Northwestern Community Services Kicks Off County Supervisors Work Session on Services, Projects, and Proposed Park Land Gift

On Tuesday, August 8, the Warren County Board of Supervisors held a work session to get staff updates on a number of topics involving projects and services. On the latter front to open the work session, Kerry “Kahle” Magalis appearing not as Front Royal Police Chief but rather in his role as a member of the Northwestern Community Services Board of Directors, to which the supervisors appointed him last year. Magalis introduced the new “Northwestern” Director, Katrina McClure. He noted that McClure replaced the retired Mike Elwell.

McClure then gave the board a PowerPoint-assisted summary of programs available to those in need within the community. The “Northwestern” website states: “Northwestern is a public mental health provider with a staff of over 250 caring professionals in the Shenandoah Valley.” NWCS covers four counties, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, and Page, as well as the City of Winchester. McClure’s report begins at the 2:00 (two-minute) mark of the linked County video.

Recently installed NWCS Director Katrina McClure introduces herself and a summary of the regional public mental health provider services and partnerships to the WC Board of Supervisors. Below one graphic indicating community-wide partnerships that NWCS cultivates to provide comprehensive services to its clientele.

Other reports in the order presented on the work session agenda and involved staff were:

1. Flock Safety ALPR Cameras and Solution Sheriff’s Department – Alisa Scott, Finance Director (16:15 video mark), with WCSO Captain Charles Brogan and Virginia-based Flock Territory Sales Director Shane McGregor (18:20 mark);

Flock Territory Sales Director Shane McGregor gave the supervisors an overview of his company’s products in pursuit of increased public safety. The WCSO is looking into the purchase of Flock ALPR Cameras.

1. Discussion – Capital Project Updates – Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows (38:40 mark);
2. Discussion – Shenandoah Farms Road Projects Update – County Administrator Ed Daley, with Deputy Director of Public Works Michael Coffelt (1:09:35 mark). Dr. Daley addresses the Apple Mountain bus stop situation at 1:17:53 mark;
3. Discussion – Donation of Property to the County, 26.6 Acres (by Fred and Christine Andreae) – Joe Petty, Director of Economic Development (1:22:20 mark). A July letter from Fred Andreae included in the agenda packet explained the couple’s vision for the County’s future use of the property. Petty described the projected use as “for the most part passive recreation” that could connect to the Rail Trail project and eventually possibly across town to Eastham Park to the south. Below is Andreae’s letter to the county:

July 14, 2023

Dear County Board of Supervisors,

My wife Christine and I want to donate my riverfront property to the county to create a new park at the north end of town. The property is 26.6 acres and starts at the west side at the end of North Royal Avenue and extends westward under the 340/522 bridge for about .87 of a mile (4,585.88 feet). From the access to the bridge, the property is maintained as an open field. West of the bridge, the property is largely wooded.

We envision a new park that offers the public a walking trail with spectacular river views and a loop through the wooded area with a bridge or bridges to traverse ravines. Viewing benches along the trail would provide places to rest and enjoy the views of the river. A designated picnic area, a permeable parking area, and toilets near the access would further enhance the park.

Since the property is adjacent to the terminus of the proposed Rail to Trail project, we see the property as possibly providing future parking and toilets for hikers.

We see this proposed new park as a northern sister park to the Eastham Park at the south end of Front Royal. Perhaps sometime in the future, the two parks could be connected.

Sincerely,

Frederick Andreae

In-house County Director of Economic Development Joe Petty described potential ‘passive recreational’ uses of 26.6 acres of riverside land Fred and Christine Andreae are proposing to gift to the county as parkland. Below, the property at the bridge over the South Fork of the Shenandoah River on the town’s north side is outlined in yellow.

Prior to Tuesday’s work session, the supervisors convened a Closed/Executive Session at 5 p.m. to discuss all the various civil litigations revolving around the estimated $26 million FR-WC Economic Development Authority financial scandal. It must have been an extensive conversation with legal counsel as the scheduled 6 p.m. work session didn’t begin until about 6:12 p.m.

The motion into the 5 p.m. closed session discussion of various FR-WC EDA financial scandal civil litigations.

Click here to see all the above-referenced presentations and board questions, and discussions at the cited County video marks.