The regularly scheduled meeting ofthe Norton City Council was held Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Municipal Council Chambers with Mayor Joseph Fawbush presiding. Present: Chris Jones, Stacy Salyers, Robert Fultz, Jr., Mark Caruso and Joseph Fawbush Also Present: Jeffery A. Shupe, City Manager and Clerk, Stephen McElroy, Assistant City Manager and City Engineer, Treavor Calhoun, City Director of Finance, and Matthew R. Dotson, City Attorney The invocation was given by Rev. Gary Hill and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Norton Police Chief James Lane. Upon a motion by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Caruso, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to adopt the minutes of the February 4, 2025, council meeting as presented. During the Mayor's Call for Visitors, Mr. John Polly of 201 7th Street, NE, Norton, said the roads on Hamner Avenue, NE, and Riddle Street, NE, were getting worse. Mayor Fawbush said city administration was working to determine the best method to repair the roads. Mr. Polly also said he would like the speed limit to be lowered to 15 miles per hour in that area due to speeding that is occurring. He voiced his safety concerns because there are children in that area and people walk their dogs. Mr. Polly said the roads are narrow and people park their cars on the sides of the roads. Norton Police Chief James Lane, who also serves as the chairman ofthe Norton Highway Safety Commission, said there is a Virginia code section that mandates what the city can and cannot do when the speed limit is lowered below 25 miles per hour The city manager advised further investigation to determine options. Noting that the road is starting to break away and the holes are getting bigger, Mr. Polly said he would appreciate Mr. Shupe and council thinking about how to best address these issues. Mayor Fawbush said city administration would take this under advisement. Brenna Harden of 920 Ridge Avenue, NW, Norton, suggested adding some speed bumps on those streets since people are disregarding current signage. Discussion followed about speed bumps and whether or not they could be placed on those roads. Mayor Fawbush suggested placing rumble strips on those roads. Mr. Shupe advised that these recommendations would be looked at administratively first. The mayor thanked Mr. Polly and Ms. Harden for attending the meeting and expressing their concerssuggestions He said council and city administration would take their concerns and suggestions under advisement. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force and the City ofNorton Police Department was once again considered by council after being tabled at the October 22, 2024, and November 12, 2024, council meetings SO clarification and attachments and addendums could be obtained. Mr. Shupe said Norton Police Chief Lane, the city attorney, and Norton Police Lieutenant Bucky Culbertson were present to answer questions from council. Also present to address questions was Virginia State Police Special Agent Chris Gilley. He said council had been given all information that had been provided for council approval of the MOU. The city attorney advised council that we believe we have addressed the concerns that council has had and that the most up-to-date documents that have been provided have been given to council. At this time, the city attorney opened the floor for questions from council. Present to field questions were Mr. Dotson, Chief Lane, Lieutenant Culbertson and VSP Special Agent Chris Gilley. Discussion followed about council's questions about the MOU. Vice Mayor Caruso recalled that there were references to documents that were not physically here as part of the agreement. He said those documents, in his opinion, were critical documents to council being able to approve the MOU. Mayor Fawbush asked if council had any questions or concerns about the documents before council. Vice Mayor Caruso asked if addendums and attachments were the same thing, stating if those were straightened out then he was good. He said he did not have any more issues and all of! his concerns had been addressed. Mayor Fawbush said he was glad that Norton is part ofthe drug task force. The mayor asked if there were any additional questions or concerns from council Vice Mayor Caruso thanked everyone for doing the research and getting these documents added to the agreement because without the attachments, addendums, etcetera, it was not complete. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to approve a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MOU) Between Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force and the City ofl Norton Police Department, as presented, and authorize Norton Police Chief James Lane to sign the MOU. Following a bricfintroduction by the city manager, Jeff Hess, executive/marketing director of Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority (HOA) introduced himself as the authority's new executive/marketing director as of April 151, 2024, reintroduced HOA under his direction, and thanked city council for its vision, and Norton's HOA board representatives for their service. HOA marketing materials, which included the HOA Official Travel Guide as well as brochures on motorcycle, car and bicycle routes within HOA, were plaçed on council desks. Noting that he worked for the Virginia Tourism Corporation for 19 years and currently resides in Honaker, Virginia, Mr. Hess said Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority was formed in 1993 by the Virginia General Assembly. He explained that visionaries at that time wanted some