Warren County Supervisors Approve, Delay, and Deny Action Items

As noted in our lead story on the June 23 Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting in which Interim County Administrator David Martin’s contract was “terminated immediately” without thanks or a pat on the back after just over nine months on the job, the county’s elected officials faced eight public hearings, and four New Business items on their Action Agenda. A Consent Agenda was also approved as presented and will be the final item on the below summary of board actions or delays in actions.

1. New Business

K.1. Chester Gap Staffing Agreement and Funding Allocation:

PROPOSED OR SUGGESTED MOTION: I move that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County Administrator to enter into the proposed MOA for subcontractor staffing services with the Chester Gap VFD for a term not to exceed 6-months and further authorize the expenditure of up to $194,435 for subcontractor wage reimbursement and workers.

A trio of County Emergency Services personnel was present to address the need for added revenue for the Chester Gap Volunteer F&R Department. Below are Kevin Williams, Chief Brown, and Deputy County F&R Chief Gerry Maiatico, either at the podium or seated in the first two rows. Royal Examiner photos Roger Bianchini

— On a motion by Hugh Henry, seconded by Cheryl Cullers, approved by a 3-2 vote, Tony Carter and Richard Jamieson dissenting.

K.2. Memorandum of Understanding – Lump Sum Funding (WCSB):

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Board of Supervisors is responsible for levying taxes and appropriating funds for the support of public education, and the School Board is vested with the authority to manage and control funds appropriated for the operation of the public schools. The Parties desire to establish a framework for the appropriation of local funds to the School Board in a lump-sum format consistent with applicable law.

PROPOSED OR SUGGESTED MOTION: I move that the Board of Supervisors approve the Memorandum of Understanding – Lump Sum Funding with the Warren County School Board, with such changes as are approved by the County Administrator in consultation with the County Attorney.

— Motion by Henry, second by Jamieson, approved by a 5-0 vote.

K.3. Memorandum of Understanding – Meals Tax (WCSB):

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The purpose of this MOU is to set forth the mutual understanding of the Parties concerning the use of revenues from the food and beverage tax approved by the voters of Warren County in the 2003 referendum for the purpose of supporting school facilities, and imposed by the Board of Supervisors as set forth in Warren County Code§ 160-94.1 et seq. (referred to herein as ·” Meals Tax”). The Parties recognize the importance of maintaining a reliable funding structure to support the construction, improvement, maintenance, and long-term preservation of public school facilities serving the residents of Warren County.

PROPOSED OR SUGGESTED MOTION: I move that the Board of Supervisors approve the Memorandum of Understanding – Meals Tax with the Warren County School Board, with such changes as are approved by the County Administrator in consultation with the County Attorney.

—  Motion by Jamieson, second by Henry, approved by a 5-0 vote.

The Supervisors listened to both permitting and zoning applicants, interested neighboring residents, and each other on a variety of proposals presented as Action Items.

K.4. Memorandum of Understanding – Carryover Funds (WCSB):

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: Memorandum of Understanding – Carryover Funds (WCSB)

The purpose of this MOU is to establish a cooperative fiscal arrangement under which any unexpended funds remaining in the Warren County Public Schools operating budget at the conclusion of each fiscal year may be transferred to the School Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Fund for the purpose of supporting future Capital Improvement needs identified in the CIP Plan of the School Division.

The Parties acknowledge that the retention and reinvestment of operating savings encourages prudent fiscal management, promotes operational efficiency within the School Division, and assists the County in addressing long-term capital maintenance and infrastructure needs associated with public school facilities.

— Motion by Henry, seconded by John Stanmeyer, approved by a 5-0 vote.

