[00:00:01]
YOU GO.[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
ORDER THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 27TH TO ORDER.AND I'M GONNA START OFF WITH OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]
UP IS GONNA BE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THIS MONTH WE WELCOME GUNNER AND MASON LARSON TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.AND IF YOU BOYS WILL COME FORWARD AS GUNNER AND MASON, UM, ARE COMING FORWARD.
GUNNER AND MASON ARE THE SONS OF WEST LARSON AND CANDACE LARSON GUNNER'S IN THE FIFTH GRADE AT HILDE J BARBARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE HIS FAVORITE SUBJECT IS MATH.
HE HAS A PRETTY COOL MATH TEACHER TOO, I MIGHT SAY.
UH, HE HAS A VERY COMPETITIVE YOUNG MAN WHO ENJOYS PLAYING ALL SPORTS.
HE'S PLAYED SEVERAL SEASONS OF SOCCER FOR THE FRONT ROW SOCCER ASSOCIATION AND JUST FINISHED HIS FIRST SEASON OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, WHICH HE BELIEVES IS CURRENTLY HIS FAVORITE SPORT.
MASON'S IN THE SECOND GRADE AT HILDA J BARBER, WHERE SCIENCE IS HIS FAVORITE SUBJECT.
MASON IS ALSO VERY COMPETITIVE AND ENJOYS PLAYING SOCCER AND VIDEO GAMES, AND MASON WANTS TO USE ALL THAT INTEREST IN SCIENCE TO BECOME A GEOLOGIST WHEN HE GROWS UP.
BOTH BOYS ENJOY PLAYING OUTSIDE RIDING BIKES AND THEIR SCOOTER.
UM, AND I WILL SAY THIS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD A STUDENT SAY THIS, BUT BOTH BOYS ENJOY PLAYING PICKLEBALL WITH THEIR DAD.
UM, AND, UH, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE RECENT UPGRADES TO THE TENNIS COURTS OF BEING OR GETTING LOTS OF USE AS A PICKLEBALL QUARTZ.
NOW, UM, I UNDERSTAND THEY BOTH SAID HIBACHI WAS THEIR FAVORITE FOOD.
I'M SURE HIBACHI FRESH IS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
UM, ALSO, BOTH BOYS LOVE TO FISH AND IN FACT, GUNNER CALLED HIS FIRST STATE CITATION SMALL MOUTH BASS FROM THE SHENANDOAH RIVER LAST SUMMER.
GUNNER AT MASON CHOSE THEIR GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM ME TO SPLUNKERS.
UM, AND THEY WILL ALSO BE RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING THEM FOR THEIR PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT WORLD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON OCTOBER 27TH, 2025.
SO, BOYS, IF YOU ARE READY, IF EVERYBODY WOULD PLEASE STAND ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
I DON'T GUESS I HAVE, YEAH, I'M SEE MY INTERNET THING UP THERE.
SIGN IN AND MR. MCKEY IS GONNA TAKE YOUR PICTURE.
[3. ROLL CALL]
YOU DO ROLL CALL? MAYOR C**K ROLE HERE.COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? HERE.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE THE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2025 REGULAR MEETING.
AND OCTOBER 6TH, 2025 WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
[5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA AND/OR REVISION TO ORDER OF BUSINESS]
FIVE, OR ANY ADDITION DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA AND OR REVISION TO ORDER OF BUSINESS.MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL REMOVE PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN B ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS IN TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 75, PERTAINING
[00:05:01]
TO DESIGNATED SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE HOUSING AND DIRECT STAFF TO RE-NOTICE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOVEMBER 24TH, 2025.OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION A SECOND, AND WE JUST NEED A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR THIS.
COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON KING? YES.
SO WE WILL, UM, BE REMOVING ITEM SEVEN B, AND I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC IF THERE WAS ANYONE HERE, UM, REGARDING THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
IT WAS UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE WILL, UH, BRING THAT BACK AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]
OUR RECOGNITIONS.UM, AND WE ACTUALLY, UH, OUR PLAN TONIGHT WAS TO RECOGNIZE TWO MEMBERS THAT SERVED ON THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW THAT, UM, WILL NOT BE CONTINUING ON WITH THAT.
UM, ONE, UH, WAS, UH, GARY DWAYNE DEWEY VAUGHN.
AND DEWEY, DUE TO A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, IS GONNA BE JOINING US IN NOVEMBER, SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE HIM THEN.
AND THE OTHER PERSON THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING IS CATHERINE SNYDER.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE.
UM, BUT MS. SNYDER, UH, IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION, ASSISTING AND ADVISING ON THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND SITES WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT SHE GETS THIS, BUT I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, AND I'LL SAY IT PROBABLY MANY MORE TIMES THAN THAT, IS THAT WE CANNOT DO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW IS ONE OF THOSE BOARDS THAT, UM, WE NEED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ON.
AND AGAIN, WE'LL RECOGNIZE DUE DEWEY IN NOVEMBER.
[7.A. Rezoning Application Submitted by Michael Williams and Stephen Williams, Co-Trustees of the James E. Williams Family Trust, Requesting an Amendment to the Zoning Map to Reclassify Vacant Lots on Elsia Drive from C-1 Community Business District to R-3 Residential District.]
ARE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THE FIRST ONE IS SEVEN A.AND SO I'M GONNA READ VERY QUICKLY ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO LEARN OF INFORMATION OF WHICH THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THEY COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND INDICATE IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
IF THE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU MAY SIMPLY STATE THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS.
AFTER THREE MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL CUT OFF.
PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND TO REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT, INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY.
AND SO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, UM, IS A REZONING APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MICHAEL WILLIAMS AND STEVEN WILLIAMS, CO-TRUSTEES OF THE JAMES E. WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST, REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY VACANT LOGS ON ELCA DRIVE FROM C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY.
COUNSEL'S RECEIVED THE REZONING APPLICATION FROM MICHAEL WILLIAMS AND STEVEN WILLIAMS, CO-TRUSTEES OF THE JAMES E. WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY VACANT LINES ON EL SEA DRIVE, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP TWO OH A SIX SECTION ONE PARCELS FIVE C AND SIX FROM C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT COUNSEL DISCUSSED THIS REQUEST THAT THEIR WORK SESSION HELD JULY 7TH, TWO, 2025.
SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT THE TITLE.
A NEW DEED WAS PREPARED TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AND IS ATTACHED, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
UM, AT THIS TIME, STAFF IS THERE, COUNSEL, DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S ANYTHING YOU NEED STAFF TO PRESENT ON THIS? I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR LAUREN AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
UH, THE, THE ONLY ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAD, I WAS LOOKING AT THE MAP, UM, AND, UH, THERE IS NO ACCESS RIGHT.
TO SOUTH ROYAL AVENUE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY? YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU, UM, IF YOU FEEL LIKE ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE FURTHER EXPLAINED, IF NOT, WE CAN ALWAYS ASK YOU AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU NEED MAYOR TO, BUT MADAM MAYOR, YES.
I WANNA MAKE, UH, CLEAR WITH STAFF, THERE'S BEEN NO PROFFERS OFFERED FOR THIS REZONING.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
[00:10:02]
MADAM MAYOR, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR STAFF.UH, IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED PROVED THIS, CORRECT? YES.
UH, UH, ALL I ASK IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE PLANNING ACTION, PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION, IT'S LEFT BLANK.
UM, CAN WE MAKE SURE WE GET THIS COMPLETED? UM, WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS, UH, JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT ACTION PART OF THE AGENDA WHEN WE GET IT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE IT AS WELL, CORRECT? YEP.
DID YOU ALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.
UM, I SHOULD HAVE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO, I'LL OPEN IT AND NOBODY'S SIGNED TO SPEAK, NOR WHICH TO SPEAK.
I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT.
