foreign
you ready
[Music]
your attention please
thank you
I need a motion to come out of executive
session please
I have a motion and Mr uh reading your
microphone is not working real well okay
I have a motion I need a second I'm
saving it I have a second
um any discussion all in favor
any opposed any abstentions
we're now back in session
thank you madam chair this is
certification this closed session
pursuant to subsection 2.2 3712d of the
code of Virginia 1950. as amended each
member of the Board of Supervisors of
Road call certifies it to do that to the
best of their knowledge on public
business matters lawfully Exempted from
the open meeting requirements under the
Virginia freedom of the information act
and only public business matters that
were identified in the Motions by which
the closed meeting was convened were
heard discussed or considered in the
meeting by the Board of Supervisors
any member of the board supervisors who
believes that there was a departure from
the requirements shall stay so prior to
the vote indicating the substance of the
departure that in his or her judgment
has taken place
are there any supervisors who believe
they departure took place
seeing none if you agree that the
matters heard discussed or considered
during the closed meeting were pursuing
not only to the Motions by which the
closed meeting was conveyed please
signify by saying yay or yes Tim
Lovelace yes
Carl Wright
stay Brady yes
David yeah
Rebecca died
of course Christian yeah
Luanne Wallace yes
ma'am you have approval to return to
regular session thank you Mr Lester
so at this time
um we're going to have an invocation
please stand and stay standing for the
Pledge of Allegiance
father God lord we love you we thank you
we praise you today Father father
forgive us for where we fill you each
and every day and thank you for allowing
us to be a part of our local government
father help us be more like you in each
and every way in your name I pray
I pledge allegiance to the flag
and to the Republic for
one nation under God indivisible with
liberty and justice for all
thank you at this time I'm going to ask
for approval of the agenda and I think
we have some amendments please I am true
thank you yes I have uh three requests
for immense amendments to the agenda
first is the removal of the PSA
presentations under the
presentation section
the second one is under the County
Attorney section line on as number two
and AEP resolution for reduction in
utility rates
and
I one under the County Administrator is
line item number nine a travel request
Edition
okay I'll accept a motion for the agenda
the amended agenda please
thank you I have a motion in a second
any discussion further all in favor uh
uh any opposed
motion carries
so at this time
um I'm gonna open the floor
for a public hearing which is the
resolution and ordinance prohibiting the
location and operation of an abortion
clinic or abortion clinics within the
boundaries of Russell County Virginia
and I do have
um a list of folks that have asked to
speak
and so uh according to my chair
prerogative I'm going to do it this way
I'm going to hear the folks that want to
speak on something other than the
ordinance first
and so if they would like to stay after
they speak publicly that's fine but I'm
going to let them be able to move along
I also have people on this list that are
from other counties
so I'm going to ask you if you will be
patient with us and allow our County
Citizens to speak publicly first
so I'm going to shuffle folks around
from where you are
all right so I'm going to start out
tonight with number one Eric Bryant
Eagle's Nest branch
he wants to speak on the state of the
county Eric
I'm glad to have this opportunity to
address the board
the citizens of Russell County this
evening
and I've risen to speak about a very
weighty subject that's dragging their
County Down
and that is the systemic failure of
County governance
I've stood before this board on multiple
occasions and I've made many phone calls
sent many emails to this board and other
County agencies however
over the course of more than two years
all of my efforts have been rebuffed by
this board
the animal warden did nothing and
stopped taking my calls I was told by a
sheriff's deputy Point Blank I'm not
coming out there over my concerns with
neighborhood gunfire
this complete lack of action and
continued lawlessness culminated in an
event in January this year that happened
a couple of hundred yards from my
doorstep
where a little boy had to endure
horrible abuse and below freezing
temperatures which has cost him his legs
code of Virginia titled 24-2 chapter 2
States
a competition of a circuit court May
remove from office any elected officer
or officer who has been appointed to
fulfill an elective office residing
within the jurisdiction of the Court
one
for neglect of Duty misuse of office or
incompetence in the performance of
Duties when the neglect of Duty misuse
of office or incompetence in the
performance of Duties as a material
adverse effect upon the conduct of the
office
the petition must be signed by a number
of registered voters who reside within
the jurisdiction of the officer equal to
10 percent of the total number of votes
cast of the last election for the office
that the officer holds
I'm formerly calling for the resignation
of all seven board members
then after a reasonable amount of time
if the call is ignored by all the
members then it is my intention to begin
petition for recall
Title 24 for petition of removal sites
neglect of Duty and incompetence as
reasons for removal if they have any
adverse material fact upon the conduct
of the office and to that I would state
that the neglective duty and the
incompetence has resulted in bringing
shame upon this board
and the loss of trustworthiness from its
citizens and any potential business that
would locate here
that is an adverse material effect on
this board as a whole and individually
and also it is an adverse material
effect on the citizens of Russell County
it has been a tragedy
for a young boy
our declaration says to secure our
rights of life liberty and the pursuit
of happiness governments are instituted
among men deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed that
whenever any form of government becomes
destructive of these ends it is the
right of the people to alter or demolish
it and to Institute new government
having its foundations on such
principles and organizing its powers in
such form as to them seem most likely to
affect their safety and happiness that
it goes on to say it is their right
it is their duty to throw off such
government and to provide new guards for
their future security
thank you for your time
if anyone would be interested
thank you Mr
Rebecca Bryant
okay
you can't follow that one huh all right
next
um hang on just a second
Roy Castle
thank you for this privilege to speak
uh November the seventh
I spoke here
that was my 95th birthday
appreciate you in the speak
I requested that someone
look at the king land heights
subdivision Circle which involves a half
a mile of paved Road
well I thought maybe around June or July
somebody will take a look at it
but in three days Lou Ed
had it all fixed the motor company cut
that road into six places
and when she got two
you'll just drive over to the spoons
going over this carpet and I will thank
the Lord will thank Lou and for taking
that into consideration
I make this
for the supervisors did a thing they do
anyway I could help you people I I think
thank you Mr Castle
Joni Baker Lebanon Virginia give me your
address please when you approach the
bench please
my name is Joni Baker I reside and lay
my head down to sleep here in Lebanon
Steve breeding's District
I'd like to thank each of you for
listening to the citizens and making
Russell County a pro-life Sanctuary camp
tonight I stand before you as an
off-duty law enforcement officer
as I spoke to each of you last year
concerning an unconstitutional noise
ordinance which would have put an
unnecessary stress of both the Sheriff's
Office and First Responders by creating
a higher call volume of domestic
disturbance in altercations between the
neighbors although it's my strong
opinion that the noise orders would be
bad for both the Citizens First
Responders this ordinance is best for
both the public and First Responders of
this great County here are some
statistics National Abortion Federation
releases 2021 violence and disruption
said for immediate release May 19 2022.
