Bedford County supervisors unanimously approve VDEM training grant, park paving contract and school resource officer grant

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors on March 10 approved multiple resolutions and contract authority in unanimous roll-call votes.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution R031025-one (Consent): Authorization to submit and accept an individual Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) education program grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for 9-1-1 center training. Motion to approve by Ms. Johnson; second by Ms. Tuck. Roll-call votes recorded in favor by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Tuck, Ms. Bainsley, Mr. Davis, Mr. Sharp, Mrs. Parker and the Chair; outcome: approved.

- Resolution R031025-two: Approval to participate in the multi-jurisdictional PSAP education program (regional trainings funded by VDEM). Presented by Christina (county staff). Motion to adopt by Ms. Tuck; second by Mrs. Parker. Board approved the program; staff said the program reimburses expenditures (reimbursement grant) and that eight jurisdictions will participate this year.

- Resolution R03-1025-3: Authorization for the county administrator to execute a contract with Adams Construction Company for pavement and drainage work at the county recreation facility, with an appropriation of additional funding in the amount of $75,250.47. Motion by Ms. Parker; second by Ms. Bainsley. The invitation to bid was advertised Jan. 22, 2025; bids opened Feb. 21, 2025, and Adams Construction was the lowest responsible bidder. Vote: approved.

- Resolution R031025-four: Authorization to submit and appropriate continuation funding for the School Resource Officer (SRO) grant. Presented by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office. Motion to approve by Ms. Bainsley; second by Mr. Johnson. The sheriff told the board the grant supports salaries and benefits for up to 14 SRO positions (13 elementary schools and one alternative school). As of February 2025 the office had hired seven full-time SROs and four part-time SROs and expects to hire a 12th position in May; the grant requires a local match (the presenter cited a 31.32% local-match rate for years two through four), and the local share of the grant will be split 25% by the county and 75% by Bedford County Public Schools. The sheriff said SROs use existing department vehicles (described as “hand-me-downs,” many with more than 100,000 miles) and emphasized community work such as welfare checks, feeding residents during outages and mentoring students.

All four measures passed with recorded affirmative votes by the board members present. No opposing votes or abstentions were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Background and next steps

The PSAP education program is managed through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as a reimbursement grant; the county’s communications staff said the program has grown to eight jurisdictions this year. The recreation facility contract will move forward upon execution by the county administrator and appropriation of the noted additional funds. The SRO grant continuation will be submitted according to the timeline in the county packet; implementation details such as equipment replacement and hiring timelines were discussed but no additional appropriations beyond the grant-local match split were approved at this meeting.