AND FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE BI MOVE THE COUNSEL APPROVE A REZONING APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY MICHAEL WILLIAMS AND STEVEN WILLIAMS, CO-TRUSTEES OF THE JAMES E. WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST, REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO RECLASSIFY VACANT LOTS ON EL DRIVE, IDENTIFIED BY TAX MAP 20 A SIX, SECTION ONE PARCELS FIVE C AND SIX FROM C ONE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD OFFER IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THIS PARCEL IS THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED FOR REZONING, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY, UM, IN LINE WITH A COMMUNITY BUSINESS, BUSINESS DISTRICT.
IT'S MUCH LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER REZONING APPLICATIONS.
UM, WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE FOR A GROCERY STORE OR RETAIL SHOP TO GO INTO THAT AREA.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE ODD LOTS THAT WE HAVE PLACED SOMEWHERE THAT ISN'T ZONED TO WHAT MEETS THE TOWN'S NEEDS.
YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY MADAM MAYOR, THAT, UH, YEAH, THIS, IF, OBVIOUSLY THE PROPERTY SURROUNDED BY R THREE ALREADY AND GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULTY OF THE CURRENT ACCESS OR LACK, I SHOULD SAY, THEREOF OF ACCESS, UM, FOR A COMMERCIAL ENTITY OF ANY SORT TO GO THERE, I THINK OF ANY MAG IT'S, IT'S, IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
UH, MUCH MORE SO I THINK THAN A RESIDENTIAL ENDEAVOR.
UH, THIS IS MY PLANNING COMMISSION HAT PUT, UM, WEARING RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UH, BUT ANYWAYS, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, IT IS SURROUNDED AJA OR ADJACENT TO R THREE.
AND AS, UH, VICE MAYOR VIAL SAYS, I, I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE BETTER SUITED AND GIVEN THAT IT WAS ALREADY PLANNED TO BE, UH, RESIDENTIAL ANYWAYS, THIS FALL SUIT WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, COMP PLAN.
IF THERE'S, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, ROLL CALL.
COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES.
[7.C. Ordinance Amendment to Rescind Town Code Town Engineer §4-43 – Appointment: Dutiesfrom the Town Code.]
SEVEN C.UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, SEVEN B HAS BEEN MOVED, BUT PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM SEVEN C IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO RESCIND TOWN CODE TOWN ENGINEER FOUR DASH FOUR THREE DASH APPOINTMENT DUTIES FROM THE TOWN CODE.
UM, I, I'LL JUST READ THIS SUMMARY REAL QUICK, TINA.
COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO RESCIND TOWN CODE TOWN ENGINEER FOUR DASH 43 DASH APPOINTMENT DUTIES.
TOWN CODE CURRENTLY STATES THAT THE TOWN ENGINEER IS IN APPOINTED POSITION THAT HAS CONTROL OVER ALL PUBLIC WORKS.
THE POSITION IS THE ONLY ONE SPECIFICALLY REFERENCED IN THIS MANNER THROUGHOUT THE TOWN CODE.
REMOVING THE TOWN CODE SECTION WOULD ALLOW THE POSITION TO BE WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
OTHER SECTIONS OF TOWN CODE THAT REFERENCED THE TOWN ENGINEER'S RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LAND DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN SHALL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT PEOPLE MIGHT QUESTION LIKE WHY WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT IT'S 'CAUSE IT IS A CHANGE IN OUR TOWN CODE.
SO I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO ONE SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN THAT RESENDS TOWN ENGINEER FOUR DASH 43 APPOINTMENT DUTIES FROM THE TOWN CODE AS PRESENTED.
SINCE THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, MR. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN
[00:15:01]
WOOD? YES.COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG HERE TONIGHT.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]
THESE ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE ONE.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL CALL HIM FORWARD.
WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
IT IS THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.
PERSONS ADDRESSING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNCIL.
UPON RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR, THE CLERK OF COUNCIL, THE SPEAKER SHALL STATE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, AND INDICATE IF THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING.
STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
AFTER THAT TIME IS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF.
REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS, OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING.
THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE WARNED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN.
THE MAYOR WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ASK THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE ROOM SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN.
UM, MS. PRESLEY, WHO DO WE HAVE TO SPEAK? DONALD STALLINGS.
UM, MY NAME IS DONALD STALLINGS.
I RESIDE AT 1 4 2 RUGBY STREET HERE IN FRONT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
REGARDING ACCESS TO MY PROPERTY.
WHEN I PURCHASED MY PROPERTY, THE DEED DID NOT SHOW DOCUMENTED ACCESS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN ACCESS TO DOESN'T EXIST.
MY GOAL HERE IS TO SIMPLY FORMALIZE THAT ACCESS THROUGH PROPER DOCUMENTATION, WHETHER THAT IS BY A RECORDED EASEMENT, A LEASE, OR A RENEWABLE PERMIT.
I'M NOT PARTICULAR ABOUT THE FORMAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO LEGALLY AND RESPONSIBLY REACH AND USE MY PROPERTY.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHERE THIS REQUEST CURRENTLY STANDS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS, AND I'VE DONE MY BEST TO PROVIDE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION REQUESTED BY COUNCIL.
THE DELAY IN GAP IN PROGRESS UNDERSTANDABLY CAME BY TRANSITIONING OF TOWN MANAGERS, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A MEETING WORK SESSION NOR ANY APPROVED MINUTES SHOWING THAT COUNSEL EVER MADE A DECISION ON THIS REQUEST PUBLICLY ONLY THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE TOWN'S CONCERNS.
I'VE SUBMITTED A DRAFTED EASEMENT AGREEMENT, HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT AND PROOF OF LIABILITY INSURANCE NAMING THE TOWN AS INSURED.
ADDITIONALLY, THE TOWN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT I'VE BROUGHT ON AN ATTORNEY TO ASSIST WITH NAVIGATING THIS REQUEST.
IT SEEMS THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT INFORMATION.
MY INTENTION IN BRINGING ON LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS NOT TO THREATEN LITIGATION, IS SIMPLY TO ENSURE THAT THE AGREEMENTS ARE WRITTEN CORRECTLY AND MEET THE TOWN'S REQUIREMENTS.
MY GOAL REMAINS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TOWN TO REACH A SOLUTION.
IF THE TOWN PREFERS TO DRAFT AN ACCESS DOCUMENT ITSELF, WHETHER IT'S AN EASEMENT PERMIT OR LEASE, I'M HAPPY WITH THAT APPROACH.
AND FRANKLY, I'D PREFER IT FROM A COST STANDPOINT AT THIS POINT.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNSEL, COUNSEL TO REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, COMMUNICATE ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE ADDED OR REMOVED, AND PROCEED WITH A VOTE TO BRING THIS MATTER TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT, JUST A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS MY PROPERTY IN A WAY THAT'S SAFE, INSURED AND BENEFICIAL TO BOTH MYSELF AND COUNSEL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME, YOUR PATIENCE AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING THIS MATTER TO A CONCLUSION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SUE'S? NO ONE ELSE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? NO, I THINK SO.
[9.A. Report of Town Manager]
TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS THE REPORTS.AND SO WE'LL START OFF WITH THE REPORTS OF THE TOWN MANAGER.
UM, UH, MR. PETTY IS ACTUALLY AWAY ON A TRAINING, AND, UM, MR. WILSON IS OUR ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER IS HERE IN HIS STEAD.
UH, SO I GOT A FEW THINGS HERE THAT MR. PETTY ASKED TO REVIEW, UH, AND JUST BRING TO LIGHT THE, UH, FIRST, UM, WOULD LIKE TO REMIND CITIZENS THAT THE TOWN HAS OBSERVED HAS OBSERVED AS OF OCTOBER 16TH, THE DAILY STREAM FLOW, UH, RATE OF THE SOUTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH HAS DROPPED BELOW 400 CUBIC FEET,
[00:20:01]
UH, PER SECOND, OR APPROXIMATELY 260 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.UH, AS A RESULT OF THIS REDUCED RIVER FLOW AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ISSUED WITHDRAWAL PERMITS, ALL USERS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM ARE REQUESTED TO OBSERVE VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.
