HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/1/2020 - Special
May 1, 2020
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Green Ridge Recreation Center
7415 Wood Haven Road
Roanoke, Virginia 24019
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia held a special meeting for the
purpose of holding a Press Conference calling on the governor to consider a regional
approach to reopening the economy.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman David F. Radford; Supervisors Paul M. Mahoney,
Martha B. Hooker, Phil C. North and P. Jason Peters
MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
STAFF PRESENT:
Daniel R. O’Donnell, County Administrator; Richard L.
Caywood, Assistant County Administrator; Rebecca Owens,
Assistant County Administrator; Peter S. Lubeck, Senior
Assistant County Attorney; Jill Loope, Director of Economic
Development; Deborah C. Jacks, Chief Deputy Clerk to the
Board
IN RE: NEW BUSINESS
Chairman Radford called the meeting to order at 10:00. The Press
Conference was held tourge the Governor to consider a regional approach to
reopening the economy as soon as possible. The following letter was sent on May 1,
2020:
The Honorable Ralph S. Northam
Governor of Virginia
State Capitol
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
Dear Governor Northam:
We, the members of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, are unanimously
writing to thank you for your leadership during the unfolding and resolution of the
COVID-19 pandemic, and urge you to consider a regional approach to reopening the
economy as soon as possible. As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a
substantial toll on the lives of everyone. While your issuance of restrictive executive
orders was necessary, we also recognize the significant financial burden the orders’
restrictions are now placing on our citizens and business owners.
188 May 1, 2020
Our small businesses are disproportionately affected by Executive Order No. 53.
Requiring non-essential businesses to close has resulted in a huge increase in
unemployment claims. According to recent data through the Virginia Employment
Commission, our region's unemployment rate is estimated at 14.8%. Clearly, the most
impacted industries include hospitality, entertainment, retail, and repair and personal
care services.
We are eager to get our businesses open and our citizens want to go back to work so
they can provide for themselves and their families. We urge you to give them that
opportunity under carefully controlled conditions. We are listening closely and acting
appropriately to what our public health experts are saying in regard to flattening the
curve. It is clear that there is a lower health risk in Southwest Virginia compared to other
parts of the state. The best arrangements for reopening our region should be with
approval of the health experts but please give us the options for ingenuity,
experimentation and adaptation.
We are confident that our businesses can reopen in a safe and sanitary manner. They
can follow the same health and safety guidelines adopted by the essential businesses
that are currently open. We also trust that our citizens will be personally responsible in
practicing preventive measures, such as social distancing and good personal hygiene.
Our region is resilient and can conduct business safely.
Again, we urge you to act now by allowing for the reopening of our region so that our
citizens and our businesses can begin to safely transition back to a normal state of
activity. We thank you for your consideration of our request.
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:06 p.m.
Su mi ed by: Approved by:
'-4
De rah C. Jac David F. Radford
Chief Deputy rk to the Board Chairman