1. Public Hearings

I-1. CUP2026-04-01 – Mobile Home Park – 123 Brinklow Road – A request for a conditional use permit for an expansion of an existing mobile-home park. The property is located at 123 Brinklow Road and is identified on tax map 19 as lots 23 and 24F. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and is located in the Fork Magesterial District. – Kelly Wahl, Planning Director

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: Brinklow (BRINKLOW MHP, LLC) proposes to expand the approved mobile home park use by reestablishing six (6) mobile home sites on the Property, which were historically used as mobile home sites, and adding forty-seven (47) new sites. The total number of mobile home sites on the Property after conditional use permit approval would be 104. This is only thirty-five percent (35%) of the maximum density permitted on the Property.

On a motion by Henry, seconded by Janieson, approved by a 5-0 vote.

I-2. Z2026-04-01 – Zoning Text Amendment for Rest Home in the Rural Residential (RR) Zoning District – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-24D to add rest home as a use permitted by conditional use permit in the Rural Residential zoning district. – Kelly Wahl, Planning Director

Planning Director Kelly Wahl presented a number of staff overviews of the agenda, Action Items.

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-24D to add Rest Home as a use allowed by conditional use permit in the Rural Residential (RR) Zoning District. This is an existing use in the Agricultural (A), Residential-One (R-1), Residential-Two (R-2), and Village Residential (VR) Zoning Districts.

Planning Commission Status: The Planning Commission held a public hearing for this item on May 13, 2026. On a motion made by Mr. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Kersjes … the Planning Commission moved to forward the zoning text amendment Z2026-04-01 to the Board of Supervisors with the recommendation of denial. The applicant has requested that the public hearing be postponed until the July 21, 2026, Board of Supervisors meeting in order to revise their application following the Planning Commission’s recommendation of denial.

It is the opinion of staff and the County Attorney that, because the public hearing has been properly advertised, the Board of Supervisors should open the public hearing to allow the public an opportunity to speak and receive any public comment offered.

On a motion by Carter, seconded by Stanmeyer, denied by a 5-0 vote.

I-3. R2026-04-01 – Rezoning from Residential-One (R-1) to Commercial (C) – A rezoning application to amend the Warren County Zoning Map to rezone 3.82 acres across 28 parcels from Residential-One (R-1) to Commercial (C). The properties are located at 0 Diamond Ridge and 0 Emerald Lane and identified on tax map 12B section 2 block 7 as (28 lots) … The properties are located in the North River Magisterial District and is proposed for by-right commercial land use. The future land-use zoning map in the Comprehensive Plan shows this property as Commercial zoning. – Kelly Wahl, Planning Director

PLANNING COMMISSION STATUS:  The Planning Commission held a public hearing for this item on May 13, 2026. On a motion made by Mr. Kersjes, seconded by Mr. Barnhart, and by the following vote, the Planning Commission moved to forward the rezoning to the Board of Supervisors with the recommendation of approval.

On a motion by Stanmeyer, seconded by Henry, approved by a 5-0 vote.

I-4. CUP2026-04-02 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – 691 Harris Drive – – Kelly Wahl , Planning Director

SUMMARY OF REQUEST: The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental for a home they purchased in 2020 with the goal of contributing to the local economy by encouraging tourists to use Front Royal as a base for exploring the National Park and surrounding attractions. To ensure a high-quality guest experience and minimal impact on our neighbors, they have partnered with Matt Williams, a professional short-term rental property manager based in Front Royal.

PLANNING COMMISSION STATUS: The Planning Commission held a public hearing for this item on May 13, 2026. On a motion made by Mr. Kersjes, seconded by Mr. Barnhart, and by the following vote, the Planning Commission moved to forward the conditional use permit 2026-04-02 to the Board of Supervisors with the recommendation of approval.

On a motion by Henry, second from Stanmeyer, approved by a 4-0 vote.