ALSO THIS WEEK, UH, LINE PAINTING CREWS WILL BE WORKING ON LINE PAINTING THROUGHOUT THE TOWN AND WORKING NIGHTS.
UH, THIS WEEK, UH, LET'S SEE HERE, ROYAL AVENUE WATERLINE UPGRADES AND PAVING.
UH, SO THE TOWN'S CONTRACTOR IS UPGRADING WATER SERVICES ON NORTH ROYAL AVENUE.
UH, THEY'LL BE WORK, UH, WORK WILL BE TAKING PLACE, UH, 10:00 PM TO TO 6:00 AM THIS WEEK.
AND, UH, NEXT WEEK THROUGH NOVEMBER 7TH, UH, ANYONE ON THE NORTH END OF TOWN FROM COMMERCE AVENUE TO SIXTH STREET IN BEL AIR TO SHENANDOAH AVENUE MAY EXPERIENCE LOW WATER PRESSURE, UH, OR NO WATER.
AFTER 10:00 PM UH, ONCE WATER AND WATER PRESSURE ARE RESTORED, RESIDENTS SHOULD WANT RUN FAUCETS TO CLEAR ANY DISCOLORATION AND AIR IN THE LINES.
MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IN THIS AREA AND BE AWARE OF CREWS WORKING, UH, ONCE COMPLETED.
THE TOWN IS HOPING TO PAVE, UH, ROYAL AVENUE IN THE FIRST PART OF NOVEMBER, UH, WEATHER PERMITTING, UH, EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE PRO BRIDGE PROJECT.
UH, THE CONTRACTOR HAS POURED THE DECKING FOR THE EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE.
UH, THEY'RE WORKING ON THE STORM DRAIN INSTALLATION AND CURB AND GUTTER TO PREPARE FOR POUR PAVING.
UH, THE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED HERE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
UH, HAPPY TO SAY THE TOWN DID KICK OFF THE CITIZENS ACADEMY.
UH, THE KI UH, THE FIRST ACADEMY WAS, UH, UH, WAS AT TOWN HALL, UH, WITH A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND GOVERNMENTAL ON OCTOBER 8TH, UH, UH, MAYOR COCKLE, MYSELF AND THE TOWN MANAGER, UH, WERE IN ATTENDANCE.
AND, UH, THEN RECONVENED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 16TH AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE RECEIVED, UH, SOME, UH, VERY PO POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE PARTICIPANTS.
UH, AND LASTLY, UH, HOMETOWN HERO MILITARY TRIBUTE BANNERS, UH, THE TOWN CREWS WILL BEGIN INSTALLING THE, UH, HOMETOWN HERO MILITARY TRIBUTE BANNERS HERE THIS WEEK ALONG ROYAL AVENUE.
IN TOTAL, THERE ARE 75 BANNERS, UH, THAT WILL BE PLACED ON THE LIGHT POLES ALONG ROYAL AVENUE FROM 14TH STREET TO ER ROAD.
[9.B. Report of Councilmembers]
NEXT UP IS THE REPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.I'LL START, UM, I'LL START DOWN HERE WITH MR. RAPPAPORT.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT? UH, YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, FIRST ONE WAS I, UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, THE 64TH ANNUAL NAACP FREEDOM FUND BANQUET ON SEPTEMBER 27TH AT THE NORTH WARREN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE TOPIC OF, AT THAT EVENT WAS THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW WHERE THEY DISCUSSED, UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
UM, SECONDLY, I ATTENDED THE, UH, VML CONFERENCE IN ROANOKE.
UM, AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TOPICS OF CONVERSATION, UH, DOWN THERE.
UM, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, EVENTS THAT I ATTENDED WAS ABOUT CYBERSECURITY WENT OVER, UH, THAT, UH, IT'S A PHASE IN PROGRAM IN VIRGINIA.
UH, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS PAYROLL PIRATES, UH, UH, TRYING TO MITIGATE THAT IN YOUR, IN THE PUBLIC SETTINGS.
UH, STEALING EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
UH, UH, SO THERE'S AN OFFERING FOR ORACLE SOFTWARE THAT YOU CAN BUY TO CIRCUMVENT THIS.
UM, THEY TALKED ABOUT RED HAT, UH, SUPPLY BREACHES, UH, THAT THESE THINGS WOULD HELP, UH, MITIGATE THAT.
UM, UH, CONCERNS ARE ABOUT BACKDOOR SCHOOL.
THEY CAN COME IN THROUGH, THROUGH THE, UH, THE BACK DOOR INTO YOUR SCHOOLS, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S SOFTWARE THAT CAN BE PURCHASED TO, UH, MITIGATE THESE ATTACKS.
UH, THEY ALSO HAD A DATA CENTER, UH, FORUM ON, I THINK HIS NAME WAS ROSS LIVING HOUSE.
UM, UH, HE HAPPENS TO BE WITH CALVARY REAL ESTATE ADVISOR, I THINK IT'S IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
[00:25:02]
UH, THE DATA CENTERS, UH, THE, THE POSITIVE ASPECT OF DA DATA CENTERS, THE CONCERNS OF DATA CENTERS.UH, BUT ONE OF THE BIG ONES WAS THE, UH, THE PROPERTY TAX, THE REAL ESTATE TAX, IT EQUALS REVENUE.
UH, THEY DID SAY THAT, THAT IT SHOULD MATCH YOUR, YOUR, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND THAT YOU, YOU OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT FITS YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
UH, THE OTHER, UH, AREA THAT I ATTENDED WAS, UH, THE FINANCE AND FINANCE PUBLIC UTILITIES TALKED ABOUT, UH, WAYS TO FINANCE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS.
I WON'T GO INTO A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, THEY TALKED ABOUT, UH, WHATEVER YOUR FIVE YEAR PLAN YOU OUGHT TO BE TAKING IN YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES INTO, INTO THAT, UH, PLAN AND REVIEWING YOUR CASH ON HAND VERSUS YOUR CONTINGENCIES IN DEBT SERVICES.
UM, I DID ALSO TAKE A TOUR OF THE, UM, ROANOKE WESTERN WATER RECLAMATION SYSTEM.
UH, AND, UH, THAT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE DOWN THERE FROM THE WAY THAT THEY, UM, THEY BRING, BRING THE USED WATER BACK INTO THE SYSTEM AND THEY TREAT IT, AND THEY EVEN HAVE A, UM, BEFORE THEY RELEASE IT BACK INTO THE RIVER, THEY EVEN HAVE, UH, A SYSTEM WHERE THEY, UM, UH, CAPTURE THE METHANE GAS.
THEY ACTUALLY, CATHERINE, UH, CAPTURE THE METHANE GAS, AND THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH, UM, UH, ROANOKE GAS TO, UH, IT, IT, IT'S, THEY DON'T GET ANY MONEY, BUT THEY GET CREDITS.
SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING OF THE WAY, UH, THE WAY THEY HANDLE THAT.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THINGS, UH, UH, THERE WAS SOME LEGISLATION ON THE NEXT TO LAST DAY THERE, UM, WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ARLINGTON COUNTY, UH, BROUGHT UP THE IDEA THAT, UH, VML NEEDS TO ENDORSE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO SUPPORT THAT TYPE OF LEGISLATION.
AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE THIS PERSON, UH, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT IT WAS ATTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE, LOW LOW INCOME HOUSING.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE SOME BRIEF THINGS ABOUT, UM, THE VML CONFERENCE THAT I LEARNED ABOUT.
COUNCILMAN INGRAM? UH, YES, MADAM MAYOR.
UH, I TOO ATTENDED THE VML CONFERENCE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT.
UH, HE AND I, UH, WE ATTENDED DIFFERENT SESSIONS THERE SO WE COULD KIND OF DIVIDE AND CONQUER, UH, DURING SOME OF THE KEYNOTE PARTS OF THE, OF THE CONFERENCE.
