Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

I call the 3 p.m. session of the June 23rd, 2026 meeting of the Henry County Board of Supervisors to order. I'd like to welcome all of our visitors. If you want to address the board, you must sign up seven days in advance of any of our regular meetings to be put on the agenda. The county administrator is the contact person for the board. However, the public may address the board under the agenda item, matters presented by the public that we'll take up in the evening session as agenda item number 19. Again, welcome everyone. Thank you for coming out and participating in your county government. We have one item that we need to take care of from the board for formality. Section 2.3A of Henry County Board of Supervisors bylaws allows for a board member to participate in a meeting of the board through electronic communication subject to the limitations of the Code of Virginia Section 2.2-3708-.3. Supervisor Chris Lawless of the Collinsville District has requested to participate in today's meeting through electronic means. He's online with us now. Mr. Lawless, for the record, will you please state your purpose for needing to participate by electronic means and state your current location.

Yeah, I'm currently in Kansas City, Missouri, and I'm here to do a job for Georgia City.

okay those that didn't hear Kansas City Missouri and it's work-related and with that I will need a motion and a formal vote by the board to allow Mr. Lawless to participate by video means I'll make a motion to allow second We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? The affirmative of five votes here. Thank you for joining us, Chris. And we will get started. Our first item of business consideration is agenda item number five, items of consent. What is the pleasure of the board?

Mr. Chairman, if there are no additions or corrections to the minutes, I move that they be approved as read.

Second. We have a motion and a second for the items of consent. Any discussion? All in favor? And Mr. Lawless, I can't see if your hands up or down. Okay, see it now. Thank you. Six voting for Jennifer. Thank you. Agenda item number six. Do we have anyone from the treasurer's office? Okay, she's in the back. I'm sorry. We have with us Tiffany C. Harrison that's going to give us a report on delinquent tax collection efforts. She's with our county treasurer's office as county treasurer. Tiffany, welcome.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone. For delinquent taxes, personal property, as of May 31st, 2026, we collected 88.99% of the 2025 personal property taxes. We collected $173,444.50 in the month. For real estate, as of May 31st, 2026, we in the month. Since May 31st, 2026, TACS used to collect $642,778.58. For debt set off, we collected $39,304.82 on June 16th. For the year, we collected $230,162.56. For DMV stops, for the month of May, we collected $800,000.

Okay, thank you. Does anyone have any questions of Ms. Hairston at this time? Thank you.

Thank you.

Agenda item number seven, we'll have an update from the Morton Henry County Economic Development Corporation. We have with us to give a report, Mark Heath. Mark, welcome.

June was Business Appreciation Month. Valerie Harper conducted a social media and billboard campaign that highlighted a number of our small businesses in Markville and Henry County throughout the month. She conducted nine on-site visits. You can see month. She was at the Community Investment Collaborative Entrepreneurship graduation. There were two Marks and Henry County grads at this time, and she was at the Small Business Collaborative meeting, which is the chamber, Sober Rise, the consortium, minority business group, all the different groups that are involved in small business throughout that meeting. In our research division, you can see with the attached report that unemployment is trending down in the month of April, which is a good thing. Spencer, Johnson, and myself both were in the Final site wall from track two. Track two is now fully developed and completed. And moving on to developing a plan and a capital stack so that we can grade lot three. The total cost estimate for lot three is going to be $46,000. We've submitted a grant to VDP through their site readiness program for $34,075,000. That's the good news. The bad news is there's only $20 million in that pool this time. So hopefully this will be a multi-year grant and we can continue down that process. But it's going to be another great site. It will yield about 80 acres of pad. We've had making fireworks in town the week of June 8th. Construction on that project, if you haven't seen it, it's a real good one. You can drive by and see all the steel that's going up. And we had, on May 27th, a brick initiative. The Blue Ridge Innovation Corp. and the consultants were in town for a couple days and we spent the entire day with them. of promoting Martin Luther County in those efforts. And Spencer also was at the West Piedmont Planning District's comprehensive strategy session, which as they said, is kick off on the 28th. Our tourism division, there were, as you can see, 12 calls. Bulk distributions, 250 of our guides went out. You can see where those are. We have collateral that's being used with the Virginia 250 car that's moving around the state. 50 brochures went to Greene County Visitor Center. I had to ask where Greene County is. Does everybody know where that's at? In Shenandoah Valley. So that was a new one for me. The trail counters, Tim Pace and our staff were working to get new counters, like three to five additional counters on the Dick and Willie Trail. Our staff's involved with the plan for the 80th celebration of Martinsville Speedway. A lot of things going on throughout the community with that. We met with Martinsville Mustangs and had some regional meetings. We have a digital marketing campaign going on with WDBJ7. It's a streaming process. There have been 80,000 views of that and we're targeting the broader market for that with our outdoor for everyone campaign, which means that no matter who you are, what your physical capabilities are, there is something you can do in the outdoors in Henry County. We're working on a annual report and that will be out. We'll present that to you in our next meeting. Smith River Fest is underway. Our folks have met with Roger Adams, Roger Adams rather, and took the DJ again this year. marketing division we had a booth at rooster walk this was 16th year and i'm told there were more people there than at any other event during that time when the nathan trotter people were here katie barnett was here she is the new hire for uh hr manager she's purchased the home in the Ridgeway area and will be the first employee of Native Toronto to actually move in to the community center. We'll hopefully have a chance for you to welcome her. I'm very excited about being here. We've met, our staff met with Anna And our Young Professional Group, as you can see, all the meetings that they had through the year, there were six of those meetings. The last one was at the Mustang, and they had 15 folks there for that, which was really well received. Our visitor brochure is finalized. It was at the printer, so we'll have our new brochures out that go to all the visitor centers very shortly. And we continue to create digital ads for Southern Greens and some other publications when we market outside. Does anyone have any questions for Mark at this time?

