Highland County Board of Supervisors Meeting on March 6, 2018

At the Highland County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 6, 2018, the supervisors heard requests from Sheriff David Neil.  They moved to allot $6,000 for the purchase of seven new bulletproof armored vests, as well as $2,000 to complete a trade with Bath County to acquire their used 2008 Dodge Charger in exchange for Highland County’s 2001 Dodge Pickup.  Sheriff Neil had also requested $6,500 to go toward the remaining $15,000 he needs to complete the Incident Command Trailer Project, and he stressed a need to consider a School Resource Officer in the near future.  The Sheriff’s Office is still accepting donations from citizens to complete the Incident Command Trailer.

In other news, District Ranger Elizabeth McNichols presented results from a 2016 National Visitor Use Monitoring Report on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, which showed a significant increase in hiking and walking as the major recreation use.  The Board also discussed a desire to extend the partnership with the Forest Service to keep the vault toilets open year-round at the Confederate Breastworks Interpretive Site on Shenandoah Mountain.  In addition, The Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards will also work this summer on trail maintenance in Laurel Fork.

Building and Zoning Administrator Josh Simmons is looking to replace an old Ford Explorer.  Rather than purchasing a used vehicle, the Board will wait on a decision for a few months until the next budget year in order to have more funding for a new vehicle through the Virginia Sheriff’s Association Vehicle Procurement Program.

The Board also adopted a proclamation recognizing March as Red Cross Month in Highland County, approved the appointment of Claire Sax to the Recreation Commission to fill an unexpired term ending December 31, 2020, and moved to schedule joint public hearings with the Planning Commission on March 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. on applications from Aaron Sponaugle and Michael McCray.