Commissioners authorize site visits and Q&A with five firms for recreation plan

Garrison Wagner, a county commissioner and member of the recreation committee, told the board the committee reviewed responses from five firms for the county's recreation project and recommends inviting all five for site visits and an information session so each firm can tour the site and answer questions. The respondent list the committee discussed included Fittfields, McGill and Associates, Kimley-Horn, BREC and Andre Johnson Architects.

Wagner said the site visits and in-person Q&A would let the board and staff evaluate design proposals and see which firms would be willing to "put some boots on the ground" in Alleghany County. A commissioner moved to authorize the interviews and site visits; a second was recorded and the board voted 5-0 to proceed.

The authorized next step is scheduling the visits and interviews; the board did not select a firm at this meeting and asked staff and committee members to arrange the site visits and prepare for in-person presentations.