PittCo Happenings

Latest Episodes:

Treasurer Jul 18, 2021

Show notes

Pittsylvania County Treasurer Vincent Shorter shares some insights about what his office does and his office's role in the taxation process - the collections arm. Additionally, he explains why Pittsylvania County is a non-pro-rating jurisdiction and shares about the factors that, when combined together, caused citizens' car tax bills to increase between 2020 and 2021.

Chatham Rescue Squad Jul 11, 2021

Show notes

Hear from Noah Robbins, a Volunteer with Chatham Rescue Squad, about how the agency managed to rebound from answering only 25% of its call in FY 2020 to 82% in FY 21. Noah, who served as the captain during these years until a few months ago, when he took a position with Pittsylvania County Public Safety, oversaw the agency's shift from being run exclusively by volunteers to having paid staff. With a general decline in both the number and availability of volunteers, many volunteer fire and EMS agencies like Chatham Rescue Squad have had to make difficult decisions about how to continue providing consistent, quality service.

Meet the Interns Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

Meet a few of the interns working with Pittsylvania County government this summer. Hear about the work experiences of Cora Wilson (Community Development), Eben Leigh (Public Relations), and Pranav Shah (Finance) - three of the more than 15 interns that are working across Pittsylvania County and Pittsylvania County Schools this summer. This internship program was made possible through a financial investment and the assistance of organizations like the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Pittsylvania County Schools, the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board, and Pittsylvania County Community Action.

Clerk of Court Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

Pittsylvania County Clerk of Court Mark Scarce discusses what his department handles, highlights some of the less heralded responsibilities of the clerk's office, and talks about the impacts COVID-19 had on the courthouse.

Extension Agency Jun 20, 2021

Show notes

Hear from Stephen Barts, Unit Coordinator and Extension Agent, about all things agriculture in Pittsylvania County! He explains what the extension agency is and some of the services that it provides, talks about Pittsylvania County's rich agriculture history and heritage, and discusses some current trends in agriculture, including declining production, smaller profit margins, and the uncertainty in industrial hemp.

Water and Sewer Jun 13, 2021

Show notes

Hear from Pittsylvania County Public Works Director Chris Adcock about Pittsylvania County's water and sewer services, which were previously part of the Pittsylvania County Service Authority. He talks about work to update the master plan for water and wastewater services, including a new extension policy that will guide future developments and extensions into new areas with two guiding principles: need and economics.

Social Services May 30, 2021

Show notes

Pittsylvania County Social Services Director Christopher Spain talks about some of the many services and programs that the Social Services department offers, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted how they offer some services, and encourages citizens in need to take advantage of these programs. Subsidised childcare eligibility has been expanded, and Christopher Spain encourages Pittsylvania County residents who need childcare for ages 0-5 to apply.

Gretna Fire and Rescue May 23, 2021

Show notes

Ben Meeks, Chief of Gretna Fire and Rescue, talks about how the merging of the Gretna Volunteer Fire Department and Volunteer Rescue Squad has drastically improved the performance of the two agencies. The agency now pays staff to run EMS calls and also has had significantly more success recruiting volunteers, leading the agency to have the highest call volume of any agency in the county. Take a listen for a front row view of some of the struggles and success of Pittsylvania County fire and rescue agencies.

Commonwealth's Attorney May 16, 2021

Show notes

Pittsylvania County Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Haskins talks about what his office does, the time involved in prosecuting different types of cases, and how some upcoming legislative changes will impact their office's operations.

Sheriff May 09, 2021

Show notes

Hear an engaging interview with Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor! We talk about what it was like leading his department through the past year, which included a pandemic and national reckonings about the operations and role of law enforcement.

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