the report shows biggest increases in
stalking bomb threats invasions and
assault and battery
they said today the National Abortion
Federation Naf released its 2021
statistics on violence and disruption
against abortion providers
statistics show a significant increase
in stalking by 600 percent
block AIDS 450 percent
hoax devices suspicious packages 163
percent
invasions 129 and the song battery 128
the Naf has been compiling statistics on
incidents of violence and disruption
against abortion providers for 45 years
since 1977 there have been 11 murders 42
bombings 196 arsons 491 assaults and
thousands of incidents of criminal
activities directed at Patients
providers and volunteers
as a husband a father a citizen a Lord
willing future Sheriff of this great
County I strongly encourage each of you
to pass this ordinance which will
ultimately save taxpayers money and save
lives enclosing Russell County is known
as the heart of Southwest Virginia not
as a place where Hearts go to stop
beating and let's keep it that way thank
you
[Applause]
thank you Mr Baker
uh are you
if you have something else I'll I'll
allow you to come up one
give me your name and address
for Park Avenue in Lebanon
um one of the things I wanted to bring
to you tonight and I know wanzo had
gotten a letter we had talked about the
opioid money they came back into the
county and I know I have somebody that
had sent him a letter asking and
requesting a donation I guess basically
you'd say from Russell County to the
mended women's home in Abingdon
um I really hope that you all look at
this and that there's something that
y'all can do
there's quite a few women from Russell
County that end up over in the jail
system also
and it's because of substance abuse so
we're just asking that as you look at
where you what you do with this funding
that you could possibly do something for
the mended women home in Abingdon
because I think it would be an awesome
benefit for them because we have just as
many women that will go through that
program as the other counties
the other thing is
um we talked to you three years ago
about Mark marrow
we have Mark marrow coming back to our
schools
in September he is going to the middle
schools this time
um
we had some donations that came from the
board last time of course we'll look for
any donations if he can but he's going
to go into all the middle schools within
Russell County and we're also going to
do a community night again up at the
Lebanon Middle School so we would
appreciate any support that y'all give
us for that because
he made quite an impact on the kids in
these schools and we know
the same thing will happen this time so
we're just looking at you support us in
any which game okay
thank you thank you
[Applause]
next I have uh James Nunley
good evening James on the 100 Bromley
Circle Lebanon
um here tonight just to First share
it's my great support for this ordinance
is being presented
we're talking about protecting the
sanctity of life
Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5. God tells us
that
tell John told Jeremiah excuse me before
I formed thee in the belly
that tells me that that's enough for me
to believe life begins in conception
and uh
with that we definitely don't want this
industry finding its way into the
borders of our town
I'm a strong supporter
of passing this ordinance
and I appreciate how the ordinance is
written
I greatly appreciate your time your
consideration on this
keep working I appreciate what you're
doing
thank you
Tara null
my name is Taryn old I'm 60 Angel way
Cleveland
um thank you all for giving us a few
minutes of your time to hear from the
community I stand before you guys once
again with the same story that I shared
in October
um but I want to take a moment to share
that again and as to the reason that I
choose life
so 18 years ago God blessed my husband
and myself with a beautiful son Josh he
was born with a neural tube defect um
called spina bifida
at that time Avery doctor that we had
met with encouraged abortion for those
with this diagnosis especially early on
in pregnancy because they they see Zero
quality of life
um we later found that information out
after Josh was born but at that time we
listened and we truly processed what
they had to share and after all of that
even if I would have had all of that
information during my pregnancy I asked
myself
did I give the peacock his feathers
did I breathe the Breath of Life in
demand
I didn't
I'm not God
chose life for him so I chose life for
him
Josh unfortunately passed away 11 years
ago but I'm glad that God blessed us and
many that are here with us this evening
with his with his beautiful soul for
almost seven years
and as pastor and only just shared
Jeremiah 1 5 says before I formed thee
in the valley I knew thee and before
thou came us forth out of the womb I
Sanctified thee and ordain thee a
prophet unto the Nations
he set us apart and he declared us holy
Our God knows us and he has a perfect
plan for each of us
he is perfect in everything that he does
and he makes zero mistakes
we all need to protect
um all life from the point of conception
moving forward and I ask that you please
make a stand for our County and make
Russell County a pro-life sanctuary
be a voice allow us to be a voice for
these precious Souls give them that
Sanctified holy set apart life a chance
to make a difference in this world
thank you
[Applause]
Cynthia Thompson
Randy Hurley
foreign
thank you for addressing uh this matter
publicly uh my name is Brandi Hurley and
I live at 353 Arrowhead Circle Cedar
Bluff and I'm not afraid to share my
address I'd like some candidates
as a DSS worker I dealt with
multi-generational sexual abuse that
resulted in many unsafe pregnancies
I worked with a child that told me and
if there were any children I would
highly recommend to get them out
before I say this
I worked with a child that told me his
grandfather taught him how to rape
animals
I dealt with children who could diagram
the exact size of their father's penises
I dealt with a 14 year old child who was
convinced to keep her baby by a foster
parent that would eventually try to take
that baby that she nearly broke her body
to give love to
I question how the people of this County
could know these scenarios exist and
continue to speak out against safe
abortion because abortion will never be
denied in Russell County
is it because the people in this County
believe abortion was actually coming to
Russell County no because we know that
we don't have the population to sustain
an abortion clinic we already knew this
nobody said they were coming to Russell
County to open an abortion clinic we
don't even have an OB GYN
is it because the people of this County
care for children
no
because I know that's not the case I
drove hundreds of children out of the
Russell County borders into other
counties and sometimes into other states
because nobody in this County would
offer shelter to those children
is it because the people of Russell
County are unaware of the horrific child
abuse that is constant in our County
no because we all saw that last week
with a child who would suffer severe
frostbite
and we know that sexual abuse is rampant
in our County and that we need
additional services to deal with those
poor children who have been sexually
abused
is it because people are uninformed I
don't think it's that either
all of these people have access to the
internet they can talk to their doctors
they can ask other people for their
opinions and they can form their own
choices
is it because people in this room have
never met somebody who needed a safe
abortion no because the last time we
spoke about abortion in this County we
heard from a republican woman who is
still here today because she was able to
get a safe abortion when she chose
abortion
so what is it we're all here for a
failed culture War we have a lot of
people in this room that don't like the
way the country is heading
Russell County is just a county it is
not part of the national stage and it is
not part of the state politics
however we have a lot of armchair
quarterbacks in the room who want to
enact change but are unwilling to go to
the state or national governments that
will allow that to happen
I am not here to beg this board to stop
this ordinance
it will face a challenge at some point
in the future and it will fail
we've all seen how much this County
cares about those uh ordinances anyway
because
um candidates have been able to put up
signs in violation of ordinances since
last December
foreign
I'm here to tell women that they can
still have an abortion in Russell County
there are multiple online providers who
can ship
the appropriate medication to your
doorstep up to the 10th week you can
still go to Bristol I'm here to tell any
child in Russell County under the age of
18 that if they have chosen abortion and
their parent will not consent I will
personally help them with the judicial
bypass of that process as a free
licensed attorney in the state of
Virginia thank
thank you
ladies and gentlemen I want to ask you
to keep your opinions to yourself
this is a free room to express whatever
we need to express at this time whether
you agree with it or not
I appreciate that thank you
next I have on the list is Dr Don
zamfonia I murdered that every time and
forgive me Dr Don
foreign
thank you for the opportunity to address
each one of you again
first thing I want to say is
I want to thank the county attorney for
the document that she drafted
what a great job
[Applause]
we began this meeting tonight as we
begin every meeting at the government
center
we stood and we heard a word of prayer
of the god
rules overall
the Bible says Jesus said I am the way
and the truth and the
and the Jesus is the creator of life he
is the sustainer of life he is The Giver
of Life
and the Bible says Thine Eyes did see my
substance yet being a perfect and in thy
book all my members were written which
in continuance were fashioned when as
yet there was none of them how precious
also are thy thoughts unto me o God how
great is the sum of them
God is The Giver of Life God is the
creator of life he is sustainable
sustainer of life
and it does not matter what human
governments and human people think
what we need to be doing if we're going
to open these meetings in prayer we need
according to the word of God and
standing up for What God Says and I just
encourage this board
you've come this far have the courage to
do what's right these are the days when
God's people must stand up and be
accounted for
and that's all I've got to say thank you
for your time thank you
I'm now down to some Washington County
folks and I appreciate you coming I
really do
um so I've got a Bobby gross and I'm not
real sure you gave me no address
all right
I'll mark you off my list then
Chris Hess
Bristol Virginia
my name is Father Chris Hess I live in
Bristol Virginia I am pastor of three
churches of this great part of the state
and I also represent the Catholic
Diocese of Richmond as the dean of
Russell County and surrounding counties
and I came here to speak in support of
this order something that I that needs
to happen it's an issue that has stirred
a little bit of controversy in Bristol
and even in Washington County but I
don't see that being the case here
this should be very simple this should
be the simplest decision you will ever
make why because we're not asking you to
change anything in Russell County
we're asking you to let Russell County
be the way it is right now
