MINUTES WORK SESSION May' 7,2024  Council fort the City of Covington held a work session on Tuesday, May 7,2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers ofCity Mayor Thomas H. Sibold, Jr. called the meeting to order with the following members present: Mayor Sibold; Vice Mayor David S. Crosier; Councilman William (Lance) Carson, Jr.; Councilman Fred F. Forbes; Councilman Raymond C. Hunter.  Hall located at 333 W. Locust Street, Covington, Virginia.  Also present was City Manager Allen Dressler and City Attorneyl Mark Popovich.  CLOSED SESSION  Mr. Popovich read the statement for thej pursuant to thel Freedom of Information Act Section 2.2.3711(A)(1) oft the Code of Virginia thej purpose of discussing specific council-appointed personnel. Mr. Crosier motioned that Council move: into closed Council returned from the closed session. Mayor Sibold stated that Council has received approximately seven applicants for City Clerk. It was decided in closed session that Mr. Crosier and Mr. Carson will review applicants, interview and present to  session, seconded byl Mr. Hunter.  other Council members who they believe to be the best candidate.  Approval of Agenda Citizen Comments  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the agenda, seconded byl Mr. Carson. All members were in favor with "aye" votes.  Brandon Wright, Owner of Wright Way Motors, spoke that he could not attend the public hearing due toj personal reasons and gave Council aj packet ofinformation with al letter and photos. He stressed that thes street needs to be closed between him and Dewey's. Automotive because when employees wash vehicles in the wash bay area oft the carl lot, they back vehicles out and iti is Mary) Ellen Haines of South Church Avenue, asked about the: status of the City moving the organization out oft thel Edgemont building because this is breaking thel law on: zoning. Mr. Dressler stated that hel has been working diligently to get those folks moved and getting another building. He will make phone calls again this week and apologized that it takes time. Hei mentioned  difficult to see vehicles driving by who think iti is a street and also pedestrians walk to Food Lion, etc...  the building needs ai feasibility study and we do not want it to get dilapidated.  Sherriff Kyle Moore Quarterly Report  Sherriffl Moore gave Council information on1 the quarterly report of the Sheriff's office and Regional. Jail. Within the report it gave numbers ofs stats some were: 3,808 complaints answered by Sheriff's office dispatchers; 2,434 Civil process papers served in the City and County; 227 Criminal arrests by Sheriff's office personnel; 9,029 Alleghany Regional Jail transport miles; 1,433 Fire/EMS call dispatched, etc... He stated that there needs tol be some discussions in the future about a joint 911 center for the Mr. Crosier asked about why there would be ai move ofaj jail inmate. Sheriff Moore stated that one was due to medical reasons  CityofCovington: and Alleghany County.  and another because ofhaving enemies within the jail.  Page 1 of2    MINUTES WORK SESSION May' 7,2024  The Sheriff is asking int the budget for four new Deputies this will assist when staff are out sick, in training or on vacation. He stated that they are currently leasing vehicles andi it is approximately $115,000 and pay City taxes on these vehicles. He will request $200,000 in the budget toj purchase vehicles and they can be used later fors schools or other departments. Mr. Hunter asked if all Deputies take vehicles! home. Sheriff Moore stated that they do because they have equipment in the vehicle and can  get to the: scene a lots sooner. Report of City Manager  Mr. Dressler introduced Elijah Halterman. Elijah is a student and has been jobs shadowing with Mr. Dressler. Elijah gave an overview of how he was able to see. how the City and City Manager work. He visited City offices, water and wastewater plants, recreation facilities, landfill and Police Department. He was able to attend several meetings including budget meetings. He stated that iti is interesting to see what it takes to! keep the City going. Hei isi interested in Civil Engineering asa career. His most interesting visit was to the wastewater plant, howi it works and] how Engineering would come into the work there. Elijah thanked Council for allowing him to speak and thanked Mr. Dressler for his leadership. Mr. Dressler thanked Elijah and his parents, who were in attendance, for allowing Elijah to shadow him and visit City operations. Mr. Dressler gave an overview of what has been going on or coming up: he gave as shout out to thel Fire Department fort their work; spring cleanup has gone will in the City and they are now on the second week; there is paving in the. Jeter Watson Center area; staff will meet with Columbia Gas on their next area ofwork; public works staff! has been busy with asphalt patching; parks & recreation has been busy with grass mowing, getting ready for thej pool and ball tournaments; central accounting have been busy with budget; the love pocket park work is moving along and hope tol be completed in June; the field house at Casey field took two years of planning; have received bids; the Nettleton facility is a public/private garden center; thel bike rodeo went well, thanks to all that contribute. and work to give away 2001 bikes; there willl be 63 teams playing t-ball and baseball at the Mr. Dressler thanked' Terri McClung, Small Business Coordinator, for working diligently with new and existing businesses. Mr.  Sport Complex.  Crosier mentioned that the work is assisting businesses.  Mr. Crosier spoke of the paving needed and the heavy trucks cause the ripple in the old pavement.  Mayor Sibold asked about thel Nettleton project. Mr. Dressler stated that biology classes have visited the project. He asked the students about STEM and they immediately answered: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They talked about plants for humming birds, about operating the water flow from smart phones, the hydroponics willl be existing there in the  future. New Business  With no further business to come before Council, Vice Mayor Crosier motioned to adjourn, seconded byl Mr. Carson. All  members were ini favor with' "aye" votes.  THOMASI H.  Ah  SIBOLD,R,MAYOR  ATTEST:  Releua bnuhob RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTEDBY REBECCA BRATTON! NUCKOLS ACTINGCITY CLERK.  Page 2 of2