(L to R) Councilwoman Jennifer Tyree, Councilman Chris Mayo, Mayor Kawahna Persinger, Councilwoman Norvella Burrell, and Councilwoman Pat Shiflett.

Town of Iron Gate Holds Joint Work Session and Public Hearing By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer   Iron Gate, VA (Aug. 17, 2026)— On the evening of Monday, August 17, 2026, the Town of Iron Gate held a work session and public hearing at the Iron Gate Fire Department. The location was chosen, as it has in the past, to accommodate a larger number of residents who may have been interested in attending. Several important issues were discussed, reflecting many of the town's current challenges. One of the primary topics was whether the town should give up its charter. This significant decision could lead to Iron Gate being absorbed into Alleghany County. Currently, the town of Iron Gate is grappling with financial difficulties and a lack of public interest in serving on the council. That decision will ultimately be put to a town vote, though the earliest they'd see it on the ballot—assuming everything goes through—would be November 2027. Among the items discussed was the finalized lawsuit of Jennifer Simpson—also known as Jennifer Simpson Warley—who sued the Town of Iron Gate over flooding on her property caused by a municipal drainage pipe. In September 2024, the Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a jury award of over $220,000 in damages, fees, and costs against the town. That ruling continues to aid in the town's financial struggles. However, financial struggles isn't the only problem plaguing the town. Iron Gate is also facing a lack of public interest when it comes to filling council seats. Two seats have been vacant for several months, and Mayor Kawahna Persinger—along with Councilwomen Norvella Burrell and Pat Shiflett—have decided against re-election, leaving their seats vacant as of December 31, 2026. This situation leaves only Councilwoman Jennifer Tyree and Councilman Chris Mayo with active seats. At a special meeting on August 13, 2026, the council discussed reducing the number of council seats from six (plus the mayor) to four (plus the mayor). After a brief discussion, council opted that the best course of action would be to put the question on the ballot for the November election. However, according to Mayor Persinger, there was a missed deadline caused by Town Attorney Jim Guynn Jr., and it is now uncertain if the question can still be included. "I'm going to have to call Tiney Rose [Director of Elections & Registrar for Alleghany County] tomorrow because the deadline on that was August the 14th, which is why we had the meeting on the 13th," said Persinger during the August 17th meeting. "However, our attorney [Guynn] went and sent—I was supposed to, according to him, I was supposed to have all this information and then take it up on Friday morning the 14th, get the judge to sign it, and then take it over to Debra Byer, who is circuit court clerk, and then she, in return—either herself or someone else—would take it up to Tiney Rose so it would be there before the 14th. Our attorney didn't fill out the paperwork and send it to the judge until August the 14th." Mayor Persinger told the Journal after the meeting that she plans to consult with the attorney to explore any remaining options.

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