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Finance committee recommends three public-safety and recovery grants to full council
Summary
The Lynchburg Finance Committee voted to recommend three grants — an Edward Byrne JAG award, a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant and a Virginia State Opioid Response grant — to the full Lynchburg City Council for final action.
The Lynchburg City Council finance committee on March 25 recommended three grant items to the full council: an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award, a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant application and a Virginia State Opioid Response grant allocation for the Lynchburg Adult Recovery Court.
The grants are largely non‑matching awards intended to supplement public safety and recovery programs. The committee took separate motions on each item and recorded affirmative recommendations to send all three to the council for final approval.
The Byrne JAG award totals $36,705. According to the committee presentation, $31,070 would be used by the Lynchburg Police Department to buy computers and memory upgrades; the Lynchburg Sheriff’s Office would receive $3,795 to replace a Toshiba document output and management station; and the Lynchburg Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would use the remaining funds to purchase a laptop, computer and related accessories. Committee materials and the presenter stated there is no local match required.
The committee’s vote: Council Member Wilder, Council Member Reed and the committee chair voted to recommend the Byrne JAG award to council. The motion passed and was recommended to city council.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant application is for $44,770 to purchase one Humatoke/Homatroke (brand name) Pentheon cutter and one Pentheon spreader — hydraulic rescue tools commonly known as the “jaws of life.” Fire Chief Warmster told the committee the department’s current sets had met useful life and the grant would fund replacements compatible with their current equipment. The application before the committee was an approval to submit the grant application (no local match). The committee recommended the application be submitted to city council.
The Virginia State Opioid Response grant item covered $17,490 awarded to support services administered by the Lynchburg Adult Recovery Court. Program staff said the funds would be spread across recovery housing, bus passes and contracted transportation, participant incentives, planners for participants, and staff registration for a national conference. Committee members noted there is no local match required and voted to recommend the grant award to council.
Votes at a glance - Edward Byrne JAG — $36,705. Recommended to city council (committee recorded ‘aye’ votes: Wilder, Reed, committee chair). No local match. Uses: police computers/memory, sheriff copy machine replacement, Commonwealth’s Attorney laptop. - Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant — $44,770 (application approval). Recommended to city council (committee recorded ‘yes’ votes: Wilder, Reed, committee chair). Non‑matching; will fund hydraulic rescue tool replacements. - Virginia State Opioid Response grant — $17,490. Recommended to city council (committee recorded ‘aye’ votes: Roberts, Reed, committee chair). Non‑matching; funds to support adult recovery court operations and participant services.
Committee members who spoke in favor cited the direct, tangible public safety or recovery benefits and emphasized that the grants supplement existing departmental resources. No speakers opposed the awards during the committee discussion.
The grants will return to the Lynchburg City Council for final action at upcoming council meetings.
