Jamieson Leads Sub-Committee Negative Report on Library Operations; Board Seeks Path Forward on WCSO Training Range

On Tuesday, November 12, the Warren County Board of Supervisors held two joint work sessions. The first was with representatives of various county departments regarding budgetary and operational issues. The second was with the County Planning Commission regarding an overview of the status of the County’s exploration of a Sheriff’s Office training and shooting range proposed for the Bentonville/South River District near the solid waste dump that has drawn a negative push-back from surrounding residential property owners. That discussion was followed by a presentation of the Planning Department’s review and updating of the County’s Comprehensive Plan designed as a policy guidance roadmap for future development.

County Planner Kelly Wahl and Planning Director Matt Wendling prep the supervisors and Planning Commission on the Comp Plan overview presentation. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

The initial departmental work session proceeded quickly and efficiently through the first five agenda items involving the County Health Department, Parks & Rec, a state legislative program’s potential impacts, and Fiscal Year 2025/26 “Budget Summary Forms.”

Then, 37 minutes, 32 seconds into the work session (37:32 linked video mark), the agenda reached “Sub-committee report presentation on 2023 Library Debrief and Research.” That report and the board discussion of it lasted about 50 minutes. It was presented by North River Supervisor and sub-committee member Richard Jamieson. It continued his negative narrative surrounding the 2023 book banning and seizure of Samuels Public Library operational control effort by ultra-conservative elements of the community opposed to any references to alternate sexual identity topics in the library, particularly its youth sections.

Jamieson’s highly negative assessment of the Library’s actions in reaction to the supervisors initially withholding three-quarters of the Library’s FY-2023/24 budget appropriation, as well as the appropriateness or lack thereof of county taxpayer funding of a majority of the public library’s operational budget continues to the 1:19:40 mark of the linked County video, with board discussion, including at least two member supporting comments, continuing until the 1:31:50 video mark.

With supportive Vicky Cook to his left, Richard Jamieson continued his negative overview of Virginia’s Library of the Year and its award-winning staff in seeking a remake of the County’s financial investment and operational oversight in its public library, the second oldest in the Commonwealth dating to being chartered in 1799.

The board then closed its departmental budget and operational discussion with an exploration of its “interest in a Media Consultant” position being created to handle “social media posts and press releases.” It seemed a somewhat ironic topic in light of Jamieson’s highly negative references to Samuels Public Library’s contracting of a public/media relations firm as it dealt with the perceived threat of the withholding of three-quarters of its FY-24 budget by the supervisors last year.

Following the media consultant discussion the board revisited the library discussion around video mark 1:41:00 with the exploration of the creation of a subcommittee to oversee Samuels Library Board of Trustees appointments. County Administrator Ed Daley contacted absent County Attorney Jason Ham remotely on the legality of various appointment scenarios, telling the board Ham was “95% sure” such library trustee appointments could NOT be done by a voter referendum, but rather it seemed another system involving some judicial appointment authority.

The Planning Commission joins the Board of Supervisors for the Joint County Work Session, first to review the Sheriff’s Office shooting/training range proposal and how best to reach a decision on it. As Commission member Kaylee Richardson and Supervisor John Stanmeyer listen, Commission Vice-Chair Hugh Henry offers his thoughts on one of several agenda topics he addressed in some detail.

After an eight-minute break at 6:52 p.m. the Planning Commission was invited aboard for the 7 p.m. convened Joint Work Session discussion  (1:51:48 video mark) of, first the Sheriff’s Office shooting/training range (1:55:00), then the Planning Department Comp Plan review (2:40:35).

The departmental budgetary discussion began with the Health Department’s request for additional funding to enable access to full state grant funding. The staff report explained the department’s situation:

“During the FY 25 budget process, Warren County Health Department requested funding in the amount of $488,057; $ 420,000 was allocated. The State General Fund allocation for FY25 is $543,576. To draw down the full amount of the state contribution and fund the current staff, the County would need to allocate $444,744.

“We are requesting an additional $24,744 to get the full match from the State General Fund. There were no carry-forward funds from FY24 to assist in the difference. The additional request is still below the original ask based on savings we were able to identify.

“In FY24, the county awarded the health department $373,600 plus a carry forward from unspent FY23 funds in the amount of $91,216 to draw down the State General Fund allocation in full. An additional $5,644 of unmatched local carry forward from FY23 was approved for a total of $470,460.

“If Warren County does not provide the additional $24,744 in local match funds, we will not be able to draw down $30,243 of state funds for a total loss of $54,987. This loss in funds will equate to the cost of a position within the health department.”

The board took the request under advisement.

Click here to watch the Warren County Board of Supervisors Work Session of November 12, 2024.