[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6751718,"mediaKeyId","5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab","parentId",5358300,"title","Cumberland officials highlight grants, new equipment and volunteer efforts in fire and EMS update","audioSeconds",1001,"startMs",337000,"endMs",1338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab&start=337&end=1338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab/thumbnail_337000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6751718/Cumberland-County/Virginia/Cumberland-officials-highlight-grants-new-equipment-and-volunteer-efforts-in-fire-and-EMS-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751718-b07e7f034fd60e7c20d65f9b39808947/orig.mp4?Expires=1773736212&Signature=TEt6XyWal6CpFOZOGp1W-zoSi1HOkpfHDQsmYKIcQ4xuCrkaloNa7WfzdgQ9cZyNRus5bnOTOKuw4FzpfCt6Lunbz2tA0v80ZlxVuJjuGGyX~elmsX1n5WHRhT5pCR2IQJjS76AaXAF8SorwewEs64mNmbjYv7ogwimUoJwBEKI0HSskxF961uJ-mFVyutWewYqEyYfCS8EMKuAm~abM9HI2jQDSFMklADj-fui8iXJlZhO1x96DqXSrlCVhUTQVfALPvHSC3NYBMxTWmk4dnI7yZ9Rzmc~0oZ8DEth4A8uCEHIeZxJaW3wce3~sR5Y8s3ZDaJDXJncX2oapvLzM8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cumberland County, VA","date","2025-07-11T02:52:53.247Z","article","County staff highlighted recent grant awards, equipment purchases and volunteer recruitment efforts during the July 8 meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors.

County leadership recognized Darren Hurley as employee of the month; Hurley, who serves as the county’s emergency services coordinator, addressed the board with an update on fire and EMS statistics and several grant efforts. “I’m very humbled to be chosen for the employee [of the month] for July,” Hurley said.

Administrators told the board the county does not have a dedicated grant writer but in FY25 departments collectively applied for more than $3 million in grants and were awarded approximately $1,458,000. Enumerated awards and pending applications cited in staff remarks included an apron grant of nearly $50,000 to support grocery store efforts; roughly $252,000 toward a new ambulance; and $400,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Service to the public utilities department. Staff also described smaller awards: a roughly $3,000 equipment grant, and several pending applications including a $150,000 communications/dispatch (VEIL) opportunity, a hazardous‑materials (chemtrack) grant, and a $100,000 personal protective equipment request through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

Hurley described several operational initiatives: the county is evaluating quick‑response vehicles (repurposed SUVs) to improve response times in remote districts when ambulances are not immediately available; Cartersville volunteers are installing a donor‑funded helicopter landing pad with lighting; volunteers are being recruited to revitalize the rescue squad building and support quick‑response staffing; and the county is pursuing tower foundation permitting for a 100‑foot communications tower to link with the state police radio system. Staff also reported the county pharmacy is operating and that two Knox Boxes have been installed to give emergency crews rapid access at select facilities.

Separately, the county announced its animal shelter achieved a 94% save rate and received recognition from the Best Friends Network as a no‑kill shelter — an accomplishment staff described as notable for a smaller rural locality.

Staff said many grant proposals remain pending; awards and program outcomes will be reported back to the board as grants are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors Meeting 7/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff reported multiple grant awards and pending applications to support fire, EMS and public utilities, recognized an employee of the month and announced the county animal shelter earned a no‑kill designation from Best Friends Network.","taxTitle","Cumberland County, Virginia","taxId",78932,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6751722,"Cumberland supervisors refer contested Dollar General rezoning to planning commission after public hearing",2680,5711000,8391000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab&start=5711&end=8391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab/thumbnail_5711000.jpg","/articles/6751722/Cumberland-County/Virginia/Cumberland-supervisors-refer-contested-Dollar-General-rezoning-to-planning-commission-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751722-59945b652f491870eac61f4279f067ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1773736212&Signature=g3qaH6m9tiwXT7DmL0J7X7oAepeUatT0MvZW~BI6LxbADowds1zIm2idxSMMHIYeE2ztOxbWuXBQkQA9gK5QvTbpsjCBDtXZGGZOFnYxzF0s3NL-jjAB-bQMXB6NnLc1q92Z2oY0e5MfSkmEvv9oL4BNWu-OiX9Ian5rr0rln0-B6W0wkDIA5wCXcbae-VVMG26oDkXjzOwln7UsOMLzjxr5ls5oSB5b53~3kbGYMtL80AYbC9ddGsb4z7-61Klt6jy9Fwc3Ki-afOkFxX7T2lWm3WGD~0TGG4dH6ujBvZq2FOb9XaY8UvL6rQz0wRhHJjATNMvYAnNb9kXU0Mhj6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors on July 8 referred a rezoning petition (REZ25‑01) that would rezone a 2.9288‑acre parcel along Anderson Highway from R‑2 (residential) to B‑1 (business) so a developer could build a 10,640‑square‑foot Dollar General store.

