County Supervisors Get Overview of Inland Port Benefits, Review Town/County MOU on Future Tourism Initiatives

On Wednesday, November 4, the Warren County Board of Supervisors faced a three-pronged schedule, beginning with Closed Session at 11:30 a.m., followed by a regular Open Meeting slated to begin at 1 p.m., with a three-pronged work session slotted in to round out the day’s work.

But in opening their day’s work, the motion into Closed Session was an open-door acknowledgment of its topic: “I move that the Board enter into a closed meeting … for the discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment … The subject matter is applicant review for the position of County Administrator.”

There was no action or announcement out of the Closed Session. Both Deputy and Acting County Administrator Jane Meadows and Town Attorney Jason Ham were present at the Administrative Staff table. Both fielded questions on a variety of topics during the open meeting and work session. Meadows has made it clear that she is not interested in the lead Administrator position on a permanent basis at this time.

Deputy and Interim County Administrator Jane Meadows and County Attorney Jason Ham were on hand to field questions and provide information on several matters discussed during the regular board meeting and work session, and likely the Closed Session too. Royal Examiner Photos: Roger Bianchini, unless otherwise indicated

The Work Session topics were:

1/ “a high-level presentation overview of the Port of Virginia, with a particular focus on our presence and economic impact in Warren County”;

2/ “a Department of Social Services Update on upcoming winter services” being offered to those in the community with life-altering economic shortfall issues;

3/ “Discussion of the Tourism Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)” being developed jointly by the County and Town to propel the economic benefits of this community’s natural surroundings and historic past Tourism attractiveness moving forward.

With that trio of items designed to have positive economic and socio-economic impacts on both this community’s present and future we will explore them in some detail below.

Port of Virginia and WC Inland Port distribution network

Work Session item M.1. was the Port of Virginia presentation by Port of Virginia representative Chris Gullickson. He used a series of graphics that featured the Tidewater area of southeastern Virginia Atlantic Coast’s expanding connections to world sea trade and shipping. It was impressive to see the plotted international trade areas and routes, and the role of the Warren County Inland Port in moving shipped-in goods from the Tidewater area north, south, and west to inland U.S. markets.

County Attorney Jason Ham, background at Admin staff table, listens as Port of Virginia rep Chris Gullickson describes the scope and economic benefit of the Inland Port in Warren County’s connection to the Atlantic Ocean fronting Port of Virginia seaport’s distribution and importing processes. Below are graphics elaborating on those factors.

Gullickson cited the key intersection of I-66 and I-81 in Warren County as crucial to the efficient inland expansion of Port of Virginia shipping from international markets to a wider range of domestic U.S. markets.

Gullickson quoted one of those informational graphics to highlight both job and other economic variables. Those included 560,000 jobs across Virginia, $41.4 billion in statewide labor income; not only a depth of 17 meters, the deepest on the U.S. East Coast, but also a wider shipping channel.

Graphic of the Inland Port in WC, including noted $ 15 million in ‘On Terminal Investment’. Below, stats include what appears to be 560,000 jobs created across Virginia and $ 41.4 billion in Labor-generated income.

Social Services prepares for Holiday Season

A large and enthusiastic delegation from the County Department of Social Services was up second to cite upcoming events and services for citizens facing hardship due to age, economic hardship, or other challenges.

Cited needs include sponsors for a Christmas event for children already under the umbrella of Social Services. The bulletin included contact information for interested citizens looking to help make this a brighter Christmas for involved youth. Those e-addresses and phone numbers are <Nichole.johns@dss.virginia.gov> and 540 635-3430, extension 3352. We also noted that we are accepting wrapping paper donations for the upcoming holiday event.

Another Social Services event upcoming is a little closer. That is a “Community RESOURCES FAIR” being hosted at Samuels Public Library on Wednesday, December 2nd from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event listed over 10 vendors. Those included Blue Ridge Legal, Warren Coalition, Horizon Goodwill, Virginia Career Works, ClearHorizon Forensic & Counseling Group, CCAP, Al-Anon, and Valley Health, among others not listed on a promotional handout.

The WC Board of Supervisors had a lot to focus on during their 3-pronged meeting on October 4, beginning behind closed doors with the County Administrator search process and ending with work-session presentations on 3 crucial topics. Below, the WC Social Services contingent of 5 ladies, standing and seated toward the door, begins their presentation on coming assistance and informational events through the holiday season.

