Christiansburg Town Council opened the April 21 meeting first by amending the agenda to include resolutions of recognition for high school swim, track and wrestling team members and coaches; discussing the revised lease agreement between the Town and Virginia Tech for the use of the new aquatic center, received earlier that day; and shifting a closed meeting to discuss a personnel matter to the end of the agenda. Vice-Mayor Brad Stipes presided.
The CHS wrestling team was well represented by members, parents and coaches for their remarkable eighth consecutive Double A state championship. Council was prepared to recognize other CHS student athletes and coaches, but absent due to conflicts (the MCPS board, which funds education through the county, also meets on the same nights as Christiansburg Town Council and their agenda included student recognition as well).
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce President Shane Adams made a bi-annual report on the regional tourism development program which is funded by the Town, Blacksburg and Montgomery County.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of three requests which council also voted unanimously to approve. A rezoning was granted for property at 20 Midway Plaza Drive from Industrial to General Business. The property owner plans to develop a full-suite hotel on this site. A second rezoning of agricultural to single family residential was approved for property owned by David Linkous at 150, 180 and 190 Pine Hollow Road.
Pathway Christian Academy was granted a conditional use permit at 1550 Roanoke Street, where the private school will operate until its permanent home is constructed. This is expected to be complete within five years.
Councilman Mike Barber explained the New River Valley Development Corporation’s request for the Town to assume a moral obligation for critical refinancing. This property is tucked away in Fairlawn and the corporation provides business incubator services for new comapnies. Leases run approximately $3000 per month for tenants and the refinancing would save the organization about $36,000 per year. Barber, who serves as the president of this group, stated that due to associated risks he could not in good conscience recommend the Town approve this request.
“As close as I can explain it, it’s like co-signing for your brother-in-law and hoping everything works out,” he said. The corporation was seeking a response from all members by April 30. Members also include Blacksburg, Radford, Pulaski and the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski. Council voted unanimously against this request.
The town’s attorney had been directed to research State Code as regards requiring helmets for persons riding bicycles or skateboards within the Town limits. The attorney reported State Code only allows this requirement for persons under the age of 14 and is limited to bicycles alone.
Barber, who had requested this information, wondered why safety equipment could be required at other town facilities but not on public right-of-ways, pathways or parks. This may allude to goggles at racketball courts or chest-pads for catchers, etc. He stated that one of his daughters was a registered nurse in an emergency room, who had shared that some of the most severe injuries they saw were related to bicycle accidents. (This also links to a funding request made to council by Brain Injury Services of SWVA.) Council will continue researching options available for the requirement of helmets.
Stipes indicated he had asked that an update for the Huckleberry Trail be included on the agenda in anticipation of related federal funding being known. That information has now been delayed until May due to the revisions to the State’s Six-Year Road Plan, which Stipes said “has terrible news for the town” according to what was learned at a meeting with Congressman Rick Boucher in Wytheville on Monday.
Councilman Ernie Wade rand the Town Manager eported the revised lease between the Town and Virginia Tech had been returned. “This is the same as what you all last saw,” via emails he stated, and incorporated feedback from each council member. Wade and Jim Vanhoozier had served on an ad hoc committee to address concerns which were raised when the initial contract was presented to council by the Town Manager.
Councilman Henry Showalter, who had unsuccessfully proposed tabling this item until council’s next meeting, stated he saw the affiliation with the university as the town facility’s biggest benefit.
Key changes made included targeted occupancy by September 1, 2009, with the commencement date of the term sliding back in the event the facility is not opened by then. Town staff must always be on-site whenever any party is using the facility and the VT team training times for use of the competition pool were reduced from 60 hours per week to no more than 30.5 hours. A separate contract will be negotiated for any ACC Championship or large invitation meets and the Town retains concession rights at all events. For the ten weekends allowed to VT for scheduled meets, the time periods not being utilized provide the Town with access instead.
Council unanimously voted to accept the contract, which the Town Manager is authorized to sign.
A motion and vote to go into closed session occurred, with no action taken by council upon return to open session. Council’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall and includes a Public Hearing for the 2009-2010 budget. This is to be advertised in local newspapers and may be viewed at the town’s website under “News and Announcements (Civic Alerts) at http://www.christiansburg.org.