when this ordinance passes it goes into
effect Russell County will be the same
that day as it was the day before and it
will continue like that let me tell you
what's going on in Bristol right now our
city government is betting on Hard Rock
Hotel and Casino to bring thousands of
tourists to our city every week right
now the tourists are coming to the
temporary Casino are being treated to
quite the show directly across the
street where we have the clinic we have
their volunteers who call themselves
escorts dressed in pink dancing
provocatively in the parking lot
shouting obscenities throwing religious
articles into the street ahead of
oncoming traffic is their way of giving
the finger to Christianity while another
group only a few feet away hurts on the
top of Step ladders with bull horns
yelling at the escorts it's quite the
sight there have been multiple arrests
while this has been going on
do you want that in Russell County
I would hope not
the abortion industry is targeting
Southwest Virginia Russell County and
other places because this is such an
easy access to other states
that come here what they're going to do
is set up a base of operations to Market
in other states I just heard someone say
that Russell County cannot support
people not sustain the clinic I don't
dispute that that's not what they want
they're not here for Russell County
they're here to bring people in from out
of state who don't care what kind of
controversy or conflict they create in
this County if you don't believe me in
Bristol we are routinely seeing vehicles
for more than half a dozen states coming
in into that clinic the business is just
crazy what's going on right there the
clinic in Bristol is owned by a woman
named Diane durzis she's not a native
she has no concern for Southwest
Virginia if the name sounds familiar
it's because she owned the clinic in
Jackson Mississippi that was at the
center of the Supreme Court decision
recently that overturned Roe v Wade
she's had to close multiple clinics
since then as she's now advertising to
the people in those areas that they
should come to Bristol even though it's
by far not the closest Clinic to those
areas
what is the closest Clinic that she
earns that she owns proving once again
that she's not in this for the women
she's in this for the money
and that's it I also just heard somebody
say well Russell County is not in the
National or International Spotlight
scene right now and my question is do
you want to be
because that's what this will do in
Bristol I have been speaking to
journalists from one end of this country
to the other we had a journalist from
Sweden at my church we had a TV crew
from New Zealand
that's the kind of attention that this
is bringing
I've said a lot of crazy things in the
short time so they just closed where I
began
Russell County really is a beautiful
place to grow up and raise a family all
we're asking is to just please allow
Russell County to remain as it is now
thank you
thank you Father Hayes Dr Jacqueline
early
hello my name is Dr Jacqueline early I
live at 15421 Briarwood Lane in
Washington County I am a board-certified
Emergency Physician and I have taken
care of many residents of Russell County
while I worked at jmh in Abingdon as an
Emergency Physician I have treated many
OB GYN emergencies none of them required
me to murder a child to save a mother
this is a lie that has spread in this
country by those who make money
performing elective abortions and by
people who have no knowledge of actual
emergency medical care but believe
everything they read or hear in the
media
but when a patient has life-threatening
bleeding during pregnancy she comes to
the ER the baby's life is naturally in
danger if the mom is bleeding in her
uterus we stop the bleeding and
transfused blood we don't kill the child
if a baby dies naturally during a
miscarriage and the mom is not able to
expel the contents of the uterus a
physician will perform a DNC and or
ablation our goal is to always save the
mom and baby and we don't kill either
one
when a mom has an ectopic or Tuple
pregnancy this is not a viable pregnancy
and it will die naturally 100 of the
time and often kill the mother
terminating a tubal pregnancy is not an
abortion a baby will never grow to full
term in a fallopian tube these women
with real life-threatening OBGYN
emergencies are not being denied Health
Care they seek it at the hospital or the
ER anyone that tells you that women die
waiting for abortions is lying to you
that doesn't even make sense no one is
dying because they can't get to an
abortion Center fast enough
women who want to end the lives of their
healthy growing babies in their wombs
seek elective abortions abortion
businesses make money for killing the
healthy children I encourage you to
check the prices of the Abortion Center
and ask yourself why it costs more to
kill a 14 week baby than a six-week baby
could it be that the baby is bigger
because it is alive and growing for an
additional eight weeks in its mother's
womb
abortion businesses kill healthy growing
babies they're very profitable I am not
going to argue whether women want them
for convenience or because they have a
tragic experience when they conceive or
even whether some states legalize them I
am talking about a procedure that is not
medically necessary for the health of
the mother a procedure which is
successful if it kills a child and
leaves her in the trash of the abortion
business
is the goal of this County to bring in
abortion tourism or recreational tourism
like kayaking on the Clinch River or
hiking the trails
because of the laws of neighboring
states I encourage you to spend some
time at the Bristol Clinic to see what
what you would be welcoming in your
community
despite lawyers scaring you and lying
that you can't dictate businesses in
your community you can you're always
able to make the best decisions for your
constituents you can always ask if any
business will add value to your
community just because abortion is
currently legal in Virginia doesn't mean
abortion business is right for Russell
County and it's not discriminatory at
all women are not being denied Health
Care in Southwest Virginia
I know because I have provided health
care for a lot of Russell County
residents
you're going to hear many untrue
arguments alleging that abortion is a
necessity hopefully all of you board
members have the discernment and the
wisdom to hear these things and then
choose what's right for Russell County
thank you thank you
this is not going to sound nice but
Arling
10 seconds
would you please help me with that name
when you get up here please
it's my husband's name
um my name is Eileen penasovich I live
at 21709 Old Dominion road that is in
Washington County
we live in Southwest Virginia a part of
the state that the rest of the state
forgets about
in a part of the country that is often
seen as a punch line to a joke
but last Wednesday
I was in Richmond for the Virginia March
for Life where more than a thousand
people from across the state spoke out
against our state's abortion laws
something interesting happened while we
were there
we heard people talking about Southwest
Virginia
we were being given credit for being the
part of the state that was bucking the
system
that Southwest Virginia had found the
way to say no thank you to the rest of
the state and the laws that they're
passing
laws that refused to limit abortion
laws that don't care that a child feels
pain as it's being torn limb from limb
laws that don't represent Who We Are
we're at a Crossroads in this country
right now
one where our leaders disregard not only
life in the womb
but the lives of everyday working
Americans
they don't listen when we say we want
less government in our lives
they don't listen when we say we want
you out of our schools and away from our
children
they don't listen when we say
we're okay
we don't need your handouts
so I stand here today to tell you to
listen to us
you are local leaders you are one of us
we have to start taking control of our
country back
that starts with you
listen to the people who vote for you
who work in your county who support your
economy
we're asking you to be bold to stand up
and say no
no we will not allow babies to be
murdered in our counties
no we will not welcome people from out
of state who think we are too ignorant
and stupid to see that they wish to
profit off of our location and give
nothing back to our economies
let us be the example to the rest of the
state and tell them
we don't want your laws
down here in Southwest Virginia we know
what we need and we know how to take
care of ourselves
past the ordinance that says no to
allowing abortion businesses to open
I encourage you to live up to the
reputation that I heard spoke of last
Wednesday
one where we show the rest of the state
how to tell our state leaders
no
no we won't blindly go along with what
you dictate
no we won't stand for the murder of
innocent children
we may just be rural counties at the end
of the state but when we do this
together we become a large voice for the
voiceless and a sanctuary for
Traditional Values
if we start here with this small step
who knows what one day we may accomplish
but it's going to take each one of you
saying yes yes to life
thank you
thank you Eileen and I apologize again
next on the list is Dayton Owens
ignorance I live one zero zero three
five Old Mill Road Lakes Frank Virginia
in Washington County
I'm reading a book uh that is called
when a nation forgets God
it shows how the Third Reich
convinced the German people to
exterminate not only Jews
but physically and mentally handicapped
individuals
of course we know all this this
Slaughter by the slaughter at these
camps into different parts of Germany
and different parts of Europe we know
that six million Jews were exterminated
in these camps
we know also know it wasn't just a Jews
as I said a minute ago it's a mentally
and physically handicapped
there was a church
right outside of your on the railroad
tracks in Germany
they loaded up these I read in this book
and then another one about 25 years ago
there was a church located right beside
the tracks
and they loaded these Jewish people
women boys and girls
and these cattle cars crammed them in or
they couldn't hardly even set out
as they started the by the church the
church could hear the turning on the
tracks
and then they could hear the screaming
are they good here they're screaming
other peoples and individuals on that
dress
so the church decided
they would sing a little louder
so they could not hear it they just
ignored it and let it go away
six million when they got to those camps
they separated the men
the women and the children this way
matter
your age
they killed you
and the German people
like our news media is doing to us today
convincing us that this child in the
womb is not a child
you know better
several years ago
they came that was just that was uh some
letters wwjd
we know what wdjd did and what did Jesus
do but this one was what would Jesus do
now that's the question
is put in your land
all you have to do
is listen to scripture
if you know scriptures anyone at all
you know the value of human life all of
us
are created in God's image
and we have worthy of life thank you for
your time thank you for taking up this
ordinance I certainly hope you pass it
thank you
Mr Owen
next I have Dr maruse Peters
hello
my name is Marshall Speeders I live on
19170 located please
Virginia
I work in Abingdon and Russell County
here as a high school executive
