Last week, Madison County Supervisors gathered representatives to discuss legislative priorities for the upcoming General Assembly session.
In attendance were 62nd District Delegate Karen Hamilton, state senator Bryce Reeves and Reynolds Boadi, district coordinator for 7th District Congressman Eugene Vindman. The three listened as county staff shared their legislative priorities and expressed concerns regarding some existing legislation.
“We’re excited to have our legislators here with us,” county administrator Jonathon Weakley said. “The message from last session was to start early. We’re trying to heed that and not drop things on your heels.”
Planning commissioner Jim Smith shared the need to determine the costs and benefits of fiscal impact fees. He said developers should pay their full costs, not residents. Supervisor Jim Jewett expressed the need to have stronger wording regarding agritourism. The term and associated code can be used by developers to justify short-term rentals. He suggested adding in language that allows a locality to restrict short-term rental dwellings, sleeping or lodging units if they are in violation of a county’s ordinance.
“I would like to see the General Assembly take this up and make a definition so we’re not dealing with these cases [where] owners are contending they’re in agritourism, there’s a cow across the road and they can put in more dwellings.”
Madison County Chief Animal Control Officer Greg Cave asked that the code be amended to include full-time animal control officers as eligible for hazardous duty benefits. He said the job often includes dangerous work and by industry, has a higher rate of worker’s compensation claims than other public safety categories.
“We’re not saying it [should be] identical to other public safety [roles], but we should be recognized for the job that is required,” Cave said.
Building and zoning director Jamie Wilks said a code regarding solar projects is in direct conflict with the building code. He said it also requires utilizing an online permitting system, separate from usual building and zoning processes. Hamilton said she plans to carry an amendment or repeal regarding the issue.
Greater licensure flexibility is needed for teachers, superintendent Dr. Anna Graham said. She suggested allowing a temporary license for up to three years as candidates are obtaining their full license. She also asked that state support continue for lab schools. Madison County participates in the Future Educators Academy which helps to address the teacher shortage by enabling students to return to their home counties and teach following college.
The theme of many priorities was to keep it local including making collective bargaining, should it be approved, on a by-locality basis and ensuring the administration of taxes such as Airbnb be locally administered.
“The right to make decisions on employment should stay local,” county administrator Jonathon Weakley said.
Another important thing that should be a local decision is child protective services intake. There is a plan to centralize CPS intake. Lauran Gordon with the Madison County Department of Social Services said a centralized approach wouldn’t have the same rural community knowledge of the local program.
“It’s like playing telephone, information can be lost,” she said. “A big call center in Richmond doesn’t know the demographics and relationships we have with people in the county.”
Commonwealth’s attorney Clarissa Berry would like to see the funding for the victim witness coordinator be permanent instead of on a two-year grant cycle and requested funding for mandated technology. Circuit Court Clerk Leeta Louk requested increasing the compensation formula for clerks and not allowing the e-filing of wills which she said will increase fraud.
A highlight of the meeting was an explanation of the county’s paramedicine program. The program utilizes a proactive approach to address the recurring needs of patients such as eliminating fall risks, managing medications, etc. She said for a cohort of seven patients, the paramedicine program reduced 911 calls by 94.7% and avoided 24 transports, a savings of $31,491.
“Madison County was able to demonstrate what the paramedicine program can accomplish when rural EMS agencies are given the ability to address healthcare gaps proactively,” captain Tiffany Rannebarger said.
Paramedic Clarissa Lesson said EMTs are receiving additional training for the program and can also help by setting up telehealth appointments, noticing someone doesn’t have food in their home and connecting them with resources and more.
“We see things doctors and nurses don’t get to see going in the home,” she said. “We can connect them with services that are applicable.”
Reeves said the program is phenomenal and that he hadn’t heard of it before.
“The Big Beautiful Bill cuts services to those who need resources the most,” he said. “You guys going out first is going to save a ton of money.”
Prefiling in the General Assembly began in July and ends Jan. 13.
