Abby Whitt
Contributing writer
Montgomery County Supervisors voted on a number of matters at their Aug. 25 meeting, including the appropriation of funds to the sheriff’s office for purchasing a new armored vehicle for the SWAT team.
The board unanimously approved $398,000 from the undesignated General Fund for the purchase, the first of several “new business” items that would be voted on during the meeting.
It was followed by a resolution to adopt the New River Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025, which was also unanimously approved and can be read in full at www.engagenrv.org/hazard-mitigation-plan.
Next, the board moved on the three Voter Satellite Office locations that were proposed (one each at Blacksburg Community Center, Shawsville Middle School and Auburn High School), and the one in the multi-purpose room at the Blacksburg Community Center (725 Patrick Henry Drive) was approved in a 4-3 vote.
Members of the board discussed the history of where and when in the voting cycle voters in Montgomery County voted, and Supervisor Todd King said most utilized early voting opportunities at the Registrar’s Office in Christiansburg.
Supervisors Mary Biggs (District F), Sara Bohn (District A), Derek Kitts (District B) and Chair April DeMotts (District G) voted in favor of the ordinance, and supervisors Steve Fijalkowski (District C), Anthony Grafsky (District E) and Todd King (District D) voted against.
Supervisors also voted on the county assuming control of the Montgomery County Public Service Authority, effective Oct. 1.
Terms in the agreement include but are not limited to:
Montgomery County takes full responsibility for the operation, maintenance, repair, billing, collecting and daily management of the PSA’s facilities, and shall perform all required operational duties. It also assumes all contracts.
The county will employ those currently employed with the PSA under the newly created County Utility Department.
Inventory, including meters, valves, lines, hardware, hydrants, etc., will be conveyed to the county.
The PSA will retain ownership of facilities, infrastructure assets and real properties currently owned by the authority, and the county will operate the facilities on the authority’s behalf and be responsible for collecting all money owed to the PSA.
Additionally, either party can terminate the agreement with a written 180-day notice and statement for cause.
The board unanimously approved two resolutions that confirmed the county’s participation in proposed Opioid Crisis-related settlements, including those against opioid manufacturers and the Sackler family.
The Personal Property Tax Relief percentage was set at 30% for the first $20,000 in value of qualifying vehicles with a value above $1,000.
The unanimously approved resolution states that if a qualifying vehicle is valued at less than $1,000, “the rate of 100% relief shall be applied.”
Additionally, the board recognized September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
The adopted resolution states that “Montgomery County supports suicide prevention awareness as an important social movement to help people with mental health disabilities understand that they are not alone in their experience. Raising suicide prevention awareness can help create understanding, create access to resources, promote awareness and it is essential to intervening and potentially saving lives…”
“…The Board of Supervisors encourages all its citizens to join Montgomery County in increasing our knowledge and providing support to those in need to save lives not just in September, but every day,” it added.
Other business during the Aug. 25 meeting included:
The reappointment of Richard Weaver to the Adjustment and Appeals Board from Sept. 1 until Aug. 31, 2029.
The approval of Walnut Creek Phase III Section 1.
