Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting - November 6, 2025
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting - November 6, 2025
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held its regular business meeting on November 6, 2025. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, presentation of VACo achievement awards, updates on the federal government shutdown, a significant incident report from Fire and Rescue, a vaccination resources briefing, a report on personal property assessment methodology changes, appointments to advisory bodies, a reconsideration of the government center space strategy, and ceremonial resolutions. The board also entered closed session for collective bargaining and facility security discussions.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda, which included: Resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps (R-1), Proclamation for America Recycles Day (R-2), Administrative Items Report for November 6, 2025 (Item 3), and Proposed Traffic Calming Measures in the South Riding Community (Item 4). All items passed unanimously (6-0-3, with two supervisors absent and one abstention? Actually, the motion passed 6-0-3? The transcript says "that motion will pass 603" — likely meaning 6 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent? But the chair said "All the people who say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That number that motion will pass 603." It's ambiguous; we report as passed.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received, either in person or online.
Information Items
- VACo Achievement Awards: Three awards were presented: (1) Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Financial and Cybercrime Unit for victim recovery (including $1.4 million for one victim), (2) Loudoun Farm Tour (twice-yearly event with QR code check-ins, one farm reported $12,000 in record sales in one day), and (3) Teen Photography Program at Loudoun County Public Library. Loudoun has now received 34 VACo awards all-time, ranking third in Virginia.
- Significant Incident Report (1st Quarter FY2026): Acting Chief Travis Preau reported the system responded to 10,281 incidents (7,500 EMS, 2,750 fire). Notable incidents: a data center construction fire ($5M damage, sprinkler system effective), a heat stroke victim saved by a polar pod (core temp 107.5°F dropped to below 102°F in 10-15 minutes), and a residential fire caused by e-bike battery failure. The Fire Marshal’s office seized over 2,600 pounds of fireworks. 36 new firefighters graduated from Recruit School 47. The peer support team achieved full accreditation from Virginia OEMS.
- Vaccination Resources: Dr. David Goodfriend presented on vaccination safety and availability. Key points: Routine vaccinations have saved over 30 million hospitalizations and 1 million lives in the last 30 years. Measles cases in 2025 exceeded 1,600 with 200+ hospitalizations and 3 deaths. COVID-19 and flu vaccines are widely available; the health department provides them at no cost (small administrative fee may apply). The MMR vaccine is safe and effective as a combination; separating doses is not recommended.
Discussion Items
- Reconsideration of Space Strategy (Leesburg Government Center): Supervisor Crony moved to reconsider the October 21, 2025 action that directed staff to pursue Option 2 (relocate government center east of Leesburg, 300,000–400,000 sq ft). The rules were suspended (supermajority 6-0-3? Actually 5-1-3, with Supervisor Bricksman opposing). The motion to reconsider passed 5-1-3 (Bricksman opposed, two absent, one abstention? The transcript says "5-1-3" after the vote: "That motion passed 513 with supervisor bricksman voting against the motion. Supervisor Sainz, Supervisor Glass, and Supervisors Um Laterno off the dais." So 5 ayes, 1 nay, 3 absent).
- Main Motion on Space Strategy: Supervisor Crony then moved to direct staff to pursue Option 2 (east of Leesburg) but also to develop a comparison of costs with Option 1 (Leesburg campus) and return to the board. Discussion: Supervisor Bricksman opposed, citing prior vetting; Supervisor Kirshner supported keeping options open. Staff (County Administrator Tim Hemstreet) noted that Option 2 is expected to be less costly and faster, and that the Leesburg option would cost approximately $230-250 million to construct. The motion passed 4-3 (Crony, Kirshner, Umstattd, and Randall in favor; Turner, Bricksman, Saines opposed; Glass and Laterno absent).
- Personal Property Assessment Methodology Changes: Commissioner of the Revenue Robert Wertz presented a consultant’s review recommending changes to assessment schedules for business personal property, effective January 1, 2026. Key changes: Data center computer equipment schedule lengthened from 5 to 6 years (starting at 60% instead of 50%, floor at 5%). Furniture and general computer equipment combined into one schedule. Heavy construction machinery and machinery/tools schedules lengthened from 5 to 7 years. Vehicle valuation for new models will use 95% of MSRP (previously 100% of purchase price). Heavy trucks will see the largest increases as they move to JD Power valuation guides. The board can set a separate tax rate for heavy trucks to mitigate impact. The board will take up rate setting in January 2026.
- Appointments:
- Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC): The board approved the recommended nominees (motion by Bricksman, seconded by Kirshner). Chair Randall abstained, citing insufficient review and a concern about one nominee. The motion passed with 6 ayes, 1 abstention, and 2 absent.
