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Planning commission approves minutes, reviews subdivisions and hears updates on flooding, budget and facilities
Summary
At its June meeting the Planning Commission approved May minutes, reviewed minor and family subdivisions, heard county engineer and budget updates (including a $3.8M budget shortfall the Board intends to draw from reserves) and scheduled a land‑use work session for June 22.
The Wythe County Planning Commission approved its May 4, 2026 minutes unanimously and reviewed several subdivision plats before recessing to a June 22 work session on the Land Use Classification Ordinance.
Christopher C. King moved to approve the May minutes; Rodney S. Dunford seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
County Engineer Johnny Kincer reported recent flooding in the county and said staff have been reviewing Progress Park Lots 10 and 35. He also described drainage concerns at the Foster Falls solar site and suggested overgrazing by roughly 700 sheep could be contributing to pond and back‑pond drainage problems: “The drainage issues may be because there are 700 sheep grazing the property and they are probably overgrazing it,” Kincer said.
Ex‑Officio Jesse Burnett told commissioners the Board completed its budget work but the state budget had not been released; the county faces a $3.8 million shortfall that staff plan to cover from reserves, an option the Board said it hopes not to repeat. “The Board trimmed the budget to $3.8M short and plan to pull that from reserves,” Burnett said.
County Planner Lisa Shelton reported that several minor subdivision plats (Hurt Farms, Black Lick, B. Dale Barker) and a family subdivision for Jeffrey Osborne had been approved administratively. Deputy County Administrator Matt Hankins provided updates on funding for the cannery and an additional water tank, broadband work with Citizens, the codification project, and the Liberty At The Lake festival. Hankins also reported the county’s burn ban had been lifted but cautioned it may not last long.
Commissioner Heidi Lyall asked about House bills affecting land‑use classification; Hankins said the bills are still active but have been watered down, giving localities more discretion and introducing a reporting requirement if the county denies a solar farm. With no further business the Commission recessed and set a work session for June 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.; the next regular meeting is July 6, 2026.