“Discover what Front Royal has to offer! Come chat with local organizations, learn what resources are in your area, and enjoy a day out at the library,” Social Services says of the event — If you may have trouble accommodating your family’s Holiday season, sounds like you don’t want to miss it.

A bit closer is a November 19th “COMMUNITY MEETING,” apparently hosted by the Front Royal Presbyterian Church at 115 Luray Avenue, Front Royal. It highlights the group HARTS, citing information on its local history — “Learn about HARTS, share your thoughts and ask questions,” the event notice states.

Organizing Joint Tourism initiatives

Finally, we moved to Work Session agenda item M.3: board and staff discussion of the Tourism Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This relates to the “Front Royal – Warren County Joint Tourism Agreement.”

Supervisors expressed several concerns. These included how to appoint members of the Joint Tourism Advisory Committee. Currently, town and county officials must agree on all six appointments. Several supervisors preferred that each municipality appoint three members without joint unanimous approval.

After hearing input from County Attorney Jason Ham on legal variables, the committee decided to present the three “appointments each” method to the Town Council to see if they would agree. If they don’t, it appears the agreed-upon six-member joint appointments would stand.

Determining how the shared financial contribution amounts will be decided year to year was also a matter of concern.

A date for a work session or meeting discussion between the town and county representatives was suggested before the end of the year to determine processes moving into 2027.

As to the outline of goals and methods in joint Tourism moving forward, County staff included this in a lengthy Summary and Explanation included in the November 4th agenda packet:

ARTICLE 1— PURPOSE

“The Parties recognize that tourism represents a significant and growing driver of the local economy, and that continued success depends on clearly defined roles, coordinated planning, mutual accountability, and shared investment in both the promotion of existing assets and the development of new ones.

“Since 1993, the Town has been primarily responsible for tourism promotion and the operation of the Visitor’s Center. Following the County’s 2017 increase of its Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) from two percent (2%) to five percent (5%), the Parties operated a jointly administered tourism marketing function from 2021 through 2023. Since July 1, 2023, the Town and County have administered separate tourism functions. The Parties now enter into this Agreement to establish a structured, accountable model for renewed collaboration.”

Perhaps the tourist-launching point for current and future visitors—the Front Royal/Warren County Visitors Center at the edge of the Gazebo-anchored park in the heart of Historic Downtown Front Royal. Courtesy Photo: the Visitors Center

Related to that goal, staff added:

“The Parties agree that Destination Marketing and Destination Development are distinct but complementary functions, and that each Party is best positioned to lead the function most closely aligned with its existing capacity and authority.

“A central goal of this Agreement is to establish a clear division of labor between the Parties, so that tourism-related functions are complementary rather than duplicative.

“This Agreement is not intended to create parallel or competing tourism management functions within the Town and County, and the Parties intend that staffing and programs be structured to avoid redundancy while allowing each Party the capacity needed to fulfill its own responsibilities under this Agreement.”

And as to annual funding, it was explained:

“2. Any unspent County funds either:

“i. Revert and be returned by the Town to the County at year-end; or

“ii. May be carried forward only with County approval for identified tourism purposes.

“C. All allocated funds must be spent on expenditures as determined in the approved plan and budget …

“A. Tourism Budget.

“The County’s “Tourism Budget” shall be defined as the portion of Transient Occupancy Tax revenue collected above the two percent (2%) base rate for the prior fiscal year, as required to be designated and spent solely for tourism under Va. Code § 58.1-3819.A.2.

“B. Allocation to the Town.

“1. The County shall allocate $212,000 to the Town for Destination Marketing purposes, provided that the amount allocated in any fiscal year shall not exceed the Town’s own budgeted appropriation for its tourism personnel and operations for that same fiscal year. The allocation shall be based upon the Town’s annual budgeted personnel and operations marketing proposal, available County TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) revenue, demonstrated performance, budget appropriation, and compliance with agreement. The allocation to the Town must be used for destination marketing expenditures as agreed upon during the budgeting process.”

With the above-referenced outline in place, and with noted processes for appointments to the newly created Joint Tourism Advisory Committee and joint finances still under review, we will see whether the two municipalities can maintain the positive momentum on a well-conceived, increased revenue-generating plan moving toward implementation by January 1, 2027.

Now there’s a good holiday season present for all this community’s citizens, elected, appointed, or just observing like most of us. Get to work, Santa, and make the plan a positively functional present, gift-wrapped in cooperative common sense.

See the County video for more detail on these matters, and others as they surfaced over the course of the afternoon.

Watch the Warren County Board of Supervisors Meeting of November 4, 2026.