The hearing drew more than a dozen speakers. Residents raised safety concerns about the proposed access point on Route 60, truck delivery operations, and a requested reduction of required parking from 35 spaces to 30. Several speakers also criticized the level of community outreach and asked whether the county’s economic development authority had been consulted.

Planning staff said the applicant submitted a revised site plan and requested a waiver to reduce parking; staff noted the site would require a private well and septic system and that a traffic analysis would be required at site‑plan review. Kerry Hutchison, counsel for the applicant, asked the board to defer the matter 30 days so the developer could meet with neighbors and gather more materials. “I would ask that you defer this case for 30 days so that we can respond to these comments,” Hutchison said.

After extended public comment and discussion among supervisors, a motion passed to refer the rezoning back to the planning commission so staff and the applicant can respond to the community’s concerns and provide more detailed site and engineering information, including truck turning patterns, architectural standards and coordination with the county’s economic development efforts.

The referral does not approve or deny the rezoning; it sends the application back to staff and the planning commission for additional review and public engagement. The planning commission will return a recommendation to the board after that work is complete.

Speakers at the hearing included residents who live along Anderson Highway and in nearby districts, planning staff and representatives of the applicant. Concerns repeatedly raised by residents included traffic safety on the Route 60 corridor, the adequacy of parking for deliveries and customers, whether the proposal would foreclose higher‑value development at the county’s eastern gateway, and whether the project had been adequately advertised to adjoining Powhatan County residents.

The planning staff packet and earlier planning commission materials remain available on the county website for public review. The developer said it will schedule a community meeting and provide requested technical studies to staff and the planning commission.","After more than two hours of presentations and public comment, the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors on July 8 voted to refer a rezoning application for a proposed 10,640‑square‑foot Dollar General (REZ25‑01) back to the planning commission for further study and community outreach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6751710,"At a glance: Cumberland supervisors approve grants, leases and routine items",21,2837000,2858000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab&start=2837&end=2858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab/thumbnail_2837000.jpg","/articles/6751710/Cumberland-County/Virginia/At-a-glance-Cumberland-supervisors-approve-grants-leases-and-routine-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751710-70aafe6332ff68cb148e054730049831/orig.mp4?Expires=1773736212&Signature=ZCc1tt3UlUef70KKupc7ftqyK2HjmkBF~QQ3fqo6IMLx4AuyLJ7rhV7ojMx1CBbyUSDV8qnVSk22JB975odjBn-d63MYFloQJPK1v8Bypgieuqb2YYNzw70MdYmQ6DjKvrzkeUrd-4pXcwtzQrMVDkOLsnRKynI-dugk1lF4wzNOL1KwG915s9lyCzxocApb6BEzZGG7OthbBIFHTJN4Q5FdxnyMPLMNZJV3Cpa4H8dL7yXPGEekpJZjERgUlPnu~ItIEcQQBIIqKdvAiVZ78McMpnIVojiPO1nCGChhF8l1pFnHqiihE~gJGnRDtJ~O4qxBAQHIptjc4cZsXuQM8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its July 8 meeting the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors approved several financial and administrative items with little extended debate.

Key actions the board approved included:

- RSAT grant appropriation: The board approved a budget appropriation of $58,089.23 in RSAT (rescue squad assistance) grant funding to outfit rescue squads with approved equipment. The total cost of the equipment purchase was reported as $93,634.81, with $35,545.58 funded from the department’s budget.

- CRC agriculture planning match: The board approved appropriating $3,000 as Cumberland’s share of a $50,000 regional agriculture and forestry industries planning grant to support poultry farmers and cooperative planning across multiple localities.

