Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/2/2025 - Regular1 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON, VIRGINIA MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Laurie J. Mullins, Vice Mayor Keith N. Liles Michael W. Stovall MEMBERS ABSENT: Sabrina M. McCarty STAFF PRESENT: Richard Peters, Town Manager Cody Sexton, Deputy Town Manager Megan Lawless, Admin. Operations Manager / Town Clerk Jeremy Carroll, Town Attorney Timothy Lawless, Deputy Chief of Police Jamie Hurt, Capital Projects Director Mandy Adkins, Director of Cultural Placemaking and Events Anita McMillan, Director of Planning and Zoning Mayor Grose called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Liles, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor Mullins, and Mayor Grose present. Council Member McCarty was absent. Roll call After a Moment of Silence, Council Member Liles led the Pledge of Allegiance. Under upcoming community events/ announcements, and Council Activities, Vice Mayor Mullins announced the following events: September 6 – Annual Yard Sale at the Vinton History Museum. September 8 – Red Cross Blood Drive. September 10 – Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn with Bank of Botetourt. September 13 – Mingle in the Market with Supafly Five band. September 19 – Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce Fall Golf Tournament. September 27 – Mingle in the Market with Solacoustix and Justin & Lyndsay Prillaman. Vice Mayor Mullins announced the following Council activities: July 30, Mayor Gross attended the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission Executive Committee meeting. August 5 – All members of Council attended Vinton Police Department’s National Night Out event. August 7 – Vice Mayor Mullins attended the RVTV Committee meeting. August 11 – Mayor Grose 2 attended the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission Work Session. August 19 – Mayor Grose and Council Member Stovall attended the Finance Committee meeting. August 21 – Mayor Grose and Vice Mayor Mullins attended the State of the City for Roanoke. August 21 – Council Member Stovall attended the Virginia Municipal League Policy Committee meeting. August 24 – Mayor Grose attended the Greenway Annual Picnic. August 26 – Mayor Grose attended the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission Executive Committee meeting. Under requests to postpone, add to or change the order of the agenda, there were no requests. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the minutes of the Joint Public Hearing meeting of July 15, 2025; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0-1; Yeas (4) - Liles, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) – McCarty. Approved minutes of the Joint Public Hearing meeting of July 15, 2025 Under awards, introductions, presentations, there were no awards, introductions or presentations. Under citizens’ comments and petitions, no one offered any comments. Under Briefings, Mr. Hurt provided an update on the bid process for the Vinton War Memorial Renovation. There were 11 contractors that showed up for the pre-bid meeting. Out of that group of contractors, we received six bid submissions. The bids were competitive and very close together which raised concern over the complexity of the bid. After careful review, it was decided that awarding the bid was not in the best interest of the project. To ensure fairness and clarity moving forward, we have decided to reject all the current bids. This will allow us to refine bid documents and simplify the process and make it as equitable as possible for all the contractors. The process of refining the documents will conclude this week, which will then allow time for re- advertising the project. The goal is to award the bid in October. Mr. Hurt then expressed his gratitude for the Council’s patience as we work on this project. 3 Mr. Hurt provided a brief update on the Vinton War Memorial Park advising construction has begun. He shared an aerial photo of the construction site. This photo will be on file in the Town Clerk’s office as part of the permanent record. He went on to explain that the playground equipment will be installed on September 3, and the skate park equipment will be delivered on September 15. The restrooms are scheduled to be out of production on September 19. Last, Mr. Hurt shared a photo of the construction site for the restrooms at Wolf Creek Greenway. The site itself is ready for the restroom building to set. Once the building is in place, the electricity will be hooked up and sidewalks installed. This photo will be on file in the Town Clerk’s office as part of the permanent record. Council thanked Mr. Hurt for his briefing. Mr. Peters made additional comments to include appreciation for the staff and the work being put into all the projects. He went on to explain that the restroom at the Vinton War Memorial Park and the one at Wolf Creek Greenway are funded by grants. Mayor Grose is proud of the staff and the work they do. Mr. Peters added that the Vinton War Memorial is closed now, and staff have moved out of the building in preparation for the renovations. The facility will re-open once the renovations are complete. Mayor Grose expressed his excitement for this project. No further