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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/17/2026 - Regular 1 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026, 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 Sabrina M. McCarty Michael W. Stovall STAFF PRESENT: Richard Peters, Town Manager Cody Sexton, Deputy Town Manager Julie Tucei, Planning Coordinator/Deputy Town Clerk Jeremy Carroll, Town Attorney Tiffany Stewart, Interim Director of Finance Fabricio Drumond, Chief of Police Jill Acker, Assistant Director of Public Works Mayor Grose called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. The Deputy Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Liles, Council Member McCarty, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor Mullins, and Mayor Grose present. Roll call After a Moment of Silence, the grandson of Bev and Shirley Fitzpatrick led the Pledge of Allegiance. Under Upcoming Community Events/ Announcements, and Council Activities, Council Member McCarty announced the following events: April 2 – Vinton War Memorial Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 3:00 p.m., April 21 – Wolf Creek Greenway Restroom Ribbon Cutting & Arbor Day event at 10:00 a.m., April 24 – Vinton Dogwood Concert at 6:00 p.m., April 25 – Vinton Dogwood Festival at 10:00 a.m., April 25 – Open House at Vinton History Museum During the Dogwood Festival, April 30 – Glade Creek Greenway Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 1:00 p.m. Vice Mayor Mullins announced the following Council activities: February 26 – Council Member Liles and Council Member Stovall attended the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization meeting; March 11 – Mayor Grose attended Virginia’s Blue Ridge “Good Morning” series; March 11 – Vice Mayor Mullins and Council Member McCarty attended the Public Works Committee meeting; March 12 – Mayor Grose attended the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission Executive Committee meeting; March 13 – Mayor Grose and Council Member McCarty 2 attended the Town Employee Appreciation “March Madness” Event; March 13 – Mayor Grose and Council Member Liles attended the Regional Skatepark Ribbon Cutting ceremony; March 17 – Mayor Grose and Council Member Stovall attended the Finance Committee meeting. Requests to postpone, add to or change the order of agenda items, no requests were offered. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) -Liles, McCarty, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Approved minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 17, 2026. Under Awards, Introductions, Presentations, and Proclamations, Vice Mayor Mullins read the proclamation for Multiple Sclerosis Month. Ms. Suzanne O’Connell from MS Alliance of Virginia accepted the proclamation. Under Citizens’ Comments and Petitions, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick shared comments about their grandson and the government class that he is taking that requires a certain number of government related hours to complete his class. Mr. Fitzpatrick thanked Council for allowing their grandson to take part in tonight’s meeting. Under Citizen’s Comments and Petitions, Mr. Tony Robertson spoke about the increased traffic and debris on his road, Dale Avenue, from those traveling to the scrapyard. He requested Council to evaluate reconfiguring the route back to the way it used to be. Under Briefings, Chief Drumond presented the Vinton Police Department’s 2025 Annual Report. The PowerPoint presentation will be on file at the Town Clerk’s Office as part of the permanent record. The report is on file at the Vinton Police Department. Calls for service increased by 1.6% with a total of 13,618 calls. Arrests increased by 3.6% with a total of 401 arrests. Traffic crashes decreased by 8.1% with a total of 384 crashes. 3 All members of Council expressed appreciation for the report. There were no questions or additional comments. Under Items Requiring Action, Mr. Peters presented Council with the Gus Nick Blvd / Gish Mill Water Improvements Reimbursement Agreement for the Town to fund associated construction costs. This project provides public benefits, enhances public infrastructure, and supports economic development and revitalization. Mr. Peters then presented a Resolution to adopt this agreement. There were no comments or questions. Council Member McCarty made a motion to adopt a Resolution to approve the Gus Nicks Blvd / Gish Mill Water Improvements Reimbursement Agreement; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Mullins and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) -Liles, McCarty, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Under Public Hearing, there were no items for this section. Under Reports from Committees, Mrs. Stewart shared the topics that were discussed at the Finance Committee meeting that was held on March 17, 2026. Topics included Financial Statements for January 31, 2026, and February 28, 2026, and an update to the FY24 and FY25 audits. The General Fund revenues and expenditures remain sufficient to meet budget goals. The General Fund revenues are $7.2M, which is 52% of the budget. The General Fund expenditures are $7.9M, which is 57% of the budget. The total cash in investments is $9.7M with no significant financial concerns currently. Approved Resolution No. 2666 approving the Gus Nicks Blvd / Gish Mill Water Improvements Reimbursement Agreement. 