- Department of Social Services lease: The board authorized the county administrator to execute a one‑year lease (Aug. 1–July 31) for the Department of Social Services at the Luther P. Jackson Community Center (approx. 6,450 sq ft) with $24,000 in annual lease payments to the county.

- Circuit Court Clerk reappropriation and position: The board approved reappropriating $5,000 from the FY25–26 operating budget (the easy jury system) toward salary compression and approved the addition of a state‑funded clerk position per the State Compensation Board allocation.

- Consent agenda and minutes: The board approved the consent agenda (bills, minutes) as presented.

- VDOT rural rustic road resolution: The board adopted a resolution designating certain county roads, including Route 675 (Crowell Road), as rural rustic roads for inclusion in the VDOT secondary 6‑year plan; the resolution requests VDOT concurrence and asks that improvements maintain rural character to the extent possible.

Votes on routine items were recorded in the meeting minutes; most items passed by voice vote or recorded assent with no recorded dissent in the available transcript excerpt.","The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors on July 8 approved multiple budget appropriations and administrative items, including an RSAT grant appropriation for emergency services, a local match for a regional agriculture planning grant, a Department of Social Services lease and the consent agenda items.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6751713,"Cumberland panel adopts zoning‑appeals changes to align county ordinance with Virginia code",1205,4505000,5710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab&start=4505&end=5710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5358300-727589fa246ac073e765bf4e22befaab/thumbnail_4505000.jpg","/articles/6751713/Cumberland-County/Virginia/Cumberland-panel-adopts-zoningappeals-changes-to-align-county-ordinance-with-Virginia-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751713-04e1acec595c916d94b4ab49c078577b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773736212&Signature=Ubecfc-gNQvF4ffDrbjAQK9IUwhIK-vqPc3u-aEB-AwZZB3eyTO43pFcFXBTapMvV7p2N66uDSS83HfMFcd53tHauGkuU8sCZSl3kCdtfcOY6xmv~pN4Bpj7K4sqPLfmGnz6CUrDBNXwCU9qm8RQw0jDnb6UrYJmY9ifyXiDUcyNWPT3TgKEZFj1pOmy5qW2oSGuEUFT7i5HqtlY9YyXoTrkxSNIX1UdiI9toJ-epqqWeZDOOSSJ8HEn1f1FUx~ySdrkRKs5Ui4v0QmA5fefqCZoy07dtAtwtiYDzxNGON1pZK-oPELGEjDAjxd5f8AyfLDpBw1~3szMxkGMEEnaGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors on July 8 approved code amendment 24‑05 to update the county zoning appeals chapter and bring local ordinance language into accord with the 2022 revisions in the Virginia Code.

Planning staff explained the amendment replaces older local language with verbatim or closely matching state code text in several areas: the definition of a variance now explicitly includes height, size, area, bulk and location of buildings and structures; the amendment clarifies that the burden of proof for a variance rests with the applicant and that decisions should be based on a preponderance of the evidence; it adds that a variance may be granted when strict application of the ordinance would ‘‘unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property’’ and when the hardship is attributable to physical conditions present on the property at the time the ordinance became effective or when a reasonable modification is necessary for a person with a disability. The amendment also updated notice and appeal procedures and clarified certiorari review language for circuit court challenges to BZA decisions.

Planning staff stressed that the proposed local changes mirror state code wording and do not add new local standards beyond the state requirements. The board held a public hearing and then approved the amendment by recorded vote.

The change affects how applicants present variance requests to the BZA and how the county documents notices of violation; it also clarifies that once a structure is lawfully built under a variance it is treated as conforming for that dimensional relief unless further expansion is proposed.

County staff said the revised ordinance language was reviewed by county counsel and that the clean ordinance and redline were included in the board packet.","The Board of Supervisors on July 8 approved code amendment 24‑05, updating local Board of Zoning Appeals procedures and the definition/standards for variances to conform with changes in the 2022 Virginia code, including a clarified burden of proof and notice and certiorari procedures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cumberland officials highlight grants, new equipment and volunteer efforts in fire and EMS update

Cumberland supervisors refer contested Dollar General rezoning to planning commission after public hearing

At a glance: Cumberland supervisors approve grants, leases and routine items

Cumberland panel adopts zoning‑appeals changes to align county ordinance with Virginia code