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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-08-14Minutes of the Called Town Council meeting held Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the CouncT Chambers of the Municipal Building: There were present: Mayor: Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, James A. Radcliffe, Lane R. Penn Absent: Heather L. Steele Staff: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney David Quesenberry, Asst. to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer John White, Economic Development Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Anthony C. Meredith, Lieutenant Pam Witten, Finance Director Others: Roger L. Stilwell Ann Dowdy Joseph Goodman Betty T. Quesenberry Vickie Houk Marie Hager Ron Hall Morgan Welker Sandra Hillyer Charles Bopp Roz Meredith Debbie Linkous Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Marty Dowdy Thom Rutledge Gary Redd Janet Golden Robert Bopp Calvin Pynn, Press Councilman Kidd led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman Clark gave the Invocation. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the visitors to the meeting. He advised that the first item on the agenda was Presentations. Mayor Worrell advised that the Town had received a 2014 Achievement award from the Virginia Municipal League for populations 5,000 to 10,000 in size. He added that the Town received the award for planning, rebuilding, curating and reopening the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Transportation Museum. He showed the award to all present. He thanked the previous and present Town Council's that supported the project. He thanked the staff for their countless hours making it a reality. The next item on the agenda was Public Hearings. The first Public Hearing was regarding a proposed 1-year option agreement regarding the Dalton Building. Mr. Utt advised that a company wished to enter into an option agreement with the Town of Pulaski for the Dalton Building. He continued that a draft option agreement had been included in the Council packet. He added that the proposed uses included a first floor restaurant and other commercial uses on the upper two floors. He advised that the proposed option agreement was to allow the company time to compile a bona fide business plan for the development. He noted that the price offered for the building was approximately $30,000 more than what. the Town had invested in the building. He added that the Hearing had been advertised as required. Page 1 of 5/October 8, 2014 nnayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 p.m. Debbie Linkous inquired what company was interested. Mr. Utt apologized for not stating the name in his summary and informed her that the company was SHAH Development. He added that they owned the building adjacent to the Town Municipal Building and included some investors from the Shelor Motor Mite group. There being no other comments, the Hearing was closed at 7:05 p.m. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to enter into a real estate option agreement with SHAH Development to commence on October 9, 2014 and end on October 8, 2015. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to the Public Hearing regarding the proposed disposition of alleys adjacent to 68 First Street, NW. r~ LJ Mr. Utt advised that there were two alley ways that surrounded the Dunnivant building at 68 First Street, NW. One was a fifteen foot alley between the building and Peak Creek. The other was a twenty foot alley extending from First Street to Peak Creek between the Dunnivant building and the former Virginia Wood Products building. The new owners of the Dunnivant building wanted to purchase the twenty foot alley to be used for parking and access and the fifteen foot alley to be used for mechanical equipment and possibly a rear patio/porch. He advised that the alleys dated back to 1891. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:10 p.m. From the public, Ron Hall addressed Council speaking in favor of the sale of the twenty foot alley but against the fifteen foot alley in the back of the building. He opined that the ad for the Public Hearing regarding the fifteen foot alley was worded incorrectly as it used the word "approximately" fifteen feet wide and that the alley paralleled the wall from the Creek. He advised that his research showed the alley to be fifteen feet wide, not "approximately" fifteen feet wide. He added that his research proved the alley way included the Creek wall. He advised that he did not mind if the Town sold that alley way as long as everyone knew that the sale included the Creek wall. He suggested some options rather than selling the fifteen foot alley. There being no further comments, Mayor Worrell closed the Public Hearing at 7:13 p.m. Following discussion, it was decided to allow staff to continue to research this item and present the information at the October 21St, Work Session. The next item on the agenda was the Public Comment period. Roger Stillwell presented a list of recommendations and improvements that he felt would improve Gatewood Reservoir and Campground. He noted that he had been camping for thirty five years in different areas and for the last three years at Gatewood. He expanded on the list for Council. Next, Debbie Linkous presented 1600 signatures on a petition stating that Gatewood Reservoir should never be leased, sold or privatized at any time. She requested that a pool be added in the campground area; that the playground be updated and that waterfront handicap accessibility be added. She added that "this Park is our greatest asset and should be protected and remain a public park for all future generations to come and enjoy, never to be tampered with in any way that would spoil its tranquility and natural pristine beauty." She Page 2 of 5/October 8, 2014 requested that all upgrades be made by the 2016 camping season. She emphasized that the pool would cl`dep the children happy and they would "pester" their parents to bring them back. She suggested two companies that had pool specials all the time and that it would not cost very much to install a pool. She opined that you have to offer more in order to make money at the Park. Mayor Worrell thanked Ms. Linkous for her comments. He advised that copies of the petition would be made and given to Council. He noted that no decisions had been made in regard to Gatewood. Council had simply had a brainstorming session to discuss Gatewood. Next, Charles Bopp addressed Council regarding Loving Field. He provided a history of Loving Field from June 14, 1944 to December 31, 1959. He opined that there were some irregularities in the way the Town acquired the land. He asked Council to consider selling the land back to the Bopp farm so that it could go back into an agricultural use. He suggested the purchase price of $53,311.79 using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation calculator for what it sold for in 1959. Mayor Worrell advised that it would be next year before any action would need to be taken on the Loving Field property, so