June 10, 2025: Green Ridge Recycling proposal removed from Cumberland Board agenda; Lynchburg City Council to adopt tax rate, but what is it?

Plus: Meetings in Prince Edward County and Nelson County

I was glad to get out the edition for yesterday’s meetings out on Sunday, but was not able to make that pace yesterday. I was on track to do so, but a friend wanted to hang out. So I chose that instead. That means this edition gets out later than I wanted.

One reason I do this is to compare how different localities do things. In Charlottesville, public comment can dominate meetings as professional campaigns provide talking points. In Cumberland County, public comment is restricted to what’s on the current agenda. In Lynchburg, you have to tell the Council Clerk in advance what you want to say.

What’s the right approach? I’m not sure. I’m just the one with the curiosity and the willingness to sit and put this work in.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Green Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility removed from Cumberland Supervisors agenda

The Cumberland County Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the cafetorium at Cumberland’s middle and high school. That’s at 15 School Road. (agenda packet)

Perhaps the most notable thing about this meeting is what’s missing from the agenda. One item A public hearing on the proposed Green Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility. That has been removed from the agenda.

“Negotiations related to the Conditional Use Permit and Host Agreement between Green Ridge and the counsel for Cumberland County are ongoing and will continue until a future public hearing date is determined,” reads a June 6 press release from County Administrator Derek Stamey.

There’s more information about the project here.

One item to note on the agenda is that the public comment period is restricted to items up for discussion at this meeting. It is very interesting to compare rules different localities have for public comment.

There will be a series of reports from various departments and agencies. Some items of interest:

• Cumberland County Schools were granted $163,900 in Governor Glenn Youngkin’s budget for bonuses.

• Supervisors will also appropriate $7,500 in funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency “to assist state and local governments to prepare for emergency situations.” This passed through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

• Page 66 includes the bill for Flock cameras. $15,000 for five of them.

Under new business, there are two resolutions to set future public hearings. One of them is to be on July 8 for amendments to the ordinance that regulates the Board of Zoning Appeals due to legislation from the 2022 General Assembly. The second is for a rezoning request for nearly three acres of land at the intersection of U.S. 60 and Blenheim Road from R-2 Residential to B-1 Business. This would also be held on July 8.

There will be a public hearing on the VDOT Secondary Six Year Plan. Details are here.

City Council to discuss “Multiple Public-Facing Video Copies of the Defamation of a Lynchburg Citizen”

There are three parts to the Lynchburg City Council meeting today with the first being a meeting of the Physical Development Committee. (overview)

There are two items on the agenda. The first is a renewal of a contract with the Campbell County Utilities and Service Authority. The current one expires on June 30, 2027 and brings in $600,000 in revenue for Lynchburg’s water fund. The renewal will be on the full Council agenda on June 24.

The second item on the agenda is a presentation on how sidewalks are installed in Lynchburg.

Learn more about sidewalks in Lynchburg at this link (Credit: City of Lynchburg)

The second part is a work session that begins at 4 p.m. (agenda)

There are two items with the first being a work session on the budget. I do not currently subscribe to the Lynchburg News and Advance so I can’t read the story about what’s to be discussed.

There is nothing in the packet about this work session nor is there anything on the budget engagement page.

The second item has the title “Discuss the Multiple Public-Facing Video Copies of the Defamation of a Lynchburg Citizen Currently Posted on City Media Channels.”

There’s no staff report for this either. Cardinal News took a swing at getting more information.

The third part is the regular meeting which takes place at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall. (meeting overview)

There are three public hearings. The first is to take comment regarding an increase in the transient lodging from 6.5 percent to 8.5 percent and to charge $3 per room a night. This is lower than what had been proposed at the most recent meeting. (staff report)

The second is for consideration of a new rate for ambulance and medic services paid for by the Lynchburg Fire department. (staff report)

The third is on the Five-Year Community Development Block Grant and HOME plan. (staff report)

Then public comment. To speak to the City Council, you have to tell the clerk in advance. Here’s the slate for this time around:

• Hear from a citizen regarding "Lynchburg City Schools Board and Lynchburg City Schools health"

• Hear from a group representative regarding "Rainbow”

• Hear from a group representative regarding "GLTC Board of Director feedback on 2026 budget planning”

• Hear from a citizen regarding "the School Board candidates."

• Hear from a citizen regarding "do the math."

• Hear from a group representative regarding "Bridges to Progress."

Then there are four items under general business.

• One is to set the real estate tax rate. None is listed in the staff report.

• The second is to amend city code to reflect new legislation that allows owners of commercial structures to face civil penalties if they are found to be derelict. Learn more in the staff report.

• The third is to adopt a new method of appointing new members to the School Board.

• The fourth is to narrow down candidates to interview for the open School Board positions.

The Lynchburg City Council will return on June 24.