diversification of the economy beyond coal SO HOA was formed for HOA's seven localities in the LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission, consisting ofl Lee, Scott, Wise, Russell, Dickenson, Buchanan and Tazewell counties, and the City ofNorton. As the new executive/marketing director, he said he hoped to bring something new and better to the organization, and since HOA is a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), he wanted a singular focus on marketing. Mr. Hess pointed out that Norton has some visionaries who had selected lamppost banners that identify the array of recreational opportunities the city has to offer. He said the city with its lodging is positioned along with the surrounding county as kind ofthe central hub in the Heart of Appalachia for lodging. Identifying the area as a hub-and-spoke itinerary, he said you can stay here and you basically have a state or federal park at your front door. Having seen the High Knob Destination Center and all of the city's master plan initiatives, the executive director said the city's foundation and vision have been amazing. He thanked city council for their foundation and vision. He also thanked Norton's representatives on the HOA board, Katie Dunn, Community Engagement and Tourism Director, and Elizabeth Walker for their service on the HOA board. The HOA marketing/executive director said he had established a mission for HOA which centers on the promotion of the City ofl Norton and seven counties that are saturated with epic outdoor experiences, musicians, inspiring history and friendly culture as a unique mountain destination. The end goal is to promote tourism in a diversified mountain economy for improving small business success, sustainability, community investment, and excellent quality of life. He said HOA's mission is sincere, visionary, and realistic. Mr. Hess said your fine work has been evident over the last couple of decades and your persistence is excellent. He once again thanked council, pointing out that the city is truly blessed with an amazing playground, and adding that the city is kind of a college town with two colleges nearby. He said the city utilizes this playground fully and Ms. Dunn's communication with him is great. Noting that he inherited a lot of good marketing that he would continue to use, he said he hoped to position HOA as a reputable, solid, effective DMO with a singular focus of marketing. He said marketing is what we do and he would never undersell our product because HOA has a superior product. He then discussed HOA's marketing strategy and explained that the HOA staff consists of two people, an office manager and himself. Mr. Hess offered to answer questions from council. Vice Mayor Caruso thanked Mr. Hess for what he is doing and said he thought Mr. Hess was on target with what HOA is supposed to be doing. He said our Tourism Committee needs to have a similar layered type of approach that HOA is doing, which is to just focus on marketing. He asked Mr. Hess to help the city's" Tourism Committee to do the same. Mr. Hess said he had been invited to the city's Tourism Committee meeting next month. Mayor Fawbush said as an avid motorcycle rider he loved the Appalachian Backroads Motorcycle and Car Routes brochure and he asked ifthe GPX files could be downloaded. Following a brief discussion, conversation centered on the High Knob Destination Center, marketing materials for the center, and marketing potential at area universities and colleges to retain those graduates. Vice Mayor Caruso said he would like to see Norton in regional brochures from Richmond, Virginia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, and from Knoxville to Asheville, North Carolina, and every rest area in between. Mr. Hess discussed HOA marketing that is taking place in Western North Carolina, Eastern Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee and a $30,000 radio campaign with WTFM 98.5. Mayor Fawbush thanked Mr. Hess for the presentation. The city manager advised council that Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority had submitted its 2025-2026 discretionary funding request and that he believed the city funding level for HOA for the last several years had been $2,500. Mayor Fawbush once again thanked Mr. Hess for the presentation. Included on the agenda for council consideration was a Collaborative Adoption Agreement with DePaul Community Resources and Norton Department of Social Services (NDSS). The city manager said the agreement must be adopted by council and NDSS annually and its purpose was to document the commitment between DePaul Community Resources and NDSS to work collaboratively to increase the adoption of children in foster care. NDSS Director Abe Rutherford was at the meeting to discuss the agreement and address questions from council. Following a brief discussion about number details contained in the agreement, Mr. Rutherford explained that DePaul Community Resources administers the program. The NDSS director informed council that last year the city had five adoptions, which was the highest number NDSS has had in quite some time. He said there were 10 or 11 children in foster care, of which two were currently eligible for adoption. Discussion followed about what NDSS is required to do per the agreement, and Mr. Rutherford asked if council had any questions. There were no questions from council. The city manager advised council that the agreement had been reviewed by the city attorney again this year. The mayor thanked Mr. Rutherford and administration for working on this. