Wythe County supervisors approve grant support letter, committee recommendations and several budget items

The Wythe County Board of Supervisors approved a series of routine and substantive actions on Oct. 14, 2025, including authorizing a county official to execute a grant-support letter for the Wythe County Cannery, several Buildings & Grounds committee recommendations, and budget items for events and an industrial expansion payment.

The board unanimously approved a motion to pay the invoices submitted to the board and unanimously approved the minutes of the Sept. 23, 2025 meeting.

Voting credentials: The board named a primary voting delegate and an alternate to represent the county at the 2025 FICO annual meeting (the board record lists the appointment of the chair as the main voting member and Supervisor Smith as alternate). The board approved the appointment by voice vote.

Wythe County Cannery grant support: The board authorized Supervisor Barrett to execute a letter indicating the county would meet any matching responsibilities for an AFID grant application to replace a boiler at the Wythe County Cannery. County staff said the cannery’s boiler failed at the start of the canning season and was beyond repair; the grant would provide up to $50,000 in matching funds. The board approved the authorization by voice vote. During the discussion Chair Barrett said outside organizations and Dr. Poole had expressed interest in exploring improvements to the cannery, including a possible commercial kitchen.

Buildings & Grounds and budget committee recommendations: The Buildings & Grounds committee’s Oct. 8 recommendations were approved by the board and included:

- Authorizing the county’s trash and recycling centers to be closed on Christmas Eve. - Approving a change order of $3,685 for striping bays at the Mariner Springs Fire Department. - Amending and appropriating $47,518 to account 81003440 for payment of a portion of tax revenues to the Tobacco Commission related to the Kloeckner expansion project.

The budget committee also recommended and the board approved a $50,000 budget for the 2026 Fourth of July weekend event.

Holiday pay policy for emergency services: The board approved a revision to the holiday pay policy for emergency services and dispatch. The change clarifies that employees who receive holiday time will be paid eight hours per holiday (the county noted this is the standard holiday allotment despite some emergency employees working 12- or 24-hour shifts) and discontinues use of the county-wide holiday leave bank for those positions.

Closed session and certification: The board moved into a closed session under Va. Code § 2.2-3711(a)(5) to discuss prospective industry projects identified in the meeting record as Element, Gradient, Canyon and Silver. After returning to open session, the board voted to certify that only matters lawfully exempted were discussed in the closed meeting; the certification resolution was approved by roll call.

No ordinance adoptions or contract awards requiring additional public notice were recorded at the meeting. Several items were presented as committee recommendations and approved without extended public discussion.