- Rural Economic Development Council (REDC): The board approved the recommended nominees with a friendly amendment by Bricksman to add Jesus Diaz, who was not recommended by the REDC. Discussion: Supervisor Crony expressed concern about the number of vacancies and term limits. Chair Randall abstained again. The motion passed 5-0-2? Actually, the transcript says "five people saying nay, Ms. DeCrony's uh posing. Um two absent and me abstaining." That seems inconsistent. Let's re-read: After the vote, the chair says: "that is five um one two one with five people saying nay, Ms. DeCrony's uh posing. Um two absent and me abstaining." It's garbled. Likely: 5 ayes, 1 nay (Crony), 2 absent, 1 abstention (Randall). So the motion passed. But the chair says "five people saying nay" — that might be a misstatement. Actually, before the vote, the maker (Bricksman) accepted the friendly amendment. Then the chair says "people say aye. Oppose. Oh and I will abstain. So that is five um one two one with five people saying nay, Ms. DeCrony's uh posing." It's confusing. I'll summarize as: The motion passed with the friendly amendment, with Supervisor Crony voting against and Chair Randall abstaining; two supervisors were absent.
Ceremonial Resolutions
- 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps: Resolution approved and presented. Supervisor Umstattd and others shared personal reflections and history.
- America Recycles Day (November 15, 2025): Proclamation approved.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda adopted unanimously.
- Reconsideration of Space Strategy granted (5-1-3).
- Main Motion on Space Strategy passed (4-3): Staff directed to pursue Option 2 (east of Leesburg) and return with a cost comparison to Option 1 (Leesburg) within six months.
- EDAC Appointments approved (6-1-2, with Chair Randall abstaining).
- REDC Appointments approved with a friendly amendment adding Jesus Diaz (5-1-2-1? see above; passed).
- Personal Property Assessment Methodology changes effective January 1, 2026; board will consider separate tax rates in January.
- Closed Session held for collective bargaining (Code §2.2-3711(A)(8)) and facility security (Code §§2.2-3711(A)(8)&(19)). No formal action taken in closed session; certification of closed session was adopted unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
I think it's sorry, Mr. Turner. Good evening, Supervisors. Good evening, staff. Good evening, Loud. And I'd like to call to order the November 6th, 2025, Loudon County, Board of Supervisors Business Meeting. This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, please switch your hearing aid to the telecom mode. If you need a headset, we have those available as well. Please see the clerk to request one this evening. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh I have been pretty depressed since 2016 of the direction this country is headed in. And uh Tuesday night, I finally saw what I hope is the light at the end of the tunnel. And so my quote is uh along those lines. Hope is not blind optimism. It's not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It's not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it and to fight for it. Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be. Um so uh I do not have an addition to the agenda, but I know that Mr. Croney does have an addition to the agenda regarding the space strategy um update uh um for the Leedsburg Government Center from the October 21, 2025 board business meeting. If you will remember, then that that item went on the consent agenda. And so this is the first meeting past that meeting that she can bring back a reconsideration. A reconsideration if um as I am chair is always allowed, but it does need a supermajority to pass. And so what she's going to do is make a motion for the reconsideration and then she'll make a motion for the item, and then I will put the item in the agenda um um as the last action item tonight, and we'll deal with that um when it when we get there. So saying yes to the reconsideration does not say yes to the to the item, it just says we we agree to let her reconsider if if she'd like to do that. So, Mr. Crony, would you like to make a motion to reconsider? Yes. Do um do I have to make a motion to suspend the rules first? I mean suspend the rules, yes. Yeah. Okay, so I move to suspend the rules. And she's spending the rules so so she can talk about the spa space strategy update. Um there's discussion on suspension of the rules. Uh no, just that um I would appreciate the opportunity to uh discuss uh option one and option two. Um during the item. Okay. All in favor of suspending the rules, please say aye. Any opposed? That motion will pass um with six uh votes of people who are on the dais. That's a supermajority. So I'd like to make the next motion, ma'am. Yes. Okay, thank you, Chair Rennell. I move that the Board of Supervisors reconsider its action at the October 21st, 2025 business meet meeting to move the recommendation of the finance government operations and economic development committee that the Board of Supervisors direct staff to pursue option two and develop options, seek potential partnerships partnerships to recl relocate the government center east of Leesburg and accommodate a building size of approximately 300,000 to four of the hundred thousand square feet as outlined in the October 21st, 2025 Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Action Item. Motion is made to a second. Okay, point of point of um clarification just to know if we pass this motion. This still doesn't all this says is that this is the motion she wants reconsidered. So that's why the first sentence is she moves to reconsider the action.
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