The adoption of an energy action plan is among the items the Henry County Board of Supervisors will consider at their meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, in the Summerlin Room of the Henry County Administration Building.
County staff are asking the board to consider adopting the Henry County Energy Action Plan that was presented at the May meeting. The plan was developed over 12 months by key community stakeholders and staff and students from George Mason University (GMU). It offers recommendations to improve the county’s energy efficiency and sustainability, as well as national efforts towards addressing greenhouse emissions. In order to apply for potential federal and state grant opportunities to implement strategies covered in the action plan, local governments are required to adopt an energy action plan.
According to the plan’s executive summary, the county wants to develop and implement the plan for several reasons. First, residents face higher energy costs and increasing economic burdens when purchasing essentials, such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and electricity. Second, residents confront the realities of a changing environment with increased flooding, precipitation, and heat conditions, which have imposed hardships on human health, livelihood, and property damages—and these conditions will continue to increase and worsen in the future. Third, the region has been reliant on external energy resources—from power plants to oil companies—but the means to increase the county’s energy self-resilience and independence exist with local energy technologies and energy efficient practices.
Additionally, the federal government has created opportunities that will convey significant amounts of funding to shift from costly energy sources to more efficient and clean energy sources, practices, and technologies. This funding is available to local governments. To date, larger urban areas have taken advantage of these funds, but more rural areas in Virginia must also avail themselves of the benefits of these funds. To access these funds and opportunities, many of the federal and state grant opportunities for local governments require developing and implementing energy and climate action plans. By creating the plan, the county best positions itself to receive these benefits.
In other matters, the board will:
- Hear an update on delinquent tax collection efforts from Treasurer Scott Grindstaff.
- Consider awarding a $118,500 contract to RRMM Architects of Roanoke, for architectural and engineering services for the Public Safety Campus master plan. The initial phase of the project will include facility assessments of existing buildings, developing plans and schematic designs to retrofit an existing building into the Sheriff’s Office, establishing a strategic location and design for an Animal Services building, and the conversion of a metal building to accommodate an impound lot, radio shop, and storage facility for Public Safety and the Sheriff’s Office.
- Consider awarding a $73,033 contract to Berkley Group, LLC of Bridgewater, Virginia, to prepare an Active Transportation Plan, which is a comprehensive set of strategies to ensure better transit, walking, and biking options. The plan is developed based on public and stakeholder input and provides a foundation for improvements to the transportation system, including trails. Funding for this project was provided through a U.S. Department of Transportation, Thriving Communities grant that was previously appropriated.
- Consider awarding a $106,850 contract to RRMM Architects of Roanoke, to provide architectural and engineering (AE) services for upgrades to the primary electrical components of the Administration Building. Constructed in 1974, most of the building’s existing electrical components are original to construction, and replacement parts are no longer available.
- Consider a request from General Registrar Dawn Stultz-Vaughn to appropriate an additional $6,046 received through the Virginia Department of Elections grant program. The funds will be used to purchase a Ballot-on-Demand printing system that will allow the Registrar’s Office to print ballots during early voting for smaller elections versus ordering various amounts of pre-printed ballots that may not get used.
- Consider an additional appropriation of $100,000 received through the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Economic Development Access grant program to update the plans and specifications for improvements to Beaver Creek Drive in the Patriot Centre Industrial Park.
- Consider a request from Sheriff Wayne Davis to appropriate grant funds $45,000 received from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) through their School Resource Officer (SRO) grant program. Davis intends to use the funds to provide an SRO at the Career Academy for the current school year.
- Consider approval of an additional $510,396 appropriation reconcile the FY2024 operating budget for the Monogram Foods Smith River Sports Complex (SRSC). In July 2023, the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority, which operated the SRSC, dissolved and transferred all assets and operations to Henry County Parks and Recreation. The Harvest Foundation provided a $250,000 grant to assist with the initial transition. The requested appropriation is related to funds received from recreation fees, concession sales, and the transient occupancy tax.
Consider approval of a $163,000 appropriation from the Special Construction Grant Fund to cover expenses that are outside the scope of construction for the Villa Heights Housing Project.
- Consider meeting in closed session to discuss pending legal matters; the acquisition/disposal of real estate; and as yet unannounced industries.
At its 6 p.m. meeting, the board will:
- Hear a presentation about the Community Connected Citizen Award, also known as the “Triple C” Award, which recognizes county residents who selflessly dedicate their time and energy to making our community a better place.
- Hear from Lisa Hughes, Resident Engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation, about general highway matters.
- Hold a public hearing on a request from the school board to appropriate $4,730,328 from the one percent sales tax fund designated for new construction and renovation of schools. The School Board has indicated the funds will be used to construct athletic fieldhouses at Bassett and Magna Vista High Schools. Since the amount requested exceeds one percent (1%) of the total county budget, a public hearing is required.
