both public hearings on proposed fee increases at the County solid waste disposal site, as well as an update and recommendations on a number of Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District projects.

Also under “New Business” an 18-item Consent Agenda for generally “routine” business was tackled, including approval of the FY-2025 budget. Three items were pulled for discussion, including the FY-25 budget. In addition to the budget, pulled were an appointment to fill a vacancy on the County-overseen, still legally known as Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (FR-WC EDA, EDA, WC EDA) or Industrial Development Authority of the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren. That unanimously approved appointment was David McDermott for a term from June 25, 2024 thru February 28, 2025. Also approved unanimously was renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and the above-referenced EDA for “Fiscal Agency services”.

Also at the meeting, a number of people rose at Public Comments on non-agenda items, to address the Sheriff’s Office training/shooting range proposal. Staff explained that proposal is early in the review period to a first public hearing before the County Planning Commission. Most of the eight speakers were nearby residential property owners, who said that while supporting law enforcement and required training parameters, wanted assurance that viable alternative sites would be considered that might not have the noise and water quality impacts they fear for their homes and community. For those attending the earlier work session, their concerns were not eased by an initially forecast 25 days of full shooting-training annually, particularly after one supervisor worried that the stated use scheduling seemed perhaps too light.

Budget Approporation Resolution for FY 2024-2025

After County Attorney Jason Ham adjusted the wording of the budget approval motion for legal clarity it was approved unanimously as presented on North River’s Richard Jamieson’s motion, seconded by Vice-Chairman Jay Butler.

From right, Chairman Cullers, Vice-Chairman Butler, and Supervisor Stanmeyer pondered what they were told on a number of fronts as the County Board pondered a new fiscal year’s across-the-board costs versus revenues and infrastructure needs.

As noted above, the total General Fund County Budget for FY-25 is $97,350,000, of which $28,650,000 from County General Revenues will go to Warren County Public Schools, as the local funding aspect of the public schools total $81,738,434 budget, including federal and state revenues. Below are the portions of the Resolution of Approval of the County’s FY-2025 Budget applying to Public Schools:

WHEREAS, the School Board budget totals $81,738,434 (the “School Board Budget”). The School Board Budget shall be funded by $28,650,000 from the County’s general revenues, $47,671,267 by such State, Federal, and miscellaneous revenues as shall be received from time to time for operation of the Public Schools, $4,109,667 shall be appropriated to the School Food Services Fund paid by State, Federal and miscellaneous revenues, and $1,307,500 shall be appropriated to Facilities, which is also funded by State, Federal and miscellaneous revenues; and …

WHEREAS, any additional or new funds received for the Public Schools’, where no revenue from the County’s General Fund is required to help fund any program, shall be deemed appropriated ipso facto for expenditure upon receipt of such funds …

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that appropriations to the School Board which total $81,738,434, of which $28,650,000 is from the County’s general revenues, are appropriated by and to the major classifications in accordance with Code of Virginia § § 22.1-94 and 22.1-115, and that such funds must be spent in accordance with such major classifications, unless otherwise authorized by the Board, as set forth herein:

Instruction $57,747,239

Administration, Attendance, and Health $3,502,542

Pupil Transportation $3,591,197

Operation and Maintenance $7,820,145

Facilities $1,307,500

School Food Services and Other Noninstructional Operations

$4,109,667

Debt and Fund Transfers $670,249

Technology $2,989,895

TOTAL SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET $81,738,434

In addition to the County meeting video when available, we will also LINK here to the entire Resolution of Approval of Warren County’s FY-24/25 Budget with departmental and agency detail, including the above public school totals within the context of the presented Resolution, to which the board voted 5-0 in favor of.

New Medic Unit Unveiled: A Boost for Community Safety

The citizenry will be holding us accountable, Mayor Lori Cockrell told business owner Sam Sharma, and they will be holding you accountable.