physician and also practicing how
thank you for allowing me to speak
tonight
if we take the time to read some of
today's news headlines
you may have encountered some of the
following news
15 year old boy stabs 13 year old
cheerleader classmate 144 times in
Florida
in New York 39 year old career criminal
charged was beating 90 year old
hard-working store owner
yeah
a mother claims that teachers
manipulated her child to change the
gender identity
the mother said the two Middle School
teachers who ran the school's equality
Club
later known as ubu
stands for you be you
planted the sea that her daughter was
bisexual in sixth grade and then
introduced the idea she was transgender
next chilling 9-1-1 dispatch describes
how over-medicated Midwife mom cut her
ownerists before jumping from Top window
of her home in suicide attempt after
strangling her three children
in the Northeast
next second Mega earthquake hits turkey
and Syria scores feared dead and last
Oregon becomes America's first death
tourism destination
with one doctor Dr Death offering
terminally ill out-of-state patients a
fatal cocktail of drugs at his assisted
suicide Clinic
I firmly believe that this news is all
stemming from one and only one root
despite the variety of wickedness it
portrays that is when men reject God's
decree when man redefine truth and
devise his own facade of a foundation to
build his own version of the Tower of
Babel consequently destruction death
apathy cruelty murder and yes
earthquakes are the natural
byproducts what we are here to
deliberate this evening is how to answer
this fundamental question what is true
what is the truth
what is moral law and who is our moral
law Giver
I see only two critically different ways
to answer this question either we
continue to live and govern and to lead
and work and raise our children as
self-proclaimed gods of our own society
and life redefine truth to our own
liking and convenience making some
editing and adjusting and modification
dependent on the social or societal
climate of the day
so much so that today a 12 year old girl
decides he is a boy and her parents need
not intervene in fact they cannot
intervene a 40 year old man decides to
assault a hard-working elderly store
owner because he feels Vindicated by
some headlines or pundits then he gets a
joke of a punishment or a sentence
seventeen-year-old girl decides the life
that is growing in her uterus is not
worth living and gets praised for
independently murdering this innocent
pre-born baby
a family decide with their doctor that
their 80 year old Grandma's dementia is
now too severe two burdensome
so I will finish so let's let's visit a
euthanasia Clinic Psalm 11 says if the
foundations are destroyed what can the
righteous do
we have an obligation to maintain sound
foundation for your concert for for your
constituents your community otherwise
there should be no surprise when chaos
crime disregard to everything good
becomes the state of the land if you are
building a house and the walls are not
checked against one line do not be
shocked when destruction follows thank
you and I apologize for taking too much
time
foreign
ER
my name is Andrew brockmeyer I live in
opportunity my address is 17061 Hollis
Lane
I am a family practitioner practicing in
Bristol I've been in practice there for
26 years
taking care of a full game of patients
all ages I've delivered to hundreds of
babies uh
and I'm here in support of this
resolution now I'd like to start off by
admitting that this is
highly emotional subject for many many
people there's lots of rhetoric it's
difficult to understand
what's true and what's not true it is
people have said it all gets jumbled and
Comedia
before I go any further I would like to
thank that social worker for speaking
she has a miserable job and we all need
to pray for her if you're a God-fearing
person
um I'd like to clarify some of the
confusion that's uh spread out there
so uh
the pro-abortion forces you know claim
that uh these are women's health clinics
that they're opening up and up and to
have Services provided for so I went and
looked at planned parenthood's website
today and kind of see what services they
actually offer so here's a quick list
number one abortion Services number two
abortion referrals next birth control
next emergency contraception next
primary care and it's HIV Services
transgender hormone therapy Men's Health
Services patient education pregnancy
testing STD testing and women's services
so then I went and looked at the Russell
County Health Department a list of
services that they provide they provide
family planning including physical birth
control physical exams birth control
condoms HIV testing and counseling
medication assistance it's available STD
testing and treatment
quotes testing and treatment done for
anyone strictly confidential and then
especially for women they ask they offer
breast cancer and cervical cancer
screening
and pregnancy tests so what you see all
these tests other than the abortion
stuff everything is taken care of by the
health department that does not include
what's available at every other
most other Medical Offices or the help
wagon or lots of other services are
available so the argument that uh
are necessary
services that are provided by abortion
Mills and
Planned Parenthood
facilities
now
I like statistics I'm not going to bore
you with a ton of Statistics these are
pretty simple statistics can be easily
manipulated these are pretty
straightforward
the agency for healthcare administration
in Florida
records the
reason for every abortion that is
performed in Florida they've been
collecting these statistics if you get
an abortion you have to provide a reason
why you're getting divorced and these
statistics are fresh it says of last
month the 2022 statistics there were
total in Florida of 74 856 abortions
of that number 54
769 were elected sixteen thousand four
hundred sixty two were for social or
economic reasons which to me is elected
also uh uh emotional psychological
health of the mother was a factor in
1700
the physical health of the mother
although not life-threatening was a
factor or the cause of another thousand
wow already oh man my point is
less than one percent of all abortions
were either rape incest or
life-threatening illness to the mother
and thank you sir appreciate it
[Applause]
Charles Humphrey
hello my name is Charles Humphrey I am a
pastor in Washington County a
bivocational pastor I live at 16117 Barn
Rock Road in Mendota Virginia by
vocational because I also work right
next door to this building here and I'm
here today uh for the same reason that I
stood in front of the abortion bill when
it was doing abortions in Bristol
Tennessee one out of an honor and love
to God because
mankind Bears His Image and is created
and conceived in the womb
and because these children bear His
Image out of the honor and obedience to
him I'm here I'm also here because we
are called to love our neighbor and just
as I was there to call out to my
neighbor to have mercy on another
neighbor I'm here to call out to you to
have mercy as my neighbor
to have mercy on any who would bring or
any who would be brought here
to be killed by having Mercy on them by
not allowing this place
to be a place that would legally and
allow allow children to be murdered in
this County
I stood out in front of the abortion
Mill for five years and my my goal was
to do those things in obedience but it
was just to try to speak to people going
in and to encourage them to consider
letting other people help them take care
of this child instead of murdering them
and it's an amazing thing that when you
give access
to abortion you bring the worst out of
people's hearts now an abortion Mill
does not instill those things in
people's hearts those things those dark
things are in their heart but it brings
it out of them and it's obvious when
you're killing a child that is bringing
out one of the most wicked things you
could do but
it also has signs of that by what it
brings to the lack of peace into a
community
it's amazing just my simple talking like
I'm talking to you how people would
react I can't judge their hearts but I
can only see from their actions that
there's dark things going on when you
funnel those people into one particular
place
they would throw things it would save
vile things sometimes I would have young
children with me
it would be elderly women singing with
me and these people would yell at these
children and elderly women and call them
and say the most vile things you
can imagine
one time I asked a man if I could help
him
go another Direction instead of killing
his child
and we were going back and forth and he
was telling me that he couldn't handle
it
and I asked him just one simple question
I said are you a Christian
and he said that's it and he walked to
his car and I thought he was going to
call the police because the police were
called just about every week that I was
there and I was there for every week for
five years
and
I thought he was going to pick up the
phone but instead I heard him change her
around
and a 40 caliber handgun
the amazing thing that happened was that
the woman that he was there with
that had his child inside of her
she stood in front of him
and pulled his arms down
from having that guy pointed at me
five minutes wow it is fast three oh
the amazing thing is is that she asked
Mercy for me
and then went out and killed her child
I do feel bad for the social worker that
spoke a moment ago I have a foster child
in my home
and I know what it's like when you're
dealing with the stresses of the trauma
that happens to these children and I
have to admit and confess to you
just finished the same place
that we at times have thought about
sending the child back into the system
but people do not give up on these
children
do not give up on these children
in these situations thank you Mr
Humphrey
[Applause]
Aisha us
uh oh you may have done I'm angled it
so uh Issa you ask and I'll bring you
greetings from Washington County our
county is in the process of enacting
restrictions on abortion clinics and we
are proud to stand with our neighbors in
Russell County I'm a graduate of Duke
Law School and I've been practicing a
lot for the past 23 years I want to
address some common legal objections to
local abortion regulations first
constitutional issue Supreme Court and
Dobbs has completely changed the
landscape I'll quote from the opinion
procuring an abortion is not a
fundamental constitutional right what
this means is that abortion restrictions
will now be subject to rational basis
review that's the lowest level of
scrutiny and no real obstacle
what also there is no equal protection
problem if some have urged Supreme Court
has never found a right to abortion on
equal protection grounds and expressly
declined to do so in numerous abortion
opinions if there is an equal protection
claim to be made it is actually that
elective abortion should be
constitutionally banned because unborn
children are persons within the meaning
of the due process and equal protection
Clause of the 14th Amendment
there is no fundamental right to
abortion under Virginia Constitution
the next objection typically is the
Dylan rule Dylan rule has a fearsome
reputation but it's no real obstacle the
general assembly has indeed expressly
granted power to Russell County and
clear and unambiguous terms I can point
to two specific grants of power first is
Virginia code
15.2-1200 which allows counties to
regulate to secure and promote the
