The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE – Clifton Forge Council will have several ordinances to review before holding public hearings in January.
At a Tuesday night meeting, Town Attorney Dave Davis told council that he and Andy Morris, community development director, will have ordinance changes pertaining to inoperable motor vehicles and junk, in addition to updating the ordinance on grass cutting and weeds.
Davis said that the changes will strengthen the ordinances and increase the liklihood that they will be upheld in court.
Inoperable motor vehicles and junk, such as old iron and debris, have been a source of complaints in Clifton Forge for years. It has been difficult for town officials to prosecute such cases in court, however.
Council had a discussion Tuesday on how to fund the change of turning Ridgeway Street from the current one-way street back to two-way traffic. Council wants to make the change when the Virginia Department of Transportation replaces the bridge on Main Street across Smith Creek and in front of the Masonic Theatre.
Ridgeway Street will have to be converted to carry two-way traffic while the bridge is being replaced. Presently, Ridgeway Street is one-way traffic for two blocks.
Town Manger Tracey Shiflett said Jerry VanLear of VDOT has told him that the scope of the new bridge does not allow for permanently changing the traffic configuration. VanLear also told Shiflett that the issue of changing the street back to two-way traffic needs to be dealt with outside of the bridge replacement project.
VanLear suggests that town council pass a resolution to create a project for the purpose of changing the traffic pattern. He said funding must be identified by VDOT before this project can be inserted into the six-year improvement plan. VanLear said that this is likely to become a significant challenge based on the latest revenue projection available to VDOT.
Many merchants now located on Ridgeway Street have indicated they would like to see the street converted to two-way traffic permanently to gain the added traffic on the street to increase business. One of the big changes that will have to be made is taking out the flower bed at the intersection of Ridgeway and Main Street. At the present time ,Clifton Forge does not have the funds to make the two-way traffic change.
Clifton Forge is considering drug testing for town employees. Shiflett told council that Safety and Compliance Inc. of Roanoke would charge the town a minimum of $300 to conduct monthly screenings of five employees (10 percent of the work force). Council decided to set aside the drug testing until it approves a policy on drugs.
The Architectural Review Board approved a request to place two signs on a building located at 400 E. Ridgeway Street (Old Forge Coffee Company). The building is owned by Jim Bay.
The board did not approve a request from CSX Transportation for a parking lot at the location of 307 E. Ridgeway St. The parking lot would have been in front of the CSX yard office. The board said it did not approve the application because it was inconsistent with the Historic Downtown District zoning ordinance.
It was announced that during the Christmas and New Year holidays, town offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25, as well as Jan. 1.
Council voted 5-0 to give the town employees a $25 gift certificate for Christmas from either Kroger or Save-A-Lot grocery stores.
A lengthy discussion was held concerning the town employees’ Christmas bonus. The reason given was that it was not placed in the budget for the year and the finances of the town are very tight. Some of the public speakers attending the meeting expressed concern that the town may not be able to give the bonus that has been given for many years. Sam Clark suggested that council donate half of their salary for November and December to the pay for the employees’ Christmas gift certificate. He noted that council was only held one meeting in each of the two months instead of the normal two meetings.
There were quite a few people that spoke in the “hear the public session” at Tuesday’s night meeting.
Melissa Handley Camp and Naomi Madsen each had concerns about who Total Action Against Poverty would rent the East Elementary School to when it is converted to an apartment building.
They said that they hoped it will be not be rented to people that need assisted living quarters.
Former Mayor James “Doody” Morris spoke in favor of renting the apartments to persons in need of assisted living, however.
John Hillert spoke on plans for the Masonic Theatre, which will take place after the first of the year.
Rick Tabb spoke on the plans that the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society will have on the new train station and the fund drive to help pay for the building. He said that the plans now are to have the train station open by the Railroad Day, May 8.
Others that spoke included Colin Ferguson. He spoke on behalf of John Grimes, who could not be at the council meeting. Ferguson asked council to vote in favor of Grimes’request to rezone some property in Nettleton Addition.
Vice Mayor Nellie Friel said the town needs to have its water system in top shape before the public has to pay for metered water. She said rusty water and discoloration are the problems.
Carl Brinkley wanted Clifton Forge Main Street Inc. to get credit for securing grant money for merchants to fix up the fronts of their property.
Richard Dobbs told council that if they would put a Dumpster on the Rose Street parking lot, the public would be encouraged to bring their recyclable materials there and the town could take them to the new Cycle Systems building at Low Moor. He said the town could receive some money from selling the recyclable items and help the public to get rid of some unwanted material. Cycle Systems will have a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 9306 Winterberry Avenue, beside the Alleghany County Complex at Low Moor.
