The Henry County Board of Supervisors will consider a resolution to dissolve the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority (SVRFA) and add the Smith River Sports Complex (SRSC) to the county’s Parks & Recreation Department.
The board meets at 3 and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, in the Summerlin Meeting Room, located in the Henry County Administration Building.
Its 3 p.m. agenda includes a resolution from the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority (SVRFA), which operates the Smith River Sports Complex. In a letter to both the City of Martinsville and the county, the authority has asked to be dissolved and authorized to transfer all assets and operations to the county.
Scott Prillaman, chairman of the SVRFA board, noted in the letter that the current model of funding for the sports complex is not sustainable. Inflation and limited access to top-tier tournaments have restricted its ability to be profitable as a stand-alone organization, Prillaman wrote.
He noted that his board believes “the continued operation of a premier facility can best be accomplished by the county.”
Officials in both the city and county must agree to dissolve the authority.
The city is expected to consider a similar action at its meeting on Tuesday.
If the board concurs with this request, county staff recommend that the facility become part of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department under the leadership of Director Roger Adams. Additionally, the Harvest Foundation has provided a $250,000 grant to help the county with the costs associated with transitioning SRSC to county operations.
In other matters Tuesday, the board will:
*Consider a resolution honoring Leon Towarnicki, City Manager and longtime county resident. Towarnicki is set to retire on July 31, with 41 years of service.
*Consider a resolution Honoring Hilda Mabry, Office Administrator for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Mabry will retire on July 31, with 34 years of service.
*Hear an update from Piedmont Community Services. The agency’s new mobile unit will be available in the parking lot for tours. The update will include the services planned for the community through that unit.
*Hear a monthly report from Treasurer Scott Grindstaff on delinquent tax collection efforts.
*Hear an update from the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. from Mark Heath, president/CEO.
*Consider an additional appropriation for a Regional Planning Grant Match regarding Opioid Abatement Funds. Both the county and city were recently awarded a $20,000 grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to study and identify community-based options for the most effective long-term use of funds for abatement. The city will serve as the project manager and fiscal agent. Both localities are required to contribute a match of $10,000 for the project.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $240,000 from various accounts to cover overages in the Children’s Services Act (CSA) Program fund. The cost of providing services to certain at-risk youth continues to escalate, resulting in expenditures exceeding the budgeted amount.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $95,000 in grant funds received from the Harvest Foundation to conduct an Economic Impact Study related to the Martinsville Southern Connector route and award a contract to the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG), which is serving as a conduit for the contract with a research firm called SIR.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $50,000 in grant funds received from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The funds will be used to assess specific community needs related to housing and related infrastructure and to develop a plan for addressing the identified needs.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $10,000 from the Department of Housing and Community Development for the execution of a United Way Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Planning Grant. The funds ultimately will be used to offer free training to local residents on topics related to financial management.
*Consider awarding $235,710 contract to Fidelity Power Systems to relocate the existing generator providing emergency power to the 911 Center and other emergency equipment within the administration building. Before the eventual demolition of the previous jail, the emergency power network, including the generator, must be relocated to an area identified behind the administration building.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $55,423 received from the Virginia Department of Health’s Return to Locality Funds. The Return to Locality funds are derived from a fee for each vehicle registered in Henry County. Authorized expenditures of the funds are for items such as emergency medical services training, supplies, and/or equipment. Consistent with that distribution model, the four volunteer EMS agencies are projected to receive $11,085 each, and Public Safety will receive $11,084.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $15,000 from State Asset Forfeiture funds to cover travel-related expenses for FY24, as requested by Commonwealth’s Attorney Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Nester.
*Consider a resolution to update signature authority for the Adult Detention Center inmate fund. The inmate fund comprises cash on inmates at the time of their arrest or contributions to them from their family members. These funds can only be used for the health and welfare of specific county inmates. Granting signature authority to specific sworn law enforcement personnel will ensure the Sheriff’s Office can effectively conduct day-to-day transactions related to the fund’s purpose, as requested by Sheriff Wayne Davis.
*Consider an additional appropriation of $7,200 from State Asset Forfeiture funds to cover the cost of sending two investigators to Cellebrite certification training, as requested by Sheriff Wayne Davis.
* Consider an additional appropriation of $219,679 for Henry County Public Schools. The school division received the funds from the Virginia Department of Education, due to recalculations performed by the state using the actual average daily membership (school population) totals for all school divisions.
* Consider a Budget Amendment due to Revised Estimates of State Funding. The School Board is asking the county to approve an amendment to their FY24 operating budget to reflect an estimated reduction in state funds of $1,666,062.
*Consider Commitment Statements as requested by the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District. The agency plans to request funds through the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) to address needed spillway capacity upgrades for two dams located in Henry County, Leatherwood #2A, and Leatherwood #3. The dams primarily provide flood protection, and the improvements will increase their resiliency and mitigate against future damage from large storms. The Blue Ridge SWCD is requesting the Board’s support of these funding requests by agreeing to serve as a sponsoring local organization.
*Consider meeting in closed session to discuss appointees to the Blue Ridge Regional Library Board, Community Policy and Management Team, and Roanoke River Basin Association; discuss pending legal matters; the acquisition/disposal of real estate and as-yet unannounced industries.
At its 6 p.m. meeting, the board will:
*Hold a series of public hearings: on a Budget Amendment Appropriating Grant Funds for Site Work at Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre; a Rezoning Application for Homestead Mulch & More, LLC / Zachary S. Hawks; a revision of the county’s Comprehensive Plan and a proposed amendment to its Zoning Ordinance.
*Hear an update on General Highway Matters.
