Supervisors Introduced to Sheriff’s Office Realigned ‘Command Staff’ Before Heading Into 3 Public Hearings and Several New Business Items

Shortly after its meeting of February 20 opened at 7 p.m., the Warren County Board of Supervisors was introduced to the revamped Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Command Staff by its architect, recently elected and installed as of the turn of the year Sheriff Crystal Cline. That Command Staff, pictured below, included ten deputies individually cited for their experience and contributions to the County’s law enforcement agency. Rather than ID them in what would be an overlong photo caption, we will cite them here as positioned in the photo.

The WCSO ‘Command Staff’ is introduced to the county’s elected officials by new Sheriff Crystal Cline.

They are, beginning from right to left, and then as acknowledged by the sheriff beginning at the 1:50 mark of linked County video (concluding at 6:55 mark): Major and Chief Deputy Jason Winner (22 years law enforcement experience), Operations Division: Capt. Robert ‘Bob’ Mumaw (19 yrs.), Lieutenant William Smoot (27 yrs), Lt. Collins (14 yrs.), Lt. Glavis (16 yrs.); Administrative Services Division: Capt. Chuck Brogan (22 yrs. plus additional time in Public Safety/Fire & Rescue, 3rd from left), Lt. Terry Fritz (16 yrs., 2nd from left), Accreditation & Grants Mgr. & Training Coordinator Jay Roy (20 yrs., furthest left); Support Services: Capt. Scott Baker (5 yrs. law enforcement, 11 yrs. military service, 6th from right); Lt. Jeremiah Lang (16 yrs., 7th from right). Additional info on Command Staff roles and background are cited by Sheriff Cline during her introductions to the supervisors.

Public Comments on non-agenda items followed, and two speakers addressed the board. First was Samuels Public Library citizen-supporter Bethany O’Neill, who picked up where she left off at the board’s previous meeting of February 6, when she reached her 3-minute time limit in listing free services available to all Warren County citizens, in addition to the library’s reading material. O’Neill stressed her perspective on the importance of Samuels Public Library to this community and cautioned board members against attempts to reduce funding whenever the next funding cycle that would permit such de-funding to occur comes up. As has been reported, the currently approaching FY-2025 cycle appears to guarantee at least flat funding from current levels.

Bethany O’Neill revisited her Feb. 6 comments on the value of Samuels Public Library to citizens of this community who receive access to many free programs in addition to reading material, in exchange for the county tax revenue that is primary in funding library operations. Below, Maria Wetzel asked the supervisors to broaden their perspectives on injustice from the local level to the international scene. Her goal is to have the county’s supervisors join what she cited as 60 other municipalities at this point in signing a petition urging the U.S. government to join nations around the world in mandating an Israeli cease-fire in Gaza targeting an essentially defenseless population of 2.3 million men, women, and children.

Following O’Neill to the speakers podium was Maria Wetzel, who altered the focus of public comments half way around the world to the ongoing Israeli military attacks on the Palestinian population of the Gaza strip, or as some are now calling it in an ironic World War 2 reference, “the Gaza Ghetto”. Wetzel asked the board to join a list of communities around the nation calling for the American government to join nations worldwide in mandating a cease-fire to the Netanyahu-led Israeli government attacks on the Palestinian population. Those attacks, Wetzel reported, now cite 26,000 Palestinian fatalities, of which 70% (18,200) have been reported as women and children. That compares to the Israeli death toll of 1,139 from the earlier HAMAS terrorist attack for which Israel is retaliating against the entire Palestinian population. While Wetzel initially referenced the “slaughter” of Palestinians in Gaza, she noted that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recently issued an internationally binding order to prevent a wider genocide of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million Palestinians, which, according to international reports, Israel has ignored as it continues to blockade food and medical aid to Gaza while continuing its military assault indiscriminately.

7:30 PM – Public Hearings

Back on the local scene, following board member reports, the supervisors faced three public hearings at 7:30 p.m. With no spoken or submitted opposition at the public hearing and recommendations of approval with cited conditions by the planning commission, all three proposals passed unanimously. They were:

14. Public Hearing – CUP2023-12-01 – Greg Kelley for a Short-Term Tourist Rental – Chase Lenz – A request for a conditional use permit for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 886 Highridge Road and is identified on tax map 39C, block H, lot 14. The property is zoned Residential One (R-1) and located in the Lake Front Royal subdivision and in the South River Magisterial District. – Chase Lenz, Zoning Administrator — Unanimously approved on a motion by Cook.
15. Public Hearing – Proposed Lease Agreement of Hangar A7 to William Sullivan – Mike Berry – Mike Berry, Public Works Director — On a motion by Jamieson, second by Stanmeyer, approved at the $350 a month rental.
16. Public Hearing – Proposed Lease Agreement of Hangar A12 to Sean Roe – Mike Berry – Mike Berry, Public Works Director – On a motion by Butler, seconded by Cook, approved at $350 a month rental.

The board then dealt with other New Business.

The board ponders its next decision on an agenda of 4 ‘New Business’ items and 3 public hearings. All were approved.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Consent Agenda – 24 items, one pulled for discussion: L-21 — Consent Agenda approved as amended on a motion by Cook, second by Jamieson.

L-21. Approval of the proposed 2024 Parks and Recreation League and Fee Schedule – Dan Lenz, Parks and Recreation Director — On a motion by Jamieson, second by Butler, approved unanimously.

1. Additional New Business
2. PTE Administrative Assistant position to FTE shared between Information Technology and Sheriffs Office – Todd Jones, IT Director, Crystal Cline, Sheriff — After explaining the dynamics of the position and what was referenced as an estimated annual savings of $36,000, as opposed to advertising for a second, new position separately, unanimously approved to move on a shared departmental arrangement from Part-Time to Full-Time.
3. Recommendation for Acme Technical Group LLC for courthouse security improvements – Sheriff Cline: It was explained by the sheriff that the estimated cost of $19,330 needed to be approved for transfer from the Courthouse Security Budget to the Sheriff’s Operational Budget in order to pay the contractor. Consequently, without objection the transfer was approved as part of agenda Item F. “Appropriations and Transfers”.

The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.

Click here to watch the Warren County Board of Supervisors Meeting of February 20, 2024.