health safety and general welfare of its
inhabitants second Virginia code
152-1102 which provides power to secure
and promote the general welfare and the
safety health peace good order Comfort
convenience morals trade Commerce and
Industry of the inhabitants thereof two
very broad grants of power and they've
been interpreted by the Supreme Court of
Virginia in a very expansive way all
kinds of activities including abortion
are awful here in the Commonwealth since
the state legislature has not explicitly
preempted the field of abortion
regulation by enacting a comprehensive
scheme of Regulation localities
therefore have have the power to
regulate abortion within their
jurisdiction to preserve and promote
health safety and good order
as a Virginia Supreme Court stated in
King versus Arlington County the mere
fact that the state and the exercise of
the police power has made certain
regulations does not prohibit a
municipality from exact from exacting
additional requirements I could cite
lots of Virginia Supreme Court cases
approving local action to regulate for
health safety and good order but given
my limited time I'll just give you one
from Near Wild nearby Tazewell County
that's for pass versus town of Richland
interpreted the language in the Virginia
code to give localities the power to
regulate to preserve peace in good order
pursuant to that language the town of
Richlands have the power to forbid the
sale of intoxicating Liquors within 300
feet of a public school even though the
state had granted them a license to
issue to sell alcohol
the County ordinance you seek to pass
Hazel has a presumption of validity
unless it is unreasonable on its face
that's not the case with this ordinance
under the town of Narrows versus
Clearview cable TV Virginia Supreme
Court said any litigant attacking it is
unreasonable has the burden to establish
its unreasonableness I can't say there's
no legal risk here there is but this
ordinance is a very strong legal
position thank you
okay I've looked at my list have I left
anyone out that wants to speak
apologize I didn't have a chance to sign
up so I was a little bit late I'll be
brief I just wanted to thank Cody
Jackson uh Cleveland Virginia area the
county I just wanted to tell this board
you've kind of had us coming up and
uh exposing a lot of complaints and
descending opinions in the past and I
just wanted to take this chance to tell
y'all how much that I appreciate you're
taking up this ordinance that I
appreciate that you're being willing to
stand and um really same for the people
in the will of their voice there's not
really any reason for me to stand up and
to try to argue the morality of abortion
especially in our County because thanks
to you guys we have already made that a
clear statement to the rest of our state
that Russell County is unequivocally
pro-life and I think we're going to back
that up tonight what I wanted to just
say really quick was just that I
appreciate you and to call out one thing
it was requested or asked if we would
stand with you if we chose to go down
this route I think by chairwoman Wallace
and I just want to tell you absolutely
we're here tonight and we will be with
you after tonight and for everything
that comes uh maybe after this tonight
we will continue to be here that was our
plan from the get-go because when you do
what's right for our County we will
absolutely uh stand behind you I
appreciate you for taking this up and
urge you to pass it thank you
[Applause]
yeah
Nathan Kaiser um Green Valley I'm in
Steve's District
um I'm the chairman of the Russell
County Republican party and uh candidate
for a republican nomination for
supervisor at large
um but I also wanted I wanted to start
out by saying thank you to uh to Katie
Patton uh the county attorney for
working hard on this ordinance and I
want to thank the board
all you members for considering this
tonight and I encourage you to pass this
um
in 2019 myself and Andrew Hensley went
to a meeting
with a group of uh a Christian
organization in the county
with the idea of making Russell County
in pro-life County we've just seen the
pro Second Amendment or ordinary or
movement and ordinances passed and we
thought hey what's better time than now
let's push
protect life
from conception
and we were told by a pastor that
sitting in this room tonight
you can't do that
well tonight we can do that
tonight I want to see that happen I
would love to see that happen Russell
County has led the way in so many fronts
it has been a voice for all of Southwest
Virginia
people like myself Joni Baker and others
that have stood up here and in Richmond
I want to thank you
but tonight we can make it a difference
we've stood up for Second Amendment
we've stood up against CRT we stood up
against transgender model policies we've
stood up against ordinance that
ordinances that would restrict our local
citizens even more so than they are
and now we have the opportunity
to protect life
and
it will
this ordinance
will not only to protect the life of
children but it'll also protect our
County
as a whole all our citizens
if abortion clinic comes to Russell
County it will put a burden on Russell
County that it does not need
so I encourage you all to pass this
ordinance thank you
[Applause]
one else but before we close the public
hearing
anyone else
my name is Lynn Hess of Swords Creek
David Eaton's a district I want to let
the board know that I was approached by
a state senator just before they went
back into session this year and I want
you to know that Richmond is watching
Russell County tonight
the governor is very concerned about his
stance that he took on the 15 weeks that
they can still have an abortion Russell
County has let him know
and Southwest Virginia has let them know
that we did not like that stance that we
felt betrayed
I told this Senator to please carry back
to Richmond with him and let the
governor know that we felt betrayed did
you know that in our election that the
margin of vote that we had out this time
gave him the election and won him this
election that's why he's so concerned
Russell County is a leader it's not a
follower we are a godly people and we
are conservative people
and this is a good thing for our County
and I appreciate the work that all
events has done on this and I ask you
tremendously from the bottom of my heart
please pass this and make our County a
non-abortion county so we can live a
Godly way as we need to without all the
interference from all the other states
that will come rolling in if you don't
believe it just go down to the Suboxone
clinics and take a look at all the
different State tags that rolls into
them thank you
thank you Mr Hess
last call
all hearts are clear
this time I'll close it's public hearing
I'll turn this paper back over to
um County Administrator for our record
that will go in regularly
okay at this time we have a presentation
and that is Miss Kim Smith with the
heart of Appalachia tourism Authority
hello and thank you all for having me
here tonight I have left a folder for
each of you on your tables um I'm just
here to give you a short presentation on
what heart of Appalachia has been doing
um for starters on the left side of your
folder in 2021 we hired a third party
organization out of Tennessee to do an
economic impact study on the um
basically the impact of Travelers
spending within the heart of Appalachia
region which is the seventh westernmost
counties of the states
and in Russell County alone the 2021
tourism impact was 31.4 million dollars
in the seven County region which
includes all the way from Tazewell
County to Lee County and the city of
Norton the impact was
253.3 million dollars and this is direct
indirect and induced spending from
visitors to our region
um as far as part of Appalachia I am
serving as the executive director of the
organization
and we spent 2022
um doing a lot of good things we
distributed nearly 80 000 pieces of
print material that's our um Visitor
Guide our Appalachian Backroads map
which markets to the motorcycle riders
and the sports car enthusiasts really
marketing the roads that we already have
here in the region and we package those
up in a way that that Garners request
through our website for those maps and
just this weekend alone we had 140
requests for maps with over 20 of those
being for groups they were requesting
you know 10 Maps or 20 maps for their
car clubs and for their motorcycle
groups so we're really excited about
that
um the Appalachian Backroads website the
traffic increased by 21
last year over 2021 and as we all know
with covert there was a lot of people
getting out into the outdoors in 2020
and 2021 who maybe hadn't done so before
so 2021 was a really good year for us
with 2022 being even better
we've partnered with with a lot of
regional news outlets to feature
different trip itineraries and to market
the region
our Appalachian Backroads Facebook page
saw a 230 increase in reach last year
over 2021. so we're doing a lot of good
things in the region
um Russell County has always been a good
supporter and we hope that you all will
continue to do so and uh we have on on
the other sheet of your paper here is
just all the partners we work with which
as all of our counties the Tobacco
Commission Virginia tourism Corporation
the cricket road to Market our music
venues and you have several QR codes
here that if you scan those they will
take you to our different websites
and of course you have my contact
information at the bottom and on the
left you have a business card and I hope
you will share this with some of your
tourism related businesses because it
gives them the opportunity to to place
their business onto our website so I
thank you again for allowing me to be
here to give you the presentation
tonight if you have any questions please
let me know
thank you so much any questions
thank you appreciate it
foreign
we're going to move on into our
organizational meeting which is the
election of the chair and the vice chair
so let's turn that over to you
thank you madam chair
the first rule of order is I want to
open the floor for the nominations of
the Rosa County Board of supervisor
chairman
thank you mystery
thank you Mr
any other nominations
if there's no more nominations
I'd like to have a motion that determine
no Notions be closed I need a motion
unlike the motion
since all nominations are closed we'll
proceed with the vote in reverse order
and to show up hands
oh I'm sorry Russian sorry about that
I'm not I'm not able to hear them
okay
I need a motion that the chairmanship be
closed nominations will be closed
I made the motion to close nomination
yes I need a second I'll see thank you
All In
I'll see y'all
sorry about that
since all nominations are closed we'll
proceed with the vote in reverse order
in the show of hands
Luanne Wallace
reverse order but I'm calling that's
right yes it is
Luanne Wallace
now Steve Brady
congratulations Miss Wallace you've been
elected as a Russell County Board of the
supervisor's chairman
and I will turn the chair back over to
you thank you I apologize for that
little snafu I'm like it is difficult to
hear down here we
okay thank you uh at this time I will
ask for the nominations for the election
of our vice chair
I'd like to nominate David
we have an uh a nomination from Mr Ray
or Mr David
I'd like to nominate horse Christian
we have a nomination for Mr Orris
Christian for vice chair
Newton nominations being closed I have a
uh a motion to close nominations at this