SO I HAD ACTUALLY ATTENDED A, UH, PRESENTATION MADE BY DOMINION POWER, AND IT WAS IN REGARDS TO HOW THEY'RE LOOKING TO, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, SPREAD THE COST OF THE POWER CONSUMPTION, POWER TRANSMISSION, AND POWER CREATION, UH, DUE TO LARGE, UH, CONSUMERS THAT THEY HAVE HAD THAT HAVE BEEN COMING ACROSS LATELY, UH, PARTICULARLY DATA CENTERS.
ANYWAYS, SO, UH, THEY HAD INDICATED THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA TO GET A BILL, UH, TO QUOTE, TO LONG STORY SHORT, HELP SPREAD THE COST, UH, FOR THOSE LARGER USERS.
UH, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT LA PROOF'S IN THE PUDDING.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST, I'M JUST PASSING THE WORD ALONG ON THAT REGARD.
UH, I ALSO INTENDED THE, UH, WELL, BRUCE WENT TO THE OUTING AT THE, UH, TREATMENT CENTER.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE AIRPORT.
UH, THAT WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS.
OF COURSE, ANYBODY KNOWS ME, WOULD GUESS THAT'S WHERE I'D CHOOSE, RIGHT,
[00:30:01]
SO, UH, UH, THAT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE.OF COURSE, THEY MADE THEIR PITCH ABOUT HOW THE, UH, AIRPORT PLAYS A ROLE IN THE, IN THE, UH, THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE, OF NOT JUST THE, UH, CITY OF ROANOKE, BUT ALSO THE WHOLE, UH, UM, SOUTHWEST PORTION OF VIRGINIA IN PARTICULAR.
UM, SO YEAH, SO, UH, THAT WAS A KEY POINT FOR ME.
AND AS COUNCILMAN REPPORT SAID, WE, YOU AND I DID ATTEND ONE THING TOGETHER.
I THINK IT WAS THE FINANCE ONE OR SOMETHING, ONE PART, YEAH.
SO HE, YEAH, HE EXPLAINED THAT ONE PRETTY WELL.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE FOR THE BML CONFERENCE.
UH, SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO SAY, OF COURSE, I WAS AT OUR, UH, TOWN'S, UH, HALLOWEEN, UH, CELEBRATION THIS PAST, UH, SATURDAY.
AND OF COURSE, MADAM MAYOR HAD A, HAD A, SHE WAS THERE HANDING OUT, UH, CANDY, WHICH I WASN'T AWARE THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE CASE.
I FELT BAD I WOULD'VE STAYED, UH, TO HELP.
UM, BUT ANYWAYS, UH, I JUST WANT MELISSA AND I HELD DOWN THE FORT
'CAUSE I, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE, WE WERE HANDING OUT, OH, SORRY.
BUT ANYWAYS, UH, I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, YOU KNOW, OUR BUSINESSES IN GENERAL.
UH, THERE WERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND WHEN I SAY MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN, THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY WERE FROM ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX, YOU KNOW, MANASSAS OR, AND TO THE, TO THE THREE OR FOUR BUSINESSES THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO WITH THE OWNERS.
I HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB.
SO IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YEAH.
WHEN PEOPLE FROM OUTTA THE AREA ARE SAYING THAT PARTICULARLY TO, TO OUR BUSINESSES.
SO, AGAIN, I ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TELLING ONE BUSINESS OWNER, I LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT INTO MIND.
AND WE, THIS IS A HECTIC TIME OF YEAR FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, LOT OF LOCALS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TRAFFIC COMING IN, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN THEY COME INTO TOWN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THE LEAVES HERE IN TOWN TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UP ON SKYLINE, BUT THEY COME HERE BECAUSE OF OUR PEOPLE.
SO THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET THAT WE HAVE WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE IN OUR TOWN IS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.
SO IF PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA COME, WELL, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE TREATED WELL.
SO IT WAS JUST GOOD TO HEAR MULTIPLE FOLKS SAY, HEY, YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND AS BUSY AS THEY WERE, I MEAN, THERE WERE TRICK OR TREATERS COMING IN, UH, GETTING, YOU KNOW, GETTING FOOD AT, AT, UH, THE MILL LDS, YOU KNOW, ALL UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET.
SO ANYWAYS, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH FOR SURE, FOR MYSELF AND THE TOWN.
UM, ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME WE SAT UP HERE, UM, THERE WAS WHAT COULD BE CALLED A CONTENTIOUS CONVERSATION REGARDING WATER AND SUPPLYING WATER TO THE CORRIDOR.
AND THEN WE HEAR TONIGHT THAT WE'RE ONCE AGAIN AND, AND A WATER CONSERVATION.
AND, UM, AS THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF, NOW WHEN WE PROVIDE WATER TO THE CORRIDOR, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AND STANDARDS, AND WE ACTUALLY DON'T GET TO GIVE THEM THE SAME NOTICES OF THE WATER CONSERVATION.
SO WE SUPPLY IT TO THEM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO ABIDE BY OUR RULES.
WE CAN WRITE THINGS IN CONTRACTS OR MAKE REQUESTS OR LOOK AT WHAT THEY PUT ON THEIR APPLICATION, BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW IF THEY'RE ABIDING BY THAT UNTIL THEY'VE EXCEEDED IT AND GONE OVER IT.
SO I, WHEN I GOT THE NOTICE OF THE WATER CONSERVATION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I JUST THOUGHT, HOW IRONIC THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL TO CONSERVE WATER, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN.
UM, AND IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF WATER CONSERVATION DURING MY TIME ON COUNCIL.
UM, SO ALSO, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.
THEY DON'T TEACH YOU IN SCHOOL ANYMORE TO TURN THE WATER OFF WHILE YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
UM, I THINK GARDENS ARE MOSTLY DYING NOW.
I KNOW MINE IS, UM, THIS MONTH I ATTENDED THE MAIN STREET AMERICA EVENT WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO WALK MAIN STREET WITH THE PEOPLE FROM MAIN STREET AMERICA AND THE DOWNTOWN COMMITTEE AND ATTEND A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION, UM, AT ROYAL CINEMAS AFTERWARDS TO DISCUSS OUR VISIONS FOR FRONT ROYAL, WHAT WE ARE PROUD OF, UM, WHAT MAKES FRONT ROYAL, FRONT ROYAL, AND WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER, WHAT WE HAVE IMPROVED UPON.
UM, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
UM, AFTER THAT, I WAS ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN, GO AND TAKE A TOUR INSIDE OF THE MURPHY THEATER BUILDING.
I WAS VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UH, MAYOR RELL WAS ALSO A PART OF THAT LAST MINUTE.
WE WERE INVITED TO COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND, AND IT'S JUST, UM, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE.
UM, AND THAT WAS A DECISION MADE BY THIS VERY COUNCIL.
[00:35:01]
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY PROUD OF.THAT WAS GONNA BE A SHIPPING CONTAINER STACK OF APARTMENTS.
AND INSTEAD IT'S GOING TO BE A PERFORMING ARTS THEATER THAT'S GONNA BE RESTORED.
UM, AND IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND IT'S RIGHT DOWNTOWN.
AND THE REALLY UNIQUE THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING MAIN STREET AMERICA AND REFLECTED ON DURING THE TOUR OF THE MURPHY THEATER BUILDING IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS OR BUILDING OWNERS, THE PROPERTY OWNERS, PARTICULARLY, WHETHER THEY OWN THE BUSINESS OR NOT, ON MAIN STREET OR LOCAL PEOPLE WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH WORK DONE TO REVITALIZE HER MAIN STREET OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY, UM, THAT'S ORGANICALLY BEING PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I SPOKE WITH SOME MEMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO SAT ON THE BOARDS FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL THAT WE APPOINT, AND WE WERE KIND OF BRAINSTORMING AND WE WERE WALKING UP AND DOWN BEFORE I KNEW IT, I PASSED THE MAYOR AGAIN AN HOUR LATER, AND I'M LIKE, YOU'RE STILL ON MAIN STREET? AND SHE'S LIKE, YEAH, YOU'RE STILL ON MAIN STREET.
