Tangier Town Council’s minutes from the March 13th meeting were approved by the Town Council during the meeting held Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Tangier Combined School Auditorium. Thanks go to Barb Baechtel for providing these meeting minutes.
One more thing — our website now has a calendar listing page, which will be helpful when posting upcoming events and letting folks on and off the island know what is happening. Send any calendar notices to mileslayton1969@gmail.com
Council Members Present:
• Beth Thomas, Vice Mayor
• Tommy Eskridge
• Anna Parks
• Tracy Pruitt
• Kelly Wheatley
• Mayor James Ooker Eskridge.
Council Members Absent:
• Sharon Haynie
Approximately forty-five adult members of the community were in attendance.
Call To Order:
Vice Mayor Beth Thomas called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM and stated the meeting would be recorded. She welcomed Jenny Parks back. She thanked the Accomack County School Board and Dr. Rosati for the use of the Auditorium and the TCS high school class for setting up the auditorium for the meeting.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
The opening invocation was given by Pastor Chuck Parks and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Tracy Pruitt.
Opening Statement:
Mayor James Eskridge welcomed everyone and the spring season. He thanked everyone for attending the meeting. He asked that anyone who wanted to speak during the public speaking portion of the meeting sign up and limit their comments to 3 minutes.
Motion: To adopt the agenda of March 13, 2025, was made by Beth Thomas and seconded by Anna Parks. Unanimous Aye. Motion Passed
Motion: To approve the minutes of February 13, 2025 was made by Anna Parks and Seconded by Tracy Pruitt. Unanimous Aye. Motion Passed
Beth Thomas explained that there would be a workshop on Wednesday, March 19th, from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm for the Energy Technology Innovative Partnership Project (ETIPP). The Steering Committee will meet with the representatives of the ETIPP organization to discuss different energy options for Tangier. This effort is part of the 5-year plan, required by the dock grant. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome.
Financial Reports:
Kelly Wheatley discussed the state of the Town’s General Fund. She said that $5,000.00 had been paid toward the Town’s liability insurance debt, but that $6,000.00 was still owed by April 1st to get the Town caught up. She said that $3,100.00 had been paid toward the Tangier Airport insurance. She shared that the airport survey had been completed and that the Airport Improvement Project (AIP) to fix issues on the runway was scheduled to begin later in the spring.
Current Balance: General Fund: $3,186.21
Outstanding debt: Liability Insurance: $6,000.00
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP):
Tracy Pruitt began by stating that the current WTP balance was $8,276.76, with checks still coming out. She spoke about the three current outstanding USDA loans. The oldest, on Tangier’s books since 1987, requires an $8,000.00 payment, twice a year. The next payment is due April 1, 2025. The second loan is due on March 19th, for $2,170.00. The third loan was just paid on March 4th, for $1,324.00.
Tangier Gas:
Tommy Eskridge stated that things at Tangier Gas are looking up. He wanted to recognize Juke Marshall for the new roof and mentioned that Steven Thomas’ account was paid up to date. He mentioned that the $58,000.00 that was unaccounted for the DEQ grant was being paid back and that $13,000.00 has been put toward that debt. The debt has been spread over 6 months.
He said that Mike Elliott was working on renovation projects on the Tangier Gas building and that he hoped that effort would continue with other projects to make the building more presentable.
He wanted to acknowledge the donation of $4,000.00 from the Tangier Museum, towards efforts to renovate the Town Office, and how that money allowed Mike Elliott to continue that important work.
With luck, Jenny should be able to move into that space very soon.
He wanted to underline that concerns about kerosene could be put to rest. He assured everyone that he would continue to order kerosene for the people that need it, just as he orders gasoline and diesel fuel for those that need it.
Increase in Fees:
Tracy Pruit shared the news that, after no increase since 2005, the Council had no choice but to increase all Town monthly fees, starting April 1, 2025, as follows:
• Sewer, Water and Trash combined fee will increase from $77.00 to $80.00
• Reduced Sewer, Water and Trash fees will increase from $62.00 to $65.00
• Town Vehicle Tags will increase from $25.00 to $30.00
• Late Fee for Town Vehicle Tags will increase from $30.00 to $40.00
• Business Licenses will increase from $30.00 to $40.00
• Special large trash, yearly fee will increase from $125.00 to $150.00
• Crab Shanty Water service fees will increase from $18.00 to $20.00
• Gift Shop trash pickup will increase from $8.00 to $10.00
• Tangier Combined School and The Brigadune Inn Sewer, Water and Trash will increase from $208.00 to $215.00
• Removal and Storage of Dredge Boards will increase from $65.00 to $70.00
Motion: To adopt the Town Monthly Fee increases was made by Anna Parks and seconded by Kelly Wheatley. Unanimous Aye. Motion Passed
Grant Report:
Anna Parks repeated that, as reported last month, there was a discrepancy with $58,000.00 of unpaid invoices to the engineering firm on the DEQ grant for the Tangier Gas dock.
