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Bland County supervisors approve opioid-settlement participation, new hires and several budget moves in unanimous votes
Summary
At their July 23 meeting the Bland County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved joining the Kroger national opioid settlement, created a youth sports coordinator post ($10,000) and a part-time assistant commonwealth attorney ($60,000), and adopted a package of budget and contract amendments.
The Bland County Board of Supervisors on July 23 approved a series of resolutions, personnel changes and budget moves, including participation in the proposed Kroger National Opioid Settlement and creation of two new county positions, all by unanimous roll-call votes.
Chairman Keith Costello presided over the meeting at the Bland County Courthouse. Randy Johnson moved to adopt a resolution for the county to participate in the proposed Kroger National Opioid Settlement; Stephen Kelley seconded, and the board voted 4-0 to adopt the measure. The board also voted 4-0 to adopt a resolution certifying a burn-ban local state of emergency that had been declared on June 28, 2024, and to adopt a companion resolution certifying the end of that local state of emergency effective July 23, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
The board voted unanimously to implement enhanced hazardous-duty retirement benefits under the Virginia Retirement System for law-enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians effective July 23, 2024. Patrick Groseclose moved the resolution, Randy Johnson seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.
On county staffing and budgets, supervisors approved a new Bland County Youth Sports Coordinator position and appropriated $10,000 to Parks and Recreation to fund it. The board also approved a part-time Assistant Commonwealth Attorney position and appropriated $60,000 to that budget to fund the role; both measures passed by unanimous vote.
Other budget and administrative actions approved under the meeting's consent and regular agendas included: appropriation of $1,830 in reimbursed funds from Mountain Community Action Program to the Commissioner of the Revenue's FY25 budget; approval of grant applications to the Wythe-Bland Foundation; an amended $3,600 transfer in the Clerk of Circuit Court's FY25 budget from Recording and Indexing to Salaries and Wages; and approval of FY24-25 Mount Rogers Community Services performance contract amendments. All motions carried on recorded votes of 4-0.
Votes at a glance: Randy Johnson moved and Patrick Groseclose seconded approval of the amended meeting agenda; motion carried. Stephen Kelley moved and Patrick Groseclose seconded approval of the consent agenda (minutes, payroll, monthly bills, departmental reports and school requisition); roll call 4-0 in favor. Randy Johnson moved to adopt the Kroger National Opioid Settlement resolution; Stephen Kelley seconded; roll call 4-0. Patrick Groseclose moved to certify the burn-ban declaration and the end of the local state of emergency; both motions were seconded and adopted by roll call 4-0. Patrick Groseclose moved the VRS enhanced-hazardous-duty resolution; Randy Johnson seconded; roll call 4-0. Stephen Kelley moved the youth sports coordinator position appropriation; Patrick Groseclose seconded; roll call 4-0. Stephen Kelley moved the part-time Assistant Commonwealth Attorney position and appropriation; Randy Johnson seconded; roll call 4-0. Other listed appropriations, transfers and contract amendments also passed 4-0. The meeting adjourned following a unanimous motion to do so.
The meeting record lists the supervisors present as Keith Costello (chairman), Patrick Groseclose, Randy Johnson and Stephen Kelley. County Administrator Cameron B. Burton, County Attorney Trenton Crewe and Board Secretary Linda Miller were also present. No public speakers addressed the board during the public-comment period.
