Summary of the Board of Supervisors Meeting: November 13, 2025
NELSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOVEMBER 13, 2025
Present: Supervisors Jesse Rutherford, Ernie Reed, Jessica Ligon, David Parr
Absent: Supervisor Tommy Harvey
ALL REFERENCED DOCUMENTS IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ (BOS) PACKET can be found by going to https://www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/government/board-of-supervisors/, clicking on the calendar, November 13, 2025 and clicking on the 2:00 meeting announcement. It will be on left side of the page, 3rd item listed just above the agenda.!!!
I. The Meeting was called to order followed by a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance.
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
1) Trish Blackwell and CEO Christina Evans offered their thanks to the Board of Supervisors from its support of Jefferson Area Board of Aging (JABA) and reported on the services that JABA has delivered to the Nelson Community. JABA has held 4,900 hours of activities at the Cecilia Epps Community Senior Center for 31 attendees and served 1,300 hot meals. JABA has provided 1,630 hours of counseling to 120 seniors to help them connect to needed services and counseled 144 people about insurance. JABA has provided 3,446 meals to 35 homebound or frail individuals who cannot cook for themselves. JABA has advocated for 77 people in long term care to ensure that their rights are protected, and with a grant from the Nelson County Community Fund, have initiated two pilot programs called Senior Cells and A Matter of Balance for fitness and exercise.
2) Odin Clark-Cearley reported that he and Brayden Murphy have been drafting letters to the governing bodies in potential Sister Cities and investigating the possible cultural exchange opportunities and business/trade connections.
3) Edith Napier asked that the Board address the short comings of the senior housing known as Ryan School Apartments. She then thanked the Board for its support of the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration where black colleges/universities and education were celebrated. Ms. Napier announced that Juneteenth will be celebrated on June 20, 2026 at 3:00 pm and requested that the Board donate $5,000 towards the celebration.
4) Edward Waterfield reiterated his allegations that the county had stolen his home/lands, reported that he had filed to have the Board impeached. He also that JABA’s outreach telephone line had not worked for three years, that the county has “crooked cops” and that Mark Embrey laughed when a citizen was pelted with urine and feces.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Resolution – R2025-76 Minutes for Approval: The following resolutions were unanimously adopted.
“RESOLVED, by the Nelson County Board of Supervisors that the minutes of said Board meetings conducted on March 11, 2025 be and hereby are approved and authorized for entry into the official record of the Board of Supervisors meetings.”
B. Resolution – R2025-77 FY26 Budget Amendment
I. Appropriation of Funds (General Fund)
Amount Revenue Account (-) Expenditure Account (+)
$ 295.56 3-100-001901-0033 4-100-999000-9905
$ 23,345.00 3-100-002404-0035 4-100-031020-7038
$ 31,200.00 3-100-009999-0001 4-100-091050-7125
$ 8,089.86 3-100-003303-0051 4-100-999000-9905
$ 16,370.00 3-100-001901-0034 4-100-031020-3040
$ 22,062.00 3-100-001899-0009 4-100-033010-6002
$ 4,010.00 3-100-001899-0017 4-100-031020-5803 $105,372.42
II. Appropriation of Funds (School Fund)
Amount Credit Account (-) Debit Account (+)
$50,954.00 3-205-002404-4070 4-205-064600-8000
$40,000.00 3 -205-002404-0028 4-205-061100-9301
$103,000.00 3-205-002404-0029 4-205-062100-9302
$193,954.00
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET AMENDMENT:
Appropriated School funds are the addition of unbudgeted funds received by the Schools for use within the current fiscal year budget. These funds increase the budget bottom line. The School Fund Appropriations of $193,954.00 include (1) $50,954.00 is requested for State School Security Equipment Grant funds to be received and expended in FY26; (2) $40,000.00 is requested for Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) State Grant funds to be received and expended in FY26; and (3) $103,000.00 is requested for School Based Telehealth Mental Health Services Grant funds to be received and expended in FY26. The total appropriation request for this period is below the 1% of expenditure budget limit of $998,734.57 for November. Appropriations are the addition of unbudgeted funds received or held by the County for use within the current fiscal year budget. These funds increase the budget bottom line.