4 The revenues are currently in line with budget. We had a 14% increase in real estate tax collection for the 2025 bills. We are at 60% of the budget goal for local tax collection. We are at 11% year over year increase for the pari- mutuel tax collection. The average collection is approximately $38K per week for January and February. We have collected 401 business license fees with 169 still remaining. Real estate and personal property tax bills are scheduled to be billed with Roanoke County and are expected to be mailed around April 14th. The payment due date will be May 31, 2026. February was a low month for personal property tax collection, but we do expect March to have a 23% increase. Over the last five accounts payable periods, we had about $636K in capital improvement expenditures in addition to the $92K Cease Fire grant that the Police Department received. We had to pay the money up front, but that will be returned to us by the end of the fiscal year. We will move the $636K from investment account into the General Fund. When we receive the $92K back, we will return that to the investment account. At this time, departments are not projected to exceed their current budgets. FY24 audit is projected to be complete by mid- April. FY25 audit is projected to be completed by the end of this fiscal year. Council thanked Mrs. Stewart for the report. There were no questions. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the Financial Statements for January 31, 2026, and February 28, 2026; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Mullins and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Approved Financial Statements for January 31, 2026, and February 28, 2026. 5 Yeas (5) -Liles, McCarty, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Under Reports from Committees, Mrs. Acker shared the topics that were discussed at the Public Works Committee meeting that was held on March 11, 2026. The Farmers’ Market compactor is still in progress. We are continuing to price out some of the work. The furniture downtown is being refurbished. The trash cans have been painted and put back in place. Benches and planters will be painted next. The contractor is on site at the Public Works Department removing the old fuel tanks. Public Works Department staff is in the process of clearing trees and brush for the disc golf course. Baskets and supplies for the course will be ordered soon. The waterline at the Vinton War Memorial Park has been installed for the restroom. All entrance signs for the Town have been installed. Mr. Peters spoke about the 3rd Street Repair project. RK&K provided a study that showed a new design for the roadway, stormwater improvements and road construction. The cost estimate for this project is $2M. This will be a multi-year project. The next items discussed were new projects that included spring paving that will take place on Virginia Avenue from South Pollard Street up to Clearview Drive. The sidewalk at Lee Avenue is being replaced. The crosswalk and ramp at Lee Avenue and Walnut Avenue will be installed in the next few weeks. Council thanked Mrs. Acker for the report. Under Town Attorney, no comments were offered. Under Town Manager’s Projects Updates, Mr. Peters reminded everyone about the upcoming 6 joint meeting with Roanoke County Board of Supervisors on March 30, 2026. The Vinton War Memorial Park will open on Thursday, April 2nd with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 3:00 p.m. The Community Clean-up event is the week of April 6th. Details are being shared on social media. Clean Valley Day is April 9th. Currently, 15 Town of Vinton staff and Council have signed up to volunteer on this day. The Public Works Department is participating in the annual Roadeo event on April 8th. The Cedar Avenue/Pollard Street Stormwater project RFP should be posted by Monday, March 23rd. Bids will be due back by April 15th. Mr. Peters then expressed appreciation for all the work that is performed by the Public Works Department. Under Council and Mayor Comments, Council Member Liles spoke about the Regional Skatepark Ribbon Cutting ceremony, the Vinton War Memorial Park, and the construction of the new hotel. Council Member McCarty gave a shout-out to Renee’s Restaurant. Next, she expressed her appreciation for all of the condolences for the passing of her father. She then thanked Donna Collins, Director of Human Resources & Risk Management, for putting together the staff appreciation event at the bowling alley. Vice Mayor Mullins expressed appreciation for Mrs. Stewart. She then shared excitement for the hotel. Council Member Stovall shared that Mr. Fitzpatrick has made a difference in local government for a long time. Mayor Grose reiterated most of the comments from the Council members. All members of Council expressed appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s grandson for his attendance at tonight’s meeting. 7 All members thanked Mrs. Tucei for assuming her duty as Deputy Town Clerk. Council Member Liles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member McCarty and carried by the following vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, McCarty, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None. ATTEST: _______________________________ Megan K. Lawless, Town Clerk Meeting Adjourned at 7:21 p.m. APPROVED: _______________________________ Bradley E. Grose, Mayor