WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House Wednesday passed a bill to add a citizenship question to the decennial census and exclude non-citizens from the population count used to determine federal representation.

No House Democrats voted for the bill, which passed along party lines 206-202. The vote sends the bill to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it is unlikely to move forward.

Census data determines the number of congressional districts in each state and the amounts of federal funding distributed to each state.

“Common sense dictates that only American citizens should be counted for electoral apportionment,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R–Louisiana, said in a statement after the vote.

Johnson said including non-citizens in congressional reapportionment rewards illegal immigration and cities with relaxed immigration policies with more representation.

However, Democrats argued Wednesday that the bill would unfairly harm people who came to the country both legally and illegally with less federal funding and weaker representation of their communities.

“We don’t need to start finger-painting on the Constitution with this silly election-year proposal,”  Rep. Jamie Raskin, D–Maryland, said on the House floor. “This is a land that is built on immigration.”

The census last included a citizenship question in 1950. During his presidency, Donald Trump attempted to add the question to the 2020 census but was blocked by the Supreme Court.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D–New York, was critical of the citizenship question in 2019 when he accused Trump of “intimidating communities of color.” House Republicans want only the number of U.S. citizens in an area to count for representation. If enacted, this legislation could decrease federal representation for states with large immigrant populations, including California, Florida, and Texas.

“The mere presence of illegal immigrants in the United States is having a profound impact on the outcomes of elections, skewing the representation of Americans,” Rep. Chuck Edwards, R–North Carolina, said on the House floor.

Edwards, the bill’s sponsor, added that non-citizens have no allegiance to the United States and should not count for representation.

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D–California, countered that adding a citizenship question would have a “chilling effect” on census participation by immigrant communities.

Opponents of the bill said that immigrant communities might be afraid to answer the census with a citizenship question over fears of being reported to law enforcement agencies.

“This would deprive immigrants of representation and resources,” Barragán said.

Johnny Zuagar, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Census Council 241, told Capital News Service Tuesday that Trump’s push for adding the question to the 2020 census caused chaos and difficulty for census workers.

Zuagar said U.S. Census Bureau employees had to work hard to regain trust in immigrant communities. “Our staff has done a great job of just trying to build relationships throughout the country with different groups, especially Hispanic groups,” Zuagar said. “We just don’t want to add more challenges.”

Census employees cannot legally provide identifiable information to anyone, including law enforcement.

By KATHARINE WILSON
Capital News Service

Warren County seeks a dedicated Administrative Assistant to join the Warren County Educational Endowment (WCEE). This part-time role is perfect for individuals adept at multitasking and passionate about education and community development. The position boasts flexible hours with a workload that integrates well into a dynamic lifestyle, particularly appealing to those who thrive in managing both clerical and interpersonal tasks.

The Administrative Assistant will support the WCEE by preparing necessary materials for quarterly meetings, including agendas and documents. They will also handle important financial tasks such as check deposits, bank statement reconciliations, and processing annual tax reports. Additionally, the Assistant is tasked with maintaining the donor software program and managing the WCEE’s online presence, which includes updating the organization’s website and social media platforms.

A notable aspect of the role includes active participation in marketing initiatives and direct involvement in fundraising activities, which are vital for the sustainability of the endowment. The Assistant will work closely with the WCEE President and various committee chairpersons to ensure all aspects of the organization’s administration run smoothly.

Job responsibilities include recording minutes at board meetings, handling correspondence with donors—including thank you letters—and supporting the overall grant process in collaboration with the Grant Committee Chairperson. The role demands a proactive approach to office and online management, ensuring that all administrative aspects are current and effective in supporting the WCEE’s objectives.

The position offers a compensation package commensurate with experience, reflecting the significant responsibility and flexibility the role entails. Applicants should be prepared for a workload increase during critical periods such as quarterly meetings, fundraising events, and grant processes.

Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the WCEE website to learn more about the organization’s goals and contributions to educational excellence in Warren County. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2024. This opportunity is ideal for someone looking to significantly impact their community while working in a supportive and enriching environment.

