Abby Whitt
Contributing writer
Blacksburg Town Council approved and adopted resolutions and set public hearings at its Aug. 12 meeting.
One resolution approved was in regard to the New River Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan and its 2025 update, which Blacksburg participated in preparing.
The resolution states that the plan “has been prepared in accordance with federal laws, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended; the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended; and the National Dam Safety Program Act, as amended…” and that “ … the Blacksburg Town Council recognizes the threat that natural hazards pose to people and property within Blacksburg.”
The plan itself ranks severe winter weather, high winds and flooding and the highest risk to the region, followed by wildfire and drought (medium risk), and karst, tornado, rockfall, landslide and earthquake (low risk).
Goals laid out in the plan include saving lives at imminent risk, reducing risks to critical facilities, educating the public on the dangers of flooding and opportunities for mitigation and more.
A full copy of the NRV Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 can be found online at www.engagenrv.org/hazard-mitigation-plan.
Another resolution makes clear Blacksburg Town Council’s position on campaign finance reform at the state and national levels.
The document states that “… spending by wealthy individuals, corporations, unions, and special interests have driven up Virginia state-wide spending on elections to historic levels while threatening the integrity of the election process, diluting the power of individual voters and distorting the public discourse and public policies…” and “… this spending on elections poses a serious and direct threat to our nation’s republican democracy, while standing in direct contrast to the Town of Blacksburg’s commitment to good government, civic and civil discourse, and broad participation in local decision-making…”
Blacksburg officials call “on the General Assembly to introduce and ensure passage of state-related campaign finance bills which limit campaign contributions, improve transparency through the mandatory disclosure of donors, ensure more effective oversight, and allow public financing of elections, which is a proven mechanism for allowing more citizens to run for office.”
Other resolutions authorized the waiver of water and sewer availability fees in support of the Stroubles Ridge and Airport Road affordable housing developments. Waived fees total $52,800 for the Habitat for Humanity development on Airport Road and $96,000 for the Stroubles Ridge development on Merrimac Road.
Council also scheduled three public hearings to take place at the Sept. 9 meeting: one for a budget amendment to use monies from the General Fund for the Traffic Signal Controllers Project; one to accept and appropriate $55,000 in grant funding from the state Department of Criminal Justice Services to the General Fund; and one regarding a Conditional Use Permit request for an outdoor educational and recreational camp on Merrimac Road.