Rumors vs. Facts 

5/26/2023

BOCO Public Libraries

Rumor:  The public library’s youth collection contains “pornography” and “pedophilia.”

Fact: While some might use these terms subjectively to describe content that they find objectionable or inappropriate, County libraries have multiple checkpoints to ensure that no actual pornographic, pedophilic, or obscene material makes its way into our library collection, including the youth collection.

No materials in the library collection would pass the Miller Test for obscenity. Furthermore, the library purchases only from reputable vendors, which are prohibited by law from selling obscene materials to libraries. 

County librarians are professionally educated and trained to select materials objectively, offering a broad range of legal content to serve all persons equally without bias, favor, or prejudice. Librarians receive specialized training to ensure that the library collection is “balanced,” or includes a broad representation of subjects and viewpoints. They follow a detailed list of objective criteria to find and add titles that serve as quality representations of different viewpoints, ideas, and subjects. 

Each individual is free to access materials of interest to them and to form their own opinions of the material they consume. For that reason, libraries do not impose value judgments about materials, and therefore do not segregate, rate, label, or otherwise indicate “trigger warnings” or inhibit access. 

Learn more about how the library selects materials in these FAQs.

Public libraries are constitutionally obligated to serve the interests and needs of all members of their communities and may not limit offerings to some content to the exclusion of other content. Every public library collection contains a broad range of materials, subjects, and viewpoints to serve the entire community. The materials in the library reflect the broad spectrum of human knowledge and Botetourt community needs and interests. Librarians are happy to assist any patron in finding materials that suit their individual or family needs, criteria, and values. 

Materials will inevitably include viewpoints and content that some members of the community enthusiastically embrace and seek out, and others may view as harmful or objectionable. The inclusion of these and any other materials in the library collection does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, nor does materials' presence or placement in the collection indicate any attempt to persuade, push an “agenda,” or take sides on any issues. A public library maintains a position of neutrality, recognizing that free access to a wide variety of subjects and ideas (even when controversial) are necessary to equip a healthy, democratic society.  

All materials located in the children’s and young adult collections have been identified by publishers and reviewers as intended and appropriate for those audiences. The public library provides materials for a broad variety of families with differing needs and values. Every family and child is unique, and only parents or legal guardians can decide what is appropriate for their own children and families. 

Botetourt County Libraries fully supports parental rights. Use of any library material is strictly voluntary. Children access materials only with their parents’ consent, since the parent takes full responsibility for their children’s activity in the library and has full control of minors’ library accounts until they turn 18. Children under age 13 must be supervised by a responsible adult when visiting any Botetourt County library branch. Library staff cannot and may not serve in loco parentis. 

Learn more about how the library supports parental rights.

Botetourt County Library provides full transparency about its collection. All titles in the Botetourt County Library can be viewed via the online catalog, which also provides primary subjects, keywords, and descriptions of each title so that citizens can preview content. The online catalog facilitates access to materials from partner libraries in the Roanoke Valley Libraries consortium as well as Botetourt libraries. Materials requested from partner libraries and delivered to Botetourt are placed on shelves in staff-only areas, ready for individual requestors to pick them up. 

Look up subjects or titles in the online catalog. 

The library welcomes patron input for the collection, including purchase requests and selection concerns. A patron who feels that a specific title is unsuitable for community access is first encouraged to have a conversation with a librarian. In addition to ensuring that librarians receive direct community feedback, this discussion can help clarify why the material may have been selected in the first place. 

If a concerned patron is still dissatisfied after a conversation with a librarian, they may (if eligible) request a formal review of the material in question, called a “request for reconsideration.” This puts the title through an extensive review process to determine its suitability for the Botetourt County Library collection, specifically its adherence to the library’s Collection Development Policy. Requests for reconsideration are taken very seriously, and decisions are made only after careful, thorough research and deliberation. 

Because the library already has a policy and process for reviewing objections to material, then complaints about library materials cannot be acted upon in any way until the citizen has submitted the material for a formal review and the material has gone through a thorough examination under the library’s reconsideration policy and process. 

Why? In cases involving challenges to library material throughout the years, U.S. courts have consistently defended the rights of readers and free speech. To remove any material from a library based on viewpoint or content puts every viewpoint at risk and represents a significant legal liability for the library and financial risk for taxpayers. A thorough review of challenged titles helps ensure that the library meets both community needs/interests and legal requirements to uphold citizens’ First Amendment rights. 

Learn more about the reconsideration process and read the library’s Reconsideration Policy.