I just have a comment, a great report we're seeing a lot there so congratulations on all the work and when it's this many people here I just like to reiterate that if people want information either from our board meetings that they whatever we have on our in our packets that we call it are also available online to the public to see and when you have this great information Mark is it also on your on the EDC website?

it's not on the website but anybody's welcome to it if you want to

All right, thank you. That takes us to agenda item number eight for financial matters. We'll begin with 8A, an additional appropriation reference in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services grants for the Sheriff's Office. Mr. Wagner, will you give us some background on this, please? Sure.

Sheriff Wayne Davis is asking the board to approve the appropriation of two grants received from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The first grant of $24,166 is through the Bernie Justice Assistant Grant Program. Sheriff Davis has indicated he plans to use the funds to purchase equipment for the Investigations Division. The second grant of $45,000 is received through the Resource Officers Program, and the Sheriff plans to use those funds to continue funding an SRO at the Career Academy for the upcoming school year.

both grants do require a local match which the sheriff intends to cover through the department's fiscal year 2027 in regards to this additional appropriation what action would the board like to take mr chairman i make a motion to approve the additional appropriations of the two dcjs grants for the sheriff's office totaling sixty nine thousand one hundred sixty six dollars second we have a motion and a second any discussion

All in favor? The vote is six affirmative, Father Jennifer. 8B, additional appropriation referencing U.S. Department of Justice grant for the Sheriff's Office.

SHERIFF WAYNE DAVIS IS ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF $18,574 RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THROUGH THEIR BULLET PROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. THE SHERIFF HAS STATED THAT THE GRANTS WILL HELP REPLACE BALLISTIC VESTS FOR HIS DEPARTMENT. THE GRANT DOES REQUIRE A 50% LOCAL MATCH, WHICH WILL COME FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET.

IN REGARD TO THIS APPROPRIATION, WHAT DOES THE BOARD DESIRE TO DO?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the additional appropriation of $18,574 received from the U.S. Department of Justice to replace bulletproof vests as presented.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

Yeah, I mean, we know that all the departments apply for successfully grants, but we just want to commend the Sheriff's Department again for all of the success that they have. with the applications for all of these grants that they receive. I know that grant writing is not easy. That's a lot of work, so I just want to congratulate the Sheriff's Department on all the successful grants.

Yes, that's very meaningful to the financial picture. Any other discussion? We have a motion and a second. All in favor? It is six in the affirmative, Jennifer. 8C, award of contract for food for inmates for the sheriff's office. Mr. Wagner.

Sheriff Davis is asking the board to award a contract to J.L. Culpepper and Company located in Ashland, Virginia to supply food for the Henry County Adult Detention Center. Even though this contract does not stipulate a total expenditure amount due to fluctuation in the number of inmates, the fiscal year 2027 budget has allocated $730,000 for this purpose. This contract is based on pricing from a Henry County Public Schools bid.

Okay, in regard to this awarding of contract, what is the desire of the board?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to award a contract to JL Culpepper and Company Incorporated to supply food for the Adult Detention Center.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? It is sixth affirmative, Jennifer. 8D, an award of contract referencing inmate laboratory services for the sheriff's office. Mr. Wagner.

Sheriff Davis is asking the board to award a contract on LabCorp Holdings Incorporated to provide laboratory services for inmates at the Adult Detention Center. Sheriff Davis has stated that LabCorp Holdings Incorporated would provide blood draws and laboratory services as needed to meet the needs of the inmates while in custody. There is not a set price for this service this hour, but we did budget for the fiscal year 2027, fiscal year, an allocation of $90,000. And this pricing is based on an existing contract by the Virginia Department of General Services.

In regard to awarding of this contract, what action would the board like to take?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to award the contract to LabCorp Holdings for blood draws and laboratory services.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? There's six affirmative, Jennifer. 8E, contract extension referencing the industrial park turf management for engineering and mapping. Mr. Wagner.

for turf mowing, management, and maintenance at the Commonwealth Crossing Business Center and the Patriot Center Industrial Park. The current contract expires on June 30th, 2026, which of course is in the middle of peak mowing season, so we felt it would be very difficult to put it out for bid and get a new contract in the middle of the moment season so we're asking the board to extend this contract at the same price through the end of the year that'll allow us more time to put it out for bid and give vendors more time to prepare a bid in order to respond to it okay in regard to the extension of this contract uh what would the board uh like to do

Mr. Chairman, I move that the board approve the contract extension with preliminary mention for the turf mowing management and the maintenance of Commonwealth Crossing Business Center and Patriot Center Industrial Park through December the 31st of 2026. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor?

six affirmative Jennifer 8F an additional appropriation referencing board contingency funds Mr. Wagner your fiscal year 2027 budget includes funding for a new position to help enforce local ordinances however no funds were included to provide a vehicle for that individual to carry out such tasks staff is asking the board to approve an appropriation of forty six thousand dollars from under cost center for this purpose and there is also remaining unspent contingency funds of $21,000 that I am recommending that we place in your unsafe structure funds if you so desire providing an additional $3,500 to each student in regard to this additional appropriation what action would the board like to take

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the additional appropriation of $67,000 and the remaining balance to be put in the board's unsafe structure fund.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? It's six affirmative Jennifer. That takes us to agenda item number nine and prior to the background on this it's an honor for us to have a number of military veterans here and at this time would you please stand if you're a military veteran. Thank you all for your service, and thank you for being here today. Mr. Wagner, if you'll give us some background in regard to agenda item number nine. MR. Sure.

Mr. Patrick Rogers, president of Alvin, Transportation Board. All Vents is a local 5013C nonprofit whose mission is to work with local veterans, community partners, and residents to honor a fallen military as well as promote physical fitness and wellness in our community. Prior to Mr. Rogers coming to the podium, just a little background. Code Virginia section 33.2-213 authorizes the Commonwealth Transportation Board to name bridges, highways, or interchanges in honor of of deceased persons or groups. Local governing bodies may submit such requests to the CTV through an adopted resolution. And if the request is approved by the CTV, then the local governing body is responsible for all costs related to erecting signs and maintaining the appropriate signs. And Mr. Rogers was here.

