Lunenburg supervisors approve $1.06M CARES Act budget boost and several CARES-funded purchases and grants
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Summary
The Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 10 approved a $1,064,054 increase to the FY2021 budget for additional CARES Act relief funds and authorized awards and purchases funded by those dollars, including small-business grants, two ambulances, generators for critical offices, and temporary clerical hires.
The Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 10 approved increasing the county’s FY2021 revenue and expenditures by $1,064,054 after the county received additional CARES Act relief funds. County Administrator Tracy M. Gee told the board the increase brings the FY2021 budget to $39,247,827.
The board approved distribution of CARES-funded awards and purchases tied to that increase. Administrator Gee said the CARES Committee recommended awards for 32 small businesses from 37 applications received; five applications were deemed ineligible. The board approved the awards with a total payout of $218,500; Supervisors T. Wayne Hoover and Frank Bacon abstained from that vote because family members had applied. "The committee decided to open the application process for a second round ... which would close on October 15," Gee said; businesses awarded in round one will automatically be entered in round two and have their awards doubled.
The board approved spending $510,500 of CARES funds to purchase two new ambulances — one for Victoria Fire & Rescue and one for Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad — with Prince Edward County covering two-thirds of Meherrin’s vehicle. Supervisors also approved purchasing and installing generators for the local Health Department, the County Administration Office, and the County Tax Office to preserve refrigeration for a future vaccine and to support operations. Supervisor T. Wayne Hoover framed the generators as necessary for continuity: he said the Administration Office could serve as an emergency operations center if needed.
Administrator Gee reported a request, supported by the CARES committee, to authorize up to two part-time clerical employees (up to 20 hours per week each) in the Administration Office through Dec. 31, 2020 to handle increased CARES-related workload; the board discussed the recommendation during the meeting.
In addition, the board accepted a $49,192 award from the Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) program for the Sheriff’s Office to buy Toughbooks for patrol vehicles and pay CAD user license fees. Major D.J. Penland will administer those purchases.
The board voted on these CARES-funded items and related budget changes during the Sept. 10 meeting; the motions passed by roll call vote as recorded in the meeting minutes. The county will administer the second round of small-business grant applications through Oct. 15.