time for Mr breeding I need a second
I have a second I need a vote to close
nominations
all in favor uh any opposed any
abstentions motion carries to close
we'll take it in reverse order
at this time or as Christian
all in favor for Oris Christian to be
Vice chair
I don't know I can't see how many do we
have it's four man we have four all
right David Eaton for vice chair
we have three Boris congratulations to
your Vice chair
moving on to
new business
I need approval of the minutes please
thank you chair make a motion we
approved and minutes January 3rd 2023
are we going to take them can
may we take them both both minutes at
the same time or separately because they
were you can take them together there
can be a motion for both men well not as
Steve points out or Mr breeding I
apologize points out not everyone was
present at both meetings okay well it's
probably best if if some people want to
abstain it's better to take them
separate okay thank you very much
unapproved minutes of January 3rd I have
a motion for Mr Brady I need a second
all in favor to approve the unapproved
minutes from January 3rd uh outside
okay we have an abstention by Ms doc
unapproved minutes of January 18th we
that at that time we were in Richmond
I need a motion to approve those
I have a motion I'll accept it from Mr
Deaton and I'll accept your second
Morris
um all in favor
any opposed
any abstentions
I have stuff two abstentions correct all
right
moving along to approval of expenditures
I need a motion
and chair make a motion
recruit okay I have a motion for Mr
breeding to approve the expenditures as
presented I need a second
I have a second from Mr Lovelace oh uh
any discussion
okay
I'll call for the vote all in favor any
opposed any abstentions
[Music]
um at this time I'm going to ask the
audience if you could please stop your
Whispering it's we can't hear up here so
thank you for being attentive tonight
uh next we have a committee of Court
appointments by um the board's
consideration and we have Swords Creek
Community Center
yes ma'am
you can make a motion for that
okay for it for a two-year term for your
Swords Creek Community Center
all right Mr Eaton has a motion on the
floor I need a second
I have a second uh any discussion
hearing none motion uh I need emotion
all in favor
any opposed any abstentions
congratulations Swords Creek Community
Center
uh we now have a field we have to fill a
board seat for Cumberland Plateau Waste
Management Authority that is Mr Ray uh
and I will accept a motion for his
reappointment
I'll see thank you I have a motion in a
second any discussion
I'll call for the vote all in favor
any opposed any abstentions motion
carries
um at this time we did not take that off
our list on our agenda
yes Madam chair I ask that that would be
removed from the agenda
spearhead Trail the existing board
member is there until August it's on the
list spearhead the new director
requested it but they have a field
position until August so we'll regress
that in August okay okay is that
something that we need to address with
this board or by consensus are we all
okay with that because we didn't
officially did we officially move that
at the beginning I didn't Market it no
matter we did not okay so
um it's Patton we didn't mark that off
but can we take that off now
tell you what yes table it August
okay so that's what we'll do I don't
need a motion to do that
thank you we'll do it that way
all right we have a motion to table uh
any discussion further
all right I'll call for the vote all in
favor
any opposed any abstentions motion
carries
yeah
we had them up here sorry it's difficult
I'm I'm trying to watch for hands to go
up or whatever anyway we have uh now
we're coming to a citizen's comment
period I think we've all spoke our
hearts tonight so
um I asked you all before was We All
Hearts clear so we're clear on that when
we're moving on
um do I have any constitutional officers
for any reports
or request
saying that I'm moving on
now we're at the County Attorney
reports and requests Miss Pat it's all
yours
thank you madam chair as the first item
and under my reports and request is the
resolution ordinance prohibiting the
location and operation of abortion
clinics within the boundaries of Russell
County
or directed me to look at drafting an
ordinance that would prohibit abortion
clinics from locating in the county
I have thoroughly researched the issue
and I've presented the board with an
ordinance for your consideration
the abortion ordinance is very simple
and straightforward the legal Authority
is is a summary in the board's
resolution and obviously it's not
practical for me to include every piece
of legal Authority or support in a
resolution but just to give you the idea
and and this lists what's contained in
the resolution is not exhausted
and it's well settled law that pursuant
to the police power the county has the
authority to regulate public health
morals and Welfare of the citizens of
Russell County
in considering the possible location of
an abortion clinic
in Russell County due to the events that
have transpired since the Supreme
Court's Landmark decision and Dobbs
there were many things to be considered
and you know potential implications and
consequences to Russell County should an
abortion clinic decide to locate here
um
one of the one of the valid concerns is
the increased potential crime and that
could result from abortion clinics
locating
in the county
um it's it's not it's pretty it's common
knowledge that there are increased crime
rates that result from this I have
um cited some abortion Clinton the
National Abortion Federation statistics
related to Crime involving abortion
clinics over the year but notably I did
want to provide the board with some
information
um that that I was able to find
in 2000 2018 I think the assault that
stated I'm trying to pull it over
the results were
15. at abortion clinics in 2021 it Rose
to a 100
over 100 I mean the the statistics that
they have if you look them up has
increased in the past few years and
that's before dogs that was before the
decision and Dobbs ever came down we
don't have that information yet but just
the DraStic increase and that's
something that this board has to be
concerned with that's something that you
work closely with the sheriff's office
in providing health and wear fail
welfare to the county
um
the authority and decision
to Institute or raise taxes is clearly
within the province of this board
and this County would be stretched to
combat the increase of crime generated
by abortion clinics and still provide
all the necessary Services throughout
the county
the only solution would be to raise
taxes which this board has previously
expressed extreme opposition to
I do want to be clear that this
ordinance does not prohibit abortion
does not regulate abortion and does not
criminalize it outside of this County
what this ordinance does within your
police power is prohibits abortion
clinics from locating and operating here
that is a power that you have it's my
legal opinion and that can change based
on things that happen that the Board of
Supervisors would not have the ability
to ban abortion totally you just have
the power to regulate businesses and
things that affect how the counties run
um
in
I do believe that this ordinance that
prohibits abortion clinics from locating
here it's it is in compliance with
Dylan's rule in the general police power
I want to quote just a little bit extra
outside of my what I could what I put in
my resolution but a friend
Virginia Supreme Court case states that
when the subject lies within the police
power of the state a debatable question
of its reasonableness is for the
legislature legislature we have no power
nor authority to substitute in our
judgment and alternative method for the
method adopted by the legislature and in
that case that means you the governing
body so that's very important when you
act when you act pursuant to the police
power you're making decisions what's
best for Russell County and that you
were given that Authority clearly in
15.2
and 1200
I present this ordinance to the board
for your consideration I did make one
change that I do want to just read aloud
to you I presented it to everyone but
I I did update the definition of
abortion clinic when I spoke with other
attorneys working on this matter to to
make sure that it is the best definition
and the language I put in there and
changes the definition that I had and
states that abortion clinic means a
facility other than a hospital where any
person administers to or causes to be
taken by a woman a drug any drug
medicine or any other substance other
than contraceptive methods that are
approved by the U.S Food and Drug
Administration
or use of any interest instrument device
or means with intent to knowingly
destroy the life of an embryo or fetus
in his or her mother's womb the purpose
of doing that is to ensure that
you're violating anything that was
federally protected and so that was an
important thing crafting is
ordinance
um I know you'll give me just a little
bit of I do think it's before you adopt
this it should be read into the record
and then I'll present it to you for your
consideration
resolution and ordinance prohibiting the
location and operation of abortion
clinics within the boundaries of Russell
County
the constant whereas the Constitution
and laws of the United States and the
Commonwealth shall be Supreme any
ordinance resolution bylaw regulation
rule regulation or order of any
governing body or any Corporation board
or number of persons shall not be
inconsistent with the Constitution and
laws of the United States or of the
Commonwealth
and whereas the power of the State under
its police power to provide for the
health of its people has never been
questioned but on the contrary has been
stressed as one of the powers which may
be given the broadest application and it
is common knowledge that this power has
been increasingly exercised in keeping
with advances made in the Sciences of
medicine and sanitation in recent years
in these circumstances courts are
reluctant to place limits on what may be
done in the interest of the health of a
community so long as unreasonable
methods are not employed northern
northern natural and constitutional
rights of citizens invaded
and whereas the citizen owns his
property absolutely it is true it cannot
be taken from him for any private use
whatsoever without his consent nor any
public use without compensation still he
owns it subject to the Restriction
namely that it must be so used as not
not to injure others and that the
Sovereign Authority may be by police
regulations so direct the use of it that
it shall not prove pernicious to his
neighbors or the citizens generally
and whereas It is Well settled that the
state under its police power has the
right to regulate any business
occupation trade or calling in order to
protect the public health morals and
Welfare subject to the Restriction of
reasonable classification
this power to regulate includes the
power to license and it is a settled
general rule that to protect the health
morals and Welfare of the public estate
can license an occupation trade or
calling where the business or vocation
is one of the non-useful nature or one
likely to develop into a nuisance the
state may end the exercise of its police
Authority license or absolutely
prohibited as regard for the welfare of
the community may seem to justify
and whereas the Virginia General
Assembly has conferred upon a local
