Town of Pennington Gap Council Meeting July15,2024 Record of attendance: Mayor: Council: 6:00PM Larry Holbrook Doug Alsup Jeff Martin-absent Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Keith Harless Brian Skidmore Tina Rowe Karen Maggard Greg Edwards Matt Lawson Rick' Watson Emma Kelly, Austin Counts, Rance Garrison- Appalachian Voices Renee Mullins, Sherry & AI Moore Megan Kennedy and Michelle Lawson Town Manager: Assistant Manager: Town Treasurer: Town Clerk: Town Attorney: Police Chief: Powell' Valley News: Citizens: 1. Mayor Holbrook called the meeting to order at 6:00PM. 2. Prayer & Pledge of Allegiance- Rance Garrison 3. Agenda- Terry Pope made al Motion to approve the agenda withi the correction that no public hearing was scheduled fort tonight. Larry Holbrook seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 4. Approval of Minutes- Terry Pope made al Motion to approve the minutes of June 17,2024 with acorrection in 10a, "Gary McElyea seconded the Motion" as. Jimmy Warner was absent. Larry Holbrook seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 5. Pay bills- Larry Holbrook made a Motion to pay the bills as presented. Doug Alsup seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Aye Aye Aye Aye 1 Town of Pennington Gap Council Meeting July 15, 2024 Jimmy Warner Aye 6. Citizen's Recognitions- a) Emma Kellya and Austin Counts from Appalachian Voices explained SOLVE IT Prize flexible funding which is the $80k grant awarded to Pennington Gap. Solutions for Lasting, Viable Energy Infrastructure Technologies Prize is a U.S. Dept of Energy program that aims to empower communities to identify and implement innovative clean energy solutions in a way that works for their unique needs and challenges. Potential solar projects could be on public serving buildings such as churches, libraries, newspapers etc. All Pennington properties have also been surveyed as potential locations. Other projects could be lighting the greenway, powering Leeman Field Park, RVand welcome center and adding EV chargers at the park and downtown. Further discussion included wind power, hydro power and areas of Leeman Field with parcels of solar. b) Renee Mullins' concerns of al leak billed to 420 Redwood, Apt 101- this leak was at total of 347K gallons from. January 23-February: 20. Renee's point is that they could not see where this water was going and onlyf found a spraying pipe. Our report calculations show 8 gallons of water per minute during almost a month. A meter calibration showed the meter to be good. Shei thinks this is not a correct billing. We have calculated a leak adjustment according to standard procedure. She would like us to reconsider her bill. c) Aspeeding complaint on. Joslyn Ave. was addressed by Chief Matt Lawson. Past solutions had been looked at with a 4-way stop at Ford and. Joslyn, speed bumps but noted that as of July 1, towns can now set speed limits within town, but not below 15 e) Megan Kennedy, Joslyn. Ave. complaint of possible fine for chicken(s)- she stated she only has one and he does not leave her porch. Greg read the ordinance concerning fowl. Itshall beu unlawful for any person tok keep any live fowi, with thee exemption ofr petb birdss such as canaries or parrots that are kepti insidet thej family dwelling, withint the corporate limits oft the Town, exceptj fori immediate: shipment or Any person violating this section: shall be guilty ofa Class 41 misdemeanor and subject toc af fine ofr not moret than $250f for each: suchj fowis sok kept byh him, ande each day suchi violation. is continued: shall bec deemed as separate offense. She also complained of dogs/cats loose in town. Dogs may be reported to Lee County animal control, however cats are not housed there. No action was taken. mph. He will look at these options. d) No show 560-5. Keeping) fowl. A. slaughter. B. 7. Unfinished business: a) Chief Lawson has an updated list of fines he would like to implement. A public hearing isn necessary. Gary McElyea made al Motion to have a public hearing at the next council meeting at 6:00 PM on August 19.. Jimmy Warner seconded the motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 8. New business: none 2 Town of Pennington Gap Council Meeting July15,2024 9. Monthly Reports: Monthly Reports-V Water, Sewer, Treasurer, Public Works, Police Dept., Fire Dept. Lee Theatre, Parks & Recreation (reports in council packets). 10. Administrative Reports- Matt Lawson, Tina Rowe/Brian Skidmore/Keith Harless. a) Police Chief- report in packet b) Treasurer- Tina gave an overview oft the 2024 Budget V. Actual report whichi is 100% Assistant Town Manager Report-Brian noted he had received confirmation of the grants for Phase land SSES and of the $2.697 million, $2 million willl be forgiven. He would like to go ahead and apply for Phase Il which will replace sewer line from the fire hall area following Cane Creek toward Ben Hur by running along the railroad and creek area. Terry Pope made al Motion to apply. Doug Alsup seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as complete highlighting positive and negative areas. follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye With the loss ofai full-time employee, he would like permission to hire another along with a minimum of2 seasonal workers.. Jimmy Warner made a Motion to hire as stated. Doug Alsup seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye d) Town Manager Report- Keith Harless' report is in the packet. He has advertised for tenants for the Bailey-Robbins building with a completion date of October 31, they are on track. He and