The Shadow
IRON GATE — Iron Gate Mayor Chuck Unroe has announced that another food service establishment has applied for a business license in the town limits of Iron Gate.
Mayor Unroe’s announcement came during Thursday evening’s regularly scheduled council meeting.
Iron Gate Council approved a request from the owner of KLD, LLC, doing business as Roller Smoke House Barbeque, for a business license.
The business is expected to open Tuesday. Its permanent location will be at 204 Market Ave., the Former Hilltop Market.
Prior to the start of the meeting, Councilman Randy Unroe led a hearing on the possible abandonment of a portion of Railroad Ave.
Scott Unroe, a relative of Mayor Unroe’s, has purchased the adjacent property and agreed to pay any costs the town may incur in transferring the property.
Council voted to abandon the undeveloped portion of Railroad Avenue, by a vote of 4-1, with Councilwoman Kawanha Persinger casting the only dissenting vote.
Vice Mayor Richard Unroe was absent from the meeting and therefore did not cast a vote.
After Mayor Unroe called the regularly scheduled meeting to order, council approved minutes from the regular meeting on Oct. 25 and the work session on Nov. 19 and paid bills as presented.
He also reported the following:
•That Iron Gate lost former Vice Mayor Sarah “Blackie”?Payne, and the Alleghany Highlands lost a committed leader in Clifton Forge Mayor Carl Brinkley;
And, he asked that their families be remembered in the residents’ thoughts and prayers;
•That the Welcome to Iron Gate and Winter Flags have been installed on Route 220;
•That the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office worked 62 hours and wrote 31 citations for the month of November.
“I am happy with the way things are,” said Mayor Unroe. “They are not just running radar but are being seen around town;”
•That former Council-woman Jennifer Tyree and former Town Clerk Roxane Unroe put up the town’s Christmas decorations;
•That the Alleghany Highlands Christmas Mother program has asked for support by adopting a family, volunteering to work at the Christmas Mother shop, and/or by donating items or finances.
•That the Virginia Municipal League has asked for volunteers to serve on its commission on local governments. The deadline is Dec. 12;
•That the flag pole will be dedicated at Iron Gate’s Veteran’s Park on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7;
•That the upcoming Clifton Forge dam rehabilitation project may affect Iron Gate’s water rates.
Mayor Unroe’s concern is that 47 percent of the debt payment will come from the Alleghany County, and Iron Gate buys its water from the county.
“It will affect us,”?he said.
Mayor Unroe said he will reach out to Clifton Forge and Alleghany County officials to find out where Iron Gate stands with the possible increase in rates. He aid that he will keep residents posted on a regular basis as to what is going on with that;
•Upcoming events:
Dec. 7:?Christmas tree lighting at 7 p.m. at town hall,
Dec. 8: Christmas parade at 1 p.m., themed “Polar Express,”
Dec. 8:?The city of Coving-ton’s intergovernmental meeting from 5:30 p.m.–7 p.m. at Fudge Street Café,
Dec. 14:?The Iron Gate Fire Department’s Christ-mas Party at 6 p.m., and
Dec. 17: The town employees’ Christmas meal at 6 p.m. Iron Gate’s own, Twinks 220 Diner and Roller Smoke House BBQ, will cater the meal.
In other action, Council:
— Moved to leave to Public Works driver’s discretion whether to use I-64 or Valley Ridge Road when taking garbage trucks to the Island Ford Transfer Station.
— Moved to place a request for proposal ad for qualified engineering firms to provide the town engineering services on an as-needed basis;
— Approved a utility bill adjustment in the amount of $78.83, due to a water leak.
