Bland County supervisors elect chair, approve bank resolutions and appoint members to county boards

At its organizational meeting on Jan. 2, 2026, the Bland County Board of Supervisors elected Randy Johnson as board chair and Patrick Groseclose as vice-chair, adopted its 2026 Rules of Procedure and approved bank resolutions and a series of appointments to county boards and regional authorities.

The meeting, called to order by Cameron Burton, clerk of the board and county administrator, listed Keith Costello, Patrick Groseclose, Stephen Kelley and Randy Johnson as present. Stephen Kelley moved to nominate Randy Johnson as 2026 board chair; Patrick Groseclose seconded the motion and the board carried it. Later, Stephen Kelley moved to nominate Patrick Groseclose as vice-chair; Keith Costello seconded and the motion carried.

The board adopted its 2026 Rules of Procedure on a motion by Keith Costello and a second from Stephen Kelley. The board also approved 2026 bank account resolutions and recorded a roll-call vote with each supervisor voting in favor. Separately, the board reaffirmed a resolution naming the county administrator and the deputy county administrator as authorized agents for county banking and financial matters; that resolution passed on a roll-call vote.

Supervisors approved a slate of appointments and reappointments to county boards and regional entities. Reappointments included Randy Johnson and Patrick Groseclose to the Bland County School Facilities Committee for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2026. The board appointed Tiffany Carter to the Bland County Public Library Board of Trustees for a four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2029. James Starks and John Babbitt were appointed to the Economic Development Authority for four-year terms to expire Feb. 28, 2029. Other appointments included representatives to the District III Governmental Cooperative, the Joint Public Service Authority (Wythe and Bland Counties), Mount Rogers Transportation Citizen Participation Committee, Pathway Regional Industrial Facility Authority, Service Authority, Social Services Board (including Lucinda Leighton to an unexpired term ending June 30, 2026), the Ninth District Development Fund and the Wireless Authority; terms and expirations were recorded by the board when the motions were made.

The board adopted the FY27 budget calendar on a motion by Keith Costello, seconded by Stephen Kelley. The board also adopted the Internal Revenue Service mileage reimbursement rate of $0.725 per mile for county purposes following a motion by Stephen Kelley and a second from Patrick Groseclose; roll-call votes for these measures were recorded as unanimous.

Stephen Kelley moved to adjourn the organizational meeting; Patrick Groseclose seconded and the motion carried. The meeting minutes record the formal actions and the terms for each appointment; no public comment or contested items were recorded in the transcript provided.