The week of October 5th holds plenty of opportunities for citizens of Montgomery County to attend public meetings, several which may shape the future -- especially in Christiansburg, the county seat.
First though, note the Town of Christiansburg seems to be having problems with using a "Notify Me" feature on its revamped website. Emails do or do not go to those who have asked (in accordance with FOIA), to be notified of public meetings. Links are often broken or misdirected (like back to the "Notify Me" sign up link), instead of the agenda. This may be perceived as offensive (someone so deficient on internet basics is tasked with this) or deliberate (still trying to circumvent an informed constituency).
Monday is the last day for residents to register to vote. If you are unsure about this, read this post for more info.
Monday provides the first of two opportunities hosted by the League of Women Voters for residents to pose questions and hear responses from Blacksburg's ten candidates for council. More information about these individuals may be found at the League's website. Their second forum date is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26th.
On Monday, the Christiansburg Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will meet at 4 pm at the Rec Center.
Monday also has a 4 pm meeting for Christiansburg's appointed Planning Commission. Quick quiz: (1) Where is Diana Drive and why is the Montgomery County Comprehensive Plan relevant to future land use within Christiansburg? (2) How many times has an agenda item "in regards to provisions for a Historic District Overlay" appeared since March 2008, and what concrete steps have been taken?
Tuesday at 7 pm the Christiansburg Fire Department will have the "Fire Prevention Week" parade from the Town Hall down West Main Street (found on the county, not town, website).
Tuesday at 7:30, Christiansburg Town Council will hold a regular meeting. As usual, what's not on the agenda are the details of the Town Manager's "progress report" -- and this may include insights on why everyone (including the manager) had no clue about the aquatic center's real opening date or total costs. It also appears as if council will set aside a new procedure and act on a rezoning request the same night a Public Hearing is scheduled, as an action item for a vote and a closed meeting to discuss an Industrial Park prospect are included on the agenda.
The new Treasurer will coach council members on financial issues, and the newest appointee to the town's Planning Commission will put on another hat and update council on one of the projects his employer is working on for the town (downtown streetscaping project and Huckleberry Trail extension are two of these).
Also on Tuesday, the Montgomery County Public Schools board meeting will be held -- same time as Christiansburg's council meeting. A candidate forum was held for those open seats last week and the video can be viewed here. It's interesting which candidates made this a priority, and those who did not.
On Wednesday, the town's Aquatic Center Advisory Board will be meeting at 4 pm in Town Hall. They may continue hashing out membership rates and how to collect payments needed to cover the related debt service and operating costs.
The town's Board of Zoning Appeals had legal notices published last week, indicating a meeting on Thursday but which isn't listed on the town's website yet is expected to address possible violations in a residential community and consider variances requested in order to allow a new hotel in the mall area.
Choose to engage, choose to attend, choose to form your own opinions.
Note: An Oct. 20th Christiansburg Council meeting which appears on the town's website was previously canceled.