Middlesex County public meetings in 2022

Electoral Board

The Electoral Board approved an approximate 10 percent increase for the FY 23/24 budget to cover salary increases and a third election. The board also decided to close the Voter Registration and Election’s Office on December 27, 2022.

• Approved FY 23/24 budget increase (unanimous)
• Approved closing Voter Registration and Election’s Office on December 27, 2022
• Approved minutes from September 22, November 8, and November 14, 2022
• Set payment of $400.00 for use of both church facilities

Economic Development Authority

The Economic Development Authority unanimously adopted an updated Strategic Plan and approved administrative changes to the Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury 2012 Series Bond. The board also accepted the Treasurer's report regarding a $50,000 CD at Primis Bank.

• Adopted updated Strategic Plan (unanimous)
• Approved Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury 2012 Series Bond reauthorization (unanimous)
• Accepted Treasurer's Report regarding $50,000 Primis Bank CD (unanimous)
• Approved October 20, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved January 19, 2023 meeting date (unanimous)

Wetlands Board

The Board approved a rip-rap sill refurbishment and a revised seawall removal project, both with 18-month time limits. An application for a groin and spur installation on the Rappahannock River was tabled.

• Approved November 9, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Tabled Coastal Primary Sand Dune Application #2022-2294 for Ernest Carlson (unanimous)
• Approved Wetlands Application #2022-2302 for Timothy Harris with 18-month time limit (unanimous)
• Approved Wetlands Application #2022-2468 for Samuel Hardman as REVISED with 18-month time limit (unanimous)

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission approved the 2023–2027 Capital Improvements Plan, which serves as an advisory planning tool for the Board of Supervisors. One resident raised concerns regarding sewer project figures during the public hearing. The commission also approved the minutes from the November 10, 2022, meeting.

• Approved 2023–2027 Capital Improvements Plan (5-0, 1 abstain)
• Approved November 10, 2022, meeting minutes (unanimous)

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors approved a 25% tax refund for qualifying vehicles assessed in 2022. They also approved several budget supplements for signage, school accounts, and emergency communications, and granted two special exception zoning requests.

• Approved 25% refund of 2022 personal property taxes for qualifying vehicles (4-1)
• Approved Budget Supplement Request FY23-21 for $36,000 for Heritage Committee signage (5-0)
• Approved Budget Supplement Request FY2023-20 for school accounts totaling $244,047.62 (5-0)
• Authorized survey of Wake Boat Landing property (5-0)
• Approved revised Resolution R-2022-15 regarding Hummel Field Airport zoning enforcement (5-0)
• Approved Special Exception #2021-03 for contractor's office and yard at 10456 General Puller Highway (5-0)
• Approved Special Exception #2022-04 to convert retail store to self-storage at 34 Irmas Lane (5-0)
• Approved Budget Supplement request FY23-19 for $170,600 for emergency communications (5-0)

Airport Committee

The committee established an Executive Committee to handle nominations and research personal property tax for aircraft. The board also tabled the discussion on forming an airport authority and scheduled the next meeting for January 23, 2023.

• Approved previous meeting minutes (unanimous voice vote)
• Approved formation of Executive Committee consisting of Jamie Barnhardt, Richard Lewis, and Chip Holt (unanimous voice vote)
• Approved motion for Executive Committee to prepare a presentation on personal property tax for a future vote (unanimous voice vote)
• Scheduled January meeting for January 23, 2023, at 3:00 PM (unanimous voice vote)
• Tabled discussion on forming an airport authority until January meeting (unanimous voice vote)

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution extending the personal property tax due date to provide relief following unexpected increases in vehicle and boat valuations. The Board also agreed to have the Commissioner research the feasibility of processing tax rebates.

• Approved Resolution R-2022-014 extending personal property tax deadline from December 5, 2022, to February 6, 2023 (5-0)
• Decided late fees and penalties for personal property taxes will begin February 7, 2023
• Agreed to have the Commissioner research the process for tax rebates for a December 6 meeting

Middlesex Broadband Authority Meeting

The Authority approved a liability insurance agreement through VACO and accepted the May 2022 meeting minutes and treasurer's report. Members received updates on the VATI and All Points broadband projects, noting that major VATI construction is complete.

