Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Members of the NRV Visibility Brigade disagree with the enforcement of stoppage on a bridge over the U.S. 460 bypass.
A group spoke to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors at its regularly scheduled meeting last week. The Virginia Department of Transportation has placed a sign at the edge of the bridge stating “there will be no stopping or standing.”
The NRV group has been asked to stop protesting with signs on the bridge.
At least six speakers told supervisors the wording and requirement is against their first amendment rights. Laura Brown said it has been a peaceful protest and has not caused any problems in the last few weeks.
Similar bridge protests are going on, according to Brown and other speakers, around Virginia.
They asked the governmental body to ask this not enforced by the county’s sheriff’s department. No one spoke in agreement with the policy.
During a recent incident, protesters were asked to leave the bridge with language on the sign as being pointed to by law enforcement.
In other actions at last week’s meeting, Montgomery County leaders agreed to increase the income level for tax exemption of older citizens. The matter is directly connected to the county’s increase in its tax rate.
The total combined annual household income limit would change from $70,000 to $72,000. The total combined financial worth of people in a household would increase from $205,000 to $210,000.
Changes to the exemption rate based on individual income would be as follows: For a 100% exemption, the income limit would change from up to $45,000 to up to $46,000; for a 60% exemption, the income limit would change from $45,001-$56,000 to $46,001-$58,000; for a 40% exemption, the income limit would change from $56,001-$70,000 to $58,001-$72,000.
Supervisors also agreed to a supplemental appropriation of $790,000 in the current school year with funding coming from a GO Virginia grant that will be spent on instruction.
County schools will also receive a capital fund transfer of $80,000 to replace playground equipment at Margaret Beers Elementary School.
Carryover monies of $2.4 million in funds budgeted during the previous fiscal year but not yet spent, including more than $678,500 for government administration; more than $549,200 for public safety (help fund school resource officers); nearly $517,400 for general services; more than $347,800 for parks, recreation and culture; $229,000 for community development; $39,000 for health and welfare; and nearly $37,900 for judicial administration.
In other matters:
Supervisors reappointed Jason Karas to the Economic Development Commission as the non-elected representative of the Town of Blacksburg.
Reappointed Andrea Sharpe-Robinson to the Planning Commission.
Proclaimed Oct. 28, 2025 as National First Responders Day in Montgomery County.
Appropriation of $80,000 from the county’s unbudgeted funds for a comprehensive assessment of county fire and emergency medical services.
