Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-25Town Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2025 1. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 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. Councilman Clontz led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Councilman Clark gave the invocation. 4. The Mayor welcomed all in attendance and viewing online. 5. Modification to Public Session- The Mayor asked for a motion to remove discussion item B. I. from the agenda as the ordinance was adopted on December 17, 2024. The motion was made by Councilman Clontz and seconded by Councilman Clark to remove Discussion item B. I. from the agenda. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Sunshine Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye 6. Presentations a. Police Department Certificates of Appreciation- (A) Chief M. Parmelee Manager Day introduced Mike Parmelee as the Acting Chief of Police and stated he was excited to work together which has empowered him totally to carry out the Chief s position. The Mayor read the Certificates of Appreciation. Interim Chief M. Parmelee presented the awards to Major M. Hudson, Investigator S. McMillan, Lieutenant T. Croteau, Lieutenant J. Brown, and Officer J. Lucas. (A) Chief Parmelee reported Officer Lucas was on routine patrol and observed the structure fire from the balcony of the apartment building and called it into dispatch. All recognized officers entered the building and cleared all three floors. Once the building was engulfed with black smoke, Major Hudson evacuated all the officers and notified the Fire Department that the third floor had not been completely cleared. Page 1 of 8/ June 3, 2025 Manager Day thanked all the officers involved for their contribution and bravery. b. Health Department Award- Lisa Crabtree & David Dawson Mr. Dawson reported on Virginia's Optimization Program stating it was established to increase protection of public health and work with drinking water systems to help them provide performance that exceeds what's required. He reported there are three goals; filtration, filter backwash and how the filters are backwashed in return to service, and clarification, removing sediment particles from the water before it goes into the filter. In 2024 the town performance earned the silver award for filtration and backwashing. Ms. Crabtree reported the town is under a consent order over disinfection byproducts, which is where all the organics are not removed from the water and chlorine has to be added but the health department and the town are developing goals for distribution, which includes the new water tanks on Brookmont. Councilman Burchett asked if the town uses fluoride. Mr. Dawson stated there's not a requirement to fluoridate, it's a local determination and the Town of Pulaski does not use fluoride. Josh Tickle, Brandon Vaught, and Alex Roope accepted the 2024 Silver Award for Water Treatment Plant Performance for Excellence in Filtration and Backwash. c. 177 Property Discussions- Austin Painter Mr. Painter reported the town sent out letters to surrounding neighbors on the 177 acres inviting them to schedule an appointment to come to the office to ask any questions they may have regarding the new development. He reported they have heard some feedback of things the neighbors would like to see with security and clear boundaries between their property and the development but overall, the residents who came to came to speak with the Engineering Department gave an overwhelming amount of support. Vice -Mayor Dawson thanked Mr. Painter for the work he has been doing for the project and stated the town should do everything it can to work with the encroachment issues the best we can. Manager Day stated the town is trying to move forward as fast as it can and make good decisions on behalf of the citizens that live there. d. Project Realization Update- Shannon Ainsley Page 2 of 8/ June 3. ?025 1 1 Ms. Ainsley reported the properties that have been chosen for this project have been vacant for several years and meet the state's code definition of blight. She reported the project will begin on South Madison. South Madison was chosen as there's a lot happening there, with past and future projects, private investments, and condemned houses which makes for a lot of opportunities in that area that can enhance the community's morale and potentially increase property values. Vice -Mayor Dawson asked if this would be a continuation of the ARS program. Manager Day reported the properties the town is looking at, there are several different routes that could be taken and there will be recommendations on how to do those homes coming to Council in the next couple of weeks. Councilman Burchett stated he had seen some activity at the Barker Dodge property on Route 11 and asked if the town was involved in that cleanup or if it was the property owner. Ms. Ainsley stated there is some cleanup, which would probably be improvements to help the property sale. Marty Dowdy reported there were some unwelcome guests near 2nd Street SE and asked that something be done to contact the property owner. e. Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, 7 Cleanup Grant Competition - Shannon Ainsley Ms. Ainsley reported the town has received a $500,000 EPA Brownsfield grant which will help the town evaluate potential contaminates on vacant and underused properties and support efforts to pursue more sustainable redevelopment opportunities for properties. 7. Public Hearing Voting Items (Public Hearing was held on May 6, 2025) a. Resolution 2025-20 Adopting a Budget Establishing Appropriations for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2025 and Ending June 30, 2026. The motion was made by Councilman Clontz and seconded by Councilman Clark to adopt the resolution as written. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye b. Resolution 2025-21 Resolution Adopting Water Rates for FY 2025-2026 Page 3 of 8/ June 3, 2025 The motion was made by Councilman Clontz and seconded by Councilwoman Cope to adopt the resolution 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- Aye c. Resolution 2025-22 Resolution Adopting Sewer Rates for FY 2025-2026 The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilman Clark to adopt the resolution 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- Aye 8. Other Voting Items a. Resolution 2025-23 Honoring Police Chief, Samuel J. Shumate Upon His Retirement from the Town of Pulaski Police Department Mayor Collins read the resolution. The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilwoman Cope to adopt the resolution 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- Aye 9. Discussions a. Norfolk Southern Quiet Zone Agreement- Manager Day Manager Day reported he had a request from a business to consider submitting a request or application to Norfolk Southern if the Council desires, to make the railroad crossings a quiet zone. Mayor Collins asked if it would be a specific period. Manager Day stated it's variable, and the decision is up to Council but it could be discussed during a work session at a later time. Vice -Mayor Dawson