Having delivered his intent to convert the current Baymont Inn motel at 10 Commerce Avenue into a three-story apartment building with thirty-nine dwelling units, aimed at accommodating young professionals who work locally, Sam Sharma of CCC Enterprises, LLC, received those words from the mayor. His application for a special use permit to serve this residential purpose in the business district was before the town council for a vote on Monday, June 24, at a town council regular meeting, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue.

Kyle Hopkins of Four Square Architects addresses the council on the proposed conversion of the Baymont Inn from a motel to an apartment building. Sam Sharma, who operates the Baymont in partnership with Sunny Mehta, stands behind Hopkins on Monday evening.

When the vote finally transpired, after thorough discussion, it was unanimously in favor of the special use permit. That consensus results from multiple work sessions in which the council explored the merits and demerits of what all the members consider a critical project. Councilwoman Amber Morris was especially vocal at Monday’s meeting, leading up to the vote, explaining that it is her job to ask questions and that while she was never against the concept and it was never her intent to give offense, it is her obligation to explore with her fellow council members all the possible ramifications of such a weighty concern.

It is a weighty concern precisely because the prospect of accommodating young professionals and giving them a place to live that is close to their work site is central to the goals of the Town of Front Royal. Indeed, the comprehensive plan calls for converting motels into apartment buildings. The problem that workers currently face is the cost of living, which often forces them to go elsewhere to find housing that they can afford. Thus, they are faced with a commute to reach the community they serve. This could potentially impact the attractiveness of working in Front Royal.

Among many concerns raised at the meeting, which echoed prior work sessions, was the displacement of a demographic that can only afford to live in a motel room. In Morris’s words, these families often have children who “deserve to have a roof over their heads.” As Victor Hugo writes in his preface to Les Miserables, as long as a category exists of people who are disadvantaged by no fault of their own and are aggressively kept by society in that category, “books like this cannot be useless.” The concern raised by Morris underlines the fact that the category Hugo wished to address does indeed exist in Front Royal. But perhaps she ultimately voted in favor of the SUP because establishing an affordable place where workers can live in the community they serve is the first step out of that deplorable category.

Deputy Zoning Administrator John Ware presents to the council two applications for a special use permit and a special exception from parking requirements related to one of the SUP applications.

Another concern was raised by Councilwoman Melissa DeDomenico-Payne that over time and with management changes, the converted apartment building could stray from its intent to serve young professionals. The concern is addressed by an ongoing renewal of the SUP, which gives the Town a chance to periodically examine what is happening at that site and whether it still meets their criteria for that use. The final form of the vote on this item made the permit effective at the date of occupancy; in other words, after construction is completed and the building is operational, the countdown begins for a three-year period, at the end of which the owner must reapply for the permit. At one point in the discussion, Councilman Glenn Wood pointed to an example of such a conversion being done in another municipality and how successful it has been, especially in bringing the citizenry up to a higher standard of living. Councilman Bruce Rappaport underlined how much the Baymont Inn is struggling to survive financially as a motel and how this conversion is vital to its preservation as a community treasure and the place where, once upon a time, Rappaport himself worked as a bellhop.

After adjusting the motion with conditions that everyone concerned felt were suitable, the motion to grant the applicant an SUP to convert the Baymont Inn into an apartment building passed unanimously, followed by a vote unanimously in favor of granting the owner a special exception from parking requirements. After quickly handling a few more business items, the council went into closed session.

After leading the gathering in the pledge of allegiance, Aaliyah Koryn Porter receives a certificate to C&C Frozen Treats from Mayor Lori Cockrell. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Marlow Motors Front Royal is recognized by the council in celebration of seventy-seven years in business.

“It saves the land.” That is what Warren County Planning Commissioner Kaylee Richardson told the Royal Examiner on the evening of Wednesday, June 12, after a work session that began at 6 p.m. and lasted until 7 p.m. and after a regular meeting that began at 7 p.m. and lasted until 9 p.m. at the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue. Richardson indicated the commission’s desire to honor and protect agriculture in Warren County. Supporting the growing trend of agritourism is one of the ways that goal can be accomplished.