localities the same general police power
more specifically any County May adopt
such measure measures as it deems
expedient to secure and promote the
health safety and general General
Welfare of its inhabitants which are not
inconsistent with the general laws of
the Commonwealth and whereas neither the
United States Constitution nor any
federal statute or regulation provide a
right to abortion services and whereas
the Virginia Virginia General Assembly
has not passed any statute nor does the
Constitution of Virginia provide the
Commonwealth of Virginia exclusive
authority to regulate abortion Services
nor does the Virginia law does existing
Virginia law occupy the field regarding
the regulation of abortion clinics and
whereas two former attorney generals for
the Commonwealth of Virginia issued
official opinion stating that localities
do possess the power to regulate
abortion clinics subject to General
statutory law and constitutional
jurisprudence whereas the National
Abortion abortion Federation provides
statistics regarding the number of
criminal Acts conducted at abortion
clinics from 1977 to 2009 whereas crimes
detailed in the aforementioned
statistics include murder attempted
murder bombing arson attempted bomb
arson Invasion vandalism trans
trespassing
um
butyric acid attacks Anthrax threats
assault and battery death threats
kidnapping burglary stalking Etc whereas
the numbers included in the statistics
only reflect incidents reported to the
National Abortion Federation and actual
incidents are much likely higher whereas
Russell County is a rural County with a
population of 25 550 people as of the
2021 census additionally a significant
portion of Russell County is
Agricultural and thus eligible for the
County's land use ordinance thereby
reducing the County's overall tax risk
whereas due to the budgetary constraints
the Board of Supervisors of Russell
County Virginia do not believe that the
current funding for the Russell County
Sheriff's Office would be sufficient to
provide the requisite amount of law
enforcement Personnel to address the
increased crime associated with
facilities that provide abortion
services
and whereas the only way to provide the
Russell County Sheriff's Office with
additional funding for increased law
enforcement Personnel would be to raise
real estate and personal property taxes
opponent citizens and whereas the Board
of Supervisors of Russell County
Virginia find that it is not in the best
interest of the citizens of Russell
County to pay additional taxes to allow
for the facilities that provide abortion
Services whereas the Board of
Supervisors of Russell County Virginia
properly advertised the proposed
adoption
the following ordinance in accordance
with applicable Virginia law and now
therefore be it resolve the Board of
Supervisors of Russell County Virginia
declare that due to the likelihood that
any facility that provides abortion
services in Russell County would become
a nuisance and increase overall crime
within Russell County that under its
General police power conferred by
Virginia code and annotated
15.2-1200 and in the interest of the
welfare of the citizens that by duly
adopted ordinance shall prohibit
facilities that provide abortion
services within the boundaries of
Russell County Virginia
yet further resolve that the following
language is hereby enacted as ordinance
and Alonso will have to fill out the
number and hereby incorporates the
language contained in this resolution
here in
the ordinance States due to a likelihood
that the location of an abortion clinic
defined herein would create a public
nuisance in Russell County and place an
undue burden on the taxpayers of Russell
County abortion clinics are prohibited
from locating or operating within the
boundaries of Russell County
thank you
abortion clinic
is defined abortion clinic means a
facility other than a hospital where any
person administers to or causes to be
taken by a woman any drug medicine or
other substance other than contraceptive
methods that are approved by the U.S
Food and Drug Administration
or use any instrument device or means
with the intent to knowingly destroy the
life of an embryo or fetus in his mother
in in his or her mother's womb
violations of this ordinance shall be a
Class one misdemeanor and include a fine
not to exceed one thousand dollars per
violation each day of operation in
violation of this ordinance shall
constitute a separate and distinct
violation of this ordinance any and all
costs incurred by the county and the
enforcement of this ordinance shall
constitute a lien against the property
upon which such nuisance existed which
lien shall be filed proven and collected
as provided for by law such links shall
be noticed to all persons from time the
time of its recording and shall bear
interest at the legal rate thereafter
until satisfied and at this in addition
an administrative fee of 150 or 25 of
the cost whichever is less however in no
event shall the fee be less than 25
dollars
that should any section or provision of
this ordinance be decided to be invalid
or unconstitutional by a word of
competent jurisdiction such just such
decisions shall not affect the validity
excuse
validity or constitutionality of any
other section or provision of this
organization
present it to the board for your
consideration
yes sir
like me and the county attorney
[Applause]
and I'd like to follow up with that like
most except previous resolution
ordinance
the immediately signed
there I'll say
okay I have a motion and a second to
adopt this past red ordinance tonight on
this date
I'll call for the motion all in favor uh
any opposed
any abstentions
motion carries
foreign I got one thing uh I also asked
cat administrator for the copy of this
resolution to our neighbors for
neighboring counties for review uh I
don't want it Rose County but I don't
want it in our other neighboring
counties either so I'm hoping that y'all
will reach out to have a mechanical
accounting and have a conversation with
them
thank you Mr Eaton will do
um moving on
Miss Patton you're still on the floor uh
American Electric Power resolution
yes Madam chair
um
this um I was directed
um to draft a resolution opposing that
an AEP rate increase and this is a
resolution that can be sent
um up to up to the
state government the state government to
show that and I'll read it as well
um the board can decide if they want to
pass past this really and again
resolutions are just statements of
support there's no there's no I have no
legal concerns about adopting this
resolution
whereas the Board of Supervisors of
Russell County Virginia is committed to
being responsive and attentive to the
concerns and Welfare of all of its
citizens and whereas the Board of
Supervisors of Russell County Virginia
has recently become aware of the
financial hardship that the most the
most recent American Electric Power has
been referred to as AEP rate increases
have had on its citizens and whereas the
Board of Supervisors of Russell County
Virginia believes that the most recent
rate increases unreasonable is having a
detrimental effect on all of our
citizens especially our most vulnerable
elderly population
whereas AEP has consistently posted
strong quarterly earnings and
specifically ended 2022 with strong
earnings leading the Board of
Supervisors of Russell County Virginia
to believe that the rate increases were
and are unnecessary now therefore be it
resolved by the Board of Supervisors of
Russell County Virginia that the board
hereby formally requests that the
Virginia state Corporation Commission in
the general assembly and the governor's
office take some formal action to
reconsider the recent rate increases
be it further resolve that the
chairperson of the Board of Supervisors
of Russell County Virginia Lou Wallace
is hereby authorized to sign this
resolution in the clerk of the Board of
Supervisors of Russell County Virginia
Lonzo laser is hereby authorized to
attest the chairperson's signature to
this resolution
I'll make a motion to adopt
a second
okay we have a motion to adopt
um this resolution on behalf of the
citizens of uh that are getting American
Electric Power
um so I'm going to ask for a little
discussion on this one
um
I support uh saving dollars
uh but I don't get my electricity from
American Electric Power
so what does that do for
air part of the county
does that make a difference
we got Old Dominion you got Kentucky
Utilities
Kentucky Utilities yes I do and my
district is served part of my district
is American Electric Power but my just
my district as a whole is served by
Kentucky Utilities do you want to do it
as a
dominion and AEP that way we have the
whole County covered that way the
legislators know that
that both dominion and EP
IC I'm doing that the reason I brought
this up
you know people are having a few
medicine
food
[Music]
unacceptable
and Miss Wallace wants to add that
well thank you I I'm just asking that
question because we're leaving out
I apologize
and I would be happy to add that and I
apologize I just
I took Direction and made a resolution
is is the language would the language be
similar has there also been a raid
increase there yes okay
I don't want to cause any problems but
and I do support this and I will vote
for that but I do want the folks that in
my district that are largely on Kentucky
Utilities so at Kentucky Utilities I owe
them okay
it's not Dominion now we're not we don't
get our power from Kentucky Utilities
Kentucky I just want to make sure I have
their legal name their state Corporation
and if we can if we can fix that here
tonight you can fix it on paper right
yes I can yes
thank you we have a motion and a second
amended a minute
it's really Kentucky Utility
so I have a motion in a second all in
favor to amend
the resolution
any opposed any abstentions thank you
motion carries
next we're moving over to the County
Administrator reports and request
um Mr Lester I'll hand that over to you
thank you madam chair
as as Mr Eaton said uh first thing up on
the county Ministry reports is the 2023
vaco and the Virginia Rural Center uh
Royal caucus reception and beatings and
or supervisors intended in January the
2023 legislative program through the
Virginia Association of counties one of
the many topics that they had to deal
with during this time which is it's vast
it's long it's hard paced it's day and
night so they they address Economic
Development planning education energy
that was just mentioned here like Mr
Eaton and Miss Wallace mentioned the
environmental and agriculture that is
part of our County uh course Finance I
mean that's just part of it the general
government which is the laws and
regulations they've had to deal with
also Health and Human Services which is
another large component of the county
and of course the last one I'll give you
daughter while the three in here
Transportation so we did is that all
these agencies we had
harsh hard discussions with them on what
was going on in Russell County what we
they were looking at what they were
seeing coming up in the future and of
course you know we always Advocate every
year some we get some we don't but that
doesn't mean we stop trying so uh the
second thing on my reports is the DCR
Clinch River State Park master plan
meeting which is on February the 15th
2023 through the Virginia Department
conservation and Recreation they are
developing a master plan for the Clinch
River which involves of course the new
state park that's down there so again
it's on February the 15th 2023.