Thank y'all. Good afternoon. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, county officials, and community members here today. As he said, I'm Patrick Rogers. I'm the president of All Vets. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you today. I'm here to request your consideration and support in dedicating the Kings Mountain Road Route 174 in Henry County as the Henry County Veterans Highway. This is a 4.2 mile highway that runs through the heart of our county. It starts at the intersection of Virginia Avenue Route 220, business, and continues to the north of Martinsville city limits, running directly by our county seat right outside. As many of you know, Henry County has a proud history of military service. According to the recent U.S. Census data, our county is home to 3,813 veterans, representing approximately 7.7% of our COVID population. Just a fun fact, the U.S. population is only 6%, so we have more veterans in our county than the typical county in the United States. These numbers remind us that service is not something distant. Veterans are living right here among us as our neighbors, our coworkers, our family members, and our friends. This dedication was served as a meaningful and permanent tribute to the women and men of Henry County who have served the United States Armed Forces, those served in the past, those serving today, and those that will serve in generations to come. Dedicating Kings Mountain Road as the Henry County Veterans Highway would be more than a symbolic gesture. It will be a visible, daily reminder of courage, commitment, and sacrifice made by thousands of men and women from this community. Every person who travels that roadway, residents, visitors, and future generations will see these brown signs and know that Henry County honors and remembers those who have served others above themselves. This dedication will reflect our county's values of respect, service, and gratitude. As Henry County's logo states, community connected. This connects the community currently with 7.7% of its population who are veterans, not to mention the families and the untold number in the future. I would also give our veterans and families who support them, a lasting reminder that their contributions matter. Their service helped shape our freedoms, our safety, and our opportunities we enjoy today. In closing, I respectfully ask for your support in dedicating Kings Mountain Road as the Henry County Veterans Highway. It is a small but powerful way to honor the many individuals who have proudly represented this community through their service to this nation. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

I have a couple of questions.

Does the board have any questions of Mr. Rogers or clarification needed with county staff?

Yes, I do. Mr. Rogers, you're not asking the board to rename Kings Mountain Road. Correct. This is a second sign to be put up.

Correct. Just dedication. The brown sign not to change the name of the road.

Okay.

okay uh since uh as with a lot of highways there are two ends to it one end and the other end uh are we are you looking at two signs or already two seconds two seconds one on each end okay any other questions or things that we need i do um

County Administrator, do you see any problem in those signs being erected?

I do not. I think it'd be a great way to recognize our veterans that live in our community and served our country. It does come out of cost, but I imagine we can find the money to erect those signs without much difficulty. It's not something that happened overnight either, based on experience. It took us about a year to get a courthouse sign put up back there. But it can be done. I think it would be a good recognition to our veterans.

Mr. Rogers, will this be plain text or will it also have logos of any fashion or how do you envision it?

It's just plain text.

Plain text.

Because I really don't think they allow anything but plain text on the grounds.

It's almost like when you're riding along at 45 miles an hour, depending on which section you're in, you only have so much time to see.

We would leave it to the discretion of

Virginia Department of Transportation the exact locations and they will they will approve verbiage and signs any other questions of mr. Rogers I love it and thank you for the idea and thank you for thank you for the the all vets and everything you're doing and obviously Kings Mountain Road is in my district and I think it's a marvelous idea and I can't I can't can't let this opportunity go by without saying that the dream Center picked up 27 bags of trash off of Kings Mountain Road so I think that even with this recognition that people would eat would honor the road more and take take a little more concern over over Kings Mountain so that would just add to I think the that the honor of it

Well, before we take action, Mr. Rogers, we'll let you take a seat. But I do want to recognize the fact that less than a month ago, a number of you went 20 miles across Henry County and Kings Mountain Road was part of that. And it is uphill all the way. Your last leg was uphill all the way.

Thank you.

Thank you. Consideration by the board. What action would the board like to take in regard to this? Dr. Cobbler?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to support a submission by resolution to the Commonwealth Transportation Board requesting their consideration on recognizing Kings Mountain Road as Henry County Veterans Highway in honor and support of our veterans. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? It is six affirmative, Jennifer. Thank you again, all of you that have come out in support of this. Agenda item number 10, we'll have a discussion on proposed zoning ordinance amendments. And this is not a time of public hearing. This is information at this time for consideration of items to be added for public hearing later. We have with us our director of planning and zoning, Mr. Lee Clark. Mr. Clark.

I'll do the best I can and spread it out up here as little as possible. Okay, Planning Commission held a work session with staff on February 11, 2026 to review and discuss potential amendments to the existing zoning ordinance. Following the work session, which by the way lasted several hours, staff developed proposed amendments and held a public hearing on April 15, 2026 to receive public input. There were no comments from the public and following public hearing, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the amendments as presented. You have in your working papers, I've given you a two-page summary. the amendments as they're proposed and then of course we've inserted all those amendments in about 20 pages of the code which I'm sure you've all taken time to read what I'll do is I'll go over the following items highlights of what is being proposed We are clarifying the definition of group homes within the county. We've added container homes to our ordinance and allowed them in the agricultural A1 zoning classifications. We've also clarified where sawmills can take place, both private and commercial. We've raised the allowed size of accessory structures on residential and We've defined limited retail stands and addressed where they can be located. We're allowing certain uses to take place by right on commercially zoned property such as health clubs, arcades, and apartments. And added RV parks that will be allowed by special use permit. All of that now in commercial zones. biggest change there has to do with apartment units we're doing everything we can to try to encourage housing and one of those the planning commission has decided that on commercially commercially zoned property that apartment units should be allowed where previously they were only allowed on residentially zoned properties We're combining some industrial uses such as quarries and crushed stone operations and added the flexibility to consider landfills and incinerators by special use permit only. We're lowering our allowed solar farm acreage to what has already been approved by the order zoning appeals. and we are proposing both a data center and battery energy storage systems ordinance to create some minimum guidelines should these uses ever be proposed in henry county the items being addressed in that are water supply impact studies screening noise and setbacks these are just the highlights of all of the information that you have there in front of you prior to approving these proposed amendments to the zoning warrants a public hearing must be scheduled and advertised

Okay, thank you, Mr. Clark. Additionally, Mr. Wagner, is there any comments that staff would like to make on this?

