By Matt de Simone
Botetourt County Director of Parks and Recreation Mandy Adkins presented guideline changes and additions to the Recreation Incentive Fund grant timeline to the Board of Supervisors last week. The board approved the changes and additions to the fund process.
The largest change is the timeline of the grant. Previously, grants come through the department, and then are submitted to the Parks & Rec Commission. The applicants then present their project during the commission meeting. At the same time during that meeting, the commission votes on the project and the recommended funding.
“We recognize that timeline is just too tight and there needs to be more time invested in reviewing the applications, and then giving the commission time to review the projects,” Adkins told the board last Tuesday afternoon.
The following timeline was added to the Recreation Incentive Fund Guidelines:
- August 1, 2023, Application acceptance window opens.
- September 15, 2023, Deadline to submit applications.
- The Parks and Recreation Department will review applications and may provide feedback to applicant for recommended changes or improvements.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit before the September 15 deadline for earlier feedback.
- October 30, 2023, Parks and Recreation Commission begin application review.
- November 6, 2023 – Applicant presentations during Commission’s regular meeting, 6:30 p.m.. at Greenfield Administration Center
- December 4, 2023 – Parks and Recreation Commission vote on funding recommendations during regular meeting, 6:30 P.M. at Greenfield Administration Center.
- December 19, 2023 – Applications presented to Board of Supervisors for final approval.
- June 30, 2024 – Status report one due.
- December 30, 2024 – Status report two due.
- June 30, 2025 – Project Completion Form deadline
The following changes were made to the General Policies and Program Eligibility:
- All projects must be located in Botetourt County.
- Projects submitted must benefit and be open to the general public, enhance recreational related property or generally assist in the delivery of initiatives and programs sponsored by the Botetourt County Parks & Recreation Department.
Adkins noted that all funds are used annually. Last year’s requests totaled $44,551, leaving the department with less than $500 left over (from the $45,000 of annual funding). Historically, the department annually received applications which exceeded the funding or were right at the limit.
Board Chair Dr. Mac Scothorn added the condition that the funding be raised from $40,000 to $50,000.
Public hearings
The board unanimously denied Rachel Moss’s request for a private kennel Special Exception Permit (SEP) in the Buchanan District. The denial was brought by complaints made by neighbors about roaming dogs. The request may be re-applied, but would require approval from neighbors and the Planning Commission.
The board unanimously approved Lavern and Jessica Miller’s request for a Rural Home Business Special Exception Permit, with possible conditions, to manufacture suspenders, in Buchanan District.
New River Electrical Corporation’s (NREC) request to rezone four contiguous parcels in the Valley District was unanimously approved by the board. This rezoning is made with the intent of NREC building a training facility to expand their operations. A substation would be built for training purposes and would not connect to any other service stations. Scothorn noted that NREC “needs this space desperately.”