Clifton Forge, VA (Oct. 25, 2016) - The Clifton Forge Town Council held a very brief meeting tonight, but didn't set the record for its fastest ever...perhaps due to the longer than usual town manager's report. More on that later.
Dick Deaton, head of the local Friends of the Library group, made the organization's end of year report which included details of its proposed book sale on Friday, Nov. 4 and Sat., Nov. 5. He said that the group also had raised over $5,600 this past year. For more details of his report, following this link to a video of his remarks: Deaton Makes Friends Of Library Report To Council.
Council took action on the following fronts:
• held the first reading of an ordinance enacting rental inspection District Two. Last November, council adopted the rental inspection program and established District One. In order to continue with the program, it now was necessary to adopt an ordinance declaring a District Two. District Two is defined as: Church St. from Commercial Ave. to Roxbury St., Pine St. from Commercial Ave. to West Pine St., Howard St. from Brussels Ave. to McCormick Boulevard, Agnes St., Lafayette St. from Brussels Ave. to McCormick Boulevard, Revere St, from Brussels Ave. to McCormick Boulevard, Rose Ave., from Church St. to I-64 and Brussels Ave. from Church St. to Revere St. Later, council passed a resolution to continue the rental inspection program which would be formally adopted at its next meeting.
• as usual, the minutes of the meetings held on Oct. 13, 2016 and a work session held on Oct. 18, 2016 were approved.
• adopted a resolution for the 2016 personal property tax relief allocation. Since 2005, the town receives a lump sum of funds from the Commonwealth for personal property tax relief. This year that amount was $316,643.68. Tax relief must be allocated so as to eliminate personal property tax for qualifying personal use vehicles valued at $1,000 or less. The tax relief can only be applied to the first $20,000 of value of a vehicle. Vehicles which do not meet the definition of qualifying are, for example, including but not limited to business use vehicles, farm use vehicles, motor homes, etc.
Tax relief must be at a sufficient percentage to fully utilize all the funds received from the Commonwealth. For 2016 the tax relief amount will be 67% which is the same as 2015.
• passed a motion to eliminate its next two regular meetings, originally set for November 22nd and December 27th with the option to call a special meeting if necessary.
• accepted the regular town department reports with no comments from any council member.
Council noted that the annual leaf pick-up will begin on October 31 and will continue through December 9th. The town plans to pick up loose and bagged leaves and street side service will be completed first following the zone schedule, with alleys completed last. The Public Works Department has asked that residents not mix limbs in with leaves which makes collection more difficult. Regular brush and bulk pick-up will be suspended during leaf collection.
A complete list of the schedule for each zone is posted on the Town's website and area bulletin boards. For additional questions, citizens may call Public Works at 863-2517.
• Town offices will be closed on Friday, November 11th in honor of the Veteran's Day holiday.
Town Manager's Comments
Clifton Forge Town Manager Darlene Burcham reported to council that:
• the town's big tower clock is now working again
• on Oct. 26th at 8 a.m. the 2025 Initiative (sponsored by the Alleghany Foundation) will hear reports on progress of its various committees at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Covington.
• broadband study recommendations will be shared with the public on Nov. 15th (light supper) at DSLCC Moomaw's Center. Area Internet providers are expected to be there to answer questions. Lumos may be readying an expansion of broadband, she indicated. This should be exciting for the business community, she added.
• at a meeting in Roanoke, she was informed that $1.3 million in DEQ funds will be recommended to the State Water Control Board to help deal with the town's sewer and I&I problem. She indicated that this loan program would carry a 0% rate, but that she hoped that there would be a large part of the total owed might get she called "loan forgiveness."
• she reported that yet another $400 had been received in donations for the upgrading on Washington Park. She indicated that this total was now $2,400, but later indicated that it was now actually $2,900.
For a video of her complete remarks, please click here.
At the end of the meeting, as usual, council members issued their individual remarks which included a brief report on Roxbury St. residential improvements from Johnette Roberts, compliments to Mr. Deaton on his Friends of the Library Report, and promotion of Masonic Theatre events including a mention of this weekend's activities as well as the Super Sunday event planned for November 6, 2016 at the Masonic Amphitheatre. For a video of these remarks, please click here.
Upcoming Events
CLIFTON FORGE PUBLIC LIBRARY:
• Halloween Party (ages 3-121) Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 from 4-5 p.m.
• Friends of the Library book sale. Nov. 4, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Nov. 5, 2016, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
• Preschool story time, Wed., Nov. 16, 2016, 11 a.m. - 12 noon.
CLIFTON FORGE MAIN STREET
• Christmas Tree Lighting, Fri, November 18, 2016 at 6 p.m.
• Christmas Parade, Friday, December 2, 2016 beginning at 6 p.m.
CLIFTON FORGE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
• Jammin at the Mill, Fri, Noveber 18, 2016 at 7 p.m.
MASONIC AMPHITHEATRE
• Souper Sunday, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 at 1 p.m.
MASONIC THEATRE
• "Something Wicked: - Friday, October 28, 216 and Saturday October 29, 2016 from 7-11 p.m.
• Camelot Theatre Company presents "Into The Woods" - Friday, October 28, 2016 from 7-9 p.m., Saturday, October 29th from 1-3 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 31, 2016 from 7-9 p.m.
|  | A sparse, but interested crowd at the meeting...
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