The Mathews Board of Supervisors held its last meeting of the year on Tuesday without taking a vote on the Confederate monument on the court green.

There had been recent speculation that, with the board membership set to change in January, sitting board members would transfer the monument and the land under it to the Sons of Confederate Veterans or the Daughters of the Confederacy, but no action on the matter was on the agenda, and no one on the board made a motion or even raised the issue.

Instead, the issue was raised by Dee Russell of Hudgins, who pointed out to the board that many of the residents in the crowded courtroom were wearing green to represent opposition to such a transfer taking place.

Incoming supervisor Tom Bowen also addressed the matter, revealing that he recently had a three-hour meeting with supervisors’ chair Dave Jones and supervisor Mike Walls, during which the monument issue was discussed. Bowen said he had pledged to the two men that he would work with Del. Keith Hodges (R-Urbanna) to change the legislation governing war monuments and memorials to include a provision that would give the county “an opportunity for a binding resolution to say that the board can’t remove the monument, only the citizens.

“That would put an end to all the speculation and turmoil,” said Bowen. “The citizens will end up controlling what happens.”

He said that Jones and Walls had, in return, pledged to him that they would not vote to transfer the monument.

Broadband

Broadband advisory board chair Judy Rowe reported that “Santa Claus came to my house this afternoon” in the form of a commitment from Verizon officials that the company will be responding to the county’s request for proposals to place cell phone equipment on the new county tower located at the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad building at Hudgins.

Rowe said she, advisory board member Willie Love, and consultant Jeff Beekhoo had been working with contacts for months to obtain such a commitment. She said she had been told that big companies take a long time to make such decisions because of the many levels in the chain of command that have to approve them.

“We’re looking to have that happen soon,” she said. “We’re excited about that.”

In a separate conversation, Love said that the broadband board still has plans for wireless broadband data on the towers, as well.

Beekhoo added that Verizon will eventually have cell equipment on both county towers, the second of which is located at Mathews Volunteer Fire Department Station 2 in Bohannon.

Beekhoo also reminded board members how important it is for the county to take advantage of the fact Verizon would like to apply for BEAD funding (Broadband Equity and Access Deployment program) to bring broadband service to all of Mathews.

“It’s important to understand how fortunate we are and how impressive the BEAD funding is,” he said. “It will fast track getting connected. After this, there won’t be more funding.”

Supervisor Melissa Mason, who works for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, which is tasked with handling the BEAD funding, said her office “has exploded” with requests.

“Knowing that Mathews will benefit makes me very proud,” she said. “We need to do what’s needed in terms of the application process because we probably won’t see this opportunity again.”

Building official

Building official Jon Morr reported to the board that he has been looking into methods for providing power to place lights atop both of the county’s towers. He said he’s working with Dominion Energy on a permanent power source for the Hudgins tower and in November received a letter of agreement from the company to provide power. He said Dominion will work next on providing power to the Bohannon tower.

Lighting was not installed initially on the towers because they were under the height at which the federal government requires lighting. However, board members had included a requirement for lighting in their approval of the towers and have since insisted that the requirement be met.

County administrator’s report

Mathews County Administrator Ramona Wilson told board members that the radio equipment that will be used by the sheriff’s office and emergency services personnel will be installed on the King and Queen tower sometime in January. She said modifications to the tower to accommodate the equipment are scheduled for Dec. 18-23.

Wilson also reported that New Point Comfort Lighthouse received a merit award last December from the Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate, but the notification “slipped through the cracks.” She said the nomination for the award was submitted by VIA Design, the Norfolk architectural firm that designed the renovation project.

The award was an Excellence in Development Design Award of merit in the category of Best Renovated or Historic Rehabilitation Project.

Wilson reminded the board and residents that the RAVE and Smart 911 system is now available to replace the county’s former Code Red system. Those who register for the systems will receive weather notifications and critical information during emergency events. To register, visit www.smart911.com.

Finally, Wilson reported that the annual audit will not be available for board review until January because of delays due to a new software program and because of IT difficulties in the county.

In other matters, the board:

—Unanimously approved a zoning text amendment defining mobile food vendors, making food trucks a by-right use in the business, industrial, and village mixed use districts, and setting regulations for their operation;

—Unanimously approved a request by Brendan Rivenbark of the Three Rivers Health District to allow the agency to carry forward $8,200 in unspent funding;

—Unanimously approved a request by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to place weather data collection equipment on the ground at New Point Comfort Lighthouse;

—Recognized the following individuals: voter registrar Carla Faulkner for 10 years of service, commonwealth’s attorney Tom Bowen on his retirement, and supervisors Paul Hudgins, Jackie Ingram, and Mason for their four years of service on the board;

—Unanimously made the following appointments: Richard Hicks and Sterling Hudgins to the board of building appeals and James Meade to the planning commission to replace Tricia Stall, who resigned;

—On a 4-1 vote, Mason dissenting, voted to recommend to the circuit court that Mark Lenz be placed on the board of zoning appeals to replace Tom Robinson, who resigned, and

—Took no action after a closed session that was held to discuss two matters: 1. Prospective candidates for such matters as employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or other matters, and 2. Cybersecurity threats or vulnerabilities related to a specific cybersecurity breach for which discussion in open meeting could affect ongoing litigation.