For those ready to step into a role that makes a difference, ensure your application, including a cover letter and resume, is submitted promptly to be considered for this enriching opportunity.

Click here for more information and to submit a resume.

As promised, Royal Examiner is following up on our lead story on the May 7th Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting on other actions and discussions. One topic added to the agenda at the meeting’s outset under “Additional New Business” was how the county government will absorb increases in its Employee Health Care coverage through United Health Care. Board Chairman Cheryl Cullers presented the agenda addition, which was approved unanimously.

And while the addition was made near the outset of the 7 p.m. meeting, the “Additional New Business” was the meeting’s final agenda item. So, it was two hours later (2:02:45 linked County video mark) when Assistant County Administrator Jane Meadows took the lead in presenting the options facing the supervisors to them. Meadows opened noting that for the coming Fiscal Year-2024/25 the County had received a 7.7% increased cost for Group Health, Dental, and Visual coverage, “along with a $40,000 premium holiday for the July bill.”

Meadows noted the board had been presented with two options in covering those increases. “Option A reflects the County absorbing the increase in the rates, and the employee contribution to the premium is remaining the same as premium year 2024.

“Option B reflects the increase being absorbed by the employees in the higher deductible $1,000-dollar plan and the preventive dental plan, and the County contributions being mirrored from the $1,000-dollar plan to the $250-dollar plan, as well for Comprehensive Dental,” Meadows said, noting that, “We are currently staying with the $1,000 and $250 deductible plans. And then the Comprehensive and Preventive Dental Plans are remaining the same. The Vision Plan did not change, the Vision Plan, the pricing for that was locked in for this year during our renewal previously.”

Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows summarizes employee health care coverage cost-increase options brought forward by staff. Royal Examiner Photos

Meadows continued to point out that, “From the proposed FY-24/25 budget approximately $3.3 to .4 or .5 million dollars have been allocated for insurance premiums for our full-time employees. The estimated increase in the full costs for FY-25 versus FY-24 is $269,000. And that cost will vary depending on the number of participants in each plan.” Completing her summary, Meadows fielded board questions beginning at the 2:04:52 video mark.

Fork District Supervisor Vicky Cook began by verifying that the amount the County would absorb under Plan A was $69,000. Meadow confirmed that number. Cook then sighted the savings to the County from going with Plan B was about $45,000 of that $69,000 Option A cost to the county government to absorb its employees health care coverage cost hikes. Meadows again confirmed Cook’s reading of the material circulated to the board prior to the meeting.

The long story, made short is that a board majority found that $45,000 cost too high a price to place on county citizens as a whole in a year the board was raising taxes to cover its FY-2025 budget. That consensus was reached despite Meadows appearing to point out that the last several years of Cost of Living raises county employees received had not matched the inflation rate for across-the-board living expenses.

Asked by Vice-Chairman “Jay” Butler which option she recommended, Meadows replied, “Option A” further stating, “I feel that since we are still, with cost of living shifts, we are still below it. I feel personally, I was director of HR (Human Resources), I’m a little employee biased … I feel Option A would be greatly appreciated by our team. Option B of course, saves $45,000. Those are the options we are presenting to you, and  that is the challenge for each of you,” Meadows observed.

Cook elicited an admission that over the past three years in the new health insurance carrier plan, the County had absorbed any increases because overall the coverage plan was saving the County money over other options.

The board ponders the saving of $45,000 in the FY-2025 county budget by having employees shoulder health care coverage cost increases.

There was extensive discussion and estimations of the number of employees affected by Option B (65 in high deductible group was cited) and their monthly and annual costs ranging in the neighborhood of $228 to $288 per year and $19 to $24 monthly. As the board approached a vote, North River Supervisor Richard Jamieson noted the pending tax increase to cover the Fiscal Year-2025 budget on the table (2:17:30 video mark). “Especially in a year where we’re raising taxes everybody takes a little bit on their shoulders,” Jamieson observed.

