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Smyth County Board ratifies total burn ban, approves surplus lists and $1.12 million budget amendment
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Summary
The board ratified an administratively issued total outdoor burn ban due to drought, approved committee recommendations to surplus office equipment and 11 vehicles, and accepted budget amendment No. 6 totaling $1,120,029; the board also recommended proceeding with a radio equipment return/replacement plan expected to generate about $128,000 in credit.
The Smyth County Board of Supervisors ratified an administratively issued emergency total burn ban and approved a package of committee recommendations including surplus declarations and a budget amendment.
County Administrator (speaker 2) told the board the public safety committee recommended returning and replacing certain radio units to obtain approximately $128,000 in credit for handhelds and accessories. The committee’s recommendation to proceed with the return/replacement plan was presented to the full board as a committee recommendation.
On wildfire risk, the administrator said drought conditions prompted him to issue an administrative total burn ban for outdoor burning and asked the board to ratify the declaration. "It's a total burn ban," the administrator said, adding that flying ash and wind increase the risk of ignition. The board moved to ratify the emergency burn‑ban declaration; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board also approved surplus recommendations from the surplus committee: administrative office supplies and equipment will be offered internally, to local businesses and then to the public; the board approved declaring 11 vehicles surplus (the majority from the sheriff's office, plus solid waste and social services vehicles). These recommendations were presented and approved by voice vote as committee recommendations.
Budget committee items included discussion of dog license statutory constraints and several amendments. The board approved "budget amendment 6," described by the administrator as totaling $1,120,029 and incorporating a flood resiliency grant of $334,000 and other adjustments including CSA funding. The county also authorized a three‑year contract for business tax software at $10,500 annually to help identify unregistered businesses; the committee noted the first year can be absorbed in the commissioner's budget.
On procurement and equipment, the committee reported a conversation with the fire chief about a beacon machine and explored splitting the purchase across fiscal years; no formal action on that item was recorded. The board recessed to closed session after completing business.
Votes at a glance: approval of minutes (motion carried with one abstention); ratification of emergency total burn ban (motion approved by voice vote); surplus of office equipment (approved); surplus of 11 vehicles (approved); approval of budget amendment 6 for $1,120,029 (approved); approval of a three‑year business tax software contract at $10,500 per year (approved as committee recommendation).