next on the county Ministry reports is
the Cumberland Plateau Regional Housing
Authority this is another part of this
development and within the county this
is a environmental review exception
category on excluded projects on housing
that they're building within the county
and that's in the board of supervisor's
reports of all of the projects
and of course again
next on the County Administrator reports
is the VDOT monthly road report as you
can see they have addressed the
maintenance activities the activities
that has planned and the rural rustic
and the six-year projects that y'all for
y'all's review
next on the County Administrator request
is a VDOT request a notice on 19 and 58.
break this one up on the map
they are asking for
property abandonment request on this
request and this request is of course so
I apologize
[Music]
here
I'll bring it up there their future
v-dot's got okay
this is a request by the Virginia
Department of Transportation pursuant to
subsection 33.2 902 vdos is asking were
to considered abandonment of this
portion of old Route 19 and Old Route
198 route old Route 58 in hansenville
area
this action is being considered a phone
request by the adjoining property owner
for the purposes of surplus right-of-way
conveyances
they will be consideredness and
advertising for this and they will
propose a notice of the abandonment in
the they posted it into February the 1st
2023 and also they'll be posting it
again on February the 8th in the Lebanon
news now anyone that has an objection to
this or any comments on this is weapon
to attend this meeting that will be held
before the next board meeting which is
Mark on March the 6th
so this is the proposed track
and it is in the B dot right away or
abandoned now discontinuance but
abandonment
so Mr Lester do you need a motion for to
for the notice to go out I need a motion
I need it that's what's good yes ma'am I
need a motion for the Board of
Supervisors to to
proceed with the public hearing or the
abandonment of the route 1958 proposed
property
okay I have a motion I need a second
second
any more discussion
further discussion okay I'll call for
the vote all in favor
any opposed any abstentions motion
carries thank you madam chair
next on the County Administrator request
is
is the from the Department of Forestry
this is from the four sustainability
fund this is a uh a grant
for five thousand two hundred forty
dollars and twenty seven cents and this
is to assist localities that provide
lower forced land taxes to land owners
by restoring the portion of the foregone
revenues to the locality
uh in the state of Virginia so this is
uh a way of doing the Department of
Forestry sustaining back to us of five
thousand two hundred forty dollars and
twenty seven cents I need a motion for
the appropriation allocation of five
thousand two hundred forty dollars and
twenty seven cents
somebody yeah I have a motion in a
second any further discussion
all in favor uh any opposed any
abstentions motion carries thank you
madam chair
the next is from the Department of
Criminal Justice Services this is
another Grant this is for sixty two
thousand and nine dollars and this is
the uh 2223 B stop formula grant for uh
through the Department of Criminal
justices for the V Stock Program see I
need a motion for a preparation
allocation of sixty two thousand nine
dollars for this program
I have a motion I got a second from Mr
breeding right okay
um any further discussion
hearing none I'll call for the vote all
in favor
thank you madam chair next on account
administrator request is from the
Virginia Federation of Humane Society's
direct animal award 2023
um
memory of understanding this is a grant
from the Virginia Federation of Humane
Societies to the Russell County Animal
Shelter for a grant an award of ten
thousand dollars to be used for the
direct care of of our animals in Bedding
food medicine supplies and improvements
to the animal candles and exercise areas
this award is only given to some of the
top credentialed animal shelters in the
state this is an award to us but based
off of our performance within the animal
shelter based off the last year's visit
the grant for ten thousand dollars to be
utilized by the board supervisors in the
animal shelter for these services
and I the reason and I also like to
expound on that at the permission of the
chair that I know there's been a lot of
Facebook pages about our animal shelter
I know that there was a public notice
that went out
sister surrounding the circumstances of
these I like to convey to the board the
current standing update of what the
conditions are that we have we the owner
has noun which they they had legal right
to surrender all but four dogs we have
taken the animals in we are working with
our Transfer Partners we have trans we
have 36 in the kennels right now and
they're in the process of moving those
out too so we've got the dogs back in
our care we're moving them out to our
partners and they're being adopted so
and and the people came forward four
smile dogs and that was
the mother of the one that was arrested
so that's that's about all I can say on
it open up so again the dogs are being
taken care of this is a grant for the
award I need a motion for appropriation
for ten thousand dollars for the from
the Virginia Federation of Humane
Society's animal award
so
okay we have a motion in a second I
don't know where the second came from
okay
Mr Ray
all in favor
aye any opposed
motion carries
thank you ma'am chair next there's the
one that was added I have a travel
request by the rest of the County uh
Courts for the Clark uh Clerk's
educational and training in Roanoke
Virginia I need approval for the travel
request
okay I have a motion by Mr Eaton for the
travel request I need a second okay I've
got two seconds I'll take either one of
those in this Porter uh Steve's giving
his stuff the Mr Christian all right all
in favor it's hard to hear that
it is thank you madam chair that
concludes the County Administrator
reports and requests thank you madam
chair thank you so much so here we are
at the end of our meeting and I'm going
to briefly ask for board discussion I'll
start with uh Miss Dai
thank you Mr Eaton it's something I'd
like for the board uh
consideration at next month lady
so I wanna thank extra air feature for
having this opportunity of but
uh we have a building there and I'll
make the old southern Statesville that
Aaron approached me in regards to
uh seeing if there was an opportunity to
help people across the town
and we met with red cross and Salvation
Army and purchase management
coordination best powers at the location
and looked at the facility and the Red
Cross had notified as by email that they
have
uh safety that this build will be
utilized what is maybe for housing
usually when we have someone in the
county that it's burned out
just this building utilized for housing
it's got a full kitchen to be able to
feed these people
and and so the Red Cross has certified
it and the Salvation Army has certified
it I know we put a lot of people up
motels I know that's a huge expense a
burden but
if we have people in need and we are
having certain circumstances
and this would I honestly be a great
opportunity to be able to house for
those people and get them out of the
cold some of that things so I just
wanted to make the board aware of this
that just be a great opportunity for
Russell County because some of the
people that we've had the transport out
that didn't have housing at the city
important and then some of the people
that lose everything they have at motels
so I think this would be a great savings
doors to this this type of ministry is
type of opportunity that we see
Mr Eaton is that building in the town of
Honaker okay I would gladly offer you a
letter of support from the county that
we encourage the town of Homemaker to
see what they can do with it to make it
what you want it to be
Mr Brady
uh
yeah
okay Mr Christian
I like to say that
still here all of us board members are
anticipate on running very late
I know some say we have done a good job
we feel that's enough job we want to
start
thank you Mr Christian is that it
okay Mr Wright
Mr Lovelace
and um as the chair tonight I want to
thank everyone that came participated
and listened I'm a little disappointed
when everybody got up and left and they
didn't hear that we was trying to save
them a little bit on their electric bill
and everything else but it is what it is
so thank you for participating tonight
and at this time I will adjourn this
meeting uh next meeting is March 6th
I'll see you all then back in the uh
[Music]