“I’m just not really comfortable with the idea of completely shielding — county employees are sort of like a different class from these realities. I’ll harken back to other people out in the economy that are struggling with, well, they’re going to get a tax increase, as are the employees. Who else is going to get their health insurance premiums going up?” Jamieson asked rhetorically.

He complemented Meadows on her background work; however, added that he thought it  was “a relatively small slice” that employees were being asked to shoulder under Option B.

Finally the chairman sought a motion. Vice-Chairman Butler responded first, seeking approval of Option A with the County covering the increased health insurance costs. His motion died without a second. Cook then made the motion in support of Option B, which was seconded by Jamieson. That motion was approved by a 4-1 vote with only Butler dissenting. However, Chairman Cullers preceded her vote with a lengthy preface that it pained her to have to make the choice for the County not to absorb the Health Insurance increases, but with the financial variables before the board, including if we recall correctly its first tax increase in about 4 years, she would reluctantly support Option B. Before casting the final vote, John Stanmeyer also bemoaned the choice before the board, but also acquiesced to support of the $45,000 savings to the county budget that Option B would provide.

Other ‘New Business’

In other business the board approved the six public hearing requests following the opening one on the private school relocation to Rockland. Unlike that approval of the CUP for the John Paul the Great Montessori Academy to a portion of the former Bowling Green South Golf Course which had 14 speakers in support, all of the subsequent public hearings were approved without a dissenting vote and no public comment pro or con. Those final six public hearing topics will be listed at the end of this story.

A 12-item Consent Agenda was approved with two items removed for discussion. Those two items were a contract with TACS for the collection of delinquent county tax accounts, and the Awarding of contract with BFI Waste Services. Both were also approved after discussion.

Also under New Business, the Authorization to Advertise for Public Hearings of two items brought forward by planning and zoning staff were approved. Those items were:

1. Authorization to Advertise for Public Hearing: Z2024-04-01 – Campground – Michaun Pierre – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-8C to add definitions for Camping Unit and Tent, to modify the existing definitions of Commercial Campground and Commercial Camping, and to repeal the existing definitions of Unit Space, Vacation Camp, Day, and Vacation Camp, Overnight, to amend §180-21D to modify the listed Commercial Campground use and to repeal the listed Vacation Camp, Day/Overnight use in the Agricultural District Regulations, to amend §180-27D to modify the listed Commercial Campground use in the Commercial District Regulations, to amend §180-41 to modify the existing supplementary regulations for Commercial Campgrounds, and to amend §180-57 to repeal the existing supplementary regulations for Vacation Camp, Day or Overnight. – Summarized by Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator; and:
2. Authorization to Advertise for Public Hearing: Z2024-04-02 – Zoning District Regulations – Warren County Planning Staff – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-21 to make Public Schools permissible only by Conditional Use Permit in the Agricultural (A) District, to amend §180-25 to make Store/Dwelling Combination and Library permissible only by Conditional Use Permit in the Village Residential (VR) District, to amend §180-26 to add Church as a use permissible only by Conditional Use Permit in the Suburban Residential (SR) District, and to amend §180-28 to add Church as a use permitted by right in the Industrial (I) District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator.

The county supervisors May 7 meeting began at 6:30 p.m. with a Closed Session, the motion into reading: “I move the Board enter into a closed meeting under the provisions of Sections 2.2-3711(A)(8) for consultation with legal counsel pertaining to the process for the providing of funds for Business development”.