AND WE WERE BOTH LIKE, DON'T YOU HAVE JOBS? BUT I STARTED WORKING, WALKING WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THESE BOARDS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO AS A TOWN AND WE COULD DO AS INDIVIDUALS, UM, JUST TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT AND UTILIZE SPACE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY THIS MONTH.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE JOHN MARLOWE MEMORIAL, WHERE WE RENAMED THE PLAZA, WHICH WAS FORMERLY THE GAZEBO AREA.
UM, AND EMILY MARLOWE SHARED SOME VERY BEAUTIFUL WORDS ABOUT HER FATHER.
UM, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE MISS MARLOWE SEE HER HUSBAND BE HONORED.
AND THE PRESS HAD UNFORTUNATELY LEFT.
BUT AFTERWARDS SHE GAVE SOME WORDS ABOUT JOHN'S LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND HIS COMMITMENT, AND HOW AT TIMES SHE WONDERED WHERE, HOW IT CAME FROM, BECAUSE HE WAS SO PASSIONATE IN THAT REGARD.
AND, UM, IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO REFLECT DURING THAT AS WELL.
I REMEMBERED THAT BEING MY FIRST COMMUNITY SERVICE GIG WHEN I DISOBEYED MY PARENTS WAS GOING TO WASH MR. MARLOW'S CARS BY HAND ONE SUMMER.
UM, THEN I ATTENDED THE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES, HAD SOME GREAT STREET FOOD, UM, FROM THE FOOD TRUCK VENDORS DOWN THERE ON FRIDAY EVENING WHEN I WENT.
UM, AMY AND COUNCILMAN WOOD WERE ACTUALLY SERVING SOME DELICIOUS ADULT BEVERAGES.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL AND, UH, JUST SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY.
IT TRULY FELT LIKE STARS HOLLOW TO WALK AROUND THE MUSIC, THE DANCING, ANYBODY THAT HAD ANY DIFFERENCES IN THIS COMMUNITY PUT THOSE ASIDE FOR THAT WONDERFUL EVENT.
AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, SEVERAL OF THE FOOD VENDORS HAD ALREADY SOLD OUT OF FOOD BY THE TIME I GOT THERE, AFTER THE JOHN MARLOW MEMORIAL PLAZA.
I KNOW ALSO, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET HAD RECORD YEARS FOR SALES, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO WHAT I CALL THE LEAF PEES.
'CAUSE IF YOU'RE BORN AND RAISED HERE, IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE TEND TO AVOID THIS TIME OF THE SEASON OR GOING TO TOWN, OR HAVING TO DRIVE THROUGH, UM, SOUTH STREET.
BUT I'LL SAY, AS ANNOYING AS IT CAN BE, THIS IS THE SEASON THAT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY RUNNING ALL YEAR LONG.
THIS IS WHAT PUTS THE OPERATING FUNDS AND MOST OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS TO JUST TRY TO HAVE SOME PATIENCE.
UM, THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO GET THEM TO STAY IN THE LANES THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN, TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
BUT, UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A BEAUTIFUL MONTH FOR THE LEAVES TO CHANGE.
AND I'M SADDENED BY, YOU KNOW, THE PARK CLOSURES.
BUT THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL IS STILL GREATLY PROFITING FROM THE ECOTOURISM AND THE BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS US.
AND, UM, I'M CONSTANTLY REMINDED WHY I'M PROUD TO CALL FRONT ROYAL HOME, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
UM, ANYTHING? YEAH, THAT OKAY? YEAH.
I WAS DOWN ALL DAY ON SATURDAY.
I WANNA SAY IT WAS A GREAT JOB BY THE EMPLOYEES THAT THAT WORKED FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED WITH IT.
THEY WERE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
UH, I WANT TO, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I KNOW IT'S A BUSY TIME FOR Y'ALL.
WHAT, FOR THREE WEEKENDS, CHIEF? PROBABLY LONGER THAN THAT.
IS IT BUSY? Y'ALL LIKE THREE WEEKENDS FOR THOSE, FOR THE COUPLE WEEKENDS I'VE SEEN THEM.
ALL THEY'VE DONE IS STAND IN THEIR ROAD IN DIRECT TRAFFIC, HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.
UM, I WAS AT THE MARLOW PLAZA FOR THAT.
UM, AND IT'S LIKE VICE MAYOR SAID, UH, I'VE LOOKED AT, HERE WE GO.
I LOOKED AT, UH, MEDIA TODAY AND, UH, PEOPLE AROUND TOWN ARE FUSSING ABOUT THE LEAF LOOKERS, AND I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE LEAF LOOKERS, WE CAN WHOLESOME TAXES DOWN MORE THAN LIKELY.
SO THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
UM, PJ YOU SAID THAT ROYAL AVENUE'S GONNA BE PAVED BY WHEN? HOPEFULLY BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
[00:40:01]
I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF PHONE CALLS ON IT.THAT'S THE WAY IT IS, BUT, AND THAT'S ALL I GOT.
UM, OCTOBER 3RD, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COFFEE AND CONVERSATION.
UM, THAT'S A CHAMBER INITIATIVE.
THAT'S THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH, HELD IT ON QUEUE.
UM, AGAIN, ONE OF OUR MARVELOUS DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, UM, UH, OFFERING THEIR FACILITY.
UM, IN OCTOBER, WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HEARING FROM DR. MARTIN, THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UH, WHAT A DELIGHTFUL INDIVIDUAL HE IS.
AND I, I CAN SEE WHY WE KEEP HEARING, OH, IF WE COULD ONLY KEEP HIM, KEEP HIM.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM, UH, WHEN I WAS IN MARTINSVILLE.
DR. MARTIN WAS THE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT OF HENRY COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND THEN HE RAN FOR HIM, WAS ELECTED TO THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO HE HAS THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BEING ON BOTH SIDES, UM, THE SIDE NEEDING THE MONEY AND THE SIDE, CREATING THE MONEY.
AND, UM, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT HE'S ABLE TO WORK HIS MAGIC HERE AND, AND GET OUR TWO BOARDS WORKING TOGETHER.
I DO KNOW THAT THE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES NEARING THE END, I BELIEVE.
AND, UM, I THINK HIS PRESENCE HERE HAS BEEN UPLIFTING.
IT'S BEEN ANOTHER POSITIVE THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, THE SHORT TIME HE'S GONNA BE HERE, UH, AFTER THAT, UH, VENTURED DOWN MAIN STREET FOR, UM, A REVVING CUTTING FOR THE RELOCATION OF FIDOS FINES AND KITTY'S COLLECTIBLES, WHICH IS OUR HUMANE SOCIETY'S THRIFT STORE.
THEY HAD A, UH, RIBBON CUTTING THAT DAY.
I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN DEMON PAYNE WAS THERE.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF I SAW ANY OF YOU.
IT WAS, IT WAS A LARGE CROWD IN THERE, AND MY WIFE, OF COURSE, HAD TO FIND SOMETHING TO BUY.
UM, CAN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT HER SPENDING MONEY DOWNTOWN, IT SEEMS. BUT, UM, ANYWAY, UM, UH, LIKE THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, I ATTENDED, UH, MAIN STREET AMERICA, THE MEETING AT ROYAL CINEMAS, ONCE AGAIN, A WONDERFUL DOWNTOWN BUSINESS, UH, THAT SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY, ALLOWING THE USE OF THEIR FACILITY FOR THE MEETING.
UM, THE NARRATIVE THAT THE THREE OF US SHARED WAS VERY SIMILAR, UH, FROM REVIEWING MAYBE BACK WHEN MAYOR COCKRELL WAS A, A CHILD, HER MEMORIES OF MAIN STREET PLUS MINE GO BACK FURTHER THAN THAT.
UH, VICE MAYOR ENTAL, THOUGH,
REMEMBER THE FACT THAT ONE TIME MAIN STREET WAS A COLLECTION OF BUSINESSES.
