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Town Council Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
1. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and asked for a roll call.
Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye
Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye
Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye
2. Modification to Closed Session- No modifications were made.
3. The Mayor asked for a motion to enter into Closed Session to discuss the following
items:
a. VA Code 2.2-3711 (A) 1 (1 item)- Personnel Matters
i. Appointments to Boards
b. VA Code 2.2-3711 (A) 3 (1 item)- Acquisition/ Disposition of Real Property
i. SHAH Development
The motion was made by Councilwoman Cope and seconded by Councilman Clark.
Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye
Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye
Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye
The following council members and staff entered into Closed Session: Councilman Clark,
Councilwoman Cope, Vice -Mayor Dawson, Councilman Clontz, Councilman Erickson,
Councilman Burchett, Mayor Collins, Town Manager, Todd Day, Town Attorney, and
Clerk of Council Ms. Hale.
Councilman Clontz exited Closed Session before the discussion regarding SHAH
Development.
7:07 p.m.
Open Session
4. Certification of Closed Session- The Mayor asked for a motion that only the following
items were discussed in Closed Session:
a. VA Code 2.2-3.711 (A) 1 (1 item)- Personnel Matters
i. Appointments to Boards
b. VA Code 2.2-3711 (A) 3 (1 item)- Acquisition/ Disposition of Real Property
i. SHAH Development
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The motion was made by Councilman Clark and seconded by Vice -Mayor Dawson.
Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Abstained Mayor Collins- Aye
Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye
Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye
5. Councilman Erickson led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
6. Councilman Clark gave the invocation.
7. Mayor Collins welcomed all in attendance and viewing online.
8. Modification to Public Session- No modifications were made.
9. Presentations
a. 2025 Claytor Lake Sponsorship- Robbie Morris
Mr. Morris stated they are planning for the 261h annual Claytor Lake Festival at
Claytor Lake State Park on June 14'' and he is requesting a donation for the
festival from the town. He reported that nearly 11,000 people came through the
lake last year and this year's budget is $42,000 with the committee being all
volunteers, the funds that are raised go to man all the event expenses, emergency
medical, entertainment, banners, trophies, advertising, sound equipment, restroom
facilities, trash disposal, and parking attendants.
b. Friends of Peak Creek Update- Cathy Hanks
Ms. Hanks reported Friends of Peak Creek, along with other support groups, have
collected 28 tons of trash and 725 tires in the last 12 years out of the 19 Peak
Creek watershed. She also reported five water quality monitoring locations in
Peak Creek and then some tributaries, and two pollinator gardens, sponsor the
Peak Creek Restoration Plan, pay for the flood mitigation plan to help with
downtown flooding, helped with the implementation plan that helps the town up
to be eligible for 319 monies, and hold outreach programs. Along with the town
and county's support, Friends of Peak Creek works with nonprofits like the Calfee
Community and Cultural Center, the Fine Arts Center, the Radcliffe Museum, and
other like-minded organizations in the area. Ms. Hanks mentioned events
throughout the next few months including clean-ups and Family Fun Day.
10. Certificates of Appreciation
Nate Repass, Outdoor Facilities Coordinator, introduced the organization doing
community cleanup. In the six days, the AmeriCorps River Team 5 group removed 82
bags, or 2.4 tons of litter and 48 tires from the Peak Creek Watershed, planted 35 trees in
that Pulaski Bike Park, spread mulch at the Ratcliffe Transportation Museum, built bird
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houses for the Friends of Peak Creek bluebird trail, performed a deep clean of the train
station, retrieved a Bike Park feature that washed away during the recent flooding and
helped set up for multiple community events. The team will finish their month working
on the Draper Mountain Trails, litter cleanup in the New River, and the Friends of Peak
Creek annual cleanup on April 5`". Mr. Repass also thanked local non-profit
organizations and individuals; Friends of Peak Creek, New River Conservancy, Pulaski
County Emergency Management, Aldersgate Methodist Church, Terri Sternberg, Laura
Walters, and Brad Wright.
Councilman Burchett gave a brief history of Peak Creek, how far it stretches through the
area, the way the creek was impacted by the industrial era of the town, and the
recreational use and the joys of having the creek, stating it is the lifeblood of the town.
He encouraged listeners to view the Friends of Peak Creek website and see how far the
resources and efforts have come for cleanup in the watershed. He recognized, on behalf
of the Council, the Watershed Restoration Solutions with their work in writing grant
applications which assisted in planting trees in the Bike Park.
