Board Meeting Notes

See more information about the items below by viewing the February 13, 2024, Board of Supervisors meeting video.

At the top of today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution of appreciation to Catawba District Supervisor Martha Hooker for her service as Board of Supervisors Chair in 2023, expressing its deepest appreciation for her collaborative and steady leadership of the Board of Supervisors as Chairman during 2023 and for her belief in democracy and championing of citizen participation in local government.

During Ms. Hooker’s term as Chairman, the County achieved a variety of accomplishments, including:

• Historic tax reductions and relief, resulting in savings of nearly $8 million for Roanoke County’s citizens and businesses;
• An agreement with Roanoke County Public Schools that provides record-setting funding of $130 million for school capital projects;
• More than $1 million awarded to Roanoke County Police to fund 16 School Resource Officers within Roanoke County Public Schools;
• A total of 14 business expansions and announcements, with $130 million in new investments and over 1,700 jobs created;
• The announcement by Governor Glenn Youngkin that Wells Fargo would invest $87 million to expand and modify its customer support center, leading to the creation of 1100 new jobs;
• The opening of the Galen College of Nursing inside Metis Plaza in the Oak Grove area;
• The grand opening of Carilion Mental Health inside Tanglewood Mall;
• The opening of Vistar Eye Center in the Hollins community;
• Funding awarded for additional infrastructure improvements at Wood Haven Technology Park;
• Hosting the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championship race at Explore Park;
• Continued success of the County’s McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle and additional State funding to expand the shuttle service.

Pictured above: 2023 Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil North presents Catawba Supervisor Martha Hooker with a resolution recognizing the accomplishments during her service as the Board of Supervisors Chair in 2023.

Following this presentation, Roanoke County Administrator Richard Caywood recognized Dani Poe, Assistant Director of Economic Development, named as one of the Roanoker magazine’s 40 under 40 young professionals in the Roanoke Valley. Poe has held multiple positions where her main goal was to improve the quality of life in the region. Her professional experience and goals clearly show that she is committed to the Roanoke region's growth and has become one of its greatest ambassadors.

Poe is extremely involved in the Roanoke community. She is currently Chair of Leadership Roanoke Valley, where she works tirelessly to develop the next generation of leaders in the place she calls home. She is also engaged with the Roanoke Regional Chamber and Roanoke Boosters Club. She is actively involved with the Wasena Elementary PTA as she has four young children and wants to improve their quality of education along with their classmates. She has been involved with the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley and the Greater Blue Ridge March of Dimes.

Pictured above, from left to right: Economic Development Director Megan Baker, Assistant Economic Development Director Dani Poe, and County Administrator Richard Caywood.

The Board of Supervisors also approved a resolution recognizing Ashley King, Director of General Services, for her exemplary service to Roanoke County. Ashley King was hired in 2008 as a Buyer for Purchasing, and during her tenure has been promoted to Senior Buyer, Purchasing Manager, and Assistant Director of General Services; and Director of General Services. Ashley has led and managed the General Services Department for the past two years, where she has fostered a culture of servant leadership in General Services that focuses on citizen satisfaction through high-quality service delivery and real-time communication.

Ashley King also represented Roanoke County on the Roanoke County-Salem Chamber of Commerce Board as President for the last two years where she lead increases in growth and engagement that resulted in 107 new members, over 1600 attendees at events, and 98% member retention. Ashley King also served as the Executive Director for six months and oversaw the recruitment and onboarding of the new Executive Director.

Ashley’s positive attitude and commitment to economic development and networking across the region's business professionals, legislative representatives, and local government leaders makes a difference every day in many of Roanoke County’s citizens’ lives.

Pictured above from left to right: County Administrator Richard Caywood and Director of General Services Ashley King.

The Board of Supervisors also received a briefing to introduce Rhonda Perdue as the newly named Roanoke County Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. Ms. Perdue has served the County for 27 years, most recently in the Clerk of Circuit Court’s office.

In new business, the Board of Supervisors hears the first reading to approve an ordinance accepting a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Salem to add two new shuttle stops for the McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle within the City of Salem.

Roanoke County again applied for and was awarded Demonstration Project funding in 2023 to expand shuttle service while the pedestrian bridge is under construction. In 2024, the McAfee Knob Trailhead Shuttle will add four on-demand stops to the already existing fixed route with connections to Valley Metro bus service. Two of the shuttle stops will be in the City of Salem at 601 East Main Street ( Longwood Park ) and at 101 South Broad Street. Additional stops will be located at the Orange Market Park and Ride and along Route 311 near the Dragon’s Tooth Trailhead parking lot.

The MOU with the City of Salem is planned to conclude on June 30, 2025, when the current DRPT Demonstration Project funding ends. The 2024 shuttle season will start on March 1, 2024, and conclude on December 1, 2024. The 2025 shuttle season will start March 7, 2025, and conclude on June 30, 2025. The second reading of this ordinance is scheduled for February 27.

The Board of Supervisors also approved a resolution for a Roanoke County Public Schools interim agreement for preconstruction and tree clearing services for the new Career and Technical Education Center as well as renovations to Glen Cove and W.E. Cundiff elementary schools. 

The Board of Supervisors approved an emergency ordinance accepting and appropriating Federal Lands Access Program funds in the amount of $536,000 from the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and allocating $242,372 of Roanoke County funds for the Roanoke River Greenway from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Explore Park.

The Board heard the first reading of an ordinance accepting and appropriating Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) grant in the amount of $531,425 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), along with a $531,425 for the Stream Restoration of a Tributary to Mudlick Creek along Canter Drive. The second reading of this measure is scheduled for February 27.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Supervisors approved the following items in the form of one resolution. See more information about the items below on the Consent Agenda Resolution. 

• Ordinance accepting and appropriating a donation from the Friends of the Roanoke County Public Library in the amount of $25,000 for use by the Roanoke County Library Department (Second Reading);
• Request to accept and allocate grant funds in the amount of $6,000 from the J. Spencer and Joy Frantz Donor Advised Fund of Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia to Roanoke County Fire and Rescue;
• Ordinance allocating $65,033 of Roanoke County funds to the Grant Fund for the East Roanoke River Greenway crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway along Highland Road (State Route 618), VDOT UPC 113356, Vinton Magisterial District (First Reading and Request for Second Reading);
• Request to accept and allocate grant funds of $21,282 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for an Emergency Management Performance Grant along with a local match of $21,282 for a total of $42,564;
• Resolution requesting the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to accept Ivy Park Drive and Ridgeline Court of Fox Hunt in the Windsor Hills Magisterial District into the VDOT Secondary Road System.

Work Session

The Board of Supervisors moved to a work session with staff to review with the Board of Supervisors fiscal year 2024-2025 projected General Government Fund operating budget revenues and review updates to the County of Roanoke Fee Compendium and Outside Agency Funding.

Closed Sessions

The Board of Supervisors also held closed meetings as follows:

• The Board of Supervisors moves to a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(5) of the Code of Virginia, for discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business’ or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. Specifically, the Board will discuss potential business location or expansion in the Cave Spring, Catawba, and Windsor Hills Magisterial Districts.
• The Board will also hold a closed session pursuant to 2.2-3711A.1, namely to consider and discuss a potential vacancy on the Western Virginia Water Authority Board.

For More Information...

More information on these items and the meeting video can be found under the Past Meetings section of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Meetings and Videos page.