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Salyers, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to adopt a Collaborative Adoption Agreement with DePaul Community Resources and Norton Department of Social Services, as presented, and authorize NDSS Director Abe Rutherford to endorse the agreement. In packets for council consideration was a check to Wise County Board of Supervisors, dated January 31, 2025, in the amount of $537,538.81, for City Share of FY2024 Shared Law Enforcement and Court Costs. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Salyers, Mayor Fawbush asked ifthere was any discussion. Vice Mayor Caruso said he had said all he needed to say about it. Councilman Salyers said he knew the city needed the court services, but he did not think the city should pay this amount of money for law enforcement services the City of Norton does not receive. Mayor Fawbush asked for the comments made by Councilman Salyers to be for the record. The above motion passed by the following roll call vote: YES Jones, Salyers, Fultz and Fawbush, NO - Caruso, ABSENT - None, ABSTAIN - None, council moved to confirm the check to Wise County Board of Supervisors, as stated above. Upon a motion by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Caruso, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to go into closed meeting for Personnel as per Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) ofthe Code of Virginia, as amended. Mayor Fawbush declared council in closed meeting. Upon a motion by Councilman Caruso, seconded by Councilman Jones, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to go back into open meeting. Mayor Fawbush declared council back in open meeting. Mr. Shupe polled each member of council as to the Certification of Closed Meeting with each answering yes. He then read A Resolution oft the Certification of Closed Meeting. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Caruso, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to adopt A Resolution of the Certification of Closed Meeting. (Insert) Mayor Fawbush opened the floor for nominations for an appointment to Norton Industrial Development Authority to fill the position vacated by the late Roger Sloce. Vice Mayor Caruso nominated Mr. Greg Stewart to be appointed to the Norton Industrial Development Authority for a four-year term to expire February 18, 2029. Upon a motion by Councilman Fultz, seconded by Councilman Salyers, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved that the nominations cease. The mayor declared Mr. Greg Stewart appointed to the Norton Industrial Development Authority to a four-year term to expire February 18, 2029. In comments from the city manager: Mr. Shupe thanked city crews from Public Works, police, fire, and rescue for their response during the storms this weekend. He said he was out Saturday afternoon with Norton Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Todd Lagow, Assistant Police Chief Greg Mays, and others touring the city, Dorchester, Ramsey and other areas. He said he was proud of city crews and noted that the city was extremely lucky. He advised council that the governor's office had declared a state ofe emergency and conducted conference calls with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) every afternoon at 3 p.m. to keep local officials informed about what was occurring. Mr. Shupe said those calls would continue this week in anticipation of tomorrow's snow forecast followed by low temperatures. Copies of the Retail Sales Tax Report for January were distributed for counçil review. Mr. Shupe said Davenport Financial Services was assisting city administration with soliciting input and finançing for three different projects - two city projects and one with Norton Industrial Development Authority (NIDA). He said the city projects would be for the tennis court project, renewal of the city's line of credit, and on the NIDA side, assistance with the project on Park Avenue. A public hearing about this financing will be held at the March 4th council meeting with Davenport Financial Services providing their findings prior to the public hearing. A pre-construction conference on the city's Shared-use Path Project/the 12th Street Project would be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 20, 2025, in Municipal Council Chambers. Aj pre-bid conference on the tennis court project was held last week with three contractors attending. Mr. Shupe reported that he attended the Regional Improvement Commission meeting this morning and that casino funding numbers were in the $809,000 to $811,000 range for this coming year. Upcoming events mentioned by the city manager included the Shamrock Scavenger Hunt which starts February 28, and the Morning Yoga Flow Class taught by Barbara Bee at 9 a.m. each Saturday in March starting Saturday, March 1. Mr. Shupe asked for confirmation from council about whether council wanted to have its next quarterly work session at 8 a.m., Saturday, April 5th, 2025. Council confirmed that date/time for the next quarterly council work session. The city manager said he would put the work session on the calendar for 8 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2025, in Municipal Council Chambers. In comments from the city attorney: City Attorney Matthew Dotson thanked Norton Police Chief James Lane and Lieutenant Bucky Culbertson for their help with obtaining everything council requested pertaining to the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force/City of Norton MOU. Mr. Dotson advised council that he had reviewed and signed off on the 12th Street Shared-Use Path Project contract documents which would be provided to those that needed