Library Battle Aside, It Was Business as Usual—Almost

In business other than the County’s fight with Samuels Public Library, its patrons and supporters at the July 1 meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, as reported in our lead story on that battle, there were a number of other items on the agenda. Those included four public hearings, a 14-item Consent Agenda from which five items were pulled for additional discussion, an update from “Reaching Out Now” on progress with restoring a viable community Youth Center, and other routine departmental updates and board reports.

This is a summary of those agenda items.

Reaching Out Now Youth Center update

Shortly after the open meeting’s start, the first item heard after the Agenda as Amended was approved was the Update on Reach Out Now’s civic relaunching of the Community Youth Center in the old County-owned youth center building off of 8th Street. That update was presented by Reaching Out Now founder and President Samantha Barber. See Barber’s report in its entirety starting at the 02:35 mark of the linked County video.

Reaching Out Now President Samantha Barber was thankful to the County for its cooperation in help with renovations and preparations in opening a revitalized community Youth Center. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

As to Public Hearings on four Conditional Use Permit (CUP) requests, three of those were for Short-term Rental permitting and one for Campground permitting.

7:30 p.m. – Public Hearings – opened at 31:50 of linked County video mark.

32. Public Hearing – CUP2025-04-01 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – 311 Golden Russet Dr. (31:58 video mark) – A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 311 Golden Russet Dr. and is identified on tax map 22B, block T, as lot 32. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Apple Mountain Lake subdivision in the Happy Creek Magisterial District. – Staff report Kelly Wahl, Planner.

RESULT: After just one public hearing speaker, on a motion by Cook, seconded by Jamieson, a motion to deny the CUP was approved by a 3-2 margin, Butler and Stanmeyer dissenting from the motion to deny.

1. Public Hearing – CUP2025-04-02 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – 471 Shady Tree Ln – (40:45 video mark) – A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 471 Shady Tree Lane and is identified on tax map 16A, section 1, block 2, as lot 59A. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Shenandoah Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

RESULT: With no public hearing speakers and the applicant not present, on a motion by Jamieson, second by Stanmeyer, the CUP was unanimously approved.

1. Public Hearing – CUP2025-04-03 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – 209 Luchase Rd – (staff at 44:10 video mark, applicant Gillean Greenfield at 48:05 video mark) – A request for a conditional use permit for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 209 Luchase Road and is identified on tax map 23A, section 4, block 10, as lot 7A. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Happy Creek Magisterial District. – Kelly Wahl , Planner

Short-Term Tourist Rental permitting applicant Gillean Greenfield makes her case for approval of proposed project at 209 Luchase Rd. Her proposal was tabled to allow time to accumulate more information

RESULT: After 14 public hearing speakers both for and against the CUP request, including a presentation and background from applicant Gillian Greenfield, a first motion to by Mr. Stanmeyer to approve the request died without a second. A following motion from Ms. Cook to deny also did not receive a second, leading her to withdraw her motion. Then another motion from Cook, seconded by Stanmeyer, to table the matter to allow further research by the board was approved by a 4-1 vote, Jamieson dissenting.

1. Public Hearing – CUP2025-02-02 – Campground – 1406, 1408, 1090, and (0) Panhandle Road, Identified on Tax Map 35 as Lots 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5B-1, and 10A (staff 1:33:10 video mark, applicant Carl Ey 1:38:52 mark) – A request for a conditional use permit for a campground. The properties are located at 1406 Panhandle Road, (0) Panhandle Road, (0) Panhandle Road, 1408 Panhandle Road, and 1090 Panhandle Road and are identified on tax map 35 as lots 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5B-1, and 10A. The properties are zoned Agricultural (A) and are located in the South River Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator

Campground permitting applicant Carl Ey explained variables involved in his proposed project off Panhandle Rd. Below, Planning & Zoning staffers Kelly Wahl and Chase Lenz at the staff table as Ey presented a graphics-assisted PowerPoint on his proposal.

RESULT: Like Greenfield’s prior, Ey’s proposal was tabled for additional study. Some of the seven public hearing speakers questioning the multiple lot proposal expressed concerns about flooding dangers to a high number of campers with no local experience of flooding, as well as access and parking issues, impact on residential neighbors. That tabling of the Campground CUP application was achieved on a motion by Ms. Cullers, seconded by Mr. Jamieson, by a 4-1 margin, with Ms. Cook dissenting.

Consent Agenda

Below is the 14-item Consent Agenda, approved as amended, with the five items pulled for additional discussion listed after the ones approved as presented:

2. Appointment of Sheriff Crystal Cline to the Northwestern Regional Juvenile Detention Center Commission – Edwin Daley, County Administrator
3. Contract – General Excavation, Inc. Renewal of Annual Term Contract – Alisa Scott, Finance Director, Mike Berry, Public Works Director
4. Amendment to Lease Agreement of Hangar A5 to Rich Payne – Mike Berry, Public Works Director
5. Contract – Maintenance Support for Electronic Pollbook System with Calvacere Inc. – Matthew Reisinger
6. Purchase of a 2026 Chevy Tahoe for Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Vehicle Replacement – Gerry Maiatico, Assistant Fire Chief
7. FY26 Grant Award Acceptance DCJS Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund (VSDVVF) – Jane Meadows, Deputy County Administrator
8. Authorization to Advertise for Public Hearing – Planning Department Fees – Authorization to Advertise for Public Hearing – Planning and Zoning Department Fees – Kelly Wahl , Planner
9. Authorization to apply for 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant for a total of 12 positions as proposed. – Gerry Maiatico, Assistant Fire Chief
10. Sole Source Award Recommendation – 45 Drives – Todd Jones, IT Director

Pulled for discussion were items 1, 5, 6, 7, and 13.

1. Contract – Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC for Professional Consulting Services – Alisa Scott, Finance Director – Pulled for discussion — Result: Approved.
2. New Road Naming Request for properties accessed off of Dogwood Farm Rd – Matt Wendling, Planning Director — Pulled for discussion — Result: Tabled.
3. New Road Naming Request for properties accessed off of Wilson Lane – Matt Wendling, Planning Director — Pulled for discussion — Result: Approved.
4. New Road Naming Request for properties off of Lower Valley Road – Matt Wendling, Planning Director — Pulled for discussion — Result: Tabled.
5. Cancellation of RFP for Library Services – Jason Ham, County Attorney — Pulled for discussion, resulting in the Jamieson’s 25-plus minute “1984” tirade against Samuels Public Library’s operational status as part of the long-standing Public/Private Partnership with Warren County — Result, see our lead story on the meeting for this item’s somewhat “Orwellian” path to unanimous approval.

Bored board members, or maybe they’re just tired as 11:30 p.m. approached after 5-1/2 hours on their night job, including the 6 p.m. Closed Session convening.

The meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m. as even some supervisors appeared to be dealing with fatigue issues.

Click here to watch the County video for details on all the actions, discussion of those actions, and referenced supervisor and public comments.

After Lengthy Prelude Citizens & Jamieson Clash Over Stated Operational Dynamics of Samuels Public Library