The General Fund Appropriations of $105,372.42 include requests of (1) $295.56 requested for Sheriff's FY25 Bedford MOU Southern VA Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Overtime funding for June 2025; (2) $23,345.00 appropriation request for FY26 Sheriff's Department SRO (School Resource Officer) State Grant funds awarded for Tye River Elementary School with local cash match of $46,237.00; (3) $31,200.00 request to reappropriate unused FY25 funds for Financial Policy Guideline Services for use in FY26; (4) $8,089.86 appropriation requested for FY25 FEMA Public Assistance Program Funds (Hurricane Helene) received in FY26; (5) $16,370.00 appropriation requested for Sheriff's FY26 Seven Stars Festival reimbursement received for Overtime incurred assisting with festival during weekend of 10/9-10/13; (6) $22,062.00 appropriation requested for Opioid Abatement Authority Grant Funds to be used for ACRJ-OAA Sublocade Program; and (7) $4,010.00 appropriation requested for Sheriff's fundraising account receipts received in October 2025. The total appropriation request for this period is below the 1% of expenditure budget limit of $998,734.57 for November. Of the total appropriations this month, $8,385.42 (Items 1&4) of funds are being added to Non-Recurring Contingency. Following approval of these expenditures, the balance of Recurring Contingency will be $26,469.04. The balance of Non-Recurring Contingency will be $424,285.03.
II. Appropriated School funds are the addition of unbudgeted funds received by the Schools for use within the current fiscal year budget. These funds increase the budget bottom line. The School Fund Appropriations of $193,954.00 include (1) $50,954.00 is requested for State School Security Equipment Grant funds to be received and expended in FY26; (2) $40,000.00 is requested for Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) State Grant funds to be received and expended in FY26; and (3) $103,000.00 is requested for School Based Telehealth Mental Health Services Grant funds to be received and expended in FY26. The total appropriation request for this period is below the 1% of expenditure budget limit of $998,734.57 for November.
IV. PRESENTATIONS
A. VDOT Report: No one appeared from VDOT to give a report. Ms. McGarry thought that VDOT may not have been aware of the change in the date of the meeting.
B. CVPED (Central Virginia Partners for Economic Development) Program Updates –presentation by Helen Cauthen and Katie Dulaney: A summary of their presentation is as follows:
CVPED is a public-private partnership made up of 501(c)6 organization and 501(c)3 foundation that is a collaboration of local government, higher education and business. The participants are located in the counties of Culpeper, Madison, Greene, Albemarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, Louisa and Orange and the city of Charlottesville. Its mission is the advancement or innovative strategies for Regional Economic Prosperity. The Partnership Board has 9 jurisdiction directors, 12 private sector directors, the University of Virginia, and 2 Community College directors. Candy McGarry represents Nelson County. Since 2023 the following businesses have come/ or have announced the intention to locate in the CVPED area: EdgeCore, Afton Scientific, LunaLaBS, LaserThermal. bonumose, Contraline, AWS, Cielo Digital, United Electric Supply, AER JET ROCKETDYNE, klockner pentplas , B&T, Data Bank, potters. Mps, AgroSpheres, CloudHQ, and most recently AstaZeneca.
The big, bold vision is for a high-impact, future-ready regional economy includes identifying our region’s competitive advantages in life sciences/biotech and digital/IT (data science, AI, autonomy, advanced materials, cybersecurity, etc.) with commercial and national security applications; gaining a line-of-sight to economic growth opportunities, and creating a strategic roadmap with actionable steps for international economic growth. The presentation include a special thanks to GO Virginia Region 9 for a $100,000 Planning Grant for this study by TEConomy. A particular goal is to increase regional economic growth in the defense and intelligence sector by expanding the geographic reach and impact of the DAC to all 9 localities. The programs espoused are designed to attract, retain, align talent through available education, improved quality of life, in part through recreation.