• Approved May 19, 2022 minutes (unanimous)
• Approved May Treasurer’s Report (unanimous)
• Approved Insurance Agreement and Resolution with VACO (unanimous)

Economic Development Authority

The meeting consisted of procedural items and reports. No substantive decisions or votes were recorded in the minutes.

Middlesex Water Authority

The Authority approved a $1,743 upgrade to web-hosted billing software and a budget transfer of $495,724.18 from Connection Fees to Construction. The board also adopted new policies regarding charitable connection fee discounts and service meter upgrade time limits.

• Approved expenses totaling $1,211,673.41 (unanimous)
• Adopted policy to discount connection fees for certified charitable organizations (unanimous)
• Limited service meter/line upgrade requests to 3 years from original connection date (unanimous)
• Approved billing software upgrade for $1,743 plus $900 annual fee (unanimous)
• Approved leak-related abatements and limited future abatements to once every 12 months (unanimous)
• Approved budget transfer of $495,724.18 from Connection Fees to Construction (unanimous)
• Authorized Jim Nagy as signer on Truist bank account and removed Betty Muncy (carried)

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission approved two special exception requests for business operations in Hartfield and Deltaville. One approval includes requirements for screening and painting, while the other allows the conversion of a retail store to self-storage.

• Approved Special Exception #2021-03 for a Contractor’s Office and Yard at 10456 General Puller Highway (9-0-1), with added requirements for painting storage containers and planting for screening
• Approved Special Exception #2022-04 to convert a retail store to a self-storage building at 34 Irmas Lane (8-0-2)
• Approved October 13, 2022, meeting minutes (unanimous)

Wetlands Board

The Board approved two applications for stone revetments on the Rappahannock and Piankatank Rivers. Both approvals include an 18-month time limit. The Board also updated its by-laws regarding fee references.

• Approved Wetlands Application # 2022-2100 for 700' stone revetment at 1850 Weeks Rd (Unanimous)
• Approved Wetlands Application # 2022-2219 for 237' Class I Stone Revetment at 1718 Mariners Woods Drive (Unanimous)
• Approved October 11, 2022, meeting minutes (Unanimous)
• Updated by-laws to remove specific cost references and reflect Board of Supervisors fee changes

Electoral Board

The Electoral Board met in a closed executive session to discuss individual privacy and voting security matters. Upon reconvening in open session, the Board certified that only those specific matters were discussed.

• Approved motion to convene in closed session for privacy and voting security matters
• Approved certification that closed session discussions were limited to privacy and voting security

Electoral Board

The Electoral Board opened the canvass for the General and Special Elections held on November 8, 2022. The board held a closed session to review the qualifications of provisional ballots. The meeting was recessed to complete the canvass at a later date.

• Approved motion to enter closed session to consider provisional vote qualifications
• Considered 32 provisional ballots
• Certified that closed session discussions were limited to provisional voter qualifications
• Canvassed the November 8, 2022 General and Special Elections

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors approved a loan from the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund for wastewater improvements. Other key actions included increasing the airport comprehensive agreement budget and approving USDA financing for the Puller Center renovation.

• Approved Resolution R-2022-11 to accept a loan up to $4,614,369 for Cooks Corner sewer project (4-1)
• Approved amending the Delaware Corporation airport agreement to a maximum of $1.8M (4-0)
• Approved pursuing USDA financing for Puller Center renovation (4-1)
• Authorized purchase agreement and deed of easement for $30,000 (4-0)
• Approved Budget Supplement Requests FY2023-16 through FY2023-18 (4-0)
• Appointed Ann Jones to the Airport Committee (4-0)
• Waived $102 in plumbing permit fees for Deltaville Community Association (4-0)
• Authorized hiring Randolph Boyd, Cherry and Vaughan for airport project condemnation (4-0)