Karen met with Michelle Workman of Virginia Tourism and were given information on possible gap funding and micro business grants along with shoulder season, grants. He has passed information on to some small businesses. Opening of the Lenowisco has offered help with a planning grant for housing in town. Lee County BOS voted for the by-pass closure resolution at their last meeting and Mr. Pope offered one applications will bei in July. from the IDA. Lee EDAI may also send one. 11. Projects- a) Multi-purpose facility/ Conference Center funding- An application for funding the kitchen is upcoming. He will attend al hotel conference soon to continue searching fora a b) Industrial Revitalization Fund ARPA Grant-Balley-obbins building inspection today, developer for al hotel. electrician will make changes as well as a wall change order. Wastewater Treatment Plant Repair Grants- D DEQ/Lane- 3 Town of Pennington Gap Council Meeting July15,2024 ii. WW pump station upgrade grant-DEQ/Lane d) Water Treatment Plant Structural Repair grant ii. WTP Telemetry Upgrade Grant-VDH/Mattern & Craig Water meterr replacement Phase II- ongoing Lead and copper survey- ongoing U USDA/Mattern & Craig 12. Town Attorney-Greg will need to confer with the clerk's office on Matt's supreme court codes 13. Council Member reports: a) Doug Alsup- -asked for an update on the ATVt track. Everything is going well with the b) Gary McElyea-asked about roadwork in town. He would like Barron Street considered. VDOT did the street side parking of Morgan downtown. That was their project. Keith will get estimates on Stanberry to align with the Bailey-Robbins project and Barron as well. c) Terry Pope noted Main St. CSX property needs clearing especially around Davis Transmission area. Keith said the Lenowisco planning grant may address blight such as new management andi income has been reported. the area past there where a house burned. 14. Closed session- At 7:40 PM, Terry Pope made al Motion to goi into executive session pursuant to; Discussion, consideration, ori interviews ofA prospective candidates fore employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments or schools of public institutions of higher education where such evaluation. will necessarily involve discussion oft the performance ofs specific individuals. $2.2-3711/A/3): Acquisition & disposition of property. Provides ane exemption for: Discussion ord consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly heldi real property, where discussion inc an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or Virginia Code. Section 2.2-3711/A/(5) Discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where nop previous announcement has been made oft the business' Virginia Code. Section. 2.2-3711/A)(6). Discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining isi involved, where, ifmade public initially, the financial interest oft the $2.2-3711/A/1): Personnel. Provides ane exemption for: negotiating: strategy oft the public body. ori industry's interest in locating ore expanding its facilities int the community. governmental unit would be adversely afected. Doug Alsup seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy' Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye At 8:51 PM, Terry Pope made a Motion to reconvene to regular session. Jimmy Warner seconded the Motion Roll call vote ast follows: 4 Town of Pennington Gap Council Meeting July15,2024 Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy' Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Terry Pope made a statement to attest that nothing was discussed during closed session other than the issues stated. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 15. Council Action- Larry Holbrook made a Motion to donate al Ford Taurus to SWVA Criminal Justice for training use. Doug Alsup seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 14. Terry Pope made al Motion to promote a Police SGT to Lieutenant. Gary! McElyea seconded the Motion. Roll call vote as follows: Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Gary McElyea Terry Pope Jimmy' Warner Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 16. Jimmy Warner made a Motion to adjourn the meeting. Larry Holbrook seconded the Motion. Vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 8:54PM. MAYORI dyL ATTEST: KAREN MAGGARD, CLERK Mannlel 5 CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED SESSION WHEREAS, the Council oft the Town of Pennington Gap, Virginia has convened closed session meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions ofThe Virginia Freedom of] Information Act; and WHEREAS, 2.2-3711 oft the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this Council of the Town of Pennington Gap, Virginia that such closed session was conducted in conformity with Virginia law; NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council ofthe Town of Pennington Gap, Virginia hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's1 knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia Law were discussed in closed session to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the Motion convening the closed session were. heard, discussed or considered by the Council oft the Town ofPennington Gap, Virginia. VOTE: AYES: Terry K. Pope Gary McElyea Doug Alsup Larry Holbrook Jimmy Warner NAYS: (for each Nay vote the substance oft the departure from the requirements of the Act should be described) ABSENT DURING VOTE: Jeff! Martin ABSENT DURING CLOSED SESSION: Jeff Martin MEETING DATE: July 15, 2024 WHLL W.HOLBROOK MAYOR EyK