The Shadow
Covington will soon need to begin work on revamping its emergency operations plan.
City Manager J.B. Broughman advised council Tuesday of the need to work on the plan. City council held a work session Tuesday night.
Broughman also stated that a plan is set and in place and a copy of the plan would be ready to present at next week’s council meeting.
Other topics of discussion took place during the new business portion of the meeting.
Each council member had issues to present during the meeting. Council member David Crosier asked his fellow council members for information regarding a board of equalization and board of assessors.
His concern stemmed from a recent phone call from a constituent having questions about taxation of property.
Crosier was informed that the board of assessors will meet in the timeframe of May or June 2015, due to assessments needing to be completed by June 30, 2015. The board of equalization will meet in August of 2015.
Councilman Allan Tucker raised concerns about particular areas in Covington, including an alley on Greenbrier Avenue flooding heavily when plentiful rains come in and results in flooded yards in addition to the alley.
Broughman said jet vacuums would be present if that issue were to come about and remedy that problem.
Councilman Bill Zimmerman raised two points of concern, the first was to have a code enforcer take a look at an antique store and barn at the county/city line toward the northern part of town. The second point of concern that Zimmerman raised was the congestion on the 800 block of Beverly Street. He presented photos showing that the contractors that live on that block do not provide a clear path for vehicles to go through. Zimmerman provided an example of a RADAR bus having difficulty navigating through the area.
Councilwoman Stephanie Clark took her time on the floor to address several things. The first was the speed limit on Alleghany Avenue. She spoke of a recent incident involving a local senior citizen being struck by a vehicle on Alleghany Avenue. Clark stated as she has in previous meetings that the speed limit should be lowered back to 25 miles per hour, but would consider 30 mph.
The next thing she brought forward was utilizing the empty buildings on Main Street by displaying window art to give the public something to look at. She cited an example of how a town she passes through coming back to Covington from her job does something similar to this to promote school spirit for that local high school.
A final topic Clark discussed was to consider Covington instituting a program that is similar to a current program in Roanoke where convicted felons who have paid their debt to society, will be hired (based on the severity of their crimes.) Clark said that the potential employees could work on a 90-day probationary period, and if they don’t work out, that would be the result.
Crosier added on to Clark’s idea by saying, “What if we were able to come up with the funds to create a part-time scenario to allow these people to get their foot in the door?”
That would be possible due to a $900,000 grant that would fund such a program.
Mayor Tom Sibold took his time on the floor to thank everyone in Public Works that repaired the potholes in a section of the city near Mallow.
In other business, council:
— Approved items for the Nov. 11 meeting: Teresa Hammond regarding Mountain Region Designation; Consideration of the proclamation regarding “Extra Mile Day;”
Consideration of an appointment to the Covington Planning Commission; Consideration of an appointment to the Roanoke Valley/Alleghany Regional Commission; Consideration of an appointment of a Zoning Administrator; Consideration of the second reading of Ordinance O-14-06 regarding the Property Maintenance code; Consideration of the first reading of Ordinance O-14-08 regarding Tax Exemption for Certain Rehabilitated Residential Property; Consideration of the first reading of Ordinance O-14-09 regarding the Exemptions from Personal Property Tax; and the consideration of Appropriations Resolution R-14-27 regarding purchase of a street sweeper in the amount of $151,000 (the street sweeper is in Covington and is working well), one person is designated to drive the street sweeper, but two more people are being trained just in case the original driver is unable to do so.
— A Saturday morning meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at City Council Chambers where the topics of discussion are budget, speed limit, City Council travel and any other business that is pertinent to City Council.
