MINUTES REGULAR! MEETING May 14,2024  Council for the City ofCovington) held aj regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. int the Council Mayor Thomas H. Sibold, Jr. calledt the1 meeting to order with thei following members present: Mayor Sibold; Vicel Mayor) David S. Crosier; Councilman William (Lance) Carson, Jr.; Councilman. Fred F.) Forbes; Absent: Councilman Raymond C. Hunter.. Also present were City Manager Allen] Dressler and City Attorney Mark Thei invocation was given by) Pastor Mrs. Wandal Moore, followed by thel Pledge ofA Allegiance.  Chambers of City Halll located at 333 W.1 Locust Street, Covington, Virginia.  Popovich.  Approval of Agenda votes. Special Presentation  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Carson. All members were in favor with" "aye"  Mr. Dressler introduced Tucker Keener whoi isi former student int the area school: system. He isar recent graduate from VCU.I Mr. Keener thanked Council for allowing him to present his work on 'Growthi in Appalachia: Downtown". He also thanked for Mr. Dressler for working with him. Mr. Keener spoke of revitalization and many oft thel highlights and goals are: Downtown Covington, Virginia has 129 structures. There are vacancies in downtown, approximately. 83% live int the area, who would be more invested in the area; 48% visit weekly. What to do to get more visitors: some buildings need repair, need restaurants, apparel and entertainment. Recreation & shopping after 5:00 p.m.; whilet talking to businesses, they mentioned therei is ar need for elderly parking. Goals: 1. Encourage the creation of new 3.) Improve the design of downtown with a scenic trail, etc, 4.1 Mitigate vacancies andi improve the aesthetics oft buildings 5. Incorporate thej paper mill with downtown revitalization 6. Establish al link with the Jackson River Sport Complex and downtown 7.1 Establish a leverage center 8. Establish lodging, for example, an Airbnb 9.1 Promote Covington throughout the region, state and the Omni Mr. Tucker thanked Council again for their time. Council members thanked Mr. Tucker and appreciated the workl he puti into this presentation and stated that his concepts are veryi informative. Mayor Sibold opened the Public Hearing pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427 (D), 15.2-2006, and 15.2- 1800d oft the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended) to consider Covington City Code by Amending and reenacting Chapter 44, Traffic-Bicycles; Mopeds, etc. Michael Phillips ofN. Beverly Avenue spoke about the Virginia Code and this code. Mayor Sibold stated that he sees mopeds, electric bikes and electric unicycle bikes drive fast and some drivers are not observing traffic laws. There were no other Mayor Sibold opened the Public) Hearing Public pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427 (D), 15.2-2006, and 15.2-1800 oft the Code of Virginia (1950, as amended) to consider Covington City Code by Amending andi reenacting Chapter 44 Traffic, Article V, Yield Right-Of-Way; Stop; Through and One-Way Streets, Section 44-239, Trucks restricted from certain designated: residential streets. Mayor Sibold statedt that there are currently 47 streets that are: restricted where trucks, tractor trucks, or semitrailers are restricted, as they cannot gett turned after going down the street. Mr. Dressler. receiveda a call asking about) Dolly. Ann because GPS sends drivers there and thati is why this street needs to be added tot the list. No citizens spokei in reference to this public hearing. Mayor Sibold closed thej publicl hearing. Dewey Perkins stated that with all due respect that Dewey's Automotive, LLC, 609 West Chestnut Street has been int thes same. location for 50 years and several businesses have been next door where the current Wright Way Motors is located. He has gotten along with all businesses. There have not been any accidents. Closing the street would be detrimental tol his business. Large trucks goingi into  businesses 2. Increase foot traffic with events, etc,  Homestead: and the Greenbrier resorts.  Public. Hearings  comments from citizens. Mayor Sibold closed thej public hearing.  Citizen Comments  Page 1of4    MINUTES REGULAR: MEETING May 14,2024  Covington Middle School also backup into thiss street to geti in/out for deliveries, Closing thiss street would land lock seven ofhis lots. He: showed Council photos oft trucks leavingt thel lot. Hei thanked Council. Lance Perkins, co-owner, reiterated what his brother Dewey hads stated and the street needs to Brandon Wright, Owner of Wright Way Motors, thanked Council for allowing him tos speak. He stated that previous owner, Tommy Garten, had thel lot paved and closing the: street would not put anyone in danger. The car wash bay area oft the car loti is a danger. He spoke about the 30: foot, offofCraig Avenue, that would assist) Dewey's. He mentioned thatt there! have not been any accidents however ifit would happen then the conversation would be remembered. He thanked Council for allowing himt to Mayor Sibold remembers when there were houses on the vacant lots andj paving took] place. The wash bay safety concerns him also. He delayed: further discussion tot the end of the meeting under  remain open.  speak.  old/unfinished business. Minutes Work Session Regular Meeting  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the following minutes, seconded by! Mr. Carson  Apri12,2024 April9,2024  Alli members were in favor with' "aye" votes Report of City Manager/Presentation of proposed budget  Mr. Dressler met with Columbia Gas representatives this week to confirm where they will be working next before the City begins pavingi in as specific area, Therei is great communication andl Mr. Dressler appreciates this andi information ist then forwarded tot the public withl Public Service. Announcements. There are areas ini the City where grass is not getting mowed, a notice is sent to give owners a time limit. If then not mowed, it will be mowed and an invoice sent tot the owner. The City is offering the spring cleanup. Pavingi is continuing in the City. The paving schedule is being discussed andi it must be addressed each year. The City will offer employees aj picnic on May 24 and will be given a couple hours after the event. There willl be al Farm! Fest tractor event tol be held Saturday, May 18i in downtown Hei met with] DEQ and) Engineers att the WWIP-Wastewater Treatment! Plant, $8 million dollar EQ Basinj project to tour thej plant. There are ai few small items that need tol be wrapped up, otherwisei itis  from 12:00 p.m. to 9:30 pm withe events.  