[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6203738,"mediaKeyId","3781631-46d84b477c15bcbe6c3b739da5dc3503","parentId",3781631,"title","Regional tourism office introduces Samantha Livesey as new director; vows strategic planning and listening tour","audioSeconds",125,"startMs",486000,"endMs",611000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781631-46d84b477c15bcbe6c3b739da5dc3503&start=486&end=611","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781631-46d84b477c15bcbe6c3b739da5dc3503/thumbnail_486000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203738/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Regional-tourism-office-introduces-Samantha-Livesey-as-new-director-vows-strategic-planning-and-listening-tour","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203738-5fad68bb3849421a39a20b7a62c45f1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195587&Signature=HrUh4yZI5LvmBNdRM59j-5D21QRFZ3We2-~O10Xf63QuGfJaDU15X3ejv34UFWAsiJgSibRLi3e-Nsryqib0QBMHRJl31vwEH8Zse8kyrV5c4~kdiUfsceqf1JQPxHRwSx8Vo~QqTdBo~V751umYvgVhLO5P7W90i1JTnz21nBe9yv0xrja3CSsNUS3NUuY~c0IvuYb4oYN8kV3FAZ~KuWJQU1wyA0mKltTJ1GFlyHvWreK2SwzJ0iw8~lGjcjRkNU5Ea-LuRS~G6~TXhJ3MVW-cMmMjQqfxmS-c3Elz0dmcb3nlGzCFP~U6MMabrnSvql2fbNJ1GyXKRtBQRjOF2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T09:16:01.723Z","article","Samantha Livesey introduced herself to Blacksburg Town Council as the new director of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office and said she will focus on strategic planning and a 90-day listening tour to inventory and grow the organization.

Why it matters: the regional tourism office uses a portion of transient-occupancy taxes to promote local restaurants, lodging and events; leadership and strategy decisions can affect marketing, event support and local hospitality revenues.

Livesey told the council she is in her first official week and is “really learning the, all the things that have been going on and really trying to take inventory of what we are doing and some growth opportunities that we have ahead of us.” She said her priorities include strategic planning and an initial 90-day listening tour with one-on-one meetings and an open-door schedule; “My office is an open door,” she said.

Livesey thanked Emma Cook for assisting with the transition and onboarding. A councilmember identified the tourism operating board as consisting of the council’s tourism representative, Randy Wingfield from Christiansburg and Angie Hill from Montgomery County; the councilmember noted the office is a regional effort funded in part by a portion of the transient-occupancy tax shared among the town, Christiansburg and the county.

Livesey said she will be available on Friday afternoons at the downtown office for meetings and encouraged council members and residents to contact her. She also said being located downtown has allowed her to become familiar with Draper and Preston streets and the area’s amenities.

What comes next: Livesey said she will conduct the listening tour over the next 90 days and follow up with council members and partners; she invited one-on-one meetings to discuss priorities and potential initiatives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blacksburg Town Council Meeting - June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Samantha Livesey introduced herself to the council as the new director of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office, said her priorities are strategic planning and a 90-day listening tour, and praised interim staff who supported the transition.","taxTitle","Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia","taxId",4264,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6203742,"Blacksburg council approves regional radio payments, introduces multiple rezoning and traffic ordinances",233,238000,471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781631-46d84b477c15bcbe6c3b739da5dc3503&start=238&end=471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781631-46d84b477c15bcbe6c3b739da5dc3503/thumbnail_238000.jpg","/articles/6203742/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Blacksburg-council-approves-regional-radio-payments-introduces-multiple-rezoning-and-traffic-ordinances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203742-ccdcd5b84a689ce0bf7adedd35c3b5a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195587&Signature=MEl~QhfRcjSaRX6bBSSCUhmD7cvsJA-Ujg0Tf-jK9DDCENbyGS7gxD9hp0fA~9Y4qAuDiFdIcbQxmX1EYlH5V7B1IuNnJO2IrRk99E2Xe4itaDCWPLFMPWwt-HUE9kaXQGiXyWaLZKXteJ99l~Kjn4zMmkdhqB275wX2PvRnqvaRg~Uo6LK41SsWBG6dOpNJWr17dyZk23mcfz0y0P9DIlswT8MX0iEdhTNB1j6FiZ3yRU1oFdwvof864ZSe2m3sE2pKwiRsgWKiuacdugIVh8cj~Vk3K2JGQkJHhxuSBMWmHUmG--j8wsLAbH6R~WTnvKBsBmRqK-x9Ur9k2DnCxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Blacksburg Town Council on the evening's consent agenda approved support agreements and an allocation formula tied to a new regional radio system, approved an Independence Day fireworks permit and introduced multiple ordinances and rezoning items, setting public hearings for July 8 and, in one case, June 24.

The council voted to approve Resolution 6A25, which authorizes execution of an allocation formula for the town's annual contributions to the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority, and Resolution 6B25, a support agreement related to the authority's planned issuance of revenue bonds to finance a new radio system. Both items were acted on as part of the consent agenda and approved by roll call.

Why it matters: the two resolutions commit the town to a payment framework and a support agreement that will affect Blacksburg's future payments toward a regional public-safety radio system.

Most important actions and next steps: the council introduced Ordinance 2,079 to rezone about 0.65 acres at 103 Jefferson Street and East Roanoke Street from R-5 transitional to Planned Residential District zoning; Ordinance 2,080 to amend a previous rezoning and add a parcel at 825 North Main Street (the larger rezoning covers about 2.8 acres in the 800 block of North Main and adjacent blocks); and Ordinance 2,081 to vacate approximately 2,981 square feet of town-owned alley right-of-way. All three zoning items were introduced and scheduled for public hearings on July 8.

The council also introduced Ordinance 2,089 to amend the fiscal year 2024–25 operating budget to accept and appropriate $2,397,387 in VDOT transportation revenue-sharing funds; the public hearing for that budget amendment was scheduled for June 24. Additional items introduced for July 8 public hearings included an encroachment permit request on town right-of-way at 411 Draper Road (Ordinance 2,086); an amendment to town code section 12-309 to lower speed limits on Bridal Fork Road (Ordinance 2,087); and authorization to lease office space at 104 Draper Road (Ordinance 2,088).

Other consent-agenda approvals included an Independence Day fireworks permit and the town's routine scheduling of public hearings. The council approved the full consent agenda by roll call; the minutes record aye votes from Oliver; Ford; Edgar Smith; Mattingly; Sutphin; Watson; and Anderson.

Discussion versus decisions: the transcript shows these items were handled on the consent agenda, meaning the council approved certain resolutions and approved the introduction and scheduling of ordinances for public hearings. No final rezoning ordinances were adopted at this meeting; the zoning items were introduced and set for future hearings. Similarly, the budget amendment was introduced for expedited public hearing on June 24 but not adopted at this meeting.

What comes next: zoning and code-change items will be considered at the July 8 public hearings; the budget amendment tied to VDOT funds will be considered at a June 24 hearing. Members of the public wishing to comment may appear at those hearings or contact town staff ahead of the meetings.","Blacksburg Town Council approved support agreements and annual-contribution allocations for the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority, approved an Independence Day fireworks permit, and introduced several rezoning, encroachment and speed-limit ordinances with public hearings set for July 8 and June 24.","actionData","errors"]

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Regional tourism office introduces Samantha Livesey as new director; vows strategic planning and listening tour

Blacksburg council approves regional radio payments, introduces multiple rezoning and traffic ordinances