Approved Public Hearing items I through N

21. Public Hearing: CUP2024-03-01 Joel Didriksen – A request for a conditional use permit for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 3017 Blue Mountain Road and identified on tax map 16A, section 1, block 1, lot 21. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and located in the Blue Mountain subdivision and in the Shenandoah Magisterial District.
22. Public Hearing: CUP2024-03-02 Jennifer Wynn – A request for a conditional use permit for a ShortTerm Tourist Rental. The property is located at 703 Sunset Village Rd. and identified on tax map 27D, section 1, lot 9A. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and located in the Junewood Estates subdivision and the Fork Magisterial District.
23. Public Hearing: CUP2024-03-04 Jack Donohue – A request for a conditional use permit for a Contactor Storage Yard. The property is located at (0) Winners Ct. and identified on tax map 5, lot 11B. The property is zoned Industrial (I) and located in the Walker-Brugh subdivision and the North River Magisterial District.
24. Public Hearing – Lease Agreement of Hangar B17 to Andrew Gass at $350 per month.
25. Public Hearing – Lease Agreement of Hangar A14 to Otis Blake Bacon at $350 per month.
26. Public Hearing – Lease Agreement of 179 Stokes Airport Rd. at $350 per month.

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

Michael Thomas “Mike” Dodson, 49, a lifelong resident of Front Royal, Virginia, and beloved son of Bernadette S. Dodson, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share this tragic news.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

Michael was born May 15, 1974, the son of Bernadette S. Dodson of Front Royal, who survived him, and the late Thomas Dewey Dodson.

For seven years, he was a beloved Medical Technician Supervisor at Hidden Springs Senior Living in Bentonville, Virginia. He was always dedicated to the residents and co-workers. His passing is a tremendous loss for his mother, Bernadette, and the community he lived and worked in. Now he can rest.

Memorial donations may be made to his mother, Bernadette S. Dodson, and would be greatly appreciated.

The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in Warren County during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.

INTERSTATE 66
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 2, eastbound and westbound – Right shoulder closures for litter pickup operations, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday.

*UPDATE* Mile marker 0 to 7, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.

*NEW* Mile marker 6 to 8, eastbound and westbound – Right shoulder closures for litter pickup operations, 12 noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

*NEW* Mile marker 11 to 12, eastbound and westbound – Left lane closures for inspection of bridges over Route 647 (Dismal Hollow Road) and Manassas Run, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

INTERSTATE 81
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.

Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound and southbound –Overnight lane closures and traffic-lane shifts as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2024. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit 55 miles an hour. Work is related to southbound acceleration ramp extension and bridge widening with estimated completion in late 2024.

PRIMARY ROADS
Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 674 (Limeton Church Road) and Route 607 (Rocky Lane) for pipe replacement, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Tuesday.

SECONDARY ROADS
Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for construction of bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Estimated completion December 2025.

Vegetation management may take place district-wide on various routes. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511 or at www.511Virginia.org.

After years of significant budget increases without student growth, the county supervisors gave a clear assignment to the school board this budget season–pass a lean budget because public safety needs are a funding priority this year. Recent wildfires and climbing crime rates demonstrate the community’s need for law enforcement and fire & rescue, so it was a concern to supervisors when the school system asked to consume approximately $2.5 million of the mere $4 million additional revenue created by the recently passed tax increase.

The supervisors brought attention to issues with the school system’s priorities as reflected by their proposed spending.  Concerns raised included:

* The choice to add a $100k/yr. communications director position while cutting the addition of a second agriculture teacher to help serve the demands of the successful ag program that is filled to capacity.

* The desire to spend $1.5 million to replace tennis courts while cutting the proposed HVAC program at Blue Ridge Tech.

* Giving across the board admin raises while cutting the proposed “experienced teacher stipend” that aimed to attract seasoned veteran teachers to federally struggling Skyline Middle School.

Attention was then brought to mismanagement of the current year’s spending; the $55k legal budget having already been overspent to exceed $160k with tens of thousands of additional invoices likely still looming.

Next, was discussion about teaching positions the county had appropriated money for but were left unfilled.  Where was the monetary excess from those vacancies; had it been moved and spent elsewhere?  The school system had not been able to provide an answer by the time of this meeting.  The superintendent stated there were a mere 4 vacancies; a number the county supervisors and this North River School board member did not believe to be accurate, citing long term sub data and the knowledge of teachers covering other classes during planning periods.

The one thing everyone in the room seemed to agree on was teachers, who are in short supply and dealing with ever increasing discipline problems, deserve a raise.  The county supervisors have asked the school board to revise their proposed budget.

Melanie Salins
Warren County, VA

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