Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1033 wants to establish a “Road of Honor” in Covington and Alleghany County to recognize the service of local military veterans.
The proposal was presented to Covington City Council Tuesday by Dr. Paul Linkenhoker of Post 1033.
“The Road of Honor” would involve individuals paying for banners to recognize military veterans. The banners would be affixed to poles and be viewable to motorists. The VFW wants to establish the “Road of Honor” from the Rosedale Bridge to Interstate 64 Exit 16 at the Highlands Centre. Linkhdenhoker said that route would follow the historic Midland Trail.
“I anticipate by the inquiries we have already had that these are going got be very popular,” he said.
The banners have been widely popular in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., for three to four years. White Sulphur Springs no longer has a VFW post. Some of the former members of the White Sulphur Springs post are now part of Post 1033.
Banners boring military veterans can already be seen in the Callaghan area of Alleghany County and on Craig Avenue in Covington.
Linkenhoker said the VFW wants to place banners at the Rosendale Bridge and at a bridge on Durant Road. Those banners would honor two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from the Highlands.
The banner at Rosedale Bridge would honor Michael Folland, former Boys Home of Virginia resident who died in the Vietnam War.
The bridge at Durant Road is named in honor of U.S. Army Lt. Gary Lee Miller of Covington, who died in Vietnam in February 1969.
VFW Post 1033 would serve as the conduit for covering the cost of the banners. Families and individuals desiring to have a banner hung would submit money to the VFW. An additional fee could be charged to cover the cost of installing the banners, Linkenhoker said.
“I think it would really add to this city and their respect for veterans,” he said. “I would hope that people don’t haphazardly put these up. I think they would look more attractive if they are uniform.”
City Manager Krystal Onaitis says she supports the idea.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” she said.
Also Tuesday, city council was presented with an overview of a financial audit.
Gordon Jones of Robinson, Farmer and Cox compared the most recent financial data with trends over the past five years.
In fiscal 2021, the city realized revenues of $19.8 million, which was up 3.27 percent from five years earlier. Expenditures were $17.6 million, reflecting a decline of 1.8 percent from five years earlier. Expenditures have decreased largely due to lower contributions to the school board, Jones said.
“You held your expenditures down and revenues generally weren’t hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a good thing,” he said.
The city’s fund balance has increased from $5.6 million to $8.2 million.
The city will begin reassessing properties in 2022. Approximately 50 percent of the city’s tax revenues come from property taxes.
A reassessment firm will be hired in 2022 and the process will be completed by spring 2023.
“We will probably see an increase in values of the market holds like it is,” said Commissioner of the Revenue Cathey Kimberlin.
Tuesday’s meeting was a work session.
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