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Washington County supervisors redirect $10,000 to SORBA, fund sheriff training and back black-lung resolution
Summary
The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved redirecting a previously appropriated $10,000 to SORBA Tri-Cities for trail planning, authorized $56,250 in local opioid-training funds for sheriff’s personnel, reappointed incubator members, and adopted a resolution urging changes to federal black lung benefits.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors on a unanimous 7-0 vote redirected a previously appropriated $10,000 to SORBA (Southern Off‑Road Bicycle Association) Tri‑Cities to pay for planning and design work on a proposed alternative trail toward Damascus, approved $56,250 in local funds to train sheriff’s deputies on opioid use disorder, and adopted a resolution urging changes to federal black lung benefits.
The board voted to convert $10,000 that had been set aside as a grant match into a direct donation to SORBA so the group can hire a consultant to complete a plan and design for an alternative trail connecting mountainous areas toward Damascus using the Iron Mountain Trail and local routes. A supervisor speaking in favor said the trail work could boost local spending by visitors and called the project an economic driver for Washington County.
On the sheriff’s request, the board approved $56,250 to fund training for up to 125 officers at $450 per person through Shenandoah University on opioid use disorders and co‑occurring conditions. County staff said funding would come from local opioid funds already appropriated; the motion to fund the training passed 7-0.
The board also reappointed four members to the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator (John Britke, Jack Phelps, Ben Harrell and Scott Wilson) and approved routine appointments to the agriculture committee (Lee Wright and Emily Haas).
Separately, the board adopted Resolution 2025‑524, a measure circulated by regional advocates (the Appalachian Citizens Law Center) that asks for changes to federal black lung benefit rules; a supervisor who worked in coal mining urged support given the county’s historical ties to the industry. The motion to adopt the resolution carried 7-0.
Other routine action taken at the meeting included approving the consent agenda and a recommendation from the treasurer’s office to remove a partially unidentifiable parcel from county tax rolls after a review of historical surveys and title records. County staff said the treasurer provided packet materials and code citations to support the request; the board approved the recommendation 7-0.
Votes at a glance • Approve agenda with additions (Mr. Wissman presentation, incubator appointments, black lung resolution): approved 7-0. • Approve consent agenda: approved 7-0. • Redirect $10,000 to SORBA Tri‑Cities for trail planning/design: approved 7-0. • Strike partial parcel (tax map 104A‑8) from tax rolls per treasurer recommendation: approved 7-0. • Fund sheriff opioid training ($56,250 from local opioid funds): approved 7-0. • Reappoint four members to Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator: approved 7-0. • Adopt Resolution 2025‑524 on federal black lung benefits: approved 7-0.
The board closed the meeting after routine reports and announcements. Several motions were moved and seconded from the dais; recorded tallies were unanimous where counts were given.