Warren County Planning Commission meets on Wednesday, June 12, for a work session before their regular meeting. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh

In addition to serving as one of the county’s planning commissioners, Richardson is a farmer who uses her resources to practice an agritourism business. On the US Department of Agriculture’s website, agritourism is defined as “a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business to entertain or educate the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.” Richardson educates her guests through classes that teach them, among other things, about how beehives can enrich the soil and thereby positively impact the environment. One of Richardson’s main attractions is beekeeping.

Warren County Planning Director Matt Wendling explains relevant details to the commission during a discussion of the developing comprehensive plan at the commission’s work session.

As a generation of farmers grows older and faces extinction, Richardson underlines the importance of providing opportunities for young people to have a hands-on experience with farming, fall in love with it, and possibly see it as a viable career path for their future. This is what she calls planting seeds. These young people may come from a city where they would never have the chance to learn about farming. Talking to Richardson is itself a learning experience. Her passion for beekeeping is palpable. Bees, she shared, will travel as much as two and a half miles away from their colony. “They’re very low impact,” she said, “but they bring so much to the community.” At any given time, she ranges from forty to fifty colonies. She rescues bees and supplies them to others interested in starting their own beekeeping concern. As for soil enrichment, bees add nitrogen back into the soil by pollinating white clover, which is a net positive for the environment.

Warren County Planning Commission meets for their regular meeting on Wednesday, June 12.

As the county planning commission fine-tunes its comprehensive development plan, agritourism is a relevant concern. Although its inclusion in the plan is not required by law, the commission has it on its radar.

Click here to watch the Warren County Planning Commission Meeting of June 12, 2024.

Tuesday’s Fiscal Year-2025 Warren County Budget Public Hearing was another face off between pro-public school staff and supporters and anti-public schools funding proponents, the latter appearing tied to religious private or home-schooling and anti-tax hike proponents. However, it was not the massive numbers showdown that occurred just over a year ago between supporters and non-supporters of Samuels Public Library when a similar funding debate occurred.

Just 11 people spoke at the public hearing, with a slim 6-5 anti-increased public schools funding majority. One surprise was that the public schools funding debate occurred in front of a largely empty public gallery space. The arguments from both sides were familiar, with anti-additional funding for public schools proponents alleging a lack of administrative transparency on funding needs and proposed operational expenditures, and a general miss-use of the local funding it does receive.

The WC Board of Supervisors prepares to hear public feedback on its FY-2025 County Budget proposal. That proposal, with another year of flat public schools funding, matches projected revenues including the first tax hikes in 5 years, at a total budget of $191,115,165, of which $81,738,434 would be committed to public schools, often cited as the county’s largest single employer. Below, it was not a packed house as the FY-25 Budget Public Hearing began at the 18:50 mark of the just under 51-minute meeting video. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

The WC Board of Supervisors prepares to hear public feedback on its FY-2025 County Budget proposal. That proposal, with another year of flat public schools funding, matches projected revenues including the first tax hikes in 5 years, at a total budget of $191,115,165, of which $81,738,434 would be committed to public schools, often cited as the county’s largest single employer. Below, it was not a packed house as the FY-25 Budget Public Hearing began at the 18:50 mark of the just under 51-minute meeting video. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Public schools staff, including teachers, and supporters countered that it was, in fact, teachers, support staff, and students who would be directly harmed by a proposed flat local funding by the county government. Some pointed to lagging  student achievement standards cited by public schools critics at four of the divisions schools, as a result of a recent history of flat local funding as opposed to a missuse of available funds. Sarah Downs, a past and present vocal supporter of Warren County Public Schools, spoke to her perception of the county’s elected officials in this very regard.

An “Unacceptable Question”?

“Year after year you have the opportunity to invest in the children of our county and yet every year for four years the local funding has remained flat for Warren County Public Schools,” Downs pointedly told the supervisors, posing what she said seemed to be “an unacceptable question” from their perspective, their way: “Why have we not raised local funding to our schools in four years?” she asked of a time period that has been described as the most inflationary in America over the past 100 years.

