Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/7/2026 - Public Hearing 1 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JULY 7, 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 Megan Lawless, Town Clerk Jeremy Carroll, Town Attorney Tiffany Stewart, Director of Finance Fabricio Drumond, Chief of Police Tim Lawless, Deputy Chief of Police Anita McMillan, Director of Planning and Zoning Nathan McClung, Assistant 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 McCarty, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor Mullins, and Mayor Grose present. Roll call After a Moment of Silence, Council Member Liles led the Pledge of Allegiance. Under Upcoming Community Events/ Announcements, and Council Activities, Council Member McCarty announced the following events: July 11 – 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Mingle in the Market with The Kings. Vice Mayor Mullins announced the following Council activities: June 18 – Mayor Grose attended the Regional Commission Executive Committee meeting. June 23 – Mayor Grose attended the Regional Partnership-Investor Update. June 25 – Mayor Grose attended the Regional Commission Board meeting. June 25-26 - Council Member Stovall attended the VML Board meeting at Sweet Briar College. June 27 – Council Member Liles attended Mingle in the Market. 2 June 29 – Council Member McCarty participated in trash pick-up with William Byrd High School and the Vinton Breakfast Lions Club. July 4 – Mayor Grose attended the Four on the 4th Race. July 4 – Mayor Grose, Vice Mayor Mullins, Council Member Liles, and Council Member Stovall attended the Independence Day Celebration. Requests to postpone, add to or change the order of agenda items, no requests were offered. Vice Mayor Mullins made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Stovall 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 June 16, 2026. Under Awards, Introductions, Presentations, Chief Drumond introduced new police officer, Josiah St. Clair. Chief Drumond expressed that Officer St. Clair will serve the citizens with integrity, courage, and compassion with a servant heart. Officer St. Clair’s wife, Samantha, pinned his badge. Council welcomed Officer St. Clair and his family. Under Citizens’ Comments and Petitions, no comments were offered. Under Briefings, Mrs. McMillan and Mr. McClung provided an update on Corridor Improvements and a Greenway Project to include: Walnut Avenue– Phase 3 (UPC 119472) – This project will construct new sidewalk on the north and south sides of Walnut Avenue. It also includes pavement markings for bike lanes and a new crosswalk. The project is being administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation and is estimated to cost $7.7 million from the Smart Scale grant. 3 Dogwood Boulevard and Hardy Road Roundabout (UPC 124089) - The purpose of this project is to enhance safety, increase intersection capacity, and improve traffic flow by replacing the existing signalized intersection at Dogwood Boulevard and Hardy Road with a single-lane roundabout featuring three slip lanes. The project also includes relocating the entrance to the bank property approximately 110 feet west, constructing a new bank exit onto Roop Street, installing crosswalks with pedestrian refuge islands on Dogwood Boulevard and Hardy Road, and constructing new sidewalk connections to existing pedestrian facilities. The project is being administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation and is estimated to cost $14.1 million from the Smart Scale grant and is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase. Glade Creek Greenway Phase 3 Preliminary Engineering Study (UPC 124024) - This project will provide pedestrian and bicycle accommodation from the Glade Creek Greenway Phase 2 trailhead parking area at Gus Nicks Boulevard to Vinyard Park. The project is being administered by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and is being funded by Surface Transportation Block Grant formerly known as Regional Surface Transportation Program. Route 24 Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project (UPC 125069) - The project includes 14 pedestrian crossing improvements, including 5 locations at unsignalized intersections and 3 signalized intersection locations. These pedestrian crossing improvements include ADA-compliant curb ramp installations, newly marked crosswalks, pedestrian signal heads with pedestrian countdown signals, reconstructing existing access entrances, and pedestrian refuge islands. The project area extends from the signalized intersection at PFG on West Virginia Avenue eastward towards the intersection of South Pollard Street, and then northward before terminating at Jefferson Avenue. This project is funded by Virginia Highway Safety Improvements Program and is estimated to cost $2,570,566. 4 Vinyard Road Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project - The project includes improvements that will include pedestrian accommodations (sidewalks, ADA ramps/curb cuts, crosswalks) and the reconstruction of commercial entrances along the corridor to improve pedestrian access/safety, transit access, in addition to reducing congestion. No right-of-way acquisition will be required as a part of this project. As a part of this project, concrete sidewalks will be constructed in the existing right-of-way area that will be separated from the existing roadway throughout a majority of the project area. A crosswalk will be added to the location of an existing bus stop and shelter area that will allow pedestrians to access the eastern section of the project area on Vinyard Road. An additional crosswalk on the southern portion of the corridor will provide pedestrian access to the Clearview Manor Apartments, which is a senior low-income housing apartment building that contains 100 residential units. The project is being administered by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and estimated to cost $1,226,000. Road Safety Audit - Through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) analysis, the Town of Vinton has determined that Hardy Road, from Maple Street to Dogwood Boulevard, is identified on the High Injury Network (HIN).The HIN roadways represent the worst 10% of roadways within the Town, accounting for approximately 2/3 of all severe injury and fatal crashes. The proposed project scope includes the work to complete a road safety audit (RSA), identifying safety concerns, and recommend improvements for the Hardy Road corridor. The end result will include short-and long- term recommendations that are supported by the Town and VDOT for future implementation funding. