By Taylor Boyd
Incumbent Jim Adams is seeking his seventh term as the Henry County Board of Supervisors’ Blackberry District representative in the November election.
He will face Ray Reynolds at the polls.
Adams, 71, who also serves as chairman of the board, said he decided to seek reelection because the county is still working on major projects that could have long-range effects on the area, including economic development.
“Part of the things that we’ve started, like grading at Commonwealth Crossing is still ongoing, as well as possibilities of more clients coming in there and establishing businesses. Again, economic development is one of our number one priorities,” he said.
Adams said the board has also started projects to address the county’s affordable housing needs and is looking into education and workforce development.
“I’ve heard from different individuals during this campaign season, and even just in general, the public talking about the need to enhance some of the skill sets of those that choose not to go to college, that we could provide some training in that regard,” he said.
If reelected, Adams said he will bring more than 20 years of experience and leadership to the board.
“I think I bring the things of listening and evaluating what’s being proposed and a vision for not only where we’ve been but where we would like to go,” he said.
While the county continues to add jobs, Adams said it must also plan for those who are lost.
“Companies change, the world changes, the economy changes, so adding to the plus side of jobs helps fill in the gaps when companies go out of business or work moves to another area, or it’s replaced by—I think the big buzzword right now is AI (artificial intelligence),” he said.
Through careful planning, Adams said the board has ensured Henry County remains financially sound.
“It’s planning versus reaction. We are planning that we will have needs in support of repayment of the finances on the adult detention center. Initially, that didn’t hit us quite as hard, but coming over the next few years, those amounts increase to where annual payments will be substantially larger than what they have been. We have become financially sound, not by accident, but by planning,” he said.
Adams said the county cannot always rely on its savings because “eventually it will run out.”
“So planning for that from a financial standpoint, you always have issues, other needs in the county, and specifically it could be long range—either county needs or a partnership regionally to take care of specific problems so to speak,” he said.
Adams said all forms of economic development—industrial, commercial, and retail—are needed.
“Even that small business growth helps,” he said.
On the industrial side, Adams said the board continues to plan business growth with lot development at Commonwealth Crossing, the Patriot Centre, and the Bryant property.
As residents’ needs change, Adams said the county continually evaluates its spending priorities.
“You may have a specific need at a certain time period or a certain decade that evolves to the needs of a different group,” he said. “Baby boomers—they are now coming of age, so you have more needs for senior services. You also have needs for those moving in to have younger children, so it has to be a balance of evaluating where your expenses are and making sure that we are addressing both the younger population, all the way up to senior services.”
During budget season, Adams said every department must justify its requests.
“Each department has to start with a zero budget, and anything that’s in there—personnel, equipment, capital needs—there has to be a reason behind it. And sometimes that reasoning turns out to be a no,” he said.
Adams said the upcoming real estate reassessment will affect how much revenue is collected and how the county adjusts its tax rate.
“I can see that the real estate rate will be lowered,” he said. “To identify that rate without having the final numbers would be hard to predict at this moment. I think the expectation of the actual rate would come down to offset what the assessment would be to a certain degree.”
To address affordable housing, Adams said the county partnered with the Harvest Foundation, the West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC), Virginia Housing and Virginia Land Trust to receive funding commitments to build homes.
“When they’re (houses) sold, that money goes back into the pool to create more houses, and pretty much what you’re talking about at the end of the day is a perpetual project until that specific one is complete,” he said.
Adams said the board must be fiscally responsible when supporting water and sewer expansion projects.
“Certainly part of the water and sewer projects—they don’t come without an expense. Part of the expense of any water and sewer project, it comes with two things: a cost and a payback,” he said.
While he doesn’t believe wind energy will come to the area due to its geography, Adams said solar energy has become more common in discussions. He believes solar facilities should be placed away from areas with heavy infrastructure investments or residential neighborhoods.
To support volunteer fire and rescue squads, Adams said the board provides resources and training opportunities.
“By resources from a training standpoint, a lot of it can be done locally and not have to go out of town. The county invested money a number of years ago for a burn building, which is located on the campus of the former DuPont property,” he said.
He said the board also assists with capital needs, such as rotating funds to help departments buy equipment.
“The board financed the entire amount for the Bassett Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a new ladder truck a couple of years ago,” he said.
In the Blackberry District, Adams said there are ongoing projects similar to those throughout the county.
“Whether it be road improvements, whether it be housing, or the general appearance of an area, not just during this campaign season, but there’s always a need of that,” he said.
Road and sight-distance concerns are reported to the Virginia Department of Transportation, he added.
Adams said transparency means ensuring the board keeps the public informed.
“Transparency to me is public business needs to be done in public, just as simple as that. That way, there’s no speculation as to why something was done and if there was an unmerited favor done for someone. It takes suspicion out of it,” he said.
Adams said Henry County’s public information officer helps clarify county actions so “there is no confusion as to what the board’s doing.”
He said he values input from residents.
“The person who probably knows the most about an issue and how to solve it is the one who’s closest to it,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not always the pluses anyone needs to hear; sometimes you need to hear the short sight of things, or the negative, and that way it provides a well-balanced thought process when you’re hearing both sides of an issue.”
Adams encourages residents to attend board meetings or contact supervisors by phone or email.
He serves as chairman of the executive board of the WPPDC and of the regional Transportation Technical Advisory Committee.
He previously served on the Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Henry County Schools Facilities Improvement Committee, and the executive board of Smart Beginnings for Early Childhood Development.
Adams has been a member of the Sanville Ruritan Club since 1979 and served as Zone 1 and 3 governors. He’s a member of the Bassett Kiwanis Club, Patrick Henry Volunteer Fire Department, MARC Workshop, and The Fuller Center for Housing (formerly Habitat for Humanity).
He works in sales for Tarheel Paper and Supply. He is married with two children and two grandchildren. In his free time, Adams is an active member of Stella Christian Church.
