Board Meeting Notes

View the May 9, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting video for more information about the items below.

At the top of today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors approves a proclamation declaring May 2023 as Business Appreciation Month in Roanoke County. Joseph Kingma, General Manager of Medeco Security Locks, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Roanoke County business community. View the Board Report for more information about this proclamation.

Above: The Board of Supervisors approves a proclamation declaring May 2023 as Business Appreciation Month in Roanoke County. Joseph Kingma, General Manager 
of Medeco Security Locks (center), accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Roanoke County business community. Economic Development Director Megan Baker (left) 
and Board of Supervisors Chair Martha Hooker (right) presented the proclamation to Mr. Kingma during the meeting.

In new business, the Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution approving the Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS) budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 upon certain terms and conditions. The current County proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 Operating Budget includes a transfer in the amount of $86,782,060 for RCPS operations as part of the Schools categories. The appropriation of RCPS funds totals $280,939,732 and will occur as part of the adoption of the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget ordinances. View the Board Report and the RCPS 2023-04-20 Budget Adoption Revision for more detailed information. The first reading of the budget ordinances was held later in the May 9, 2023 meeting, with the second reading and vote for adoption scheduled for May 23, 2023.

The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing for citizen comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget and the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Program. This was the second of two public hearings the Board held to receive citizen comments on the proposed budget. The first public hearing was held at the April 25, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting. For more information about the budget and the latest proposed budget documents, visit the Budget Division webpage.  https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/80/Budget-Division

After a public hearing, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution approving the Secondary Six-Year Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2024 through 2029 and the Construction Priority List and Estimated Allocations for fiscal year 2024. Projects include improvements to Dry Hollow Road, Fallowater Lane Extension, Starkey Road/Buck Mountain Road roundabout, Franklin Street, Timberview Road, Ivy Ridge Road, Webb Road, Berganblick Lane, and Boones Chapel Road. View the Board Report and the Powerpoint presentation for more details about this item.

As its next item of business, the Board of Supervisors heard the first reading of the following ordinances to appropriate funds for the coming year’s budget: 

1. Fiscal year 2023-2024 operations budget and approval of the Classification and Pay Plan for the fiscal year 2023-2024 for the County of Roanoke, Virginia;
2. Fiscal year 2023-2024 capital budget for the County of Roanoke, Virginia; and
3. Fiscal year 2023-2024 for Roanoke County Public Schools Categories.

The fiscal year 2023-2024 operating budget and the fiscal year 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) were presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 28, 2023. Since then, the operating budget has been revised to reflect the tax rates adopted at the Board meeting held on April 11, 2023. Public hearings on the budget were held on April 25, 2023 and May 9, 2023, to receive public comments on the proposed budgets. Second readings and the votes to adopt these three ordinances to appropriate funds for the FY 2023-2024 Operating Budget, the FY 2023-2024 Capital Budget, and the FY 2023-2024 Roanoke County Schools Categories are scheduled for May 23.

In a move to further support small businesses within our community, the Board of Supervisors heard the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 10-3 (Levying of License Fees and Taxes) of the Roanoke County Code, raising the threshold of annual gross receipts for those entities required to pay the County’s Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) Tax (from $135,000 or more to $150,000 or more); and requiring entities that are below the threshold to pay only an annual $50 license fee. A public hearing, second reading, and the vote to amend this ordinance are scheduled for May 23.

The Board also heard the first reading of an ordinance accepting and appropriating funds of $51,000 for 2024 for the shuttle service to the National Park Service's McAfee Knob Trailhead Parking Lot. A second reading and the vote to approve this measure is scheduled for May 23.

Consent Agenda

The Board went on to approve the following items on its consent agenda in the form of one resolution:

• An ordinance authorizing the approval of new variable width drainage easements to the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia on properties on Colonial Avenue and Vest Drive for the purpose of drainage improvements, in the Cave Spring Magisterial District (Second Reading);
• An ordinance authorizing the acquisition of new, variable-width easements for a stream restoration project located on Canter Drive and Titan Trail in the Windsor Hills Magisterial District (Second Reading);
• An ordinance accepting and appropriating $187,242 in Virginia Department of Transportation Open Container Funding for the West Roanoke River Greenway Phase 1 (VDOT UPC No. 97171) Project, Catawba Magisterial District (First Reading and request for Second Reading on May 23);
• A request to accept and allocate the Washington/Baltimore High-Intensity Drug Trafficking grant funds in the amount of $53,375 to the Roanoke County Police Department for the Roanoke Valley Regional Drug Unit;
• A resolution expressing the appreciation of the Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County to Mark Seiler, IT-Network Services Supervisor, upon his retirement after more than fifteen (15) years of service;
• A resolution granting a waiver to Hollins University under Section 13-23 of the Roanoke County Code to the provisions of the County’s Noise Ordinance, Article II. Noise of Chapter 13. Offenses – Miscellaneous;
• A resolution accepting the donation of a brush truck and equipment from the Former Hollins Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad;
• A request to accept and allocate grant funds in the amount of $99,101.60 from the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services for the "Four-For-Life" distribution.

Closed Session

The Board of Supervisors held a closed meeting to discuss the performance and/or compensation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of Roanoke County; namely the elected Constitutional Officers.

For More Information

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