The Tuesday, May 7th public hearing-focused regular meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors began with a one-two punch surrounding community schooling issues. The first “punch” was delivered by five of seven Public Comments speakers regarding non-agenda item issues, prior to the 7:30 p.m. cutoff time to public hearings. The final of those speakers, Megan Marrazzo had a long wait to make her case, as only the first six made it prior to the public hearing starting time.

Those five speakers, Cameron Williams, Richard Baker, Matthew Purdie, Anne Miranda,  and Marrazzo urged the board not to approve any tax increases in support of county public schools. Several cited Supervisor Richard Jamieson’s April 30 Joint supervisors-school board budget work session comments on a developing lack of trust over a perceived lack of transparency or effective use of county funding to positive educational ends by public school officials. Local tax increases in support of county law enforcement and fire and rescue services was acceptable, if necessary, most of those speakers indicated, but not for county public schools as currently overseen, even though as Jamieson has acknowledged, a majority of the community’s children are still educated in public schools.

Anti-Public School funding Public Comments speakers, including Cameron Williams here, had a full house to hear their perspectives. Most of that crowd was there in support of the first public hearing permitting request for the relocation of the private Montessori School in Rockland on a portion of the former Bowling Green South Golf Course. That permitting passed unanimously and the crowd thinned out considerably.

The first speaker to this topic following initial speaker Fern Vasquez’s questions about the status of a public restroom in Eastham Park, Cameron Williams (14:30 linked County video mark) set the tone against increased funding of Warren County Public Schools. He suggested, as others would, that Fire & Rescue and the Sheriff’s Office could be adequately funded without a tax increase, pointing the finger at public schools for responsibility for any tax increase. He cited an April 9th board meeting public speaker in making his case against additional funding for public schools this year and possibly into the future: “Mr. Purdie put it quite well at the April 9th hearing that ‘Warren County Public Schools have become a money pit that the County cannot get out of.’

“It’s about time that the public schools take a much-needed cut, and potentially even a funding freeze so that more necessary public resources can be funded and equipped. I don’t believe that public schools should receive another cent until there’s proof of improvement in enrollment and quality,” Williams told the supervisors, further asserting, “They do not need to be operating with such a large budget when there’s been a drastic decrease in enrollment, and increase in funding and plummeting test scores.” In closing, Williams pointed to ongoing disciplinary issues in public schools he stated could not be fixed with additional funding, coupled with the fiscal disciplinary issue facing the board of supervisors over the public schools budget request.

Private School permitting for Rockland location

The second educational issue addressed was the topic of the first public hearing convened (28:05 County video mark) following the Public Comments adjournment for the 7:30 p.m. start of public hearings, and was the focus of the great majority of a full house of spectators filling the Warren County Government Center main meeting room. That issue was the requested conditional use permitting to allow the relocation of the private John Paul the Great Montessori Academy to approximately 53 acres of the former Bowling Green South Golf Course.

A graphic presented by applicant of the existing Bowling Green South Clubhouse that will be converted into the main John Paul the Great Montessori Academy school facility.

Planning Director Matt Wendling Opened the public hearing with a summary of the Conditional Use Permit application. As noted in the staff-prepared agenda summary: “The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit for a private school to be located on what is currently the Bowling Green South Golf Course which has been closed since its recent purchase in 2023 by Helltown River Investments LLC. The school currently serves 141 students and has 20 full-time and 18 part-time employees and has a curriculum based on the Catholic Montessori approach as stated in their mission statement … The property is located at 768 Bowling View Road and identified on tax map 13 as lot 46D. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the Morrison Family subdivision in the Shenandoah Magisterial District.”

Wendling noted the school, which features an Agricultural curriculum, was established in 2020 and is currently located in Front Royal. “They currently have programs for pre-school children 3 days a week and elementary and middle school age children for 5 days a week. Their long-term plans are to expand to include toddlers and high school students and not to exceed enrollment of more than 200 students,” the planning director said.

Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz and Planning Director Matt Wendling on the job.

It was noted that the County Planning Commission had unanimously forwarded a recommendation of approval with conditions as amended. Following applicant Noel Sweeney’s presentation of the application and school plans, 14 speakers, many parents with children attending the school, urged approval. The supervisors listened, and on a motion by John Stanmeyer and what appeared to be Supervisor Richard Jamieson edging Vicky Cook for the second, the board unanimously approved the CUP.

County achieves “Storm-ready designation”

Early in the meeting the board got a report on the County achieving a “National Weather Service Warren County Storm Ready Designation”. Fire & Rescue staffer Brian Foley introduced National Weather Service’s Chris Strong, who summarized the process Foley had been local liaison to in qualifying the County for the designation.

Fire & Rescue Department’s Brian Foley, dark uniform, introduced National Weather Service’s Chris Strong to explain the county’s designation as a Storm Ready community.

As the staff summary noted: “In early 2023 Warren County Fire and Rescue began working with the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia to become a Storm Ready Community. The National Weather Service approved our application on March 11, 2024. Storm Ready uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle all types of extreme weather-from tornadoes to winter storms. The program encourages communities to take a new, proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations by providing emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.” The board unanimously approved the “Storm-ready designation” for the years 2024 to 2028.

There will be a subsequent story on additional business conducted at the meeting.

Click here to watch the May 7th Warren County Board of Supervisors Meeting.

In what was the focus of a work session for the county’s planning commission, beginning at 6 p.m. on May 8 and giving way to the commission’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center, chapters three and four of the developing comprehensive plan were considered for elements of design and content.

