At-a-glance: Roanoke County board actions on April 23, 2024 — budgets, road plan and routine approvals

The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors conducted a full agenda April 23 and approved a series of routine and substantive items. Highlights and formal outcomes from the meeting:

- Northside High School recognition (resolution adopted, unanimous): The board extended congratulations to the Northside High School boys basketball team for winning the 2024 VHSL Class 3 state championship. Coaches and student-athletes spoke briefly at the podium following the resolution.

- Roanoke Valley Resource Authority FY24-25 budget (resolution adopted, unanimous): The board supported the RVRA budget that includes a proposed municipal rate increase of $1.50/ton and a commercial increase of $1.75/ton; RVRA will hold a June public hearing to adopt final rates.

- Roanoke Regional Airport Commission budget (resolution adopted, unanimous): The board approved the airport's operating and capital proposals; capital items include Taxiway Bravo work, runway rehabilitation design, terminal roof replacement, checkpoint relocation, and phased baggage-screening improvements. Signature Flight Support plans to invest about $14 million in a new hangar.

- EDA revenue refunding bonds for Friendship Foundation (resolution adopted, unanimous): Board consented to EDA reissuance/refinancing that reduces outstanding principal on a series of 2019 bonds tied to senior-living facilities; the EDA's administrative fee will decline (estimated FY25 fee drop from about $56,000 to $37,000).

- Ordinance first reading: Virginia Department of Fire Programs grant ($400,133) (first reading approved; second reading scheduled May 14): Travis Griffith presented the grant; state code allows insurance-industry levy distributions to the Department of Fire Programs and the funds may only be used for fire service purposes.

- Public hearing on the proposed FY24-25 operating budget and FY25-FY34 CIP (no speakers): The statutorily required hearing was opened and closed with no citizen comments.

- Secondary 6-Year Improvement Plan (adopted, unanimous): Assistant Director Megan Cronai presented projects and allocations (notable projects: Webb Road paving, Franklin Street improvements, Bergenblick Lane, the Ridgetop/FollowWater Lane extension with ~$4.3M total funding, Dry Hollow Road widening with ~$4.6M total funding, Starkey/Buck Mountain roundabout with ~$5.8M total funding, Timberview Road and Boones Chapel Road projects). The board adopted the plan and construction priority list.

- Appointments and consent agenda (approved, unanimous): Board approved the appointment of Randall Hancock to the Western Virginia Water Authority (term to 06/30/2028) and adopted routine consent items with a single roll-call resolution.

- Work session and closed session motion: The board recessed to a work session on a new electronic performance review system and then moved into a closed session to discuss acquisition of real property and prospective business location and expansion under Va. Code §2.2-3711.

Minutes and supporting materials for each item are available in the county packet. The meeting included multiple unanimous roll-call votes recorded as yes by the clerk for the five supervisors present.