The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE - Clifton Forge Town Council held a public hearing and first reading Tuesday on a proposal to borrow $150,000.
The money would be used to repair a roof over the clock tower at town hall and construct an office building at public works on Howard Street.
The town has received a proposal from BB&T to borrow the funds at 2.03 percent with the payback being five years.
Town Manager Darlene Burcham said repairs to the roof at town hall are expected to cost $50,000. The estimated cost for the public works office is $100,000, she said.
If the town incurs the debt, the money will be paid back with tax dollars from the General Fund. The money would be repaid in annual installments of $31,851.47. In five years, the total payment, including interest, would be $159,257.35.
Council plans to hold second reading on the debt proposal Jan. 24.
There were no comments during Tuesday nights’s public hearing. Doody Morris, a former Clifton Forge mayor, did pose a question to council, however. Morris asked if a building that was moved from Clifton Forge to Covington for its farmer’s market was offered to the town for a potential public works building. Morris was informed that the building was not offered to Clifton Forge.
In other business Tuesday night, council approved a request to rezone 13.10 acres on Hickory Avenue from M1-Industrial to BG-Business General.
Burcham said the zoning change will allow the property to be marketed for use as a professional business park. The Planning Commission had recommended that the request be approved.
John Strott, a member of the Water and Sewer Rate Committee, gave council an update on two meetings that were held since July.
Strott is a new member of the committee. Other new members are Steve Greenblatt and Councilman Jeff Irvine.
Strott said the committee met Nov. 16 and Dec. 11. Although he did not discuss water rates, Strott said that the town experienced a shortfall in water and sewer revenue during November. He said actual water usage in the town fell below projections. Strott said the committee has not reached a concensus on how to address the revenue shortfall.
According to reports, the committee used high water-usage data when it recommended rates to council last June. Water and sewer rates were increased by council in July because the town was faced with paying Alleghany County for wastewater treatment service.
As a result of the rate increase and installation of water meters, Clifton Forge residents have cut back on their consumption. With revenues fal-ling below original projections, the rates may have to be increased again.
Clifton Forge residents currently pay a base rate of $94 a month for water and sewer. Overage charges apply to households and businesses that exceed the minimum monthly limit.
Strott said Tuesday night that the committee will know more about the rate structure after it analyzes more data. He expects a report to be filed with council within three months. Strott said the committee will weigh a full spectrum of potential options before reporting back to council.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, council also heard remarks from Nathan Sanford concerning RADAR Mountain Express bus service.
According to Sanford, the federal government provides $87,197 to the bus service, while the state allocates $26,508. Local funding amounts to $60,689.
Sanford warned that RADAR may have to cut back on its services in the Highlands due to potential funding reductions from The Alleghany Foundation and other sources.
Sanford noted that Clifton Forge does not budget money to RADAR. Funding for Clifton Forge is provided by Alleghany County, since the town is part of the county. Councilman Carl Brinkley said that Clifton Forge residents pay county taxes.
Several residents spoke at Tuesday’s meeting and said they rely on RADAR for transportation.
Sanford said he is trying to get the four local governments – Clifton Forge, Alleghany County, Iron Gate and Covington – to appoint representatives to a committee that would address funding for RADAR. He said he plans to attend meetings in Covington, Iron Gate and Alleghany County in the near future.
Dr. Jack Backels, chairman of the Clifton Forge Stars and Stripes Committee, told council that this year’s Independence Day celebration is being planned for July 4.
He said this year’s celebration will basically feature the same events of the two previous years. There will be a fun walk/run, a parade and a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of town hall. There will also be activities at the C&O Heritage Center. The celebration will culminate with fireworks.
John Hillert presented council with an update on the Masonic Theatre restoration project. He said The Masonic Preservation Foundation recently received a $100,000 grant from the Cabell Foundation and required matching funds have been raised.
Hillert said the matching funds were generated through a grant from the Nettleton Foundation, support from a local businesses and a donation from an individual.
He said the Masonic Foundation has also been notified that is will receive a grant from The Alleghany Foundation for the theatre’s ampitheater project. He said the grant will enable a master plan for the ampitheater to be developed.
The amphitheater is being planned for construction along a small stream that runs behind the theatre. Architectural students from Virginia Tech are assisting with the planning phase.
Council held a closed session and when the meeting reconvened in public, action was taken on one item. Council approve the appointment of two council members, Gale Hillert and Brinkley to an ad-hoc committee that will meet with representatives from Alleghany County. The county’s representatives on the ad-hoc committee are Clifton Forge West Supervisor Carolyn Barnette and Clifton Forge East Supervisor Suzanne Adcock.
The committee plans to meet Jan. 30.
Mayor Jimmie Houff announced that the League of Older American’s “Soup for Seniors” collection is being planned for Jan. 23-28 at Scott Hill and the Clifton Forge Fire Department. This year’s goal is 30,000 cans of soup. The drive is being held in conjunction with the American Association of Retired Persons.
