Published below are the Tangier Town Council Minutes from the April 15 meeting, which were approved at the meeting on Friday, May 23, at the Tangier Combined School Auditorium. Thanks go to Barb Baechtel for recording/transcribing these minutes — EXCELLENT!
Council Members Present:
- Beth Thomas, Vice Mayor
- Tommy Eskridge
- Anna Parks
- Tracy Pruitt
- Kelly Wheatley
- Sharon Haynie
- Mayor James Ooker Eskridge.
- Approximately forty adult members of the community were in attendance.
Call To Order:
Vice Mayor Beth Thomas called the meeting to order at 6:08 PM and stated the meeting would be recorded.
She thanked the Accomack County School Board and Dr. Rosati for the use of the Auditorium, and Charlene
Crockett 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 Elder Duane Crockett and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Tracy
Pruitt.
Opening Statement:
Mayor James Eskridge welcomed everyone. He thanked everyone for attending the meeting. He asked that
anyone that 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 April 15th, 2025, was made by Beth Thomas and seconded by Tommy
Eskridge. Unanimous Aye. Motion Passed
Motion: To approve the minutes of March 13, 2025 was made by Sharon Haynie and Seconded by Anna
Parks. Unanimous Aye. Motion Passed
Financial Reports:
Tracy Pruitt discussed the state of the Town’s General Fund. She said that the beginning balance in July of
2024 was $9,655.10. From July 2024 until March 2025, the total deposits for the fiscal year was $590,137.54.
As of the end of February, 2025, the expenses were $116,981.92.
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP):
Sharon Haynie began by stating that they had identified the 4th and final outstanding loan, from the Port of
Resources Authority, in the amount of $800,000.00, interest free. A $8,500.00 payment was made on that
loan. The opening balance in July of 2024 was $5,430.96. July 2024 through March 2024 fiscal year deposits
were $204,053.51. Fiscal year expenses, as of February 2025, were $172,564,38. She stated that the WTP
operation was the most expensive and most difficult project to keep a balance for. Beth Thomas explained that
they were quoting 2024/2025 fiscal year data, at the behest of the Auditor, Connie Barnes. The fiscal year
begins in July.
Tangier Gas:
Tommy Eskridge stated that the deposits for the fuel dock, since July 1st were $877,362.84. The expenses, as of
March 1st, were approximately $666,267.66, but are believed to be higher. He explained that the fuel dock
account was very fluid and changed dramatically, regularly. He said the current balance is approximately
$6,700.00, after paying bills. He wanted to underline that he is getting important bills paid off, including
Steven Thomas and the fuel. He was able to bring the cost per gallon of gas down another .15 cents. He
wanted to assure people that they are working on stocking supplies, as they are able to afford it and will be
stocking more and more, as time goes on.
He said that the DEQ Grant project is still on hold, while the missing $60,000.00 is investigated and repaid to
the vendor. He said he is working on paying down the debt to the company that was supposed to receive that
money, and once the debt is paid down, he is confident that the project will be re-started.
He praised Andy, Will and Austin, and Claudine for all the hard work they are doing.
Regarding the newer dump truck, Tommy stated that the Town had over $70,000.00 invested in the rental of
that truck, and then, when forced to purchase it, had to pay an additional $62,000.00. This means the Town
has paid over $130,000.00 for a $40,000.00 – $60,000.00 dump truck. He indicated concern for the amount
of wasted money, where it went, and who was responsible for wasting it.
Tommy went on to talk about Island clean-up projects. Eastern Shore Salvage is interested in taking a look at
all the metal salvage and vehicles, etc… around the Island. He encouraged people to identify derelict vehicles
that can be hauled away, regardless of what property they are on. There will be no pickup fee, but there will be
a dump fee, for the owner of the vehicle. He asked that everyone cooperate with the effort to clean the Island
up.
He announced that he would be tearing down the old Double Six building, as it is a hazard and an eyesore. He
said that during the tear-down, the road would have to be shut down temporarily. He asked people’s patience
during the process.
He spoke about properties that are in disrepair around the Island. He warned that there are laws that allow
the Town to take action against property owners that aren’t keeping their properties in good repair.
He announced that yearly vehicle inspections were being conducted at the fuel dock. To get a sticker, vehicles
must have working headlights and brakes. Residents have until the last day of May, to get the regular $30.00
fee. From June 1st until the end of July, the fee increases to $40.00. After that, vehicle owners that do not
have a current sticker will be ticketed for violation, from the County of Accomack. He indicated that there
would be at least two people conducting inspections. He asked that the fees be paid by check or cashier’s check
– no cash. If people need to use a credit card they can visit the Town Office and pay Jenny Parks.
Sheriff Todd Wessels has indicated that he will start sending a Deputy over to Tangier randomly, to work on
law enforcement issues on Tangier. The town will make sure that the Deputy has needed resources. He
encouraged the citizens of Tangier to report issues and offered to make reports for people with the County, if
people are afraid of using their own name to make a complaint.