Did you say the Planning Commission spent a lot of time on this? Staff has spent a lot of time on it. We also collaborated some of the recommendations with new laws that's passed in the state level in the last few years, particularly as it relates to data centers and other products to make sure we're matching the line up with the state. We feel like it's a good addition to our zoning ordinance to make sure we're using land appropriately and we're doing it in a way that encourages housing as well.

I'd like to commend Mr. Clark and Mr. Montgomery from the Planning and Zoning Office along with Brandon Martin and staff members and the board for participating almost two years running in a comprehensive plan study that a lot of this was brought out maybe not all at once just bits and pieces but collectively this coming together and again Sometimes there's misinformation as to what we're voting on, but most of what you're seeing in the document is protection, not authorization in that regard. Completely different steps. In regard to this, one possible board action that's in front of you is to schedule a public hearing for July 28 at 6 PM to take input on this. What is the desire of the board?

Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to schedule the public hearing July 28th at 6 p.m. to receive public comment.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

Yeah, I actually did read it, Lee. And very informative. I'm just wondering how we communicate this as we have done other pretty big changes or potentially big changes discussions or interest in something like this that's going to happen. We let everyone know through Facebook or website or getting the word out that if anyone has questions about it, their accessibility to the document and then how to get as many folks aware and as many folks here that would have interest in such policies.

I'll stay seated. What I'll do is I'll work with Brandon on that to come up with a way that we can get that information out to the public as many ways as possible to encourage their feedback and input.

Other items of the discussion? We have a motion and a second. All in favor? It is six affirmative, Jennifer. Attendant item number 11, informational items. We'll start by taking comments by the board, beginning with Dr. Cobble. I don't have anything.

Thank you.

Okay. Mr. Dillon? Yes, sir. I do have a couple things. One, I would like to use some of the, well, $500 of the district impact funds, you know, as I've been doing to assist with youth activities. So I would like to make a motion that it's approved to use $500 of impact funds for the Gerard Foster basketball camp that he will host mid-July.

OK, we have a motion. Is there a second? Second. And a second. Any discussion? And we all know the criteria of this, just for the public's information. There are non-profits and required receipts turned in before reimbursement, as finance would require. So we have a motion and a second. All in favor? We have six affirmative, Jennifer.

Just a couple other things. One, Miss Tammy Easley wanted me to make sure I share this. It's a pamphlet that you can find throughout the administration building and it is celebrating Virginia 250, Henry County 250. So definitely grab one of these for your youngsters and make sure they get a chance to go through that. A couple other things, and this is just, I went to Myrtle Beach a couple weeks ago, and I'm always thinking, but wanted to just mention, and this is for staff, but I encourage our staff to always look out for conferences, that are available. I think those, when you get a chance to get out to conferences, it one, helps you and your confidence. One, you go and you realize, hey, we're doing things just as well as other folk are doing. Or two, you pick up an idea here or there. You meet folk from other parts of the world that, you know, you communicate back and forth with. And I think that helps us to, you know, stay on the cutting edge of all the things that we're doing to provide for Henry County. So I just encourage, you know, as the board to support our leadership you know teams as they want to get out to conferences and I encourage our you know department heads to you know seek conferences for you for your team or whomever that may be a benefit for you all which you know at the end of the day it benefits all of Henry County and you know just something I've been spent a lot of time you know thinking about because you know as we go to VACO in different places you always pick up something that's beneficial that like I say can you know help us and um I guess other than that you know that's it and yeah that's it. Thank you.

Okay Mr. Lawless uh uh we have a screen so you're next uh uh if you have anything to comment on or give me a thumbs up if you're good. Okay, you're good. Okay, saw that. All right, Ms. Buchanan.

Well, excuse me, there's a couple of events that will be taking place on, this is on the eve of our 250th birthday, and I'll talk about the one in my district. Travis can pick up on the other one. But there will be a parade in Uptown Fieldale on July the 4th, starting at 9 a.m. And so hopefully people will come out for that morning before it gets too hot.

Okay, great. Just a couple things for me. If you haven't seen the ball court or recreational area in the town of Ridgeway, it's now open. So it has pickleball, basketball, all kinds of opportunities there. It's great that you can go up to the library too if you have a library card and rent out the different pickleball sets or soccer balls or basketballs and use those down at the court the mayor's office or the town of Ridgeway added a picnic table some seating there and a bike rack today to add to that so that's all available down there it's been easily any evening you ride by 15 20 30 people in there and it's been great to see the collaboration of pickleball folks on one side, basketball on the other. So it's really been good to see. Also, July 4th, the town of Ridgeway will be having a concert there in the park, Almond Street that runs between the post office and the rescue squad. So we invite everyone to come out to that. It's a free event. There's information on My social media pages, the town of Ridgeway, all of that's out there. The rescue squad will be offering food for a small cost. That will be there. So please come out, join us, enjoy the evening there. And with that, I would like to ask for... $8,000 out of my district impact funds to go to the town of Ridgeway to help orchestrate that event from the band and rental of a stage that will be in Almond Street and some other small items there and the town will work with JR to provide those receipts.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

One more, Travis, do you want to tell them what time it starts?

