Bonnie Cranmer
Contributing writer
At the August meeting of the Craig County Board of Supervisors, the agenda was light. All board members were in attendance, along with the county administrator, Dan Collins. After the consent items were approved the board heard the VDOT report and the Broadband report. No report was provided from Preserve Craig.
Woody Lipes presented an update on the Craig Valley Railbed Trail. Work continues before a public hearing can be scheduled. There is a required environmental review and some sections require waiting to continue work until the weather improves. Miss Utility is mapping the underground utilities within the project area.
Lipes continued by sharing the two factors considered for trail use, features and proximity to population centers. Several other existing trails systems have been reviewed for visitor numbers and economic impact. The Virginia Creeper Trail, the New River Trail and the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail serve both visitors and residents alike, yet each have unique features different from what the Craig Valley Railbed Trail will offer. “We’re listening to what people tell us,” Lipes stated.
In new business, the county approved amending the FY 2024-25 budget, amended FY 2024-25 911, approved the resolution setting the allocation for personal property tax relief, approved updating the Craig County Emergency Operations Plan by adding Simmonsville Volunteer Fire Department and Level Green Church to the shelter plan. In addition, the board also approved the administrative guidelines for the financial management of all federal ARPA relief funds, approved the county’s participation in the proposed settlement of opioid-related claims against Kroger and its related corporate entities, and approved the request for street closure for Fall Festival on Oct. 9.
There were no comments during the ‘hear the public’ section of the meeting. The board went into closed session for personnel matters and will meet again on Thursday, Sep. 5.
