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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/1/2016 - RegularMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2016, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTC0.1 MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON, VIRGINIA MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Matthew S. Hare, Vice Mayor 1. Douglas Adams, Jr. Sabrina McCarty Janet Scheid STAFF PRESENT: Barry W. Thompson, Interim Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant/Town Clerk Theresa Fontana, Town Attorney Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director Jeff Dudley, Interim Police Chief Anne Whitehurst, Accounting Manager Joey Hiner, Assistant Public Works Director The 114ayor called the Work Session to order to hear requests for funding presentations. The first presentation was for the Dogwood Festival Committee. Joey Nicely presented a breakdown of last year's budget and first commented that this will be the 61st year for the Festival. In addition to the $2,000 funding requested, the town also supports the Festival with Police Officers, Public Work4` employees and sponsors the Queen's Reception at the W,2,r Ve-itori-21. Last year they had a large partnership from four regional dealerships for the parade and for the band, Pure Prairie League. This was also the worst year ever as far as revenue received from the Festival. At this time they have a little over $6,000 in the Bank, but they are accustomed to having between $8,000-12,000. For this year's Festival, they will be using local groups that are not as expensive. Also, the amount put into the parade will depend on the funds that come in. On a slow year, they usually budget between $15,000-20,000. Entertainment will be at the Farmer's Market and they are working with the library to have something at the new facility. Mr, Nicely commented in closing that the big challenge for the next year will be the location for the carnival. Generally with the carnival, they receive on average from $15,000-20,000 in revenue. Last year, it was less than $8,000. The next funding presentation was for Mountain View Humane. Corrie Prater first commented that they are a non-profit spay and neuter clinic with two locations -one in Christiansburg and one on Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. To date between the two clinics since they opened, they have performed 42,865 surgeries. Over 14,000 were sexually mature female cats and over 8,000 were sexually mature female dogs, which statistically has prevented the births of over 400,000 puppies and kittens. They have a contract with the pound that any animal that gets adopted out of the pound comes to their facility to get fixed and the new owner picks the animal up the next day. Ms. Prater next commented that they loan traps for free to catch feral cats so they can be neutered, vaccinated and then released so they do not populate, but are healthy. They will have a grant through PetSmart in April that they can use to fix 490 feral cats for free. The euthanasia rate in Montgomery County last year was only five percent. In 2012 when the clinic was opened here, the rate at the RCACP was 60%. Between 2012 and now with a lot of changes, the assistance of their clinic and the allowance of adoptions out of the pound directly, the rate has dropped to 38%. In the five years they have been open approximately $500,000 in financial aid funding has gone out of the clinic. They are asking Council for the upcoming fiscal year for funds to allow $23 off the cost of spay and neuter surgery for any resident of tWe town. Council Member Scheid asked if they have full-tim veterinarians and Ms. Prater responded yes Recently their medical director passed awa unexpectedly, but veterinarians in the region hav stepped up to assist. They have four administrativ staff and a medical staff of 15 full-time and patrIt-tim employees. Council Member Scheid next asked how people qualify for assistance. Ms. Prate responded they use the same qualifications as th USDA does for food pantries. Mr. Thompson commented that he serves on the 9- but if we can get a list of those animals, we can pay out the $500. Council Member Scheid asked if they can use volunteers and Ms. Prater responded yes. The next funding presentation was for the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce. Angie has a partnership with East Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton to help promote as well as attract new businesses and new members. They got 60 new members this past year. They have 13 major events scheduled in addition to their membership meetings and breakfasts. The next big event is the Senior Expo on March 22 d at the War Memorial. There are usually around 3,000 that attend the event and they have 70 vendors. Last week the Chamber sponsored an event at the War Memorial of Chamber of Commerce executives with 35 present from all over the State. She also commented on the Vinton magazine, the fans and the magnets. Ms. Chewning next commented that she would like to purchase a Chamber Master's Program which is a computer software program. This program would link everything they do in the office together and would allow for more creativity. The cost is $1,500 to install and about $250 a month to keep it up. This program will also allow Chamber members to have their own website within the Chamber website. She also commented on the local restaurant menu booklet and that they have printed and distributed over 350 copies. The next item for the Work Session was a briefing on Precision Fabrics Group (PFG), Inc. Property Dedication to the Town of Vinton for Glade Creek Greenway Construction. Anita McMillan began by giving a brief history of the project. In order to provide a safer connection to the City of Roanoke's Tinker Creek Greenway, it was suggested that the greenway be extended under the City of Roanoke's Dale Avenue Bridge. This would require that it be on a portion of PFG's property. Town staff initially met with Mike Maust, the PFG Plant Manager, regarding an easement over their property. However, at a second meeting Mr. Maust indicated that rather than do an easement, that PFG would rather give the town the property,