Yes, we will start serving food at 5. The event will officially kick off at 5. We are doing a hot dog eating contest, so anyone that's up for that at 5.30, come on down and we'll set you up with that. There will be a dunking booth there, so we're always looking for eligible participants to put in there. And The band will start at 6, play till 9, and the event stops at 10.

I think I saw Sheriff's Department hands go up for both the hot dogs and the Dunkin' Boots.

I agree.

So you get their names on the way out. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All in favor? It is sixth affirmative, Jennifer. I don't have anything. Mr. Wagner.

You mentioned the comprehensive plan. One of the items in the comprehensive plan talks about capitalizing on our small towns, our historical towns. It's exciting to see events. pretty exciting because it matches with our comprehensive plan. As you know we county approved the budget a couple months ago and the state might get one approved this week. The General Assembly approved it yesterday finally and it's my understanding that the governor plans to sign at least the majority of that. Some of the highlights of the budget It's how you can build policy into a budget document. There is a section related to data center development, but the one related specifically to dollar amounts instead of removing the incentives on data centers, there will be a tax added to generate $600 million a year for the Commonwealth. And what that additional $600 million allows the state to increase its contribution to public education and constitutional officers, which causes dramatic changes in our budget that we'll have to run back to you at a future date. But under K-12 educational funding, with an increase of $1.4 billion to K-12 education, which includes a salary increase for all teachers in SOP positions of 4% over the next two years, each of the next two years. And we don't know exactly how much that will impact our local budget, but it will be substantial, and hopefully we'll have that information to bring back to the future meeting. another action that took place in the budget bill is the name of the new college institute effective july 1st will be called the west piedmont higher education center and there was a budget the budget included funding for its operation of the next biennium which you may recall the last budget two years ago did not include any funding for initially For individuals, the state income tax deduction is increasing by $450 per person, so there will be a little bit of money back in people's pocket. An item that this board will have to consider at some point in the future, the sale of recreational cannabis will be legal on July 1st, 2027. It's limited to 350 stores statewide, but localities such as Henry County will have the option to add a tax of up to 3.5% on the sales of legal cannabis in their communities. So that'll be something that you'll have to take up in the future. There's increased funding to the state share of salaries for constitutional officers to facilitate an increase to 3.5% of their salary. As you know, we only budgeted 2% effective July 1st. Our early estimates just to match to get that to 3.5% for the county share and to share that with Same benefit to all county employees. We estimate it will cost an additional $250,000 to $300,000 to provide that benefit. And this is what I'm providing is at the 300,000 foot level. Really, it's not even the 30,000 foot level. We don't have the details of how much it's going to impact us. When you look at K through 12 education funding, we do have a cost share with it. But depending on which category that funding is in, whether it's lottery funding or if it's direct student-based popular, we may have to provide a 22% of whatever new money. comes to the schools same way with constitutional officers even though it says it's a 3.25 salary increase provided that the states share that we don't know if it's when it's effective, if it's effective, you know, July 1st or August 1st or September 1st, and that changes that whole dollar amount as well. We're definitely, the bottom line, we're about to come up with more local money to meet the mandatory requirements of school funding, DSS funding, and constitutional officers, but staff is ready to tackle that, and as soon as we get the information from the Commonwealth, we'll bring that back to you for a financial plan back to you for your consideration to address those needs and information any questions on the budget i've got three reminders just a reminder uh thursday july 2nd at 7 00 p.m we will be henry county employee night at marshall mustang so hopefully you can come out for that i encourage you to wrap arrive early so you can take part in all the festivities but it should be a good evening and i hope you can attend Friday, July 3rd is the 4th of July holiday for county employees. The building and PSA offices will be closed. However, our convenience centers for garbage disposal and recycling will be open. And then we're happy that we're to host the Virginia Association of Counties Region 10 meeting on July 9th at 2 p.m. It'll be at the Met Building over on Beale Creek Drive, the Patrick Henry Community College Met Building. So we're excited. It looks like we'll have around 40 to 50 people from all over the region visiting our community. So hopefully you all can participate in that as well. That's all I have. Thank you.

All right. Anything else information-wise from the board members? If not, I will accept a motion that the board go into closed meeting as permitted under the Code of Virginia and the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion the board convenes in a closed meeting as permitted under the following sections of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act 2.23711A1 for discussion of appointees to the Henry Martinsville Social Services Board and the Roanoke River Basin Association. 2.23711A7 for discussion of pending legal matters, 2.23711A3 for discussion of the acquisition disposal of real estate, and 2.23711A5 for discussion of as yet unannounced industries.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? It's a six affirmative. Jennifer, see you all upstairs in five minutes. On a motion by Mr. Pruitt and a second by Dr. Cobbler. Mr. Powell, will you poll the boards please?

Yes, sir. Board members, to the best of your knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under Code of Virginia Section 2.2-3711 were heard, discussed, or considered in closed meeting. How do you vote, Mr. Adams? Yes, sir. Mr. Laws? Yes, sir. Mr. Buchanan?

Yes, sir. Mr. Dillon? Yes, sir. Dr. Calvert? Yes, sir. Mr. Good. Yes, sir.

Okay. Mr. Dillon, I believe that you have a countywide appointment for the board's consideration.

Yes, sir. I would like to make a motion that we appoint Mrs. Crystal Dixon to the Henry Martinsville Social Services Board for a term that expires on May 31st, 2027.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor? It is six in the affirmative, Jennifer. Mr. Wagner, do you have any other items that we need to consider prior to a recess? Board members, do you? No, sir. If not, I will declare a recess and we'll start properly at 6 o'clock. Chris, go take a nap. I'll call the 6 p.m. session of the June 23rd, 2026 meeting of the Henry County Board of Supervisors back to order from our recess from our afternoon session. I'd like to welcome all of our visitors, remind you if you want to address the board at any of our regular meetings, you must sign it up seven days in advance. uh to be put on the agenda the county administrator is the contact person for the board however the public may address the board under the agenda item matters presented by the public that will take up as agenda item number 19 tonight again thank you all for coming out tonight participating in your county government and we'll move right into our first agenda item Supervisor Dillard, along with assistance from our public information officer, Brandon Martin, will have a presentation that we need to cover. Joining us via Zoom, and we've already approved this as of this afternoon, is Supervisor Lawless. So again, welcome everyone. Supervisor Dillard.