asked for more data and research to be done if there were issues at the intersections in the past and also allow the public to weigh in on the conversation. Page 4 of 8/ June 3, 2025 Councilman Burchett stated he would be interested to know if the town would incur liability if there was an accident and if we had an ordinance or an agreement on the books. b. Peak Creek Energy Storage- Scot Farthing i. Ordinance 2025-02 was removed from the agenda. ii. Energy Storage Facility Siting Agreement Mr. Farthing stated before the siting agreement can be voted on, it must go to an open hearing and introduced Brian Quinlan of Peak Creek Energy. Mr. Farthing reported in December of 2024 the Planning Commission recommended and the Town Council adopted or granted a special use permit for Peak Creek Energy to install a battery storage facility, which is used to store energy and sell to Appalachian Power, some other power provider, and the special use permit has several conditions, that are outlined in the special use permit, that the company is suppose to meet as they develop their project. One condition is the company and the town enter into a siting agreement, which has been negotiated between town staff, the company, Manager Day, Mr. Quinlan, his associates, and Mr. Farthing. The siting agreement has a number of conditions, one being that it makes capital payments from the company to the town, which can be used for anything in their capital improvements program, the town will also collect personal property and real estate taxes and a revenue tax can also be adopted. The agreement is not a commitment from the company to develop the project, but if they go forward with the project, the signing agreement requires they begin making these payments, which are spread out over 10 years, and the company must comply with all regulations that apply to such facilities and decommissioning. The special use permit requires a secure bond to cover that expense in the case the company or operator at that time disappears, then there's a bond covering that decommissioning process. Councilman Burchett stated he wants to make sure the verbiage in the agreement is sufficient to protect the people of the town if there is a fire, or if the project is decommissioned. Mr. Farthing stated the security bond means that there is an evaluation done by a third party as to what it will cost to take this project down and remove it, which is reviewed every five years, and in the special use permit if they don't have the bond, the town can revoke the special use permit. Page 5 of 8/ June 3, 2025 Councilwoman Cope asked if the Fire Department needed anything additional if something catastrophic happened. Mr. Quinlan stated there will be a plan in place but essentially, battery fires will burn themselves out but these battery cells are constantly monitored. Vice -Mayor Dawson asked if information on the revenue share tax would be available for the Public Hearing. Mr. Farthing stated probably not, but it would be a separate ordinance the town passes if it is chosen to do so, to have a revenue tax that would apply to the battery facility. Councilman Clark asked what capital improvement projects can be funded through this revenue. Mr. Farthing stated the funds could be used like any other tax dollars, it can be applied to the water tank or system. Councilman Erickson asked if this was a leadup to a solar farm. Mr. Farthing stated it is not a solar project, that there is not enough room on the property, and that their goal is battery storage. Councilman Erickson asked what the goal of this project was. Mr. Quinlan stated the battery is an instantaneous response if there is any kind of anomaly in the grid. If there's excess power on the grid, it will charge the battery, if there's power needed on the grid, it'll discharge from the battery. There are big manufacturing facilities around the area and it helps with all the swings that happen on the system. Councilman Erickson asked who owns the land. Mr. Farthing stated the company has an option to purchase or lease the land and it is not town -owned property. Rickey Flinchum asked if the stored energy would be going to the county or staying in the town. Mr. Farthing stated it goes back to AEP, when AEP needs power they will draw power from the batteries. Page 6 of 8/ June 3. 2025 1 n 1 The motion was made by Councilman Clark and seconded by Councilwoman Cope to move the discussion item to a Public Hearing on June 17, 2025. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye 10. Public Comment Period G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye William Paine invited listeners to the eighth annual Gusto with GRAPeJAM event on Saturday, June 14th at the Rock House Marina. It's a 2.4-mile paddleboard and kayak race the race begins at 9:30 and the registration is $25. The race benefits the Greater Pulaski Junior Appalachian Musicians. 11. Consent Agenda a. Consideration of May 20, 2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes The motion was made by Councilwoman Cope 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- Aye 12. Council Comments & Board Updates Vice -Mayor Dawson stated at the most recent NRV Regional Commission meeting there was a presentation done by the Community Foundation of New River Valley that spoke on what they did in the town of Blacksburg to increase the accessibility of daycare. In their program, they took facilities within the town and optimized them through a program that increased the training to allow for more staff members, which would allow more kids, and asked for town staff to look into that program. He stated Main Street is looking good as the old light poles have been removed and it opens up the space since the trees were removed. He also asked for a discussion on the next agenda for possible parking on First Street with the new developments happening there. Councilman Burchett stated he's been asked what the timeline for Main Street is. Mr. Painter stated there was a delay in the project due to weather and he has a meeting with the contractor and engineer later in the week to discuss the impacts of the schedule but it is looking at a substantial completion in the next month. Councilman Burchett also asked when the brewery will be completed. Page 7 of 8/ June 3, 2025 Manager Day stated the completion date seems to be moving, but it is projected to be completed at the end of July or in August. Mayor Collins asked that we put signage out at the parking lot behind the theater indicating that the lot is for Main Street parking and fix the blocks that have been damaged at the lot. He also asked if the stop signs at the four-way stops could have lights or something to catch drivers' attention. 13. Manager's Report Manager Day reported the splash pad would be opening on Friday, June 6cn Rickey Flinchum asked that the leak on Dora Hwy be checked. 14. Reminder of Future Council Meeting a. June 17, 2025; Closed Session 6:00 p.m., Open Session 7:00 p.m. 15. With no further business, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. 1 AT ST Olivia ._Hale Clerk of Council 1 kof IA W. Shannon Collins Mayor Page 8 of 8/ June 3, 2025