Council had time to review the information. Next, Marie Hager addressed Council regarding the use of the former "Share Building" at 249 Dora Highway, which was across from her mother's property. She advised that another food distribution center had moved into the location. She advised that she had not been able to ascertain what the name of the business was and inquired into the name of the business. She advised that she had heard that the current renter wished to make the building into a center for the homeless and drug addicts. She added that she went to the building and spoke to Mr. Blankenship and asked him if that was accurate. She stated that he confirmed her information. She advised that the site was a school bus stop and that children lived all over the neighborhood in close proximity to the property. She added that there was a day care approximately seventy-five yards away. She complained of parking issues in the area and advised that the people even sat in her mother's front yard while waiting. She presented Council with a book of pictures of the area to review. She opined that this location was not appropriate for the use and asked Council not to allow it. Mayor Worrell thanked Ms. Hager for her comments and advised that staff would review the information. He also advised that under current zoning, a homeless shelter was not permitted. Next, Gary Redd addressed Council regarding his water bill and how water bills were handled. He advised that approximately two months ago he went in to pay his water bill. He asked whether he could pay half his bill at that time and the remaining half the following month. He advised that the Clerk said that he could. He continued that approximately a week and a half later, his water was cut off. He went to the Finance Department and despite having been told he could split the payment, he had to pay a $40 re-connection fee as well as his bill. He continued that the next month he misplaced his water bill and his water was cut off again. When he went to cut the water back on, he was told he would have to pay $200. He was told that included a $60 fee for a deposit as well as a deposit on the trash bill of $9, a $40 re-connection fee and the bill for water usage. He advised that he did not think this was a fair policy. He did not feel that he should have had to pay the first re-connection fee as he had been told he could split paying his bill. Nor did he feel he should have had to pay the deposit on the water and on the trash for the second bill when he had been living in the house for forty years. Mayor Worrell advised that this might be an issue that Council would need to revisit, but he asked Mr. Utt to review this situation. Mr. Utt advised that he met with Mr. Redd and encouraged him to come to the Council meeting. He explained that it had been the policy in the Finance Department that when the water is disconnected the first time, the person pays the re-connection fee of $40. If the water is disconnected a second time, the Department researches what the original deposit amount was and subtracts that amount from the current deposit fee and Page 3 of 5/October 8, 2014 charges the citizen the difference. In this case, that difference was $60. He suggested that Council might want to review the practice and discuss it. Mayor Worrell asked that this item be added to the next Council Work Session agenda Next, Sandra Hillyer addressed Council regarding water bills. She advised that she owned the Town Center Apartments on Third Street. She added that she was one of the few apartment buildings in the Town that had water meters. She advised that the fees to turn on water were hurting her ability to rent her apartments. She asked Council for some help in this area. Mayor Worrell thanked everyone one who addressed Council. The next item for consideration was the Consent Agenda. Councilman East moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the minutes of the September 2"d and 9th, 2014 Council meeting. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to Project Update. Mr. Utt advised that the updated Project Review Chart had been included in the packet for Council's review. He asked if Council had any questions that he might answer. Councilman East inquired whether the Gatewood water system on the list was going to be implemented? Mr. Utt responded that staff would like to update the filtering device, however, other projects had taken precedence. He added that staff could research the steps and the cost involved if this project were to go forward. Councilman East advised that this subject could just be part of the discussion of the soon to be appointed Gatewood committee. Councilman East inquired when the updated Comprehensive Plan would be ready for Council review? Mr. Utt hoped to have it ready for review by the first of the year. Mayor Worrell moved on to Old Business. The first item was Resolution2014-33. Mayor Worrell advised this completed action of Council. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2014-33, Returning TEA-21 Grant Funds Reserved for the Iron Bridge Trail Project to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next'.item was Resolution 2014-34. Mayor Worrell advised this completed action of Council. Page 4 of 5/October 8, 2014 Councilman East moved to adopt Resolution 2014-34, Authorizing Submission of an Application to the Governor's Industrial Revitalization Fund for the New River Valley Fine Arts Center as written. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business with the first item being County Tobacco Tax Resolution of Support. He advised that the County Board of Supervisors was submitting an official request to the General Assembly to request authorization to implement a cigarette tax. He added that they were requesting the Town Council's support of their efforts. Mr. Utt added that since neither the County nor the Town of Dublin have a tobacco tax, the Town of Pulaski is put at a disadvantage as tobacco costs more in the Town limits as a result of our own tax. He recommended adoption of the Resolution. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2014-35, Requesting General Assembly Authorization To Implement A Local Tax On Cigarettes In The Unincorporated Portions Of Pulaski County, Virginia. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye At 7:50 p.m., Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1 ), Discussion for consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of public officers, appointees or employees regarding Town Manager evaluation and Friends of Calfee Park. Additionally, under item (A-3), Discussion for consideration of the disposition or acquisition of publicly held property regarding Loving Field and (A-7), Consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff for discussion of specific legal matters and matters subject to probable litigation regarding bank franchise tax. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye At 8:25 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clark and so carried. Approved: y S. Worrell, Mayor Page 5 of 5/October 8, 2014