Library outdoor amphitheater proposal, bridge naming initiative and drug court proposal highlight County Board work session

After a half-hour full frontal assault by “divisions” of the Sons of Liberty seeking County support of a resolution in support of changing the names of the two northside entranceway bridges over the forks of the Shenandoah River into Front Royal for Revolutionary War figures of note, the Warren County Board of Supervisors faced a sometimes dizzying array of financial briefings on COVID-19 relief funding and State Compensation Board-funded salary increases.

Above, led by Larry Johnson, far left, The Sons of Liberty reconnoiter the WC Govt. Ctr. turf prior to engaging the supervisors for support of a bridge naming initiative. Below, Dale Corey, or is that Daniel Boone? – Lends his support. The initiative would name the North Fork Bridge ‘Gen. George Washington and Gen. Daniel Morgan Memorial Bridge and the South Fork, Major General Dr. Joseph Warren Memorial Bridge. WAIT, that’s 3 names and 4 titles for 2 bridges – will that work? Maybe it can be hashed out at the Friday, 9 a.m. flag lowering at the WCGC memorializing the war death of Gen.-Dr. Warren, for whom the county is named. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

Less mind numbing at the Tuesday, June 8^th work session were a report on a plan to create an outdoor entertainment amphitheater on the grounds between Samuels Public Library and Ressie Jeffries Elementary School and plans to expand the Warren County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office into portions of the old county jail next door to the rear of the courthouse. Well, that latter topic did get somewhat dizzying when it was explained that the proposed CA’s Office expansion was viewed as a three-year stopgap measure as a longer-term solution reuniting all the office’s attorneys within the same space was explained by County Project Manager Jeff Hayes.

That’s more cluttered than this reporter’s office space, tho a bit neater. Yes, the WC Commonwealth Attorney’s Office is cluttered. But the County has a multi-phased plan to deal with it, including digitization of some records as allowed.

On the less cluttered side of those reports, Samuels Library Executive Director Michelle Ross and Friends of Samuels Public Library President Melody Hotek presented a power point on the library amphitheater project. The location would be on a sloping hill on the west side of the property with the pavilion-stage area at the bottom. The amphitheater was presented, not just as a library program and neighboring elementary school asset, but one that could be utilized for a variety of programs throughout the community.

Library Director Michelle Ross, foreground, flanked by Friends of Samuels Library President Melody Hotek, present the amphitheater plan. Below, proposed site of Samuels Library Amphitheater on west side of library toward Ressie Jeffries Elementary School, which would be a co-beneficiary of the finished project.

A total cost estimate of $50,000 to $60,000 was presented, with a first estimate on the pavilion structure coming in at $18,519. Ross and Hotek said that about $20,000 has been raised in support of the proposal, with some of that coming from the Estate of Hotek’s late husband Jeff, and engineering work committed by her brother-in-law Dan Hotek.

Supporting documentation in the project summary noted: “COVID-19 has made the value of fresh air very apparent. Even before the pandemic, outdoor spaces on library grounds were trending. Now, although the vaccine rollout is well underway, it will likely be fall at the earliest before most libraries resume indoor programming. What was a nice-to-have luxury has become the only game in town … Even after all the lockdowns are over, outdoor spaces will remain useful for more than preparing for the next pandemic, allowing patrons to enjoy the natural environment wile having access to library amenities.”

Above and below, the Northern Fauquier Community Park was presented as a model for the desired amphitheater, with a few trees interspersed for some shading.

As with all presentations at Tuesday’s work session, no action was taken by the board regarding possible support, including funding assistance since binding votes can only be taken at meetings.

Near the meeting’s end, Broadband Committee member Vicky Cook updated the board on goals and work in achieving those goals of providing near, if not total, high-speed wireless coverage countywide.

Discussion and support documentation indicated that of the 16,606 housing units identified in Warren County during 2019 Census gathering, supporting a population of 40,164 countywide, 90.4% had computers and 83.3% had Internet subscriptions. The goal is to raise that broadband coverage to 95% to 99%-plus. The importance of universal coverage, even in remote areas, was cited as crucial to educational, commercial and economic progress.

As the “Project Description” noted: “Warren County Broadband Extension Project will provide universal access to high-speed, reliable, and secure internet connectivity to all Warren County residents, including but not limited to, unserved and underserved residents, school and businesses. The broadband extension project will increase economic prospects and educational opportunities to all the residents and businesses in the county.”

A final agenda item – further discussion of eliminating the board’s 9 a.m. first monthly meeting in favor of an evening or late afternoon start – was withdrawn at its maker, North River Supervisor Delores Oates, request. Oates explained she had received feedback on complications such a move could create for people with younger children hoping to attend meetings in having to arrange childcare situations apparently not at issue earlier in the day.

Prior to adjournment near 8:30 p.m., Oates offered a brief update on the Warren County-Front Royal Drug Prevention Committee’s work. She noted a committee meeting with Judges William Sharp and Darryl Funk on creation of a Drug and/or Family Drug Court in the county. Oates pointed to the success of such directed courts elsewhere in Virginia in helping stabilize with intervention and recovery efforts, family situations, particularly with children involved.

Oates also acknowledged a coming joint effort with the public school system on educating parents and students alike on the dangers of counterfeit prescription medications peddled on the streets that are often laced with highly dangerous chemical combinations or unidentified prescription agents like Fentanyl, the latter ID’ed in a rising tide of illicit drug use overdose deaths.

See all these discussion in the linked County video, including County Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall’s summary of the “Executive Summary” of the six-section, 97-pages of reference material, federal regulations and guidelines related to the “Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds”. County Administrator Ed Daley only had two pages of material on the State and Comp Board funded, County related salary increases – but it was two pages with 84 numbers on them.

Above, Rick Farrall did an excellent job of summarizing 97 pages of government guidelines and regulations on a new round of COVID-19 relief funding in 9 minutes. Below, might Farrall be reacting to Vice-Chairman Fox’s post-meeting request for a 25-word-or-less synopsis of what he’d heard over that nine minutes? – ‘Sure, Archie: We apply for the money; meet the guidelines; get the money; distribute it to eligible recipients; and ride away on our white horses.’ Count ‘em, kids – 25 on the money!!! (Just kidding tho, the photographer was too far away to hear what was really being said.)

In response to a question from Oates on time limits for distribution of coming pandemic relief funds, Farrall said it would NOT be the end of the coming calendar year as with the last round, but rather through the end of calendar year 2026. That information no doubt brought a collective sigh of relief from those involved in the trenches of that application and distribution process.