Bland County supervisors approve grants, appropriations and Rocky Gap entertainment permit; trash ordinance hearing advertised

Bland County’s Board of Supervisors met at the Bland County Courthouse on Oct. 28, 2025, and approved a slate of grants, appropriations and routine business intended to fund schools, public safety and community programs.

The board voted unanimously to approve the meeting agenda as amended to add an entertainment permit for Rocky Gap Grill and approved the consent agenda, which included payroll, vendor payments, departmental reports and a Bland County School Board requisition for $1,128,966.42. Chair Randy Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m., and County Administrator Cameron Burton offered the invocation.

Several grant appropriations were approved. Supervisors accepted a $5,000 Skews Family Foundation grant for youth sports and $28,000 from the Wythe‑Bland Foundation—$18,000 for the Bland County Farmers’ Market and $10,000 for Parks and Recreation. The board also accepted $2,324.01 from Mountain Community Action Program (MCAP) for the Commissioner of the Revenue budget.

On public‑safety and disaster recovery matters, the board appropriated $186,851 from a VDEM 911 grant to purchase a computer‑aided dispatch system and approved using $7,036 in seized assets for a Sheriff’s Office storage building. The board approved $8,810.94 in FEMA funds to Bland County Public Schools for labor and materials during Hurricane Helene and later approved a $15,000 general‑fund payment related to meals served to adults during that event. Supervisors also authorized repayment from the general fund of $315,711.43 to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

The board approved several other appropriations and administrative actions: $5,000 toward purchase of a fire truck from funds for the Ceres Fire Department; creation of a temporary part‑time position in the Commissioner of the Revenue office; and declaration of certain dispatch center furniture as surplus.

On special events, the board approved an entertainment permit for Rocky Gap Grill for Nov. 8, 2025, waiving most fees but imposing two conditions: no discharge of fireworks within 1,000 feet of the premises and no use of the stage for the event. Supervisors also authorized advertisement of a public hearing to consider including trash bills on the yearly tax ticket (a proposed trash ordinance).

During the public comment period Ms. Debra Cline of Wythe County asked the board to provide funding to the Community Cats Rescue Network to support a Trap‑Neuter‑Return program for feral cats. The board later approved a $150 appropriation from a Board member’s special funds to that organization.

The board entered an executive session under Section 2.2‑3711 of the Code of Virginia to discuss personnel and business‑and‑industry recruitment, returned to regular session, and adopted the required certification under Section 2.2‑3712. After returning to open session, supervisors approved an 18‑month Health Insurance Retirement Benefit Plan Agreement for a retiree and then adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the meeting were carried unanimously on roll‑call votes unless otherwise noted. Key dollar approvals included: school requisition $1,128,966.42; CTB repayment $315,711.43; VDEM 911 grant $186,851; Wythe‑Bland grants $28,000; Skews Family Foundation $5,000; FEMA funds $8,810.94; and a $5,000 appropriation for a Ceres fire truck.

The board did not take final action on a trash ordinance at this meeting; it authorized advertisement of a public hearing to consider whether trash bills should be added to the annual tax ticket. The board is expected to address that ordinance at a future public hearing.