The Page County Board of Supervisors’ Oct. 5, 2026 work session included the following agenda items and actions:
CALL TO ORDER
Supervisors Jeremy Baldwin (District 1), Allen Louderback (District 2), Susan Kile (District 4), Jeff Vaughan (District 5) and Chairman Bucky Thomas (At-Large) were present. Supervisor Ryan Cubbage (District 3) was not in attendance.
PRESENTATION OF ECC YEARS OF SERVICE AWARD
Page County Emergency Communications Center Director Danielle Rhinehart recognized dispatcher McKinley Stallard for five years of service.
“One of the things we appreciate most about McKinley is how incredibly calm he is. No matter how stressful or chaotic things get, he manages to stay composed,” said Rhinehart. “He’s always willing to jump in to help whenever he can and never hesitates to lend a hand to other dispatchers in the room or his units on the street. In a field where ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’ we know he’s someone we can count on.”
Supervisors applauded McKinley’s service.
UPDATE BY FIRST ENERGY ON THE PAGE-SPERRYVILLE TRANSMISSION PROJECT
Project Engagement Specialist for FirstEnergy Heather Derflinger led an overview of the Page-Sperryville Transmission Line Rebuild Project — a project that consists of rebuilding about 13.8 miles of existing 40-year-old, 138-kilovolt transmission line between the Page substation in Luray and the Sperryville substation to enhance service reliability for customers by reducing the risk of unplanned outages because of equipment failure.
She reported that Potomac Edison will replace about 300 aging wood pole structures and up to 41 steel pole structures with new steel monopoles, utilizing an existing transmission right of way.
The company will also replace the existing wires with new conductor and upgrade equipment within the substations, she said, underscoring that the project “is not a data center project” as the line doesn’t have the capacity to serve data centers or other large developments.
Derflinger noted project benefits, proposed engineering design structure types, a proposed schedule and targeted timeline and community outreach and engagement efforts.
Supervisors asked questions about the project related to capacity and the potential for future transmission expansion, pole height and visual impacts, community review and other project details in an effort to better understand the project and ensure that local concerns are considered.
FirstEnergy representatives at the meeting were unable to answer most of the board’s questions but agreed to follow up by email.
PUMP & HAUL PERMIT APPLICATION - HERSHELL KNOTT
Supervisors reviewed a request for a pump-and-haul permit by Hershell Knott Jr. for property located off Battlecreek Road in Stanley, as there are no suitable sites on the property for an onsite sewage disposal system.
Under the Virginia Department of Health regulations governing alternative sewage systems, issuance of a special pump-and-haul permit by the state department requires concurrence from the applicable local governing body.
Supervisors reviewed a proposed monitoring contract outlining the duration of the contract, system pumping frequency and system monitoring.
Supervisors by consensus agreed to table a decision on the request until the board’s next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, at the Page County Government Center in Luray.
UPDATE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUE
Page County Commissioner of the Revenue Becky Smith presented an overview of her department, including a department snapshot, responsibilities, business license revenue growth, meals and lodging tax revenue growth, personal property assessments, real estate, public service tax and cigarette tax revenues, state income tax services for community residents, department due dates and the county’s short-term rental process.
Supervisors thanked Smith and her staff for their work.
UPDATE BY THE TREASURER
Page County Treasurer Penny Gray presented an overview of her department, including the department’s mission, responsibilities, investment portfolio, duties, collection targets and tools, collection rates over the last 10 years and an overall summary.
Supervisors thanked Gray and her staff for their work.
PAGE VALLEY CONNECT UPDATE
Page County Director of Economic Development and Tourism Nina Fox presented an update on Page Valley Connect, the county’s new on-demand and fixed-route transit services set to begin in Luray and Page County on Monday, Nov. 2.
Fox noted that the county received state funding for a three-year pilot program with Virginia Regional Transit.
She reported that fares will be set at 50 cents each way for fixed-route services and $1 for on-demand services.
See minutes from previous meetings, and agendas for upcoming meetings at https://www.pagecounty.virginia.gov/agendacenter