MINUTES REGULARI MEETING August 13,2024  Council for the City ofCovington held a regular meeting on' Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. int the Council Chambers of City) Halll located at 333 W.Locust Street, Covington, Virginia. Mayor Thomas H. Sibold, Jr. calledt the meeting to order with thei following members present: Mayor Sibold; Vice Mayor David S. Crosier; Councilman Fred) F.I Forbes; Councilman Raymond C. Hunter; Absent: Councilman William (Lance) Carson, Jr. Also present were City Manager Allen] Dressler and City Attorney Thei invocation was given by) Pastor Stephanie Clark followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  Mark Popovich.  Approval of Agenda votes. Citizen Comments  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Hunter. All members were in favor with' "aye"  Stephanie Clark, of Alleghany Avenue, spoke that ifthe City would purchase the old building at the corner of Pine Streeta and Alleghany Avenue,t that isi in bad repair and make ap parking lot to assist with parkingi int the area. Shes spoke about having: al housing project and citizens would pay utilities, purchase int the City and eat  at! local restaurants. Mayor Sibold thanked Ms. Clark for her comments.  Minutes  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the following minutes, seconded by Mr. Hunter  Regular Meeting July 9,2024 All members were: ini favor with' "aye" votes. Report of City Manager Mr. Dressler thanked:  Ms. Clark for her prayer and fori mentioning our great City; Fore everyone attendingi thei meeting; Chief Smith, emergency management ands staff: for the wonderful well attended National Night Out] last week at the Main Street Park; StaffofPublic Works, Police Department and] Parks/Recreation: for their work getting downtowni ready fort the. Annual Street Scenel Event last Saturday and for the wonderful cleanup after the event. Mr. Dressler received. many compliments about the: nice paving, street striping and flowersi in downtown. He thanked Cars Unlimited for this event and Alleghany The City was prepared when tropical storm) Debby came to the area. Staff checked storm drains and areas that are known tol have issues. Ift the City needs to declare an emergency declaration wel have 45 days to do sO. CSX was on site and working cooperatively. Thanks to Chief Smith and staff fort their With winter freezes and spring thaws isl has caused a crack and wall tol lean ini the Chestnut Street Wes arel looking forward to the new school year starting August 14, 2024 and also the newi football There was a ribbon cutting event for Ray's Sweet Shoppe and Poutinerie on Main Street this week. Mr. Dressler would like to work with restaurants forj possible events at the Pocket Park on) Main  Cruisers for other area events.  work keeping uss safe during the storm.  underpass. season beginning soon.  We wish them welli in their new business.  Street.  Page1c of4    MINUTES REGULAR: MEETING August 13,2024  The Wastewater treatment: plant EQ) Basin project isi in the final completion, City staffa and  Engineering: met with) DEQ ons site.  Mr. Dressler ands staffr met with VA Tech. Assistance Design Center and an environmental assessment group working on the Edgemont building for possible brownfield grants. Mr. Dressler and' Terri Mr. Dressler and other staffy will meet with Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC) to discuss STEM: at' Thel Nettleton across: from Covington Middle School. This willl be a great The field house at Casey Field has hads some block laid this week. Wet thank the Alleghany Foundation with the grant process andt their financial assistance with the project. The City owns and There will be façade work at the Public Works facility, aj project next to this and another at the former Therei is work at the Sport Complex: for a foot bridge, trail work to connect to the. Jackson River Therei is anticipation: for the next big event oft the Unions' Labor Day celebration coming up Mr. Dressler asked ift there were any questions/comments. There was a question about Pitzer' 'sl Ridge There was a comment thatt the cold patch that Columbia Gas didi is very poor andt they should be responsible fort this. Mr. Dressler agreed ands stated that Columbia Gasi is scheduled tol have paving completed before cold weather. Hes stated that Alleghany Avenuel had a water break and the City repaired ita andj paved. Mr. Dressler and staffhavel been continuing meetings with Columbia Gas to keep up with their schedule. andi the City's. Expensive vehicles arel having to travel ont the repaired There was a comment that when Columbia Gasi is doingt their work that iti is difficult to get outt to go to work.. Also, there should be equal concern for vehicles ofa all value driving on1 the rough cold Mr. Dressler stated that therei is aj paving plan set through the remainder of warm weather.  McClung, Small] Business Coordinator, are very interested int this grant.  opportunity to work with thes schools. manages Casey Field. car wash on Maple Avenue.  Scenic Trail and work on aj putt-putt course: for next year.  September 2, 2024.  paying. Mr. Dressler stated that thel RFP is prepared and going out.  roads.  patching repairs.  ALIKCHANYHICHLANDS: PUBLIC: SCHOOLS  Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead Johnson, School Superintendents, were in attendance along with Ms. Halterman gave an update ont the 2023-24 school year. The highlights were: al huge thank you for the generous financial support for the school system; they are proud of all staff; there was a sensible consolidation process & no involuntary, jobl loss; therel have been additional opportunities and provisions for students; continued: student/staff: safety measures andi many student and staff Fort the new 2024-25 school year, students, teachers and staffa are prepared. for ther new school year. Ms. Halterman and Ms. Snead. Johnson are both on statewide boards. Darrell Gleason iss sending out positive information with multiple links, which motivates thet team. Highlights for 2024-25 are: begin witha a charge to continue making aj positive difference; continued work on the Virginia Literacy Act, history standards, math standards, and particular CTE areas; addition of AHA: Law andl Political Science; continued revisions oft the SOLS expected; revision of the cerdiamonAccounalliy  three school board: members.  