“Absolutely, I agree with raising taxes and funding necessary services, but to not even offer a small increase in funding to account for inflation is unrealistic and unacceptable to me. I pay my taxes assuming at least some of the increase goes to the schools and yet nothing,” she said of what has been cited as the county’s largest single employer.

“In April I came to you explaining the decrease in federal funding and that decrease is large, $1.4 million dollars. This is something we estimated and yet you did not anticipate,” Downs told the supervisors. “Nothing about the future of our education system and the sustainability of the system really can be compared to a Christmas wish list … Adding a new reading specialist or a new agriculture teacher is not a Christmas list item,” Downs asserted with emphasis. “The expenses that will be cut this year will be expended eventually. The lack of funding for now will contribute to the accreditation issues, staffing shortages and more.

“A lack of investment now, is an expense with interest and inflation incurred in the future — and/or a continuation to fail to support children. And my advocacy for investing in the children of this county will not cease,” Downs assured the county’s elected officials in closing her comments with a “thank you” for the opportunity to make her case against the county budget as proposed regarding the community’s public educational system.

Sarah Downs asked if: ‘Why have we not raised local funding to our schools in four years?’ was ‘an unaskable question’ to pose to the supervisors during one of the most inflationary periods of the past 100 years in America. Below, John Lundberg circulates copies of his coming remarks against any increased funding to public schools, which opened the budget public hearing.

Counterpoint

As the public hearing’s opening speaker, John Lundberg spoke for the other side of the argument. Citing what he called “a year-long study of the cost of public education in Warren County” that he conducted in Fiscal Year-2022, Lundberg pointed to numbers he believes don’t add up to a quality educational system. He said he asked for a “single figure” for how much the public school system had allocated for in five categories for the then-coming FY-2022 budget. Those categories were: “402 teachers, 35 administrators, 298 district employees other than teachers and administrators, benefits, and non-labor costs,” Lundberg said, adding, “I was given the data I requested. Plus I was told I would be notified at the end of the Fiscal Year how much money was actually spent in these five categories. At the end of Fiscal Year-2022, I was given a detailed 48-page report.”

However, Lundberg’s perception of what he received was not favorable. “The total cost to taxpayers in FY-22, to educate 5,000 students in Warren County Public Schools — when you add mortgage payments of approximately $10 million to the District’s ‘Operating Fund expenditures’ — was $80,269,899 — an average of $16,200 per student per year,” he asserted. “That’s a mnd-boggling figure … far, far more than it cost a family to send any child to any private or parochial school in the county.”

Lundberg directed a series of critical comments at Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Ballenger in his analysis of what he received regarding the FY-2022 public schools budget: “Members of the Board of Supervisors, I wish to state clearly in closing that Dr. Ballenger’s request for increased funding for next year is an outrage! Tell him to cut the cosr of public education in Warren County, not increase it. Don’t allow him to spend one penny more next year than he spent last year.”

We will reference one other speaker due to her position to ascertain budgetary impacts on teachers and support staff, and ultimately on that staff’s ability to educate the students of Warren County Public Schools.

A teacher’s perspective

“My name is Rebecca Hutson. I am co-president of the Warren County Education Association representing the teachers and staff of Warren County. I am also a resident of the Happy Creek District, an educator in Warren County Public Schools, and the parent of a Warren County Public Schools student,” Hutson said in introducing herself to the county supervisors.

“I am very concerned by the decision to provide no additional funds to Warren County Public Schools. We have heard you say that you want to support the educators of Warren County Public Schools. The best way to do that is to support the schools’ budget.

“Because of the decision to flat fund the schools, our school board has needed to cut another $2.4 million from their budget. Each building will have to function on the same amount of money as last year even though the cost of most things have gone up. Having to do this will not help or support our teachers,” Hutson asserted, noting the consequences of proposed cuts do not end there.

“Even with those measures, the school board needs to cut another $981,112. To do this they will need to eliminate three new positions. Those positions would have provided an additional agriculture teacher for our students; a reading specialist who would have helped our teachers implement the new literacy act that goes into effect next school year; and an additional elementary teacher that would have reduced class sizes and made for better teaching and learning conditions. Losing those positions is not in the best interest of the teachers or students at Warren County Public Schools. — Maybe Hutson can get together with above-cited Sarah Downs to put together a “Christmas Wish List” of needed staff. — Maybe Santa will listen if the supervisors don’t.

