Henry County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Henry County boards weigh pay raises, zoning changes, and airport expansion

This week's Henry County government meetings covered pay raises for social services staff, zoning applications, sheriff's office contracts, and an airport expansion request. No final decisions have been published yet; minutes from the meetings are pending. The most consequential item on the agendas was a proposed 3.5% salary increase for full-time social services employees, effective Aug. 1, 2026, along with a $55,000 pay band minimum for certain roles.

Social Services Board (July 27)

The Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services Board met to discuss a compensation plan addendum that includes a $55,000 pay band minimum for specific roles. The board also reviewed a 3.5% state-supported local salary increase for full-time employees, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Other agenda items included committee appointments, review of a new board member, approval of June monthly bills and expenditures, and a closed session to discuss personnel and cases.

Board of Supervisors (July 28)

The Henry County Board of Supervisors considered public hearings on three zoning applications (R-26-13, R-26-14, and R-26-15). The board also reviewed contracts for replacement vehicles for the Sheriff's Office, voting supply cabinets for the Registrar's Office, and radio console equipment for the 911 Center. Additional appropriations were on the agenda for Bassett Community Center and school security.

Board of Zoning Appeals (July 29)

The Board of Zoning Appeals held public hearings on three land use requests. Case S-26-07 seeks a special use permit for airport expansion at 525 Airport Rd. Case S-26-08 requests a special use permit for dog training and daycare at 5023 Philpott Dr, including a request to be closer than 500 feet to adjoining dwellings. Case V-26-01 asks for a variance for a single-family dwelling at 2526 Fairystone Park Hwy to reduce setbacks to 7 feet from Fairystone Park Hwy and 13 feet from South St.

Community Policy and Management Team (July 30)

The CPMT of Martinsville and Henry County discussed cases, approved funding reports, and reviewed contracts. The agenda included a new contract with Beegins With You, CSA funding reports, Therapeutic Foster Care Placement expenditures over $6,500 per month, case reviews for expenditures over $7,000 per month, and Family Satisfaction Surveys. The meeting was primarily procedural and administrative.

Coming up

The Henry County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Aug. 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Summerlin Meeting Room to consider a rezoning request for 76.121 acres at 315 Carver Rd in the Horsepasture District. Applicant Giving Tree Lumber, LLC seeks to change the zoning from Commercial B-1, Suburban Residential S-R, Agricultural A-1, and Limited Industrial I-2 to Industrial I-1. The commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will hold its own public hearing on Aug. 25, 2026.

Henry County boards set to weigh zoning, contracts, and social services pay changes

Henry County residents have a full slate of government meetings to track this week, with several bodies scheduled to take up land-use decisions, equipment contracts, and a social services compensation plan. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so the items reflect what each body planned to consider, not necessarily what was decided.

Social Services Board reviews pay band and salary increase

The Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services Board met July 27, 2026, to review a Classification and Compensation Plan Addendum that includes a $55,000 pay band minimum for specific roles. The agenda also listed a 3.5% state-supported local salary increase for full-time employees effective August 1, 2026.

Board members were scheduled to make committee appointments, review a new board member, and approve June monthly bills and expenditures. A closed session was planned to discuss personnel and cases.

Board of Supervisors considers zoning hearings and contracts

The Henry County Board of Supervisors met July 28, 2026, with public hearings on three zoning applications — R-26-13, R-26-14, and R-26-15 — on the agenda.

The board also planned to award contracts for replacement vehicles for the Sheriff's Office, voting supply cabinets for the Registrar's Office, and radio console equipment for the 911 Center. Additional appropriations were listed for the Bassett Community Center and school security.

Board of Zoning Appeals takes up airport expansion and land use permits

The Board of Zoning Appeals met July 29, 2026, to hold public hearings on three land use requests:

• **Case S-26-07:** Special Use Permit for airport expansion at 525 Airport Rd.
• **Case S-26-08:** Special Use Permit for dog training and daycare at 5023 Philpott Dr, including a request to operate closer than 500 feet to adjoining dwellings.
• **Case V-26-01:** Variance for a single-family dwelling at 2526 Fairystone Park Hwy to reduce setbacks to 7 feet from Fairystone Park Hwy and 13 feet from South St.

CPMT discusses foster care funding and contracts

The Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) of Martinsville and Henry County met July 30, 2026. The agenda included a new contract with Beegins With You, approval of CSA funding reports, and review of Therapeutic Foster Care Placement expenditures over $6,500 per month. Case reviews were also listed for expenditures over $7,000 per month, along with Family Satisfaction Surveys.

Coming up

The Henry County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on August 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Summerlin Meeting Room to consider a rezoning request for 76.121 acres at 315 Carver Rd in the Horsepasture District. Applicant Giving Tree Lumber, LLC, seeks to change the zoning from Commercial B-1, Suburban Residential S-R, Agricultural A-1, and Limited Industrial I-2 to Industrial I-1. The commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which has scheduled its own public hearing for August 25, 2026.