Floyd County board certifies closed session, appoints Ms. Hickson to EDA and authorizes negotiators on PSA talks

The Floyd County board certified that the matters discussed in a recent closed session matched the topics announced for that meeting and approved several follow‑up actions on public business.

At the meeting the board appointed Ms. Hickson to the Economic Development Authority for a four‑year term beginning in April 2026 and ending in March 2030. The motion to appoint passed on a roll call vote with Mr. Booth, Mr. Cox, Ms. Cookingbook and Mr. Turman voting yes and Mr. Phillips voting no; the board recorded the appointment as approved. The board said staff will contact Ms. Hickson to confirm start details.

Why it matters: The Economic Development Authority position shapes the county’s economic development efforts and can affect project review and local business outreach. The appointment fills a seat that the board chose to make by formal vote.

The board also addressed operational items raised during “board time.” Members discussed reports from volunteer firefighters that the Active EMS/Active Alert smartphone app was not showing all local dispatches to some volunteers in the Locust Grove district. County staff (referred to in the meeting as Eva) said they would check user settings and correct any account or permission errors. Board members reiterated that the county maintains full alert access only for active volunteers and designated emergency personnel; they also urged that current certifications for anyone responding in an official volunteer capacity be kept on record to reduce county liability.

Members paid brief tributes to recent volunteers who died, naming Harry Yates and another longtime volunteer, and noted the breadth of volunteer activity across the county, from roadside cleanups to fire‑service support. The board also discussed litter‑control efforts and whether to restart a spring clean‑up program (previously paused during the pandemic) and reported ongoing problems with theft or damage to road name and speed limit signs at locations such as Myer Fork and Shady Grove; members clarified that VDOT replaces speed‑limit signs while the county arranges street/911 signs.

On an intergovernmental item, a member said they had been told at a recent PSA meeting that they were “not trusted,” and urged the board to consider different negotiators if necessary. After discussion the board voted to authorize Mr. Cox and Ms. Cookenbook to continue negotiations with the town on the PSA matter. The motion carried with Mr. Booth, Mr. Phillips, Ms. Cookenbook and the Chair voting yes and Mr. Cox recorded as abstaining.

Finally, the board voted to reconvene a closed session under Virginia Code § 2.2‑3711(A)(6) (discussion of investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved) and § 2.2‑3711(A)(8) (consultation with legal counsel regarding specific legal matters) to continue negotiations and receive legal advice related to the PSA. Roll call for that motion was unanimous among members present.

What’s next: Staff will follow up to confirm Ms. Hickson’s EDA appointment details; staff was asked to check and repair Active Alert app accounts and to confirm certification records for volunteer responders. The board left negotiations and legal strategy for the PSA matter to the closed session.