Warren County Planning Commission meets for a regular meeting on the evening of May 8 at the Warren County Government Center. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The plan faces several months of intense development and reworking with a hopeful release date in which it will become available to the public by September, an estimate given by Planning Director Matt Wendling. Although exactly when the plan will be released is a matter of give or take, Wendling used the opportunity to explain a future land use map depicting the Route 340/522 corridor, giving the commission members something to “chew on” over the next month. The corridor is a complex entity that may soon see the development of industrial use, commercial use, residential use, and negotiation of rural areas as well. If geography is destiny, this is a very appropriate conversation for the county commission to have in the spring of 2024.

Before the regular meeting, the county commission meets for a work session in the Caucus Room.

At one point in the regular meeting, Wendling thanked Planner Kelly Wahl and Office Manager Allison Mutter for the hard work they have been doing to bring the comprehensive plan to completion. They have made significant progress in reformatting it and bringing the data together. “We hope that next month if everyone is here, we can finish chapter 4, and maybe we’ll hop into six, which is economic development,” Wendling said. In the future, the commissioners will have forwarded to them those items which have been reworked and will have the chance to give their input, via Wahl and Mutter who are assisting Wendling in this endeavor.

During the work session, Planning Director Matt Wendling explained to the members a future land use map for development in the 340/522 corridor.

Chapter three of the comprehensive plan focuses on natural resources, while chapter four focuses on growth management and land use. “Characteristics of the natural environment affect development to varying degrees,” chapter three begins. “While some natural features encourage and enhance development, others correspondingly limit certain land uses and development intensity.” The rest of the chapter is a deep dive into the county’s natural features, ranging from the Shenandoah River and the mountains that bound the county to the implication of soil types for septic systems. Chapter four discusses land use types as they appear in the county with a tight focus on trends over the past decade or so, seeking how the county government can play a role in responsible development, preserving rural character, and respecting agricultural preservation.

Chapters three and four, as they stood during the work session, can be found online at the county’s website under the May 8, 2024, agenda.

Click here to watch the May 8th Planning Commission Meeting.

William E. Clevenger, 82, of Linden, Virginia, passed away with his family by his side, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.

William E. Clevenger

He was born September 22, 1941 in Peterstown, West Virginia a son of the late Edsel Ogden and Nellie Catherine (Lewis) Clevenger.

A graduate of Greeley High School, he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1965.

Bill was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1974, in positions of Supply Operations Officer and Missile Engineer, and served as a Captain in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged after the war ended and was credited for his time in the military.

Most notably, William worked for the Central Intelligence Agency as a Logistics Operations Officer in later years. During his tenure, he had many overseas assignments, including two tours in Afghanistan, and completed many temporary tours of duty in several countries. His outstanding support through the years earned him many accolades. Bill retired from the CIA in July 2014 after 14 years of service.

Outside of his professional life, William was a lover of the great outdoors and was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed the challenges of fishing various waters and was always looking for the next river or stream to try his luck. Bill also loved to travel, having spent time in Alaska, Hawaii, and many U.S. destinations. He loved living in the Blue Ridge mountains, raising a garden, and considered all God’s creatures his friend. Known for his caring nature, William was always available to help others and offer advice when asked. He believed in hard work and was dedicated to his job, home projects, and his family. He lived a full life of fun and adventure. He was a devoted family man and a loving husband and cherished his time with his children and grandchildren.

Bill will be remembered for his charm, kindness, and unwavering love for his family. His legacy will continue to inspire all those fortunate enough to spend time with him and live on in the hearts of those blessed to know him. He will always be truly missed and remembered.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judy (Deutschman) Clevenger, daughter, April Michelle (Clevenger) Kackley (Kinzel), step-son, Jack Allen Smith; grandchildren. Lexx Jaxon Clevenger, Kinzel R. E. Kackley, and Harley Mae K. Kackley; siblings Christine (Clevenger) Wood, Mike Clevenger (Debbie), and Ed Clevenger (Karen); and numerous nieces and nephews.

James Thomas Brown, 81, of Browntown, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

James Thomas Brown

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 11:00 a.m. at Front Royal United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rachel Plemmons officiating. Interment will follow in Panorama Memorial Gardens at Waterlick.

Mr. Brown was born October 2, 1942, in Tazewell County, Virginia, the son of the late Walter Bernard and Lena Ettus Puckett Brown.

Mr. Brown was a Front Royal United Methodist Church member for 26 years. He was very active in the church, always there when the doors were open, delivering food to shut-ins, and helping with many projects at the church.

He retired after 35 years from Navy Federal Credit Union, one of the first 30 when the credit union began. He worked for Shenandoah Valley Golf Club and spent time with his friends on the course playing a round or two of golf. He was a U.S. Army Reserve Veteran.

Mr. Brown will be greatly missed by his loving family and his many friends.

Surviving is his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Jean Marlene Brown; one son, Michael James Brown and wife Christine of Ashburn, Virginia; one daughter, Lynda Kay Steele of Bealeton, Virginia; one sister, Elizabeth Ann Santolla of Dale City, Virginia; three grandchildren who were the apples of his eye, Kelsi Steele, Victoria Steele, and Jason Brown; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: two brothers, Billy Brown and Ralph Brown, and a sister, Hazel Underwood.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Monday, May 13, from 6-8 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Front Royal United Methodist Church, 1 West Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.