I-5. Ordinance Authorizing the Payment of Employee Bonus

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The 2026 Session of the General Assembly for constitutional officers, regional jail superintendents, and their Compensation Board-funded deputies and employees approved a 2% salary bonus as part of HB29 (the caboose budget). The funds will be distributed by the compensation board as part of the June 2026 reimbursement, captured in the FY2026 General Fund budget.  The total number of employees estimated to receive the supplement is 133, which equates to $130,774 …

Seated in the back of the meeting room was a large complement of County staff members. Many appeared present for board discussion and decisions on a number of employee or departmental funding matters.

COST & FINANCING: The compensation board will contribute $130,774 in reimbursement, and the locally funded portion is $316,200, which will come from FY26 Compensation Reserve 91000-9503 & FY26 Merit Reserve 91000-9504.

On a motion by Stanmeyer, seconded by Henry, approved by a 5-0 vote.

I- 6. Proposed Amendment to Warren County Code Section 172-2 “Designation of Certain Private Roads as Highways”

This item was removed from the Public Hearings list to allow staff time to assemble additional information.

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: On April 13, 2026, the County Attorney’s Office received a letter from Kimberly B. W. Emerson, Esq., the attorney for Apple Mountain Lake Subdivision … The letter requests that Apple Mountain Lake Subdivision be removed from the list of designated subdivisions whose private roads are designated as highways for law enforcement purposes.  Apple Mountain Lake Subdivision was added to Warren County Code Section 172-2 as such a designated subdivision on July 20, 1987.

I -7. Ordinance for Triennial review of exempt property & Tax Relief for the Elderly …

While the supervisors heard reports from Commissioner of the Revenue Sherry Sours and other staff, this item was tabled for action to a future time. As noted in the staff summary on possible motions: “An additional public hearing will be held for this item when the ordinance is completed and reviewed.”

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Commissioner of Revenue will discuss a request to triennially review exempt properties for Warren County. Property exemptions are based on ownership and USE. Ownership changes can be noticed during property deed transfers and due to changes in use. This will keep an up-to-date listing of exempt properties at the review level to prevent them from qualifying as exempt if their use no longer qualifies for the exemption. The property would then revert to taxable property. This will allow the Commissioner’s office to review all exempt properties and require the property owner to submit an exemption application to remain exempt if there are no changes to the property’s use.

I-8. Budget Amendment exceeding 1% of total expenditures – Alisa Scott, Finance Director, Jon Martz, Director of Social Services

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: Per the Children Services Act’s (CSA) funding projections dated 05/19/2026 and approved by the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) an additional $1,782,684.00 is requested for CSA warrants issued. The Local only contribution is $115,000.

COST & FINANCING: $1,782,684

PROPOSED OR SUGGESTED MOTION: I move that the 2025-2026 Warren County Budget be amended to include an additional $1,782,684.00 to the Community Policy and Management Team budget line item, and that such funds be appropriated. SUBMITTED BY: Alisa Scott, Finance Director, Jon Martz, Director of Social Services

On a motion by Stanmeyer, second from Henry, this item was approved by a 5-0 vote.

CONSENT AGENDA:

A six-item Consent Agenda was approved as presented. Those six items included:

J-1 Sheriff’s Office HIDTA Crime Analyst MOU and Budget Amendment to FY26 and FY27 — SUBMITTED BY: Crystal Cline, Sheriff

Sheriff Crystal Cline addressed departmental funding & personnel issues after a late arrival near the meeting’s end.

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area LLC is providing the Warren County Sheriff’s Office with a grant of $56,862 to cover a Crime Analyst’s salary and fringe benefits. The transfer of fiscal responsibility was previously transferred from the County to the Town in 2020.  It is now requested that fiscal responsibility be transferred back to the County as of February 1, 2026.  If the funding is cut or HIDTA discontinues the designation, the position will be eliminated. The Board of Supervisors is requested to approve the grant and allow the Finance & Purchasing Office to submit invoices for reimbursement.

Proposed Motion: I move that the County accept the grant, that the County Administrator be authorized to execute all agreements necessary to implement such grant, that the FY26 and FY27 budgets be amended in the amount of $23,972 for FY26 and $56,862 for FY27, and that all such funds be appropriated to the Sheriff’s Department.