Yes, sir. Appreciate it. And I have a video we'd like to show and then I'll have a few words afterwards.

Hello, my name is Dr. Eric Jones, and I'm a 1997 graduate of Laurel Park High School. I currently serve as the chairman of the board for Duluth College Institute, soon to be called the West Piedmont Higher Education Center. And I just want to spend a few seconds to give a congratulations to Coach Bobby Martin. Coach Bobby Martin embodied what it meant to be Big Blue, a Laurel Park Lancer through and through. In 1997, when I was playing sports, he was a coach at Bass High School, and I'd already seen the successes he had had at GW High Schools, and he brought tough competition, but he always taught us to be tough, but he always taught us to be good men at the same time. You never put that against competition. He was so much to me and my family. His family and our families grew up together. My cousin, Randolph Kidd III, played football with him at Virginia Tech. And through it all, everybody always told us that Coach Martin practiced hard, he held everyone accountable, and he pushed you to be your best. And that's what he's done for our community. And I would just like to thank him so much, he, his wife, and his kids, for all that they've done.

When I think about Bobby Martin, the first thing that comes to mind is what a great athlete he was. Growing up here in Henry County, I got to see it firsthand. He was sensational. Now, sometimes he wasn't even the best athlete on the field of the court, but you thought he was because he outworked everybody. He had a work ethic that was second to none, and he parlayed that into a football scholarship at Virginia Tech. and then more importantly he turned that into a career in education so he has taught in this school district Henry County and surrounding school districts coach football basketball track and field for many years and he has really poured into our young people and mentored those young people over the decades so what an excellent career Bobby congratulations keep doing what you're doing love you Bobby Stacey Brown have a lot of memories of us at Laurel Park High School watching you play football at Virginia Tech

But the one memory that stands out to me, you had just lost a Peabody District Men's Basketball Championship game. I came into the locker room, you were gracious enough to allow me to stay in the locker room while the kids left. And we talked about two or three o'clock in the morning. And that meant a lot to me. Because it let me know I was living my life right. Not everybody deserves your time. And you thought I was good enough to get some of yours. Bob, enjoy your honor.

An olive has to go through three stages for its gold to burn. It has to go through the shaking, the beating, and the pressing. And just like the olive, some of you may have felt like you broke through the shaking, the beating, and the pressing. You went through

Now, Mr. Martin, you know why you're here. We're here to recognize you as a triple C recipient from the Henry County Board of Supervisors. But before I give a few words, I do want to give a few numbers. 15, and I'm not going to ask the audience to tell me what that means. I'm just going to tell you. But there have been 15 total multi-year captains in the history of Virginia Tech football. Bobby Martin is one of those. He was captain for 88 and 89. Also in the year of 1989, 79, Bobby Martin led the team in tackles in 1989. 25, at the age of 25, he became a head coach and at one point, and that's my next number three, at one point he was a head football, basketball, and track and field coach all at the same time. the number 90 which is probably what we most remember him by that's a jersey number and i always say he's the one the ultimate lancer and i say that with all sincerity i take a lot of pride in laurel park and i think that if we had to elect one person who embodies and represents um It would be Bobby Wayne Martin Sr. The academics, the athleticism, the education, but more importantly, besides all of that, he's an advocate for youth. And if you've ever seen anybody take kids who don't believe in themselves or other people who don't believe in them, Bobby Martin believes in them. And he reminds them of that. He's a role model. He's never coached or done anything for the accolades. It was always about how can you get better as a youth? What can I teach you through this sport? What can I teach you? He uses his influence to build other people up. He promotes positivity and unity in all things. We see stuff and we just look at it. Bobby sees an opportunity. We can talk about that. And more importantly, he promotes a godly living. and just wanted to recognize you because you mean a lot to this community. You mean a lot to Danville, to Roanoke, to Reedsville, to Martinsville, anywhere you've ever been, people will say the same thing. Bobby Martin is a great guy and he has a A church now is actually in the Irishwood District, Walk It Out Ministries, and I'm excited about what's going to happen there because the youth in that community will have a chance to come out and not just, it's not about, and I hope I say this the right way, it's not about church. It's about good living. And, you know, I know that sounds crazy, but that's what it's about, teaching folk how to live. And it's not a religious experience, but it's about how to live, how to treat other people, how to be nice to other people, how to be understanding. And I want to definitely congratulate you on being our Triple C recipient tonight. We'd like for you to come up to the podium, and I do want to present you with a certificate. So come on down. and yes sir and i don't i don't know if he has a few words if it's okay come on anybody else board members

We just have to turn this way so everybody can hear. Center stage. Right, come on. Are you?

Yep, right there. Three, two, one.