Stories about Lynchburg:

• Old Dominion Job Corps Center shutting down program after federal cuts, Michael Doti, WFXR, June 2, 2025

• Lynchburg City Council greenlights rezoning for 54 Leesville Road townhomes, Rachel Branning, WSET, June 2, 2025

• Lynchburg plans $12.2 million roundabout to curb intersection crashes, Brigette Kelly, June 3, 2025

• Lynchburg school board bans longtime speaker from public comments, Brigette Kelly, June 6, 2025

• Court of Appeals upholds dismissal of Lynchburg councilman's lawsuit, WSET, June 7, 2025

• Lynchburg city staff to present budget at equalized tax rate, Mark Hand, Lynchburg News and Advance, June 9, 2025

• Lynchburg City Council to hold hearing on rate changes for ambulance, related services, Jeff Singer, WDBJ-7, June 9, 2025

Items to be funded through Lynchburg’s CDBG and HOME allocations (Credit: City of Lynchburg)

Prince Edward Supervisors to hold public hearings on Green Bay solar project

The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. for a work session with STEPS Inc. followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m. (agenda)

How does Prince Edward handle public comment?

“Citizens wishing to address the Board are asked to please sign the Public Participation Register prior to the beginning of the meeting.”

After the consent agenda, there will be a business partner update from YakAttack followed by an economic development update. (read the update)

YakAttack manufactures kayak equipment and the president is Senator Luther Cifers (R-10). However, the company is run by CEO Dave Martin. There’s no information in the packet about what will be discussed but these business updates are a chance for the county to learn about major employers.

Then a discussion of the recycling services contract with STEPS Inc. Earlier this year the Board was notified that the company would increase its rates dramatically on July 1. A request for proposals was put out with one response from Elite Recycling of Brookneal.

An analysis of STEPS services compared to Elite Recycling (Credit: Prince Edward County)

There are six public hearings.

• The first is for a special use permit for a restaurant at 8306 Patrick Henry Highway in Green Bay. The site is currently an abandoned convenience center. (learn more)

• The second is for a special use permit for a rural events center on 136.5 acres in Rice. (learn more)

• The third is for a special use permit for the 5 megawatt Green Bay Solar Farm as well as a determination on whether the project is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. (learn more)

• The fourth is for a siting agreement for the above. (learn more)

• The fifth relates to the one-time bonus for county employees partially funded with funds from the state budget. (learn more)

• The sixth is to carry over just over $1 million in school funds from FY2024 for a security fencing project at Prince Edward County Elementary School and renovation of the auditorium at Prince Edward County High School (learn more)

Then there are various reports.

One story about Prince Edward County:

• Cumberland County moves forward with economic plan, Brian Carlton, Farmville Herald, May 28, 2025

Nelson Supervisors to consider paying Berkley Group more to create Route 151 overlay district

The five members (well, likely just four members) of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 p.m. in the General District Courtroom in the Courthouse in Lovingston. (agenda packet)

The consent agenda contains a resolution to adopt the Move Safely Blue Ridge Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (learn more) and another to pay the Berkley Group $2,410 for work to add an overlay district to the Route 151 corridor as part of work to craft a zoning update (learn more).

There will be four presentations. A fifth had been scheduled by the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail regarding permanent financing for the renovation project, but all bids came in over budget. While not on the agenda, there is additional material from Superintendent Martin Kumar who said next steps will be to reduce the scope.

“The intent is to [get] the project within budget while preserving the core components of the project, such as focusing on inmate housing in the original 1975 portion, HVAC, visitation area, ADA compliance, mental health housing and complying with the updated building codes to the degree possible,” Kumar wrote in a June 3 email.

The remaining presentations are from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works, on Virginia Resources Authority financing for the new social services building, and water and sewer rates for the Piney River area.

The scope of work for the Route 151 Overlay District (Credit: Nelson County / Berkeley Group)

There are five items under new and unfinished business.

• There’s an authorization to hold a public hearing on July 8, 2025, on reporting for the Transient Occupancy Tax. (learn more)

• There’s an authorization to hold a public hearing on July 8, 2025, on business license requirements. (learn more)

• There’s an adoption for a policy to govern county vehicles. (learn more)

• There is a request from the Roseland Rescue Squad for an interest free loan of $40,000 to purchase air conditioning units for their building. (learn more)

• There will be an adoption of the FY2026 budget as well as the budget appropriation. (learn more)

There is a closed meeting for personnel matters.

There is no evening meeting this time around. The Nelson County Board of Supervisors will next meet on June 25 for a joint work session with the Planning Commission.

Stories about Nelson County:

• Nelson County Sheriff’s Office shares new data after participation in “Click-it-or-Ticket” campaign, WSLS-10, May 31,2025

• Agencies concerned over communication with Nelson County DSS in child abuse cases, Alexia Stanbridge, June 6, 2025

• Nelson officials raise major concerns with county social services leadership, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), June 7, 2025