The Clifton Forge Town Council elected Jeff Irvine as mayor for the second time and Bob Umstead as vice-mayor at the Town Council meeting on Tues., Feb. 8.
Both were approved via a 5-0 vote. Mayor Irvin is a life-long resident of Clifton Forge, and Vice-Mayor Umstead, who moved to the Alleghany Highlands from Michigan, is a retired educator who has lived in Clifton Forge for decades.
After Shorty Wolfe led those in attendance in prayer, and those present participated in the “Pledge of Allegiance,” the selection process took place following the Council’s acceptance of department reports.
No other member of Council was nominated to fill the two positions, one position that came about after Vice-Mayor Irvine became mayor, leaving his vice-mayor position open for Umstead to fill.
Town Manager Chuck Unroe noted that Council needed to elect a representative to the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission ((RVARC). After stating the purpose of the positon to represent the Town of Clifton Forge and noting that the representative had to be an elected one, he explained that the RVARC helps find funding sources for projects along with its other functions.
Unroe informed Council that the representative would accompany him on the fourth Thurs. of each month to the RVARC meeting in Roanoke, and the new Councilwoman Deborah Loudermilk, volunteered. Council voted 5-0 to appoint her to fill the position.
After Unroe explained what the duties of the representative to the RVARC Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee are, Vice-Mayor Bob Unstead, who had previously served in that capacity, agreed to serve. He was appointed by a 5-0 vote. He commented that the trip to Roanoke once a month would give his wife a chance to shop while he attended the meeting.
Five representatives from the private sector are needed to represent Clifton Forge, and Unroe pointed out that some of the previous representatives were Carl Brinkley, Robert Johnson and Ione Calendar. Council agreed to advertise for those positons.
The appointment Wolfe to The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce Board was by a 5-0 vote. Unroe explained that the appointee’s duty is to keep the Chamber abreast of what is going on with Town matters.
The Architectural Review Board position not required to be filled by a member of Council was also filled. Unroe read the letters of the three citizens who expressed their desire to serve, and each presented their qualifications and reasons for wanting to serve.
Mrs. Hutchinson, President of Main Street, presented the Store of the Year Award to Jane Greenwood and husband, Tom. She also presented a plaque to Mott Atherol for Volunteer of the Year.
Council approved two permits for Main Street, one for St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17 at 5:00 p.m. and the other for the Easter Bonnet Parade on Sat. April 16 at 11:00 a.m.
Unroe then reported about student volunteers from the North who are coming to visit the Town of Clifton Forge to help make repairs and spruce up that which needs sprucing up. He encouraged all to welcome them.
Lynn Agee, a school bus driver and resident of Clifton Forge, had submitted a letter to City Manager Unroe concerning the positioning of the new 4-way-stop-signs that she claims that she is not against but requests the repositioning of them because she believes that they are positioned in a way that prevents the proper view for drivers to made safe decisions.
Unroe explained that the signs had been installed to curtail speeding that was taking place and too improve safety. Agee’s letter includes the streets involved such as Church St. and B Street, and she pointed out that the driver cannot see what is coming from the west on Church Street.
After reading her letter, Unroe advised Council to request a review of the 4-way-stop-signs and their placements by the safety department and officials who are in charge of public safety.
Vice-Mayor Umstead expressed his reservations about making any decisions until a report from the safety department and officials in law enforcement and the fire department provide input and Council receives the results of the report at the next Council meeting.
Unroe shared a letter from The Historic Masonic Theatre about Ricky Tims who will perform on Sat., Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. during the Quilters’ Retreat, and event that draws visitors from as far away as Texas.
Also, he congratulated the recipients of the Main Street awards. Hutchinson noted that two other winners of Main Street awards were unable to attend the meeting due to illness and that she would present those awards at a later date.
Unroe praised the ones who had received the awards from Main Street and thanked each for important contributions they have made to the Town of Clifton Forge.
To Atherol, he said, “How grateful we are for your unrelenting pursuit of helping others. I’m so happy that they have recognized you.”
Sara Cook was recognized as a representative of the Thrasher engineering company that has been awarded contracts for repairing a bridge and for helping the Town of Clifton Forge identify other structural repairs that need to be addressed. Unroe noted that the bridge repairs should be completed by June 10.
Also, Unroe reported that the contract for the lease with ACE Hardware has been signed, and he reported that the contract will not end until 2038.
He also noted that the site of a burned out trailer has been cleared, and that the cleared site will provide the Town of Clifton Forge with access to the Jackson River.
During his report about the progress made on repairs at the Clifton Forge Armory, he revealed that the facility’s restroom renovations are nearing completion.
The Council and Unroe engaged in a lengthy discussion concerning the stone building located in Mountain View Cemetery. The subject of restoring the structure that was discussed in July and Aug. of 2021 had prompted a request for a report to be made by the proper authorities who deal with historic buildings.
Unroe informed Council that the report has been received for Council’s consideration.
Council asked Unroe to summarize the findings of the report, and he shared the findings that reveal that to stabilize the structure and add the required heating system inside it to prevent further deterioration would cost up to $100,000.
Also, the findings of the authors of the report indicate that the structure has no official historic designation and is not located in the historic district of Clifton Forge.
With no historic designation, Council noted that securing a grant for the restoration project would be difficult. Mayor Irvine asked, “Why put $100,000 into a building that we have no use for. We can’t jump steps and must follow steps.”
The first step for the committee will be to seek historic status for the structure, and that will open up opportunities to apply for funding from sources concerned with historic preservation according to the consensus of the Council.
Vice-Mayor Umstead noted that people have been asking him if he has donated to the current fund that people have been donating to, one not sanctioned by the Town of Clifton Forge. He indicated that he has not donated to the fund.
Scott Dudding, the president of the Armory Committee, spoke to Council about the repairs being made at The Clifton Forge Armory. He remarked, “We are not wasting money.”
Mayor Irvine called for comments from members of Council, and Dale Burdette said that he is proud of the maintenance workers who work outdoors on fridge nights when waterlines break.
He said, “I know that I couldn’t do it, and I commend the workers in public works.”
Wolfe remarked, “I thank the new members of Council, and we look forward to working with you.”
He expressed his thanks for those who come to Clifton Forge from urban areas to help work on projects that benefit the Town of Clifton Forge.
He observed, “They come here to study Appalachian Americans, to see if you chew tobacco, to spend time here in Virginia to study us, and a lot of people in cities have not seen mountain people, which we are.”
He congratulated his fellow councilmen and councilwoman and drew attention to the fact that moving forward they will do so as a new Council.
Councilwoman Loudermilk praised the city workers and noted that workers had made repairs in freezing weather, working for 22 hours without rest.
Vice-Mayor Umstead thanked Tom and Jane Greenwood and Mott for their contributions, and he noted that he had attended a track meet recently and the team insisted that he avoid the cold and watch from the heated bus. He said, “I sat there and watched from the bus.”
Council adjourned the meeting and moved to discuss further matters during a closed session.