Highland County Board of Supervisors November Meeting

The Highland County Board of Supervisors held its monthly meeting on November 1.

School Superintendent Dr. Drew Maerz spoke at the meeting and gave an update on school activities.  He announced that at the National FFA Convention, the Highland FFA AgSales team won third place in the country in the team competition and student Cayden won second place in the country in AgSales as an individual.  Fall sports, cross country and volleyball, have finished up and Dr. Maerz said the volleyball team finished the season strong.  Middle school students are participating in the Highland Mid Kids Radio Club and are on the air on WVLS.  Some high school students who participated previously would like to continue and Dr. Maerz said they are working on that.  On November 9, a Literacy and Open House Night will be held at the elementary school and dinner will be provided for parents.   On Friday, November 11, the volleyball team is holding the “Hope for a Cure” night, an internal volleyball game with all proceeds going to benefit breast cancer research.

Also at the meeting, Betty Mitchell, representing the Economic Development Authority, spoke about the Housing Study being conducted by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission.    Focus group meetings were held in Highland on October 13 that provided information from different groups about the effects of the lack of rental housing in the area, such as affecting the recruitment of new employees for jobs here.   More information will be gathered from groups such as local families, senior populations and vulnerable populations.  The Housing Study covers both Bath and Highland Counties.  Supervisor David Blanchard said he found the information interesting that he received from the focus group meetings.  County Attorney Melissa Dowd said the meetings were a positive experience that pulled together different groups that don’t normally interact.

The Board adopted a resolution to continue to participate in the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act.   The county has already been participating, but now a resolution is required every two years.   Through the program, Beth Armstrong is the surveillance officer through the courts for juveniles.

And none of the Highland County Supervisors are planning to attend the Virginia Association of Counties Annual Conference in Richmond this year.  The Board voted to not designate a delegate to vote on the Board’s behalf at the conference business meeting.