VACO honors Wythe County for EMS regional model and Reed Creek Blueway

Joe Lurch of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) presented two achievement awards to Wythe County at the June 30 meeting, praising the county’s hybrid approach to emergency services staffing and the Reed Creek Blueway project’s creative use of easements and partnerships to improve public access without large land acquisitions.

"This is one of the biggest concerns we have from a lot of our members: how do you have emergency services, particularly in rural areas?" Joe Lurch said, praising Wythe County’s hybrid staffing model that supports volunteer fire departments with part-time paid personnel and citizen training. County Administrator Breyer and other staff noted the model has improved response times and highlighted a recent case in which CPR and medevac efforts saved a resident’s life.

Allison (county staff) described the Reed Creek Blueway effort, thanked the Virginia Outdoors Foundation for a $100,000 grant that helped create Portage Parks, and noted the project’s value as both a local recreation asset and a potential tourist destination.

The awards were presented on the record and photographed; no action beyond recognition was required.