Middlesex supervisors approve airport furniture grant, ratify snow emergency and pass multiple budget items

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3 unanimously ratified a local emergency declaration tied to the county’s recent snow event and approved a series of financial and contract items, including authorizing airport furniture purchases under an awarded Commonwealth Aviation Fund grant.

Board members voted to ratify the emergency declaration so county expenses tied to the snow event would remain eligible for state and federal reimbursement, staff said. The motion to ratify the declaration was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.

On a separate motion, the board approved purchase of furniture for the new airport terminal up to the amount authorized by the Commonwealth Aviation Fund: $42,256.80, leaving a required local share of $4,225.68. Airport Manager Mike Lewis told the board the airport committee had originally requested approximately $47,000; the state aviation board approved $42,256.80. The motion to accept the state-approved amount was made and carried unanimously after roll call.

The board also approved several other measures during the meeting:

- Virginia 250 sponsorship: The board authorized up to $5,000 to fund speakers and programming tied to the Virginia 250 committee, with language encouraging the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to match the amount. The motion passed unanimously. (Motion included amendment wording to ask the EDA to match the approved funds.)

- Fire department aid (pass-through): A budget supplemental was approved to distribute state aid to local volunteer fire departments; staff explained the money is a pass-through and that each of the county’s three volunteer fire departments would receive $18,000.

- Bond counsel / EDA legal fees: The board approved appropriations totaling roughly $34,000 to cover bond counsel and related attorney invoices connected to an EDA property transaction (referred to as Project Access) after extended discussion about the deal’s complexity and multiple attorneys involved. The motion passed by roll call.

- Personnel and miscellaneous budget items: The board approved a $1,800 tuition reimbursement for an employee (policy-based, with repayment terms discussed), declared several items surplus and authorized proper disposal, and approved a maintenance/thinning agreement with 3 Rivers Forestry for approximately 18 acres at Hummel Field.

All motions recorded in the meeting were adopted by roll call votes with the five supervisors present — Mr. Williams (President), Mr. Bill Harris, Mr. Crittendon, Mr. Jesse and Mr. Don Harris — signaling unanimous board approval for the items listed above.

Next steps: Several items will require follow-up. Staff will process procurement/purchasing for the airport furniture within the approved state grant amount; the EDA was asked to consider matching the $5,000 Virginia 250 contribution; and staff will prepare any necessary paperwork for state reimbursement tied to the emergency declaration. The board also directed staff to schedule a public hearing in April for the proposed noise ordinance (see separate article).