The Shadow
BY P. E. MARSHALL
Staff Writer
IRON GATE —A person to serve on the Iron Gate Town Council will be appointed Jan. 29.
A vacancy will be created January 1 when Chuck Unroe assumes the position of mayor. Unroe was elected mayor during the town election earlier this month. He currently holds a seat on council.
In response to a question from Randy Unroe during the regular town council meeting Thursday night, Mayor Alan Williams said council will hold a public hearing Jan. 26 when candidates will be given a chance to speak.
One person from the group of candidates will be appointed Jan. 29. The person appointed will serve until the next general election in November of 2015.
In another matter, two of the Hach flow meters for the town have been installed and council members received the first reading 20 minutes before the Thurs-day night meeting started.
Two meters were installed, instead of three as Botetourt County has installed a sewer meter on the line that flows into the town lines. The extra money, saved from the third meter, will be used for additional camera work in the sewer pipes.
Town Clerk Pamela Warren reported that Hemp Insurance in Covington has been contacted for incoming mayor Chuck Unroe’s bond amount. Council agreed to increase the mayor’s bond amount from $3,000 to $10,000. Town Attorney Thomas Simons explained this is a fidelity bond and not insurance.
Council approved a sewer bill adjustment request in the amount of $29.33 for a water leak in a customer’s yard. The customer filled out the proper forms as requested and was then granted the adjustment.
Council met in a closed session from 7:15 to 7:55 p.m. to discuss legal matters.
After the closed session, there were two public comments before the meeting adjourned at 8:04.
Randy Unroe said he couldn’t really hear all of what was said earlier but wanted to know if the mayor mentioned the purchase of a pressure washer to wash vehicles.
Mayor Williams explained that the town has purchased a pressure washer to clean the back of the garbage trucks.
Unroe raised concerns about EPA in the event there is water runoff into the ground or the river, causing possible contamination. Simons said he would check on this concern and get back to council.
Unroe then asked about the soon to be vacant council seat which will be filled in January.
Sonny Craft commented, “We should have another police report tonight. Brad (Hodge) refused to give one but has time to put this trash on Facebook.”
Williams said, “We are not going to discuss personnel issues or police or nothing else.”
He told Craft to fill out a form at town hall for complaints against the police, mayor, town council, or anybody else.
Craft said, “That’s a bunch of bull. This thing has gotta stop.”
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, trash will be picked up in town Wednesday.
The next town council meeting will be held Dec. 18 instead of Dec. 25, Christmas day.