J.2. Contract for Services with The Data Pros.Net, Inc.

SUBMITTED BY: Todd Jones, IT Director

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: WCIT is moving vendors for our Microsoft 365 licensing. M365 is a critical software package that nearly every employee uses. To minimize costs, employees have different licenses based on their jobs. This new vendor enables us to leverage Microsoft’s no-cost programs to improve network visibility and configuration. This item is included in the existing budget. We are simply changing vendors. The attached contract has been reviewed and properly vetted by the County Attorney.

COST & FINANCING: $115,560.00

PROPOSED MOTION: I move that the Board of Supervisors approve the Contract for Services with The Data Pros.net, Inc. I further move that the Board authorize the Chair and County Administrator, either of whom may act, to execute all necessary documents that have been approved by the County Attorney.

J.3. Transfer of Budget Guidelines 

Submitted by Alisa Scott, Finance Director

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: This fiscal policy provides guidance on budget transfers. Budget transfers only apply to the budget within a line item that has already been adopted by the Board of Supervisors as part of the annual budget adoption process.

The Finance & Purchasing Department shall provide a list of budget transfers as part of its monthly report to the Board of Supervisors …

COST & FINANCING: There is no cost or financing associated with the transfer of budget, only appropriations, which the Board of Supervisors shall always have the authority to approve.

J.4. Renewal VRSA FY27 Warren County

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY:

Warren County Administration is recommending the renewal of VRSA Property and Liability, Workers’ Compensation, and LODA insurance coverage for FY27.  The premium will increase from FY26 to FY27 by $69,935, bringing the annual premium to $566,422.  The increase in the premium is due to multiple factors: an increase in the experience mod from .88 to 1.21, an increase in the number of covered vehicles by 26, an increase in payroll (additional employees hired and an increase in pay rates), and the increase in property values being covered in FY26, which led to an increase in Workers Compensation and P & L coverage premiums.

COST & FINANCING: The insurance premium for FY27, $566,422, has been budgeted in the FY27 Operational budget.

PROPOSED OR SUGGESTED MOTION: I move that the Board of Supervisors approve the renewal of the VRSA Property, Liability, Workers Compensation and LODA insurance coverage for Warren County for FY27 and authorize the County Administrator to sign all renewal documents.

J.5. Renewal VRSA FY27 Warren County Volunteer Fire/EMS   …..

Submitted by Jane Meadows, Deputy County Administrator, & Gerry Maiatico, Assistant Fire Chief

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: We are recommending renewal of Workers’ Compensation liability coverage for Warren County Volunteer Fire & EMS members for FY27. The premium from FY26 to FY27 has changed due to an alignment of the Auto Physical Damage deductible to $1,000 ($1,622 savings) and the Property deducible alignment to $1,000 ($2,724 savings), in addition the policy has been expanded to include Worker’ Comp Plus which is a $500 increase, Cyber Liability which is a $1,771 increase and Crime which is a $225 increase …

COST & FINANCING: The premium renewal for FY27 is $65,068, and this has been budgeted in the WC FY27 budget under line item 32000-5303.

J.6. FY27 Individual Call Handling Equipment Grant – Amended

EXPLANATION & SUMMARY: The Warren County Sheriff’s Office E911 Communications Division has been awarded a grant from the Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board. This funding is specifically designated to perform a hardware refresh of the 911 Call Handling Equipment (CHE). This grant is fully funded through the 9-1-1 Service Board and requires no cash match from Warren County. Notification was sent to Director Atkins informing us that the grant award amount has been increased to $300,000 from the originally approved $200,000.

COST & FINANCING: No match required

And that ended the Consent Agenda approval as presented to the board by staff. And it will conclude our Action Item Agenda summary for Tuesday’s regular board meeting.

For additional details on conversations, staff reports, and board actions, see the County video.