The Town has negotiated with DEQ and the engineering firm that is owed the money to pay down that debt over a
six-month period. So far, $13,000.00 of that debt has been paid. She was very grateful that the engineering firm was willing to work with us. She indicated that DEQ was a little leery of working with the Town after this issue came to light. The Town has complied with DEQ’s requirement to
write a letter indicating the plan to get the funds repaid and requesting reinstatement of the grant funding.
Although she said she was encouraged by her meetings with DEQ that they would approve reinstatement, she anticipated that it would take more effort on the part of the Town to prove trustworthiness and better documentation of expenditures and reimbursements.
The Town relies on DEQ for funding and grants to keep the Water Treatment Plant in operation.
DEQ is very disturbed by these issues. They have, therefore, initiated an investigation into the discrepancy with the Virginia State Attorney General’s Office and the Virginia State Police. It is anticipated that the findings from the Audit conducted last month will figure prominently in this investigation.
With the investigation looming, the Council felt it was a poor time to apply for the $50,000.00 Eastern Shore Community Development Grant that they had hoped would help the Town build public restrooms and develop marketing for tourism to Tangier. That initiative has been tabled until next season, in hopes that any bad press the Town may receive as a result of the investigation will have
blown over by then.
The Bayland grant and the National Wildlife Grant for the $300,000.00 study are still moving forward. The paperwork is in process, but more needs to be done, and will be, as the Town works through the issues.
Tangier Town Council Meeting Minutes Page #4
Audit Report:
Beth Thomas reported that the Virginia Municipal League (VML) helped the Town hire an Auditor, Connie Barnes, for a Town audit for 2024 in February. Ms. Barnes worked very hard to pull together a report with very poorly organized Town paper records and no access to digital files. The report was sent to VML, who reviewed it and sent it back to the Town on March 6th. After that, it was sent on to DEQ, who had been waiting for it.
The Audit found too many discrepancies to list. Poorly kept records, or missing records, purchases that have not been documented or accounted for in any way. Bank statements not lining up with checkbooks, debit card purchases not being adequately described or accounted for. Transfers between accounts with no explanation. No proper financial books or records.
The VML recommended that the Town fully document everything for 2025. Building a foundation of impeccable recordkeeping is the most efficient and effective way to move forward.
The Auditor will supervise this effort and come every weekend as she can to help the Town develop a standard of recordkeeping. She recommends that the Town Council undergo training for QuickBooks and prioritize adopting it as their recordkeeping standard. She also wants the Town to incorporate internal controls to keep the finances straight, so it does not fall to one person to handle the accounts and money.
The Town has its work cut out for it and appreciates the thoughts of our residents.
The U.S. Treasury has tasked the Town with going through the records for 2021, 2022 & 2023, to track down what happened with all the covid relief money. That money has to be fully accounted for – or the Town risks having to pay it back.
Mayor Eskridge said that the main Town bank accounts are held by PNC Bank, but there are four that are held by Taylor Bank in Onley. Those accounts are scheduled to be closed when all the audits are completed.
The latest 2024 audit by Connie Barnes was sent to Spencer Morgan, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, for Virginia – who, in turn, sent it on to the Virginia Inspector General’s office, for investigation.
Tommy Eskridge made a point to say that moving forward, no one person will be responsible for the Town finances. The full Council has complete access to all bank accounts and checks are written and signed for by several people who have responsibility for different facets of the Town management.
Anna Parks stated that copies of the 2024 Audit, prepared by Connie Barnes are available to anyone by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Town Office.
A copy of the audit will be provided to those requesting it within a few days. The Audits will also be published on the
Town’s website, once fully reviewed and approved.
Public Comments:
Rudy Shores wanted to let the Council know that they have good support from the people he has talked to around the Island. He asked if there had been any forward movement pertaining to the solid waste that is accumulating around the Island. He suggested that the Town contact some of the junk metal outfits in the area and see if they would be willing to come haul it all away.
He also expressed concern over neglected and derelict property around the Island and suggested that the Town consider placing legal liens against property owners to get the problem properties cleaned up or torn down. He said it is not a good look when people visit the Island.
Tommy Eskridge indicated that those very issues have been discussed by the Council. A discussion ensued about possible remedies for the situation.
Mayor Eskridge told a story about the myriad things he’s pulled out from under the bridges and asked that people report if they see someone throwing trash off the bridges.
Dan Dise reiterated the community’s support for the efforts of the Council. He asked if any of the derelict Town real estate taxes were eligible for moving to tax auction.
Tommy Eskridge and Mayor Eskridge both indicated that they were looking into the options for recouping that money.
Report on Office Relocation Project:
Beth Thomas said that the office relocation project is going very well. The Council plans to move Jenny Park’s office over shortly. She thanked Mike Elliot for all his hard work.
She said there would be a waiting room for people to sit while waiting to speak to Jenny or pay their bills. She feels that this is a far better option than the old Town Office. Irene Eskridge has volunteered to paint the interior. They will be working on the outside as well. She was grateful for that one piece of good news.
Beth Thomas queried the Council and those in attendance about whether anyone had any new business to discuss.
Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Beth Thomas at 6:45 p.m.
Tangier Island, Virginia 