County Administrator Alerts Supervisors and Community to Unsolicited Bid to Take Over Public Library Operations Here

At its regular meeting convened at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, March 18, the Warren County Board of Supervisors faced six public hearings; the revisiting of a proposed Text Amendment to Conditional Use Zoning in County Codes related to time frames for such permitting; and one added “New Business” item, approval of the purchase of a used utility van for the IT Department; as well as a 20-item Consent Agenda.

However, the real attention-getting development of this meeting revolved around County Administrator Ed Daley’s report and two Public Comments on non-agenda items near the meeting’s adjournment at 8:51 p.m. Part one during the County Administrator’s Report was Daley’s revelation that the County has received an “unsolicited bid proposal” to take over library operations in the county (begins 1:19:25 video mark). Prior to that revelation, Daley had spent some time briefing the supervisors on options facing them related to the tax rate and Real Estate reassessements this past year (1:14:00 video mark).

County Administrator Ed Daley, left, flanked by County Attorney Jason Ham, had a lengthy report focused on tax rate options related to last year’s Real Estate Reassessments, and the fact the County has received an unsolicited bid to take over library operations here. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Consequent of the library operations bid, Daley presented this schedule of meetings for the board next Tuesday, March 25: “Next week before the School Board meeting at 5 o’clock, Mr. Butler has called a Special Meeting for 4:30. And the purpose of that Special  Meeting will be to consider an unsolicited PPEA proposal that has been received by the Finance Department for library services,” Daley calmly dropped that little bombshell before continuing.

“Once that is deemed a responsible bidder, if it is, then it is posted and has to be advertised for 60 days because the objective is to receive other bids when you have an unsolicited proposal. And sometimes, very frequently, other bidders will win the bid, rather than the original unsolicited proposal. I’ve seen that on several occassions that, that happens,” Daley said of past experiences in this regard.

But then these aren’t normal municipal-public library days in Warren County are they, one might suggest. And that segues us to Part 2 of the non-agenda topic of public library operations in Warren County, circa 2025, with Samuels Public Library still holding the reigns of Virginia Library of the Year 2024. Despite that statewide acknowledgement, a certain at least partially self-identified religious segment of the community, remains unhappy with the presence of books with LGBTQ themes in this community’s public library.

First up of two speakers for the meeting’s final Public Comments section to close the agenda was Samantha Good (1:41:44 video mark), followed by retired elementary school teacher Rebecca Altizer (1:44:52 video mark). Good is President of the Save Samuels group of citizen supporters of the existing library non-profit 501-C3 contractor. Samuels traces its operational legacy to 1799, when it was State authorized to become the second contracted public library in Virginia.

Referencing professional boxing slang, neither of these speakers took off the gloves as they approached the speaker’s podium. And “Round One” began with Ms. Good.

Save Samuels President Samantha Good countered ongoing WCLB or supervisor assertions that Samuels Library’s Board of Trustees has done anything wrong or improper financially or operationally.

“At the end of last year Supervisor Cook requested that Samuels Library create a more itemized version of their budget. They have done so, and it is readily available on Samuels Public Library’s website and their board packet for their meeting of March 10th 2025. I provided you all with a copy of that budget since repeated directions to Samuels website seem to have fallen on deaf ears. You will notice that the use of County funding is highlighted in blue,” Good began with a series of light jabs.

“I’m here again today to address the lies that are being perpetuated by the Warren County Library Board and several members of this board,” Good said referencing repeated references to a “secret meeting” of the Samuels Board of Trustees. After citing advanced postings she asserted were compliant with applicable codes, she added, “Therefore the claim that Samuels Library breached the Library Funding Agreement is unfounded.

“Furthermore, Samuels Library does not function as a membership corporation, therefore the notice requirements oultined in Virginia Code 13.1-842 which mandate a 25-day notice for meetings addressing amendments to Articles of Incorporation is not applicable. It is important to understand that the library functions as an independent charitable organization in a Public-Private Partnership with Warren County.

“It is governed by the Samuels Library Board of Trustees, not the County or its agents. The recent amendment to Section 10 of the Samuels Library Articles of Incorporation falls well within the board’s rights, and was approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s State Coporation Commission on January 27th,” Good further asserted of complaints thrown the library’s way by County officials.

See the rest of Good’s comments, as well as Altizers, the latter who began observing, “And I know you’re probably getting sick of hearing us say the same thing over and over. But you’re not listening. This is our beautiful public library, not your church. Separation of church and state, has anyone ever heard that,” Altizer challenged the board on a basic tenant of the American Republic. Her reference being to the above noted self-identified religious affiliated citizens involved in the 2023 “Clean Up Samuels” book removal effort.