THAT'S WHERE YOU WENT TO SHOP, THAT'S WHERE RETAIL WAS.
AND WHAT A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE NOW AS A COMMUNITY WITH THE REINVENTION AND THE REIMAGINATION OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INVESTING, HAVE INVESTED OR IN INVESTING MORE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND, AND I, I WAIT, UM, UH, TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS, UM, WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, RESULTS OF DOWNTOWN AMERICA VISITING.
UM, LIKE MANY OF YOU, OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE AT DOWNTOWN, UH, DANCING DOWNTOWN.
UM, THE NICE THING ABOUT THAT FESTIVAL AND THE FESTIVAL THE NEXT DAY, UM, THEY EMPLOYED OUR ROTARY CLUB.
WHEN I SAY EMPLOYED, THEY DONATED MONEY TO OUR ROTARY CLUB FOR POURING BEER FRIDAY NIGHT, THE FRONT ROW CLUB ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT AND THEIR SUPPORT.
THAT MONEY WILL IN TURN GET ROLLED BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEN THE JOHN MARLOW DEDICATION.
WHAT, WHAT AN AWESOME, AWESOME PRESENTATION THAT WAS, UH, FOR A MAN WHO HAD A VISION AND, AND, AND JUST RAISED US ALL UP, UH, HAD A VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S COME TO BE NOW.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT OPEN SPACE AND FESTIVAL AREA AND GATHERING AREA IN DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL.
THE, UM, UM, UH, I SEE SUPERVISOR COLORS IN THE BACK, I BELIEVE.
UH, HER AND I, MY WIFE ATTENDED THE NORTHERN NANDO VAL VALLEY REGIONAL COMMITTEE.
COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE C WAS BELL GROVE ON THE 16TH.
UM, AMY AND I SAT WITH A COUPLE LADIES THAT ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS OF WOODSTOCK, AND WHEN YOU START TALKING TO OTHER SMALL TOWN, UH, REPRESENTATIVES,
[00:45:01]
YOU REALIZE OUR PROBLEMS ARE NOT UNIQUE.THEY DRAW WATER FROM THE, THE SHEOR.
UH, THEY'VE HAD ISSUES, THEY'VE, THEY'VE LOOKED AT GROWTH AND BIKE PATHS, AND A LOT OF THINGS, UH, ARE SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE FACE AND WE ENTERTAIN OFTEN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS EXPECTING WHEN I WENT THERE, BUT IT WAS MORE SOCIALIZATION REALLY THAN ANY TYPE OF PRESENTATION.
UM, ON THE 23RD, ATTENDED A POLIO FUNDRAISER.
UH, ROTARY CLUBS, UH, RECOGNIZED THE 23RD AS NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL POLIO DAY, AND THAT WAS HELD AT OUR AX THROWING COMPANY.
UH, I WILL REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT THE SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE PROGRAM SIGNUPS ARE CURRENTLY, UH, OCCURRING AT THE SALVATION ARMY EVERY DAY TILL THE END OF THIS MONTH, FROM 10 TO THREE.
IF YOU OR A FAMILY, UH, NEED ASSISTANCE PROVIDING CHILDREN CHRISTMAS, PLEASE GOODBYE THERE AND SEE THEM.
ALSO THAT THE, UM, THE SALVATION ARMY WILL BE HOSTING A THANKSGIVING MEAL, COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING MEAL BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING, IS WHY I WANT TO MENTION IT.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 26TH, UM, FROM SIX TO EIGHT AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, SOCIAL HALL LAST YEAR, THEY SERVED UPWARDS TO 300 MEALS.
THIS YEAR, THEY'RE EXPECTING, UM, MAYBE UP TO 500.
UM, UH, A YOUNG LADY FROM, UH, HEIGHTS KIDS FOUNDATION, UH, TIFFANY HALLA HALL, HOLLIDAY HOLIDAY HOLLIDAY CAME AND MADE THE MOST GENEROUS OFFER BECAUSE WORKING WITH KIDS AS THEY DO, THEY KNOW WHERE A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES ARE.
THEY KNOW A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO DELIVER MEALS ON THAT DAY.
AND WE THANK THEM FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S THE COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER.
UM, LAST SATURDAY NIGHT, WE ATTENDED, UH, THE, UH, FOUR H GALE.
THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT THEY'VE HELD.
UM, WHAT A MARVELOUS FACILITY.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE HAD BEEN UP THERE IN A LOT OF YEARS.
AND IT, IT'S SURPRISING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOURISM AND THINGS, UH, AND WE TALK ABOUT CONFERENCE CENTERS.
WE HAVE QUITE A NICE CENTER UP THERE, AND PERHAPS THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN LOOK AS A COMMUNITY OF PARTNERING THEM WITH MORE AND GET MORE UTILIZATION OUT OF THAT, GET MORE TOURISTS TO, TO VISIT OUR AREA.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, OCTOBER, WE ATTENDED THREE CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE, OF, OF COMMUNITY, UH, LEADERS AND PEOPLE THAT, UH, PUT A LOT BACK IN THIS.
BRENDA WELLS, WHO WAS WELL KNOWN WITHIN THE, UH, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I KNOW THAT MY CHILDREN ENJOYED, UM, HAVING HER AS A COUNSELOR.
AND, UH, THE CONTRIBUTION SHE MADE IS JUST LARGE IN SO MANY CHILDREN'S LIVES.
UM, DEBBIE LEWELLEN, WHO OWNED DEBBIE'S IVY GARDEN, BUT DEBBIE WAS WELL KNOWN BEFORE SHE OPENED THAT BUSINESS AS A CONSTANT CONTRIBUTOR AND ORGANIZER AND DOER FOR THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN, SADLY, LAST SATURDAY, THERE WAS TO BE A, UH, A GET TOGETHER TO RALLY AROUND JAMES VAUGHN.
BUT AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, JAMES, UH, PASSED AWAY ON THURSDAY, AND IT BECAME A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE AGAIN, HOSTED BY ON Q, ANOTHER DOWNTOWN BUSINESS WHO HAS MEMORIALIZED, MEMORIALIZED ONE OF THE BAR STOOLS THERE IN JAMES'S MEMORY, JAMES WAS AN ENTERTAINER FRIENDLY AND AN INFECTIOUS LAUGH, AND, AND WE'RE ALL GONNA MS. JAMES A WHOLE LOT.
LASTLY, I'M GONNA PUT A SHAMELESS PLUGIN.
CARS CHANGING LIVES IS HAVING A COMMUNITY CAR SHOW CARS, BIKES, TRUCKS THIS SATURDAY AT THE, UH, FAIRGROUNDS FROM, UH, 11 TO TWO.
AND WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S AREA, FOOD, ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO DO.
IT'S FREE TO BRING YOUR CAR OR TO COME AND LOOK AT THE CARS.
AND LAST THING, I CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE OUT, IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED EARLY, VOTING ELECTION DAY IS COMING UP NOVEMBER 4TH.
COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMINICA PAIN.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER? UM, YES.
SO I, I ALSO ATTENDED THE PICK OF THE LITTER RIBBON CUTTING, AS WAS MENTIONED.
UM, THE RATO, UH, SOFT OPENING HAS NEWS TASTING ROOM.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE BY NOW, I MEAN, IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES WE HAVE IN THE, IN THE AREA.
[00:50:01]
UM, I OBSERVED THE TOWN COUNTY LIAISON MEETING.IT WAS ACTUALLY JOSH AND LORI THAT WERE UP AT THE, UM, AT THE DAIS.
UM, FELT IT WAS A VERY GOOD PRODUCTIVE MEETING IN TERMS OF, UH, TRYING TO NAIL DOWN, UH, FUTURE ACTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE JOHN MARLOW, UH, MEMORIAL.
AND BEFORE THAT WAS A SOCIAL FOR, I GUESS IT WAS CONSIDERED, UM, A GATHERING OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND NONPROFIT FOLKS.