C. 2026 TJPDC Legislative Program – David Blount, TJPDC (R2025-78) gave the following presentation to the Board:
“RE: 2026 TJPD Legislative Program Approval
Attached for your review and consideration is the draft 2026 TJPD Legislative Program. (This is found on pages 57 to 67 of the Board of Supervisors 11/13/2025 Packet). It will be on the agenda for approval at your November 13 meeting. The draft program continues three top legislative priorities for 2026 as follows:
1) Public Education Funding
2) Budgets and Funding
3) Land Use and Growth Management
The accompanying “Legislative Positions” section focuses on the most critical recommendations and positions in other areas of current interest and concern in the region. Items in the draft program that have been substantively amended are noted following this memo.
A summary of the priority positions will be produced and distributed later for you to use in continuing to communicate with your state legislators.
Recommended Action: Approve the draft 2026 TJPD Legislative Program
Substantive Changes to Legislative Priorities and Positions Public Education Funding (p.1; first paragraph of rationale): Adds language regarding the federal government’s fundamental changes in its funding relationship with states.
Budgets and Funding (p. 2; first paragraph): New language stresses that the state 1) not shift costs to localities of programs previously supported by federal funds; and 2) should collaborate with local governments to implement required changes to programs with shared responsibility.
Children’s Services Act (p. 3; fourth bullet): Adds language opposing caps on state reimbursement under the Children’s Services Act.
Health and Human Services (p. 6 - 7; various): New language encourages support for the following:
1) investment in staff training and other tools to enable local social services staff to administer revised SNAP and Medicaid programs effectively and efficiently (p. 6, second bullet);
2) rural hospitals facing reductions in overall Medicaid funding (p. 7, first bullet); and
3) additional funding to local communities to assist low-income working families with childcare costs (p. 7, third bullet). Transportation (p. 8; first paragraph): Adds language supporting additional state investment to meet increasing demands for new construction and maintenance for existing transportation infrastructure.
A more extensive report was given in a power point presentation which can be found at pages 60-68 of the Board of Supervisor Packet.
The Board unanimously voted their approval of R2025-78 as set forth below:
“WHEREAS, the draft Thomas Jefferson Planning District Legislative Program for 2026 lists three top legislative priorities; and
WHEREAS, the program includes a priority addressing public education funding; a constant position on budget/funding issues that supports state aid to localities and opposes mandates and cost shifting to localities; and support for local authorities to plan and regulate land use and growth management; and
WHEREAS, the Legislative Program also contains additional positions that focus on the most critical recommendations and positions in other areas of current interest and concern to localities in the region;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Nelson County Board of Supervisors, that the 2026 Thomas Jefferson Planning District Legislative Program be and hereby is approved by said governing body, with the legislative program to serve as the basis of legislative priorities and positions of the member localities of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District for the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly, as presented on November 13, 2025, as well as incorporation of recommendations put forth by the Board, as applicable.”
C. 2025 MAPP2Health Report – Ryan McKay and Jen Fleisher, VDH
The extensive, informative, and poignant power point presentation made by the VDH can be found at pages 68-87 of the Board of Supervisors 11/13/2025 Packet. The assessment was performed at the behest of Sentara in conjunction with the UVA health system to conform to requirements from the IRS in order maintain their non-profit status by “assessing the needs and conditions of the affected community over and 18 month period and utilizing the results of the study to plan, leverage resources, execute and evaluate implementation initiatives to improve health. “The results of the study are to be published every three years. The three priorities were determined to be 1) Chronic conditions of obesity and mental health, 2) health care access, and 3) healthy food, economic stability, and transportation, The summary pages of that presentation directly addressing the findings in Nelson County are below. The verbal presentation to the Board should be reviewed by everyone reading this report and can be found the YouTube video of the 2:00 o’clock pm meeting at 38 minutes to 1:08 hours. The presentation is too extensive and detailed for this editor to summarize. The racial and economic disparities in the county that lead to vastly different health outcomes are brought into sharp focus caused in large part by the interplay between low incomes, transportation inaccessibility, and food deserts.
