Recap of July 12 BOS Meeting
July 12 Meeting Recap
BOS Takes No Action on Proposed Ordinance for Discharging a Firearm
At its July 12 meeting, the Prince George County Board of Supervisors received an overwhelming response from Prince George County residents requesting that the Board oppose any proposed changes that would affect the otherwise lawful discharge of firearms. This topic came up at the Board’s April 12, 2022 meeting when a citizen made a complaint during citizen public comment period of a neighbor target shooting at all hours of the day and evening. The County has also received other complaints regarding reckless handling of a firearm.
The County Administrator put together a committee of Staff and citizens consisting of the County Attorney, Chief of Police, the Sheriff, and four citizens. The County Attorney presented a spreadsheet to the Committee showing how adjacent localities and other sample localities handle the discharge of firearms by ordinance. Prior to the County Attorney presenting the Committee’s recommended options to the Board, 14 citizens voiced their opinions in opposition of a Discharging a Firearms Ordinance while many others attended in opposition as well. During the County Attorney’s report, options for required distance and language requiring berms/backstops were discussed with a penalty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, which is up to a $500 fine and no jail time. Following the report, the Board agreed by consensus not to make a decision on moving forward at this time until more research is done.
Other matters that came before the BOS at its meeting:
· Received an update on Disc Golf at Scott Park.
· Received a report on the Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule.
· Received a Ruralband fiber update.
· Discussed and unanimously approved a new PIO position for FY23.
· Discussed a Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator position for FY23.
· Discussed and unanimously approved the reclassification of an administrative position to Planning & Zoning Technician.
· Discussed reclassification of Apparatus Technician to Fleet Supervisor for FY23.
· Approved on consent an appropriation in the amount of $9,045.02 for insurance recoveries for Police vehicle repairs.
· Received a roads maintenance report from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
· Held a CIP discussion.
· Received a report on the Convenience Center site locations concept.
· Unanimously approved a Pro Rata Share Agreement between the County and Chappell Creek, LLC for public water infrastructure improvement for the Chappell Creek Subdivision.
· Unanimously approved a resolution giving local governing body endorsement of the Smart Scale candidate projects.
· Unanimously approved an appropriation in the amount of $100,000 from Tourism Fund, Fund Balance to the Prince George Regional Heritage Center for the Fire & EMS Museum.
· Unanimously authorized the advertisement of a public hearing on August 9 for a one-time waiver of Sections 82-11(A) and 82-591 of the Code of the County of Prince George, Virginia for water/sewer connection for Tax Parcel 450(0A)00-0230A.
· Unanimously authorized the advertisement of a public hearing on August 9 for an Ordinance to Amend “The Code of the County of Prince George, Virginia,” 2005, as amended, by amending Section 202 to change the Fee Schedule for the Planning and Zoning Department.
· Unanimously approved an award of contract in the amount of $46,250 for the demolition of the Continental Motel.
· Unanimously authorized the Police Department to complete and submit a grant application to DCIS for a School Resource Officer assigned to Harrison Elementary School.
· Unanimously authorized the advertisement of a public hearing on August 9 to lease a portion of the Central Wellness Center to the Hopewell/Prince George Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 17.
· Unanimously authorized the advertisement of a public hearing on August 9 to lease a portion of the Central Wellness Center to the Rotary Club of Prince George.
· Unanimously approved an award of contract and budget transfer in the amount of $5,990 for a third-party electronic payment processor – Tyler Payments.
· Unanimously authorized the advertisement of a public hearing on August 9 for an Ordinance to Amend “The Code of the County of Prince George, Virginia,” as amended, by amending §2-731 “Payments of Local Taxes and Other Fees, Charges, Penalties and Interest by Approved Credit and Debit Cards” to add all payment methods supported by the County’s ERP and payment processor as covered payment methods.
· Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a Secondary Route Abandonment with no replacement in accordance with §33.2-909, Code of Virginia, for the segment of Community Lane from 0.2 Miles East from Intersection of 1101, Community Lane and F-999, Community Ln. to 0.06 Miles East at the Dead End of Rte. 1101, Community Lane.
· Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a lease agreement for use of a portion of the Prince George Central Wellness Center between the County of Prince George and the Prince George Youth Wrestling Association.
· Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a Special Exception request of Christopher and Marisela Clark to permit a golf course within an R-A (Residential-Agricultural) Zoning District.
· Held a public hearing and unanimously approved a SPECIAL EXCEPTION for Powell Creek Solar, LLC to permit a large-scale solar energy facility in an A-1 (General Agricultural) Zoning District.
· Held a public hearing and voted 3-2 (with Brown and Webb dissenting) to postpone to August 9 an Ordinance to amend “The Code of the County of Prince George, Virginia,” as amended, by amending §§42-1.1, 42-1.2, 42-1.3, 42-1.4, 42-1.5, 42-1.6, 42-1.7, 42-1.8, 42-1.9, 42-1.10, and 42-1.11 to align Chapter 42 Fire Prevention and Protection with the Virginia Code, to eliminate redundancies, to Align Chapter 42 with current policy and to remove language that is already covered in Policy.