completed.  Work is continuing on thel Love pocket park onl Main Street.  There willl be: a $6 million dollar grant project for wastewater linest throughout aj portion of the City Thel Nettleton property is City owned with City utilities. There is a lease agreement and the leaser pays Thel Joint $101 million dollar City and County Pad Site projecti inl Low Moor should be completed in There havel been sidewalk repairs going oni int the City. There is as salt storage: facility now ready for  beginning soon.  payments to the City. Worki is continuing.  lates summer.  storage ofs salt for roads duringi inclement weather.  Budget Presentation  Mr. Dressler thanked citizens and businesses for their support and investments ini the community. He thanked the Commissioner ofI Revenues' office for their work with citizens. He thanked Central Accounting staff for all their work ont the budget, David Bryant, Susan Walton, Lori) Humphries and  Sylvial Brown do a wonderful job.  Page2of4    MINUTES REGULAR: MEETING May 14,2024  Mr. Dressler proposes no: real estate taxi increase for fiscal year 2024-2025; thej proposed budgeti is over $1 million less than the previous budget, hej proposes $0.50i increase int utilities and $1.50i in sewer with a totali increase in the utility! bill of$2.00 making itai new combined total bill of $90j per month. The departments have gotten their budget requests in. Therei isa 32 year oldi firet truck that needs replaced. Therei is a worn out refuse truck that is used every day andi needsi replace. The camera van was destroyed ini the lightning strike atl Public Works a few years ago and needs replaced. Thes state mandates that water/sewer lines are checked via camera. The community is fortunate tol have a volunteer fire department. Mr. Dressler attended a meeting recently and the firel house isi ini need ofa an alarm system and updated HVAC system. Thej public works facility on Maple Avenue needs work including the: façade. Therei is green space between public works and the: former car wash, the vision is for there this tol be a gathering area for citizens. The: former car wash would become a museum for) Fire Department history. There isaj proposed addition oft two new staff members for public relations for Therei is $750,000 proposed budget for: water & wastewater treatment plant maintenance, development ofaj puppy park, putt-putt course and sidewalk repairs. Thel landfill has approximately 181 months of lifel left." Therei is work being done toi find other choices of where to dispose ofr refuse. The City will Mayor Sibold discussed budget work sessions tol be held May 21 and ifneeded May 28 at: 5:30 p.m. all Mayor Sibold asked that all streets be checked ift they are marked with no truck signs.  getting outi information to thej public, etc.  continue to service citizens. Council members agreed. Ordinances and Resolutions  Mr. Crosier motioned toa approve the following resolutions and ordinances, seconded by Mr. Carson. Resolution R-24-14E Private. Donationi tot the Alleghany Humane Society. 2) Resolutionl R-24-15 Opioid Settiement! Recoveries.  3) Ordinance 0-24-01 to amend and reenact the Covington City Code by Amending and) Reenacting various sections of Chapter 44, related tot thet use and operation ofmotorized: mopeds, motorized bicycles, etc.. 4) Ordinance 0-24-02 to amend andr reenactt the Covington City Codeb by Amending and) Reenacting Chapter 44, Traffic, Section 44-239, restricting trucks onc designated residential roadways. The roll call votes were as follows: Mr. Carson, for; Mr. Forbes, for; Vicel Mayor Crosier, for; Mayor Sibold,  for.  Old/Unfinished. Business  There was continued discussion: and consideration: fori intentt to vacate the right-of- way and disposition ofp public property with regardst toa a boundary adjustment survey between Wright Wayl Motors located at8 820 South Lexington Avenue, Covington, VA, and) Dewey's Automotive,: LLCI located at6 609 West Chestnut Street, Covington, VA. Mr. Carson noticed thatt thiss streety was already int the City code nota allowingt trucks.) Mr. Sibolds statedt thati ity was many years ago andt that nowi itis being considered to bea abandoned. There was discussioni for aj proposed entrancei into Craig Avenue. Dewey) Perkins statedt that this will not work with hist business becausel he owns and sells cars there andt the Mr. Sibold: spoke about this abandoning oft thes street would) keep cars out and! kidss safer. Mr. Carsons statedt that! hei is for keeping children safe. Each property would get approximately: 30f feet fromi the original survey. Mr. Crosier made ar motion tov vacate thes street, seconded by Mr. Carson. Ther roll call votes were: as follows: Mr. Carson, for; Mr. Forbes, for; Vice Mayor Crosier, for; Mayor Sibold, for. Mr. Perkins asked about his right-of-way because the entrance isa al hill and cannot be used. Mr. Sibolds stated thatt the vote was over andt thes street will be closed. Mr. Perkins statedt thatl hey will contact his attorney who will  change could cause tearing down of powerl lines withl large trucks.  contact the City.  Page 3 of4    New] Business  Mr. Sibold mentioned that sincel Mercer Street! has been paved, thati iti needs to continue tot be! kept cleaned up. With not further business to come before Council, Mr. Crosier made a motiont to,a adjourn, seçgnded by Mr.  Carson.. All members werei inf favor with 'aye' votes. PlAluok RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTEDBY REBECCA BRATTONNUCKOLS ACTING CITY CLERK.  T THOMASH.S SIBOLD,J JR., MAYOR  ATTEST:  Page 4of4