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Safe Streets and Roads for All Program. Vice Mayor Mullins acknowledged the time spent behind the scenes on these projects. Mayor Grose appreciates that not only do these projects assist with appearance but provide better safety. No other comments were offered. 5 Under Items Requiring Action, Mrs. Stewart presented Council with the completed Annual Financial Report by Brown Edwards & Company, LLP, for FY2024. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the Resolution as presented; 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. Mr. Peters and Mayor Grose shared their appreciation for the Finance Team and the work that was put into the audit. Under Items Requiring Action, Mr. Sexton presented a Resolution to adopt the Second Amended and Restated Intergovernmental Agreement regarding the Roanoke Valley Greenway. There were no comments or questions. Vice Mayor Mullins made a motion to approve the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member McCarty 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, Mayor Grose opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. for consideration of public comments regarding an Ordinance to convey portions of Walnut Avenue right-of-way to adjacent parcels: 060.15-03-11.00-0000, Lafferty Family LLC (1.178.29 square feet); and 060.15-03- 11.00-0000, Jeffrey W. and Amy L. Belcher (219.19 square feet), in conjunction with the development of the Walnut Avenue Corridor Improvements Project Phase 3, UPC #119472. Mrs. McMillan shared that this project was covered in the briefing earlier. Staff have been working with Town Attorney, Mr. Carroll, on this project and have learned that the ordinance for this conveyance will be considered at a later date after the project is completed. Mr. Carroll added that all of the documents were put together for the public hearing to include the Adopted Resolution No. 2687 accepting the final Annual Financial Report for FY2024. Adopted Resolution No. 2688 to adopt the Second Amended and Restated Intergovernmental Agreement regarding the Roanoke Valley Greenway. Opened public hearing at 6:34 p.m. 6 ordinance and deeds, but it was realized that the construction easement is needed first, which is being handled by VDOT. The right-of-way conveyance does not need to be finalized until after the project is completed. Tonight’s meeting is to hold the public hearing on the issue of vacating the right-of-way and conveying these smalls portions to the Lafferty’s and the Belcher’s and not act on the ordinance at this time. There were no public comments. There were no comments or questions from Council. Mayor Grose officially closed the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. and advised no action to be taken. Under Public Hearing, Mayor Grose opened the public hearing at 6:39 p.m. for consideration of public comments regarding an ordinance vacating, abandoning, and discontinuing any right, title, or interest the Town may have in a 10 foot wide, 115.01 foot long (for a total area of 1,150 square feet), platted but unopened and undeveloped alley that extends in a northerly direction from the 500 block of East Cleveland Avenue near its intersection with Pine Street and bisects the parcel identified as 528 East Cleveland Avenue (Tax Parcel ID: 060.16-08-29.00-0000). Mr. McClung explained that an unopened and undeveloped alley that bisects the parcel identified as 528 East Cleveland Avenue needs to be vacated, abandoned, and discontinued. A major portion of this undeveloped alley runs through the middle of the existing structure that currently contains a commercial space and seven (7) residential units. The Town was aware of this alley both before and during the redevelopment of this property, and it was the intention of Town staff to request this vacation/abandonment soon after its completion. There are no adverse impacts to the property or the property owners to complete this process, however it allows for future deed, title, and land research and loan processes to not become problematic or cumbersome. Closed public hearing at 6:38 p.m. Opened public hearing at 6:39 p.m. 7 Mr. Carroll added there are different ways to vacate road depending on what type of road or alley it is. This process is similar to what was done for the hotel property. He confirmed that action is to be taken on this item. There were no public comments. There were no comments or questions from Council. Mayor Grose officially closed the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Council Member Liles made a motion to adopt the Ordinance as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, McCarty, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Under Reports from Committee, there were no reports. Under Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees, there were none. Closed public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Adopted Ordinance No. 1077 vacating, abandoning, and discontinuing any right, title, or interest the Town may have in a 10 foot wide, 115.01 foot long (for a total area of 1,150 square feet), platted but unopened and undeveloped alley that extends in a northerly direction from the 500 block of East Cleveland Avenue near its intersection with Pine Street and bisects the parcel identified as 528 East Cleveland Avenue (Tax Parcel ID: 060.16-08-29.00-0000). Under Town Attorney, no comments were offered. Under Town Manager’s Projects Updates, Mr. Peters shared that the underground fuel storage tanks have been removed with a clear report of no leakage. There will be some new employees introduced at the next meeting. He then shared appreciation to the Public Works Department, Police Department, Special Programs and Council for their support with the 4th of July event. Last, Mr. Peters stated that Chief Drumond is now the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Town. 8 Under Council and Mayor Comments, all members of Council expressed their appreciation for the successful 4th of July events and fireworks display. They also recognized Town staff for their hard work and dedication in planning community events. Additionally, Council commended Chief Drumond on assuming the role of Emergency Management Coordinator. Council Member Liles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Mullins and carried by the following vote 5- 0; Yeas (5) – Liles, McCarty, Stovall, Mullins, Grose; Nays (0) – None. ATTEST: _______________________________ Megan Lawless, Town Clerk Meeting Adjourned at 6:54 p.m. APPROVED: _______________________________ Bradley E. Grose, Mayor