Community Facilities and Public Services

Emergency Management

Goal 1: Provide emergency services and disaster preparedness to prevent loss of life and loss of property.

Objective 1.1: Achieve lower Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings in the County.

  • Policy 1.1.1: The Emergency Management Coordinator shall continue to maintain a complete and current evaluation of fire stations and fire protection services.
  • Policy 1.1.2: Support and facilitate a comprehensive training program for all fire response teams.
  • Policy 1.1.3: Evaluate staffing resources and consider employing a full time Fire Marshall.
  • Policy 1.1.4: Continue to improve emergency response time and recovery services.

Objective 1.2: Ensure that emergency service agencies and community partners are well prepared, equipped and organized to meet the County's emergency response needs.

  • Policy 1.2.1: Evaluate and fund equipment replacement program.
  • Policy 1.2.2: Support efforts that continue the close collaboration between Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Fire Departments.
  • Policy 1.2.3: Implement the recommendations of the adopted Hazard Mitigation Plan. Continue emergency preparedness programs and continue efforts to mitigate common hazards such as flooding, power outage, and wildfire events.
  • Policy 1.2.4: Encourage businesses, residences and community organizations to coordinate with the Emergency Management Department to prepare for natural disasters and emergencies.
  • Policy 1.2.5: Explore options to provide more capacity for the Joint 911 Call Center. Ensure that this service continues to meet the community demands.
  • Policy 1.2.6: Increase the recruitment of volunteer firefighters by marketing and highlighting this need across the county.
  • Policy 1.2.7: Attract new volunteers by offering training opportunities in entry-level firefighting and EMS. Consider adding Firefighter 1 and/or EMT Training as part of the High School CTE Program and partner with New River Community College to provide this training as a qualified course elective or certificate program.
  • Policy 1.2.8: Retain skilled volunteers by offering benefits, advance skills training, leadership, management training and by offering other incentives to volunteer.
  • Policy 1.2.9: Explore innovative approaches to establish more efficient use of EMT resources such as; Community Para-medicine program, Emergency Medical Dispatch program and/or other opportunities to respond to those incidents which are not life threatening. Utilize the advanced life support services for life threatening incidents.
  • Policy 1.2.10: Develop integrated emergency response that address improving communication and coordination between agencies (Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services and Virginia Department of Transportation)

Community Facilities and Public Services

Public Safety

Goal: Promote a safe community for all residents and businesses.

Objective 1.1: Maintain and enhance the high-quality services provided by the Pulaski County Sheriff ’s office.

  • Policy 1.1.1: Identify and prioritize projects in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to improve and maintain the Sheriff’s office facilities and equipment. Address issues that affect safety, efficiency and response times.
  • Policy 1.1.2: Evaluate and identify the need for additional workspace and equipment storage.
  • Policy 1.1.3: Continue to build and strengthen relationships with the community through innovative programs and through events that provide informal interactions.
  • Policy 1.1.4: Allocate adequate funds to increase safety and training programs for law enforcement personnel.
  • Policy 1.1.5: Hire additional officers to address the increasing demand for public safety service.
  • Policy 1.1.6: Offer training in advanced technologies, policing techniques and equipment to both new and veteran personnel. Consider incentives to retain veteran officers.
  • Policy 1.1.7: Continue coordination of public safety services with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with police agencies in other jurisdictions.
  • Policy 1.1.8: Encourage partnerships with the private sector, community groups, local government and law enforcement agencies to share information and ensure safety.
  • Policy 1.1.9: Prevent and reduce crime in all communities of the county. Consider innovative new programs to prevent crime and address high risk lifestyle factors. Coordinate with partner organizations to address mental illness, substance abuse and other factors that lead to crime.
  • Policy 1.1.10: Support the efforts of the Pulaski County Animal Control Division and the Pulaski County Humane society. Promote pet adoption efforts and public education on animal welfare, while ensuring that the highest level of care is given to the animals at the shelter.

Community Facilities and Public Services

Education

Goal 1: Ensure all students receive equal access to high quality educational experiences, resources and opportunities to achieve success.

Objective 1.1: Provide public education that supports all aspects of student needs and delivers high success rates.

  • Policy 1.1.1: Identify, create or improve programs and activities that increase achievement test scores.
  • Policy 1.1.2: Encourage students to participate and achieve in academic contests, honors, SAT testing, merit scholar programs, and other academic programs.
  • Policy 1.1.3: Continue to set high academic standards for both college preparatory and vocational programs of study.
  • Policy 1.1.4: Increase graduation rates by continuing intervention programs for at-risk students.
  • Policy 1.1.5: Continue collaboration and support between teachers, administrators and parents for student’s growth in performance.
  • Policy 1.1.6: Recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.
  • Policy 1.1.7: Continue to support educators and staff.
  • Policy 1.1.8: Continue to maintain student/teacher ratios that yield high success rates.
  • Policy 1.1.9: Encourage students to participate in after-school programs to increase personal and educational achievement.
  • Policy 1.1.10: Continue to support Access to Community College Education Program (ACCE) to build a better educated and skilled workforce in Pulaski County.
  • Policy 1.1.11: Encourage participation in the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School Program.