Mayor Eskridge outlined how the Town’s accounts are at PNC Bank in Crisfield, Maryland, and that he had
closed a couple of unnecessary bank accounts at Taylor Bank, in Onley, Virginia. Those closures netted
$4,200.00, which he deposited into the general fund PNC account. The Town used to have CDs in SunTrust
Bank, which has gone out of business. The CDs were supposed to have been transferred to Taylor Bank, but
they deny having any CD accounts for the Town – so an investigation into what happened to those CDs is
ongoing.
Tommy interjected that he believes that someone knows the needed information on the CDs, and that there
was undoubtedly someone out there that could help the current Town leadership get into the computers, so
that much needed information could be accessed. Mayor Eskridge stated that they are trying to right the ship,
and that not having access to critical information was hampering that effort.
Jenny Parks reported that the current balance for the General Fund was approximately $14,500.00 and that
the current balance for the Wastewater Treatment Plant was approximately $2,500.00.
Public Comments:
Normand St. Pierre shared that he had taken a look at the Town’s accounting documentation and was alarmed
by what he saw. He noted that he believed that not allowing the Town government access to critical
information is a federal felony and asked if legal action was being taken to rectify the computer access issue.
He was assured by the Mayor and Council that legal action was being taken. He then asked if the many
recommendations and points of guidance that the Auditor outlined were being followed. He again was assured
by the Mayor and Council that those recommendations were being implemented.
Airport Report
Kelly Wheatley reported that the airport maintenance grant required the Town to contribute $10,000.00
toward the effort. She is hopeful that a third party entity will provide those funds.
Auditor Report
Beth Thomas reported that the Auditor, Connie Barnes has given the Town a large list of things to do, to get the
accounting in order, and that they had gotten through quite a bit of her recommendations. The Auditor has
agreed to come back and continue working with the Town leadership on April 26th & 27th.
Motion: To bring the Auditor back to continue her work with the Town finances was made by Anna Parks and
seconded by Tommy Eskridge. Unanimous Aye. Motion Passed.
Grants Report
Anna Parks reported that they had been in contact with the Virginia State Police and the Attorney General,
concerning the unaccounted for $60,000.00 which has stalled the DEQ grant for the fuel dock project. She
said that the Town has not heard back from them on that issue. She said that they had also been in touch with
the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Spencer Morgan, who has informed the Town that both the Virginia Attorney
General’s Office, and the Virginia Inspector General’s Office are working together to put together a team to
conduct a forensic audit of the Town’s financial situation. The results of that audit will determine if the
Virginia State Police will become involved.
Mayor Eskridge said that he had also talked with Spencer Morgan, and that he’d gotten the impression that the
Virginia State Police would be called within the next few days.
Anna also outlined a mechanism through the State of Virginia called “Distressed Locality Funding.” This
program requires the Town leadership to write letters and apply to the Auditor of Public Accounts, outlining
the situation the Town is in, and ask for relief. If approved, the Town could receive up to $750,000.00 to help
right the ship. The letters have also been sent to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and many others in
the State’s leadership hierarchy and Federal representation, in hopes of sparking the action needed to help
Tangier.
She reiterated that the DEQ grant was on hold, but still in play. She said there are weekly meetings and
updates on the situation and that it will stay on hold until the issues are satisfactorily resolved.
Anna went on to discuss the status of the $350,000.00 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grant.
She reached out to NFWF and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) to discuss the future of the grant,
considering everything that is going on with the Town. Since nobody wants Tangier to lose the benefit of this
grant (and future grants), they worked out a deal where NFWF would agree to swap administration of the
grant to the CBF, who had been partnering with Tangier on the grant. Under this deal, the project scope of the
grant would not change, but CBF would take over the requirements and the administration of the grant, so that
the Town could focus on other issues.
Motion: To allow the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to assume administration responsibility for the
$350,000.00 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation grant was made by Sharon Haynie and seconded by Kelly
Wheatley. Unanimous Aye. Motion passed.
Presentation by Kellen Singleton
Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission
Mr. Singleton made a presentation, including a slideshow, outlining plans of the Accomack-Northampton
Planning District Commission to use dredge material removed from the Nassawadox Creek, to enrich Tangier.
He went over several sites that had been identified on Tangier, to put dredge material. He indicated that this
could be just the beginning, setting the precedent for the future usage of dredge material on Tangier, without
waiting for the Army Corps of Engineers.
SmartHub Training
SmartHub is an app that allows payment of your ANEC bill, access to your energy usage and trends, and
comparisons with past years’ usage trends. Anna Parks went over ANEC’s plan to have representatives come to
the Island on April 22nd, to give three training sessions to anyone who wants to learn how to use Smart Hub.
She said that there would also be a questionnaire for people to sign, concerning the energy grant Energy
Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) that is coming up.
New Office Project
Jenny Parks moved into the new Town office on April 14th. Everything is going well, and it’s looking great.
There’s still more work to do, but she encouraged people to come by and see it.
Memorial Garden
Sharon Haynie announced a prospective new project to plant a memorial garden, on the grounds of the new
Town office. She proposed contributions, in honor and memory of someone lost. $100.00 for an evergreen
tree with a personalized plaque, or $50.00 for a rose bush with a plaque.
The next public meeting will be held on Friday, May 23rd. Since there was no further business; the meeting
was adjourned by Beth Thomas at 7:09 p.m.
Tangier Island, Virginia 