Bonnie Cranmer
Contributing writer
The Craig County Board of Supervisors met to continue the meeting from March 21 on Thursday, April 4 at 4:30 p.m. The work session on the budget was held to hear from members of the school board and their request for funding for the next school year.
At 6 p.m. the regular meeting was opened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes of March 7 and March 21 meetings were approved. Briefings were received from Brian Blevins of VDOT on current projects and board members noted areas of concern.
Woody Lipes presented a status update of the Craig Valley Railbed Trail. There have been several logistical challenges with notice of equipment and activity surprising several landowners. The primary activity is currently a cleanup project. Planning for the trail needs to include landowners, engineers and planners, with attention to funding for long term maintenance.
In old business, the board considered the Emergency Radio Communications Project, which was later highly recommended by Woody Lipes in the Hear the Public section of the meeting. Lipes stressed how important the updated system would be to emergency services in Craig County.
The board also discussed the Craig New Castle PSA request. Finding a replacement for the potential retirement of Donnie
Wayne Jones, administrator/operator of the PSA, has proved challenging. Jones has agreed to continue in his role with a raise in pay.
New business included budget changes and resolution to become a participating member in the Lexington VJCCCA, the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act.
The ordinance repealing Section 30-2 of the Craig County code relating to discharge of firearms within residential districts of the County of Craig was passed without further comment.
The public meeting for the Craig County Six-Year Plan has been rescheduled for May 2.
