Tamarah Holmes, director of the Office of Broadband with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, updated the Patrick County Board of Supervisors on four projects that received funding in 2022 and 2023.
Just over $3 million was committed to the 2022 West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) Patrick Universal Broadband Project in 2022 with Charter Communications. Holmes said this project was 98% complete with 676 project passings complete out of 690 planned.
A passing refers to a location where broadband network infrastructure is installed or planned and is considered a "potential customer location."
Also in 2022, nearly $93 million was committed to the WPPDC West Universal Broadband Project with RiverStreet. There are 10,056 passings planned for this project that has yet to begin.
In 2023, The WPPDC West Universal Broadband Project received a second award totaling $13.4 million with RiverStreet for 4,526 passings yet to be constructed.
An additional $1.4 million went to RiverStreet at the WPPDC West ARC 2023 Universal Broadband project with 468 passings to be constructed. Holmes estimated about 9% of this project is now complete.
"One of the Office's initiatives involves the expansion of cellular infrastructure to achieve universal cellular coverage," said Holmes. "Repairs to the Blue Ridge Parkway has delayed some of the work."
Appalachian Power Co. is providing the utility poles for fiber installation and Rob Mann said in the Stella community 26.99 miles out of 30.1 planned had been completed. Stuart Willis Gap will get 30 miles of fiber with construction and contractor permitting in progress. Dobyns had 13.9 miles planned with Virginia Department of Transportation ( VDOT ) permitting still being negotiated.
"The overall project shows Stella is 90% complete, Fieldale and Spencer in Henry County is complete, Sago in Franklin County is complete, Axton and Ridgeway in Henry County is 79% complete, and Ingramville in Franklin County is 15% complete," said Mann. "We're at 0% in Stuart and Floyd, Leatherwood, Stuart Willis Gap, Figsboro, Dobyns, Soapstone, and Bassett. Pole Bridge and Meadows of Dan are at 0%. There is a lot of work to come, but we've got a lot of folks working on it."
Rob Taylor with RiverStreet Networks said the partnership with AEP has been very good, but changes have had to be made for compatibility with equipment.
"There has been quite a bit of engineering work," Taylor said. "This is a 15-county project in Southern Virginia. It's a very large network that we're building."
Joe Prater with Charter Communications said his company is almost finished with 98% of 1,563 passings complete.
"The remaining areas are tied to Blue Ridge Parkway permitting needs at Gunny Sack Trail and near Hillsville," said Prater. "Everything that can be built so far has been built."
BUDGET DEFICIT
The Board continued discussions regarding the proposed new fiscal year budget with with deficit that is down from $2 million to just under $200,000.
"Unfortunately we can only cut so far," said Patrick County Administrator Beth Simms. "Any proposed tax increases need to be scheduled for a public hearing on April 28."
"There's a lot of people in this county that live on social security and fixed income," said Mayo River District Supervisor Clayton Kendrick.
Suggestions for consideration included raising the transient occupancy tax by 1.5 cents to 6.5 cents per $100 that would generate an expected additional $280,000.
The board agreed to scheduled another budget hearing for the regular meeting on April 28 when the possibility of raising the personal property tax will also be discussed.
Said board Chair Jonathan Wood: "We want to get the honest opinion from the people out there."
In other matters, the board:
- Voted to move the Russell Creek voting precinct from 1808 Ayers Orchard Road to the New Hope Community Church at 1863 Clark House Farm Road due to redistricting that makes the current location no longer in the precinct it serves.
- Approved a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Patrick County .
- Approved an increase in the tipping fee at the Transfer Station from $65 per ton to $69.25, increasing the tire disposal charge from $130 to $135 per ton, and removing a general cleanup line item charge. "We are currently operating at a deficit," said Transfer Station Manager Scottie Hylton.
- Approved a request from Patrick Henry Volunteer Fire Department for $154,000 for the purchase of a new brush truck and $76,000 to the CCDF Volunteer Rescue Squar for the purchase of Lifepak 35 equipment, replacement of front and rear porches to comply with ADA requirements, and refurbish costs to Unit 110.
- Formally terminated the Fairy Stone Solar Siting Agreement. "If they wanted to come back, they would have to go through the process again," said Simms.
- Heard from seven members of the public regarding various issues including dangerous dogs, the need for an updated financial policy for the county, an upcoming banquet at Patrick County Fire and Rescue, and the need for changes to increase safety at the Patrick Springs intersection.