Mayor Collins presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Watershed Restoration
Solutions.
Councilman Burchett, on behalf of the Council, recognized Cathy Hanks for her roles
with Friends of Peak Creek and the New River Conservancy.
Mayor Collins presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Cathy Hanks.
Lastly, Councilman Burchett, on behalf of the Council, recognized the AmeriCorps River
Team 5 for their work to clean and beautify the area over the last few weeks.
Mayor Collins presented a Certificate of Appreciation to AmeriCorps River Team 5.
11. Discussion
a. SB1476/HB2745 Vacant and Blighted or Derelict Property Bill
Manager Day reported Senate Bill 1476 and House Bill 2745 recently passed. It
was put into place because of a college that burnt in Southwest Virginia that was
derelict and cosmetically unattractive in the community, but the bill allows every
locality or jurisdiction in the Commonwealth to take advantage of it. The property
has to be vacant for at least five years, has to be in a blighted condition, and
delinquent on taxes and will help clean up the community.
12. Public Comment Period- No speakers were present.
13. Consent Agenda
a. Consideration of March 12, 2025 Town Council Budget Work Session Minutes
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The motion was made by Councilman Clark and seconded by Councilwoman
Cope to adopt the minutes as written.
Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Abstained Mayor Collins- Aye
Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye
Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye
b. Consideration of March 18, 2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes
The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilman
Clark to adopt the minutes as written.
Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye
Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye
Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Nay
Councilman Burchett stated he would like to comment regarding the published
minutes, that they did not accurately reflect all of his comments as to why he
opposed the rental agreement for the town train station. His objective and reason
for not supporting it, as it was written, was because he did not feel like it was
ethical for him, as a voting member of the Town Council, to vote to give himself a
benefit that other citizens couldn't get. He has no problem with town employees
getting it at a reduced rate but the people that have to approve that, he believes,
should not be included in that, that includes the Mayor and the Council, that it just
didn't feel right. As that was not included in the minutes, he voted to not approve
the March 18, 2025 minutes but if comments could be added, he would approve
them.
Vice -Mayor Dawson commented the minutes can only include what was verbally
said at the meeting itself, so it can be updated to the recording of what was
verbally said.
Manager Day stated we would go back a review the meeting but Councilman
Burchett's vote to not approve the employee discounted rental rate could not be
changed but he could inform the public, which he has already done with his
comments.
14. Council Comments & Board Updates
Councilman Clark reported the 9-1-1 Communications Center had an update to their
technology today, all calls were routed to the City of Radford for about 45 minutes while
our center updated all of their technology. Everything went well and a new CAD system
is under review, which is great.
Manager Day commented that they did a great job communicating that update.
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Councilwoman Cope reported Councilman Erickson and herself attended a special
meeting for the Virginia's First Regional Industrial Authority and while there was news
that she could not report on as of right now, she stated exiting things are coming.
Councilman Clark asked if we could find out if the Claytor Lake Festival would be
running a shuttle from Wal-Mart into the park festival.
Vice -Mayor Dawson asked about the work being done at the creek beside the train
station.
Manager Day reported they are clearing the road shoulder on Dora Highway.
Vice -Mayor Dawson reminded listeners of the Easter Egg Hunt on April 121h from 11
a.m. to 1 p.m. and that it's always a big event with a ton of folks and he appreciates all
the organizations and people involved in that. He asked if the blighted property bill had
been signed into law.
Manager Day reported it has been passed but it won't go into effect until July 1, 2025,
and Shannon Ainsley is already on it with 46 homes to evaluate to meet the criteria.
Lastly, Vice -Mayor Dawson wanted to voice his financial support for the Claytor Lake
Festival and agreed that the festival is more than worthy from a community standpoint.
Councilman Erickson asked when the Council would vote for the donation to support the
Claytor Lake Festival.
Manager Day stated there is a list of projects that Council has supported in the past and
the festival is one of them and it'll be discussed in the next budget meeting work session.
Mayor Collins reported on the new sports plex for Pulaski County, that it will be a nice
facility to have within our county. He also the Main Street project is going well and
moving along and looking good.
15. Manager's Report
Manager Day reported on the ground -breaking ceremony for the county's sports plex,
stating it is an amazing project and he will be bringing a resolution of support for that
project to Council for consideration in the future.
16. Reminder of Future Council Meeting
a. April 15, 2025, Closed Session 6:00 p.m., Open Session 7:00 p.ni.
17. With no further business, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
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