Objective 1.2: Promote education to meet social and economic needs, ensure community competitiveness, and continue lifelong learning.

  • Policy 1.2.1: Develop relationships with businesses and community organizations to identify part-time and summer jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities for students to help build technical and interpersonal skills.
  • Policy 1.2.2: Support educational programs that prepare the workforce with identified skillsets that match local job opportunities.
  • Policy 1.2.3: Partner with the Pulaski County School Board, New River Community College and area universities to produce graduates in our community that are well educated and highly skilled.
  • Policy 1.2.4: Partner with economic development agencies to identify and develop special re-training and adult education programs to increase job retention or transition into new and lucrative industries.
  • Policy 1.2.5: Provide high quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to prepare students for careers and post-secondary education/training.
  • Policy 1.2.6: Utilize school facilities and grounds for vocational, recreational and adult education programs, and cultural events.
  • Policy 1.2.7: Work with the Pulaski County School Board to address capital needs that support the maintenance and upgrade of school infrastructure.
  • Policy 1.2.8: Develop a timeline and funding plan to implement the School Board Capital Improvements Plan.
  • Policy 1.2.9: Enhance security in schools by implementing the security recommendations issued by the Virginia State Police.
  • Policy 1.2.10: Continue the cooperative efforts between the School Board and New River Community College to offer the Dual Enrollment program.

Community Facilities and Public Services

Library

Goal: Strive to be a destination within the community and a resource for education, recreation and information needs.

Objective 1.1: Maintain and improve library services to maintain a strong user base and increase use across the county.

  • Policy 1.1.1: Partner with the Pulaski County Library to implement the goals and strategies outlined in the Pulaski County Library System Strategic Plan.
  • Policy 1.1.2: Establish a task force comprised of key stakeholders to examine the space limitations of the current library buildings and evaluate the options to address this need for additional space.
  • Policy 1.1.3: Encourage Pulaski County residents of all ages to use the library system. Foster a life-long appreciation for reading and achieving personal education goals.
  • Policy 1.1.4: Support arts and literature by exhibiting local artists, authors, and musicians at the Public libraries.

Community Facilities and Public Services

Social Services

Goal: Enhance and maintain a healthy community by providing human services that meet critical needs and by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles.

Objective 1.1: Invest in youth and support those services that promote healthy children.

  • Policy 1.1.1: Ensure low-income families have access to childcare programs.
  • Policy 1.1.2: Expand and improve the quantity and quality of early childhood programs.
  • Policy 1.1.3: Continue efforts around the Foster Care Program and Adoption Program.
  • Policy 1.1.4: Promote healthy lifestyle & healthy choice initiatives to assist children/help break the cycle of poverty.

Objective 1.2: Maintain and develop new programs for at-risk populations.

  • Policy 1.2.1: Develop an action plan that addresses current and future human service needs for at-risk populations such as the elderly and those with mental or behavioral challenges.
  • Policy 1.2.2: Assess potential problems and, develop strategies for early intervention to prevent crisis and costly interventions.
  • Policy 1.2.3: Continue funding programs that provide access to healthcare services.
  • Policy 1.2.4: Work with partners to expand social support and home care services.
  • Policy 1.2.5: Coordinate with community groups to develop programs that enhance social interaction and recreation opportunities for elderly and citizens with social needs.

Objective 1.3: Maintain and build the organizational capacity of the Department of Social Services to enable program delivery and to ensure the future success of the department.

  • Policy 1.3.1: Continue job fairs and recruitment efforts to attract workforce needs of the department.
  • Policy 1.3.2: Support a fun, innovative and first-class work environment to retain and attract talent. Maintain the wise fiscal management of department funds and consider future increase of salaries to retain staff.
  • Policy 1.3.3: Maintain the wise fiscal management of department funds and consider future increase of salaries to retain staff.
  • Policy 1.3.4: Celebrate the positive impact that the social services has on the community, such as the residual economic impact of fund disbursement, case scenarios that document success stories and examples of personal positive change that resulted from the departments work.

Objective 1.4: Partner with non-profit and faith-based organizations, government entities, private organizations, and community members to align efforts, improve services and leverage funds.

  • Policy 1.4.1: Support community-based initiatives that build healthy lifestyles and communities. Examples include the Calfee Training School and other opportunities that foster self-reliance, leadership skills, respect for diversity, integrity and person responsibility.
  • Policy 1.4.2: Continue close collaboration with mental and behavioral health support service providers.
  • Policy 1.4.3: Coordinate with the Sheriff Department in crime prevention by engaging with at risk communities through outreach and community programs.
  • Policy 1.4.4: Partner with workforce development and the economic development office to expand workforce opportunities for those in need.
  • Policy 1.4.5: Continue strong partnerships with the Agency on Aging and other organizations that support the elderly.
  • Policy 1.4.6: Partner with the public and private sector to develop safe and stable childcare options.