V. NEW & UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. Piney River Water and Sewer Rates (O2025-09):
The Board reviewed the proposed Ordinance 02025-09 and determined that the proposed catch up rate increases to bring the Piney River Water and Sewer System rates in line with the cost of the system and the rates paid by the Nelson County Water and Sewer System was simply far too expensive and oppressive for the affected users. The rates had been unchanged for 13 years and had led to extensive shortfalls in revenue over costs that are a burden on the county budget and are not sustainable. The compromise position approved unanimously by the Board was that the water and sewer monthly fees would be increased by 7% per annum starting July 1, 2026 and on July 1st of 2027, 2028 unless otherwise modified by the Board after a public hearing. Ms. McGarry was instructed to draft an alternative resolution modifying the water, sewer and grinder monthly rates to reflect this change and leaving the remainder of the resolution to remain the same as set forth below. The amended resolution is to be scheduled for a final vote at the December meeting at 2:00 o’clock pm.
VI. REPORTS, APPOINTMENTS, DIRECTIVES AND CORRESPONDENCE
A. Reports
1. County Administrator’s Report:
Re: County Administrator’s Report for November 13, 2025 Board Meeting
A. Board Elections: Congratulations to Mr. Reed and Mr. Rutherford on re-election to the Board and to Mr. Cameron Lenahan, elected to represent the North District. Staff will be coordinating orientation day/days with Mr. Lenahan and County Department Heads and Constitutional Officers for some time in December. Additional new Board member training opportunities will be provided to Mr. Lenahan as they are offered.
B. DSS Building Project: The site has been cleared, demolition of the parking area, and site work has begun.
C. Department of Social Services CPS Data & Agency Corrective Action Plan:
Agency CPS Referral Data for October is shown below with there still being a discrepancy between the total validated referrals (11) and the total of referrals separated by category (12). State VDSS IT will be looking into this:
Total Referrals Received = 16 Results of Referrals Validated:
Validated = 11 (data discrepancy noted) Investigations = 1
Screened out = 5 Family Assessments = 11 Percentage Validated = 69% Percentage Investigations = 10%
Percentage Screened Out = 31% Percentage Family Assessments = 90%
As of the November 6, 2025 CAP review, the Agency has made significant progress across all program areas and is transitioning from a corrective action plan to a supportive services plan over the next 3 months. Congratulations to DSS leadership and staff on this achievement! The supportive services plan will provide continuity of support for staff and the new Director in order to preserve the Department’s positive momentum.
See attached detailed report for October from the Department; hereafter this will be provided to the Board with the other monthly departmental reports. Applications for the Local DSS Advisory Board are still being taken pending the Board’s advisement.
D. Christmas Lights:
• _Nellsyford (CVEC): CVEC has said that they will be completing the necessary updates to the outlets on the light poles over the next few weeks. They will pick up the lights from the County once they are ready to be installed and they will take care of installing the lights for us in Nellysford. We are very grateful for their assistance with this project!
• _Lovingston & Shipman (AEP): Staff has spent two months communicating back and forth with AEP, collecting pole numbers and working with Chamber of Commerce volunteer, Paul Carter, who personally confirmed light pole numbers and locations in Lovingston and Shipman. AEP has told us that they are responsible up to the metering point, and any electrical wiring and connections beyond the meter were the customer’s responsibility and that a certified electrician would be the appropriate route to assess and address any customer owned wiring, receptacles and conduit on the poles. I have asked AEP representatives to revisit this issue. Jeff Brantley has gotten 1 quote from a local electrical contractor for $2,732 per pole to perform the work that would be required and there are 25 poles. Due to the anticipated cost, a written informal solicitation of a minimum of 4 bidders or offerors would be required by the County’s purchasing policy. While we are working towards a successful solution, we are not sure if there will be lights in Lovingston and Shipman for this coming holiday season.
E. Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) – Tourism Region: Currently the VTC has established the Central Virginia Tourism Region, which includes Nelson, Madison, Greene, Albemarle, Louisa, Fluvanna, Amherst, Campbell, Appomattox, Prince Edward, Nottoway, Buckingham, Cumberland, Goochland, Hanover, Powhatan, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Chesterfield, Henrico, Prince George, and Sussex. Nelson and its other GO Virginia Region 9 Counterparts of Albemarle, Greene, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Culpeper, Rappahannock, and Fauquier are interested in applying to the VTC for the creation of a distinct tourism region under the VTC structure that would allow more targeted investment, improved data collection, and a unified brand message aligned with the economic and cultural identity of GO Virginia Region 9. The VTC application process requires passage of a resolution to this effect, by the Governing bodies of the applying entities; to this end, the Board will be more fully briefed and asked to consider such a resolution at an upcoming regular meeting.
F. FY 26 General Fund Financials through October - 33% into the year, 67% remaining: Aside from property taxes and license fees that are billed at certain times of the year, Local Revenues are tracking as expected. Second half of 2025 Property tax bills have been sent out and are due December 5th. Staff continues to monitor its primary economy driven revenues such as Local Sales Tax, Recordation Taxes, Meals and Lodging Taxes, and Interest on Investments. Expenditures are also tracking as expected; keeping in mind that transfers to other funds from the General Fund are made in the first quarter of the fiscal year and departmental budgets do not yet reflect the approved FY26 salary increases; which will be transferred into those budgets in the coming months.
G. 2026 Reassessment: 2026 Reassessment notices are expected to go out to citizens by the end of November. Notices will contain information on how to schedule a meeting with Assessors regarding property valuations. Following Assessors’ Hearing, citizen hearings can be scheduled with the Board of Equalization – a citizen review board to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Those hearings will be conducted around February/March and information on those will be provided by public notice.
H. VACO Conference: Attended by Supervisors Reed, Rutherford, and Parr, and me. I attended sessions related to:
1. Economic Development Benefits of Future Energy Solutions – Among the discussed future energy solutions were Small Nuclear Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Nuclear Fusion and the tax benefits associated with hosting these along with their colocation with data centers and the need for the State and Country to win the AI war with China. Nuclear Fusion was touted as the long-term energy solution.
2. Building the Workforce in Virginia – CTE and building regional and state partnerships along with working with higher education and private employers was discussed, as well as the impact of AI on the workforce. It was stated that AI may not replace you in the workplace, but someone who knows how to use AI will.
3. How Virginia Counties Are Working with AI – Google Data Centers coming to Chesterfield and Botetourt Counties were discussed as well as examples of how Fairfax County has employed some AI strategies to reduce administrative burdens primarily in the area of Law Enforcement and Emergency Call Centers. Human supervision and a “Trust but Verify” mantra was noted as key in using AI based platforms; as was having an AI policy in place.
I. Meals and Lodging Tax Collection & Lodging Entity Tracking: See Attached Charts - # of Lodging Units went from 820 to 821. Rental Scape is the selected STR monitoring and tracking software platform and staff is in process with its procurement.
