Supervisors Have Selected a New County Administrator – But on to Other Matters Before That Selection is Revealed

The most riveting thing said at Wednesday’s Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting addressed something not on the open meeting agenda. However, it was one of the topics of a 2-hour Closed/Executive Session convened at 5 p.m., two hours before the 7 p.m. start of the open meeting.

That item mentioned by Board Chairman “Jay” Butler, following a comment by Supervisor Richard Jamieson, was the fact that, likely in the wake of that Closed Session discussion the board has selected one of its three finalists interviewed July 1st at the northside Doubletree by Hilton hotel meeting room to be hired to replace Ed Daley as county administrator. However, the board is not yet ready to announce or release any information on the name of that proposed hire, their credentials, and work experience to gain the appointment to replace the retiring Daley.

The WC BOS is read into Closed Session at 5 p.m. by Supervisor Jamieson, closest right, back to camera, and comes out of Closed Session about 2 hours later. – Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

It was not addressed whether that delay in identifying the person and their qualifications relates to that candidate’s current work situation or other professional, personnel matters to be resolved prior to acceptance of the job offer. Privacy guidelines can be fairly strict on such matters.

But from that suspensful hint as to whether our next County Administrator hire will come from a recommendation by the contracted Executive Search firm of Colin Baenziger & Associates at a price of $32,500, or one of the finalist candidates added by a supervisor, it was on to more mundane business. That included one Unfinished Business item; one public hearing; and Approval of a 13-item Consent Agenda from which two items were removed for further discussion prior to a vote; and two public comment periods.

Also, during his update on county business, County Administrator Daley addressed a delay in acquiring BEAD (Broadband Equity Access & Development) funding to facilitate broadband upgrade expansion throughout the county. The issue is not local, but from our exploration of the matter appears to be state and even nationwide as the federal government reviews its use of funds made available through cuts to the federal budget and departments that budget supports.

County Administrator Ed Daley, left, reported on financial delays on broadband expansion, holding that the project is crucial to many citizens locally and statewide. And County Attorney Jason Ham responded to several legal process questions on several agenda items.

The Unfinished Business agenda item “G” involved a contract with Walnut Hollow Farm for Hay Harvest, with staff background provided by Public Works Mike Berry. Berry responded to some confusion on the names tied to the proposed contract, which would provide several thousand dollars a year to the County in support of its landfill operations. The board confusion appeared to revolve around the contractee’s name, which appeared interchangeable between Walnut Hollow Farm and owner Shane Cook.

After some staff, including legal, clarification that “Walnut Hollow Farms is Shane Cook” on a motion by Cheryl Cullers, seconded by Vicky Cook, the contract was unanimously approved.

As for the Public Hearing, the topic was “Authorization to Advertise for Public Hearing Planning and Zoning Department fees,” presented by Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz. Those fees would be scheduled for increases. Following discussion on a motion by John Stanmeyer, seconded by Cook, the move forward on the matter was approved by a 4-1 vote, Supervisor Cullers dissenting. She explained that no vote was due to a number of unanswered questions revolving around the suggested hikes at this point.

Supervisor members appeared largely on the same page during the open meeting of Aug. 6. Of course, we weren’t behind closed doors with them for the two hours before the 7 p.m. convening of the open meeting.

As noted above, the 13-item Consent Agenda saw two items removed for additional discussion. Item 2, “Request for a Permanent Pump and Haul at 714 Benny’s Beach Road,” was pulled by Fork District Supervisor Cook, and Item 10, “Authorization to Advertise for a Public Hearing on Conditional Use Permitting (CUP) for a Short-Term Tourist Rental at 145 Indian Pipes Road” was pulled by Shenandoah District Supervisor Stanmeyer.

Following those items being pulled, the Consent Agenda as Amended was approved unanimously. And after that additional discussion, Item 2 on the Pump and Haul at 714 Benny’s Beach Road was unanimously approved on a motion by Cook, seconded by Cullers. During the discussion, Supervisor Jamieson noted that the arrangement would net the County $4,500 annually.

On Item 10, the authorization to advertise a public hearing on the Short-term Tourist rental at 145 Indian Pipes Road, Supervisor Stanmeyer observed he wanted the matter tabled to allow additional research into the proposal and property. And following some discussion on a motion by Stanmeyer, seconded by Cullers, the board voted unanimously to table the item.

Click here for additional detail on these matters, as well as Public Comments by 4 citizens on a variety of topics, see the County video.