Open Space Preservation — set in July to appear on the May 2026 ballot — resurfaced at the meeting, prompting renewed debate among supervisors.

Supervisor Cindy Miller said, “I had this put on the agenda. Why are we doing this?”

Board President Mike Jones responded, “We need to let the residents decide what they want.”

Miller disagreed, saying, “We don’t have the tax base for this. This is not good for us. The farmers do not want this. We are elected to protect the residents.”

Supervisor Janet Sheats added, “I am going to tell everyone here, I’m going to vote no in May, but we should not take away the residents’ right to vote.”

Most residents in attendance expressed opposition to the Open Space Preservation proposal. The measure would impose a 0.25% earned income tax, meaning all wage earners would pay — including minors with part-time jobs. Discussion continued back and forth for some time.

In other business, Gary and Joyce Hummel were granted a waiver request for a 40-by-30-foot pole barn on their 76-acre farm.

The board was informed that the zoning ordinance draft from Pennoni Associates is ready for review by the Planning Commission before it comes to the supervisors.

Supervisors also authorized manager Alice Rehig to submit a Statewide LSA grant application for $600,000 to purchase radios for the police and fire departments.