The Shadow
At its meeting on Tues., Sept. 13, the Town Council of Clifton Forge learned from Zac Wright of the Thrasher Group that a supply chain problem has delayed fixing the Town’s water leak.
*Wright reported that the delay in receiving the necessary American iron and steel is preventing his company from completing the job that will eventually keep water from leaking onto Ridgeway Street.
*Town Manager Chuck Unroe explained to Council the infrastructure work on both sides of the Jackson River has been delayed due to various complications and that the Town is pumping sewage via a new pipeline rather than hauling it by truck which costs more to transport.
*Also, Unroe expressed condolences on behalf of the Council and his staff to the Town’s Chief of Police Chad Wickline who is on paid leave for personal reasons.
*Glen R. Perry reported to Council that the Town of Clifton Forge needs to be more business proactive and cited problems with the Architectural Planning Committee’s stringent rules concerning the colors to paint buildings, etc. as a hindrance to business.
*Perry said, “I just don’t think that the Council is business friendly.”
*He added, “You need to think about business, and I’m asking Council to help business.
*Perry owns several businesses in Clifton Forge, and he noted that his Club Car, a popular eatery, had been closed for two years prior to Mountain Field Market moving into the building.
*Council approved via a 4-0 vote the rendering of the identical in-kind services that the Town provided in 2021, for the Clifton Forge Shrine Club’s 51st Fall Foliage Festival to be held Oct. 14-16.
*Councilwoman Deborah Laudermilk was not present to vote.
*Unroe read a letter submitted by Russell Crance, owner of a storage building that once served as a truck repair shop on Commercial Ave., requesting that Council oppose changing the zoning of the 500 Block of Commercial Ave. from its current Business General (BG) to Residential District (R3).
*A lengthy discussion ensued, and some citizens weighed in on the proposal that would protect residents from potential truck traffic but devalue Crance’s commercial property should the zoning change be made.
*Council voted on the issue two times, ending in Councilman Shorty Wolfe and Mayor Jeff Irvine opposing the change and Vice-Mayor Robert Umstead and Councilman Dale Burdette siding with the residents for the change the Planning Committee has recommended.
*A third vote to table the matter passed 4-0 after Council decided to wait for Laudermilk to attend the scheduled called meeting on Tues., Sept. 27.
*Irvine remarked, “I’ve lived in Clifton Forge all of my life, and I have never seen a business operate where the rescue squad’s building is located on the 500 Block.”
*A discussion was held on the potential sale of the building at 403 Ridgeway St. that the Town owns, and Ricky Swoope, owner of Swoope Plumbing & Heating in the Town, was in attendance with his wife, Amy, as potential purchasers of the building he had once rented, one currently that has been assessed at $37,500.
*Asked by a citizen if the building has been appraised, Unroe noted that it has not.
*Unroe pointed out that an engineer and painter have provided estimates for work needed to properly renovate the building, and the combined cost estimated is $86,000.
*Dr. Ronald Goings, a former member of the Council who was at the meeting as a concerned citizen, offered his opinion that the Town should avoid the expense of repairing the building and sell the property instead.
*Unroe also reported that Brad Church, a Bath County resident, has been hired as code enforcer for the Town.
*He also pointed out that the LoveWorks project is underway on Church Street where a backhoe has prepared the site for concrete and rebar to be used to form the base.
Following the public meeting, Council voted 4-0 to move to a closed session to consult with legal counsel pursuant to Va. Code S 2.2-3711 (A) (8).
