Brooke Wright

The commission reviewed an application for a special use permit to allow for a tourist house at 196 Holland Court. The meeting also included an agenda preview for upcoming commission business.

The agenda focuses on departmental overviews, highway matters, and the development of a grading plan for a proposed Public Safety facility. Consent items include the approval of appropriations, a County Attorney invoice, and various board appointments. Public hearings are scheduled regarding the Six-Year Plan for secondary road improvements, public input on Transient Occupancy Tax usage, and several special use permit and rezoning requests for various properties within the county. Additionally, the Board will address a proposed ordinance change concerning data centers in Industrial Heavy zones and meet in closed session to discuss pending litigation.

The meeting includes a session for the Broadband Authority to discuss project updates from Riverstreet, Firefly, and Shentel, along with coordination updates from external agencies such as Southside Electric Cooperative, Appalachian Power, VDOT, and Dominion Energy. Following this, the Board of Supervisors will hold a presentation regarding the construction timeline and project overview for a 100,000 square foot building project. The session will conclude with a closed meeting to discuss legal matters concerning the Region 2000 Services Authority and the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds.

The Broadband Authority meeting included project updates for Riverstreet, Firefly, and Shentel, along with updates from various utility and energy agencies. Following this, the Board of Supervisors reconvened to hear a presentation regarding the construction timeline, project overview, and pricing for a 100,000 square foot building project. The Board also scheduled a closed session to consult with legal counsel concerning pending litigation related to the Region 2000 Services Authority and to discuss the award and scope of a public contract.

The Board discussed various administrative items, including the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and tax appropriations, which incorporate salary increases and new personnel. Additional topics included an emergency ordinance to temporarily relocate polling places for a special election, authorization for the County Attorney to execute a settlement with remnant opioid defendants, and approval of appropriations and invoices. Public hearings were held concerning several rezoning and special use permit requests, as well as a proposed code update regarding contractor equipment storage yards.