Wythe County reports broadband progress, EMS inspection success and plans July festival; budget hearings set for March

Wythe County staff updated the Planning Commission March 2 on a range of county services and upcoming events. Deputy County Administrator Mr. Hankins told commissioners that broadband contractor Citizens has completed fiber work on several roads and is progressing westward; he said crews will expand in March and that service is live in parts of town. “They've got fiber laid throughout not throughout town, but along the major routes through town,” Hankins said.

Hankins reported the county’s EMS recently passed an Office of EMS inspection, with the inspector requesting one vehicle‑usage policy item that the county will add to HR policy. He also said the county expects a new computer‑aided dispatch system to go live in about five weeks and that EMS and other departments will be training in mid‑April.

On events and economic development, Hankins and ex officio Mr. Barnett described plans for a Liberty at the Lake festival with concerts, movies, games and fireworks on the evening of July 3; firework launches will occur from county property and the contractor has cleared the site. Mr. Barnett said the county secured an AFID grant to help replace the cannery boiler and that the county added remaining funds to get the cannery operating; Barnett said county leaders also are marketing several acres near Hitachi Arena to attract businesses and plan a billboard to support that effort.

Board budget presentations are scheduled in March for departments to present funding requests; Mr. Barnett and Hankins said the board expects to hold as many meetings as needed to gather community input as it balances competing priorities.

Why it matters: Broadband expansion, EMS readiness and large community events affect residents’ day‑to‑day services and county operations. Budget hearings will inform funding decisions for the coming fiscal year. The commission did not vote on budget items at this meeting.