County Work Session Focuses on Software Upgrade Contract, Policy Reports, Department & Outside Agency Budget Requests

At 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, March 11, the Warren County Board of Supervisors held a work session with departments and outside agency partners on Fiscal Year-2026 budget requests. Also up for discussion were technology equipment upgrades and policy matters, including meeting Public Comments restructuring, Comp Plan updates, a Planning Department Annual Report, and AG committee appointments.

On the budget side it will be interesting how these requests are handled in a coming budget cycle in which a number of revenue shortfalls have been predicted due to a variety of variables, including rising costs and inflation, while a supervisors majority has made it clear they oppose tax hikes to cover those predicted revenue shortfalls.

Chairman “Jay” Butler opened the work session, announcing a change in the order of presentations to accommodate presenters having to travel some distance back and forth for their evening meeting presentations. So, the meeting opened with Item D, the Berry Dunn company presentation on coordinated Finance Software upgrades to the Treasurer’s Office, Finance Department, and Commissioner of the Revenue, with oversight assistance from the Information Technology Department.

See the linked video for details on these below requests, presentations, and discussions, listed in the order presented in those chairman-announced adjustments:

WC Finance Director Alisa Scott introduced technology consultant Berry Dunn representative Jonathan Grace, below, to the supervisors. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

1/ D. Berry Dunn Presentation for Finance Software (starting at 1:50 Linked video mark)

Staff EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: A representative with Technology Consultant Berry Dunn will be giving a presentation on finance software alternatives (that presentation was done by Jonathan Grace of Berry Dunn following an introduction by County Finance Director Alisa Scott at :53 video mark).

Excerpts from application: “We are a nationally recognized professional services firm headquartered in Portland, Maine, with 10 office locations … BerryDunn can offer our services through pre-qualification and multi-award contract vehicles. In fact, we are currently on over 100 suchvcontracts in 41 states. Should the County review our proposal and wish to contract with our firm directly, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss available options and the most favorable pricing terms based on the selected contract. Options include: • OMNIA Business and IT Consulting and Advisory Services; • The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) 230105 Technology Solutions, Products, and Services; • Master Contract for IT Services (Montana Department of Administration); • Professional Acquisition Support Services (PASS) for IT.

“The term of this engagement will be for a period of one (1) year from the effective date of the contract.”

COST & FINANCING: N/A (Not Applicable)

The WC Board of Supervisors approached work session down one member, Fork District Supervisor Vicky Cook, whom Chairman Butler noted was travelling back from her out-of-state trip west, so could not be remorely hooked in as she had been at a previous meeting.

2/ B. Budget Request – Concern Hotline (46:31 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Concern Hotline will present their Budget request for FY 25-26

COST & FINANCING: $3,500 – requested ($0.00 awarded in FY24-25)

3/ A. Budget Request – Department of Social Services (54:45 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Department of Social Services will present their Budget Request for FY25-26:

COST & FINANCING: Total – $9,559,659:  ($2,692,756 – Federal Reimbursement; $2,853,019 – State Reimbursement; Local Cost – $4,013,884)

4/ C. Budget Request – Old Dominion ASAP (1:33:23 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: Old Dominion Alcohol Safety Action Program will present their Budget Request for FY25-26

COST & FINANCING: $25,000 – Requested ($0.00 awarded in FY24-25)

5/ E. Discussion – Public Comment Period Structure (1:42:00 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Board of Supervisors will discuss the current Public Comment Structure of having two 30-minute segments.

One writer’s comment regarding this discussion: Public Discussion of the future of Samuels Public Library while legally challenged oversight activities are under way but the library is not on a specific night’s agenda, is not the equivalent of public discussion of “Green Cheese on the Moon” as a non-agenda topic.

COST & FINANCING: N/A

6/ F. Discussion – Agricultural and Forestal Districts Advisory Committee (2:03:25 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee serves as an advisory body to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors on an as-needed basis for requests to add or withdraw properties from the districts and prior to the 10-year deadline for renewal of the districts set for 2030.

COST & FINANCING: N/A

7/ G. Warren County Planning Commission Annual Report – 2024 (2:24:27 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: Section 15.2-2221 of the Code of Virginia requires the local planning commission to, “make an annual report to the governing body concerning the operation of the commission and the status of planning within its jurisdiction.” At the completion of each year, our planning staff develops a report of the year’s activities within our department. The Planning Commission discussed and approved this report at their February meeting. Please see the attached annual report.

COST & FINANCING: N/A

8/ H. Discussion – Warren County Comprehensive Plan (2:26:14 video mark)

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: A resolution to adopt the Comprehensive Plan with Option 3: Proposed Future Land Use Map was approved by the Planning Commission on January 8th, 2025.

Since the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Comprehensive Plan, Planning Staff has become aware of several changes that they would like the Board of Supervisors to make in the Comprehensive Plan. Those changes include but are not limited to those affecting Slate Run Farm, LLC. The Virginia state code requires that the Board of Supervisors advertise the Comprehensive Plan as it was approved by the Planning Commission on January 8, 2025, but the Board of Supervisors can later make changes during the adoption phase by the Board of Supervisors.

Over the past month, Planning Staff has met with each member of the Board of Supervisors to discuss their concerns and proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. Staff has since made their requested changes, including changes to the Proposed Future Land Use Map and Proposed Rte. 340/522 Corridor Future Land Use Map. These changes take into consideration both the property owners of Slate Run and BOS requests to remove the agricultural buffer from the maps, making those parcels entirely Industrial. Staff also noted other errors in the Proposed Rte. 340/522 Corridor Future Land Use Map and has amended those to reflect the correct proposed future zoning. Planning Staff will supply three Proposed Future Land Use Map options for the Board of Supervisors to make a motion on once the Comprehensive Plan has been authorized for public hearing.

Proposed Future Land Use Map Options Summary:

– Proposed Changes to Rte. 340/522 Corridor Future Land Use Map – PC Resolution (01/08/2025) – A resolution to adopt this map was made by the Planning Commission on January 8th, 2025.

– Proposed Changes to Rte. 340/522 Corridor Future Land Use Map: – Option 1 – This map includes changes to the Slate Run properties West of Rte. 522 removing the Agricultural (A) buffer,  adding TM#12———9 as a Commercial (C) zoned property, and amending TM#4——–44, TM#4——-44B from Commercial (C) to Industrial (I).

– Proposed Changes to Rte. 340/522 Corridor Future Land Use Map – Option 2 – This map includes all the changes made to Option 1 with the subtraction of TM# 12——–9 as a Commercial (C) zoned property.

COST & FINANCING: N/A

Work session adjournment came at 8:50 p.m.

 Click here to watch the Warren County Board of Supervisors Work Session of March 11, 2025