.jpg)
Rockbridge
The new owner of the Natural Bridge Speedway, Amanda Bradley, was praised for her management of the race track last year during the Jan. 27 meeting of the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors.
“I’m amazed at all of the things that have happened [since Bradley took charge],” said Frances Ruley, a longtime supporter of the speedway. “She gives so much to the community,” she added, citing fundraising for the Glasgow Rescue Squad, gifts of supplies to students in need at Natural Bridge Elementary School and providing Christmas presents for children of incarcerated individuals.
Chris Slaydon, the county’s director of community development said Bradley “has been great to work with.” Bradley was the speedway’s manager and promoter last year and her company, Amanda Enterprises Speedway LLC, purchased the property from JCG Adventures LLC in early January.
In presenting the speedway’s annual report to the supervisors, which is a condition of the facility’s special exception permit, Bradley said she has been careful about keeping the dust down and the trash picked up after each race. The only infraction notice the speedway received during the 2024 season was for going past curfew on one occasion, Sept. 21, when a major race with a large crowd incurred a rain delay.
Natural Bridge Supervisor David Mc-Daniel said the only call he got about the speedway last year was from someone who complimented its operations.
VHC Report Received
The Virginia Horse Center is holding 90 events over the course of 49 weekends in 2025, VHC Executive Director Steve Shanks told the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27. Shanks and Sandra Thomas, VHC’s chief financial officer, were presenting the center’s annual report to the supervisors as part of an agreement with the county to receive an additional 1 percent of the lodging tax through 2029.
Shanks reported that the Anderson Arena’s parking lot is being paved this spring, thanks to a $300,000 state allocation that Del. Terry Austin was able to secure. Other capital improvements being made to VHC facilities include rejuvenation to the footing of seven rings, painting of barn roofs, installation of fans into three arenas, air-conditioning upgrades to two offices, an upgrade to the website and installation of fencing at the top of the hill. Forty golf courts and a water truck have been purchased.
Thomas said collections of lodging taxes have been sufficient to make the payments on the USDA loan. As for a loan that was taken out with CornerStone Bank, she said, projections will have to be calculated to determine whether that loan is to be paid off or refinanced.
Software Contract Approved
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 approved a contract with Tyler Technologies Inc. to provide the county with municipal software services. The software is to support the county’s financials, human resources, payroll, building and community development departments, with an option to acquire tax billing and collections at a later date.
The supervisors last March selected Tyler Technologies from five vendors that had responded to a request for proposals, authorizing County Administrator Spencer Suter to enter into negotiations with the firm.
Ranny Grubb of Virtual It Inc., the county’s consultant, said the county and school system will be on the same system and will be “well positioned to be successful.” The contract is for three years, with automatic extensions for up to seven years. An initial payment of $378,000 is due at implementation and annual fees will be $163,000, to be divided into quarterly payments.
Suter described the new software as a “sea change” for the county, which has had the same software since 1992.