As of this posting, Botetourt County Library has received formal reconsideration requests to review 13 titles. Here are some stats:

• # titles challenged that Botetourt County Library does not own: 48 
• # titles challenged that Botetourt County Library owns: 13
• # citizens challenging titles: 3 
  1. 1 citizen requested a review of 12 titles 
  2. 2 citizens requested a review of 1 title
• # challenged titles any of the requestors said they read/viewed: 1
• # times 13 challenged titles have been checked out without complaint: 278
• Total purchase cost of all Botetourt-owned copies of all 13 challenged titles: $289 
• Estimated time/labor cost to review these 13 titles: $11,409
• # years the 13 challenged titles have been on library shelves: range from 6 months to 13 years
• % 13 challenged titles added to the collection before 2020: 75%

In summary, Botetourt County Library takes seriously its obligation to provide materials that serve the interests and needs of County residents without violating obscenity or other laws. Professional librarians are trained how to do this without bias or discrimination. Policies and procedures are in place to ensure that parents and legal guardians enjoy full control and transparency into what their children access from the library, and that the library can thoughtfully consider objections to any materials that any County resident believes should not be a part of the library’s collection. 

05/17/2023

BOCO Capital Improvement Plan

Rumor:  That Botetourt Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes more than $100 million in County dollars for improvements in the Gateway Crossing Area and the 220 Corridor.

Fact: What is a Capital Improvement Plan? A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) contains all the individual capital projects, equipment purchases, and major studies for a local government; in conjunction with construction and completion schedules. 

There has never been a plan to use County funds to make the capital improvements indicated in the Gateway Crossing Area or along the 220 Corridor.  The improvements in the CIP were included, as required by State law, to qualify the County for potential private investments in the areas.  The CIP did not clearly note that these improvements were not proposed County improvements funded with County funds.

Recognizing the misunderstanding this created and following a change in State law that no longer required the inclusion of potential private-funded improvements (called proffers), the Board of Supervisors deleted the improvements from the County’s CIP at its regular meeting on September 27, 2022.  Read the full agenda here: 9-27-2022 BOS Agenda

For ease of use, we have also included information below including the agenda, Administrators Comments, and the modified Capital Improvement plan. If you would like to talk further about this or have questions, please reach out to us at (540)928-2006. You can also sign up for agenda alerts and other news items at www.botetourtva.gov/notifyme. 

04/25/2023

Mobile Classrooms at New Colonial Elementary School

Rumor:  There are mobile Classrooms at the New Colonial Elementary School in the Blue Ridge community.

Fact: There are NO mobile classrooms at the New Colonial School in the Blue Ridge community and NO mobile classrooms are planned for the New Colonial School.  The New Colonial is currently operating at 88.87% capacity.  During construction, the Economic Development Authority(EDA) in conjunction with the Botetourt Board of Supervisors and Botetourt County Public Schools added classrooms as well as the bus canopy and increased the size of the gymnasium to a “full size” gym compared to an elementary school gymnasium.  

Section 8 Apartments in BOCO

Rumor: The new apartments being built in Botetourt County are all section 8. 

Fact: Housing affordability is and has been a rising issue for quite some time. Over time, the federal and state government have created, implemented, and modified programs and policies that provide housing opportunities to folks with no, low, and moderate incomes. Because there are multiple programs at the federal and state levels, and implemented by local authorities, it's pretty complicated and things overlap. Also, a lot of the terminology and programs have been modified over the years, and it's not uncommon for people to use certain words incorrectly or interchangeably. This question presents a great opportunity to clear up some of the misconceptions about payment assistance for multifamily housing versus market-rate apartments.  

The short answer is that there are no public housing or subsidized apartments built or under construction in Botetourt. Additionally, as far as Botetourt County is aware, there are also none planned or in the works at this time.  

The longer answer may provide some context for folks with questions:  

• There are two types of Section 8 housing: "project-based" (used in specific buildings or units developed for the program) and "portable", meaning that an agency that administers the program provides payment directly to a participating landlord for any amount over 30% of the tenant's income.  
• People also confuse "Section 8" housing with public housing. Public housing is owned, operated, and maintained by an agency or authority and governed by federal requirements. Under a public housing program, eligible applicants apply at the site where they want to live. Families pay 30% of their adjusted annual income as rent or they may choose a flat rent. 

The federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) even has a map on its website where people can go to see the different types of housing https://resources.hud.gov. This map shows no listings in Botetourt County. 

The closest public housing authority is the Roanoke City Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and they administer project-based rental assistance, public housing in the City of Roanoke as well as tenant-based rental assistance.  

Tenant-based assistance (formerly Section 8 vouchers but named Housing Choice Vouchers since 1999) is rental assistance in which the tenant has a choice in where to use it. There are programs for long-term and short-term assistance. Landlords can charge the full fair market rent, and tenants are bound by the terms of their rental agreement and subject to eviction as is any other tenant. Again, Botetourt County does NOT operate a public housing authority or administer any type of state or federal housing assistance.  