My minutes, they pull a sermon or just? A mini sermon. Thank you, guys. I call them all. Because that's what the playlist called them all. But they did good. They didn't lie. They didn't do anything. They did good. Hey, thank you all. There's a couple bad guys back there in the back. I've got my brother back. That's my twin brother, somebody told me the other day. Guy talked to me for almost 20 minutes. And he said, David, take care of yourself. I'm Bobby. He said, oh, forgive me. I said, it's okay. We all look alike. Thank you all. I wasn't prepared for anything. Yes, sir. It is good to know that somebody recommends what you stand for, what you're trying to do. Do we do it right all the time? No. It's good to know somebody can see that you're trying to make a difference. At the end of the day, the houses and the homes and the money. I can't take it away with me anyway, so I can share what I got. Share what I got with everybody here. Regardless of age, just share it with them. Age, color, whatever, just share it with them. And if we can leave a legacy, if we try to make a difference, I'm good with that. Thank you all. I love you. I've got my son over there. Coach Martin, look at my third generation. i'm just thankful and hopefully i can continue on i got concerned i thought maybe somebody told my husband i'm dying a few days i'm just thankful i'm thankful and hopefully we can keep doing this for 20 30 more years so thank you all

Yes, sir. And before you sit down, I do have one motion. I do want to make a motion that I'm allowed to use $500 of my district impact funds to go to Bobby Martin's youth programming.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? It's affirmative of six votes. Jennifer.

amen yes sir we appreciate you and dr cobbler would like for you all to get a family photo yeah i'm just recommending you have so many visitors here and lots of times we you know we like to get it that with the family with the honoree yeah a family photo i just want to overlook that when you have so many guests here that have come to celebrate with you yeah

And you'll speak to Mr. J.R. Powell. He'll communicate with you about the money for the youth programming.

so you guys know this is my uncle right here y'all can figure all that out yes yes yeah you want to come up here yeah that's fine yes sir it's your moment

Thank you.

Three, two, one.

And we appreciate you all. You're welcome to stay, but you do not have to. We appreciate you all coming out. Okay.

All right, we will continue with agenda item number 14. We'll conduct a public hearing referencing an exemption of livestock from taxation. Mr. Wagner.

To the last meeting, you indicated a desire to exempt livestock in the form of business personal property tax. In your package, you have a draft ordinance provided by an accounting attorney for your consideration. However, before changing the order, a public hearing is required. Staff has properly advertised the public

Okay, I will open public hearing to take input on this at 616. PM. Is there anyone desiring to address the board on this public hearing? Seeing and hearing no indication as I will close it at 616. Board members, what action would you like to take on this?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve section 8-700.1 of the Henry County Code as presented, eliminating livestock from taxation.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? It is six affirmative votes, Jennifer. Agenda item 15, public hearing on referencing the proposed ordinance addressing the outdoor storage of tires. Mr.

is instructive county attorney George Lyle to research and develop a potential ordinance related to outdoor storage of tires. Mr. Lyle has provided some background information for you on that topic in your packet. And I'll turn it over to him to provide an additional commentary.

so the state licenses permits regulates accumulations of tires of a hundred or more that there's you have to get a permit there's state regulation of that but it would appear that they allow accumulations of under that to be additionally regulated by local governments so using the proposed language that mr lawless provided to me i drafted an ordinance we had no ordinance

like this so i drafted an ordinance um that we could regulate it um and and we've advertised for the public hearing okay i'll open the public hearing to take input on this at 6 18 p.m is there anyone wishing to address the board in this public hearing Seeing and hearing no indication as such, I will close it, public hearing 618. What action would the board like to take on this?

Second.

We have a motion and a second. I know that that may have been faint for others, but the proper code was addressed by Mr. Lawless in his motion, and it was properly seconded. Any discussion?

I think the only concern I have is the amount of tires, the 20. I think that's pretty low. I'm good with the residential side, but on the commercial side, I think 20 is a little low.

What I want to say to that is that this is a tool that you can use. It's a toolbox that you can use.

You're not a panel. If you choose not to use it, that's never going to happen to you. and what you want to push at.

You know, it's hard to do because somebody, you know, not calling from home, probably won't have an issue. You've got somebody not really compliant with what we need to have.

Let's do that until we can do that. You know, it's up to you to push that issue forward.

Again, hearing was very faint on that and I apologize to the audience as far as that. We're literally feet away from the speakers and the fidelity of it as far as being able to hear it was not terrific. But any other questions or discussion on this? All in favor? It's six affirmative votes, Jennifer. Agenda item number 16, a proposed ordinance waiving permit fees for residential construction and renovation. Mr. Wagner.

So during the development of the fiscal year 2027 budget, there was a desire to encourage residential development by waiving building permit fees. County Attorney George Lyles prepared an ordinance for the Board's consideration that would waive permit fees associated with new construction or renovation equal to or exceeding $100,000. If approved, the ordinance would remain in effect for a period of two years, expiring July 1, 2028, and as required by the Code of Virginia, prior to approving the ordinance, the Board must hold a public hearing to receive public comment.

I'll open the public hearing at 621. Is there anyone desiring to address the board in this public hearing? Seeing no indication, I will close the public hearing at 621. What's the desire of the board in regard to

waiving the permit fees. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the County Ordinance 6-202.1 waiving permit fees for residential construction and renovations as presented.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? There's six affirmative votes, Jennifer. Agenda item 17, we'll have a public hearing on a rezoning application, R-26-11, for Bobby C. Taylor. We have with us to give background on that our director of planning and zoning, Mr. Clark.

Okay, this property is located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Fairstone Park Highway and Blackberry Road in the Blackberry District and is shown on the tax map 15.8 as lot 121. The applicant here is requested to resign a portion of approximately 5.6 acres from suburban residential district to commercial district B1 and the applicant intends to construct RV or boat storage units on the property. Also will allow for the construction once the zoning amendments, if they pass next month, will allow for apartment construction, which is also planned on the upper level of this property. Following the public hearing, both the Planning Commission and staff recommend the rezoning request be approved.

I'll open the public hearing to take input on this at 623. Is anyone desiring to address the board on this rezoning application? Seeing no indication, I will close the public hearing at 623. This is in my district. I agree with the Planning Commission that it should be approved if someone will make a motion on my behalf. I make a motion to approve the rezoning request as presented. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? It is six affirmative votes, Jennifer. Agenda item 18, public hearing on rezoning application R-26-12 for Ashley Mullis. Mr. Clark.