UM, UH, THAT WAS COORDINATED BY HI KIDS FOUNDATION AND WAS ALSO, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, DOWN AT, UH, HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN, UH, DISTRIBUTING CANDY.
I WANTED TO PUT A A THANK YOU OUT.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE DO LIKE, UM, THE, THE JOHN MEMORIAL PLA MEMORIAL MEMORIAL PLAQUE THAT WAS PUT UP, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'D BE A SIMPLE THING TO DO, BUT THAT WAS MONTHS OF PLANNING, ORGANIZING, DEALING WITH PERSONALITIES AND, AND FIGURING OUT THE WEATHER AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO MAKE THINGS LOOK VERY EASY SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN.
SO, UH, SHOUT OUT TO LIZZIE LEWIS, PUBLIC WORKS LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, WHO REALLY DO A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR ALL THE EVENTS.
UM, AND LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE ON HALLOWEEN.
I KNOW THERE WAS SO MANY CHILDREN,
UM, BUT IT WAS, UH, SUCH A CROWD.
BUT I KNOW THAT FOLKS WILL BE OUT AGAIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, BE WATCHING FOR THEM.
AND, UM, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE DRIVING AND WALKING.
[9.C. Report of the Mayor]
REPORT.MY HUSBAND SAID, LORI, AFTER THE FIRST MINUTE, THEY STOP LISTENING, SO YOU MIGHT, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT, WHEN I SIT DOWN ON SUNDAY NIGHTS BEFORE THE MEETINGS AND I PULL UP MY CALENDAR TO TRY TO THINK OF ALL THE THINGS I'VE BEEN TO, I'M ALWAYS LIKE, NO WONDER I'M EXHAUSTED.
RIGHT? SO IN THE LAST MONTH, ON SEPTEMBER, I'LL READ IT FAST, ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE WOMEN WHO STARTED BOXES OF BASICS IN CENTERVILLE.
AND THIS IS A JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN THE KIDS FOUNDATION AND BOXES OF BASICS.
AND I'M REALLY GONNA HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT IN NOVEMBER.
UM, I DON'T WANNA REVEAL ANYTHING FOR ITS TIME, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM.
ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, THAT WAS A BUSY DAY.
SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT.
UM, UH, IT WAS ACTUALLY A BUSY DAY FOR THOSE OF US ON THE ANNE AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE.
I ATTENDED THE NAACP FREEDOM FUND BANQUET AT NORTH WARREN FIRE HALL WITH COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT AND WOOD, AS WELL AS SUPERVISOR CHERYL COLORS.
UM, DR. GILBERT WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER AND THE ACTIVITY THAT HE HAD US DO, WHICH I WAS RECRUITED TO BE ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
IT WAS SO UNIQUE COMPARED TO ANYTHING I'VE EVER SEEN AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND IT REALLY MADE YOU PONDER HOW YOU RESPOND AS WELL AS YOUR COMMUNITY RESPONDS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
I LEFT THAT DINNER AND HEADED OVER TO ST.
LUKE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC ANNUAL DINNER, SHENDO GOLF COURSE.
AND COUNCILMAN WOOD? I, I KNOW COUNCILMAN WOOD.
YOU WERE WITH ME? NO, FOR THAT ONE.
I JUST DIDN'T, I JUST KNOW SO MANY OF US LEFT THAT ONE TO GET THERE.
UM, IT WAS A SPECIAL NIGHT WITH A SILENT AUCTION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CLINIC.
AND JUST NOTE TO SELF, BE CAUTIOUS.
AS YOU BID ON ITEMS AT A SILENT AUCTION, YOU DON'T SCRATCH YOUR NOSE.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD NOT BID ON TOO MANY, OR YOU MIGHT JUST WIN THEM ALL AND HAVE TO GET THE SHERIFF'S HUSBAND TO HELP YOU CARRY THEM ALL TO YOUR CAR.
UH, BUT SERIOUSLY, THE WIND CHIME I WON HAVE BROUGHT ME SO MUCH JOY ON MY BACK DECK.
IT KINDA SOUNDS LIKE CHURCH BELLS EVERY TIME THE WIND BLOWS.
BUT SEPTEMBER 28TH WAS ANOTHER BUSY DAY.
IT STARTED WITH THE WARREN COALITION CELEBRATE KIDS' DAY EVENT, WHERE I HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR THAT ORGANIZATION BY SITTING IN THE PITCH BURST.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT SIZE DOES NOT MATTER.
ONE OF THE SMALLEST BOYS THERE SOAKED ME EVERY TIME HE GOT UP TO THROW THE BALL.
UM, THEN I DID SPEND THE AFTERNOON CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF THE LATE BRENDA WELLS, AS COUNCILMAN WOOD ALREADY MENTIONED.
AND, UM, HE DID SUCH A NICE JOB TALKING ABOUT HOW, UH, WHAT AN IMPORTANT MEMBER SHE WAS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE TIME SHE DEVOTED, UM, TO OUR YOUTH.
SEPTEMBER 29TH, I ATTENDED A GRANT INTERVIEW WITH THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT GRANT COMMITTEE, UM, WHERE A GRANT THAT I HELPED WITH RESEARCHING, PLANNING AND WRITING INCLUDES ELEMENTARY ENRICHMENT KIDS IN THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY, THE WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND OTHER HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
UM, THEY'RE DOING RESEARCH, A RESEARCH PROJECT ON EACH OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
UM, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE FOUND, UM,
[00:55:01]
OUT A WEEK LATER THAT OUR GRANT WAS SELECTED AS A RECIPIENT.UM, AND I'M EXCITED THAT THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL GET THE EXPERIENCE AND FEEL A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THEIR TOWN AND COUNTY.
OCTOBER 3RD, I ATTENDED THIS SOFT OPENING OF THE RATA VINEYARDS TASTING ROOM.
SHELLY COOK AND HER FAMILY AND STAFF HAVE ONCE AGAIN OUTDONE THEMSELVES.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, COZY, AND SO WELCOMING, AND THE VIEWS ARE LIKE NO OTHER.
SO AGAIN, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO AND VISIT.
OCTOBER 8TH WAS THE KICKOFF FOR OUR SECOND TOWN OF FRONTAL CITIZENS ACADEMY.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A GOAL THAT CAME OUT OF THIS TOWN COUNCIL'S 2024 RETREAT.
UM, WE HAD A FULL HOUSE SIGNING UP FOR IT AND NOW, UM, THAT THEY HAVE MET TWICE.
AND THEN WE MET, UM, AT TOWN HALL TO LEARN ABOUT TOWN GOVERNMENT.
AND THEN WE MET THE VERY NEXT WEEK AT THE PD.
UM, AND THEY GOT A TOUR AND FOUND OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THERE.
UM, EACH NIGHT OF THE ACADEMY HAS A VISIT TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT IN THE TOWN WHERE THEY LEARN LOTS OF INFORMATION AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
UM, I THINK THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED SO FAR.
AND IN NOVEMBER, WE'RE GOING TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLAN.
OCTOBER 10TH WAS A CRAZY BUSY DAY, AN EVENING.
IT STARTED AT THE WARREN COUNTY ADULT RECOVERY COURT COMMENCEMENT FOR THE MOST RECENT GRADUATE.
UM, THOSE ARE JUST SPECIAL EVENTS THAT IT, YOU GET TO HEAR PEOPLE'S STORY AND THE SUCCESS OF THEIR RECOVERY.
UM, NEXT I WENT TO THE HIGH KIDS FOUNDATION HEARTS UNVEILING AT STONE BRANCH ART CENTER ON MAIN STREET.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S STILL A HANDFUL OF HEARTS THAT ARE STILL LEFT TO HOLD.
SPONSORING A HEART MEANS YOU COMMIT TO DONATE $50 A MONTH OR A TOTAL OF $600, WHICH WE'LL PROVIDE FOR MCKINNEY-VENTO STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE HOUSING INSECURITY AS WELL AS OTHER NEEDS.
