Dowd Appointed To Iron Gate Vacancy

IRON GATE — Ronnie Dowd was appointed to fill the council seat vacated by now-Mayor Chuck Unroe until the general election in November and Robert Daniel Sr. was unanimously re-appointed vice mayor in Unroe’s first meeting as mayor at Iron Gate Town Council’s meeting Thursday.

Dowd was appointed by a vote of 4-1. The other names considered for the vacant seat were Emmett Gilbert and Richard “Randy” Unroe.

“Everything has been running pretty smoothly as we are just getting started,” said Unroe.” He explained that he’s working on some things that took place before he took office.  

Unroe said he’s toured the pumping station and water tank on Iron Gate hill, as he’d never been there before.   

“I will have VDOT come down to look around and find out their recommendations on some of the water/sewer issues,” Unroe said.
 
The new Iron Gate mayor said he had been unable to address a railroad crossing concern during his short time in office.

“I haven’t had time to do anything about the railroad crossing, Randy,” Unroe continued, addressing Randy Unroe.
 
Randy Unroe volunteered to fix the matter himself to save the town some funds.
“I have all the tools to fix it,” he said.

Unroe explained, for the benefit of those who may not already know, that the mayor gets a monthly stipend to offset the mayor’s expenses for town business.

“I will not take the stipend until the town gets back on its feet,” Unroe concluded.  
He did, however, use the stipend for the month of January to buy a laptop to keep up with other agencies’ emails so he’ll be able to respond to them when he can.

In other action, council:

—  approved Board of Zoning Appeals members Patricia Ann Erskine, Gary Showalter, Joyce Aldridge, Kawahna Persinger,and Dorothy Unroe;
— granted an adjustment for a sewer leak;
— approved a request for a payment plan of $25 a week, for sewer, until paid in full;
— approved a business license for professional disc jockey services for Councilman Joey Crawford;
— filled Finance, Personnel, Streets/Alleys, Buildings/Grounds and Ordinance Committee Appointments.