J. Staff Reports: Department and office reports for August/September have been provided.
October 2025 case count
Total Cases: 2958
SNAP: 899
Medicaid: 2023
TANF:21
Childcare:15
Worker Totals
Jenny: 169 SNAP:42 Medicaid:110 TANF:17
Danielle: 467 SNAP:160 Medicaid:307
Chamae: 533 SNAP:168 Medicaid:350 CC:15
Tracey: 445 SNAP:154 Medicaid:287 TANF:4
Holly: 399 SNAP:124 Medicaid:275
Rose: 288 SNAP:96 Medicaid:192
Tammy: 198 SNAP:0 Medicaid:198
Diamond: 459 SNAP:155 Medicaid:304
Month/Year OCTOBER 2025
Benefits-
SNAP Timeliness-100% non-expedited 77.78% expedited two workers’ processed expedited cases out of compliance due to oversight on workers’ part. I have spoken to each worker concerning compliance and the reason their cases were worked incorrectly
Enrollee-1692
Expedited-9-two cases worked out compliance
Non-expedited-23
Total Monthly Issuance-$262,365.00
Medicaid Timeliness-100%
TANF/VIEW-Cases- 100%
Applications-SNAP:32 Medicaid:50 TANF:1
Fuel Assistance begins October 14, 2025 and runs through November 14 to date 365 fuel applications have been processed.
Crisis Assistance begins November 1-March 15 due to the government shutdown we will accept crisis applications, pend and document them however we will not be processing these cases until we receive further guidance.
We are following this guidance as issued by the state for SNAP benefits during the government shutdown
1) All SNAP issuances certified 10/30-ongoing will not be issued VENA. They will resume once VENA ceases and SNAP funding is received. 2)Anything certified 10/29 or prior will receive VENA, as files were sent last night. 3) Benefit adjustments, restorations, supplements, etc. are included in this and “paused” for the time being. 4) All NOAs must be suppressed and manually generated ones sent for Nov. The wording is in the broadcast for what to enter on the manual NOAs. 5) All normal SNAP actions will continue to take place in regard to processing IRs, recerts, applications, and changes. 6) Nov 2025 work clock has been suspended. 7) Claim establishment and recoupment has been suspended. 8) VENA will begin issuing funds to those eligible households Monday, Nov 3rd.
VENA Issuance
Starting November 3, 2025 25 % of a household’s monthly SNAP benefit will be issued on their EBT card. The weekly VENA issuance will occur on either Monday, Wednesday or Friday. VENA will appear on the issuance history screen as an ongoing issuance for each week VENA is generated.
November VENA issuance dates are as follows: Case ends with:
Will receive VENA on Mondays
Will receive VENA on Wednesdays
Will receive VENA on Fridays
0, 1, 2 & 3
3rd, 10th, 17th, & 24th
4 & 5
5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th
6, 7, 8 & 9
7th, 14th, 21st, & 28th
Supervisor Ligon proposed that the Christmas lights be powered by small solar panels and Ms. McGarry was asked to have her office look into this option.
2. Board Reports
Supervisor Rutherford: He attended the TJPDC meeting and the VACO meeting. At the VACO meeting, he attended the sections relating to Data Centers and AI as well as the Virginia budget session with Supervisor Reed. The economy for Virginia as a whole looks good but the growth is spotty and driven in large part by data centers.
Supervisor Ligon attended the Planning Commission Meeting. The comments collected were presented to the Berkley Group.
Supervisor Parr attended the VACO meeting and went to the childcare session which focused on how the availability and affordability of childcare affects the economy. The session reported a 30% drop in childcare workers due in large part to burn out from the poor behavior of covid babies who just are not socialized and due to lack of parent involvement. He also attended a session on conflict resolution. He learned that is important to strictly enforce the time limits on speakers at Board meetings to maintain fairness and that “free speech” has a broad definition including profanities.
Supervisor Reed attended the VACO meeting sessions on Education and Rural Development including Regional Food System Resilience. The consensus at the meeting was that those budget bills vetoed by Governor Youngkin will pass again and be approved by Governor elect Spanberger. Supervisors Rutherford, Reed, and Parr attended the grand opening of the Bank of the James in Nellysford which they believe will economically help the county.
B. Appointments: The chart below delineates the Boards and Committees with vacancies and the applicants if any. Kate Rutherford applied for the Social Services Advisory Board after the BOS packet had been prepared. The Board appointed Deborah Turell to the Library Committee as the South District Representative. The Board continued the appointments of persons to fill the Board of Equalization and the Social Services Advisory Board to the December meeting and the Supervisors agreed to interview the candidates from their respective districts before the next meeting.