THE MONEY MAY GO TOWARDS HYGIENE ITEMS, NEW SHOES, SPORTS EQUIPMENT OR FEES, OR EVEN HELP AS SIMPLE AS TO PAY FOR A YEARBOOK THAT SOME MIGHT, UM, TAKE FOR GRANTED.
BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THEM.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, THAT I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO HOLD A HEART IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU OR YOUR FAMILY OR BUSINESS FEELS CALLED TO DO OR YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, I'D BE HAPPY TO DIRECT YOU.
SO WOULD VICE MAYOR VIAL, WHO'S, UM, THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT BOARD.
UH, I LEFT THE HEARTS UNVEILING TO GO TO THE DOWNTOWN GAZEBO AREA TO UNVEIL THE SIGN THAT RENAMED THE VILLAGE COMMONS TO THE JOHN MARLOWE PLAZA.
AS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED AND TALKED ABOUT THAT MEMBERS OF THE MARLOWE FAMILY AS WELL AS MANY FRIENDS AND CITIZENS WHO KNEW MR. MARLOW WERE PRESENT FOR THE UNVEILING, UM, IT REALLY WAS A TRUE, IT, IT WAS TRULY A HIGHLIGHT OF MY TIME AS MAYOR BEING ABLE TO HONOR THE VISION THAT MR. MARLOW HAD WHILE SERVING AS MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FROM 1982 TO 1990, THE REVITALIZATION OF MAIN STREET AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF THE GAZEBO, WHICH IN MY BELIEF HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
IT WAS HIS VISION AND WE WERE ALL PROUD TO HONOR HIS LEGACY BY RENAMING THIS SPACE THAT HAS AND CONTINUES TO BE ENJOYED BY OUR CITIZENS AND VISITORS TO FRONT ROYAL.
ONE THING THAT I DID NOT MENTION THERE THAT NIGHT AND DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL, UM, AFTER IT WAS ALL OVER WITH, THAT OUR TOWN CREW, UM, NOT ONLY PREPARED THAT SPACE, WE, UH, A MEMBER OF OUR TOWN STAFF IN PUBLIC WORKS, WHO IN A FORMER CAREER DID MASONRY WORK.
AND SO IF YOU SAW, IF YOU GO DOWN AND SEE THE PLAQUE, HE LAID ALL THE BRICK WORK THAT WAS THERE.
SO, AS YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT OUR STAFF AND JUST THE WORK THAT, UM, THEY PUT IN TO MAKING THESE THINGS HAPPEN, UM, IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT.
I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT SAME NIGHT WAS THE KICKOFF FOR THE FESTIVAL.
LEAVES WEEKEND DANCING DOWNTOWN OUT ON FRIDAY NIGHT, MUSIC PLAYING, AND THE SPIRITS WERE DEFINITELY FLOWING.
UM, AND REALLY THE WEATHER COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY BETTER.
NOW, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT CALCULATIONS SUGGEST THAT IT WAS THE LARGEST CROWD IN THE LAST DECADE FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES.
UM, MANY THANKS TO REBA, THE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES COMMITTEE, AND OF COURSE OUR TOWN STAFF TO INCLUDE OUR TOURISM STAFF, OUR PD, ENERGY SERVICES, AND PUBLIC WORKS WITHOUT THEIR HELP.
NO EVENT OF THIS SIZE WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
ON OCTOBER 14TH, I ATTENDED, ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN WOOD AND VICE MAYOR BITTEN ALL THE FOCUS GROUP MEETING WITH MAIN STREET AMERICA FOLKS.
UM, I'LL SKIP THE REST OF THAT PART.
OCTOBER 15TH, I ATTENDED THE WARREN COUNTY ADULT RECOVERY COURT MEETING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TOWN ON OCTOBER 16TH, I ATTENDED THE WARREN COUNTY FRONT ROLE LIAISON MEETING, UM, WHICH I'M GONNA SHARE DURING OUR WORK SESSION NEXT WEEK.
SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT, UM, WE NEED INPUT ON.
ON OCTOBER 18TH, ATTENDED THE BRICK HOUSE BAR AND GROW ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
CHRIS AND CHRISTY GRADY HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB BRINGING THAT BUILDING BACK TO LIFE, CONTINUING ITS TRADITION AS BEING A GATHERING SPACE.
AND THEN THAT EVENING, I ACTUALLY ATTENDED MY 40TH CLASS REUNION
[01:00:01]
FOR WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.AND I JUST WANNA SAY TIME FLIES.
UM, OCTOBER 23RD, I ATTENDED THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT DINNER AT ROTO VINEYARDS.
UM, THE EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT WAS YET ANOTHER VISION OF JOHN MARLOW'S.
UM, THEY DID A BIG PRESENTATION AND ACTUALLY SHARED A VIDEO THAT NIGHT OF HIS INTERVIEW TALKING ABOUT HOW, UM, THE EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT CAME TO BE AND HOW HE HAD THE IDEA.
AND PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS CRAZY.
AND, AND, UM, THE MONEY THEY'VE RAISED, THE GOAL WAS TO RAISE LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPLETELY THERE YET, BUT JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, THEY WERE ABLE TO AWARD $82,000 TO PROGRAMS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ENRICH THE EDUCATION OF OUR LOCAL CHILDREN.
OCTOBER 24TH, I WAS THE SCARY CREATURE IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE HILL J BARBER ELEMENTARY, I WOULD TELL YOU ALL YOU WOULD KNOW 'CAUSE IT WAS A COSTUME AND NOBODY COULD SEE ME.
BUT THAT ONE LADY SAID, YOU KNOW, I GOT A HEART CONDITION, UH, AS WE WERE JUMPING OUT.
BUT, UM, AND THEN LAST, THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN DE HIM IN A GOOD PAIN.
AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HANDING OUT CANDY FROM THE TOWN AND SPOOKY SATURDAY HALLOWEEN EVENT DOWNTOWN.
I'M SURE Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES AND THE MANNERS WERE SPECTACULAR.
THAT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR.
SOMETIMES I KINDA WISH WE HAD A CLICKER TO COUNT ALL THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY THAT PACKED THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF MAIN STREET BECAUSE THEY WERE UP MAIN STREET, DOWN AROUND, WRAPPED AROUND.
UM, I THANK YOU TO ALL THE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED, AS WELL AS OUR TOWN STAFF WHO GAVE UP THEIR SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS HAD SOME HALLOWEEN FUN.
SO I HOPE NOVEMBER IS NOT THREE PAGES.
[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.SO I THINK, OKAY, I KNOW THERE'S A MOTION A SECOND.
I DO WANNA SAY FOR DISCUSSION THAT I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE ARE APPOINTING SOME FOLKS TO SOME BOARDS, AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THEM.
UM, THE L-B-B-C-A CHARLES GONI, WHICH IS GOING TO BE, UM, REAPPOINTED, UH, TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TONIGHT, WE HAD TWO PEOPLE THAT, UM, WILL NOT BE, UM, BACK ON THE BAR, ONE BY CHOICE ONE BECAUSE THEY, THEY'VE, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THEIR TIME TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE BOARD.
SO THERESA HENRY AND KEVIN CUTBACK WILL BE ON THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW AND THEN TO OUR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AS MR. TIM BROGAN.
AND MR. BROGAN IS HERE TONIGHT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE POINTED OUT AGAIN, AS I SAID BEFORE, WE CAN'T DO THE WORK OF THE TOWN WITHOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR TIME TO THIS TO THE, THE TOWN AND THE, AND WHAT GOES ON HERE.
[11. CLOSED MEETING]
IS CLOSED.DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNCIL CERTIFIED TO THE, OH, EXCUSE ME, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT TOWN.
COUNCIL CONVENE ALO MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 2 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE.
ONE PURSUANT SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 A THREE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA DISCUSSION OR CONSIDERATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE OR OF THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY TO SELL A VACATED 13,324 SQUARE FEET OF NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND THE UNIMPROVED ALLEY BETWEEN NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND VIRGINIA AVENUE.
HEY, THERE'S MOTION, A SECOND ROLL CALL COUNCIL.