them on Thursday. The following comments were made by council members: Noting that he had a little incident with water this weekend, Councilman Jones acknowledged the prompt and professional assistance of city workers and thanked them for their help. Councilman Salyers said he had driven around the city and he felt that East Park Avenue has been neglected. He said it is probably the second most used road in the city as people coming from Wise, the industrial park, and Walmart do not want to use the four-lane. Councilman Salyers said the city does a really good job from the Tipple Hill red light to the elementary school, but there are three or four places on the left-hand side where brush and trees are hanging over the sidewalks. Mr. Salyers also said the garbage on the side ofthe road from Glenn's Market to the railroad tracks was pitiful. He said he knew nothing could be done right now, but he asked if the city could clean up Park Avenue NE this summer and make it look better. Councilman Fultz concurred with comments made by the city manager and Councilman Jones about efforts of the city crews. He expressed his appreciation for all that was done by city crews to mitigate the strain that was put on the whole system over the last few days and for the last month and a half with the weather. Councilman Fultz said these people really helped mitigate the potential damage for our citizens. Mr. Fultz congratulated city administration on obtaining funding for the second phase of the Southside Housing Rehabilitation Project. Advising that he had fielded a number of questions about why the city's Christmas tree had not been taken down, Councilman Fultz said he told them that it could not be taken down in 12- degree weather or when it was wet or had snow on it. Commenting on the speeding on Riddle Street, Councilman Fultz said he did not think speed bumps could be located on public roads in Virginia. Police Chief Lane said we will have to look at the code section, noting that speed limit plays a factor in determining where something such as a speed bump is allowed. He said the speed limit at the location would make the determination of whether or not it would be legal in Virginia to do that. Vice Mayor Caruso said recent winter weather issues remind him that the city still does not have a functional emergency management plan and he would like to see that taken care of. Mr. Caruso said he was looking forward to the city's comprehensive plan, noting that it seems to be working a little slowly. Councilman Caruso briefed council on the ChiefLocal Elected Officials (CLEO) meeting he attended today for the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board (SVWDB) and highlighted some ofNorton's statistical information from the local plan template for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity. The vice mayor said Ron Norris, owner of NorrisBuilt Welding, Fabrication and Machine Shop located at 520 Kentucky Avenue, SW, in Norton, had asked him to express his appreciation for the fast response and professional character of the city's emergency services during the recent fire at NorrisBuilt. Vice Mayor Caruso agreed with Councilman Salyers's S assessment that East Park Avenue is probably the most neglected part of the city at the moment. He said there are a lot of things that could be done that do not cost a lot of money to help that community look and feel better. Mayor Fawbush informed council that he had received an email from a citizen conçerning visibility for motorists turning left and right onto Park Avenue from Sth Street, NW. He asked if the Safety Committee could look at what could be done and suggested maybe moving the stop bars to address the turn lane capabilities onto Park Avenue at this intersection. The vice mayor said another place this occurs was at the intersection of Oak Street, NW, and 6th Street, NW. The mayor said he also received an email about the onramp coming from U.S. 58 East to go to Big Stone Gap on U.S. 23 South. Discussion followed about what could possibly be done to improve this intersection. Mayor Fawbush inquired about the status ofthe elevator project at Hotel Norton. Assistant City Manager and City Engineer Stephen McElroy said he thought it was finished except for testing. The city manager said testing scheduled for Friday was delayed due to weather and would be rescheduled. Mayor Fawbush asked for an update on the Ridge Avenue wall. Mr. McElroy said data had been submitted and city administration was waiting for a response from the state agency. The city manager said quarterly March to April data points would be taken and submitted. Vice Mayor Caruso suggested having "No Through Traffic" signage installed at the bottom of Craig Street, NW, because there is no turn around, resulting in motorists having to back their vehicles down the street. The mayor said he was looking forward to the April 5th work session. Mayor Fawbush also inquired about the status of the Norton City Schools fencing project. Mr. Shupe advised that he had not received an update. The mayor commended not only the city's emergency services but also Public Works for their response to the fire at NorrisBuilt and for their efforts during the recent heavy rain and flooding. Noting that Norton fared very well during the heavy rain, he asked the city manager to let emergency services and Public Works know how much council appreciates them. Upon a motion by Councilman Salyers, seconded by Councilman Caruso, and passed by unanimous vote, council moved to adjourn the council meeting. CITY OF NORTON, VIRGINIA Joseph Fawbush, Mayor ATTEST: Jeffey A. Shupe, Clerk ofCouncil