09-30-2003 MinutesBOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MINUTES
September 30, 2003
Supervisors in Attendance~
Mr. J. L. McHale, III, Vice Chrm.
Mrs. Renny B. Humphrey
Mr. Kelly Miller
Mr. Lane B. Ramsey
County Administrator
School Board Member in
Attendance~
Ms. Elizabeth Davis, Chairman
Spec£al 9uests~
Delegate Fenton Bland
Delegate Sam Nixon
Staff in Attendance~
Colonel Carl R. Baker,
Police Department
Ms. Janice Blakley, CMC
Dep. Clerk to Board
Ms. Marilyn Cole, Asst.
County Administrator
Dr. Billy Cannaday, Jr.,
Supt., School Board
Ms. Mary Ann Curtin, Dir.,
Intergovtl. Relations
Dep. Chief Frank Edwards,
Fire Department
Mr. Bradford S. Hammer,
Deputy Co. Admin.,
Human Services
Mr. Donald Kappel, Dir.,
Public Affairs
Mr. Steven L. Micas,
County Attorney
Dr. William Nelson,
Dir., Health Dept.
Mr. Francis Pitaro, Dir.,
General Services
Ms. Sarah Snead, Dir.,
Social Services
Mr. James J. L. Stegmaier,
Deputy Co. Admin.,
Management Services
Mr. M. D. Stith, Jr.,
Deputy Co. Admin.,
Community Development
Mr. McHale welcomed citizens and special guests to the
special meeting regarding disaster relief efforts. He
recognized Delegate Sam Nixon and Ms. Elizabeth Davis who
were present at the meeting.
Mr. Miller introduced Mr. Ramsey, Dr. Cannaday, and
representatives from FEMA, the Virginia Department of
Emergency Management, Dominion Virginia Power, Verizon,
Rutherfoord Assurance, the Virginia Department of
Transportation, and the Small Business Administration who
were present to assist citizens with disaster relief
concerns.
Mr. Ramsey provided an overview of the county's response to
disaster relief.
Dr. Cannaday summarized issues the schools are dealing with
as a result of Hurricane Isabel and actions being taken to
address the issues.
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09/30/03
Mr. Curt Nellis, Regional Coordinator of the Virginia
Department of Emergency Management, provided details of the
state's disaster relief efforts. He stated FEMA
representatives are also available to answer questions from
citizens.
Mr. Ken Barker, Vice President of Customer Planning, Dominion
Virginia Power, summarized Dominion's efforts to restore
electricity to area residents.
Mr. Ramsey recognized Ms. Lynda Price, Emergency Management
Coordinator, and members of the county's Emergency Operations
Center who were present at the meeting, and expressed
appreciation for their many hours of dedicated service
throughout the hurricane event. He also recognized members
of the state's Emergency Operations Center and expressed
appreciation for their efforts in quickly addressing the
power outage at Richmond's water treatment plant.
Mr. McHale recognized a representative from the State
Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance who was available
to answer questions from citizens. He also recognized
Delegate Fenton Bland who was present at the meeting.
Approximately 25 citizens expressed concerns regarding
various issues, including better communication relative to
water usage, availability of ice and water, and other issues;
the need for better planning for disasters by Dominion
Virginia Power; placing a curfew on residents at the onset of
a disaster; turnaround time for FEMA assistance; the
possibility of requiring underground utility lines;
restoration of power to entire neighborhoods simultaneously
rather than just one grid at a time; prorating of utility
bills; availability of private workers to provide debris
removal services to citizens; and adding nursing homes to
Dominion Virginia Power's priority list for power
restoration.
Mr. McHale expressed appreciation to the various
representatives who were present to answer questions from
citizens. He stated he is very proud of the county's
response to the disaster. He further stated county staff
prepared hundreds of news releases during the event and
expressed concerns about the necessity for more effective
communication between the county and the media during power
outages to provide citizens with important information. He
stated emergency preparedness might be a good topic for the
Committee on the Future to study.
Mrs. Humphrey expressed appreciation to the county's firemen
and policemen for the extraordinary assistance they provided
checking on residents, delivering services and responding to
emergencies during the event, and stated she is grateful that
hurricane-related injuries were minimal.
Mr. Miller expressed appreciation to all county employees who
served the citizens well during the disaster.
A moment of silence was observed for the people who are
suffering as a result of the hurricane and for those who were
injured or lost loved ones during the disaster.
~t~' A~ ~Ys tra torv
Krthur S. Warren
Cha i rman
03-7~7
09/30/03