Amherst County to launch alert system

By Justin Faulconer

Published: November 19, 2008

AMHERST — The Department of Homeland Security has awarded Amherst County a $40,000 grant to launch a new citizen alert system.

Gary Roakes, the county’s public safety director, said the reverse 911 system would contact residents by telephone in case of emergencies such as major floods or fires.

Roakes informed the Amherst County Board of Supervisors of receipt of the grant Tuesday night and said he is hopeful the system would be up and running by April 2009.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management, which is administering the grant, does not require any matching funds from the county, he said.

In other business:

- The board voted to postpone funding of up to nearly $29,000 for ongoing renovations to a former church building adjacent to the county’s administration building. The interior work would allow for temporary relocation of the county attorney, economic development director and a new office assistant and human resources director. Supervisor Ray Vandall said the board needs to discuss the matter further before deciding how to use the space.

- Supervisors also approved a resolution supporting a regional planning effort to promote areas of southwest and southern Virginia as premier fishing destinations. The county’s tourism director has already set aside $500 in the county’s current budget as seed money.