The Shadow
IRON GATE — Iron Gate Town Council on Friday unanimously passed a resolution declaring the town a Second Amendment sanctuary.
Council also redirected $20,000 to a legal defense fund to offset attorneys’ fees for a pending lawsuit by town resident Jennifer Simpson. She is threatening to sue the town over a drain pipe issue on her property.
After some modifications, council adopted a Second Amendment sanctuary resolution that was approved earlier this month by the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors.
Officials in a several Virginia counties, cities and towns have declared their localities Second Amendment sanctuaries.
The declarations express the localities’ intent to honor and defend gun rights. In the Highlands, Alleghany County, Bath County and Covington have passed such resolutions. Clifton Forge will consider adopting a similar measure next month.
The Second Amendment sanctuary movement in Virginia comes on the heels of the Nov. 5 election, after Democrats gained majority control of both the state Senate and House of Delegates. Gov. Ralph Northam said Democratic leaders will push for gun-control measures in the Virginia General Assembly.
At Friday’s meeting, Iron Gate attorney Jared Jenkins also clarified the redirection of the legal funds that were set aside to repair a drain pipe on Simpson’s property.
Simpson’s attorney has asked the town to compensate her asserting that she “has not been treated well during the process,” for a new easement, and for going on her property to conduct the needed repairs.
Council unanimously amended an ordinance that says all garbage must be placed in proper containers. The ordinance says that residents will use the refuse pick-up service that is provided by the town and pay a $7 monthly fee.
Mayor Chuck Unroe welcomed Vice Mayor Richard Erskine to the meeting. Erskine had been absent from council meetings for three months due to an illness.
On behalf of the citizens of Iron Gate and the Iron Gate Volunteer Fire Department, council presented a plaque to Erskine for serving as parade marshal in Iron Gate’s 2019 Christmas parade, themed “Toy Story,” and for his many years of service to “our country and the town of Iron Gate,” said Unroe.
Erskine was unable to appear in the parade due to his illness.
Council also heard a presentation from Sgt. Chris Fisher of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office on the need for the town to have its own official flag, as other localities have. He passed out sketches of the proposed flags and volunteered to buy the first one. Council voted unanimously to adopt a town flag.
During his mayor’s report, Unroe covered the following items:
— The Christmas tree donated by the mayor and his wife will be planted in late February or early March in honor of two of “Santa’s very dedicated helpers right here in our community, Sonny Craft and Erskine,” said Unroe.
— Town hall will be closed Dec. 24-26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
— The town transferred $1,500 that was borrowed for a dump truck back to an escrow account.
— Auditors should complete a report by Jan. 20-22.
— A declared nuisance property on Tannery Road is in the process of court action. The case has been continued to Feb. 3 and owners of unlicensed cars have been contacted to have vehicles removed.
In other action, council:
— Moved its next monthly work session from Jan. 20 to Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
— Granted Unroe authority to approach the owners of the “old school house” property to find out whether there is interest in selling it for the purpose of acquiring a Brownfield grant to improve and reuse the property.
