A resident urged members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors to adopt a countywide policy to set limits on the amount that can be expended for lodging, food and incidentals when traveling on county business.

Citing the closures of two banks, the hospital and a flooring plant, Danny Wood said the county likely will face the worst budget year ever in fiscal 2018-19.

Wood said he checked for a county policy and found none.

However, the Virginia State Board of Education has a policy to govern expenses when traveling, Wood said, and noted the more than $224 meal cost for two school board members who traveled to Richmond last summer.

“Part of the explanation was they had to eat in the hotel because of safety” concerns, Wood said. He was referring to a comment made by Kandi Burnett, who said her meal was among those listed on the receipt.

Wood urged the board on Nov. 20 to use the expense limits provided by the U.S. General Services Administration when crafting the new policy. He also asked the board to adjust the limits downward due to the financial state of the county.

Supervisors responding to Wood said they did not believe the school board would be required to adhere to a county policy. However, supervisors asked for a draft policy to be presented to them at their December meeting.

In other matters:

*Asked Tony Raymond, with Air Methods, to add certain items to the company’s proposed contract with the county for clarification purposes.

*Determined to submit an easement addition to the Patrick County Recreation Board for input before taking action on the proposal.

*Met in closed session to discuss Pioneer Community Hospital of Patrick, personnel, legal, contract and real estate matters.

The Patrick County Economic Development Authority met jointly with the county during the closed session discussion of the hospital.