Retired elementary school teacher Rebecca Altizer used a children’s book targeted for removal from Samuels Library during the ‘Clean Up Samuels’ effort of 2023 to make her point against censorship of materials some see as a lifeline to youth facing their own or their family’s self-generated sexual identity issues.

Altizer produced a children’s book titled “My Maddy” (from a combination of the words “Mommy” and “Daddy”), which she identified being sought for removal during the Clean Up Samuels effort of 2023 by current Warren County Library Board Chairman Eric Belk. Before reading from the book, Altizer observed of that book banning effort, “It has cost the library hundreds of thousands of dollars to go through each of these books (targeted for removal).”

Of the sexual identity issues at the center of the book removal effort, which many library supporters perceive being continued in the current WC Library Board driven exploration of library finances and operations, Altizer said, “And I’d like for all of you to keep in mind that love is love. And mind your own business.”

Public Hearings and other business items

With no controversy facing any of the public hearing items, including three Short-Term Tourist Rental permitting requests, all items were unanimously approved, though two on 4-0 votes. Those votes minus one occurred as South River District Supervisor Cheryl Cullers abstained from votes due to her husband’s involvement in a property now owned by Downriver Adventure Company revolving around a Zoning Text Amendment adding and permitting “bicycle shop” by Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in Agriculturally zoned properties.

The supervisors were on the same page on action items, all of which were approved without dissent Tuesday night. Below, County Finance Director Alisa Scott had IT Director Todd Jones’ back in explaining the IT department’s lengthy search for a good, if used, utility van. The purchase was also approved without dissent.

The New Business item of the IT Department’s requested utility van purchase also was approved without opposition.

For more detail on those approved items see the below agenda packet staff summaries or view the linked County video.

Unfinished Business 

1. Z2024-11-01 – Conditional Use Zoning Text Amendments – Warren County Planning Staff – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-63 to modify the termination, expiration, extension, and re-application procedures for conditional uses. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

On a motion for approval by Cook, second by Stanmeyer, approved by a 5-0 margin.

7:30 PM – Public Hearings

423. Public Hearing – CUP2025-01-01 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – Natasha Nyirongo-Gaillard & Gabriel Gaillard – A request for a conditional use permit for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 268 Vaught Drive and is identified on tax map 15E, section 1, block 1, as lot 423. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Shenandoah Farms – Mountain Lake subdivision in the Shenandoah Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

On a motion for approval by Stanmeyer, second by Cook, approved by 5-0 vote.

52. Public Hearing – CUP2025-01-02 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – Natasha Nyirongo-Gaillard & Gabriel Gaillard – A request for a conditional use permit for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 229 Riley Court and is identified on tax map 15E, section 4, block 4, as lot 52. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Shenandoah Magisterial District. – Kelly Wahl, Planner

On a motion for approval by Jamieson, second by Cook, approved by a 5-0 vote.

35. Public Hearing – Z2025-01-01 – Bicycle Shop Zoning Text Amendments – Downriver Adventure Company, LLC (Mark Harris) – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-8C to add a definition for bicycle shop, to amend §180-21D to add bicycle shop as a use permitted by conditional use permit in the Agricultural (A) zoning district, and to enact §180-35.2 to add supplementary regulations for bicycle shop. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

On a motion for approval by Jamieson, second by Cook, approved by a 4-0 vote, Cullers abstaining.

1. Public Hearing – CUP2025-01-03 – Bicycle Shop – Downriver Adventure Company, LLC (Mark Harris) – A request for a conditional use permit for a Bicycle Shop. The property is located at 884 Indian Hollow Road and is identified on tax map 35 as lot 50A. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the South River Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

On a motion for approval by Cook, second by Stanmeyer, approved by 4-0 vote, Cullers again abstaining.

114. Public Hearing – CUP2025-01-04 – Artisan and Craftsman Trades Facility – W. Allen Nicholls & Kelly Walker – A request for a conditional use permit for an Artisan and Craftsman Trades Facility. The property is located at 76 Hickory Hill Road and is identified on tax map 28 as lot 114. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the South River Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

On a motion for approval by Cullers, second by Jamieson, approved by a 5-0 margin.

1. Public Hearing – CUP2025-01-05 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – Paul Balserak – A request for a conditional use permit for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 5305 Gooney Manor Loop and is identified on tax map 44 as lot 18B. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in South River Magisterial District. – Kelly Wahl , Planner

On a motion for approval by Cullers, second by Cook, approved by a 5-0 margin.

Click here to watch the Warren County Board of Supervisors Meeting of March 18, 2025.