Bedford County commissioners voted Nov. 11 to form a one‑year decentralized wastewater advisory committee to research countywide approaches to alternative wastewater systems and recommend changes to local subdivision regulations.

The motion authorizes a technical, advisory committee that will study state rules, consult experts and return a Bedford County decentralized‑wastewater plan to the planning commission and the Board of Commissioners within 12 months. Commissioners clarified the committee will be advisory only; it will not have zoning authority or power of eminent domain. The commission also added a requirement that the committee’s meetings be live‑streamed.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and debate. Residents and speakers urged both caution and action: Stephen Jordan warned about potential costs falling on property owners and questioned whether the plan served residents’ interests, while Lee Kelly urged local planning to protect the Duck River and direct higher‑density development to suitable corridors. Alan Gill, a nominee and former planning commissioner, said the committee’s first year should focus on planning, research and education and stressed the group would merely advise the planning commission.

Commissioners debated the committee’s scope and composition. Some members said the county needs higher technical standards than state minimums to avoid system failures; others warned the proposed slate included developers and real‑estate interests and asked for clearer duties before ratifying members. Several commissioners also said nominees arrived on short notice and asked for more vetting.

The commission amended the formation motion to require a county plan be delivered within 12 months and to live‑stream the committee’s meetings so the public can follow its work. The amended motion passed by roll call, with 13 ayes and 4 pass/abstentions.

Mayor Chad Graham then read a slate of seven nominees for the committee — Alan Gill; Lynn Kasicky; Denny Hastings; John Boutwell; Keith Davis; Casey Kesselring; and Samuel Coats — and the commission ratified the slate by the same recorded margin, 13 ayes and 4 passes. The commission emphasized the committee will report to the planning commission and that any regulatory changes would be adopted through existing subdivision regulation processes.

Next steps: the committee is to convene, gather information from state agencies and counties with existing programs, draft recommended standards for decentralized wastewater systems, and present findings to planning and the commission within the 12‑month window.