News from the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday April 26

County offices should return to operations resembling “normal” as of June 1. Board of Supervisor Chairman Mac Scothorn announced that the libraries and other facilities should begin a “slow open” on June 1, with whatever limitations are required to comply with federal and state gathering restrictions in place at that time.

In other matters, the Supervisors heard numerous complaints about the state of county roads, specifically Fringer Trail and Reservoir Road. The supervisors later had a work session with the Virginia Department of Highways about the county’s secondary road system and the six-year plan. Both of those roads likely will come under further scrutiny as funding becomes available.

The supervisors also approved:

• a resolution declaring april as Child Abuse Awareness Month
• a resolution declaring May as GBS (Guillian-Barre Syndrom) and CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) Awareness month
• a resolution declaring May 16 – May 22 as EMS Week.
• an updated Emergency Operations Plan
• a lease extension for the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
• a resolution requesting the Commonwealth Transportation Board to approve Economic Development Program funding for a new roadway to serve the Munters site in Botetourt Center at Greenfield.

The supervisors also sent a review of signage around Exit 150 to the Planning Commission at the request of planning and zoning staff. Dart I, LLC, which owns the former Country Cookin’ building, asked about replacing a sign that was damaged earlier this year by a tractor trailer. The sign is non-conforming and would require publish hearings. However, staff already has new sign ordinances under review for the Exit 150 area and those new ordinances would address Dart’s issue as well concerns from other land owners in the Gateway Crossing Overlay District. The Planning Commission would take up the matter at its June meeting and make recommendations to the Supervisors at that time.

Additionally, the supervisors agreed to a request from the Botetourt County Library Board of Trustees that eventually would make that appointed governing body an advisory board instead of a governing board. The county already handles payroll and most other functions for the library and the Library Board acts more as an advisory board than a governing board anyway, according to current chairman Dr. Marlene Preston.

The change cannot take affect without legislative approval. Current Virginia law requires localities to have a governing board instead of an advisory one under certain circumstances. The Library Board has no ability to raise funds besides bake sales, book sales, or other fundraisers and could not offer the quality services the county currently has without assistance from the Board of Supervisors and county funding.

Libraries are important community centers and provide access to knowledge via books and the Internet. Libraries can support workforce development by preparing people to make better use of existing workforce programs. Libraries can help people be better prepared to succeed in rigorous vocational programs by providing a foundation of basic skills.

Botetourt County’s Library System, which is a part of the Roanoke Valley System, is vital to enhancing the lives of the citizenry. The advisory board, if approved, would play a role in hiring a library director, advise on the library’s missions, goals, objectives, and policies, review the budget and participate as needed in acquiring funds, and assist in formulating long-term plans for the library system. However, final determinations would be made by county staff instead of the Library Board of Trustees.

                                                                           — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee, Photo Cathy Benson Botetourt County Administration Center at Greenfield