Tazewell supervisors approve airport charter changes, fire bylaws and direct casino revenue to public safety

The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors approved several administrative and budget-related items April 7, including ratifying amendments to the county’s Airport Authority charter, adopting revised Tazewell County Fire Company bylaws, and asking the Bristol regional commission to allocate the county’s FY27 casino revenue to public safety.

Staff explained the airport charter amendments update procurement and money-handling procedures, clarify representation (Tazewell County retains majority representation with participating appointments from local towns and seats for Russell and Buchanan counties) and correct gaps in the record for earlier appointments. The board adopted a resolution ratifying the amended charter by voice vote after staff and a supervisor moved the resolution.

County attorney staff and representatives of the fire districts presented a 21–22 page, March 2026 revised draft of the Tazewell County Fire Company bylaws developed with the Emergency Services Committee and local fire chiefs. A supervisor moved to adopt the revised bylaws and the board approved the measure by voice vote.

On revenue, county administrator Eric Young advised the board that the county expects roughly $1.1 million in casino revenue for FY27 (up from about $941,000 this year) and said the increase could offset shortfalls from the meals tax in the county budget. The board voted to ask the Bristol Regional Transportation District Improvement Commission to allocate 100% of Tazewell County’s casino revenues to public safety (fire and EMS), the category allowed under the commission rules.

The board also approved several local funding and appointment items: motions passed to ratify a prior poll to donate funds for Richlands resident utility relief and to provide $35,000 from contingency to DSS for utility assistance; the board approved appointing Rachel Patton to an unexpired term on the Industrial Development Authority and Mike Brown to another vacancy; supervisors approved a donation of $20,000 from the Northern District capital improvement fund to replace the Pocahontas Center for Christian Action roof and a transfer of $5,000 from the general fund plus $2,000 from a district capital fund to the Baptist Valley Volunteer Fire Department to cover immediate bills and fuel costs. Several smaller district-funded requests also passed, including $250 to Graham High School’s academic society and $250 to buy fishing poles for a youth fishing event.

Most actions were approved by voice vote; the transcript records motions, seconds and affirmative voice votes but does not provide a detailed roll-call tally for each item. The board recessed to executive session later in the meeting to consider property, contract and personnel matters and scheduled a recessed meeting for April 21, 2026, at 6 p.m.