Behavioral Health Commission Meets at Central State Hospital to Discuss System Needs and Improvements
The Behavioral Health Commission met on July 9 at Central State Hospital and received briefings from Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Commissioner Nelson Smith, Central State Hospital CEO Brandi Justice, and Chinh Vu, Director of the Office of Construction Management for Special Projects at the Department of General Services. Dr. Justice discussed the […]
Virginia Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) Members to Host Roundtable Discussions for County Leaders
The Virginia delegation of the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) has planned two roundtable discussions for local government leaders to weigh in on key elements of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s (CBP) work that has the potential to impact local governments. One of the more important topics expected to be covered at these meetings is the potential […]
VDOT Local Programs Workshop 2024
September 17 – 19, 2024 | Roanoke, Virginia The 12th annual Local Programs Workshop will be held at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center on September 17 – 19, 2024. This workshop provides an overview of local programs and training for program management and project development for locally administered projects. This annual event brings together roughly 600 local […]
SCC Taking Public Comment Regarding Towing Fee Regulation
On June 21, 2024, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) entered an Order Establishing Proceeding (Order) and opening a docket (Case No. PUR-2024-00104) concerning Chapter 245 (SB 450 Marsden) of the 2024 Va. Acts of Assembly. Chapter 245 directs the SCC to examine the regulation of certain towing fees charged for the removal of motor vehicles, […]
Scott County Hosts Dynamic Region 13 Meeting
Counties in VACo Region 13 congregated in Scott County on June 11 at the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center to discuss important issues facing localities in the region and assist VACo staff in crafting the Association’s legislative program for the upcoming 2025 legislative session. This was the third of eight regional meetings scheduled for […]
Floyd County Hosts Regions 10 and 12 for Discussions on Agriculture, Transportation, Housing, and More
Floyd County hosted counties in Regions 10 and 12 on July 10 for a robust discussion of regional issues and priorities. The meeting began with welcoming remarks from Floyd County Chairman Joe Turman and Regional Directors Linda DeVito Kuchenbuch, Jerry Boothe, and Laura Walters. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Joe Guthrie, a […]
Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF) Fiscal Years 2025 – 2030 Six-Year Financial Plan Overview
At the June 17 meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) the board was given an update of the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF) Six-Year Financial Plan (SYFP). At the same meeting, the CTB was presented with the FY 2025 budgets for the CTF and various transportation agencies. On June 18, 2024, the Commonwealth Transportation Board […]
Power Packed Lineup of Speakers Confirmed for County Officials’ Summit
Agenda Takes Shapes with More Top-Notch Speakers to be Added Soon Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and Virginia 7th Congressional Representative Abigail Spanberger have confirmed their attendance for the August 15 County Officials’ Summit in Richmond. Both will speak during the 1130am Virginia Political Trailblazers block. Also confirming are Virginia Senator Lashrecse Aird and Virginia […]
VACo Receives 145 Submissions for the Achievement Awards Program
Three stacks of 145 Achievement Awards submissions waiting for the judges to grade. (We also created an electronic database of all the entries.) The judges for this year are Charles Hartgrove, ICMA-CM, Director of the Virginia Institute of Government; Dr. Sheryl Bailey, Visiting Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech, and former Chesterfield County Deputy County […]
JLARC Presents VRS Oversight Report
As part of its July 1 meeting, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) presented an oversight report of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) as required by the Code of Virginia. The health and well-being of VRS is important to local governments as it administers retirement programs and other benefit programs for state and […]
OSHA Proposes New Emergency Response Standard for Fire Brigades that Creates Potential Unfunded Mandates
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a rule to modernize protections for emergency response workers, who often face substantial occupational hazards. This long-developed proposal, officially published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2024, though laudable in its intent, poses potential challenges for local fire organizations and local governments if implemented in its […]
Visit Nelson County and the Nelson County Historic Courthouse
Photo Credit: John Deacon | American Courthouses Location: 84 Court Street / Main StreetBuilt: 1808 – 1810Style: Greek RevivalArchitect: Sheldon CrostwaitContractor: George Varnum Description: The building faces south and is a two-story white colored stuccoed brick structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Lovingston with the new courthouse […]
VACo Appoints Katie Boyle as Deputy Director
RICHMOND (June 21, 2024)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katie Boyle as Deputy Director. Boyle joined VACo on July 1, 2016, and has been an integral part of the advocacy team as Director of Government Affairs covering finance, elections, and health and human resources. “Katie is an outstanding […]
Visit Montgomery County and the Old Montgomery County Courthouse
Location: 1 East Main Street / South Franklin StreetBuilt: 1974 – 1976Style: Modern / BrutalistArchitect: Scherertz-FranklinContractor: Graves Construction Company Description: The building faces south and is a four story buff colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Christiansburg. The south […]
Public Comment Period Now Open on Proposed Children’s Services Act Policy Regarding Submission of Reimbursement Requests; VACo Seeks County Feedback on Proposal
At its June 13 meeting, the State Executive Council (SEC) approved submission of a revised draft of SEC Policy 4.5.2 for a second period of public comment, which will close on August 16, 2024. The proposed revisions to the policy, which may be found at this link, stem from discussions at the SEC at its […]
Office of Children’s Services Proposes Streamlined Method for Providing Reimbursements to Localities; County Feedback Sought
The Office of Children’s Services (OCS) recently announced a proposal to streamline the process of providing reimbursements to localities from state pool funding. Under current budget language, the state allocates an initial distribution of funds to each locality based on the greater of (i) that locality’s percentage of 1997 CSA pool fund program expenditures (relative […]