comments. Under Items requiring action, Mrs. McMillan shared that the renaming of Bypass Road to Dogwood Boulevard has been considered for a while. She could not find any official action for the name Bypass Road when she was doing her research. Mrs. McMillan shared that Vinton is known as the Dogwood Capital of Virginia. The goal is to plant Dogwood trees in the median to go along with the name Dogwood Boulevard. Mrs. McMillan advised she mailed letters to all the 4 property owners who would be impacted by this name change. Mrs. McMillan presented a Resolution to Council to rename Bypass Road to Dogwood Boulevard. Mr. Peters added that Public Works has done a lot of work along the right of way to cut back some of the vegetation. There are preliminary plans in the works for additional sidewalks. Mr. Peters reiterated there will be an effort to plant Dogwood trees along the roadway. Mr. Peters advised there were two responses to Mrs. McMillan’s letters. One was from a business, the other from a resident. The business owner was concerned about the timing of the name change because it will take some time to update systems, insurance companies, and client information. The business owner has requested the name change be delayed. The original implementation date is set for October 1, 2025. Mr. Peters explained we can accommodate a delay in the project schedule and suggested delaying the name change until the first of the year, with January being a four-month delay and March being a six-month delay. Mayor Grose emphasized the business owner’s comments on delaying the name change until 2026. Council Member Stovall clarified the request was to delay the name change until January 2026. Mr. Peters advised the delay request did not specify a specific date, just sometime in 2026. He offered the January and March dates as options to help Council decide. Council Member Stovall asked if Dale Wilkinson will be responsible for changing the address for River Park Shopping Center so it is correct on Google. Mrs. McMillan advised that we can approach Google about the name of the street once we have the effective date. Mr. Carrol added that the current Resolution does not have an effective date so in the motion, the effective date needs to be specific. 5 Council Member Liles made a motion to adopt the Resolution to change the name of Bypass Road to Dogwood Boulevard with the effective date of March 2, 2026; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Mullins, carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0-1; Yeas (4) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) – McCarty. Approved Resolution No. 2649 approve the name change of Bypass Road to Dogwood Boulevard effective March 2, 2026. Under appointments to boards, commissions and committees, Mr. Peters recommended Megan Lawless to become the Town Clerk. Council Member Stovall made a motion to make Megan Lawless the Town Clerk; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Mullins, carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0- 1; Yeas (4) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) – McCarty. Council Member Stovall commented that Mrs. Lawless has been attentive and he welcomed her aboard. Vice Mayor Mullins said she is excited and glad Mrs. Lawless is here. Council Member Liles shared his excitement. Mayor Grose shared appreciation for the work Mrs. Lawless has done so far. He said she has come to the position with a lot of professionalism. Mrs. Lawless shared appreciation for the warm welcome. Under reports from committees, there were no reports this evening. Under Town Manager’s Projects Updates, Mr. Peters acknowledged that tonight’s agenda was short due to the time of year. He went on to explain that the next agenda will have more items. Mr. Peters let Council know the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the hotel is on September 16th at 4:00 p.m., and the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Cleveland Commons will be on September 23rd at 4:30 p.m. The ribbon cutting will include a brief tour of the facility. 6 Under Council and Mayor comments, Council Member Stovall commented on National Night Out and how great it was. He has received some positive comments from citizens about the hotel project. Vice Mayor Mullins commented on National Night Out as well by saying it was great to see it grow this year. She complimented Public Works and the talent within that department which allows us to host in-house events such as this one. On behalf of Council Member McCarty, Vice Mayor Mullins gave a shout out to Our Daily Bread. Council Member Liles also commented on National Night Out and complimented the new set up of vendors and how the entire parking lot was utilized. Mayor Grose agreed with all the comments on the National Night Out event. He acknowledged that while it was a light agenda, there are plenty of projects going on around the Town as previously mentioned. No other comments were offered. Vice Mayor Mullins made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following vote 4- 0-1; Yeas (4) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) – McCarty. Meeting Adjourned at 6:41 p.m. ATTEST: _______________________________ Megan K. Lawless, Town Clerk APPROVED: _______________________________ Bradley E. Grose, Mayor