The Shadow
Susan Knick represented the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism by presiding over a meet and greet for candidates running unopposed for seats representing District One and District Two on Covington City Council.
Knick welcomed those present and thanked members of the press who were in attendance for providing coverage to the public for each meet and greet that the Chamber has held in 2022.
She introduced City Councilman Lance Carson who represents District One, and he began by thanking Jesus and the citizens of the City of Covington for bestowing upon him the honor of serving on Council for the past two years.
He then thanked the Chamber for sponsoring the meet and greet.
Carson shared that his wife is Kathy Gabbert Carson and that they have been married for 26 years. He noted that they have four grown children and five grandchildren.
Lance worked at the Alleghany/Covington Department of Social Services for 34 years as an adult protective service worker, and after retiring three years ago, he has been working part-time for Advance Auto as a delivery parts driver.
“I am a member of Good News Church on Main,” Lance revealed.
He added, “I am a member of the TAP Board and the Douthat SPEED Group (State Park Environmental Educational Group).”
He noted that he has served as a coach for Little League Baseball, girls softball, youth league basketball and the Special Olympics.
Lance listed a litany of improvements the Covington City Council has achieved during his two years on Council: Maple Ave. Phase II, Locust to Main; completed and Phase III, Main to the river, in the process of being completed; EQ Basin Project $8,000 currently being constructed at the wastewater plant; and the Thacker Sidewalk Project is scheduled to be completed within the next 30 days.
Other achievements he listed are the purchase of public safety equipment, breathing apparatus; a new fire truck scheduled to arrive after the first of the year, Pad Site Project in conjunction with Alleghany County and the Industrial Development Authority and the sidewalk project on Beech St. and Pine St. (in engineering and funded).
More on his list were Rayon Bridge funding approximately $14 million in the VDOT Six-Year-Plan, improvement of the water plant and maintenance planning, pavement review completed along with first round bid accepted with plans for project to begin in early spring of 2023, Gordmans building project, an ongoing economic development, and acceptance of an application for safety improvements in the Carpenter Drive/Town Hill/Madison project.
He ended by pledging his support to the citizens of the City of Covington and by noting that he is a life-long resident.
His two main current concerns are that Allen Dressler be hired as the next city manager and that the Rivermont School repurposing project will provide low-cost housing for the elderly and others.
Knick then introduced Fred F. Forbes, III. He spoke briefly and noted that he had started attending meeting after some decisions Council made that he did not agree with, ones made several years ago.
Forbes thanked everyone for turning out, and as the District II candidate, he will replace Allan Tucker, who has chosen not to pursue reelection.
“I started coming to Council meetings, and I’ve decided to try to make a difference,” Forbes responded to a question about why he stepped forward to run for Council.
He remarked, “Alleghany Avenue is really rough, and the city just had that paved.”
Forbes concluded, “Basically it’s back to where it was several years ago.”
He stressed the need to improve and maintain infrastructure.
Both candidates expressed their thanks to those who attended and to the Chamber for sponsoring the meet and greet.