D. Correspondence: Commonwealth Attorney Rutherford requested a new door for the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to the outside that has a ramp at the entrance , buttons that would allow the door to open automatically, remote buttons to permit the door to be unlocked by people in the office and a 2 way communications system to facilitate admitting visitors to the office after they have been identified. Supervisor Parr noted that these changes would be needed even if the Commonwealth attorney change offices. The consensus of the Board was to authorize the requested purchases and modifications and Ms. McGarry was instructed to act on the consensus.
E. Directives: Ms. McGarry was asked to draft a resolution honoring supervisor Harvey’s 41 years of service on the Board of Supervisors and to invite former Board members who had served with him to the December Board meeting for presentation of the Resolution.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS (AS PRESENTED):None
VIII. The Board went into CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO §2.2-3711 (A)(7) & (A)(8).
IX. The meeting was ADJOURNED & CONTINUED to the EVENING SESSION AT 7PM.
EVENING SESSION-7:00 P.M
I. The meeting was called to Order.
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1) Public Comments: None.
A. Battery Energy Storage System Siting Agreements – Colleen and Piney River (R2025-79)
Consideration of two (2) siting agreements, one with Piney River VA BESS 1, LLC and one with Colleen VA BESS 1, LLC, for two (2) 4MW battery energy storage systems to be constructed at CVEC substations in Colleen and Piney River. The site plans were approved administratively as by right accessory uses to a public utility, so no special use permit approval is required. These battery energy storage systems will benefit local CVEC customers by keeping rates down during peak usage periods. The Board unanimously passed the Resolution set forth below.
RESOLUTION R2025-79
NELSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
APPROVAL OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
SITING AGREEMENTS IN COLLEEN AND PINEY RIVER
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of 15.2-2204 and 15.2-2316.8 of the code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors conducted a public hearing on November 13, 2025 to receive public input on two siting agreements, one with Piney River VA BESS 1, LLC, and one with Collen VA BESS 1, LLC, for two (2) 4MW battery energy storage systems to be constructed at Central Virginia Electric Cooperative “CVEC” substations in Colleen and Piney River; and
WHEREAS, the site plans were approved administratively as by right accessory uses to a public utility, so no special use permit approval is required; and
WHEREAS, these battery energy storage systems will benefit local CVEC customers by keeping rates down during peak usage periods;
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Nelson County Board of Supervisors hereby approves the siting agreements with Piney River VA BESS 1, LLC and Colleen VA BESS 1, LLC for the two (2) 4MW battery energy storage systems to be constructed at CVEC substations in Colleen and Piney River, and the County Administrator and County Attorney are hereby authorized to execute all documents related to both siting agreements.
B. Special Use Permit #250278 – Request for Extension of SUP #240239 (Dwelling Units in B-1 Business District) Consideration of a Special Use Permit application requesting County approval of an extension of an existing approved SUP for dwelling units in the B-1 Business District, located within an existing structure at 622 Front Street in Lovingston. The existing SUP was approved by the Board of Supervisors on November 14, 2024. The subject property is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #58B-3-2 and is owned by Alexandra and Jesse Lopez Low.
The owners completed renovation on an existing structure at 622 Front Street, to be utilized for mixed use: two long term residential rental units, and commercial space on the lower level. The property previously held a Special Use Permit for a dwelling, which expired after more than 2 years of vacancy. The BOS approved SUP #240239 on November 14, 2024, with the condition that the dwelling units are not permitted to be utilized as short term rentals. The owners are requesting an extension of the approved SUP for an additional year, as the units are not yet occupied due to construction taking longer than expected.
The Board unanimously approved Special Use Permit #250278.
IV. OTHER BUSINESS (AS PRESENTED):None
V. The meeting was ADJOURNED.