Rebecca Hutson, co-president of the Warren County Education Association representing teachers and other staff, made a detailed case against the staffing, salary, and other cuts totaling about $4.1 million public schools will have to implement within the flat-funding proposal on the table for a vote of approval at the Board of Supervisors June 25th meeting.

If the operational situation she was describing wasn’t bleak enough, Hutson further noted that, “Even after those positions have been cut, there is still a need to cut the budget by another $720,569. There is nowhere left to cut except for the salaries and benefits of the teachers and staff of Warren County Public Schools,” she pointed out, ending her sentence with the now-familiar refrain: “This is not in the best interest of the Warren County Public Schools teachers or staff … In fact, some teachers may actually make less money next year if these cuts take place … I implore you to reconsider your decision to flat fund the Warren County Public Schools budget … The current decision to flat fund our budget is harmful to the teachers, staff, and students of Warren County.”

The board has until its meeting of Tuesday, June 25, when a FY-25 budget vote is scheduled, to consider what it has heard regarding its coming fiscal year budget, particularly as it relates to funding of the Warren County Public Schools system.

See the linked County video for the full FY-2025 Budget Public Hearing debate of the 11 speakers granted three minutes each to make their respective cases. Following County Administrator Ed Daley’s PowerPoint budget summary begun at the 1:35 video mark, Board Chair Cheryl Cullers convenes the public hearing at the 18:50 mark of the linked 51:54 video.

Click here to watch the June 11, 2024, Warren County Board of Supervisors Meeting.

The town of Front Royal has vacancies to fill. In a presentation before the Front Royal Town Council on Monday, June 10, at a work session that began at 7 p.m. in the Front Royal Town Hall on 102 East Main Street, Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke shed light on the Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA) which currently has two vacancies and is therefore inoperative, at the expense of processes that must continue in the Town’s daily business.

Town Council meets on the evening of Monday, June 10. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke presents to the council the need to fill two vacancies on the Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA).

Established in January 2023, the LBBCA provides a means by which an aggrieved party can appeal the determination of the Property Maintenance Official through an application with a $400 fee. As Mayor Lori Cockrell pointed out during the council’s discussion with Kopishke, the $400 fee is a deterrent since many citation recipients will likely find it easier to comply with the regulations than go through the costly appeals process. However, as Kopishke pointed out, even that $400 fee does not cover the cost of the meeting appointed to address that appeal. At any rate, in the interim, until those two vacancies are filled, Kopishke’s department can still issue zoning citations. Still, it cannot issue property maintenance citations as each has different codes.

Lisa Schwartz of the Beautification Committee of Front Royal gave a presentation to the council on the benefits of what the committee is doing and some of its current goals.

Thus, there are these two vacancies for which the Town accepts applications and two positions for alternates if there is an absence. Cockrell admitted that she thought there would be more of a response. However, on June 22 from noon to 3 p.m. near the Gazebo on Main Street, where the Town is holding an open house, there will be an opportunity for any interested parties to approach the planning and zoning table and learn more about these LBBCA positions. All members must live in Warren County, and three must live in the town. To quote the Town code, “At least three members shall have no less than five years’ knowledge and experience in the construction industry. Members that do not have knowledge and experience in the construction industry shall have an equivalent experience in the real estate, law, architecture, or engineering professions.” The code says that no employee or official of the Town may serve as a board member.

Manager of Infrastructure Steve Scheulen from Public Works informs the council regarding what is before them, a “blanket resolution” for a project funding commitment for projects under agreement with VDOT. If the council votes in favor of the resolution at their June 24 regular meeting, the Happy Creek Road Phase II project can proceed.

In an extreme case, in which the vacancies have not been filled, the town manager could arrange with another locality for an appeal to be heard. Given the overall sense at the meeting on Monday evening that this issue is being expedited, that extreme scenario likely will not occur.