There are also other programs administered by the state that provide incentives to developers such as lower loan rates or tax credits in exchange for ensuring that a certain number of units are rented to those at or below a certain income limit. Information viewed on the Housing Virginia website shows no tax credit projects constructed or applied for in Botetourt County. 

With all of that being said, Botetourt County does support increased housing opportunity and choice and recognizes that gaps exist in providing housing that is affordable for our workforce and for those who serve our community. We look forward to open discussions about continuing to provide high-quality housing opportunities for our now and future residents.

04/24/2023

Audit of Botetourt County Budget - Broadband Funds

Rumor:  Audit of Botetourt County budget uncovered over $210,000 of misappropriated funds for broadband.

 Fact:  During the pandemic, Botetourt County requested the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority(RVBA)  to assist with the management of two state-funded broadband deployment projects. The RVBA is a governmental partnership of the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, the City of Salem, and Botetourt County in Virginia. It exists to make the Roanoke Valley – the region comprising these localities – a better place to live and do business by owning and operating a middle-mile broadband network to improve local internet service for businesses, community institutions, and residents. 

 The RVBA managed the two broadband deployment projects in Botetourt using state funds.  At the end of the projects, the County conducted a review of the grant expenditures for both projects and identified some RVBA charges that required DHCD's determination of whether they were allowed. Some of the RVBA charges were disallowed by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The County requested DHCD's review of the expenditures to ensure grant funding compliance.

 Botetourt County requested the return of the disallowed expenditures, which resulted in the RVBA and Botetourt County executing a settlement agreement to address the disallowed expenditures.  Once the funds were returned to the county, the funds were returned to the Commonwealth. No local dollars were utilized for the involved projects.

 The county was out ZERO dollars and did not misappropriate any funding, nor did this reimbursement to the state cost our county taxpayers any money.  Read the settlement agreement by clicking here.

04/20/2023

Botetourt County Budget

Rumor:  Botetourt County is behind on the budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024 which begins July 1, 2023.

 Fact: Botetourt County has been working on the budget process since December 2022. It is very difficult for the County to complete the local budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024 until the Commonwealth of Virginia finalizes the state budget. Virginia’s regular legislative session ended on February 25, 2023, without an agreement between the House and Senate on major tax and spending matters that are decided through the state budget. Legislators have stated that they are continuing to work on the budget and will return when they have a deal. 

To learn more about Virginia's budgeting process, what's different this year, and what's next, click here.

Botetourt County holds public budget meetings.  To find out more, make sure to sign up for "notify me".  News alerts and calendar events will be shared with your email address or you can sign up for text alerts to keep you in the know about what's happening in the county. Click here to sign up.

04/12/2023

Botetourt County Public Schools

Rumor:  Botetourt County Public Schools are completely full. 

 Fact: Botetourt County Schools are currently operating between a low of 35.09% (at Eagle Rock Elementary) to a high of 88.87% (at Colonial Elementary) occupancy. With an average occupancy of 65.53% across the school system.  The trend represents declining enrollment since 2015 as listed in the graphic.  In 2015, the occupancy rate was 69.35%.  

The Botetourt County School System provided updated numbers on April 5, 2023. These numbers are reflected in the graphic. Previously there was an error in the capacity reporting, with Read Mt. Middle School showing 105.43%. The correct capacity is 88.81% as listed.  

Daily enrollment numbers can change frequently; however, these daily changes do not significantly impact the overall percentages of occupancy. 

03/29/2023

Munters

Rumor:  Botetourt “poached” Munters away from Buena Vista and Rockbridge County to build their new operation in BoCo. 

 Fact: Botetourt does not poach business or Industry from other localities.  If a business or industry approaches BoCo, we certainly do work with them and provide notice to the other localities that we are working with the company.  In the case of Munters, Botetourt County Economic Development received a phone call in November 2020 from a developer based in Alabama expressing interest in a site at Greenfield.  Two virtual meetings occurred before an in-person site visit took place in early December 2020 when Botetourt County staff became aware that the company sought to relocate its operations from a neighboring locality.  Before the in-person site visit, the developer asked Botetourt County to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prohibited Botetourt officials and staff from communicating with any outside entities about the company’s interest.  The Roanoke Regional Partnership assisted with managing the site visit and with responding to the developer and company. Most larger projects have “code names” so the information does not get released too soon or without permission.  (There have been cases across the nation where projects have been announced too early or outside of the permissions and the project was lost to the community) 

 Munters project name was “Shooting Star” and thus the new road name in Greenfield where Munters landed is called Shooting Star Way.  

 Botetourt County learned that the company’s needs could not be met at the current location and the company had said that if not in Botetourt, they would potentially be moving out of state on their quest for a new location.  The project was to purchase at least 30 acres and construct a 365,000sf facility with a capital investment of $36,000,000 ($36 million) and employ approximately 200 employees.  The County understood from the developer and company that employees working at the Buena Vista location would be encouraged to keep their employment at the new location in Botetourt.  In this way, Botetourt County assisted almost two hundred employees and their families to maintain an income instead of allowing the company to relocate out of state or elsewhere. 