achievements.  Page2of4    MINUTES REGULAR, MEETING August 13,2024  standards expected; continued work on attendance; AHS track project reaching completion (August 15isar mark date); advancement of! MG-TEC lab school as aj partner school division; Fierce: for Kids Communication Initiative Cougars are fierce. Mr. Sibold thanked Ms. Halterman for her update on Mr, Crosier mentioned the Governor's cell phone policy and asked about the schools current policy. Ms.Halterman stated thatt the school system thought ahead two years ago with aj policy. Students that are up to the: Sth grade are tol keep cellj phones out ofs sight and mind. Their mottoi is, "No Cell Until  schools.  TheBell". The 6th-12th graders can use their phones at] lunch only.  Ordinances and Resolutions  Mr. Crosier motioned to approve the: following resolutions and ordinances, seconded by Mr. Hunter. 2) Resolution! R-24-21 to accept ppropiations-Communty Flood Preparedness. Fund (CFPF) VAI Dept of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) Grant for AECom Flooding Drainage Study The'roll call votes were as follows: Mr. Forbes, for; Mr. Hunter, for; Vice.) Mayor Crosier, for;  Resolution R-24-20 to accept appropriations-Kayon Bridge. and a Grant for Resilience Plan (Name Change).  Mayor Sibold, for. (Mr. Carson, Absent).  OldBusiness  Mr. Popovich discussed re-adoption of By-Laws and Rules ofl Procedure for City Council. This change is for electronic meetings ift there should be a need for thisi int the future. Mr. Crosier motioned to approve re-adoption of By-Laws and Rules ofProcedure for City Council, Theroll call votes were as follows: Mr. Forbes, for; Mr. Hunter, for; Vice Mayor Crosier, for;  seconded byl Mr.) Hunter.  Mayor Sibold, for. (Mr. Carson, Absent).  Appointment  Mr. Crosier motioned to appoint Renita. Jeter to1 the Redevelopment andl Housing Authority Board her Theroll call votes were as follows: Mr. Forbes, for; Mr. Hunter, for; Vice Mayor Crosier, for; Mayor  term will expire August 31,2028, seconded by Mr. Hunter.  Sibold, for. (Mr. Carson, Absent). New, Business  Mr. Hunter spoke about the need of crosswalk painting at the doctor's office and Gray's Jewelry store on Monroe Avenue, Mr. Dressler stated thats street striping stencils were received today and painting willbegin soon. The alley behind Oak has many pot! holes and trees where cut. Mr. Dressler stated that the City cut the trees. Mr. Hunter mentioned photos concerning a raccoon problem. Chris Smith, Poliçe Chief, was in attendance and he: stated thatt the City cannott trap wild animals. The employee would need to be licensed. He will check intot the cost ofas staffi member getting licensed versus using ap professional service to trap. The raccoons: are at an old building thati isal breeding ground. Mr. Hunter mentioned al lot of cats on Cherry Street.' The City will try to contact the citizens that are Mr. Crosier asked about the. Alleghany Humane Society's! hours of operation and someone. had mentioned having trouble. Mr. Dressler stated that he had met months ago with area officials, the humane society was tol hire morel help and post hours. David Bryant, Finance andl HR, wasi in attendance, and was asked about funding; he stated that the City contributes approximately $80,000a  feeding them.  Page 3of4    MINUTES REGULARI MEETING August 13,2024  year. Rebecca Nuckols, Admin. Assistant/Acting' City Clerk, asked to speak. She stated that shel had been tot the Humane Society a week ago, thel hours where posted on the door. Shel hadt taken aj pet fora a surgery transport. Shel had called thel Humane Society that day, 8/13/24, to aski ifthere would be another transport in September, left a message andi it was returned quickly. She had noj problems. Mr. Crosier mentioned that there was ai meeting held with all area. ManageryAdministatons before the There was, discussion about thei need for a mirror at) Rayon and Jackson Street for better visibility. Mr. Dressler mentioned that at the Sport Complex a baby deer was born. The mother was most likely resting nearby. Citizens were petting the fawn, which does not need to occur because thent the mother may reject the newborn withl human: scent. Mr. Sibold mentioned that there has also been interaction  pandemic andi maybe they could] looki intot this again.  with wildlife such as feeding thes squirrels.  Closed Session  The Vice Mayor moved to enter into Closed. session pursuant to Section 2.23711(A)(7) oft the Code of Virginia for the limited purpose ofo consultation withl legal counsel pertaining to actual litigation where such consultation in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture ofthe Alsot to enteri into Closed session pursuant to Section 2.23711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia fort the limited purpose of consultation withl legal counsel pertaining toj probable litigation where such consultation in open meeting would adversely affect ther negotiating or litigating posture ofthe City regarding anl EEOC complaint.. All members were: in: favor with" "aye" votes. With no further business to come before Council, the meeting was adjourned by consensus.  City regarding Casel Number CL24-326.  AAE THOMAS: H. SIBOLD, JR., MAYOR  ATTEST:  TalsGwhe6 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTEDBY REBECCA BRATTONI NUCKOLS ACTINGCITY CLERK  Page 4of4