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Votes at a glance: Southampton County Board schedules solar hearing, approves appropriations and financing
Summary
At its April 22 meeting the Board of Supervisors certified its closed session, scheduled a public hearing on a solar site agreement with BAP Power, approved a $1.8 million appropriation and a $1.225 million financing package, and set multiple public hearings on budget and ordinance changes.
The Southampton County Board of Supervisors on April 22 conducted several formal actions by voice or roll-call vote.
Key outcomes:
- Certification of closed session: By unanimous roll call the board certified that the closed meeting complied with the Code of Virginia and that only lawfully exempted matters were discussed.
- Solar site agreement public hearing: The board voted to schedule a public hearing on a site agreement between Southampton County and BAP Power (also referred to as Synergy Power) concerning a proposed solar facility. The motion passed unanimously.
- Appropriation resolution: The board approved an appropriation for the general fund totaling $1,807,922.81 for various revenue items as presented in the meeting packet.
- Rezoning approved: Following a rescheduled public hearing, the board approved a zoning change for applicant Robert T. Parker to allow a primary residence on a 3.9-acre parcel (Planning Commission recommended approval 8–0).
- Bridge naming request advanced: The board authorized staff to forward a resolution to the Commonwealth Transportation Board seeking to name the River Ridge/Assamosic Swamp bridge the Jordan Walter Whitehead Jr. Memorial Bridge and agreed the locality will pay signage costs per state code.
- Tax-exempt request public hearing set: The board authorized a public hearing on a property-tax-exemption request from Kingdom United Church in Jesus Christ; staff recommended the church appears to meet statutory criteria and a hearing will be held May 27.
- Financing resolution approved: The board approved financing through M&T Bank of $1,225,617 at 4.112% over 5.1 years to fund vehicles and equipment approved in the FY25 budget (four Water & Sewer pickups, one Buildings & Grounds pickup, a roll-off trash truck, an excavator and five school buses); closing was scheduled for April 25.
- Livestock damage claim: Under Code of Virginia provisions, the board approved a certified claim to compensate a resident $120 for 12 chickens killed by an unidentified dog ($10 per bird as provided by state code).
- Planning/IDA and tax-relief hearings authorized: The board authorized public hearings to align planning commission and Industrial Development Authority membership with new election districts and authorized public hearings on proposed amendments to elderly/disabled tax-relief and the solid-waste ordinance (both set for May 27).
- FOIA policy updates and National Small Business Week resolution: The board approved clarifying updates to the county’s FOIA policy on record-request charges and adopted a resolution recognizing National Small Business Week.
Most votes were passed by voice vote; the closed-session certification used an affirmative recorded roll-call as required by the Code of Virginia. Further hearings were scheduled to allow public input before substantive ordinance changes are adopted.
