[{"_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",[32,75],{"_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",6500573,"mediaKeyId","5671223-179a3bb607c22405b54e7fd38513cbb1","parentId",5671223,"title","Votes at a glance: Waynesboro council approves ordinance, emergency plan extension and regional opioid grant agreement","audioSeconds",434,"startMs",2706000,"endMs",3140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671223-179a3bb607c22405b54e7fd38513cbb1&start=2706&end=3140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671223-179a3bb607c22405b54e7fd38513cbb1/thumbnail_2706000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500573/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Waynesboro-council-approves-ordinance-emergency-plan-extension-and-regional-opioid-grant-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500573-9eb70782e320b39000c26c95dbda9944/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183219&Signature=dB0PeuYjjuX59guf3qrpVVWteXJtgdaUb~pZ1mjB1OCop-tXAh9JXNfD6AmqWAeJDb~5SGsxExPGXMsEEXmjF~1N4Q5tLohVeReSQ-XwmAfd991S~VVoCGF23lYauD~9ixLFg4l9egjvV5Tg96ggB~gorTT0-Lk8GR-Vs9POJ7Z1IXgYwbQiLip4i4xXAjqCOsJUmPFpxrg~tk3Ab6YZQxgu8alO0PO2FMqvnM-IsXnEbP-PrUidkXh4ZZIPyXNhRv1caqygXY6DhIKhPVqf6YUAqOr6BAzxsj7Leav27zTDUFKMff2yximLFAEYmfLdZC7IKb8nZRg9LqON1Iyr-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waynesboro","date","2025-08-25T22:49:47Z","article","Waynesboro City Council approved a series of motions and resolutions unanimously (5–0) at the meeting. Actions included adoption of a consent agenda and final votes on an ordinance amending the transient lodging tax, extension of a regional emergency operations plan, approval of an operational agreement for a regional opioid grant, and several routine appointments.

Key outcomes

• Transient lodging tax ordinance (Chapter 78, Article 5): Council adopted an ordinance amending the local transient lodging tax code. The ordinance was described by staff as an item previously introduced and discussed; the council voted in favor (5–0).

• Extension of regional emergency operations plan: Council adopted a resolution extending the Stanton‑Augusta‑Waynesboro Emergency Operations Plan until the end of the calendar year to allow more time for a renewed plan to be completed with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission; the vote was 5–0. Staff noted the prior plan expired in June and the extension preserves the jurisdictions' standing with the Commonwealth while work continues.

• Operational agreement for regional opioid abatement grant: Council approved an operational agreement among Augusta County, Stanton and Waynesboro related to funds awarded by the Opioid Abatement Authority. The region will receive $140,000 in state opioid funds; Waynesboro's share of the required local match (part of a $60,000 total local match among the three jurisdictions) is $14,000. Staff described planned uses as funding a regional prevention coordinator (to work in schools and be supervised in the Shenandoah Valley office on youth) and hiring a nurse navigator and a community health worker (employed by the Virginia Department of Health) to distribute harm‑reduction kits and perform community outreach. The motion passed 5–0.

• Appointments: Council reappointed Melissa Techman to the Waynesboro Public Library Board of Trustees for a 4‑year term ending 08/31/2029 and appointed Patricia Sullivan to an unexpired library‑board term ending 08/31/2026. Council also appointed Victoria Evans to the Economic Development Authority for a 4‑year term ending 08/31/2029. All appointments were approved 5–0.

Procedural notes: Most of these items were either on the consent agenda or introduced earlier, and council discussion was limited. Where staff provided additional briefing (for the opioid grant and the emergency plan extension), presenters explained funding sources, prioritization and the reason for the extension; no additional council action beyond approval was requested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 25th, 2025 Waynesboro City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Waynesboro City Council approved multiple routine and substantive items by unanimous votes, including a transient lodging tax code amendment, an emergency operations plan extension, an operational agreement for a regional opioid grant, and several board appointments.","taxTitle","Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia","taxId",56188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_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":73,"_74":73},6500578,"Valley Community Services Board details plan for regional crisis receiving center in Fishersville",2254,452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671223-179a3bb607c22405b54e7fd38513cbb1&start=452&end=2706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671223-179a3bb607c22405b54e7fd38513cbb1/thumbnail_452000.jpg","/articles/6500578/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Valley-Community-Services-Board-details-plan-for-regional-crisis-receiving-center-in-Fishersville","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500578-1c61f8c1874d74d61c08960a8721a341/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183219&Signature=W0D7TAjPZt5Wl4MGLKzYcNFirVJuXrSy7l6jp~4XN4Ovh9oktlsicUmLmFj1tuKxmBZhKSBcu3xCqNzmIfI5eRQuEzqbJ69bWMo7yOGctFkMRLvFQT-s610hZOXye~Dbt9j14q4FLBsn0Rqqo6EJ4kykDYWBQQA5dWzSp8-RTd4tCtr2cpuQb8XkgREj1ucX9Jzud9fYhbGe7uZYyxg8sf4gFih31psUIQ4EZpgkZkcDtqJ73z9MevPNf4NIyuWvKmDxSwalqDTMm3ZazlF9xnDR2ATOfDil6c6S33RIJk4n8J3G7vjGptzWZ3TE63sEBxXdDRoyq0zHDa83cpza9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Valley Community Services Board (VCSB) leaders presented Waynesboro City Council with site, design, staffing and funding details this evening for a proposed crisis receiving center (CRC) and crisis stabilization unit (CSU) to be built in Fishersville.