Okay, this property is located on the west side of Greensboro Road, approximately 350 feet north of Andrew Drive. It's in the Ridgeway District and shown on tax map 62-7 as lots 57, 36B, and 36C. The applicants requested rezoning were approximately 1.7 acres from suburban residential district and agricultural district all commercial district be one the applicant intends to market the property for commercial use and following the public hearing both the planning commission and staff also recommended approval of this request I'll open the public hearing 624 to take input is there anyone desiring to address the board on this rezoning application

Yes, sir. Please come forward. I have a brief policy statement to read prior to you addressing the board. This is a time for public comment. We welcome your participation in tonight's meeting. We're here to listen to you. When you come to the podium, state your name, the district in which you live, and we know what the subject is since it is a public hearing. And by coming to the podium, you have agreed that you will exhibit respect for the board, the staff, and its members. You will receive the same consideration from the board. Please try to keep your presentation to no more than five minutes. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. I'm Harold Bell. And I live in 98 Andra Drive in Ridgeway. And I'm opposed for them to extend commercial down to my property and everything because it borders my property. And the Board of Supervisors stated at the last meeting that I had a cushion. Well, it's not much of a cushion because the two properties behind my house are side by side, and they're less than a half an acre. and everything and to have a business down that far on a dead end street and everything to me doesn't seem logical and really that's about all I've got to say about it all right thank you is there anyone else wishing to address the board in this public hearing

Seeing no indication of no one else, I will close the public hearing at 626. Mr. Pruitt, I believe this is in your district.

It is. I don't have any concerns with this. The property faces Greensboro Road and it's adjacent to Ridgeway Tire and Auto, which is an active business that's running every day. It really doesn't go much past their second parcel that's there anyway, so I make a motion to approve this as presented.

Okay, we have a motion. Is there a second? And we have a second. Is there a discussion by the board? All in favor? It is a sixth affirmative vote, Jennifer. That takes us to agenda item 19, matters presented by the public. Is there anyone wishing to address the board under matters presented by the public? OK. Please come. And same thing applies. State your name, district, and keep your presentation to five minutes or less.

Darryl Holland, Morris Pasture District. Last month, y'all all sat patiently while I did an agricultural update for Henry County. In the meantime, you voted to repeal the livestock tax tonight and I really appreciate that. However, I did a visit with the Commissioner of Revenue to see what the total tax revenue was from livestock. and it's only a fraction of what i imagined i just knew what i paid i had no idea what the livestock tax was the total livestock tax which has been repealed by the board tonight according to 2025 figures was 858 dollars and 33 cents well i do appreciate that But when you divide that by the 42 individuals in this county that they regard themselves as livestock producers, that's a savings per producer of $20.44 per person. At last month's meeting, I also requested that the board rescind the tax on farm equipment. and my visit with Ms. Hairston revealed that the county in 2025 collected $44,002 for farm equipment now should that be rescinded the 44,000 collected for farm equipment divided by 258 people who identify themselves as farmers That would be a savings per farmer of $170.55 a piece. Now compared to $20.44 for livestock producers, that figure is much more attractive. I'd say it would at least have a respectable financial impact. In the big picture, I think asking the board to reduce $44,000 from an annual budget of $20 million. 1% of a $20 million budget is $200,000. So 44,000 is only a quarter of 1%. And in the words of an elected official who I've spoken to, really in the budget, that is really just a drop in the bucket. Before Henry County was the sweatshirt capital of the world and the furniture capital of the world, This county was built on agriculture. When I was in high school, there were over 200 family farms in Henry County, this is 1976, that got a portion of their income from tobacco farms. Today, that number is less than 10. So it's went from 200 down to 10. I'd also like to share this with you. 40% 40% of the farms in Henry County are less than 50 acres. You can get on VDACs and check out these figures. And another thing, 70% of all the farms in Henry County generate less than $10,000 a year. so i think those figures are uh significant i i would hope you would agree that our few small remaining farms family farms deserve our support and respect and i'm asking the board to repeal the tax on farming equipment because farming is family it's really not a business as some people would want to categorize it

thank you for your attention is there anyone else wishing to address the board on the matters presented by the public yes sir good evening my name is matthew davis i'm in the reed creek district i represent greater ambassador community gbac last month the board approved some impact funds for my group and i'm here today representing them to say thank you much appreciate that and your support most definitely the financial support so i want to say thank you We work hard to try to keep our community clean and operate in a safe manner along a very busy corridor, so this safety equipment will go a long way to ensuring that my individuals that volunteer are a little bit safer. We're hoping to improve trash pickup in the area. I know that is an important concern to everybody on the board, We're hoping that we can maybe talk to some of the local businesses that are not supplying the trash, but they definitely are selling items that end up being trash. So community markets and fast food places in our district, Recruit District, we're going to approach and see if maybe they can help us incentivize individuals to pick up trash and do something on an annual basis. where Greater Bassin could foster it, supervise it, and move forward with trying to keep our community clean. So again, we'll keep the Board of Eyes as to how we're proceeding with that. We just wanted to say thank you for your support.

Is there anyone else wishing to address the Board on the matters presented by the public? Seeing no indication, we'll move on. Mr. Wagner, do you have any items for the board consideration prior to adjournment?

Just enjoy the 4th of July holiday and recognition of the 250th anniversary of our country. Everyone stay safe and be careful with fire alarms.

Board members, do you have anything else from a business aspect or comment for adjournment?

I just want to, Matt Davis also with the GBAC, they do the cruise in. And we were talking about events earlier in each of our districts. And they really have done a remarkable job with the cruise in and the number of attendees in Henry County that come, but also people from outside of the county. that come in to participate in the cruise. And it's a really huge, great event. So thank them for that as well.

If there's no other business, I will accept a motion for adjournment.

So moved.

Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? It is six affirmative votes. Hope everyone has a good evening. Meeting adjourned.