Lot “C” in Greenfield was chosen by the company and negotiations were held.  Munters purchased the property from the BoCo Economic Development Authority for $30,000 per acre ($900,000) and BoCo was to build a road to the new plant and provide a sewer line to the property line.  VDOT contributed $650,000 toward the access road and Western VA Water Authority contributed a $400,000 credit toward the sewer line expenses.  The Company did not qualify for any state incentives since they were moving from one locality to another VA locality.  However, BoCo did provide a $150,000 credit toward the educational achievement of the company employees through the VA Community College System for the training of the workforce as needed.  To date, no BoCo dollars have been spent with the Community College system on the Munters project.  

 We are proud of the fact that we saved Virginia jobs from moving out of state while growing the job base in BoCo using creativity and cooperation with other localities. With a modernized facility located within the largest metro region along the Interstate 81 corridor, the company has not only been retained for the Commonwealth but positioned for future growth and success. Our County Administrator had detailed conversations with both the Buena Vista City Manager and the Rockbridge County Administrator on Munters relocating to Botetourt.  The director of economic development contacted his colleague with the Shenandoah Valley Partnership immediately upon the project announcement for Greenfield. Projects like Munters help to provide capital investment in BoCo as well as to provide good solid jobs for the community and help to keep the tax burden on homeowners lower than naturally done by sending our citizens to other localities to work. 

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Jennings Creek

Rumor: The county is doing survey work on Jennings Creek.

Fact: Botetourt County is not doing survey work on Jennings Creek.

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03/24/2023

Constellation Brands 

Rumor: Constellation Brands location in Daleville is closing. 

Fact: Constellation Brands Daleville location has been acquired by New Belgium Brewing. New Belgium does not have plans for reopening the restaurant and tasting room at this time because their focus is on the transfer of property and operational license.   Read the full news release here. 

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Apartments 

Rumor:  The Board of Supervisors is not listening to the community about the proposed Wellington Apartments.

Fact: Botetourt County has received notice that the developer of a planned 300-unit apartment complex in Daleville has asked to withdraw its application scheduled to be heard by the Board of Supervisors during the 6:00 pm public hearing on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.  

TPB Enterprises LLC (Thomas Builders of Virginia) submitted an application to the County for two special exception permits to construct the project, which was given a favorable recommendation by the County’s planning commission by a 3-2 vote in February 2023. Consideration of the project was then tabled by the Board of Supervisors on February 28th at the request of Thomas Builders to allow the company time to consider improvements to the project. The company’s current request is to withdraw further consideration of the project by the County entirely. Typically, such requests are granted upon a vote by the Board of Supervisors. If the motion to remove this request is approved by the Board of Supervisors at the 2 pm session, there will be no public hearing regarding this project at the 6 pm session.  Just like other projects, this has been a consistent application of land use process in Botetourt County.

This most recent proposal from Thomas Builders would have been the fourth project undertaken by the company in the County. The company is currently constructing a car wash and a building for retail lease in the Orchard Marketplace shopping center in Daleville and has started demolition work to construct a 240-unit luxury apartment community on the former Howard Johnson's motel site near Exit 150 off Interstate 81.   Read the full release here.

To receive alerts from the county, including meeting agendas for boards and commissions,  sign up here. 

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Chick-fil-A 

Rumor: Botetourt County would not let Chick-fil-A build a restaurant in the county.

Fact: To date, Chick-fil-A has never filed for any permits or applications to have a franchise or to build a restaurant in BOCO, however, the county would welcome a discussion to bring Chick-fil-A to our community!

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Dairy Queen 

Rumor: BOCO taxpayer dollars are paying for the construction of the new Dairy Queen franchise at Daleville Town Center. 

Fact: BOCO taxpayer dollars are not being used to subsidize or incentivize the construction or franchise of Dairy Queen in any way. We do welcome Dairy Queen to our community.  In case you missed it, check out the story of DQ's owners (who live in BOCO) by  clicking here.

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Craigs Creek 

Rumor: The BOCO Board of Supervisors did nothing to support property owners along Craigs Creek.  

Fact: The BOCO Board voted unanimously to express support for free and open public waters on Craigs Creek during the February 28, 2023 meeting.  Read the full resolution here.

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Audit 

Rumor: Botetourt County is never financially audited.  

Fact: BOCO is audited every year by a third party.  RFC Consultants is the auditor of the county. BOCO has consistently won national awards for our financial practices from Government Finance Officers Association.  Find out more by viewing all the Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports here.

Each Financial Report includes the results of that year’s audit and is presented annually to the BOCO Board of Supervisors by the auditor and is available in the meeting packets.