Bland County board approves more than $1.6 million in grants, appropriations and school payment

Bland County supervisors on Oct. 28 approved a string of grants and appropriations that together total more than $1.6 million and included a large school requisition.

The board, meeting at the Bland County Courthouse, appropriated the Bland County School Board’s November 2025 requisition of $1,128,966.42 and accepted multiple smaller grants and reimbursements. County Administrator Cameron Burton was present; Chair Randy Johnson presided.

The board also approved a $186,851 VDEM 911 grant to purchase a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system for emergency communications, and voted to appropriate $315,711.43 from the general fund to repay a Commonwealth Transportation Board grant. Supervisors approved FEMA funding of $8,810.94 to Bland County Public Schools for labor and materials related to Hurricane Helene and a $15,000 appropriation from the general fund as a March 2025 revision for meals served to adults during the storm.

Smaller appropriations approved include a $5,000 Skews Family Foundation grant for youth sports; $28,000 in Wythe-Bland Foundation grants (split $18,000 for the Bland County Farmers’ Market and $10,000 for parks and recreation); $5,000 from the Ceres Fire Department for a fire truck purchase; $2,324.01 from Mountain Community Action Program to the Commissioner of the Revenue budget; and $7,036 from seized assets for a storage building for the Sheriff’s Office. The board also declared old dispatch-center furniture surplus.

Supervisors approved creating a temporary part-time position in the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office and authorized advertising a public hearing to consider placing trash bills on the annual tax ticket. The board approved a $150 special-funds contribution from Supervisor Keith Costello to the Community Cats Rescue Network.

All motions on these items carried by unanimous roll call votes. The meeting record lists supervisors Keith Costello, Patrick Groseclose, Stephen Kelley and Chair Randy Johnson as voting "yea." No votes were recorded against or abstentions noted.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes, payroll, bills, reports, social services appropriation and school requisition of $1,128,966.42): mover Stephen Kelley; second Patrick Groseclose; outcome: approved (4-0). - Skews Family Foundation grant appropriation ($5,000): mover Keith Costello; second Stephen Kelley; outcome: approved (4-0). - Wythe-Bland Foundation grants ($28,000): mover Stephen Kelley; second Patrick Groseclose; outcome: approved (4-0). - Ceres Fire Department appropriation ($5,000): mover Patrick Groseclose; second Keith Costello; outcome: approved (4-0). - MCAP appropriation ($2,324.01): mover Keith Costello; second Stephen Kelley; outcome: approved (4-0). - Commissioner of the Revenue temporary position: mover Stephen Kelley; second Patrick Groseclose; outcome: approved (4-0). - CTB repayment appropriation ($315,711.43): mover Patrick Groseclose; second Stephen Kelley; outcome: approved (4-0). - Advertise public hearing for trash ordinance/tax ticket: mover Patrick Groseclose; second Keith Costello; outcome: approved (4-0). - Sheriff’s seized-assets appropriation ($7,036): mover Keith Costello; second Patrick Groseclose; outcome: approved (4-0). - FEMA funds for schools ($8,810.94): mover Patrick Groseclose; second Keith Costello; outcome: approved (4-0). - FEMA appropriation revision ($15,000): mover Stephen Kelley; second Keith Costello; outcome: approved (4-0). - VDEM 911 grant appropriation ($186,851): mover Keith Costello; second Patrick Groseclose; outcome: approved (4-0). - Surplus declaration (old dispatch furniture): mover Stephen Kelley; second Keith Costello; outcome: approved. - BOS special funds ($150 to Community Cats Rescue Network): mover Patrick Groseclose; second Stephen Kelley; outcome: approved (4-0).

The board returned from an executive session later in the meeting and certified compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act requirements for closed sessions. The meeting adjourned after supervisors approved an 18-month retiree health insurance benefit agreement for a retiree.