The VCSB said the facility will sit on a 6.17-acre parcel (Lot 4) near Augusta Health, at Wilson Lane and Tinkling Springs Road, and will be about 25,439 square feet. The prototype design called for 16 beds/chairs, a pharmacy, exam/vitals rooms, staff offices, a sally port for law enforcement, two enclosed outdoor areas, laundry and clothing storage, a kitchen and about 102 parking spaces. VCSB finance director John Sandy said the project is “right‑zoned” in Augusta County and is intended to serve Waynesboro residents as well as people from Augusta County, Stanton and Highland County.

The board described the facility as a combined CRC/CSU that will provide short‑term receiving and stabilization, detoxification and a pathway to longer care where necessary. Sandy said the design includes a “doc in the middle” so clinicians can serve both chairs and beds, and that the facility will be sprinklered and camera‑secured. He said Augusta County sheriff’s deputies will be housed at the facility and that the sally port and secure law‑enforcement holding areas are intended to protect patient privacy and staff safety.

Why it matters: VCSB presenters said the center aims to reduce law enforcement and emergency room burden by diverting people in behavioral‑health crisis to a setting designed for stabilization and treatment. John Sandy said the center should reduce ER wait times and free deputies to respond to other calls rather than waiting at hospital emergency departments.

Funding and timeline: VCSB presented a preliminary capital budget of about $22 million. The presentation listed the state as providing the largest share (about 78 percent), localities about 9 percent, ARPA funds about 4 percent, and private donations around 1 percent. Sandy noted VCSB appropriated $1.5 million from fund balance (May 2024) and that $802,000 in ARPA funds were allocated to the project. VCSB also formed a 501(c)(3) in November 2024 to raise additional private donations (target roughly $250,000).

Sandy provided a project timeline that assumes design engineering begins in September 2025, finishes by May 2026, with construction and site work taking about 19 months and a one‑month burn‑in period; the projected opening date presented was September 2027. He emphasized the schedule is an estimate and may shift as the design and permitting process proceeds.

Staffing and operations: VCSB said three staff positions will be hired in the 2026 fiscal year to manage licensure, recruitment and design input; those three positions are not intended to allow opening the full facility on day one. Sandy described a ramp‑up to roughly 51 staff over three fiscal years. VCSB said first‑year operating revenue is expected from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and self‑pay reimbursements; the U.S. Department of Justice mental‑health collaboration grant will cover at least three initial positions in the first year. VCSB acknowledged a likely second‑year funding gap and said it plans budget adjustments and revenue growth from reimbursements to close that gap by 2028.

Design and partners: VCSB said ZMM Architects & Engineers produced the CRC prototype used for the site plan; VCSB is receiving design and project‑management support from a civil firm and a project manager. Partners listed include Augusta Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (state), Augusta County, Stanton and Highland County, and local law enforcement. VCSB noted the Commonwealth has funded prototype CRCs elsewhere and that this will be one of the few newly constructed facilities rather than a retrofit.

Questions and clarifications: Council members asked whether the facility would open with only three staff; Sandy clarified the three positions would be hired early to recruit and meet licensure requirements and that the facility would not open serving all 16 beds/chairs with only three staff. VCSB explained the CRC/CSU model includes short stays (roughly 23 hours for receiving) and longer stabilization stays in the CSU (up to 15 days), with pathways to inpatient care only when clinically necessary.

No action requested: VCSB presented the update for council information; presenters said no formal council action was required at the meeting.","Valley Community Services Board presented plans and financing for a new crisis receiving center and crisis stabilization unit in Fishersville that would serve Waynesboro and surrounding localities; council received the update and no action was required.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Waynesboro council approves ordinance, emergency plan extension and regional opioid grant agreement

Valley Community Services Board details plan for regional crisis receiving center in Fishersville