The Shadow
At the Clifton Forge Town Council meeting on Oct. 11, Town Manager Charles “Chuck” Unroe revealed that the Outdoors Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant in support of the Town’s All Abilities Park.
The park is in the planning stages, and the funds will be used to implement the plan that will add facilities to the east end of Linden Park.
Members of the Town Council voted 5-0 on all votes taken, approving the minutes as written from its regular meeting on Sept. 13 and at its called meeting on Sept. 27.
Council also approved its department reports: code enforcement, police department, public works, library, water plant, fire department and armory.
Additionally, council approved a request from Jack Mason’s Tavern & Brewery to close the westbound lane of Ridgeway Street between Roxbury and Commercial Ave. on Sat., Nov. 5, from noon till 7:00 p.m. for a special event.
As for holiday activities, Council approved the request from Clifton Forge Main St. to provide traffic control appropriate to assure safety for the Annual Town Tree Lighting Ceremony and for the Christmas Parade.
Since the Town’s regular meeting day in Nov. falls on Tues, Nov. 8, the Council approved moving the regular meeting to Wed., Nov. 9.
During the public comment session, four residents expressed their concerns, John Moser about motorists speeding on Church St. and running the new stop signs there, James Bolden about paving near his house that has a hazardous edge that might cause someone to fall and Chet Howard about the new hotel that John Howard, his brother, is opening on Commercial Ave. near the U.S. Post Office following the delay caused by COVID-19.
The main discussion centered on the repurposing of the abandoned Jefferson Elementary School which served as the high school for Black Americans prior to the integration of schools in the 1960s.
Unroe had distributed a public notice for those who are interested in the repurposing of the Jefferson Elementary School to respond by Oct. 16, and Pastor Ronald Baker expressed his concern about the Town’s intent concerning the flyer and its short amount of time listed for concerned citizens to respond to the flyer.
Baker noted that the flyer indicates that the thrust of the repurposing appears to be for a housing project, and he expressed his concern that the Town has already determined to proceed with a housing project.
Unroe explained that during public comment segments of the meeting that those commenting are not allowed by protocol to ask Council questions, rather the purpose is to report or make statements rather than engage in dialogue.
However, Unroe agreed to respond to the flyer’s timeline, and he emphasized that nothing has been decided about turning the Jefferson Elementary School into a housing project, only that a discussion has been ongoing concerning the feasibility of doing so and that the Town’s aim of distributing the flyer was to engage the public by seeking input.
During the discussion that transpired, Unroe revealed that one party, a builder who is experienced in repurposing buildings, has expressed concern in the project and is eager to explore the feasibility of such a project via meeting with Town officials and those citizens who have a vested interest in the future development of Jefferson Elementary School.
During the council comment portion of the agenda, Councilwoman Deborah Laudermilk thanked everyone who came to the meeting, and Councilman Shorty Wolfe noted that it was the first he had heard about the hotel project.
Councilman Dale Burdette focused on the importance of the 51st Fall Foliage Festival scheduled to take place in Town Oct. 14-16. He remarked, “It is one of our biggest weekend events.”
Vice-Mayor Robert Umstead said, “I’ve talked to your brother (Chet Howard’s brother) five times during the past two years about the hotel.”
Umstead, who was born, raised, and educated in Michigan, noted that the people of Clifton Forge are resilient and that the town is heading in the right direction in terms of changes and that its residents are up to the task of making wise decisions.
He encouraged participation in the planning process and noted that communication is more about listening than talking.
Mayor Jeff Irvine, a life-long resident of Clifton Forge, thanked Ben Nicely, a resident who is running for a seat on the Town Council, for attending the meeting, and he noted that it would probably cost $1 million to raze Clifton Forge High School and Jefferson Elementary School should repurposing not take place.
He stressed that the Town is working to repurpose the two facilities for the betterment of the Town and all concerned, and he invited the public to participate in the planning project moving forward.
