An agenda item to fill a vacant Planning Commission seat caused confusion and frustration during the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, after several social media posts accused the board of political retaliation. The board approved the appointment of Phillip Simmons to the Planning Commission to replace Steve Kidd, who is resigning. Simmons will represent the Buchanan District for the remainder of Kidd’s term, which ends Dec. 31. But social media posts circulating online before the meeting shared concerns that the appointment would be for a full four-year term, preventing newly elected supervisors, including the Buchanan District’s supervisor-elect Linda Rottman, from being involved in the selection process.

Augusta County will be reimbursing over $50,000 worth of legal fees for two Augusta County sheriff’s deputies who were charged and acquitted of crimes while on duty….Supervisor Scott Seaton was not present on Nov. 24, but he voiced his opposition to the reimbursement during the supervisor’s meeting on Nov. 12. He pointed to the plea agreements in the cases. “Using my discretion, I cannot support using taxpayer money to support the misconduct of two deputies who only, through judicial mercy, were acquitted,” Seaton said. Supervisor Butch Wells pushed back against Seaton’s characterization, saying “it’s not our job to sit here and adjudicate these things.” He moved to approve the reimbursement, but Supervisor Michael Shull moved to postpone the reimbursement with a second from Supervisor Pam Carter.